Tag Archives: widely-believed

Iggy Azalea: Tour Canceled Due to Low Ticket Sales?

What a difference a year makes. Last summer, you couldn’t set foot in public without hearing about how “fancy” Iggy Azalea is. In 2015, however, the Aussie femcee is about as popular as Crocodile Dundee and other short-lived trends from Down Under. Talk of Iggy’s tour being canceled due to lack of interest began to circulate back in March, and this week, the news was confirmed: Iggy-Ig’s troubled Great Escape Tour has officially been put out of its misery, and full refunds will be issued to the (shockingly few) fans who purchased tickets. It’s the latest in a long line of setbacks for the divisive rapper, who’s endured a year full of feuds, rapidly declining popularity, and being publicly referred to as ” Satan in the form of mayonnaise .” Just last week, thousands signed a petition to revoke Iggy’s Billboard Music Award  as a result of their belief that the 24-year-old Sydney native is undeserving of such an honor. Iggy enjoyed a modest popularity boost last week thanks to her Britney Spears collaboration “Pretty Girls,” but it looks like the renewed fan interest came too late to save the tour that was scheduled to kick off September 18 in San Diego. Azalea apologized to fans on social media, tweeting, “I’m so sad and sorry to let my fans down… we’ll be back out on the road when the next album is done.” No official reason was given for the cancelation, but as industry insiders have been reporting disappointing sales for months, it’s widely believed that a simple lack of interest doomed the 21-city jaunt from the start. View Slideshow: 11 Odd Iggy Azalea Facts!

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Iggy Azalea: Tour Canceled Due to Low Ticket Sales?

Newtown Didn’t Happen, Professor Claims

A professor is causing befuddlement and outrage with recent claims that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., did not occur. The Daily Mail reported that James Tracy, a tenured history professor at Florida Atlantic University, wrote this in a lengthy post on his personal blog. Tracy explores what he says is the possibility that the Newtown shooting may not have happened the way that it is widely believed, if it happened at all. The 47-year-old professor bases his claims largely on the flurry of conflicting media reports that were made as news of the shooting was released. The Daily Mail also reported that the school has distanced itself from the professor. “While it sounds outrageous, one is left to inquire whether the Sandy Hook shooting ever took place, at least in the way law enforcement authorities and the news media have described,” he says. On his blog, he hits a number of other conspiracy theories: September 11, the purview of the Department of Homeland Security, the PATRIOT Act, the death of Osama bin Laden and Fukishima. In his latest shocking claim, he focuses much of his attention on the fact that early reports claimed that police were either searching for or had two suspects in custody. The story then progressed that Ryan Lanza was the lone gunman, based reportedly on the identification that the shooter had on him at the time of the attack. Ryan, 24, was then found at his home in Hoboken, N.J. – two states away from where his 20-year-old brother Adam, the actual shooter, committed the atrocities. Police say Adam Lanza opened fire inside the Connecticut elementary school, killing 20 children and six adults. Police say Lanza then killed himself.

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Newtown Didn’t Happen, Professor Claims

Emma Stone Covers Vogue, Receives Amazing Praise

Emma Stone is featured on the cover of next month’s Vogue . And while photos of the actress are downright gorgeous, it’s actually the praise she receives from those associated with The Amazing Spider-Man that really stands out. Just consider… Director Marc Webb : “A lot of young actresses are either very serious or doe-eyed. Emma sidesteps that.” Producer Matt Tolmach : “She’s stunning, so she’s disarming.” Co-star/boyfriend Andrew Garfield : “Working with Emma was like diving into a thrilling, twisting river and never holding on to the sides.” For a lot more from Emma and about Emma, pick up the July issue of Vogue .

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Emma Stone Covers Vogue, Receives Amazing Praise

George Zimmerman Jailhouse Phone Calls Released; Wife Told to Move Money, Buy Bulletproof Vest

Audio recordings from phone calls George Zimmerman made in jail in April were released on Monday by prosecutors in the Trayvon Martin case. The six conversations are part of the state’s evidence alleging that he and his wife, Shellie Zimmerman , misled the court during his April bond hearing. The former neighborhood watch volunteer is charged with killing 17-year-old Martin in February. Zimmerman said he shot Trayvon in self defense. George Zimmerman Jailhouse Calls A judge released him on $150,000 bond after the couple testified they had little money. But the calls recorded after his arrest tell a different story. Zimmerman is heard coaching his wife and sister on moving tens of thousands of dollars donated to his legal defense fund to another account. During one jailhouse conversation, George Zimmerman tells his wife how much it means to him that strangers were donating to his PayPal account. “Ah man, that feels good,” he said. Prosecutors say the phone calls are proof the Zimmermans had access to nearly $130,000 when he was freed. After his wife was able to transfer funds, Zimmerman told her to pay off nearly all their bills and to buy bulletproof vests for her, him and his attorney. “We need to get on it ASAP, cause you know … personally, I want you wearing one,” Zimmerman said from the Seminole County (Florida) Jail. “OK,” she replied. “As uncomfortable as it is, I want you wearing one,” he said. Zimmerman, who was wearing a vest back when he was released on bond, also discusses a possible escape route and renting two cars to throw off the media, possibly driving into a hotel with an attached garage or heading to an airport to fly to “heaven.” In one conversation as the two are planning a possible escape route, Zimmerman talks about going to a hotel like the Western he stayed at in Tampa, and that if he is in a car he could wear “his hoodie” and lie down as they are driving away. Zimmerman was ordered back to jail earlier in June when the judge learned of the money from the defense fund. His wife was arrested and charged with perjury related to her testimony about the family’s finances. Zimmerman’s attorney Mark O’Mara has said repeatedly that the couple was not deceptively trying to withhold information from the courts. They were merely concerned for their safety and unclear about whether he could even use the money yet, and thus whether to report it. The couple show their affection for each other throughout the calls, to be sure, as George Zimmerman warns his wife repeatedly to stay safe. He will seek to be re-released on bond , however unlikely that is.

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George Zimmerman Jailhouse Phone Calls Released; Wife Told to Move Money, Buy Bulletproof Vest

Roger Clemens Found Not Guilty on All Perjury Charges

Roger Clemens may never make it into the Hall of Fame, but the legendary pitcher doesn’t need to worry any longer about making it through a prison sentence, either. He has been acquitted on all counts of lying to a grand jury. Clemens was on trial for six counts of perjury, stemming from a 2008 statement in front of Congress that he never took steroids or Human Growth Hormone. Since then, however, the hurler has been linked to performance-enhancing drugs in a special report filed by ex-senator George Mitchell and also by his former close friend and personal trainer, Brian McNamee, the latter of whom told the House committee that he injected Clemens several times with illicit substances. But Clemens remained adamant that he believed those substances to be B-12 and lidocaine, neither of which is illegal. This trial (the second for Clemens after one was declared a mistrial due to the handling of evidence last July) lasted for seven weeks and included testimony from Clemens’ wife, who admitted that she had been injected with HGH; and also from Andy Pettitte, the New York Yankees pitcher who backed off previous testimony in which he implicated his friend as a drug user. Despite the verdict, it is widely believed that Clemens did use steroids of some kind over the back half of his career and his legacy will forever be tarnished as a result. UPDATE : Said Clemens in a news conference soon afterward, choking up: “I’m very thankful. It’s been a hard five years.”

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Roger Clemens Found Not Guilty on All Perjury Charges

Pusha T’s ‘Exodus 23:1’ Video: No Hints At Lil Wayne Beef

G.O.O.D. Music MC’s gritty new visual accompanies fiery track that Weezy took exception to. By Rob Markman Pusha T in his “Exodus 23:1” video Photo: Universal If Pusha T was challenging Lil Wayne on “Exodus 23:1,” he makes no allusion to Weezy in the song’s video, which he dropped on Tuesday morning (May 29). Not that Wayne waited for the visual to respond. On Friday, Tunechi dropped “Ghoulish,” a venom-laced dart aimed directly at the G.O.O.D. Music MC. Still, in Pusha’s new vid there’s no hint of rap beef, just a gritty look into a street life where dealers sell to soulless junkies and live to reap the profits. In the Old Testament, Exodus 23:1 warns : “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness.” On Pusha’s track of the same name, he chastises rappers who he feels embellish their street ties; he then proceeds to cast ambiguous stones at unnamed figures — widely believed to be Drake and Lil Wayne. With the “Exodus 23:1” video, the Virginia lyricist presents a realistic look at the underbelly of the frequently glamorized drug game. Though the scenes are staged for the camera, it’s plausible that the man smoking crack (or heroin) from a beer can is no actor. The Samuel Rogers-directed video is set in the rough-and-tumble Berkley section of Norfolk, Virginia, on Walker Avenue to be exact. “Beef is best served like steak/ Well done, get a gun in your face,” Push begins, evoking the Notorious B.I.G. and clearly inspired by the late rapper’s 1997 track “What’s Beef.” Push continues to rap in a number of different settings: riding atop a bicycle handlebars, on a street corner surrounded by his street family and in a kitchen while a buddy sniffs coke from a dollar bill seemingly unaware of the camera’s gaze (or quite aware). The Clipse rapper throws up gang signs when he spits the lyric, “Throwin’ that flag up, runnin’ ’round you hot sh–/ Takin’ half of everything you get.” And though Wayne openly has played up his affiliation with the Bloods, Push could be rapping about any number of individuals with gang affiliations. The same can be said for the next line, which many believe is aimed at Drake: “Contract all f—ed up, I guess that means you’re all f—ed up/ You’re signed to one n—a, that’s signed to two n—as, that’s signed to three n—as, now that’s bad luck.” There are also no visual references to Wayne, Drizzy or any member of the YMCMB camp in the four-minute, 23-second clip. But there is a clear message that Pusha T is sending: mainly, that he takes street life very seriously. Though we may see him on the VMA stage with Kanye West or out in Cannes with his G.O.O.D. Music crew, his background isn’t all bright lights and billboard hits, and Push raps it all with one figurative hand on the bible. What do you think of Pusha T’s “Exodus 23:1” video? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Pusha T Lil Wayne

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Pusha T’s ‘Exodus 23:1’ Video: No Hints At Lil Wayne Beef

Rick Ross Responds To Young Jeezy Taunts

‘If you really have an issue, put it on the table and handle it like a G,’ Miami Don says after Jeezy dis video surfaces online. By Alvin Blanco Rick Ross Photo: Moses Robinson/ Getty Images Rick Ross and Young Jeezy and are not on the best of terms. The two heavyweight rappers, who happen to be Def Jam labelmates, have been immersed in a war of words for months now and the tension seems to be boiling over. The latest in the Ross vs. Jeezy imbroglio was triggered after video surfaced on the Net showing Young Jeezy saying sly remarks about his rival after a performance in Miami. In the footage Jeezy is seen walking the streets of MIA with an entourage in tow. Asked how he feels “about the Rick Ross thing,” the Atlanta MC sarcastically responds, “Where is your favorite rapper at? I don’t see that n—a.” Moments later, Jeezy pulls his shirt up to reveal he has a gun on his waistband. Although he never names the Miami rapper by name, it’s easy to infer the jabs are directed at Ross. The Teflon Don MC was recently in the U.K., where he visited the BBC’s Tim Westwood , and the topic of Jeezy’s rant came up. “Man, I actually got to see the footage of him walking on South Beach, down Collins Ave. and … Yeah, he played himself,” Ross said. “You gotta come across the bridge to Carol City to Lil Haiti, that’s where you get your issues. I mean, Washington Ave.? Give me a break, baby.” Ross continued, “What’s crazy about that is, as you can see on that same footage, when they asked about my name, they still don’t really have a direct answer, and that ain’t gangster at all. If you really have an issue, put it on the table and handle it like a G.” The two rappers have at times downplayed any beef between them. Rick Ross’ anthemic summer hit “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)” name-checks Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory on its chorus. (The leader of the infamous Black Mafia Family, or BMF, Flenory is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence.) But Jeezy’s association with BMF pre-dates his rise to hip-hop prominence. And there was speculation that Ross’ track didn’t sit well with Jeezy, who in turn dropped “Death B4 Dishonor,” widely believed to be a shot at Ross. Jeezy, however, denied it was a dis track. The two MCs are no strangers to rap beef — Jeezy has previously sparred with Gucci Mane, and Ross with 50 Cent. What do you make of the tension between Jeezy and Ross? Share your thoughts in the comments. Related Artists Rick Ross (Hip-Hop) Young Jeezy

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Rick Ross Responds To Young Jeezy Taunts

Ex-Infinity Ward Leaders To Discuss Their "Creative Future" Soon

What’s next for Jason West and Vince Zampella, the former heads of Infinity Ward? We may have the answer soon. The duo’s lawyer released a statement to the LA Times that promises an “announcement very soon” that directly addresses the “creative future” of both developers. The statement pushes back at Activision’s lawsuit and paints Zampella and West in a positive light during the now-past negotiating phase with their former publisher. “Activision itself proposed spinning off Infinity Ward when, last year, it sought to renegotiate Jason and Vince’s contract,” reads the statement, “and induce them to forego developing a new game in favor of doing another Modern Warfare sequel. Jason and Vince had hired the Creative Artists Agency to advise them in their negotiations with Activision, and not to breach their contract.” Activision alleges West and Zampella were conversing with the company’s “closest competitor,” widely believed to be Electronic Arts. Whether the upcoming announcement is connected to EA is anybody’s guess, but it wouldn’t be the first time Activision and EA went head-to-head.

Lil Wayne’s Sentencing Rescheduled For Monday

Fire at courthouse delayed Tuesday’s scheduled sentencing, which will now take place on March 8. By Jayson Rodriguez Lil wayne Photo: MTV News Lil Wayne’s sentencing has been delayed yet again. Now, the rapper will appear before a judge on Monday and turn himself in to begin his one-year prison sentence. The rapper was scheduled to appear in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday, but a fire at the New York Criminal Court building delayed his hearing. This is the third delay overall. The rapper was originally slated to be sentenced last month , but his attorney made a last-minute request to postpone the proceedings in order for Wayne to undergo dental surgery . The judge granted the request and rescheduled the proceedings for Tuesday of this week. But when an unexpected fire occurred Tuesday morning at the courthouse, all afternoon cases were pushed back. A spokesperson for the Office of Court Administration told MTV News Wednesday morning (March 3) that Lil Wayne’s case has be rescheduled for Monday, March 8. Wayne is expected to formally enter a guilty plea to attempted gun possession after he and prosecutors reached a deal in the case in November. He will serve a one-year prison term , and it is widely believed that he could be out in as early as eight months later, assuming good behavior. The rapper was arrested in 2007 on gun charges and was facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted. The MC star is expected to turn himself in immediately after his sentencing. In other states, Lil Wayne could have gotten off with a misdemeanor rap and probation. However, in New York , permission to carry firearms is primarily limited to law-enforcement officials and those affiliated with authorities. The Empire State’s stringent gun laws were originally enacted during former governor George Pataki’s administration. On Tuesday, with an unexpected extra night of freedom, Wayne surprised fans at Madison Square Garden when he appeared onstage with Young Jeezy during Jay-Z’s headlining show. 1633050 While Wayne’s plans for the coming days were unclear at press time, expect to see more exclusive videos from the MC right here on MTVNews.com. Related Videos Lil Wayne’s ‘Road To Rikers’ Lil Wayne Goes To Jail Related Photos Lil Wayne Heads To Rikers Island Related Artists Lil Wayne

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Lil Wayne’s Sentencing Rescheduled For Monday

Fugees Aimed To ‘Make A Change’ At 1997 Haiti Concert

‘The message I bring is for the people,’ Wyclef Jean told MTV News at the time. By Steven Roberts Wyclef Jean performs in Haiti in 1997 Photo: MTV News Wyclef Jean has been one of the loudest voices in encouraging aid to Haiti following the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake that hit near Port-au-Prince late Tuesday afternoon.

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Fugees Aimed To ‘Make A Change’ At 1997 Haiti Concert