June 15, 2024

Ye Bragged About 3-Hour Sexual Encounter With A-List Celebrity, According to Ex-Assistant’s Lawsuit

Lauren Pisciotta claims the music producer said he used Viagra and had sex with an A-list celebrity for three hours.

Recording artist Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, was hit with a lawsuit from his former assistant alleging sexual harassment, breach of contract, wrongful termination, and a hostile work environment.

Page Six reports that in that suit, the Late Registration rapper allegedly bragged about having a sexual encounter with an A-list celebrity that lasted for three hours due to it being fueled by Viagra.

Lauren Pisciotta claims in her lawsuit that when she was working as Ye’s assistant the fashion designer sent her sexually explicit texts and videos. She said she was terminated shortly after. She revealed that one of the messages she claimed he sent via text said, “One time I took Viagra and f**ked [A-list celebrity] for three hours. Not sure why that thought came to me.”

She also brought up another text she allegedly received from Ye stating, “l just thinking back to the bowling alley thinking of what the headline could have been Ye arrested for f**king the s**t out of his assistant on the bowling alley floor.”

The paperwork states, “This text was especially offensive since it suggested or insinuated that Plaintiff wanted to have sex with Defendant and actually had sexual intercourse with Defendant, when in fact she did not want to do so and never indeed did so.”

Pisciotta also alleges that she was sent video clips of a sexual nature from Ye. In one of the clips, she claims Ye is seen having sex with someone who worked at his fashion company, Yeezy. Another clip purportedly shows a model performing oral sex on him.

According to The Washington Post, Ye’s publicist denied the allegations and gave a statement to the media outlet.

“In response to these baseless allegations, Ye will be filing a lawsuit against Ms. Pisciotta, who actively pursued him sexually to coerce employment and other material benefits, then engaged in blackmail and extortion when her advances were rejected.”

The first hearing in the case is slated to take place on October 1 at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse.

by Mary Spiller

June 15, 2024

Ohio House Passes CROWN Act To Prohibit Hair Discrimination In Public Schools

Next up: the bill heads to the state senate for discussion.

The Ohio House of Representatives passed the CROWN Act, a piece of legislation that prohibits public schools from penalizing students for wearing natural hairstyles, on the week of June 12.

The CROWN Act, which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, was introduced by State Representative Juanita Brent, a Democrat from Cleveland, and Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) as House Bill 178.

Brent said, “We want to make sure that if you are having a protective style—no matter if it’s braided if it’s locked, or it’s puffs hat you will be able to wear that without discrimination within the state of Ohio.”

The bill now moves to the state senate for discussion.

The CROWN Act would prevent Ohio public preschools and high schools from enacting any sort of penalty on students, particularly students of color, for embracing their cultural identities by showing off their natural hair.

Brent said that although the act was passed, some representatives voted against it.

“We’ve been run mostly by old white dudes, old white and bald,” Brent said. “They’re the ones who are making decisions, but they’re also not the ones that have to receive this type of level of discrimination.”

Brent called the misinformation an indication of larger race issues. All of the no votes came from white men.

The bill is a big move for Black women especially. In an interview with News 5 Cleveland, Ladosha Wright, a Cleveland Heights cosmetologist, spoke about how the CROWN Act is the “human thing and this is the right thing to do.

“We know for certain that textured hair in America has not been treated very well,” she said. “So a lot of that, well, the bulk of that, has stemmed from not having a history about our hair before slavery.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 15, 2024

New York Governor Considering Mask Ban in NYC Subway, Citing Pro-Palestinian Demonstration Incidents

The mask ban proposal would hold 'common-sense exemptions' for health, cultural, or religious reasons.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is considering a face mask ban in the New York City subway system due to increasing concerns of people hiding their identity while committing acts of antisemitism.

During a news conference in Albany on June 13, Hochul said she has been in talks with state lawmakers—including NYC Mayor Eric Adams—about crafting legislation, but details have not been solidified. The proposal would hold “common-sense exemptions” for health, cultural, or religious reasons.

She said the proposal was influenced by “a group donning masks took over a subway car, scaring riders and chanting things about Hitler and wiping out Jews” on June 10.

“We will not tolerate individuals using masks to evade responsibility for criminal or threatening behavior,” she said, according to NBC News. “My team is working on a solution, but on a subway, people should not be able to hide behind a mask to commit crimes.”

While the exact incident she refers to is unclear, speculation links it to multiple conflicts during pro-Palestinian demonstrations that same day in Union Square Park. Dozens of rally attendees flooded the subway station, waving flags, and banging drums. On one train, an unmasked man reportedly led a small group in chanting “Raise your hands if you’re a Zionist” to other passengers.

During another incident, a viral video circulated of a man seen telling a group of protestors, “I wish Hitler was still here. He would’ve wiped all you out.”

Anti-Israel protester telling Jewish people:

“I wish Hitler was still here, he would’ve wiped all you out”
pic.twitter.com/6vCEguF1W1
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) June 11, 2024

There was once a state law banning face masks in public, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the law was reversed in 2020 when masks became mandatory in most settings. With COVID still affecting people’s health, some people have continued to wear masks on the city subway system.

Regardless of the health factors, including subway air pollution, several civil rights groups like the Civil Liberties Union (CLU), have criticized measures of face mask bans, arguing they are selectively enforced to break up protests as participants often wear them to avoid legal or professional repercussions.

“The Governor’s concerns about masks disguising criminal activity won’t be quelled by banning anonymous peaceful protest,” executive director of the CLU’s New York chapter, Donna Lieberman, said in a statement. “A mask ban would be easily violated by bad actors and, if someone is engaged in unlawful actions, the judgment should be made based on the criminal behavior, not their attire.”

However, Adams supported the the governor’s moves during an interview.

“Dr. King did not hide his face when he marched and for the things he thought were wrong in the country,” Adams said. “Those civil rights leaders did not hide their faces. They stood up. In contrast to that, the Klan hid their faces.”

Hochul said she is not blind to some of the complications that would align with a face mask ban but is more concerned about the concerns of public safety. “We understand how complex this issue is, and we’re just listening to people and addressing their needs and taking them very seriously,” she said.

by Stacy Jackson

June 15, 2024

Survey: New Orleans Residents Aren’t Satisfied With Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s Performance

The embattled mayor's alarmingly high disapproval rating includes residents who are unhappy with how she's handling crime.

A recent survey conducted for the New Orleans Crime Coalition highlight’s the public’s continued discontent with Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s leadership.

For the second consecutive year, the majority of city residents have expressed their disapproval of the mayor’s performance: Only a mere 31% voiced their support. According to the survey, last year only 30% approved of her administration, while a staggering 60% disapproved.

Cantrell’s current 59% disapproval rating comes as she finds herself embroiled in a series of controversies like her personal use of the city-owned Upper Pontalba apartment and her frequent taxpayer-funded travels outside the city.

The New Orleans City Council voted to oust Cantrell this year if she failed to vacate the Upper Pontalba unit and remove personal belongings by a specified date. Council Vice President J.P. Morrell, who sponsored the eviction motion, accused the mayor of “skirting the law.”

Cantrell also was accused of upgrading her airline tickets to first-class using taxpayer funds. The Louisiana Board of Ethics uncovered that upgrades were made for 13 domestic and two international flights, amounting to a cost of nearly $30,000 over a two-year period.

Fox 8 also noted the federal investigation into Mayor Cantrell’s relationship with former security officer Jeffrey Vappie. As Dr. Robert Collins, a political analyst at Dillard University, stated, “The public takes all of those issues into account…Plus, they’re unhappy with the fact that they don’t feel like their city services are being delivered in an efficient manner.”

While the new 2024 survey shows an increase in Cantrell’s approval rating for handling crime, rising from 24% to 29%, her disapproval rating is 62%. Additionally, her approval rating for handling infrastructure issues stands at a mere 24%, falling one percentage point from the previous year.

The annual survey, conducted from May 29 to June 4, 2024, is based on a representative sample of 800 completed interviews with adults (18 and older) residing in New Orleans. The racial composition of the sample includes 58% African American, 35% white, and 7% other.

Alabama A&M University, Cross Country, Running

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 14, 2024

Alabama A&M University Bringing Back Men’s Cross Country Program

Alabama A&M's Director of Athletics, Dr. Paul A. Bryant, said they are reinstating the program starting this fall. The team last played in 1994.

A year before the school celebrates 150 years, Alabama A&M University has announced that it is reinstating an athletic program that has been dormant for 30 years.

Alabama A&M’s Director of Athletics, Dr. Paul A. Bryant, said the university is bringing back the men’s cross country team starting this fall. The team competed in 1994.

“Adding men’s cross country to our athletics program at Alabama A&M is a significant step forward for our institution and our student-athletes,” Bryant said in a written statement. “This new program not only enhances our athletics department but also provides our students with additional opportunities to excel both on and off the field. It embodies our commitment to creating a holistic environment where students can achieve academic success and athletic excellence. We are excited about the potential this program brings and look forward to seeing our student-athletes thrive in this new arena.”

The men’s cross country team will compete in NCAA‘s Division I. With the program returning this upcoming season, the Department of Athletics will have teams in 17 NCAA Division I varsity sports.

The school also announced that the football team will have six games aired on ESPN’s linear and digital platforms for the upcoming Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) season. Alabama A&M will play its opening season game on the road when it travels to Auburn on Saturday, Aug. 31, with a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on the SEC Network+. The Bulldogs will appear on the ESPN platform with back-to-back road games at Austin Peay on Sept. 21 and then Florida A&M on Sept. 28. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.

The last televised game will air on the ESPN Family of Networks, a Thursday night game against Grambling State on Nov. 14 at home.

by Jameelah Mullen

June 14, 2024

Stevie Wonder Receives Honorary Degree From Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins grads received a big surprise from Stevie Wonder.

Beloved musician Stevie Wonder received an honorary degree from Johns Hopkins University June 13, an event that turned into a concert shortly after the honorary degrees were presented,

University president Ron Daniels invited the legendary singer to the stage. “We have a piano. We have a microphone. Do you think there’s any chance?” he asked.

“Show me the money,” Wonder quipped.

The singer-songwriter played chords to “The Secret Life Of Plants” while he encouraged the audience to use their voices to end “all wars forever.” Wonder sang a medley of some of his hit songs, including “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” and “I Just Called To Say I Love You.”

The “Ribbon In The Sky” singer also spoke at The Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute, the music conservatory for graduate students. At the end of his nearly 16-minute speech, he asked the students to use their musical gifts to bring “unity to the world.” He also surprised the graduates with an impromptu rendition of “Sir Duke.”

The Duke Ellington School Of The Arts congratulated Wonder in a press release.

“April Ellington & Edward Ellington Jr., along with Sandi Logan, Principal at Duke Ellington School Of The Arts (DESA), would like to take a moment to celebrate The Ellington’s family friend and longtime DESA supporter—music icon Stevie Wonder for receiving an Honorary Doctorate degree from Johns Hopkins University…Congratulations, Dr. Stevie Wonder! We love you madly.”

Wonder, who credits Duke Ellington as a major influence on his musicianship, has been a longtime supporter of the arts school. He famously donated $500,000 worth of state-of-the-art recording equipment there.

Stevie Wonder also received the George Peabody Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Music and Dance in America at the graduation ceremony. The songwriter also has honorary doctorates from Oberlin College, Yale, Tulane, Brown, and Wayne universities.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 14, 2024

FAMU Slated To Have 11 Football Games Aired On ESPN Networks Next Season

The Rattlers are the current reigning Celebration Bowl Champions

Florida A&M University will have 11 of its 12 games in the upcoming season shown on the ESPN network.

The school announced the news on its social media account on June 12.

The Rattlers are the current reigning Celebration Bowl Champions after defeating the Howard University Bisons 30-26. As the team gears up to defend its title and build off its successful season, the Rattlers will show their on-the-field prowess for the nation to see next season. The games will air on ESPN+ throughout the season, with some games (Norfolk State on Aug. 24) possibly airing on ABC.

Before FAMU made it to the Celebration Bowl, they did not lose any games in the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference,) going 8-0 while carrying an overall record of 11-1 after losing to the University of South Florida in September.

Before putting on their cleats and beating Howard University in the HBCU National Championship title game, the Florida A&M football team was given signature Nike sneakers by future NBA Hall of Famer and Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James.

The championship game was FAMU’s first Celebration Bowl in program history, and the Rattlers became the second SWAC school to take home the Celebration Bowl title. This was also Howard’s first appearance at the Celebration Bowl.

When the team takes the football field next season, it will have a new head coach leading the way. In January, the school announced that James Colzie III was hired as the 19th head coach for FAMU.

teyana taylor, Iman shumpert, divorce, child support, payments, divorce, makes more money than him

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 14, 2024

Iman Shumpert Requests Reduced Child Support; Claims Teyana Taylor Makes More Money Than Him

Does the math add up?

Iman Shumpert is seeking to have his monthly child support payments reduced since his ex-wife reportedly makes more money than him.

The NBA champion recently filed court documents asking a judge overseeing his divorce from Teyana Taylor to reduce his $8,000 monthly child support because Taylor makes double his monthly income, TMZ reports. Shumpert provided a breakdown of the former couple’s finances. According to his math, Taylor has a gross monthly income before taxes of $93,885 while his sits at $47,981 a month.

The former Cleveland Cavalier also wants to split healthcare costs for their two young children while agreeing to cover the “major” medical expenses. Shumpert and Taylor share custody of their two daughters Junie, 8, and Rue, 3.

The A Thousand And One star quietly filed for divorce from Shumpert in January 2023 after seven years of marriage, but it wasn’t made public until it hit the press in November. Since then, details of the messy split have leaked to the press with Taylor accusing Shumpert of being jealous and insecure of her career during their marriage, which fueled their tension.

In January, Taylor accused Shumpert of cutting off utilities in the home she shares with their children. It came weeks after Shumpert requested for her claims of cruel treatment toward their children to be dismissed.

When initially addressing their split on Instagram in September, Taylor claimed cheating wasn’t the cause of the split.

“To be 1000% clear, ‘infidelity’ ain’t one of the reasons for our departure,” Taylor wrote at the time. “We are still the best of friends, great business partners and are one hell of a team when it comes to co-parenting our 2 beautiful children.”

“Most importantly we are FAMILY & in the 10yrs together, 7yrs married we ain’t ever played with or about THAT. We just keep y’all a**es out the group chat lol, which is the reason we’ve been able to successfully & peacefully separate without all of the outside noise,” she added.

In November, Taylor asked for privacy as any details about the divorce being made public were not coming directly from her and were instead being leaked by another party and private court documents.

“It is very heartbreaking that someone would take out the time to make such a private matter public for the world to see,” she wrote on her Instagram Story at the time. “However, protecting my family is one thing I’ve ALWAYS done & for my children I will continue to do so.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 14, 2024

VP Kamala Harris And Quavo Team Up For Atlanta Gun Violence Summit

Vice President Kamala Harris is teaming up with rapper Quavo for a moderated conversation in Atlanta about gun violence reduction.

Vice President Kamala Harris is teaming up with rapper Quavo for a moderated conversation about gun violence reduction in Atlanta.

Harris will be in Atlanta on Tuesday, June 18, for the first-annual Rocket Foundation Summit on the birthday of the late rapper and Migos member Kirsnick “Takeoff” Khari Ball, Fox 5 Atlanta reports. The new yearly event will honor Takeoff, who was killed in a fatal shooting in Houston, Texas, in 2022 by honoring the countless victims of gun violence as part of an effort to make Atlanta a model for reducing gun violence.

The moderated conversation, in partnership with the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, comes months after Quavo’s visit to the White House in September 2023, during which he sat with the vice president to discuss ways to advance gun safety laws. The chat was part of Quavo and his family’s involvement in the Congressional Black Caucus, which resulted in the White House launching the Office of Gun Violence Prevention a day after the rapper’s visit.

Two panels will take place at the Rocket Foundation Summit. The first, dubbed LIVE FREE, will be led by the Community Justice Action Fund to address the gun violence crisis in the United States and explore how community violence intervention can help resolve it. The second discussion, led by Youth Over Guns, the Offenders Alumni Association, and H.O.P.E. Hustlers, will focus on how supporting and investing in youth programs can reduce gun violence and enhance community safety.

Deputy Director Greg Jackson is slated to moderate the fireside chat between Harris and Quavo. VP Harris will also be in Atlanta on Friday, June 14, to speak in a moderated conversation at the 38th annual conference for 100 Black Men of America.

Attendees of the Summit will get a chance to connect with families of victims and survivors about what actions can be taken to improve gun control. The day will conclude with local and state officials honoring Quavo’s philanthropic efforts and celebrating Takeoff’s life.

Churches Pastor, Churche, Jail, Crime, Dallas pastor

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 14, 2024

Dallas Pastor Accused Of Stealing Church Properties Sentenced To 35 Years Behind Bars

The Lord said, "Thou shall not steal."

A pastor from Dallas has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for stealing three church properties in Dallas County.

Prosecutors say Whitney Foster allegedly created fraudulent deeds to swindle the churches and take control of the properties. The church that started the case was First Christian Church of Lancaster in 2019. Law enforcement brought the case before the Dallas County DA’s Office, where investigators found Foster had targeted other churches across county lines.

Dallas County Assistant DA Phillip Clark said it’s amazing that First Christian took notice. “What he wanted people to think was that because he was a nonprofit that he had the ability and right to just move in on another nonprofit’s property,” Clark said.

The arrest warrant affidavit claimed the church told police someone with the alias “Aaron Finley” was claiming to be the chairman of the Lancaster church and sold the property to Foster for $10 in 2021. However, no one on the board went by that name.

In May 2024, Foster was found guilty of felony theft as the three properties were valued at more than $800,000. During his day in court, Foster said he thought the church was abandoned — although he attended a service and spoke with church leadership. “Showed up in their house of worship,” Clark said.

“Then days later, they find he filed this deed.” The other churches tied in with the scam are Church at Nineveh and Canada Drive Church, and as of June 10, both are still in Foster or his church’s name.

According to NewsNation, Foster was the pastor of a small congregation that never had a physical place to have worship services. Prosecutors said his congregation was meeting at one of the stolen properties, and one of the other churches is tied up in litigation due to Foster’s actions. Officials on the case released statements clarifying how important issues like this are. “Stealing real estate is an incredibly serious and damaging crime,” John Creuzot, Dallas County criminal district attorney, said.

“It’s worse than the theft of someone’s vehicle or other possessions. When someone steals property, we must hold them accountable because they are hurting people.”

Clark shared similar thoughts: “Property ownership is a bedrock of our society.” “…it provides security, a home, a place to love and welcome each other,” Dallas County said. “It also represents a very active part of our economy, both in terms of buying, selling, and renting property, as well as property taxes that support everything our government does for the citizens of Dallas County.”

Foster gave an excuse for his actions during an interview with a local television station. “You can acquire a property for $10 with nonprofits,” Foster said. “The church is community property. … It wasn’t Whitney buying it. Our church was getting it. I was fixing to open up a church there.”