Aoki Lee Simmons is not here for her mother, Kimora Lee Simmons, not being included in Vogue’s tribute cover to the late Karl Lagerfeld.

Vogue is honoring the legacy of the late German fashion designer who passed away in 2019 with its latest cover that features “ten of the models that Lagerfeld loved most.” The famed fashion magazine unveiled the cover for the May issue on Tuesday via an Instagram post explaining the theme behind the cover.

“Vogue’s May issue is a celebration of Karl Lagerfeld,” they captioned the post. “For the cover story, shot at Paris’s @le_grand_palais amid a sweeping renovation, we asked ten designers inspired by Lagerfeld’s visionary work to interpret it anew.

“Their creations appear on ten of the models that Lagerfeld loved most,” the caption continued before naming the featured models.

“Anok Yai, Shalom Harlow, Kendall Jenner, Liu Wen, Adut Akech, Natalia Vodianova, Naomi Campbell, Amber Valletta, Gigi Hadid, and Devon Aoki.”

 

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However, after catching wind of the cover and the 10 models it chose to feature, Kimora Lee’s youngest daughter decided to defend her mother’s honor and her close relationship with Lagerfeld. Aoki Lee shared her own post reminding the public of Kimora’s legacy modeling for Lagerfeld as the “youngest bride of Chanel.”

“Let us not forget the youngest Chanel bride, Karl muse and his “face of the 21st century” at age 13,” Aoki shared in her caption.

“straight from the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of a single mother and first gen Korean immigrant, the maker of the wayyy♥️✨ @kimoraleesimmons I’m always so proud of you mom!”

 

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Aoki’s post came on the same day as Vogue’s and seemingly took aim at the outlet for snubbing her mother. Followers of the Harvard scholar took notice and reacted to her tribute to Kimora.

“was looking for her on new vogue cover,” one fan said.

“Should’ve been in that new Vogue cover fr!!!” added another.

Kimora doesn’t need to respond to Vogue’s subtle snub. She has a firecracker daughter who’s not afraid to make her voice heard.

Online trolls are going to troll, but that won’t stop Halle Berry from doing what she wants to do.

The Catwoman star is giving “blueprint” and  “big Leo” energy in one of her latest Instagram posts, and Meagan Good and Saweetie can attest to that.

The 56-year-old mother wished her followers a “happy Saturday” with a photo of herself nude on a scenic balcony, sipping a glass of wine. She captioned the bold post declaring, “I do what I wanna do,” and her comment section ate it all up.

From Kelly Rowland and Lena Waithe to Arsenio Hall, the love for Berry shined a light on owning our choices and loving our bodies at all stages. But not all comments were that empowering.

 

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According to Entertainment News, a since-deleted remark about Berry’s photo made the actress react with a clever clap back that has also been removed.

“Imagine being in your 50s, still posting nudes for attention in menopause when you should be chilling with the grandkids,” one troll said. “Aging with dignity is no longer a thing.”

Berry responded, “Did you guys know the heart of a shrimp is located in its head?”

The Oscar Award winner is clearly not afraid to take heat from the trolls, especially about her age.

“I refuse to become someone who just tries to hold on to a youthful face and not embrace what’s most important about being beautiful—how you live your life, how you give back to others, how you connect to people, how you strengthen your mind, body, and soul and nourish yourself, how you give in a meaningful way of yourself,” she said in a January 2022 interview with AARP.

She added: “Our skin is going to shrivel up, and we’re going to look different. I see things changing with my face and body, but I’ve never put all my eggs in that basket. I’ve always known that beauty is deeper than the physical body you’re walking around in.”

Chlöe Bailey is staying positive and promoting her upcoming tour amid reports about her low-performing debut album.

Bailey released her solo debut “In Pieces” last Friday, and it reportedly failed to make Billboard’s Top 100. According to Chart Data, the album debuted at No. 119 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart with 10,000 units sold.

Chlöe's 'In Pieces' debuts at #119 on this week's Billboard 200 (10K sold; @ChloeBailey).

— chart data (@chartdata) April 10, 2023

Fans were surprised by the news considering how much promotion was put into the album. In addition to a lengthy press run, Bailey’s appearances in Donald Glover’s Swarm and lead role in Will Packer’s Praise This offered the singer the perfect opportunity to show off her range.

Yet, music fans provided mixed responses, with some blaming the public and even Beyoncé for apparently failing Bailey when it came to supporting her debut album released on Bey’s Parkwood/Columbia label. Others dissed the album’s sound and feel.

“Beyonces fault, she needs to share her platform,” one fan said.

“It seemed rushed I didn’t like it,” another user wrote.

Many others defended Bailey for focusing on her “art” and not the “chart.”

“Who cares where it charted 🤷🏿‍♂️ It was an amazing project,” one fan said.

“Y’all don’t realize that she made this album for the arts and not for the charts… Like leave sister alone!” added someone else.

Amid the reports about her solo debut, Bailey seemingly addressed the hearsay by explaining the theme of her album and promoting her upcoming tour.

“in pieces was about letting go & trusting myself,” she tweeted on Sunday.

“i’ve enjoyed every moment of it and i love everyone who listened to it. tour starts tomorrow in chicago and im so ready to perform these songs for yall ❤️‍🔥”

https://twitter.com/ChloeBailey/status/1645482260672520208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1645482260672520208%7Ctwgr%5Ecd7a5c82af13ae74f5a81591f5331551192a4ff0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rap-up.com%2F2023%2F04%2F10%2Fchloe-bailey-reacts-album-sales%2F

Singer Ryan Destiny showed her support by telling Chlöe, “that’s what it’s all about♥️✨.”

“Hi Chloe! I bought it! I like it! It’s been on repeat!” another fan added.

Rickey Smiley seems to be getting curved by his granddaughter’s mother.

The radio personality has reportedly filed for Grandparents’ Rights after being denied access to his 3-year-old granddaughter, Storm, for two months.

Recently, Smiley hopped on Instagram Live to vent about not seeing the toddler, claiming the mother, the ex of his late son, Brandon, has been ignoring his attempts to see Storm, which he said is causing unnecessary pain for him, the family, and the child. “It’s already hard suffering a loss, and now you have to ask for Grandparents’ Rights,” Smiley said.

“You’re hurting her, you’re hurting her. The best thing [to] ever happen to me was having my grandparents around and just having wonderful grandparents,” he continued.

Smiley revealed he recently made a gesture to have Storm present for a recent Easter gathering. According to a photo of the delivered message posted to Smiley’s social media, the invitation was ignored.

 

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“It’s just lowdown when women do stuff like this to men. It’s women out here that wish anybody would step up and offer some kind of support. And I’m not mad about it, but hey, it’s disappointing, it’s hurtful, but you’re hurting her. I’m mad at the fact that my granddaughter is suffering.”

Smiley also shared that his son, Brandon, faced similar struggles to see the child as the relationship with his ex was rocky.

In March, the radio personality appeared on the Tamron Hall show, where he discussed the loss of his son, crediting his healing to his granddaughter. “At the end of the day where you just buried your son, which is her dad, to push her on a swing like that, I just think it was God just giving me a sense of peace and comfort,” Smiley said, recalling the day of Brandon’s funeral when he spent time with Storm on the playground.

A candid interview with @RickeySmiley after the shocking, tragic death of his son Brandon, and what’s helping him heal. Plus, Rickey’s message for anyone who’s experienced loss. Tune in MONDAY on “Tamron Hall.” pic.twitter.com/ekVR8W7wXA

— Tamron Hall Show (@TamronHallShow) March 10, 2023

Reportedly, the court order allowed Smiley to spend at least two weekends and every other Wednesday with Storm. The Rickey Smiley Morning Show host is also seeking visitation via father’s rights.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 12, 2023

And We’re Back! Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson Reinstated Days After Being Expelled

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HuffPost reports Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson has been reinstated after being expelled for protesting gun violence. With a 7-0 vote, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners reinstated the young politician one day after fellow expelled Democratic colleague, Rep. Justin Jones, who represents the Nashville district, was reinstated.

With a packed crowd inside the County Administration Building witnessing the vote, cheers and applause filled the room before Pearson, 29, representing the Memphis district, made a speech. “Let’s get back to work!” he shouted. “You can’t expel our voice, and you sure can’t expel our fight.” Pearson and Jones had their seats taken away briefly after GOP legislators called the protest “disorderly behavior” that “brought dishonor to the House of Representatives.”

We are marching to the Shelby County Comission with the people. People Power is greater than any power that attempts to suppress it! pic.twitter.com/YxLAo6a0y0

— Justin J. Pearson (@Justinjpearson) April 12, 2023

A third lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, who joined in protesting for gun control after a mass shooting in Nashville, was saved from expulsion by a single vote.

Republican leaders threatened to cut funding if Pearson was reappointed. Black Enterprise reported legal counsel, including former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, sent a letter, warning GOP legislators about retaliation. “In so acting, the House Republicans not only wrongfully stripped these representatives of their rights as duly-elected legislators but also disenfranchised the voters they were elected to represent,” the letter said.

Johnson, a supporter of Jones and Pearson, expressed how happy she was that Pearson was given another chance. “I’m so glad Memphis did what was right,” Johnson said. “I’m just absolutely thrilled. Justice was done today.”

• News

by Booker Jones

April 12, 2023

The Black Chamber of Commerce Launched A New Chapter On Prince Edward Island

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Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) has launched a Prince Edward Island (P.E.I) chamber. 

According to Yahoo News, CBCC hosted an event announcing the new chamber on Thursday. The event was attended by several officials and budding entrepreneurs with the City of Charlottetown. 

“Since 18 years ago when I came to PEI, the Black diaspora has been growing exponentially,” Kevin Lloyd, a business owner, and CBCC business manager, said to CBC.com. “A lot of the demographics are now diverse here. A lot of [Black Islanders] are here who want to start businesses and they don’t have the tools and the knowledge to do so.”

Lloyd’s drilling company, which he did not name, gets a lot of work in Nova Scotia, telling CBC.com that the entire country is open for business. The enthusiastic business owner also mentioned to CBC.com that connecting Blacks with other Blacks to hopefully open up novice entrepreneurs to funding opportunities is the mission of CBCC.  

“They don’t have the information. They don’t know where to go to,” Lloyd added. “Funding is the cornerstone of any business, if you don’t have funding to do your business, you can’t do your business.”

The National Black Chamber of Commerce was created in 1933 to help Black entrepreneurs sustain independent businesses. Black Chamber of Commerce has chapters all over the country, with P.E.I. being the latest.  

Michael Forrest, CBCC’s founder, traveled to P.E.I. for the launch and said the new chapter would open new opportunities for Blacks in Canada.

“[W]hether from the African continent or from the Caribbean or born here in this great country of Canada, we want to find ways to connect you to make sure that we can start creating and bringing the legacy of our Black global history together in one place, one time,” Forrest tells CBC.com.

Sza’s “Kill Bill” made history as the longest-running No. 1 single by a female artist on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

After spending its 16th week at the top, Billboard reports that Sza has now surpassed Mary J. Blige’s 2006 hit “Be Without You,” which spent 15 weeks atop the songs chart. “Kill Bill” saw a 5% drop for the week of March 31–April 6, earning 23.4 million official streams in the U.S.

Now with her latest feat, Sza surpasses a lineup of R&B heavyweights with the longest-running No.1s by women. Sza tops with 16 weeks, and MJB follows up with 15 weeks for “Be Without You.” Deborah Cox, Mariah Carey, and Rihanna all spent 14 weeks at the top for their respective hits 1998’s “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here,” 2005’s “We Belong Together,” and 2012’s “Diamonds.”

Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” featuring Charli XCX spent 13 weeks in the No. 1 spot in 2014, and Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” held the spot for 12 weeks in 2008. Alicia Keys’ 2010 hit “Un-Thinkable” also spent 12 weeks dominating the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Sza has admitted to how “annoyed” she is over “Kill Bill’s” success as it was one of the easiest for her to make while recording her “SOS” album.

“I knew it would be something that pi**ed me off,” she told Billboard in February.

“It’s always a song that I don’t give a fu*k about that’s just super easy, not the sh*t that I put so much heart and energy into. ‘Kill Bill’ was super easy — one take, one night.”

Since the release of “SOS” in December 2022, the album has sold more than one million copies worldwide and scored Sza four top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, with “Kill Bill” being the best-performing single. The song is SZA’s second career No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, after “I Hate U,” which appears on the same album.

Louisiana State University is still basking over its NCAA Woman’s Basketball Championship win. One of the most famous, if not THE most famous and accomplished students to ever attend LSU is retired NBA player Shaquille O’Neal. He gave current student-athlete player Angel Reese the highest compliment when he stated that she is “probably the greatest athlete ever to come out of LSU sports.”

In the latest episode of The Big Podcast, Shaq stated that Reese might be the greatest athlete to come out of LSU because she was able to bring the university a championship. He also pointed out that, although he did extremely well while attending the school, he was never able to bring home the title.

“She’s probably the greatest athlete ever to come out of LSU sports. You heard it here first,” he exclaimed on the show. “Male and female. Ever.”

His reasoning was based on her delivering the “package,” which is something most students who attended LSU can’t say, including himself.

“See, a lot of us got the package and we still got the package in our truck. She delivered that package,” O’Neal said. “It’s a lot of names to throw around, men and women, but she is probably the greatest athlete. Some people are going to exclude it to ‘woman athletes.’ I’m not doing that. She is the greatest athlete to ever come out of LSU because she got it done.”

And although Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow won a national college football championship (in 2019) AND the Heisman Trophy (Awarded to the best collegiate football player) while attending the school, Shaq doubled down with his thoughts regarding Reese.

“Joe Burrow got it done a couple of years ago, but she is way more athletic than he is,” O’Neal stated.

Shaq with some high praise for a fellow LSU athlete 👀

(via The Big Pod) pic.twitter.com/oR5AmC19rR

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 11, 2023

In a recent ESPN SportsCenter interview, Reese confirmed that she would join her teammates when the basketball team visits The White House.

• Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

by Stacy Jackson

April 12, 2023

Diverse Sperm Shortage Raises Concerns for Black Women, Leads Woman to Open First Black-owned Cryobank in the Country

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Have a child that doesn’t reflect your race or don’t have a baby. These are the options for Black women these days.

Black women are facing difficulties finding sperm donors who share their backgrounds. After a limited choice in her own process of finding a sperm donor, Angela Stepancic is ready to open the first Black-owned cryobank in the country.

According to CBS News, after looking into the four major U.S. cryobanks, which include California Cryobank, Fairfax Cryobank, Seattle Sperm Bank, and Xytex, it was found that less than 4% of available sperm is from Black donors. Dr. Tia Jackson-Bey, a fertility doctor in New York City, confirmed the struggle through the experiences of her own patients of color. “Historically, donors have been recruited from places where maybe Black men are not present, you know, institutions of higher learning, certain areas, geographic areas in the country,” Jackson-Bey said.

Reportedly, most cryobanks require something not all Black Americans have access to, three generations of medical family history.

With the diversity shortage, Stepancic, who identifies as half-Black and half-Croatian, had to fall back on her non-negotiable to have a Black baby and chose to welcome a multiracial child with her wife. “It’s America, we’re supposed to have all the choices that we want, but we really don’t have any choices in this process, and this is the one process that really impacts our legacy the rest of our lives, you know, our future. As, as a family and as a people,” Stepancic said.

Her cryobank, Reproductive Village, will mark history when it opens in Washington, D.C. Its focus will surround recruiting Black donors and providing drop-off locations in cities such as Houston and Atlanta.

“I want to give them access to the same amount of options that every other couple has going through this process,” Stepancic said.

 

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The Seattle Sperm Bank and California Cryobank, two of the largest cryobanks, claim they are also committed to addressing the shortage through research and recruitment. The Seattle Sperm Bank said it would be working to actively recruit more men of color, spreading the word about the importance of sperm donation. The sperm bank hopes the conversations will break the “taboo surrounding this type of donation and get the word out about the increasing need for more donors.”

In December, the National Football League announced that YouTube acquired the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket after a nearly 30-year relationship with DirectTV. 

According to several news reports, YouTube has just revealed details for the 2023-’24 NFL season. CBS reports pricing will be based on when fans subscribe or whether one subscribes to YouTube TV. 

Christian Oestlien, the vice president of product management for YouTube, spoke with The Athletic about the pricing system. 

“One of the things we really wanted to do is introduce a much greater level of simplicity and clarity in the pricing for users,” Oestlien said to The Athletic. “[S]o if you have YouTube TV, it’s an additional $249 at this point—with the presale discount— and if you don’t have YouTube TV if you’re not ready for it, you can buy Sunday Ticket) as a standalone subscription.”

NFL Sunday Ticket will be available as an add-on for YouTube TV subscribers. A cheaper option for anyone who subscribes to the streaming service’s base plan at $72.99 a month, according to USA Today.

YouTube TV subscribers can add NFL Sunday Ticket at a presale price of $249 for the season. This package will save fans $100. With this, subscribers can watch YouTube TV and NFL Sunday Ticket on the web, on their TV, and on smartphones and tablets, USA Today reports. 

Oestlien added, cited by USA Today: “On YouTube TV, members will have access to features like the brand new multiview as well as unlimited DVR storage, personalized recommendations, the ability to view key plays, NFL fantasy data, real-time stats and hide spoilers.”

The  NFL is approaching its 30th anniversary of NFL Sunday Ticket. This season marks the first time that the NFL package will not air on DirecTV, who owned rights to the package since 1994, according to CBS.com.