Oprah Winfrey, Cindy Crawford, show, model

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 20, 2023

Oprah Deletes Old Show Clip With Cindy Crawford After Model Says She Was Treated Like ‘Chattel’

Cindy Crawford isn’t holding back regarding her 1986 appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show, where she was allegedly treated like “chattel.”

The famed supermodel got candid in the Apple TV+ docu-series The Super Models. Crawford and fellow iconic “supers” Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington reflected on their rise in the fashion industry.

In a clip from the new doc shared by Daily Mail, Crawford recalled her introduction to the world through a 1986 appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show with her Elite Modeling Agency rep, John Casablancas. The budding fashion star was only 20 years old but remembers how Oprah seemingly encouraged her to show off her body to the audience.

“Did she always have this body? Stand up just a moment, now this is what I call a BODY,” Oprah said.

Crawford appeared nervous while standing up to give the audience and viewers a good look at her frame.

'It was so NOT okay': Cindy Crawford blasts Oprah for treating her like 'CHATTEL' by demanding she show off her body on camera at age 20 to prove she was 'worthy' of fame – as supermodel opens up about regularly PASSING OUT from hunger on shoots pic.twitter.com/gLP6NI0fGl

— NEWS BLOG (@mrichardp411) September 20, 2023

“I was like the chattel or a child, be seen and not heard,” Crawford said of how she felt at the time.

“When you look at it through today’s eyes, Oprah’s like, ‘Stand up and show me your body. Show us why you’re worthy of being here.”’

Now, as a 57-year-old mother of two, Crawford reflected on the moment and deemed the footage inappropriate.

“In the moment I didn’t recognize it and watching it back I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that was so not okay really.’ Especially from Oprah!”Crawford quipped.

Winfrey still had the old show clip visible on YouTube up until Tuesday evening, when it quietly disappeared from her channel hours before the documentary premiered. She could be seen directing questions to Casablancas about the “training period” Crawford might’ve been through.

“With Cindy, it was much more psychologically she was not sure she really wanted to model… little by little, her ambition is growing,” Casablancas told Winfrey in response to Crawford.

“She’s getting a sense, and I’m saying it now on this program, if she wants to, she can be No.1 in the business,” he continued.

Crawford’s candid reveal and Winfrey’s swift response highlight the scandals that could come in response to the new four-part documentary available to stream on Apple TV+ starting Sept.20.

LIL KIM, memoir, edits are finally done, 30 years, rapper, artists hip hop

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 20, 2023

Controversy Brewing Over Lil Kim’s Heavily Edited Ebony Magazine Cover

Lil Kim denied a photographer’s claims that she chose the heavily edited photo displayed on the latest cover of Ebony magazine.

The Queen Bee took to social media to seemingly debunk claims made by Ebony photographer Keith Major, who claimed Kim was “in control” of the extremely photoshopped cover shoot. The criticism started after Ebony debuted the cover photo on Tuesday, September 19.

“There will never be another like @lilkimthequeenbee — she still is and has always been “That B***,” Ebony captioned the post unveiling the cover photo.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by EBONY (@ebonymagazine)

The cover photo received a swarm of mixed reactions, with many commenting on Lil Kim’s appearance in the Fall 2023 Hip-Hop 50 commemorative print edition.

“this GOTTA be AI cuz that look nowhere near Lil Kim,” one fan wrote.

“Harpo…. Who dis woman?” asked someone else.

After catching wind of the negative response, Major hopped into the comments to defend his involvement, after one viewer asked who the photographer was.

“Man she wanted to be in control in the retouching so this is what we got,” Major said in a response captured by The Shade Room.

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A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

But, once Kim was made aware of Major’s claims, she took to her Instagram Story to agree with fans and accuse Ebony of going with a photo she didn’t approve of.

“Who is this?! Cuz [sic] that’s not the photo I approved or any other content they’ve put out,” Kim wrote alongside a screenshot of the heavily edited photo.

The “Lady Marmalade” rapper claimed to have told Ebony’s team that the photo “looked like a painting” but claimed they “didn’t wanna listen.”

“They said they loved it. It’s the sabotage for me. The funny s—t about this is that this is THEIR retoucher 🤣😩🤦‍♀️,” Lil Kim claimed.

A member of Kim’s team doubled down on the rapper’s claims, saying they have “receipts” that the photo they chose wasn’t the one that was used. But when looking at a side-by-side of both photos, there wasn’t much difference.

Keith Major has been behind many celebrated Ebony covers, including Jonathan Majors’ Valentine’s Day-inspired shoot and one more recently with rapper Busta Rhymes that gives him a king-like persona in his hometown of New York City.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by keith major (@keithmajor)

It might be why Major was quick to defend his honor when it came to this Lil Kim cover.

by Derek Major

September 20, 2023

Ex-NFL Safety Sergio Brown Suspiciously Pops Up On Social Media After News Of His Mother’s Homicide

Former NFL safety Sergio Brown, who was recently declared missing by authorities, appeared in a video uploaded to social media Monday, September 18, two days after his mother was found dead.

People magazine reported the video was posted on Instagram under the account “intplayerwithapassport.” The video came two days after police discovered the body of Brown’s mother, Myrtle Brown, 73, in Maywood, Illinois. Cook County Medical Office Spokesperson Natalia Derevyanny told People that the former football player’s mother died due to “multiple injuries due to assault,” and her death was a homicide.

Brown began the video by saying “fake news” repeatedly. The former safety did not explicitly refer to his mother in the video, but said “It has to be the FBI” and that the agency paid him an “unwarranted” visit on “Bob Marley’s Death Day.”

The 35-year-old athlete also claimed that the Maywood Police Department “kidnapped” him twice. He then added that he thought his mother was “on vacation” and that “it had to be the FBI or Maywood PD,” without clarifying who the “it” he referred to is.

According to Derevyanny, Myrtle Brown was pronounced dead Saturday. The Maywood Police Department has not commented on the situation.

People was unable to verify the owner of the Instagram account that the Sergio Brown video was posted on, but photos on the account date back to 2021 and contain pictures of the NFL safety.

Meanwhile, Nick Brown posted photos of his brother and mother on Facebook on September 16.

“I’m going to keep on pushing and won’t let you down,” he captioned the photo. Nick Brown posted less than a day after Sergio Brown posted his Instagram video.

Brown attended Notre Dame for college and played seven seasons in the NFL for the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills. He played 94 games in the NFL, starting 15, collecting 109 tackles and one interception.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 20, 2023

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Dress Newborn Son in Pink For Family Photoshoot

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky introduced their second bundle of joy to the world through a fashion-forward family photoshoot.

The Bajan singer and Rocky posed it up in their first official family-of-four photoshoot, over a month after baby Riot’s birth. In photos unveiled by People, Rihanna, 35, and Rocky, 34, take turns holding the boys RZA, 16 months, and Riot Rose, seven weeks.

The “Diamonds” singer sported a denim bomber jacket with a dark navy poots set. Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, paired Rih’s look with denim jeans, a white tank top, and a plaid shirt.

RZA sported his own little denim jeans with a gray and red sweater with yellow sleeves, while Riot topped everyone’s look in an all-pink ensemble that included a baby-sized du-rag.

https://twitter.com/enews/status/1704156719654555980

Rihanna, who welcomed Riot on August 1, shared how “complete” she feels after welcoming her second child.

“Rihanna feels her family is now complete. It’s something she’s always wanted,” a source said.

For those wondering why the “Umbrella” singer opted to debut her second son in an all-pink outfit back in March, Rihanna spoke with British Vogue and explained she likes to “push it” when dressing her elder son, RZA.

“One of my favorite outfits he has is a miniature version of one of Rocky’s,” Rihanna said of a tartan kilt she had made for RZA.

“I like to dress him in things that don’t look like baby clothes. I like to push it. I put him in floral stuff. I put him in hot pink. I love that.”

“I think that fluidity in fashion is best. I always shop in the men’s department, you know,” she added.

Rihanna unveiled her second pregnancy while headlining the Super Bowl in February. The couple followed up with a small hint at their new baby’s name in the Beats Studio Pro commercial Rocky directed and starred in, featuring his new single “RIOT (ROWDY PIPE’N).” In that ad, Rihanna sends Rocky on a diaper run throughout New York City.

The pair have been going strong since debuting their romance in 2020. They are longtime friends who showed off their chemistry in Rocky’s 2013 music video for his single “Fashion Killa.”

https://twitter.com/DamnRihanna/status/1703824711212257625

high school, principals, lawsuit, photos

by Daniel Johnson

September 20, 2023

Allegations Of Racism Emerge In Lawsuit By NYC Sweetgreen Employees

Fast casual restaurant chain Sweetgreen is being sued by ten employees who allege that racist incidents occurred at seven of its locations across New York City.

The lawsuit claims that co-workers and managers facilitated a hostile work environment by subjecting employees to the “N-word” daily, along with other racial slurs. In addition, the lawsuit alleges those managers gave preferential treatment to Hispanic/Latine workers and refused to hire or promote their qualified Black workers. The plaintiffs say managers leaned into racial stereotypes, often praising the Hispanic/Latine workers for their work ethic while calling the Black employees lazy.

The problems did not stop at the store level, as the lawsuit claims that complaints were carried to Sweetgreen’s HR department and were ignored for years. The suit additionally makes allegations that managers would sexually harass the female workers, touching them in inappropriate ways and making repeated sexual commentary.

Sweetgreen, known for serving salads, released a statement to CNBC, “At Sweetgreen, we are committed to diversity as well as a safe and inclusive workplace. We take these accusations seriously and do not tolerate any form of harassment, discrimination, or unsafe working conditions.”

Sweetgreen’s representative also said that the company could not make any further comments about the situation because it is a pending legal matter.

When the lawsuit was first filed in March 2023, there were only two plaintiffs, but the updated complaint added eight more. They are seeking to receive monetary and punitive damages in addition to having the fees related to attorney costs covered. In New York City law, companies are to be held responsible for the behavior of their managing employees. The lawsuit, filed in the Bronx Supreme Court, names Donald Izquierdo and Edwin Ventura as defendants, along with Sweetgreen’s corporate division. It cites an incident where an employee made several sexualizing remarks near Izquierdo, including a comment about a female employee having “d***-sucking lips.”

As reported by New York Eater, an unnamed manager is accused of calling employees at the Gansevoort Street location “monkeys” regularly and failing to curb the use of the “N-word” by non-Black employees.

Avi Mermelstein, one of the plaintiffs’ lawyers, told New York Eater, “For too many Black employees, having to listen to managers and co-workers use racial slurs is just a part of their daily work environment.”

Mermelstein continued. “That’s both wrong and illegal. Being exposed to constant harassment creates a hostile and psychologically unsafe work environment, and companies simply must do better to protect their employees.”

by Daniel Johnson

September 20, 2023

Family Of Woman Found Dead In Belk Department Store Restroom Files Lawsuit

Bessie Durham’s family is suing the Belk department store in Columbia, South Carolina, after the 63-year-old was found dead in the bathroom of the store four days after she was reported missing in 2022.

According to the Associated Press, Durham’s family members and their lawyers held a joint press conference on Sept. 20 to announce the lawsuit on the one-year anniversary that Durham’s body was found in the restroom. Durham, a Black elderly woman, suffered a heart attack while working for KBS, a company Belk subcontracted to perform cleaning services. It is assumed that Durham died from a heart attack while cleaning the restroom, but her body was left in the locked bathroom while her cleaning cart remained outside it for four days.

Attorney Chris Hart, one of the lawyers representing Durham’s family, raised questions about why Durham’s body was allowed to remain in the bathroom for so long.

“They didn’t ask if Bessie was OK. They didn’t ask why hasn’t this cart moved in four days,” Hart said. “They asked why aren’t the bathrooms being cleaned.”

Interestingly enough, KBS is not named in the lawsuit, though according to Hart the family will also pursue litigation against it. The lawsuit holds Belk responsible for not making sure its employees performed a check on Durham. The lawsuit does not specify the dollar amount the family is seeking, but it does establish that Durham’s body had already started to go through the early stages of decomposition when it was discovered on Sept. 20, 2022.

Another attorney representing the Durham family, Justin Bamberg, told the Associated Press, “This family should have had the opportunity to say goodbye the right way instead of having to sit at the funeral and smell the decomposing body of someone they cared about.”

The Lexington County Coroner’s Office did an autopsy and discovered that Durham died of natural causes. It agreed with the family that Durham had been dead inside the restroom for four days before her body was found. The lawsuit alleges that the store was negligent by not thinking to check on Durham, as her cart had not been moved from outside the restroom. The suit also argues that the company had no restroom inspection procedures. This problem, according to the lawsuit, was made worse by a store policy enacted after a shooting at the store that required the bathroom door to be locked. This in turn created a situation where Durham’s body decomposed quickly due to the hot and moist environment of the department store bathroom.

Durham’s daughter, Sylvia Smith, spoke to CBS News 19 about her family’s motivation behind the lawsuit, telling the outlet, “She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and wife. We’re all just wanting ownership to be taken.”

Another of Durham’s daughters, Sheniki Jeter, told CBS News 19 about her mother’s body’s condition at the funeral.

“We couldn’t even view the body. We didn’t have any last moments, we couldn’t see her smile, we couldn’t see how beautiful she was,” Jeter said.

According to Jeter, the family is seeking justice so that what happened to Bessie Durham will never happen to anyone else.

by Stacy Jackson

September 20, 2023

Temple University’s First Black Woman Acting President Dies After Falling Ill On Stage

JoAnne A. Epps, the first Black woman to serve as president at Temple University, died suddenly after falling ill onstage at a memorial service.

NBC News reported that Epps, currently the university’s acting president, died Sept. 19 at 3:15 p.m. at Temple University Hospital. She was 72.

University spokespeople said Epps’ body slumped during a speech at scholar Charles L. Blockson’s memorial service. Blockson died in June 2023, according to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture. He was known for his Afro-American collection of Black-American art and artifacts.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Epps, who was scheduled to speak at the service, was carried out in the arms of a uniformed officer after the announcer asked if there was a doctor in the house.

“We are not aware that President Epps had any health issues,” Ken Kaiser, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Temple, said at a news conference, according to the Associated Press.

“There are no words that can describe the gravity and sadness of this loss,” Temple said in a statement, according to NBC News. “President Epps was a devoted servant and friend who represented the best parts of Temple. She spent nearly 40 years of her life serving this university, and it goes without saying her loss will reverberate through the community for years to come.”

According to the news outlet, the university said Epps was recognized on the National Jurist’s list of the most influential people in legal education five years in a row. Before she became acting president, Epps was Temple University’s provost for five years. She was dean of the Beasly School of Law from 2008 to 2016.

The Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania, native graduated from Yale Law School in 1976. Epps was on the Philadelphia police oversight board, leader of an independent group of public defenders, and assistant U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, NBC News reported. She was also the assistant city attorney in Los Angeles.

Epps is survived by her husband.

by Daniel Johnson

September 20, 2023

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Reps Ghanaian Culture Ahead Of NFL Opening Week

Ghanaian-American NFL player Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah recently celebrated his African roots. He wore a traditional kente cloth outfit before the Cleveland Browns week one matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 10.

J.O.K., as football fans call Owusu-Koramoah, often keeps his heritage front and center. During his second season in the NFL, he participated in the league’s initiative, NFL Africa, designed to attract more potential players from the continent.

https://twitter.com/UsherKomugisha/status/1700950654317895744?t=IQvhfFXiGzGGb4f7Z4h7lA&s=19

https://twitter.com/NFLAfrica/status/1701241686125678865?t=PtN_NgLJew0IwhHyeRglvQ&s=19

As seen on a video posted to X/Twitter, the 23-year-old football star also performed a snippet of the traditional Adowa dance. The dance was created by the Akan ethnic group located in Ghana’s Ashanti region. The West African dance, as the stories go, is based on the movements of an antelope, after which the dance is named. Traditionally performed by women, the dance has evolved into a non-gender-specific expression of a dancer’s connection to Ghanaian culture. The dance is performed by making exaggerated motions with your arms and moving your feet. It is accompanied by a band in more communal settings, often using drums or bells.

According to Sports Illustrated, along with current and former players from various African nations, Owusu-Koramoah helped run a camp focused on introducing American football to kids in Accra, Ghana.

The NFL’s Chief Operating Officer for International Events, Damani Leech, told AP, “We look forward to hosting our first camp in Ghana and will look to activate in Nigeria and other African countries in the future.”

Leech added, “We want to provide an opportunity for the next generation of African prospects to showcase … their talent. As we continue to look for ways to strengthen the pipeline of international players in the NFL, we hope this camp, and future camps, provide a path forward for aspiring players from across the continent.”

Now in his third season, the Virginia native hopes to have a breakout season with the Browns. He also told writer Anthony Poisai about his mindset when he participated in the camp.

“NFL Africa is a great extension of the NFL,” Owusu-Koramoah explained. “To have them keep an eye on me when I first came in the league — I dealt a lot with African consciousness — and to be able to understand that these are our roots is very important.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 20, 2023

Hip-Hop Pioneers DJ Kool Herc And Cindy Campbell To Headline Panel At The Kennedy Center

Although the official birthday of what is considered the birth of hip-hop has passed, the celebration continues.

The person who is called the father of hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc (born Clive Campbell), and the woman with the title of First Lady of hip-hop, Cindy Campbell, his sister, will be making an appearance in Washington, D.C., at the end of the month for a panel discussion.

From its Culture Talks series, The Kennedy Center will present the discussion “From 1520 Sedgwick Avenue to the World—A Fireside Chat with DJ Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell,” on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.

The brother and sister will discuss how one party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx on the night of Aug. 11, 1973, helped spawn a movement and culture of the art form we’ve known as hip-hop. The talk will be moderated by Grammy-nominated producer 9th Wonder, a DJ, college lecturer, music executive, social activist, and Kennedy Center Hip Hop Culture Council Member.

The Campbells will talk about the origins of hip-hop and the cultural movement that has changed the world as it has become a multibillion-dollar industry.

Earlier this year, on May 3, 2023, Herc was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Influence Award category.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced the fall programming for its 2023–2024 Hip Hop season, which includes celebrating the 50^th anniversary of hip-hop.

“I am excited to kick off our year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop this fall. Through these programs, we express our gratitude for the legendary icons who have paved the way, uplift the multi-hyphenates who are shaping our present, and set our sights on the future generations that will usher us into the next 50 years,” said Simone Eccleston, director of Hip Hop Culture and Contemporary Music, in a written statement. “I hope you’ll join us in celebrating the Culture and its golden anniversary!”

Members of the hip-hop community who are expected to participate in various programs and discussions this fall season include Lupe Fiasco, T3 of Slum Village, Rapsody, D-Nice, Wale, Clipse, Grandmaster Flash, and Black Thought, to name a few.

The next series that appears on the calendar is the “Hometown Heroes, Global Icons” on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, “Sound Architects: A Producer Conversation with Timbaland.”

by Stacy Jackson

September 20, 2023

Rhode Island Black Business Association Demands State Hire More Minority-, Women-Owned Businesses

Rhode Island’s practices regarding its minority-owned business contracting program are under scrutiny for violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

According to the Rhode Island Current, a September 18 letter written by Lawyers for Civil Rights on behalf of the Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA) addressed “the distressing under-utilization of Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MBE/WBE) in state contracting for construction, goods, and services.”

The letter, sent to Gov. Dan McKee in addition to Department of Administration Director Jonathan Womer and Tomas Avila, the associate director of Rhode Island’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Opportunity, advises the state to alter its actions to “avoid legal liability.”

The minority and Business Contracting Program law was passed in 1986. It requires that 10% of state contracts and purchase dollars be allotted for women- or minority-owned businesses. There have only been three instances where the state met or surpassed these guidelines: 2018, 2019 and 2022.

Tasheena Davis, litigation fellow with the Lawyers for Civil Rights based in Boston, said it is too early to tell whether or not the group will file a Title VI complaint.

The goal is not to sue the state but rather “to get businesses to feel they can participate,” said RIBBA CEO and President Lisa Ranglin. Ranglin was prompted to contact Lawyers for Civil Rights after the organization filed a Title VI complaint against Boston’s Planning and Development Agency in 2020. Ranglin sought lawyers who were “even willing to listen” to RIBBA’s cause.

Push for reform came after a state-commissioned study was conducted, ultimately revealing the discriminatory practices against minority-owned businesses. The study shows minority businesses received contracts and purchase orders significantly less often than they could maintain.

The letter stated, “Numerous steps–both race-neutral and race-conscious–are available to the State to break down exclusionary barriers and reduce these disparities.” But nothing has happened, according to the letter, even though “it is plain that less discriminatory alternatives to the State’s current contracting system exist.”

The letter does not threaten Rhode Island at the federal level, but does detail the legal obligations the state has to adhere to federal anti-discrimination laws.

Given a $3 million state minority business accelerator program, Ranglin was encouraged to get lawyers involved with RIBBA’s cause. Ranglin alleges the program, run through Rhode Island Commerce, did not deliver on its obligation to advocate and support minority businesses. Instead, the funds were distributed to other organizations outside of this scope.

In an email, Laura Hart, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Department of Administration, said the state is working toward improving minority and women-business contracting.

Hart provided evidence of the increased mandated participation, outlined in the 2024 budget, to jump from 10% to 15%. In addition, there will be a disparity study released every five years, beginning in 2025, as requested by McKee. New software to manage the business contracts will also be incorporated.