Home Blog Page 316

RIP: Ballerina Michaela DePrince, Who Danced for Beyonce, Dies Suddenly At 29

Sandra Rose
-
0
RIP: Ballerina Michaela DePrince, Who Danced for Beyonce, Dies Suddenly At 29
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Michaela DePrince, a former war orphan in Sierra Leone who danced in a Beyonce music video, died suddenly on Friday, Sept. 13. She was 29.

Michaela “sudden death” was announced by her adoptive family in a Facebook post.

“It is with profound sadness we announce the sudden passing of our beautiful sister, Michaela Mabinty DePrince,” they wrote.

“The family thanks you for their privacy as they navigate this very difficult time. Services will be private.”

As an orphaned child in war-torn Sierra Leone, Michaela and her sister, Mia, lived in an orphanage hoping to be adopted.

They were raised by the DePrince family in New Jersey, where Michaela took dance classes. By age 14, she won a prestigious scholarship to study ballet at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York City.

After graduating, Michaela went on to become the youngest principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Boston Ballet.

Michaela was hand-picked by Beyonce to dance in her “Freedom” music video.

Michaela thought it was a joke when she heard Beyonce wanted her to dance in her video, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“She said I looked like I was a creature from another planet,” Michaela told the Journal. “She walked up to me and said, ‘It’s such an honor to have you here.’ I was really cheesy and said, ‘The honor is mine.’ I was on cloud nine.”

Diddy-Dirty Money Singer Kalenna Denies Seeing Sean Combs Assault Cassie

Sandra Rose
-
0
Diddy-Dirty Money Singer Kalenna Denies Seeing Sean Combs Assault Cassie
Photo may have been deleted
Instagram, Getty Images

Diddy-Dirty Money Singer Kalenna Harper contradicts former band member Dawn Richard who dragged her name into her lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs.

In her response to Dawn’s lawsuit, Kalenna denied seeing Diddy get physical with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.

Julien Hekimian/WireImage

In her lawsuit filed Tuesday, obtained by TMZ, Dawn (pictured center) claimed she saw Diddy throw Cassie against a wall, choke her, hurl a scalding pan of eggs at her and drag her up a flight of stairs at his L.A. mansion.

Kalenna’s name is mentioned in court documents 33 times, TMZ reports.

Mike Marsland/WireImage

In a statement on Friday on social media, Kelanna (right) implied that Dawn (left) lied about most of her allegations. Kalenna wrote “Many of the allegations and incidents described in this suit are not representative of my experiences, and some do not align with my own truth.”

Kalenna, 42, said she did not witness “any behavior that could be considered abusive or unlawful.”

Dawn, 41, accused Diddy of years of abuse and mistreatment when she was his bandmate in Diddy-Dirty Money. She also alleges he psychologically terrorized her over the years.

Dawn claims Diddy grabbed her multiple times and threatened her life more than once.

She said Diddy abused her and other contestants during on-set auditions for his 2004 MTV show “Making The Band.” Dawn said Diddy called female contestants “fat,” “ugly,” “bitches” and “hoes.”

Diddy, 54, vigorously denies Dawn’s allegations in a statement through his attorney.

Attorney Erica Wolff tells TMZ, “Mr. Combs is shocked and disappointed by this lawsuit. In an attempt to rewrite history, Dawn Richard has now manufactured a series of false claims all in hopes of trying to get a pay day — conveniently timed to coincide with her album release and press tour.”

Arrest Made in Murder of Family of 4 in Upstate New York

Sandra Rose
-
0
Arrest Made in Murder of Family of 4 in Upstate New York
Photo may have been deleted
Screengrab

Monroe County police announced the arrest of a suspect in the brutal murder of a family of 4 near Rochester, New York.

Julio cesar Pimentel Soriano, 34, from the Dominican Republic, was arrested Saturday, Sept. 7, according to reports. He is charged with breaking into a house in Irondequiot, murdering a family of 4, and setting the house on fire.

The murders occurred on August 31. Police identified the victims as 30-year-old Fraime Ubaldo, 26-year-old Marangely Moreno-Santiago, 4-year-old Evangeline Ubaldo-Moreno, and Sebastian Ubaldo-Moreno, 2.

Police discovered the bodies in the basement after firefighters responded to a house fire on Knapp Avenue.

All four family members were stabbed multiple times in the chest and neck. Police said Moreno-Santiago fought to save her babies.

“This was a horrific scene. In almost 32 years of doing this job, I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Police Chief Scott Peters at a press briefing on Friday.

Photo may have been deleted
Screengrab

Soriano is charged with 4 counts of murder. Police are searching for other suspects who might have been involved.

Soriano is wanted for murder in 2019 in his home country, police said. Soriano first entered Puerto Rico illegally. Then he obtained a fraudulent New York ID to travel to the United States.

Police are withholding more information about the case as the investigation continues.

Kevin Hart Abruptly Closes His Vegan Restaurants in L.A.

Sandra Rose
-
0
Kevin Hart Abruptly Closes His Vegan Restaurants in L.A.
MEGA/WENN

Grand opening, grand closing. Kevin Hart shuttered all 4 of his vegan restaurants in Los Angeles without warning.

According to The Blast, the comedian/actor opened his first vegan restaurant, Hart House, in Los Angeles in August 2022. He later opened three more locations.

But all four locations were abruptly shut down on September 10 with no explanation.

Ex-employees were told the restaurants were closed when they showed up for work on September 10. Men were seen loading restaurant equipment into a semi truck parked outside one of the locations.

Hart House sold t-shirts just 3 days before the restaurant chain closed down.

Hart House CEO Andy Hooper confirmed the closures in a post on Instagram.

“Thank you. To our team, guests, and community, who helped make the change we all craved. A Hartfelt goodbye for now as we start a new chapter,” Hooper wrote.

The restaurant’s website is still active online.

The restaurant thanked customers for their support in a post on the Hart House Instagram account. The comments are restricted under the post.

Mario Lopez shares study that shows celebrity-obsessed fans are ‘less intelligent’

Sandra Rose
-
0
Mario Lopez shares study that shows celebrity-obsessed fans are ‘less intelligent’
MEGA/WENN

Mario Lopez was a trending topic on X (formerly Twitter) for implying that starstruck fans are less intelligent.

Lopez drew criticism after he shared a screenshot of a 2022 psychological study online.

The 50-year-old actor and “Access Hollywood” host shared a screenshot of a psychological study that shows “less intelligent” people are “obsessed” with celebrities.

MEGA/WENN

The backlash was swift. One person wrote on X: “What about people who host shows about celebrities?”
 
READ ALSO: Psychologists Warn Narcissism On the Rise Thanks to Selfies
 
The study, published in a Hungarian medical journal, found “a direct association between celebrity worship and poorer performance on cognitive tests.”

The study tested 1,763 adults who were asked to complete a 30-word vocabulary test and a “celebrity attitude scale” questionnaire.

They were asked to say yes or no to questions such as, “I am obsessed by details of my favorite celebrity’s life”, and “If I were lucky enough to meet my favorite celebrity, and he/she asked me to do something illegal as a favor, I would probably do it.”

The study participants who scored highest on the celebrity attitude test performed poorly on the vocabulary test and cognitive ability test. While those who scored lower on the celebrity attitude test did better on the vocabulary and cognitive tests.

The research suggested that people who are obsessed with celebrities may do poorly in tasks that require attention and other cognitive skills.

The researchers urged celebrity-obsessed people to “carefully monitor their feelings” for celebrities.

Ray J coaches his kids to say he never hit Princess Love

Sandra Rose
-
0
Ray J coaches his kids to say he never hit Princess Love
MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images

Ray J went live on Instagram after he apparently had a fight with his baby mama Princess Love.

Ray J and Princess Love were married in 2016. Their marriage has been a roller coaster ride. Ray J and Princess Love have filed for divorce at least 5 times since 2020.

They share 2 children, daughter Melody, 6, and son, Epik, 5.

In the video, Ray J can be heard coaching both minors to say he never put his hands on their mother. He said they only argued. He told Epik that they were making a movie and that it was all just an act.

Epik asked his dad if he could go to Ray J’s house. So Ray J told him to put his sweater on.

Then Melody walked into the room. She began to cry once she realized Ray J was taking Epik and leaving her there.

Jesse Grant/Getty Images

It’s heartbreaking to hear little Melody beg her father to stay. “I love my brother,” she said through tears. Ray J told Melody repeatedly that he loved her, but his words had little effect.

Melody asked Ray J to be nice to Princess Love.

“Make her happy. Come upstairs,” Melody told her father. “How do I make your mom happy?” he replied.

“Give her a hug,” Melody said.

“You think she’s gonna take my hug?” asked Ray J.

He sent Melody upstairs to ask Princess if she would accept his hug.

Watch the videos below to see how the story ends.

Ray J’s Instagram followers criticized him for putting their innocent children in the middle of their argument.

One person wrote: “Traumatizing them kids like this.”

Another person wrote: “Putting those poor kids in the middle.”

A third person wrote: “Coaching them kids to diffuse the situation so he won’t spend the night in Jail. Nasty work.”

Watch the videos below (Parts 1 and 2).

Lil Wayne Speaks On Super Bowl Halftime Snub: ‘It Broke Me’

Sandra Rose
-
0
Lil Wayne Speaks On Super Bowl Halftime Snub: ‘It Broke Me’
Photo may have been deleted
Screengrab

Rapper Lil Wayne responded to the controversy surrounding Jay Z’s pick to perform during the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans.

Earlier this week, West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar announced he was the halftime performer. His announcement drew criticism from fans who said the honor should go to New Orleans native Lil Wayne.

Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

Rappers Juvenile (left), Birdman (center), Nicki Minaj and Master P were among the celebrities loudly voicing their opinions on the Lil Wayne snub.

“First of all I want to say forgive me for the delay,” Wayne said in an Instagram video on Wednesday. “I had to get strength to do this without breaking [down].”

Weezy thanked his fans for supporting him and having his back. “I want to say thank you to every voice, every opinion, all the care, all the love and the support out there… Your words turned into arms and held me up when I tried to fall back.”

The 41-year-old “Lollipop” rapper said he was hurt by the snub. “That hurt. It hurt a lot… it hurt a whole lot.”

He continued: “I blame myself for not being mentally prepared for a letdown, and for just automatically mentally putting myself in that position like somebody told me that was my position… I thought there was nothing better than that, in that spot, in that stage, in that platform…. So that hurt. It hurt a whole lot.”

Lil Wayne thanked his fans again for uplifting him.

“Y’all are f*****g amazing! It made me feel like sh*t not getting this opportunity,” he continued. And when I felt like sh*t, you guys reminded me that I ain’t sh*t without y’all. And that’s an amazing reality.”

He concluded: “It broke me and I’m just trying to put me back together. But, my god, have you all helped me. Thanks to all my peers, my friends, my family, my homies on sports television, and everybody repping me. I really appreciate that.”

Watch the video below.

Shannon Sharpe Admits ‘My Instagram Wasn’t Hacked’

Sandra Rose
-
0
Shannon Sharpe Admits ‘My Instagram Wasn’t Hacked’
Prince Williams/FilmMagic

Shannon Sharpe won’t face disciplinary action from ESPN after he admitted his Instagram Live wasn’t hacked.

On Wednesday, Shannon claimed his Instagram was hacked when he accidentally went live on Instagram while getting busy with a young woman on Sept. 11.

In the audio, Shannon, 56, is heard grunting and moaning while talking dirty to a woman named “Michelle.”

“Beware my [account] Instagram was hacked this morning, my team and I are working vigorously to figure this out.
-UNC.”

Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images

The Pro Football Hall of Famer claimed his Instagram app went live accidentally during the freak off session with a young woman.

Shannon said he threw his phone on the bed and it went live while he was busy getting intimate. He insisted he doesn’t have Instagram Live and he’s never been on Instagram Live.

However, social media users say there are 6 steps to launch Instagram Live.

Facebook/META, which owns Instagram, intentionally made it complicated to ensure Instagram Live can’t be launched accidentally.

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

A YouTuber noticed a male enhancement product on Shannon’s bed that also appeared in an ad on Shannon’s Club Shay Shay podcast. Shannon also promoted the male enhancement product during his podcast while joking about his sexual prowess.

By Wednesday night, Shannon confessed that his Instagram was not hacked as he previously claimed. His confession came as a disappointment to his fans.

Shannon apologized to his fans in a livestream video.

“There was an event that happened today. Obviously, I’m embarrassed,” he said.

“There are a lot of people who count on Shannon to be professional at all times, and I always try to be professional at all times. Even when I am behind closed doors, I still try to remain a level of professional… and I’m very disappointed in myself. Not for the act — I think there are millions and billions of people of consenting age that engage in activities — but to have your most intimate detail on the audio to be heard. I’m disappointed in myself. I let a lot of people down.”

Shannon said his steamy session with an unknown woman was not staged. He insists the livestream was accidental.

“My heart sank. It dropped,” he said. “I called my agent, I called the agency, I called ESPN, and I thought, ‘Just tell them the truth…’ My phone wasn’t hacked. It wasn’t a prank. It was me being a healthy, active male… In all sincerity, I am extremely embarrassed that [in] a very, very private, intimate situation, that the audio [could] be heard, and I’m extremely disappointed in myself.”

ESPN will not discipline the former NFL tight end, but whatever respect his fans had for Shannon is gone. Shannon’s brand has taken a serious hit and it may not recover.

Insiders speculate that Shannon went viral due to declining YouTube views on his Club Shay Shay podcasts.

Man, 27, who posed as high school student gets his sentence

Sandra Rose
-
0
Man, 27, who posed as high school student gets his sentence
Photo may have been deleted
Screengrab

A 27-year-old Nebraska man who posed as a high school student for 54 days was sentenced to 85-115 years in prison.

Prosecutors say Zachary Scheich was 26 when he pretended to be a student at two Lincoln, Nebraska high schools last year. He lured more than 40 girls – some as young as 13 – and sexually assaulted them.

The judge imposed the harshest sentence because Scheich took advantage of girls who believed he was their peer.

“They knew not to speak with an adult male on social media. They knew not to meet an adult male by themselves,” said Lancaster County District Judge Darla Ideus before imposing sentence on Thursday. “Sir, they did not know how to protect themselves against you because again they thought you were their peer, their friend, and because you gained their trust.”

Judge Ideus sentenced Sheich to a minimum of 85 years in prison and a maximum of 120 years.

He is also required to register under Nebraska’s Sex Offender Act.

Scheich was arrested in July 2023 after several students came forward to report him. Police said he used falsified documents to register as a 17-year-old student at 2 Lincoln high schools.

Prosecutors say Sheich texted more than 40 students — some as young as 13. He sexually assaulted the students off school grounds.

A woman was also charged in the case. Police say Angela Navarro posed as Scheich’s mother to help him register for classes. She pleaded not guilty earlier this year, according to KETV News.

The prosecutor said Sheich is likely to re-offend if given a lighter sentence.

“He is a predator of the worst kind that preys on children,” said Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Amber Schlote. “He was, simply put, a master manipulator and predator,” she said.

Schlote thanked the young victims for coming forward to report Scheich to police.

“Because of your bravery the defendant was stopped and other innocent children have been spared the same fate,” she said. “For that, you are heroes.”

Sheich won’t be eligible for parole for more than 40 years.

Trump Announces There Will Be No Second Debate with Harris

Sandra Rose
-
0
Trump Announces There Will Be No Second Debate with Harris
Photo may have been deleted
Illustration

Former President Donald Trump will not participate in any more debates with Vice President Kamala Harris before the election.

During their first debate on Tuesday, Trump was ambushed by ABC News’ moderators who repeatedly fact-checked him.

After the debate, Trump expressed his annoyance at debating Harris and the two ABC moderators. He also speculated that Harris was given the debate questions in advance.

Harris confidently laughed and giggled throughout the debate. Trump said that’s because Harris was fully prepared with the questions, while Trump was at a disadvantage.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

In the Spin Room after the debate, Trump told reporters he would consider debating Harris again. He previously agreed to three debates with Harris.

However, on Thursday, Trump announced he will not participate in another debate with Harris.

In a post on his Truth Social app, Trump said he won the debate with “Comrade Harris” and “she immediately called for a second debate.”

Trump referred to his debate with President Joe Biden in June as the first debate. “THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!” he wrote.

Trump wrote:

“When a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, “I WANT A REMATCH.” Polls clearly show that I won the Debate against Comrade Kamala Harris, the Democrats’ Radical Left Candidate, on Tuesday night, and she immediately called for a Second Debate. She and Crooked Joe have destroyed our Country, with millions of criminals and mentally deranged people pouring into the USA, totally unchecked and unvetted, and with Inflation bankrupting our Middle Class. Everyone knows this, and all of the other problems caused by Kamala and Joe – It was discussed in great detail during the First Debate with Joe, and the Second Debate with Comrade Harris. She was a no-show at the Fox Debate, and refused to do NBC & CBS. KAMALA SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE DURING THE LAST ALMOST FOUR YEAR PERIOD. THERE WILL BE NO THIRD DEBATE!

Photo may have been deleted

1...315316317...3,757Page 316 of 3,757