Simone Biles, Jonathan Owens

Simone Biles Admits Public Criticism Of Husband’s Viral Interview ‘Hurt My Feelings’

Simone Biles "broke down" after the public criticized her husband's interview where he called himself "the catch."


Simone Biles is revealing how “hurt” she was by the public shade she and her husband received for his viral 2023 interview.

The Olympic gymnasts’ NFL player husband, Jonathan Owens, appeared on “The Pivot Podcast” late last year where he referred to himself as “the catch” while sharing his initial feelings when meeting Biles. The Chicago Bears player admitted to not knowing who Biles was when they matched on a dating app and how he equated her success as a gymnast to all of the followers she had on social media.

Owens went on to share how he “was fighting” against being “afraid to commit” to Biles around the time they started dating due to how early it was in his NFL career.

Biles faced backlash from fans at the time who told her to leave her husband and claimed she appeared more interested in him than he was in her. Now, looking back at the ordeal, the most decorated gymnast in history says she was crushed by the public’s perception of Owens.

“First of all, that interview had nothing to do with me,” Biles said on the Call Her Daddy podcast about her husband’s interview.”It was all for him. So I think they were mad that he didn’t include me in the interview, but he has to have his moments too, and I let him have it.”

She went on to clear up his comments on being “the catch” and noted that he never downplayed her role in the relationship.

“He never said I wasn’t a catch,” Biles said. “He said he was a catch because he is. I’ve never met a man like him. A lot of people that meet him are like, oh my gosh. I want a man like that, like Jonathan.”

While she was initially amused by the public discourse surrounding her marriage, the shady remarks eventually got under her skin.

“I thought it was hilarious what people were saying, divorce him, divorce him. All of this crazy stuff,” she said. “And, like, he doesn’t even like to say divorce. So I thought it was hilarious at first, and then they hurt my feelings.”

“Then, like, one night, I broke down, and I’m like, ‘Why are you guys talking about my husband like this?'” she added.

According to Biles, her husband is “the sweetest” guy who “praises the ground that I walk on.” He also practices chivalry by holding doors for her and making her feel beautiful. Seeing people who don’t know Owens personally bash him, “hurt” Biles.

“That really hurt that they were talking about my husband like that. Because for me, it’s like, talk about me all you want, but don’t come for my family,” she said.

The pair celebrate their first wedding anniversary on April 22, as Biles prepares for a potential return to the Olympics taking place in Paris this summer.

RELATED CONTENT: Simone Biles And Jonathan Owens ‘Unbothered’; By Criticism

Megan Thee Stallion, Klay Thompson

Megan Thee Stallion Awarded The Catalyst Of Change Award

The H-Town Hottie accepted the award for contributions surrounding women's mental and physical health.


Rapper Megan thee Stallion received the Catalyst of Change Award at the Planned Parenthood of Greater New York’s Spring Into Action Gala, acknowledging her contributions to women’s health. 

According to Women’s Wear Daily, the 29-year-old, whose real name is Megan Pete, was all smiles at the event on April 16. She was joined by other women in Hollywood, including actresses Patricia Arquette, Molly Ringwald, and others, to raise money for the nonprofit. 

Megan reaffirmed her commitment to advancing women’s healthcare rights during her acceptance speech. “We need to create communities where women can receive sexual and reproductive healthcare with the love, respect, and compassion that they deserve,” she told the audience. 

“I promise to continue to do my part and use my platform to break down barriers and empower women all around the world,” the ‘Plan B’ rapper continued.

According to Vibe Magazine, “An outspoken advocate for women’s rights and Planned Parenthood, Megan has used her global platform to draw attention to the organization’s mission and work. She also launched The Pete and Thomas Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on uplifting and assisting women, children, senior citizens, and underserved communities in Houston, Texas, and across the world.” Planned Parenthood shared in a statement. Throughout her career, Megan has built a platform advocating for women’s health, demonstrated by her current partnership with Planet Fitness and previous statements supporting women’s bodily autonomy and vulnerability when discussing her mental and physical health, particularly as a Black woman. 

“A lot of people didn’t treat me like I was human for a long time,” Megan told Women’s Health when she graced the cover of the magazine in April 2024. “I feel like everybody was always used to me being the fun and happy party girl. I watched people build me up, tear me down, and be confused about their expectations of me.”

“As a Black woman, as a darker Black woman, I also feel like people expect me to take the punches, take the beating, take the lashings, and handle it with grace. But I’m human,” she continued.

In the interview, Megan revealed that she had fallen into a steep bout of depression that she was only able to overcome with professional help. “It took me a while to acknowledge that I was depressed. But once I started talking to a therapist, I was able to be truthful with myself,” she said. 

Since embarking on her new health journey, which she says included a social media detox, Pilates workouts, and healthier food choices, the Houston native has pushed for more awareness and less stigma surrounding health among women.

Ye, Kanye West, Bianca Censori, Investigation

Ye Under Investigation For Alleged Battery Against Man Who Grabbed His Wife

Ye is accused of a punching a man who allegedly "physically assaulted" his wife, Bianca Censori.


Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, is a suspect in a battery case after he allegedly assaulted a man he claims “physically assaulted” his wife, Bianca Censori.

Police are investigating the music/fashion mogul after he allegedly punched a man on Tuesday night for grabbing his wife, TMZ reports. Ye and Censori left the scene following the altercation and the victim didn’t require any medical care. However, the police plan on reaching out to Ye to hear his side of what happened and speak with witnesses.

A spokesperson for the Vultures 1 rapper says the initial reports are inaccurate. “‘Grabbed’ is grossly inadequate as a description of what happened. Bianca was physically assaulted,” the representative said. “The assailant didn’t merely collide into her. He put his hands under her dress, directly on her body, he grabbed her waist, he spun her around, and then he blew her kisses. She was battered and sexually assaulted.”

This is the second incident this year where Ye has been accused of assaulting someone to defend his wife. In January, encounter caught on video showed the Yeezy founder grabbing a woman’s phone after she asked if his wife had “free will.”

Ye was on his way to attend Charlie Wilson’s Walk of Fame ceremony on Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles when a paparazza walked up to him with her phone. “People wanna know if Bianca has her free will,” she said. “Some people are saying that you’re controlling.”

However, she was unable to finish her sentence as Ye snatched her phone and began to berate her for the invasive commentary.

“Are you crazy?” he asked. “You think because you’re a white woman, you can walk up on me like that and ask me some dumbass s–t like that asking me about my wife, if she has free will? Are you crazy?”

Ye and Censori continue to make media headlines for her barely-there fashion choices when out in public. Most recently, Censori has worn completely sheer tops and bottoms as the rapper faces murmurings of engaging in an exhibitionist type of romance with the 29-year-old architect.

RELATED CONTENT: Bianca Censori’s Family Reportedly ‘Embarrased’ By Scandalous Image Influenced By Kanye West

NBA, Jontay Porter, Gambling, Basketball

NBA Bans Jontay Porter For Gambling On Games

The league discovered he violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.


The National Basketball Association (NBA) has banned Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter from the league for gambling on games and feigning illness to influence a wager.

The NBA-led investigation revealed Porter violated league rules by disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his playing time in one or more games to influence a wager. He was also discovered to have placed bets on NBA games.

“There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our gaming rules are being met with the most severe punishment,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a written statement. “While legal sports betting creates transparency that helps identify suspicious or abnormal activity, this matter also raises important issues about the sufficiency of the regulatory framework currently in place, including the types of bets offered on our games and players. Working closely with all relevant stakeholders across the industry, we will continue to work diligently to safeguard our league and game.”

After getting tips from licensed sports betting operators and an organization that monitors legal betting markets, the NBA started investigating after Raptors’ March 20 game. The league was tipped off because of Porter’s performance during the contest. It was discovered before the game, that he had given confidential information about his playing status to an NBA bettor. Someone Porter knew placed an “$80,000 parlay proposition bet” with an online sportsbook, to win $1.1 million. The bet was placed that Porter would underperform in the March 20 game.

The investigation also concluded that Porter limited his playing time by claiming he did not feel well. He only ended up playing three minutes. Due to the unusual betting activity and Porter’s limited time, the $80,000 proposition bet was frozen and was not paid out.

The league also found that Porter placed at least 13 bets on NBA games using someone else’s online betting account between January and March while traveling with the Raptors or their NBA G League affiliate, the Raptors 905. He set wagers of $15 to $22,000, for $54,094. He won $76,059, making a profit of $21,965.

None of the bets were on games he played. Three bets he placed were multi-game parlay bets that included one Raptors game. He placed bets that the Raptors would lose but lost on the wagers.

The league says the investigation remains open and “may result in further findings.” The NBA has also shared its information with federal prosecutors.

Black Migrants, New York Shelter, Discrimination

New York Shelter System Criticized Over Discrimination Of Black Migrants

Jumaane D. Williams, the New York City Public Advocate, believes the hearing is a good first step toward potentially addressing some of the inequities present in the city’s migrant assistance system.


On April 16, thousands of Black immigrants rallied in City Hall Park outside a hearing about racial inequities in New York’s shelter and immigrant support systems.

The council deliberated minor proposals such as collecting better data on migrants and eliminating or reimbursing application fees. 

As ABC News reported, council members are asking for better data because some evidence shows Black migrants are disproportionately turned away from shelters, denied access to assistance using their native languages, and are less likely to be able to access accommodations for their religious practices. 

As USA Today reported, Alexa Avilés, the chair of the city council’s immigration committee, said at the hearing that Black immigrants have been facing barriers to receiving assistance from the city’s shelters. “Over the past two years, Black immigrant newcomers have faced especially stark barriers in accessing city services.”

Jumaane D. Williams, the New York City Public Advocate, said in a press release that he believes the hearing was a good first step toward potentially addressing some of the inequities in the city’s migrant assistance system. 

“Black migrants have shared their experiences facing racism and anti-Blackness within a system that historically deports, detains, and confines Black migrants at a higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group,” Williams said. “These are realities the city has to grapple with, and to make any progress, we must hear directly from those living these realities. From the local to the federal level, my office and I have been calling for greater resource allocation for Black migrants, and this hearing is a great starting point.” 

Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, continued, “Language accessibility is a lifeline for immigrants and opens doors to legal services, housing, economic empowerment, and other opportunities…Many of these migrants are navigating an entirely new city, culture, language, and system after what may have been a long and harrowing journey just to get here. On top of all that, they may face increased scrutiny, xenophobia, and racism just by nature of being a Black immigrant. The city, among the existing and future resources it provides and distributes, must ensure that, at minimum, there is equity of resources above all else.”

Williams also criticized the efforts of state leaders like New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and pushed for more federal assistance during his comments at the hearing.

“I want to remind folks that applying for asylum is a legal way to be in this city—and also push the White House to do more, and Governor Hochul to do more, they are not,” Williams said. “New York City cannot do this by itself. I do know there is a gargantuan effort, and with some of those efforts, I just want to thank the city for trying, but we do know that even as we await more resources, we have to make sure those resources are applied equitably and humanely and we have some work to do in those two categories.”

RELATED CONTENT:Georgia Bill Would Punish ‘Sanctuary’ Cities and Counties Harboring Immigrants

Marley Brothers, The One Love Tour, North American, Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley and Ky-Mani Marley

Marley Brothers To Celebrate Bob Marley In 2024 ‘Legacy Tour’

The Marley brothers are coming together for a North American tour that will honor the legacy of their late father, Bob Marley.


The Marley brothers are coming together for a North American tour that will honor the legacy of their late father, Bob Marley.

On Monday, April 15, five of Marley’s sons announced the “The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour,” the family’s first joint tour in nearly 20 years, Billboard reports. Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani, and Damian will unite on stage for the first time since 2007 to perform a string of their individual hits combined with classics from Bob Marley’s timeless catalog.

The Live Nation-promoted tour includes 22 dates across North America, beginning September 5 at the Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park in Vancouver before hitting Toronto, Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, Cincinnati and more. The last show is scheduled for October 5 at Miami’s FPL Solar Amphitheatre.

The tour announcement comes ahead of extended showings of the Bob Marley: One Love biopic beginning April 20 and one month before the 40th anniversary of Marley’s 1984 greatest-hits compilation, Legend. The biopic was a box office smash, making $146 million in profit, one of the top-earning musical biopics in the nation’s history.

Tickets for the tour dropped April 16, including a Citi presale option at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday (April 18) at 10 p.m. General tickets go on sale Friday (April 19) at 10 a.m. local time.

Check out all dates for “The Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour” below:

Sept. 5 — Vancouver, BC @ Festival Lawn at Deer Lake Park
Sept 6 — Ridgefield, WA @ RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Sept. 8 — Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre
Sept. 10 — Concord, CA @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord
Sept. 11 — Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Sept. 12 — Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Sept. 13 — Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
Sept. 15 — Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Sept. 16 — Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
Sept. 18 — Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
Sept. 19 — Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sept. 22 — Queens, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium
Sept. 23 — Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
Sept. 25 — Bridgeport, CT @ Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
Sept. 26 — Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
Sept. 27 — Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
Sept. 29 — Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage
Sept. 30 — Laval, QC @ Place Bell
Oct. 2 — Wilmington, NC @ Live Oak Bank Pavilion
Oct. 3 — Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
Oct. 4 — Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amp
Oct. 5 — Miami, FL @ FPL Solar Amphitheatre

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ Is A Money-Earning Box Office Hit

O.J. Simpson, , Estate, Goldman

O.J. Simpson’s Attorney Changes Mind On Goldman Family Civil Judgment Payout

After saying "that the Goldmans get zero, nothing," Malcolm LaVergne now says otherwise


After initially shooting down the possibility of paying the Goldman family millions owed to them by the recently departed, O.J. Simpson, the executor of his will, has changed course.

Simpson’s attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, told the media outlet that the estate of O.J. will accept whatever claim the Goldman family makes to try to retrieve the civil judgment they were awarded back in 1998.

O.J., the former Buffalo Bills player, died after a brief battle with prostate cancer on April 10. Fred Goldman is the father of murder victim Ron Goldman, who was with O.J.’s former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, when the two of them were killed on June 12, 1994. O.J. was accused of killing both of them but was found not guilty in what was billed as the trial of the century. In a civil suit, the Goldman family sued the “It Is What It Is” featured guest and won a judgment of $33.5 million, which O.J. never satisfied.

“I can tell you in advance, Fred Goldman’s claim will be accepted. And his claim will be handled in accordance with Nevada law,” LaVergne told the media outlet.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that LaVergne initially said, “It’s my hope that the Goldmans get zero, nothing. Them specifically. And I will do everything in my capacity as the executor or personal representative to try and ensure that they get nothing.”

He then explained why he responded the way he did to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Within an hour of knowing that O.J. died, he started talking sh**. My advocate instinct was, ‘Oh, you’re gonna keep sh**ting on him even after he’s dead?’” he said. “’ Fine, you know? You get nothing.’ And so, those were my remarks then. But I backtracked, and they were pretty harsh remarks. And now, I’m going in the other direction.”

On April 11, O.J.’s family announced that he died of cancer at the age of 76.

Interactive Timeline, invest, stock, 5, maintenance, retirement, goals, investments, beginners, begin, basics

6 Strategies To Profit In Any Market

Investors who don't participate in sound, long-term equity investing are missing out on a wealth-building opportunity.


Originally Published Nov. 23, 2016

So how should you respond to a market milestone?

No one can predict the performance of the stock market. There are some immutable facts, though. The markets will continue to be driven by uncertainty and volatility. Having said that, investors who don’t participate in sound, long-term equity investing are missing out on a wealth-building opportunity. If you check historical records, you’ll find that the average annual return for the S&P 500 has been about 10% since its inception in 1928.

At BLACK ENTERPRISE, we have always advocated in investing for the long haul. Here is some down-to-earth investment advice regardless of market activity. Based on our interviews with countless investment experts over the years, we share these basic but powerful strategies for investing in any market:

1. Don’t Time the Market

In other words, you shouldn’t become too exuberant during huge market advances or panic during market dips.

Our rule-of-thumb: engage in disciplined, long-term investing. It’s true the past can never fully predict future outcomes, but it serves as a valuable reference. Gain professional advice on how to build a long-term portfolio, based on your risk tolerance level and financial goals.

2. Engage in Dollar Cost Averaging

By investing equal dollar amounts at regular intervals, it enables you to purchase more shares of quality companies when the stock price drops, which is a likely event in today’s capricious market. In fact, most mutual funds can be set up as automatic investment accounts.

We also can’t stress enough the value of contributing to employer-sponsored 401(k) and 401(b) plans. It’s a systematic way to build your retirement nest egg. As many of you know, funds are deducted from your paycheck, and you get to invest in an array of investment offerings with tax-free dollars. An added bonus is that, in many cases, your employer will match a portion of your contribution — the maximum is currently $18,000 per year.  Since these tax-deferred vehicles are designed for retirement, you’ll face stiff penalties and tax liabilities if you withdraw funds early.

3. Look for Dividend Stocks

With the increasingly unpredictable environment, consider purchasing shares of companies that make cash distributions to shareholders on a quarterly basis. These stocks tend to be high-quality blue chips that can provide you with additional cash flow from a yield of 2% to 3%. Moreover, a regular dividend may provide downside protection.

4. Invest in What You Know

It’s the tried and true process of spotting opportunities by targeting familiar companies, industries, and products. They tend to be market leaders with powerful brands, top-shelf management, and best of all, you will already understand their products and business models.

5. Protect Your Portfolio by Getting Defensive

As the economy continues its excruciatingly slow mend, look for stocks that perform in any market. Pharmaceuticals, personal care, household products, food and consumer staples — products consumers purchase in economies weak or strong — will buoy your holdings.

6. Develop an Asset Allocation Strategy

Diversifying your investments among two or more asset classes can help you stay in for the long haul. One approach, if you don’t want to manage your own asset allocation, is to invest in so-called target date funds. If you’re about 20 years from retirement, for example, you might pick a fund with a 2035 target date. These funds can provide investors with an appropriate asset allocation for their time horizon, and they automatically change the mix to become more conservative as the target date approaches.

Moreover, regularly monitor your equity portfolio and make adjustments across sectors. For instance, gain some foreign exposure; a good rule-of-thumb is to place between 20% and 30% of your equity holdings in international stocks.

Paris, 2024, sport, breaking, breakdancing, Olympics, Jeffrey Louis, U.S.A., U.S., competition

Breaking Set To Have Its Olympic Moment In Paris

The International Olympic Committee has been actively courting younger viewers and it believes that the additions of breaking, surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing will help them achieve that goal.


Breakdancing, or Breaking as the Olympics defines it, debuted in an Olympic international competition during the 2018 Summer Youth Games in Buenos Aires. It was so well received that in 2020, it was added to the Olympic program for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

As the Houston Chronicle reports, the Olympics will use a comparative judging system that takes into account six criteria: creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity, and musicality. Breakers will battle one-on-one in a round-robin style competition. Battle rounds will last for 35-45 seconds and can be deducted points for unoriginality or unsportsmanlike conduct. The five judges can also change their scores throughout the round, and the contestant with the most points in a round wins. 

As NBC News reports, the International Olympic Committee has been actively courting younger viewers and it believes that the additions of breaking, surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing will help them achieve that goal. The Paris Olympics notes that “all four are easy to take up, and participants form communities that are very active on social media.”

https://twitter.com/ShaneWiskthem/status/1780586481998086573?t=jFDHlsuoiTrJgT7NNxQCUw&s=19

The breakers themselves know this represents a tremendous opportunity and also a challenge for the sport, as Jeffery Louis, also known as B-Boy Jeffro, told the outlet. “This is a chance for us to grow and educate people on breaking. If we get it right, we can create something unstoppable,” Louis said. “We can’t let it pass us up again, because the first time breaking blew up, it fizzled out.” Louis, the fifth-ranked breaker in the world, is a favorite to take one of the men’s team’s final available slots. 

Louis, a Houston native, credited the origins of the sport and art form, telling NBC News, “A legendary DJ named Kool Herc debuted a new technique that centered around percussive ‘breaks’ in songs. During these breaks, the crowd would start dancing, which became known as breaking or breakdancing.”

Breaking maintained its popularity into the 1980s and received a boost through the 1983 film Flashdance, which featured the popular group The Rock Steady Crew. However, by the end of that decade, the popularity it enjoyed had died down. In the 1990s, International Battle of the Year, the first international and formally-judged breaking competition, helped to revitalize the sport. Since then, according to USA Dance, “breaking has evolved into a global cultural art form with many elements of sport.”

Sunny Choi, one of the American B-girls, underscored the origins of breaking and that she considers it both a sport and an art form. In March, Choi, who has sponsorship deals with Nike and Samsung, said, “There’s no doubt in my mind this is a sport. Dance, art, sport, all together. These things aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s one of those things, like politics. When somebody is so far in one direction, you can’t help them see the other. I don’t feel like it’s my place to change everybody’s mind.”  

Choi continued, “Breaking comes from Black and brown communities in the Bronx, and when it goes to the Olympics, we know these aren’t the ones who are going to get all the money. I think it’s our responsibility, as the first breakers who go, to be mindful of this.” 

Imani Kai Johnson, an associate dance professor at the University of California Riverside, disagrees with Choi’s point. Johnson told Time that she cannot endorse divorcing breaking from its cultural connection. “I’m not particularly excited about breaking in the Olympics. My investment is in hip-hop as a culture with Africanist aesthetic foundations and not as a sport that is increasingly detached from any cultural context.”

Others, like DJ Renegade, who was brought in by the World DanceSport Federation to help devise a proper judging system, see a problem with the lack of elevation of either the sport or culture, telling Time, “The WDSF has dropped the ball here. They’ve done nothing, man. No promotion. Breaking is in the f-cking Olympics, man. Are you insane? This should be plastered everywhere.”

WDSF President Shawn Tay responded, telling the outlet, “Such statements are not terribly productive, but with any project of this size and stature, you can expect a certain amount of criticism, warranted or not.” Tay said, “We have worked tirelessly over the years together with Paris 2024 and the IOC to prepare for the Olympic Games.”

Regardless of the infighting and disagreements, USA Dance expects Choi and the rest of the American team to not only set the standard but also bring home the gold in Olympic Breaking.

Tyquan Hodac, USA Dance’s breaking communications director, told NBC News, “Now, the USA is a front-runner at the Olympics. We’re the powerhouse. Every other country is looking up to us.”

Mayor Marty Small, Sr, Atlantic City, Abuse, Teenage Daughter

Atlantic City Mayor And Superintendent Wife Accused Of Physically and Emotionally Abusing Teenage Daughter 

Be sure to speak up if you don't feel safe.....


The mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey and his wife are facing accusations of physically and emotionally abusing their teen daughter. 

The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Apr. 15 that Marty Small Sr. and his wife La’Quetta are being charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Small has additional charges of third-degree terroristic threats, third-degree aggravated assault, and disorderly persons simple assault. La’Quetta, the superintendent of Atlantic City Public Schools, also faces charges of disorderly person’s simple assault. 

Investigators alleged the minor sustained physical and emotional abuse from her parents on several occasions between December 2023 and January 2024 at just 15 and 16 years old. On one account, the mayor allegedly struck his daughter in the head several times with a broom, resulting in her losing consciousness.

There was another alleged incident where, during an argument, Small threatened to hurt his daughter by “earth-slamming” her down the stairs and grabbing her head, pulling the weave out of her head. He’s also being accused of punching his daughter in her legs repeatedly, causing bruising.

During another alleged incident, the mother dragged her daughter by her hair and hit her with a belt on her shoulders, leaving gruesome marks. While arguing, she allegedly punched her daughter in the mouth. 

Speculations of abuse started following a mental health training for students at Atlantic City High School in January 2024, according to NBC 10. Students were given “exit tickets” with three faces representing “happy,” “neutral,” and “sad,” and each student was instructed to circle one face representing their feelings. Small’s daughter circled the neutral face and wrote “abuse” and expressed her desire to speak to a counselor on the back. 

A school employee then gave the ticket to one of the mental health trainers, prompting the police to get involved. When the teen told detectives about the broom incident, she described her father as a “big guy” and said she wanted to continue with her life, investigators reported. 

The teen mentioned she had already spoken with the principal, Constance Days-Chapman. After officers approached the administrator, she said the teen never mentioned the alleged abuse; otherwise, she would have reported it to the Department of Child Protection & Permanency (DCP&P).

Later in the day, during a virtual session with her therapist, the teen confessed that her parents were physically and emotionally abusing her.

“I was really stressed, I was crying a lot, I wasn’t mentally stable, I wasn’t comfortable around them, I just didn’t feel safe.”

Mayor Small’s home was searched on Mar. 28 due to the allegations, but during a news conference on Apr. 1, attended by Smalls and their daughter, the mayor said he had “nothing to hide.” 

The couple refused to comment on the charges; however, the family attorney, Ed Jacobs, released a statement stating that the charges do not correlate with position misconduct.

“The charges filed by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office today make no claims of public corruption or misconduct in office or any failure by Mayor Small to properly discharge his responsibilities as the mayor of Atlantic City,” Jacobs said.

“On the contrary, they focus only on personal, private family matters.”

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