Amber Rose, Joseline Hernandez
(Photos from left: Unique Nicole/Getty Images; Prince Williams/WireImage)
by Jameelah Mullen

July 25, 2024

Trump Supporter, Amber Rose, Seen Attacking Reality TV Star Joseline Hernandez

The footage of the fight surfaced a week after Rose gave a speech at the 2024 RNC.

Amber Rose’s appearance at the RNC last week appears to have reignited the discussion about her ongoing feud with Joseline Hernandez. The women appeared on Season 2 of College Hill: Celebrity Edition, when they got into a heated argument after Hernandez questioned Rose’s racial identity. 

TMZ obtained footage that never made it to air, which shows Rose attacking her co-star, repeatedly punching her in the face. 

BET aired the lead-up to the fight when Hernandez accused Rose of denying her Blackness. 

“Your problem is that you really want to be a white girl,” the Love and Hip-Hop alum said. “Your problem is that you really don’t even want to be Black.” 

The Slut Walk founder then walked up to Hernandez and appeared to hit her. The clip then cut to a disclaimer stating that College Hill does not condone violence.

Several social media users referenced the incident after Rose publicly endorsed Donald Trump in May. 

“I guess Joseline was right about Amber Rose” one user wrote.

After the altercation, both women were suspended from the show. But the newly-released footage caused some fans to question BET’s decision. 

“I’m mad Amber Rose won this tussle but Joseline should not have been kicked out!.”

“It’s wild Joseline was expelled though, given that White Lady was the aggressor.“

After the episode aired in June of last year, fans demanded that BET+ show the rest of the footage, which was filmed at Alabama State University. The network stood beside their decision. 

“We remain unwavering in our decision not to air the footage, as our network does not condone violence in any form. Furthermore, we hold the HBCU experience in the highest regard, recognizing its vital role in fostering Black excellence and pride within our community,” the outlet said in a statement to TMZ.

RELATED CONTENT: Amber Rose Endorses Trump For President, Joseline Hernandez Calls Her A ‘Karen’

Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Video Game
(Photo: Prince Williams/Wireimage; Inset: Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 25, 2024

Drake’s ‘Family Matters’ Is Now A Video Game

After a video game was released for Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us,' a video game response has been released for the Drake diss song, 'Family Matters.'

“Wop! Wop! Wop! Wop! Wop!”

In what may end up being the longest drawn-out hip-hop battle in history, after a Kendrick Lamar fan dropped a video game championing “Not Like Us,” a video game response has been released for the Drake diss song “Family Matters.”

Family Matters: The Game, with an owl insignia, appeared on the X platform, promoting the video game on July 22.

A link to the video game reveals a facsimile of Kendrick Lamar’s face appearing in the middle of the screen with his mouth wide open. There is wording over Lamar’s head that states, “Kendrick just opened his mouth, someone go feed him a Grammy right now. Tap the Grammy to feed Kenny. Don’t miss or he’ll be sad.” For the uninitiated, those words are about a line that Drake spits in the song, “Family Matters.” “Kendrick just opened his mouth, someone goes hand him a Grammy right now.”

The premise of the game involves navigating an arrow that moves in a half-circular motion under Lamar’s head. The object is to click on the Grammy Award below to shoot it into his mouth as the song’s instrumental plays in the background. After the first click that thrusts the Grammy in his mouth, his body starts to move side to side, increasing the game’s difficulty.

You get three chances and when you do miss, his mouth closes and a tear rolls down his face as he closes his eyes.

https://twitter.com/fammattersgame/status/1815451722501759208

RELATED CONTENT: Black Game Developer Creates Video Game Inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’

Keon Coleman, NFL, Video: Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver Keon Coleman Takes Customer's Order At Local Louisiana Restaurant
(Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 25, 2024

Buffalo Bills Rookie Keon Coleman Has Important Question Before Signing Contract

Coleman asked, 'Which signature am I putting? My whole name or can I just sign this thing?'

The Buffalo Bills drafted former Florida State University wide receiver Keon Coleman earlier this year with the 33rd pick in this year’s NFL Draft in the second round.

Now, a new clip of him is circulating on social media, and is more than charming. The former Florida State wide receiver was about to sign his rookie contract with the team when he posed an interesting question: Should he sign his full name or just his autograph, which, as it turns out, isn’t his complete name?

He asks, “I got a question for you. Which signature am I putting? My whole name or can I just sign this thing?”

After being told to sign it “whichever way (he) normally signs his name,” Coleman clarified that he signs differently depending on whether it’s his full name or an autograph.
“See? That’s what I was asking,” Coleman said before signing the contract.

Coleman looks to be a media darling as his personality is sure to be a hit with reporters and fans alike.

Earlier this year, a Bills rookie showcased his community spirit when he appeared at a restaurant in his hometown of Opelousas, Louisiana, in May. A viral video posted on social media captured him taking a food order at Mama’s Fried Chicken, a beloved local eatery. Coleman visited the popular spot after appearing on former NFL player and current podcaster Robert Griffin III’s show, where he mentioned that Mama’s Fried Chicken was one of the best places to eat in Louisiana. He even told Griffin that Opelousas and Cajun Country offered better dining options than New Orleans.

Standing at 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds, Coleman was projected to be Michigan State’s top offensive player in 2023. However, he entered the transfer portal a day after spring practice concluded and moved to Florida State. During his time with the undefeated Seminoles, he recorded 50 catches for 685 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games before declaring for the NFL draft.

RELATED CONTENT: Video: Buffalo Bills Wide Receiver Keon Coleman Takes Customer’s Order At Louisiana Restaurant

Judge, NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct, Erin Gall
(Photo: NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct/Public Domain)
by Sharelle B. McNair

July 25, 2024

NY State Commission Wants A Judge Removed From The Bench After She Threatened To Shoot Group Of Black Teens 

Get these racist judges out of here!


The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct released a report calling for the removal of a Supreme Court judge after she was seen and heard on video threatening to shoot a group of Black teenagers at a graduation party.

Justice Erin Gall was seen on police body cam footage trying to invoke her authority in an attempt to get uninvited Black party guests arrested and then threatened to shoot Black teenagers on July 1, 2022. After a fight broke out and was dismantled, the police officer seemingly told the judge he couldn’t arrest people who had already left — unless they were on the property. 

Gall was then heard saying she would call “when they are on the property” as she anticipated the teens returning for lost car keys. She then described what would happen if the officers didn’t find the trespassers first. “If they did, they’ll be arrested, or they’ll be shot on the property,” Gall said. 

“Because when they trespass, you can shoot them on the property. I’ll shoot them…” 

The panel concluded that Gall “created at least the appearance that she harbored racial bias,” which could undermine her integrity and confidence from the public. 

According to The Democrat and Chronicle, the judge said, “They don’t look like they’re that smart. They’re not going to business school, that’s for sure.” They also concluded her “impropriety permeated” behavior was over the line. “Her wide array of misconduct severely undermined public confidence in the judiciary and in her ability to serve as a fair and impartial judge,” the commission said while recommending her removal. 

The commission has been investigating that incident for two years, all while the upstate Oneida County judge was still sitting on the bench. Now that the investigation is complete, she has been suspended with pay, still receiving her $232,600 annual salary, but is waiting for the Court of Appeals, the highest court, to decide her fate.

The fight in question happened at Gall’s friend’s house. While she was trying to direct the officers on who to arrest, one officer reminded the judge that she wasn’t even at her own home, but she responded by saying, “It’s my jurisdiction, though.” 

Both her husband and 18-year-old son were involved in the violence, and she was even heard bragging about her son’s performance, saying he “put the smackdown” on another partygoer. “My husband and son got hit first . . . but they finished. Like I taught ’em,” Gall said. 

During her investigation testimony, Gall alluded that the fight triggered a memory of a 1990 assault she suffered as a college student. Her lawyer, Robert Julian, who said his client would appeal the panel’s decision, claimed Gall was in a “state of fear, dismay, frustration and exhaustion” when she made the comments. 

However, Commission Administrator Robert Tembeckjian released a statement saying someone of her caliber should know better and her behavior is enough to warrant removal. “It is utterly unacceptable for a judge to threaten gun violence, exhibit racial prejudice, promise favorable treatment for the police, or disparage a law intended to keep guns away from dangerous people,” Tembeckjian said. 

“Any one of these things would undermine public confidence in the administration of justice.”

Kamala Harris, Tyra Banks, Ice Cream Pop-Up
(Photos from left: Soeren Stache/Picture Alliance via Getty Images; VOGUE Taiwan, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
by Shanique Yates

July 25, 2024

Kamala Harris Enjoys A Scoop At Tyra Banks’ Smize And Dream Ice Cream Pop-Up

The VP dropped in for ice cream with her nieces in Washington, D.C.

Vice President Kamala Harris recently showed support for Tyra Banks, stopping by the former supermodel’s Smize and Dream ice cream pop-up in Washington, D.C.

Joined by her nieces, Harris swung by the shop on July 19. Created by Banks, the pop-up’s name pays homage to her America’s Next Top Model catchphrase, “smize,” which refers to someone using their eyes to smile.

“My mom and I would sit in the car and she would talk about the sacrifices to get to her dream,” Banks told a local news outlet. “So, ice cream for me is love of my mama, bonding, togetherness, and dreams.”

Harris’ visit to Smize and Dream took place before it was announced that she could potentially become the presumptive Democratic nominee ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election. On July 21, President Joe Biden announced he was ending his re-election bid.

“Thank you for having us, Tyra,” wrote the Madame Vice President in a post shared on Instagram following their visit. “I look forward to seeing your continued investment in the ambition and aspirations of the DC community.”

“It reminded me of the special times when I would get ice cream with Mama Carolyn every Friday night,” wrote Banks in the comments section of the post. “She was a single mom working extra hard to make her dreams come true for our family, but those nights she reserved for time with me.”

No stranger to supporting her fellow Black women, as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Harris has always leaned into her Divine Nine community and now is no different as all eyes are on her ahead of the November election. In an unprecedented move, less than 24 hours that Biden’s departure, roughly 90,000 Black women and allies logged on to pledge support to Harris’ presidential quest. In that time, Harris raised over $81 million.

The Democratic presidential nominee will be officially announced during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22. If Harris is selected, she will become the first Black and South Asian woman to become a major party nominee. 

RELATED CONTENT: Kamala Harris Receives Endorsement From Nikki Haley Voters PAC 

Produce, Food, Grocery, Lettuce, Vegetables, Shopping
(Photo: Michael Burrows/Pexels)
by Shanique Yates

July 25, 2024

FDA Recalls Produce Nationwide Due To Potential Listeria Contamination

The FDA has issued a warning for several produce products, packaged at an Ohio-based farm, due to potential listeria contamination.

Produce sold at grocery stores across the nation has been recalled due to possible listeria contamination. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added several fresh produce products to the ever-growing list of goods pulled from grocery store shelves this summer. A total of 27 products, including cucumbers, cilantro, green beans, and peppers, have been recalled due to a potential contamination of listeria monocytogenes.

If contracted, the bacterium can cause severe infections and is known to have a greater effect on young children, elderly people, and people with weakened immune systems.

Additionally, the FDA warns that listeria infections have the potential to cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Healthy people are also at risk of symptoms caused by the bacterium, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches, high fever, nausea, and stiffness.

Produced by Ohio-based farm Wiers Farm, the products were packaged between July 5 and July 12, distributed across 17 U.S. states, and sold in major grocery store chains like Aldi, Kroger, and Walmart. Currently, the FDA reports that no illness has been flagged that would be in connection with possible contamination.

The states where the goods are sold are concentrated in the Eastern half of the United Staes, and include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. For a complete list of what to avoid, click here.

Wiers Farm said it is “taking all measures necessary to fully resolve this situation.” The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that an estimated 1,600 in the country get listeriosis each year, and the bacterium accounts for roughly 260 fatalities annually.

Produce products now join other goods like coffee, ice cream, and hot dogs, which have been recalled by the FDA at some point this year for various potential health risks, including the aforementioned listeria monocytogenes and botulism.

RELATED CONTENT: Edible Candies Recalled Due To Hospitalizations, Potential Death

Mike Tyson, JAKE PAUL, medical, incident, contain, scare, boxing
(Photo: Arnold Turner/Getty Images for BKSH)
by Shanique Yates

July 25, 2024

Mike Tyson Advocates Psychedelics With Mikeadelics Mushroom Grow Kit

Mike Tyson takes his advocacy for psychedelics to the next level with new Mikeadelics mushroom grow kit.

Mike Tyson is taking his psychedelic advocacy to the bank with the launch of a new mushroom grow kit.

The legendary boxer previously opened up about how psychedelics changed his “whole life.” Now he wants to make it easier for fans to cultivate mushrooms from the comfort of their own home through his new Mikeadelics mushroom grow kit.

“Mikeadelics represents a personal journey for me. My interest in psychedelics has been well-documented, and I’m excited to offer a product that makes growing mushrooms accessible to everyone,” said Tyson, according to Benzinga. “This kit is a game-changer and makes the process simple and enjoyable.”

Launched within his TYSON 2.0 company, which is housed in Carma HoldCo Inc., a leading global house of brands that harnesses the power of cultural icons to help industries, the Mikeadelics mushroom grow kit is developed by Advanced Mycology and features a filter strip technology to enhance airflow and prevent bacteria and mold.

“We are thrilled to introduce Mikeadelics, a product that not only broadens our product offerings but also aligns perfectly with our mission to innovate and deliver unique, authentic experiences to our consumers,” said Carma HoldCo. CEO Adam Wilks in a press release. “This launch also signifies our entry into the psychedelic space in a legal, compliant way, representing a significant milestone for our company.”

The new kit comes on the heels of the legendary boxer’s first branded retail store, Tyson 2.0 Brandstore, which opened July 4 in Amsterdam.

Designed to simplify the process, the Mikeadelics mushroom grow kit “eliminates the need for tubs, tents, or a dedicated clean grow space.” In turn, growing mushrooms is now accessible to people who don’t have prior mycology experience. TYSON 2.0 Mikeadelics claims to solve the issue of maintaining sterility during the mushroom-growing process thanks to the aforementioned filter strip technology.

To use the Mikeadelics grow kit, customers will need to order mushroom genetics from Advanced Mycology and inject liquid mushroom cultures into the soil, which is provided in the kit. At this time, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reports that the spores are legal to purchase and ship, as psychedelic mushrooms are not produced until they are injected into the soil.

RELATED CONTENT: Snoop Dogg Rolls Out First S.W.E.D. Cannabis Store

Puerto Rico, Discrimination, Hair, Afro
(Photo: Caribb/Flickr)
by Shanique Yates

July 25, 2024

WEPA! Puerto Rico Bans Discrimination Against Natural Hairstyles with New Legislation

A new law in Puerto Rico bans discrimination against people wearing natural hairstyles.

Puerto Rico has officially accepted legislation that will ban hair discrimination against the island’s Black people who rock their natural hair, the Associated Press reports.

The U.S. territory’s governor, Pedro Pierluisi, signed the law into effect on Wednesday, July 24. It will protect those wearing Afros, curls, locs, twists, braids, and other hairstyles from discrimination as it relates to education, housing, public services, and work.

“Unfortunately, people identified as Black or Afro-descendant in Puerto Rico still face derogatory treatment, deprivation of opportunities, marginalization, exclusion, and all kinds of discrimination,” read the newly signed law.

Puerto Rico is currently home to 3.2 million people; over 1.6 million identify as being of two or more races. According to the U.S. Census, nearly 230,000 of the U.S. territory’s population consists of individuals who identify solely as Black.

“It’s a victory for generations to come, said nonprofit Taller Salud community facilitator Welmo Romero Joseph, who also noted how the law sends “a strong message that you can reach positions of power without having to change your identity.”

For Joseph, the move hits close to home. One time, a high school principal ordered him to cut his flat fop. “It was a source of pride,” said Joseph. “I was a 4.0 student. What did that have to do with my hair?”

America has a long history of Black people who have faced hair discrimination, and it has not changed in recent years. Whether it’s on the job or in school, natural hairstyles like locs, curls, and twists have either led to people being prohibited from advancing in corporate America or even school suspension.

Approximately 24 states in the U.S. have adapted their own versions of the CROWN Act, which stands for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” which was formed in 2019 to take a stance against hair discrimination. 

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

Richelieu Dennis, Essence, Refinery 29, Black-Owned Sundial Media Group
(Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
by Shanique Yates

July 25, 2024

Group Black Reportedly Fails to Deliver $500M Black-owned Media Advertising Promise

Group Black once promised $500 million in advertising to Black-owned media, now that the company has failed to deliver on its promise, many are questioning what its future holds.

After once promising $500 million in advertising to Black-owned media, some folks are scratching their heads at what went wrong at Group Black, a lengthy piece published in Business Insider reveals.

Formed in 2021 by Travis Montaque, Bonin Bough, and Richelieu Dennis, Group Black was created with a vision of equipping Black-owned media with $500 million in advertising dollars within its first 18 months. Three years later, those promises have fallen short, executives have departed the company, and the future looks less promising.

“I think most folks were optimistic, passionate, about the business,” said one executive who has since left the company. “We were going to change the face of media.”

Moreover, before Group Black’s tentpole event at Cannes Lions in June, where leaders traveled to throw an exclusive nightclub event to connect with marketers who would be cutting the check, Montaque announced he was going on leave. Many insiders say this was simply the latest sign that things at the company had gone awry.

“They presented an idea that they’d do many big deals,” said one publisher. “None of that happened.”

During its inception, Group Black was formed on the heels of promises by big advertisers like Walmart and Coca-Cola, which publicly pledged to pour more of their ad dollars into Black-owned media, which only accounted for less than 1% of overall ad spending at the time. When Group Black entered the market, it received a $75 million target media investment from the world’s biggest buying agency, GroupM.

Other top donors at the start of Group Black’s plan to secure more funding for Black-owned media included Proctor & Gamble (P&G), which, along with GroupM, told Business Insider that they were unable to comment on the amounts invested due to the information being proprietary. Spokespeople for the companies did, however, confirm that they remained partners with Group Black.

On the contrary, Urban Edge Network CEO Todd Brown said despite signing with Group Black, the company never saw the advertising dollars they were initially promised.

“All that came was a bunch of invites to a bunch of events,” said Brown, whose company owns and operates a TV channel centered around HBCU sports. “Going to Cannes is not a business model. I don’t know anyone in the Black space who’s making money with Group Black.”

Despite initially pledging to help bring dollars to Black-owned media companies, in an effort to scale, Group Black expanded its reach to other media companies like She Media, NBCUniversal, as well as Zeta Global. In April, the company announced its acquisition of the lifestyle network Galore Media, which primarily focuses on publishing via social media.

“We have more momentum today than at any other time in our short history, with initiatives announced recently with major networks, brands, and talent,” Bough wrote in a post shared on LinkedIn before the news around the company’s shortcomings was released. 

Beyond just Group Black, there has been a shift overall in the Black-owned media spending that was promised in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder. In 2022, advertisers saw a significant drop in media spending overall as they prepared for looming economic uncertainty and began buying with their regular media partners once again.

Corporate America has also pulled back on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts or shut them down completely.

“It’s been difficult all around at the moment as Black lives have, frankly, stopped mattering within the agency world,” said Christopher Kenna, the chief executive of BA Diversity Media, a minority-owned media and tech company that isn’t within Group Black’s network. “I’m not surprised Group Black is having the same problems. We were milked dry and then, when the mood changed, told, ‘Sorry, the clients are not interested anymore.'”

RELATED CONTENT: Utah Black Chamber Of Commerce To Host Wealth Esteem Conference

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