• News

by Booker Jones

February 3, 2023

Family of Ugandan Women’s Rights Activist Awarded $10.5M After Being Decapitated By Swinging Gate

---

Family members of a Ugandan human rights activist will be awarded more than $10 million from the United States for an accident at Arches National Park. 

According to the Associated Press, Esther Nakajjigo and her husband, Ludovic Michaud, were on vacation at Utah’s Arches National Park. While leaving the park, strong winds sliced through the passenger side door of the recently married couple’s car. The fiasco left Nakajjigo, a well-known Ugandan women’s rights activist, dead while her husband helplessly sat in the driver’s seat.  

“By his verdict, Judge Bruce Jenkins has shown the world how the American justice system works to hold its own government accountable and greatly values all lives, including that of Esther Nakajjigo, a remarkable young woman from Uganda,” Randi McGinn, the family’s attorney said in a statement.

AP reported that the $10 million awarded was less than the family initially pursued. However, Nakajjigo’s family members and attorneys representing the family were not upset. McGinn added that it was the largest federal wrongful death verdict in Utah history.

In similar news, a white police officer who fatally shot a Black driver during a struggle inside a car in 2017 must pay that family $4.4 million.

An Ohio jury found that police officer Matthew Rhodes acted recklessly when he climbed into Luke Stewart’s car and shot him. The shooting inflamed racial tensions in Euclid, a Cleveland suburb, and a grand jury declined to indict Rhodes after hearing evidence from prosecutors. The jury’s finding stemmed from a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Stewart’s mother.

Michael Jordan is unarguably the most popular NBA player of all time. Many consider MJ the god of basketball. And he is one of the most popular and recognizable athletes the world over. So it makes sense for his Jordan Brand with Nike to be one of the most sought-after sneakers in the world.

Thanks to a licensing deal with Nike that gave birth to the Jordan Brand, the Chicago Bulls legend continues to earn hundreds of millions of dollars every year. In 2022 alone, Jordan got an estimated $256.1 million payout for the sales of his shoes, according to Front Office Sports.

The outlet also reported the Jordan Brand made $5.1 billion for the fiscal year 2022. As part of his deal with Nike, MJ is entitled to get 5 percent of the earnings from his shoe sales.

Sure enough, Nike is happy to pay Jordan that a large amount of money, considering the profits they gain from the deal. The outlet also reported that the Jordan Brand has earned the apparel giant about $19.4 billion over the last five fiscal years–which would amount to $1 billion in earnings for MJ under his deal.

What’s interesting to note, however, is that Michael Jordan actually just earned $90 million in NBA salary throughout his career. The now-Charlotte Hornets owner has basically doubled his career earnings in one year with just one business.

Jordan has certainly used his popularity to increase his wealth further, further proving that he is also a great businessman off the court. Currently, Jordan’s net worth is estimated to be $1.7 billion. His net worth in 2021 was valued at $1.6 billion.

In other MJ news, ESPN and ACC Network announced they will celebrate “Jordan Day” today (Feb.3 – a.k.a. 2/3/23 ).  Both channels will feature around-the-clock content honoring the Bulls legend, including special editions of popular shows like First Take, NBA Today, and SportsCenter.

Beyoncé stopped the world again earlier this week after announcing her upcoming tour, Renaissance, and the government is warning Ticketmaster to get ready.

The United States Senate Judiciary Committee sent a warning to Ticketmaster saying “they’re watching” in case of system shutdowns, The Hill reports.

The subtle warning came via Twitter as fans prepare for the ticket release in a few weeks.

We’re watching, @Ticketmaster. https://t.co/LuWjoXrWX4

— Senate Judiciary Committee (@JudiciaryDems) February 2, 2023

The mega ticket marketplace has been under fire recently after Taylor Swift fans found themselves unlucky in securing seats for the Grammy-winning artist’s upcoming tour.

Fans waited hours in the queue for tickets but were left empty-handed due to system glitches. Calling themselves “Swifties,” the Hill reports several fans filed lawsuits against Ticketmaster claiming “antitrust violations.”

The same issue happened to fans of megastar Bad Bunny when fake ticket sales caused chaos for his show in Mexico.

The Taylor Swift lawsuits caused the Judiciary Committee to host a hearing in January to investigate the “lack of competition” in the ticketing industry, putting Live Nation’s President Joe Berchtold in the hot seat.

“This whole concert ticket system is a mess — it’s a monopolistic mess,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal told HuffPost. Accused of being a “monopoly,” Berchtold told the committee Ticketmaster the company has an “obligation to do better.”

The committee is not trying to have the same smoke with the Queen Bey fans, known as the vicious “Beyhive,” as they anticipate similar issues for Beyoncé fans.

The Renaissance world tour is already slated to become Bey’s highest-grossing tour.

According to HuffPost, Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, said the number of registrations for the tour has “already exceeded the number of available tickets by more than 800%” in some cities.

Shortly after, more dates in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Houston were added to the schedule.

• Celebrity News

by Stacy Jackson

February 3, 2023

Kerry Washington Invites the World into Her Private Life in New Memoir

---

The star of Scandal is about to have fans turning pages.

On Tuesday, award-winning actress Kerry Washington announced the upcoming release of her new memoir, Thicker Than Water, where she is inviting the public to have a look inside her public and private worlds.

According to Entertainment Tonight, the book will reflect on moments of Washington’s life, highlighting her childhood and the challenges she has faced so far along her journey.

The book is “an intimate view into both Washington’s public and private worlds — as an artist, an advocate, an entrepreneur, a mother, a daughter, a wife, a Black woman,” a press release stated.

Reportedly, Washington’s memoir will expose some of her childhood traumas, spotlight some of the actress’ mentors, and highlight the journey towards reaching success in her career as an actress and political advocate.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kerry Washington (@kerrywashington)

Little, Brown Spark, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company will be releasing the memoir.

“So many of us have been captivated by her work, both on- and offscreen, but few have the full picture of all it took to get there,” Tracy Behar, VP and Publisher of Little, Brown Spark, said in a statement.

“A brilliant and gifted storyteller, Kerry brings her considerable talents to the page to give readers a deeply personal account of her journey, highlighting all the forces that have shaped her life and career,” Behar added.

“Writing a memoir is, by far, the most deeply personal project I have ever taken on,” Washington told People. “I hope that readers will receive it with open hearts and I pray that it offers new insights and perspectives, and invites people into deeper compassion — for themselves and others.”

Thicker Than Water is set to be released on Sept. 26, and is available for pre-order now.

Only Shaquille O’Neal could turn a traffic stop into a hilarious publicity opportunity.

The NBA Hall-of-Famer was in Houston looking for some real estate and was driving a little too fast, KENS 5 reports. That’s when Officer Miles of the Houston Police Department pulled Shaq over for speeding.

Instead of making a scene and getting a ticket, Shaq gave Officer Miles a chance at fame and filmed a new intro for NBA on TNT, which the 50-year-old co-hosts.

Officer Miles took Shaq up on his offer, resulting in a fast friendship and hilariously viral moment.

“I’m Officer Miles with Houston PD, I just pulled over Shaquille O’Neal for speeding down here in Texas,” Miles said. “You’re watching the NBA on TNT.”

The Houston police pulled Shaq over for speeding and made a video about it 🤣🏁

https://t.co/ZGF4aND1IS

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 1, 2023

In the video, the NBA legend can be seen shaking his head in comedic disbelief before the camera pans to flashing police lights showing Shaq was in trouble with the law.

This is not the first time the seasoned police officer has worked with Shaq.

Chron reported back in 2020, O’Neal and Miles ate dinner together at The Union Kitchen, as well as covering funeral costs for Jazmine Barnes, who was shot and killed in Harris County at just 7-years-old.

Growing up in San Antonio, O’Neal apparently expressed interest in working with police. Back in 2021, Shaq became the director of community relations for the Henry County Sheriff’s office in Georgia, Chron reported.

At seven-foot-one, Shaq seems to never hide from a good time or helping people.

Last December, Shaq made headlines when he paid for customers’ meals at the Kenny & Ziggy’s Restaurant in Houston.

Before that, a viral video on social media showed O’Neal randomly asking a kid in Walmart if he had a bike. When the kid responded “No,” he told the little boy to ask his mom if he could buy him a bike. “Whenever I go to a store, from now on, I’m buying somebody else something,’ Shaq said. “Everyday I leave the house, I have to bless somebody.”

@bleacherreport Shaq is one of a kind 🙌 #shaq #fyp ♬ original sound – bleacherreport

The divorce of soul singer, Ne-Yo, and his now-former wife, Crystal Renay has been finalized.

According to TMZ, legal documents obtained by the media outlet reveal that Renay will be receiving a lump sum of $1.6 million, along with other monthly payments.

The agreement allows Ne-Yo to keep three of the four homes they previously shared. He is also keeping a Bentley, which is why the lump sum was agreed to. Along with the payment, Renay will keep the other house as well as receive $20,000 to cover the moving costs.

Since the singer is keeping the 2022 Bentley Bentayga, he is also giving his former wife a check in the amount of $150,000 so she can purchase a new vehicle. In regard to the three children they share, she will be given $12,000 a month in child support and he will pay for their school expenses.

Last summer, Renay filed for divorce after accusing Ne-Yo, whose real name is Shaffer Chimere Smith, of numerous extramarital affairs, Yahoo! Entertainment reported. She stated that he stepped out of their marriage and fathered a child with another woman.

In court documents, she stated that their union was “irretrievably broken with no hope for reconciliation.” The couple separated on July 22, 2022, 

Smith and Ne-Yo were married for over eight years, and have three children together: Isabella Rose; Roman Alexander-Raj Smith; and Shaffer Chimere Jr., according to Yahoo! Entertainment. The “So Sick” singer has two other children with his former girlfriend, Monyetta Shaw – Madilyn Grace, 11, and Mason Evan, 9.

• Celebrity News

by Stacy Jackson

February 3, 2023

Grammy Award-winning Singer Lizzo Now Owns Exclusive Rights to Use Unique Phrase on Apparel

---

Lizzo’s music reminds women of their power, and soon fans will be able to wear her lyrics as a nudge if they ever forget.

According to a tribunal ruling at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office confirmed on Feb. 2, Grammy-winning singer Lizzo now owns exclusive rights to use the phrase “100% That B-tch” on apparel.

According to Billboard, the singer’s request was originally denied by the USPTO for the phrase being identified as a commonplace “motivational phrase” aimed at “female empowerment,” which did not qualify as being unique enough for eligibility.

The USPTO withdrew the rejection after deciding the phrase would immediately remind people of the singer, who used the words in her popular song “Truth Hurts.”

“I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that b-tch,” the lyrics read.

“Consumers encountering ‘100% That B-tch’ on the specific types of clothing identified in the application ― even when offered by third parties ― associate the term with Lizzo and her music,” the appeals board wrote in its ruling.

Lizzo adopted the phrase from a viral internet meme created by Mina Lioness, who has since been given songwriting credit on the “Truth Hurts” track.

I did a DNA test and found out I'm 100% that bitch.

— mina (@MinaLioness) February 25, 2017

I just took a DNA Test, turns out I’m a credited writer for the number one song on Billboard.

— mina (@MinaLioness) October 23, 2019

The USPTO found a flaw in the request, even though Lizzo popularized the phrase.

In their recent decision to hand the singer the exclusive rights, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board disagreed with the original ruling. The board came to a decision, ruling that the singer “popularized the lyric,” by turning a lesser known phrase into a “more memorable status.”

“Lizzo did not originate the expression she encountered as a Twitter meme,” the board wrote. “Nonetheless, lyrics from songs are more likely to be attributed to the artists who sing, rap or otherwise utter them, rather than the songwriters.”

As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Lizzo currently has a Grammy for best pop solo performance for Truth Hurts.

The singer continues to reach new levels of success as she heads into the Grammys on Sunday, with four nominations.

Thanks to Beyoncé, the disco ball-themed cowboy hat she wore to promote her Renaissance world tour is completely sold out.

The Etsy designer behind Bey’s disco cowboy hat is now working overtime to fulfill the high demand that came from the global superstar’s tour announcement. Abby Misbin, AKA “Trending by Abby,” was contacted by Bey’s team last June and asked to make a mirror ball cowboy hat for the songstress in just five days, TMZ reports.

Misbin was happy to make the hat and sold it to the star for $215. Two months later, Misbin was ecstatic to see her creation used in Bey’s promotion for her seventh studio album.

But the promo didn’t stop there. Misbin was surprised to see Beyoncé wear the hat again when she announced her world tour this week.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce)

Now Misbin is overwhelmed with orders for the hat. She typically receives just 5-6 orders a week, but that number has skyrocketed to over 60. The designer typically can make two of her handmade hats in a day.

But because of the high demand and backlog of orders, Misbin has had to shut down her shop temporarily. Now the designer is working with her sister to fulfill all the orders and reopen her shop to meet the newly increased demand for her unique designs.

Bey’s Renaissance world tour includes stops in Stockholm, London, and Amsterdam before closing out throughout the U.S. Ticket registration and sales for the tour will be split into three different groups to weed out resellers.

A Verified Fan registration is currently available on Ticketmaster‘s website. While Bey recently performed a concert in Dubai, she didn’t perform any songs from her Renaissance album.

Fans will have to attend the world tour to see the superstar singer pop, lock, and drop to her House/Disco-inspired album.

Missy Elliot and Jack Harlow have teamed up for a “love triangle”…but not like that.

The rap superstar is back outside for a Doritos Super Bowl ad featuring the “Get Ur Freak On” hitmaker and new-age rap sensation Jack Harlow. In an initial 15-second promo spot, Missy is seen in the recording studio surrounded by a slew of her platinum albums while eating a bag of Doritos.

She then receives a call from someone she’s been waiting to work with.

“Jack Harlow,” Missy sings while answering the phone. “What’s up? Collab? You know I’ve been waiting to collab.”

While Harlow can’t be seen in the ad, Missy goes on to tease what fans can expect from their surprising collab.

“A love triangle?” Elliott asks in astonishment. “I don’t know about that.”

https://twitter.com/MissyElliott/status/1618301823038951425?s=20&t=jZUjeepKliZUKQsfWTogoA

Another ad featured Harlow, without Missy, and showed the “First Class” emcee dodging paparazzi to get inside his car while enjoying a bag of Doritos. One photographer asks the Kentucky native if the rumors about his “love triangle” with Missy Elliot are true.

“Maybe,” he says before biting into a chip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLKO63TssSM

On Thursday, Doritos released the full promotional spot announcing the ad the two rap stars will appear in during the Feb. 12 game at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ.

#Doritos_Partner This better be a good idea @jackharlow… @Doritos pic.twitter.com/CAQCvCdexd

— Missy Elliott (@MissyElliott) February 2, 2023

The two rappers are the latest stars to be added to the Super Bowl lineup, where Rihanna is set to headline her first halftime performance. The new ad also highlights Missy’s slimmed-down figure that she’s recently been teasing on social media.

On Thursday the “Supa Dupa Fly” rapper shared a video that showed a collage of different fashionable looks. Fans couldn’t help but notice how different Missy looked from her early days in the rap game.

https://twitter.com/MissyElliott/status/1621252584530128896?s=20&t=UuhggAFQgM78rjDy9G6Eww

“You look amazing ❤️❤️,” one fan said.

“Beautiful!” added another.

“Yessss!!! Show them Queen 😍,” said someone else.

CNN personality Don Lemon allegedly screamed at his CNN This Morning co-host after accusing her of interrupting him while they were on air.

According to sources, the New York Post reported that after a Dec. 8 broadcast of the morning show, Lemon had an altercation with co-host Kaitlan Collins, accusing her of “interrupting” him on air. The verbal attack left Collins shaken up as she was “visibly upset” and abruptly left the studio.

The incident happened off-camera in front of other staffers who witnessed Lemon screaming at Collins.

Two sources who knew about the situation stated that the commentator approached his c-host after the airing of the show’s Thursday, Dec. 8 broadcast. He yelled at her in front of the staff and accused her of “interrupting” him while the two were on air.

“Don screamed at Kaitlan, who was visibly upset and ran out of the studio,” a source told the newspaper.

News of the incident was told to CNN CEO Chris Licht, and he did not like what he heard, according to one source. Another person with knowledge of what happened said that a producer spoke to Lemon at the direction of Licht and instructed Lemon not to come on set the next day so he could “cool off.”

After that fateful situation, Collins wants to spend as little time around Lemon as possible.

“At this point, Kaitlan wants to be on set with Don as little as possible,” a source with knowledge of the situation stated. “It’s messy.”

A CNN rep said that Collins has recently been on assignment as the chief correspondent for the show.

“The intent was always for the anchors to get out from behind the news desk, and they are doing an extraordinary job taking viewers inside the most important news stories of the day.”

The New York Post reached out to both co-hosts but received no responses. Although a representative from CNN also declined to comment on the incident, a statement was given to the newspaper.

“In just three months, these anchors have created a compelling morning show that breaks news and drives the conversation.”