Home Blog Page 74

Billy Porter Recovering from Urosepsis Infection: “I’m Alive Today Because of My Fans”

Sandra Rose
-
0
Billy Porter Recovering from Urosepsis Infection: “I’m Alive Today Because of My Fans”
Photo of Billy Porter
Screengrab

In September, the news broke that beloved actor Billy Porter was hospitalized with a serious case of sepsis. Fans believed the “Cabaret” star was on his death bed.

In a new “Proof of life” Instagram video on Monday, December 22, Billy, 56, assured his followers that he is “On the road to a full recovery.”

He captioned his post: “She’s ALIVE!!! Proof of life, PTL!!! Thank you all [for your thoughts], prayers and healing energy! Merry Christmas one and all! AND… Check out my new film Christmas Karma on Amazon Prime!!! #christmaskarmamovie.”

In the video Billy said,

“I’m here first and foremost to say happy holidays, Merry Christmas, happy Kwanzaa, happy Hanukkah, and everything in between. So some of you may or may not know that I was in the hospital very ill this fall with urosepsis.

“It was not easy. It’s been a very, very challenging four months. And I want everybody to know that I am on the road to a full recovery. I’m not there yet, but I’m on the road to that.

Fighting back tears, Billy continued: “I wanted to thank everybody for your prayers, and your love, and sending me all the vibes. I felt every single one of them. And I know that I’m alive today because of my fans.”

Billy also shared a teaser of his new Amazon Prime movie, “Christmas Karma.”

Billy’s fans were ecstatic to see him alive and well.

@pkels86 wrote: “Awww I’m so glad you’re well! I feel the love!”

@riversong11 wrote: “Love you. So happy you are getting better every day @theebillyporter.”

@nickrburroughs commented: “We love you superstar!”

Sepsis is the body’s severe response to an infection. The immune system, which normally fights infection, attacks the body releasing toxins into the bloodstream and causing inflammation in the organs.

Billy’s sepsis started in his urinary tract and spread to his kidneys. It is a life-threatening condition.

Watch the video below.

Tyrese Gibson speaks on the “painful process” of a high-value man getting a divorce: “I’m tired of crying”

Sandra Rose
-
0
Tyrese Gibson speaks on the “painful process” of a high-value man getting a divorce: “I’m tired of crying”
Photo of Tyrese Gibson
Screengrab

Tyrese Gibson sat down with retired pastor TD Jakes for a deep discussion about life after divorce on the “NXT Chapter with TD Jakes” podcast.

Tyrese explains why he hesitates to get married again after his 4½ year divorce battle with ex-wife Samantha Lee.

Despite having a prenuptial agreement in place, Tyrese was ordered to pay Samantha $1.2 million in child support and legal fees – money that he says he did not have.

Tyrese said Samantha hesitates to marry the man she’s with now because she isn’t sure she wants to be married again.

“I can relate to that,” he said.

“Ive been in a relationship with my lady, Zelie, for 5 years, and she’s always hinting at marriage. And some people will say oh you’re a Bandaid. You’re just filling in the blanks and… At a certain point he’s gonna dispose of you and then go find the woman that he actually wants to marry.”

Photo of TD Jakes, Tyrese Gibson
Screengrab

Tyrese explained that some people formulate opinions of situations they have no experience with.

A high-value man like Tyrese needs a prenup in place to protect his property and assets. However, lawyers have ways of getting around prenups.

“You don’t know what it’s like to wake up, get married, have a prenuptial agreement in place, have the prenup to get cracked where you end up paying all of her legal fees and my legal fees,” he said. “And now I’m paying all this money to attorneys trying to protect what I have. And then you realize if somebody marries you and they said I don’t wanna be here anymore, then they’re trying to take everything that belongs to you with them. It is really a painful process.”

He continued: “So hey, if we could be happy and we could be together and we could not get married because if you ever decide that you don’t wanna be married anymore, now you’re gonna be another person trying to take everything that I’ve worked my butt off for for the last 30 years. And what does that look like and how long is this gonna last before the judge decides this is my last judgment.”

Tyrese said he lost his divorce appeals and he was ordered to pay Samantha $1.2 million that he did not have.

“And then who do I turn to when I’m financially depleted?”

Watch the video below.

Halle Bailey’s hairstylist apologies for using Halle’s son, Halo, to promote her business

Sandra Rose
-
0
Halle Bailey’s hairstylist apologies for using Halle’s son, Halo, to promote her business
Photo of Halo hairstyle
Screengrab

Halle Bailey‘s hairstylist apologized publicly for using Halle’s son, Halo, in a video to promote her salon services.

The hairstylist, who goes by @strandsoflifehair on Instagram, shared a video of a small child sitting in a salon chair.

The hairstylist captioned the video: “Famous Baby Chronicles. Guess the famous baby lol.”

In a voiceover, she said, “Today my client is a famous baby. I won’t show his face but you know what it is. I’m detailing his hair and I’m blow drying it. Do you hear that? Nothing. He’s quiet. Why is he quiet?”

She holds up a brush with wide blue bristles called a Unibrush.

“That’s why he’s quiet,” she added. “It works guys. Get it.”

The video violated Halle and DDG’s court order preventing either of them from posting baby Halo on social media.

The hairstylist must not read the blogs. She should’ve known that a court order existed. The news was all over the blogs, including this one.

She took to social media and posted a public apology to Halle.

“I did not have consent from Halle to post him, and this was my mistake entirely,” she wrote. “I was not aware that sharing his image would conflict with an existing court agreement, and there was absolutely no intent to cross any boundaries or cause harm.”

She continued, “Halle was not aware that I posted the content, and this situation is in no way her fault. As soon as it was brought to my attention, I took responsibility and removed. I sincerely apologize for the oversight and for any concern it caused. I respect Halle and her family deeply.”

Photo of post

X user @thetallestdolly wrote: “If it was a genuine mistake let’s show her grace lots of ppl who do celebrities’ hair or celebrity kids’ hair post them on social media just excited to show whose hair they did.”

But others called for Halle to fire the hairstylist.

@MikeED5 wrote: “She knew it and didn’t care smh. Clout is a real drug.”

@lovelyleary commented: “It doesn’t matter you’re still supposed to ask for permission to post a child.”

Nicki Minaj goes full MAGA with Erika Kirk. Is Nicki canceled?

Sandra Rose
-
0
Nicki Minaj goes full MAGA with Erika Kirk. Is Nicki canceled?
Caylo Seals/Getty Images

Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk brought out rap icon Nicki Minaj as her surprise guest at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention in Phoenix on Sunday.

Erika and Nicki walked out hand-in-hand to fireworks, music and loud applause.

Nicki praised President Trump and she called Vice President JD Vance an “assassin.” Then Nicki realized her Freudian Slip. She paused and there was a moment of silence between her and Erika.

Erika laughed and said, “Trust me. There is nothing new under the sun that I have not heard. So you’re fine.”

Nicki lowered her microphone and whispered something to Erika. “Yes we did,” said Erika. “You have to laugh about it truly. I have been called every single thing and you know what? God is so good, you let it roll right off your back. And this is what’s so beautiful about this moment, because if the Internet wants to clip it, who cares?”

“I have the utmost respect and admiration for our president,” Nicki said. “I don’t know if he even knows this, but he’s given so many people hope that there’s a chance to beat the bad guys and to win, and to do it with your head held high and your integrity intact.”

The rapper praised JD Vance and Trump for not losing “touch of the world” and their ability “to still connect and be real and make us feel proud to be American.”

“Dear young men, you have amazing role models like our handsome, dashing president and you have amazing role models like the assassin JD Vance, our vice president,” Nicki told the crowd.

“For boys – boys be boys,” Nicki said.

“Amen,” said Erika.

Nicki continued, “Be boys. It’s okay. Be boys. It’s nothing wrong with being a boy. How about that? How powerful is that? How profound is that?”

Watch the video below.

Anita Dupree Diagnosed with Breast Cancer On ‘Beyond the Gates’

Sandra Rose
-
0
Anita Dupree Diagnosed with Breast Cancer On ‘Beyond the Gates’
Photo of Vernon and Anita Dupree
Screengrab

Anita Dupree was diagnosed with breast cancer in an emotional episode of Beyond the Gates last week.

Anita will reveal her cancer diagnosis to husband Vernon Dupree on Tuesday’s episode of Beyond the Gates (December 23).

Their talk will leave him devastated and feeling guilty because he’s cheating on Anita with a member of her singing group The Articulettes.

The Articulettes is a Supremes-style girl group that formed in the 1970s in Chicago. The group consisted of Anita, Sharon Winger, Tracy Tyler, and the late Barbara Mitchell.

Photo of Sharon Winger, Anita Dupree
Screengrab

Vernon is having a torrid love affair with Sharon behind Anita’s back. Sharon lusted after Vernon for decades after Anita won his heart.

Sharon finally won him over during one of her trips to Fairmont Crest to visit Anita. Now she’s in town again and she wants to hook up with Vernon before the holidays when he’ll be busy with family.

Anita was having lunch with her daughter, Nicole Dupree Richardson, when she got the call from her doctor. Anita knew the news was not good.

Photo of Anita Dupree
Screengrab

Fans of the show didn’t take the news well.

From Soap Opera magazine:

The timing of this conversation is crucial. Leslie has already spilled the tea about Vernon’s affair to Ted, and the exposure is coming on Christmas Eve. Whatever Anita and Vernon discuss on Tuesday is setting the stage for the absolute DEVASTATION that’s about to hit the Dupree family.

Anita Dupree deserves honesty from her husband, especially now. She’s facing a health crisis that could take her life, and she needs Vernon’s support more than ever. If he’s not being truthful with her while she’s going through this, the betrayal will cut even deeper when the truth finally comes out.

This conversation is going to leave fans in TEARS. Anita and Vernon have been the foundation of the Dupree family for decades, and watching that foundation crack is heartbreaking!

Jemele Hill Channels Janet Jackson for Her 50th Milestone Birthday

Sandra Rose
-
0
Jemele Hill Channels Janet Jackson for Her 50th Milestone Birthday
Photo of Jemele Hill, Janet Jackson
Instagram

Former ESPN host Jemele Hill celebrated her 50th milestone birthday by channeling her idol Janet Jackson.

Some people celebrate their 50th milestone in unique and creative ways. Jemele decided to wear her birthday suit in a photo shoot.

Jemele shared the photoshoot on her Instagram page on Sunday. The sports journalist explained she was inspired by ESPN’s Body issue and Janet Jackson’s infamous Rolling Stone cover.

“…instead of just doing a simple photoshoot, I decided I’m getting nekkid,” she wrote in the post caption.

“My inspiration was ESPN’s the Body issue because I loved how that issue highlighted the complexity of the human body, and tied it to the spirit of the person. I also love Janet Jackson and couldn’t get that Rolling Stone cover out of my mind. It spoke to my unbothered nature.”

Jemele continued:

“I’m proud of who I am. I’m proud of what I’ve become after #Fiddy years. But I’m leaving room to be the best version of myself. So here’s to Five. Point. Oh. I’m going to bring this next decade to its MF’in knees.”

The celebrity responses to Jemele’s nude shoot were generally positive.

ESPN analyst Monica McNutt wrote: “Happy Birthday Girl! You look amazing cheers to stepping into all of you! You main 50 look amazing!”

DJ Jazzy Jeff wrote: “Happy Birthday Queen.”

Social media entrepreneur Tabitha Brown commented: “Well alright 50!!!!”

Atlanta media personality Rashan Ali wrote: “FIDDY AF. WELCOME.”

Popular Tech Influencer Lamarr Wilson Dies by Suicide at 48. “He Mattered”

Sandra Rose
-
0
Popular Tech Influencer Lamarr Wilson Dies by Suicide at 48. “He Mattered”
Photo of Lamarr Wilson
Screengrab

Beloved tech influencer and longtime YouTuber Lamarr Wilson, known as “That Unboxing Guy,” is the latest content creator to die by suicide.

Officials confirmed his death on December 19. He was 48.

Lamarr boasted millions of followers across YouTube, Instagram, X and TikTok.

In a post on October 22, Lamarr wrote: “Today is my 48th birthday & I’m down 48 pounds! It shouldn’t take a health scare like I had this year to get your #%&$ together, but hey, it worked.”

“I feel good, I’m genuinely at peace, and a key is keeping people out of my life who are determined to disrupt it with their inner chaos. We’re not here on this Earth long enough to tolerate that. Don’t let that happen to you!”

The tragic news comes after TikTok influencer Tucker Genal died by suicide at age 31 on December 11.

Mental health is a hot topic on social media because many “content creators” and “influencers” have opened up about their mental illness struggles in the AI era.

Photo of Kai Cenat
Screengrab

Popular streamer Kai Cenat recently revealed his personal battle with depression.

“Honestly, for the past few months I’ve been struggling with mental health out of self-doubt and fright of pursuing goals that I really want to achieve,” he said in a livestream video.

But Kai’s message wasn’t well-received by his followers who criticized him for being too rich to struggle with his mental health.

One person wrote on X: “A multimillionaire who works the easiest possible job on Earth, venting to his peon followers about his mental health as a marketing tactic to sell a new product.”

D.C. rapper Wale claimed Kai Cenat sent him on a downward spiral mentally. The “Pretty Girls” rapper said he was upset when Kai didn’t recognize him at the BET Awards.

Kai didn’t know who Wale was until his livestream viewers told him.

Wale confronted Kai at the awards show. “That s–t making me look crazy, I’m just letting you know,” he told Kai as the video went viral. “That’s making me look crazy – that exchange that we had in the hallway.”

“Oh, my bad,” Kai told him.

“I was upset for like five days in a row,” the D.C. rapper told Shannon Sharpe on his Club Shay Shay podcast. “Imagine giving your life to this game for 13 years,” and Kai doesn’t know who you are, said Wale.

“So when he’s talking about mental health, I’m like, ‘Yes, yes, yes, mental health, you get it now.”

Mental health experts predict the situation will only get worse as influencers and content creators feel pressured to compete with AI in 2026 and beyond.

Curtiss King responds to Xania Monet’s Kehlani diss track “Say My Name with Respect”

Sandra Rose
-
0
Curtiss King responds to Xania Monet’s Kehlani diss track “Say My Name with Respect”
Photo of Xania Monet, Curtiss King
Screengrab

“AI artist” Xania Monet released an R&B diss track, titled “Say My Name with Respect.” The diss track is in response to Kehlani and Jermaine Dupri’s criticism of AI-generated music.

Xania made headlines after signing a $3 million recording contract. Her creator, Telisha “Nikki” Jones, developed her sound using an app called Suno.

Nikki argues that AI artists aren’t replacing real artists, they’re amplifying creativity.

“I don’t respect it,” Kehlani told her followers on TikTok. “There is an AI R&B artist who just signed a multimillion-dollar deal … and the person is doing none of the work. This is so beyond out of our control. Nothing and no one on Earth will ever be able to justify AI to me,” she added.

However, Nikki argues that she writes Xania’s lyrics herself and she puts in as much work as real artists. “I wouldn’t call it a shortcut,” she said. “I still put in the work.”

Photo of Xania Monet

Nikki claims Xania is a music pioneer who should be respected by the industry.

“Anytime something new challenges the norm, you’re going to get strong reactions. AI is just the era we’re in,” she said.

One person who isn’t buying the “pioneer” talk is music producer Dwan Howard, also known as Curtiss King. He roasted Xania Monet on all of his popular platforms.

“Somebody please UNPLUG Xania Monet,” Curtiss wrote in a video on X and Instagram. “IT dropped an AI R&B diss song on @Kehlani? We got your back tho sis.”

Curtiss ripped Xania, whom he acknowledged is not human.

Xania’s music video shows her writing the lyrics to her diss song as she harmonizes.

“First of all, harmonizing your way through the intro of a diss song gotta be the stupidest s–t I ever heard in my life,” Curtiss said.

He mocked Xania’s synthesized, voice which he says was stolen from “over 10 million songs” on the Internet “without the permission of the creators.”

Curtiss also noticed Xania’s constant glitches in the music video. He noted that her image is stitched together from multiple 7-second clips.

“She keep on glitching ’cause she can’t get no more than 7 seconds of her to exist in this video,” he said.

Watch the video below.

“The Wire” Actor James Ransone (Ziggy Sobotka) Dies by Suicide at 46

Sandra Rose
-
0
“The Wire” Actor James Ransone (Ziggy Sobotka) Dies by Suicide at 46
Emma McIntyre/FilmMagic

Actor James Ransone, best known for his role as Ziggy Sobotka in HBO’s “The Wire,” died by suicide on Friday, December 19. He was 46.

Following his memorable role in The Wire, Ransone went on to play in multiple horror films over the past decade.

A Ziggy Sobotka fan page on X announced his death on Sunday.

Ransone was born on June 2, 1979, in Baltimore, Maryland, and studied at the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson, Maryland, and the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.

In 2003, Ransone landed his breakthrough role as Ziggy in The Wire.

In 2006, he played bank robber, Steve-O, in Spike Lee’s 2006 bank heist movie Inside Man.

Ransone also played Eddie Kaspbrak in the horror movie, “It: Chapter Two.”

His other movie roles include “Sinister”, “Tangerine,” “Mr. Right” and the “Black Phone”.

Ransone is survived by his wife, Jamie McPhee, and their two children.

Eddie and Wendy Osefo had 67 credit cards in four designer wallets: “They have very little money”

Sandra Rose
-
0
Eddie and Wendy Osefo had 67 credit cards in four designer wallets: “They have very little money”
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

“Real Housewives of Potomac” star Wendy Osefo and her husband Eddie Osefo had 67 credit cards in four designer wallets, authorities say.

Wendy and Eddie were arrested on fraud charges on October 9, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland.

She faces 16 charges, including 15 counts of fraud, while he was hit with 18 charges, including 16 counts of fraud.

The prosecution amended an earlier statement from November in which they said the Osefos had “approximately 40 credit cards” in their possession.

Steven Bergman/AFF-USA.COM / MEGA

Police found “67 [credit] cards in four different luxury wallets, including a lambskin, black-quilted Chanel wallet that was previously reported stolen.”

Most of the maxed out credit cards were in their names and the names of different companies. They frequently used aliases including “Pam Oliver” and “Eddie Hennessy.”

The Osefos were back in court on December 10, hoping to stop investigators from viewing 8 years of their financial records.

Prosecutors argued that there is public demand and interest in the case and that securing Wendy and Eddie’s financial documents (banking and income tax records) would ensure “justice is done.”

Prosecutors also reveal the reality TV couple “have very little money” and they are burdened with “substantial debt”.

Eric Kowalsky / MEGA

“Pattern of Excessive Spending”

Investigators revealed the Osefos have “a pattern of excessive spending” which they believe “support a motive in their criminal case.”

According to police reports viewed by The Blast, the couple reported a burglary at their home that never happened.

They then filed numerous insurance claims with three insurance companies to secure substantial payouts for items they claimed were stolen.

Maryland officials say some of the luxury items Eddie and Wendy claimed were stolen were returned to retail stores for full refunds.

Other items they claimed were stolen were seen in photos on Wendy’s social media accounts.

BACKGRID

“We will continue to push forward.”

Wendy responded to the fraud allegations against her and her husband during an appearance at BravoCon 2025 in November.

“I read your messages. I can’t respond to everyone, but your love and support means the world to me,” she said on the RHOP panel.

She continued, “You know, it’s an unfortunate situation, and right now I can’t say too much, but I will say when the time is right, I will share my story with everyone, and for now they’re just allegations, so we will continue to push forward.”

Watch the video below.

1...737475...3,759Page 74 of 3,759