Home Blog Page 242

Irv Gotti Sex Assault Lawsuit Dismissed After He Passed Away

0
Yellow Mamba / BACKGRID

A sex assault lawsuit against Murder Inc. Records founder Irv Gotti has been dismissed after he died from a massive stroke on Wednesday, Feb. 5. He was 54.

Gotti was on a ventilator in an ICU after suffering a stroke. Family and friends prayed for his recovery but doctors declared him brain dead on Feb. 4. He was removed from a ventilator on Feb. 5.

MEGA/WENN

Gotti’s health history included Type 1 diabetes and multiple strokes. It is not known whether he was vaccinated.

In an August 2023 interview on the “Drink Champs” podcast, Gotti said, “My diabetes, my number’s been high… What it does is it starts deteriorating your body.” He answered “no” when asked whether his diabetes is “under control.”

Johnny Nunez/WireImage

In an August 2024 interview with TMZ, a representative said Gotti’s uncontrolled diabetes “caused him to have a minor stroke over six months ago.”

Gotti’s career began as a DJ spinning records in Queens, NY parks. He rose to become a founder of Murder Inc. Records, which launched the careers of Ashanti, Ja Rule, Charli Baltimore, Lloyd, and others.

Hollywood To You / BACKGRID

The music producer is pictured with one of his artists in a photo dated March 6, 2016 in Hollywood, California.

Last year a Florida woman filed a lawsuit against Gotti in Miami. The woman alleged Gotti sexually assaulted and abused her over a two-year period from 2020 to 2022.

The woman, identified in court papers as “Jane Doe,” claimed she suffered “severe emotional and psychological harm for which she had to be committed to a psychiatric ward.

Doe alleged that she and Gotti met through a mutual friend at a poker tournament in the summer of 2020. Gotti flew her to Saint Martin for an all-expenses paid vacation.

She said the music producer forced her to have sex with him, and threatened to send her home if she didn’t.

“Due to his power and influence in the music world, she complied,” the lawsuit stated.

Leon Bennett/Getty Images

After the trip to Saint Martin, the woman and Gotti began dating, according to the lawsuit.

The suit claims that during their two-year relationship, she “suffered constant abuse” at the hands of the rap mogul, who demanded that she perform unwanted sexual acts and berated her.

She said Gotti flew her to Miami in January 2022. They stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel, where he forced her to perform oral sex on him in the elevator.

A similar incident occurred in Atlanta that summer, according to court papers. He allegedly forced her to perform oral sex on him in an Uber.

Their relationship ended after that incident.

Kanye West Says He Named His Upcoming Album ‘Bully’ After Learning His 9-Year-Old Son Kicked a Child

0
BACKGRID

Kanye “Ye” West said he named his highly-anticipated studio album Bully after learning his 9-year-old son, Saint, kicked a child for being “weak”.

In a podcast chat with YouTuber Justin LaBoy, Ye said, “My son was playing with some kid, and then he kicked him. I asked my son, ‘Why did you do that?’ He said, ‘Because he weak.'”

Jacopo M. Raule/Getty Images

“I was like, This man is really a bully right here,” Ye laughed.

LaBoy said, “I wonder where he get that from, which parent. Definitely a young Ye.”

Kanye West
Screengrab

Bully marks Ye’s first solo album in over three years. He spent the last several months in Japan with his wife, Bianca Censori. While there, he recorded his album in solitude.

Ye announced his album will be released on his eldest daughter North West’s 12th birthday on June 15.

Social media users were disappointed in Ye’s “weird” and “disgusting” comments.

“He’s proud to have raised a bully smh,” one person wrote. “Uhm…. okay… this is weird. I have so many thoughts,” someone else said.

“As if you’re child kicking other child who seemed ‘weak’ is something to brag on. Disgusting,” another comment read. “praising your kid for being a bully. yeah, that’s going to work out really well. Great parenting. Not,” one more user added.

In addition to Saint and North, Ye, 47, and Kim Kardashian, 44, also share a daughter named Chicago, 7, and son Psalm, 5.

Drag Racer, 7, Dies in Crash at Orlando Speed World

0
Photo may have been deleted
Facebook

7-year-old drag racer Elienisse Zoe Diaz Rodriguez died doing what she loved best: speeding.

Elienisse died tragically 2 days after a drag racing accident at Orlando Speed World in Orlando, Florida. Cell phone video shows Elienisse’s dragster collide with other dragsters before crashing into a retaining wall at the race track on Feb. 2.

She suffered a closed head injury despite wearing a safety helmet at the time of the crash.

A GoFundMe page raised over $21,000 for funeral expenses. The page stated Elienisse fought for her life for two days before doctors declared her brain dead on Feb. 4.

Elienisse had dreams of being a junior dragster, according to GoFundMe.

Photo may have been deleted
Facebook

According to reports, another child was transported on advanced life support to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Officials stated a third child also was transported to AdventHealth East Orlando with non-life-threatening injuries.

Jussie Smollett Grabs Lunch In Miami With Trayvon Martin’s Mother On What Would Have Been Trayvon’s 30th Birthday

0
VAEM / MiamiPIXX / BACKGRID

Actor Jussie Smollett and Trayvon Martin‘s mother, Sybrina Fulton had lunch in Miami on what would have been Trayvon’s 30th birthday.

Smollett was seen after having lunch with Fulton at Lido Bayside restaurant in Miami on Wednesday.

VAEM / MiamiPIXX / BACKGRID

Sybrina celebrated Trayvon’s Heavenly birthday in a post on X on Wednesday. “Happy Heavenly Birthday to my Son/Sunshine you would have been 30 today but…”

She added, “#TrayvonLivesOn #OurChildrenMatter. I will ALWAYS love you, #February5th.”

Unarmed 17-year old Trayvon Benjamin Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman under dubious circumstances in Sanford, Florida.

Allison Joyce/Getty Images

On Feb. 26, 2012 Trayvon left his father’s townhouse to walk to a convenience store for a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea.

On his way back from the store, the teen was confronted by Zimmerman who had appointed himself the neighborhood watchman.

Neighbors heard Trayvon scream before a gunshot rang out. Trayvon was shot in the chest and bled out on the ground.

Zimmerman claimed he shot Trayvon in self-defense under Florida’s stand-your-ground law.

More than 1,000 people attended Trayvon’s funeral on March 3, 2012 in Miami.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé were among thousands who attended a rally for Trayvon on July 20, 2013.

A jury acquitted Zimmerman of murder in a nationally televised trial in July 2013.

Huff Post lays off staffers after Trump cancels taxpayer dollars from USAID

0
Huff Post
Photo illustration

Left-wing website Huff Post, formerly The Huffington Post, laid off hundreds of employees today. The layoffs come after President Trump cut off taxpayer funds from a federal agency that is now shut down.

President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk shut down the United States Agency for International Development, also known as USAID, amid allegations of money laundering by the Democrats.

Left-wing blogs and websites that were cut off financially include the Huff Post and Politico.com, the latter of which received $18 million in taxpayer dollars.

Laid-off Huff Post workers took to X (Twitter) to say their goodbyes on Thursday.

Trump campaigned on creating a federal department called DOGE to cut wasteful government spending. Tesla founder Elon Musk was put in charge of DOGE.

Musk locked the doors of the USAID building in Washington, DC and refused to allow workers to enter to delete their computer files.

Astonishing viral video shows Democrat lawmaker Ilhan Omar and others desperately trying to enter the building after holding a Musk protest rally near the White House on Tuesday.

USAID is the international humanitarian arm of the Democratic party. The agency disbursed hundreds of millions to individuals, charitable corporations, and foreign countries.

A fact sheet on the White House website showed USAID paid over $2 million for electric vehicles in Vietnam, $2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala, and $100 million to buy condoms in Gaza.

Checks also went out to support transgender rights initiatives in foreign countries.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said USAID paid $70,000 for a DEI musical in Ireland, $47,000 to a transgender opera in Colombia, and $32,000 for a transgender comic book in Peru.

Another $84 million in USAID funds went to Bill and Hillary Clinton’s daughter Chelsea Clinton.

However, Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump also benefited from USAID. Ivanka received over $11,000 from USAID in 2019 to buy video recording equipment for a White House event.

“For decades, USAID bureaucrats believed they were accountable to no one – but that era is over. President Trump is STOPPING the waste, fraud, and abuse,” the Trump administration wrote on X.

‘You Don’t Know My Mama, B***h’: Kanye West Shuts Down Bianca Censori Criticism

0
MEGA

Kanye “Ye” West rushed to his wife Bianca Censori’s defense following the online backlash over her invisible Grammy Awards frock.

The rapper, 47, took to X (Twitter) to praise his wife and to say he admired her bold, unorthodox fashion style.

MEGA

Bianca, 30, is known for her edgy negligee-as-street clothes style. She surprised Grammy Awards viewers on Sunday when she walked the red carpet wearing a fur coat.

The Australian architect dropped the coat and turned around to reveal she wasn’t wearing panties or a bra under a sheer frock.

MEGA

Afterwards, Ye and Bianca left Crypto.com Arena and got into a custom wrapped Mercedes-Benz Maybach and left.

Now Ye is tired of the criticism online over his wife’s unique fashion sense.

“My wife’s first red carpet opened a whole new world,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), alongside a photo from the event. “I keep staring at this photo like I was staring in admiration that night. Thinking, ‘Wow, I am so lucky to have a wife that is so smart, talented, brave, and hot.'”

The Hollywood Curtain / BACKGRID

The part-time designer continued: “We tailored that invisible dress 6 times and just like magic poof we disappeared.”

He concluded with a message for followers who criticized his wife’s look.

“People asked how would your mother feel. You don’t know my mama b*tch.”

Kanye West

Ye’s mother, Donda, died at age 58 from post-surgery complications after undergoing cosmetic surgery in 2007.

Ye named two of his albums after his mother. He also opened a private school in her honor for his kids and other privileged students.

Bronny James Could Be Added To Lakers Starting Lineup Alongside LeBron

0
Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick hinted at a major shakeup in the Lakers lineup on Wednesday. In a bombshell trade on Feb. 1, the Lakers sent 10x NBA All-Star Anthony Davis, 31, to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for superstar guard Luka Doncic, 25.

The shakeup continued on Wednesday when the Lakers traded 6-ft-6 rookie Dalton Knecht, 23, to the Charlotte Hornets for 7-ft center Mark Williams, 23.

Dalton Knecht was the Lakers’ 17th overall pick in the 1st round of the NBA draft. LeBron James’ son Bronny James was the No. 55 pick in the 2nd round of the draft.

Knecht was a fan favorite who saw lots of playing time off the bench for Los Angeles. Knecht routinely scored in double figures for the Lakers.

Harry How/Getty Images

But the door is open for Bronny to come off the bench and get more playing time now that Knecht is gone.

Bronny may even be inserted into the starting lineup alongside his father. Crazier things have happened in the NBA.

Bronny, 20, made headlines this week when he scored his first NBA 3-pointer in a blowout game against the NY Knicks in New York on Feb. 1.

Bronny was the main topic of conversation among sports shows on Monday. Those who previously doubted Bronny’s skills now praised the young man for contributing a three to the team’s total score.

Without Bronny’s three pointer the Lakers would have only won by 125-112 over the Knicks. Bronny also made 1 free throw in his 2 minutes of playing time.

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

NBA purists point out that Bronny sold over $50 million worth of jerseys. They say the money he brings in takes priority over his stats production. Therefore, starting Bronny alongside his father is a no-brainer.

LeBron wants Bronny off the bench and on the court more. And whatever LeBron wants LeBron gets.

LeBron reportedly forced the Lakers to waive promising guard Quincy Olivari because he outshined Bronny on the court.

The Lakers and the NBA league office put pressure on journalists who don’t regularly praise Bronny as the second coming of, well, LeBron James.

ESPN sports analyst Stephen A. Smith complained that LeBron James’ camp reached out to him following his comments about Bronny’s poor stats.

On his show “First Take,” Smith pointed out Bronny’s unimpressive NBA stats so far: 0.6 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists average per game.

Smith discussed text messages he received after he questioned LeBron’s parenting skills.

“I spoke about this, and I felt the need to elaborate even further because a couple of people texted me and pissed me off, and they know who they are. People close to LeBron James talking to me about questioning him as a father. Come on y’all. I mean, it’s got to a point where this LeBron sensitivity is just beyond the pale,” Smith said.

Smith defended his criticism of Bronny.

“I’m not being cruel to Bronny. I’m looking out,” he explained. He then addressed LeBron James and his agent Rich Paul directly: “Do you want it this way? LeBron? Do you want it this way, Rich Paul? Do you want it this way? He can’t go into the G League and average 20, 25 and stay there until he’s ready because he’s LeBron’s son, you know how they’re going to judge him.”

Feds Bust 4 Men From South America Who Stole $300K From NFL QB’s Mansion

0
Joe Burrow suspects
FBI Cincinnati

Federal agents arrested three men who broke into Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s mansion while he was away at a Bengals game.

A selfie taken by one of the suspects shows off stolen property belonging to Burrow. Court documents indicate that personal property including Louis Vuitton backpacks, luggage, glasses, wristwatches and jewelry were stolen from Burrow’s home.

Jordan Francisco Quiroga Sanchez, 22, Bastian Alejandro Orellana Morales, 23, and Sergio Andres Ortega Cabello, 38, were indicted Wednesday in federal court in Cincinnati, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Sanchez, Morales and Cabello and a fourth man were arrested during a traffic stop in January in Clark County, which is northeast of Dayton.

Officials say they had in their possession a specialized glass-breaking tool typically used in burglaries, as well as items believed to be stolen in the Burrow burglary.

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Prosecutors say the four men are part of a South American theft ring involved in the Dec. 9 burglary at Burrow’s home in Anderson Township, Ohio.

All four suspects are charged with transporting stolen goods between states and falsifying records in a federal investigation.

Officials said all four suspects were in the country illegally.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker said in a statement: “Today is a day that law enforcement scored and spiked the ball.”

Federal agents used license plate readers and cell phone data that put the suspects in the area when Burrow’s home was broken into.

The feds also arrested two pawn brokers in New York who received the stolen property.

The feds seized stolen items connected to the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback from the pawn shop owned by one of the men. The items included jewelry, expensive wristwatches and a custom iced out “JB9” pendant.

Joe Burrow property
FBI Cincinnati

Joe Burrow was extremely emotional during a press conference in December after the break-in occurred at his home while he was 1,000 miles away at a game.

The robbery happened even though a security detail watched the home while Burrow was away, court documents say. The security detail was in the driveway while the burglars broke a window at the back of the house between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., investigators said.

IMG model and TikTok influencer Olivia Ponton discovered the break-in and called 911 after calling her mother to ask her what to do.

“Someone broke into my house,” Ponton said in a 911 call. Her mother, Diane Ponton, told police that the 22-year-old model was staying at Burrow’s home.

The break-in triggered speculation about his personal life and the nature of his relationship with Ponton.

Burrow and his fiancee, Olivia Holzmacher (pictured), have dated since his college days.

At an emotional press conference, Burrow responded to rumors that he cheated on his fiancee with Ponton.

“So obviously everybody has heard what has happened. I feel like my privacy has been violated in more ways than one. And way more is already out there than I would want out there and that I care to share, so that’s all I got to say about that,” he said.

Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

Officials believe the South American burglary crew are responsible for break-ins at the homes of NFL stars Patrick Mahomes (pictured), Travis Kelce, and Tua Tagovailoa.

Mahomes and Kelce, of the Kansas City Chiefs, are set to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 9.

Mahomes reportedly lost jerseys, medals, trophies, awards and more taken from his estate during a home invasion in November. Organized criminals also stole jewelry and designer bags belonging to his wife Brittany Mahomes.

The Mahomes’ mansion is pictured below.

BACKGRID

The NFL issued a bulletin warning players that perpetrators “appear to exploit team schedules to target athletes’ homes on game days.” They also use “public records, social media, media reports and surveillance to gather information on their targets.”

Update: Irv Gotti, Grammy-Winning Producer, Dead At 54

0
Bennett Raglin/Getty Images

Update: Sources close to Irv Gotti’s camp say the music executive was declared brain dead after suffering a massive stroke. He was 54.

According to Allhiphop.com, sources say Gotti was “declared dead” Wednesday morning (February 5).

Gotti, real name Irving Domingo Lorenzo Jr., is on a ventilator in an intensive care unit in New York City.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted by a blockage or bleeding in the brain.

Usually a doctor declares a patient brain dead when a brain scan shows a total lack of brainwave activity (no electrical impulses in the brain).

The family is usually given the option of removing the patient from the ventilator. If the family refuses to give permission to turn off the ventilator, the hospital can seek a court order to turn the machine off.

Leon Bennett/Getty Images

Last year, music manager Wack 100 reported that Gotti was recovering from a stroke. He shared a photo that showed a fragile looking Gotti walking with a cane.

Gotti’s rep later confirmed that he suffered a mild stroke due to diabetes.

Originally published on Feb 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM.

Gotti’s arch nemesis 50 Cent mocked rumors that Gotti passed away.

50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, wrote “Damn I wanted him to see my new shows yo!” on Instagram.

Gossip bloggers reported that Gotti died after being taken off of the ventilator.

However, Gotti’s friends, such as Russell Simmons and Juan Hustle, debunked the rumors. According to Simmons, Gotti was still on life support and his family and friends were “saying goodbye.”

Gotti produced hits for Ja Rule, Ashanti, DMX and Jennifer Lopez. But he is best known for feuding with Jay Z, Nas, Sean Combs and 50 Cent.

Gotti co-founded The Inc. (formerly Murder Inc) record label.

Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Wack 100 suggests Gotti suffered a stroke due to stress over his ex Ashanti dating rapper Nelly.

Gotti opened up about their alleged relationship in 2022. But Ashanti shut him down, saying “He was never my boyfriend.”

In July 2024, Gotti was sued by a Florida woman who claimed he sexually assaulted her.

The woman, identified in court papers as “Jane Doe,” claims Gotti assaulted and abused her on several occasions from 2020 to 2022.

“As a result of this sexually abusive relationship, Plaintiff has suffered severe emotional and psychological harm for which she had to be committed to a psychiatric ward. These injuries continue and affect Plaintiff to this day,” her attorney wrote in court documents.

Lil Wayne says he’s skipping the Super Bowl after halftime snub (Video)

0
MediaPunch / BACKGRID

Rapper Lil Wayne says he won’t attend the Super Bowl in his hometown after he was snubbed by the Super Bowl halftime committee.

In a video shared on Tuesday, Lil Wayne explained that he would not be attending Super Bowl LIX and instead teased that he was working on something “very special.”

“Y’all know I’m not going to be there this week,” Weezy said in the video.

“Shoutout to New Orleans, but I’ve been working on something very special. I’ve got something exciting coming for you,” he said in the video.

Wayne was shocked when Super Bowl halftime director Jay-Z chose Los Angeles-based rapper Kendrick Lamar as the Super Bowl halftime performer.

Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

Kendrick (right) made headlines in September when he announced he will be performing during halftime at the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

His announcement sparked outrage among fans who say New Orleans native Lil Wayne should have been considered over a West Coast rapper who is not well-known outside of hip-hop circles.

It was the second time Kendrick perform during the halftime show. He made a guest appearance with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50 Cent and Eminem in 2022.

“That hurt a whole lot,” Weezy said. “I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown, for automatically mentally putting myself in that position. I thought there was nothing better than that spot, on that stage, on that platform in my city.”