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Statues of Black Women Are Popping Up All Over the World

Sandra Rose
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Statues of Black Women Are Popping Up All Over the World
Photo of statues of black women
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A statue of a chubby black woman in Times Square in NYC caused such outrage that the artist is removing it in mid-June. The statue is part of a series called “Grounded in the Stars” by British artist Thomas J. Price.

The 12-foot statue features an obese black woman wearing a T-shirt and pants. She stands with her hands on her hips while staring down Broadway.

The statue was originally intended to stand in Times Square over the summer. But it will be taken down in mid-June due to all the complaints.

X users note a plethora of statues of black women popping up all over the world.

The sightings prompt the question: who is commissioning these statues of black women?

A statue of a black woman was erected in Rotterdam in 2023. It is titled “Moments Contained” and features a black woman looking at her cell phone.

Another 13-foot bronze statue shows a black woman with her hands in the pockets of her sweatpants.

Al B. Sure! Accuses Sean Combs of Trying to Kill Him & Causing Kim Porter’s Death

Sandra Rose
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Al B. Sure! Accuses Sean Combs of Trying to Kill Him & Causing Kim Porter’s Death
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In November 2022, singer, songwriter, and radio host Al B. Sure! penned an emotional letter to his fans after waking up from a 2-month coma.

In his letter, Al B. Sure! explained the “unforeseen medical roller coaster” that led to his life-changing experience.

“I had multiple surgeries covering everything from repairing a hematoma/hernia to an organ transplant. I was also placed on dialysis, accumulated excessive fluid in my lungs, fungal pneumonia, became septic, had lymph nodes removed, multiple blood transfusions, was intubated and placed on a ventilator due to my oxygen dropping down to 20%.”

Al B. Sure! never mentioned Sean Combs’s name his letter.

In a recent interview with Fox 5 New York, Al B. Sure! hinted that Combs played a role in his near-death experience. He didn’t say how, but he urged fans to read his new book for more details.

“If you actually knew what they did to me, there was a bounty on my head,” he said. “I believe this to be the case. Yes. Absolutely. My first time saying it… Remember, I’m the only one who spoke up and I’m the only one left alive,” he added.

“[Kim] kinda warned me all along the way to watch your back,” he said.

Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix

Al B. Sure! also suggested that Combs had something to do with the death of his ex-girlfriend Kim Porter, the mother of Sean’s eldest son, Justin, and his twin daughters, Jessie and D’Lila.

When the hosts asked Al B. Sure! if he had any evidence, he said Kim seemed to be “in the best of health” the last time he saw her at a screening for their son Quincy Brown’s Netflix Christmas special on October 30, 2018.

Kim Porter died of double pneumonia (pneumonia in both lungs) at her Toluca Lake, CA. home on November 15, 2018. She was 47. The Los Angeles County Coroner ruled she died from natural causes.

Al B. Sure! said he received a subpoena to testify during Sean Combs’ criminal trial in New York. He said “when the time is right” he would discuss it with his attorneys.

Sean Combs Jury Selection Delayed After Key Witness Refused to Testify

Sandra Rose
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Sean Combs Jury Selection Delayed After Key Witness Refused to Testify
Photo of Sean Combs in court
Photo illustrated

A federal judge delayed the jury selection in Sean Combs‘ trial until Monday, May 12. The decision was made after a key witness refused to testify and went missing.

US District Judge Arun Subramanian granted the defense’s request to postpone the final selection of jurors until Monday, May 12, because some jurors are having “second thoughts” about sitting through the 2-month trial.

On Monday, both legal teams will be permitted to narrow a pool of 45 prospective jurors down to 12 jurors and six alternates.

Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic

Combs, 55, was arrested in September and charged with racketeering, kidnapping, arson, bribery and sex trafficking. If convicted on all counts, he could spend 20 years in federal prison.

Combs reportedly rejected an offer to serve 5 years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea.

The trial was thrown into chaos when a key witness went missing.

Lead prosecutor Maurene Comey told Judge Subramanian that the female witness refused to testify, and now she’s missing. Comey said prosecutors are having trouble locating or contacting “Victim 3.”

The woman previously alleged she was abused by Combs and “coerced” into performing sex acts.

Pierre Suu/Getty Images

The rap mogul’s attorneys admitted he was abusive to ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, but the attorneys said they both abused each other, including “hitting”.

“We are absolutely going to admit to domestic violence,” lead attorney Marc Agnifilo said. “But at what point does it become coercive?”

Agnigilo described Cassie as a “strong” woman with “a nature of violence,” and “capable of starting physical confrontations.” The defense said Cassie is “violent” and “aggressive”.

On Thursday, Judge Subramanian dismissed a potential juror who works at the Brooklyn federal jail where Combs is being housed.

The judge chastised both legal teams for not properly vetting the potential jurors.

TMZ recently published exclusive video of the judge arriving to federal court alone, while wearing headphones and a backpack.

White House reveals why Trump fired the first black Librarian of Congress

Sandra Rose
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White House reveals why Trump fired the first black Librarian of Congress
MEGA/WENN

Democrats are in an uproar over President Donald Trump’s decision to fire the first black woman to serve as Librarian of Congress.

Librarian Carla Hayden, 72, was appointed to the position in 2016, and had one year left in her 10-year term. She was also the first professional librarian to serve as Librarian of Congress since the 1970s.

Hayden was informed of her termination by email from the White House Office of Presidential Personnel. The little known office has purged thousands of federal employees from the government’s payroll since Trump was sworn in.

The email said Hayden’s service was “terminated effective immediately.”

Hayden was the target of a group called the American Accountability Foundation (AAF) that accused her of being too “woke”.

MEGA/WENN

The group accused Hayden of being anti-Trump and promoting Drag Queen Story Hour where drag queens read books to children in libraries across the country.

The group accused Hayden of “trans-ing kids” in a post on X on Thursday, May 8. Hours later, Hayden was terminated from her position.

AAF tweeted: “The current #LibrarianOfCongress Carla Hayden is woke, anti-Trump, and promotes trans-ing kids. It’s time to get her OUT and hire a new guy for the job!”

Photo of AAF tweet

On Thursday night, the group tweeted, “THANK YOU @POTUS !!!! Woke & radical Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden has been fired!”

The White House defended President Trump’s decision to fire Hayden because she “did not fit the needs of the American people.”

Pool / MEGA

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Hayden of having put “inappropriate books for children” in the library.

“We don’t believe that she was serving the interests of the American taxpayer well, so she has been removed from her position, and the President is well within his rights to do that,” Leavitt said.

Kanye West’s “Heil Hitler” Banned On All Digital Streaming Platforms

Sandra Rose
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Kanye West’s “Heil Hitler” Banned On All Digital Streaming Platforms
Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Kanye West’s new song “Heil Hitler” has been banned on all digital streaming platforms. Kanye took to X to complain that his new song is “banned by all digital streaming platforms while Rednecks by Randy Newman remains streamable.”

He added: “They’re literally keeping the ni–as down.”

Photo of Kanye West post

The new song is Kanye’s latest controversial track featuring a Nazi theme. He calls himself a “villain” on the track while repeatedly chanting “Ni**a Heil Hitler.”

Kanye, who changed his name to Ye West, also dissed rapper Drake on the song.

“N***as be actin like fa****s so much, I think they might be Drake,” he raps. “They don’t understand the things I say on Twitter… all my ni**as Nazis, Ni**a Heil Hitler.”

In a previous X post, Kanye said he was having problems performing “Heil Hitler” on stage.

“I’m being told there’s an issue with me performing Heil Hitler. I am doing Heil Hitler at all my shows,” he wrote.

MEGA/WENN

Kanye’s fans have already given up hope that the “Runaway” rapper will ever record another instant classic.

But others are fixated on Kanye destroying his legacy one tweet at a time.

@suayrez tweeted: “Kanye West will be remembered as one of the greatest artists who destroyed his own legacy.”

@patrioticzeal wrote: “He has claimed to be God and has been insanely proud for the longest time. Kanye West is a devil.”

A third person commented: “Kanye West died in that 2021 house fire and we’ll never get that Kanye back again.”

Someone else wrote: “KANYE WEST DIED LONG TIME AGO.”

Former Memphis Police Officers Acquitted in Tyre Nichols Murder Case

Sandra Rose
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Former Memphis Police Officers Acquitted in Tyre Nichols Murder Case
Photo of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith
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Three former Memphis police officers were acquitted on all counts in the Tyre Nichols murder case on Wednesday.

A jury acquitted Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith of second-degree murder, and other charges, in the death of Tyre Nichols.

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge James Jones Jr. released the men from custody. They are awaiting sentencing on previous federal convictions related to the case.

The three men and former colleagues Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin are set to be sentenced in federal court next month.

Photo of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith
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Wednesday’s acquittals sparked outrage among Memphis residents and Nichols’ family members who waited 2 years for justice.

Nichols, a 29-year-old black man, was severely beaten by five black police officers in Memphis, Tennessee on January 7, 2023. He died after lingering for 3 days on life support in a hospital.

The amateur photographer and FedEx employee was pulled over by police and dragged from his car. After being pepper sprayed and tased, Nichols ran to his mother’s house less than a mile away.

The five officers caught up to him and punched, kicked, pepper sprayed and struck Nichols with a baton.

The officers later claimed they stopped Nichols for reckless speeding. But a review of police body cams and cameras on utility poles didn’t show probable cause for the traffic stop.

It was later revealed that Nichols was fatally beaten over a woman linked to one of the officers.

The case generated national headlines and then-President Joe Biden spoke with the Nichols family.

The family filed a $500 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Memphis Police Department, the City of Memphis, police chief, and others.

Update: University of North Carolina Denies ESPN Report That Bill Belichick’s 24-Year-Old Girlfriend Was Banned

Sandra Rose
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Update: University of North Carolina Denies ESPN Report That Bill Belichick’s 24-Year-Old Girlfriend Was Banned
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The University of North Carolina denies an ESPN report that Bill Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, was banned from the football field and football facilities.

In the statement, obtained by PEOPLE, UNC said there have been “false reports about Jordon Hudson’s role.”

“While Jordon Hudson is not an employee at the University or Carolina Athletics, she is welcome to the Carolina Football facilities.”

UNC also stated that Hudson will continue to function as a publicist for Belichick, 73. “Jordon will continue to manage all activities related to Coach Belichick’s personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina Football and the University.”

In his original report during his podcast, ESPN’s Pablo Torre stated: “Two sources at the University of North Carolina tell me that … [Jordon] is no longer allowed in the football building. She is not allowed on the football field.”

Following UNC’s statement on Friday, Pablo doubled down, saying: “The University of North Carolina can choose to describe or change its position on Jordon Hudson’s involvement however it wishes… We requested comment and filed dozens of FOIA requests that were not satisfied. And we stand by the specific reporting in our episode, which came from the highest levels of the football program.”

The news comes after Hudson was seen patrolling the sideline during football practice. Belichick also ordered the university to CC Hudson on all of his emails.

BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID

Belichick was fired last year by New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft after 24 seasons and 6 Super Bowl rings. Sources cited his unusual relationship with Hudson as the reason for his termination.

In December, Bill signed a 5-year contract worth $50 million to become the head coach of the Tar Heels football team. The deal includes a $10 million salary.

The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Belichick is considered one of the greatest NFL coaches of all time. He coached the New England Patriots to 6 Super Bowl wins, and he won 2 Super Bowl rings as the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants.

But UNC fans are concerned about his relationship with Hudson who is not a university employee.

BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID

There is concern that Belichick will lose his head coaching job at UNC after a recent incident involving Hudson.

The calls for his termination reached a fever pitch when Hudson told Belichick not to answer a question about how they met during a recent interview on CBS’s “Sunday Morning.”

He defended Hudson after the disastrous interview went viral. She recently leaked screenshots of an email written by Belichick showing his contempt for the mainstream media.

Brawl Breaks Out Between Rod Hinton’s Family and Police During Hearing

Sandra Rose
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Brawl Breaks Out Between Rod Hinton’s Family and Police During Hearing
Photo of Rodney Hinton Jr in court
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A brawl broke out in a Cincinnati courtroom during a hearing for Rodney Hinton Jr., 38. He is charged with running over a sheriff’s deputy who was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati during a graduation ceremony.

Sheriff’s deputy Larry Henderson was struck by Hinton who “aimed his car” straight at him. Henderson was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Photo of Rodney Hinton Jr, Deputy Larry Henderson
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Hinton was denied bond at a court hearing on Tuesday, May 6. A brawl broke out when his brother knocked on a window separating the visitors from the accused.

When deputies told the man to “have a seat”, he confronted them and was led out of the courtroom. The judge cleared the courtroom and a brawl broke out in the hallway between family members and police.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/X0tr9bnGFLg

Deputy Henderson’s senseless murder was in retaliation for the fatal shooting of Hinton’s son, Ryan Hinton, by another police officer.

The Cincinnati Police Department said 18-year-old Ryan Hinton pointed a gun at police while fleeing last week. Ryan was a passenger in a stolen car that was pulled over by police on May 1.

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The officer’s body camera does not capture the moment Ryan allegedly pointed the gun at the officer.

On May 2, police invited Rod Hinton and other family members to view the body camera footage of his son’s fatal shooting.

Afterwards, attorney Michael Wright said Rod Hinton was “distraught” when he left the police department.

“He couldn’t finish watching the video,” Wright said of Hinton, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Police say Rod Hinton briefly returned to the police building before driving away.

Within minutes, 911 calls flooded into the dispatch center describing a fatal accident involving a police officer and a motorist.

Deputy Henderson was directing traffic when he was intentionally struck and killed by Hinton.

Hinton was arrested and charged with aggravated murder. He pleaded not guilty.

“This is a horrific tragedy on both sides,” Hinton’s attorney said. “This family lost their son, and this police officer lost his life.”

The black community has rallied in support of Hinton who is being held in jail without bond. The jail has stopped accepting donations from the public for his commissary.

The manosphere has hailed Hinton as a hero for killing a white cop. His supporters demand his release on bond.

Photo of Karmelo Anthony, Austin Metcalf
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Hinton’s case is similar to that of 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, a black Texas resident who fatally stabbed Austin Metcalf, who is white, during a dispute at a track meet on April 2.

A crowdfunding site raised over $500,000 for Karmelo’s family. He was eventually released on house arrest.

Smokey Robinson’s lawyer says rape allegations against him are ‘ugly’ and ‘false’

Sandra Rose
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Smokey Robinson’s lawyer says rape allegations against him are ‘ugly’ and ‘false’
MediaPunch / BACKGRID

R&B icon Smokey Robinson said he is “appalled” by rape allegations made against him by four housekeepers in a $50 million lawsuit.

The 85-year-old Motown legend and his wife Frances Gladney, 73, are both named in a lawsuit accusing him of sexual battery and rape.

“I am appalled. I can’t speak about this right now,” the singer/songwriter said in a phone call with the Daily Mail on Wednesday, May 7.

Hollywood To You / BACKGRID

The lawsuit was filed in California by four Hispanic housekeepers who allege the “Tracks of My Tears” singer cornered them in bedrooms without cameras in his Los Angeles mansion.

The assaults allegedly took place between 2007 and 2024. The women also accused Robinson and his wife of labor violations, creating a hostile workplace, and working them for long hours with little pay.

MEGA/WENN

Robinson’s attorney, Christopher Frost, confirmed in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that “the evidence will show that this is simply an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon.”

Frost continued: “Through this process we have seen the bizarre theatrics of yesterday’s news conference, as the plaintiffs’ attorneys outlined vile, false allegations against Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, trying to enlist the public as an unwitting participant in the media circus they are trying to create.”

The lawsuit claims Robinson allegedly used “physical barriers, force, threats of force,” and other methods to keep the women from leaving the house during the alleged assaults.

MediaPunch / BACKGRID

“We believe that Mr. Robinson is a serial and sick rapist, and must be stopped,” the women’s attorney John Harris said at a news conference on Tuesday.

The housekeepers, who cleaned the home separately over the years, reportedly quit as a result of the alleged assaults, according to the lawsuit.

Controversial 12-foot tall statue of black woman in Times Square is coming down

Sandra Rose
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Controversial 12-foot tall statue of black woman in Times Square is coming down
Photo of statue of black lady in Times Square
Courtesy of Thomas J. Price

A 12-foot statue of a black woman in Times Square is coming down early following fierce backlash on social media.

The statue was originally intended to stand in Times Square over the summer. But it will be taken down in mid-June due to all the complaints.

The giant bronze statue has become a tourist attraction in Duffy Square on Broadway facing 47th Street.

The statue features an obese black woman wearing a T-shirt and pants. She stands with her hands on her hips while staring down Broadway.

Photo of statue of black lady in Times Square
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The statue is part of a series called “Grounded in the Stars” by British artist Thomas J. Price.

Following the criticism online, Price said the statue is “a composite of images and observations” of black women in America.

“The work is a composite fictional character, unfixed and boundless, allowing us to imagine what it would be like to inhabit space neutrally without preconceived ideas and misrepresentation,” Price said.

The response to the statue contradicts with Prince’s intention to “allow for deeper reflection around the human condition and greater cultural diversity.”

One X user wrote: “If I was black I’d be p***ed. So this is supposed to represent black women? Obese and cheap with Walmart clothes?”

Another person said the statue only “reinforces the fat, impatient black woman stereotype.”

A third person asked, “Why erect a statue with [resting b—h face] that wants to speak to the manager?”

@JasonMac2022 wrote: “I’m gonna be in New York in July against my will. I’m definitely taking a picture with that statue.”

But Jason won’t get his picture with the statue because it is coming down in mid-June.

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