It’s not unusual for stars to have a twin – and some of them even make top dollar performing as a doppelganger.

But the twinning that nobody saw coming happened this week when Tory Lanez’ mugshot was released after he was arrested for shooting Megan Thee Stallion. Lanez looked more like the Fresh Prince’s goofy cousin than a rapper for the culture.

Many on social media had much to say about the Canadian rapper’s mugshot and compared it to Alfonso Ribeiro who played Will Smith’s preppy, politically conservative cousin Carlton Banks on the 90’s NBC hit show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Lanez is behind bars awaiting sentencing after being convicted of shooting the “hot girl” and could face upwards of 22 years in prison. But seemingly on the night he was arrested it was all Hakuna matata, as he posed for his prison Polaroid smiling with his head tilted like he was taking his Senior high school portraits.

Why Tory Lanez mugshot look like a Carlton Banks 😭 pic.twitter.com/rZzgBSfKL0

— MMA Tea Talk (@MMATeaTalk) January 11, 2023

Dawg they already making Tory Lanez Mugshot Edits😭 pic.twitter.com/e4XIz9EnaB

— Goofy 🌎☄️💕®️ (@siruzi2) January 12, 2023

In the meanwhile, Tory Lanez’ daddy is still ranting, but this time saying that Lanez has “forgiven” Megan, who is the victim in this case. He still however is blasting “the machine” aka Roc Nation, implying that they are “using” her.

Tory Lanez’s father has revealed that his son has forgiven Megan Thee Stallion despite facing a lengthy prison sentence over allegations that he shot her.

Thoughts???#ToryLanez #MeganTheeStallion #SonStarPeterson #Lovelytitv pic.twitter.com/bXPuo4hyaR

— lovelyti (@lovelyti) January 13, 2023

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion, 27,  testified that Lanez shot at her feet after a pool party in the Hollywood Hills in July 2020, adding the shooting was preceded by an argument that got heated when the two began attacking each other’s music careers.

Megan Thee Stallion, whose real name is Megan Pete, needed surgery to remove bullet fragments in her feet, CBS News quoted her as saying.

A criminal investigation is going on regarding the son of a soul legend.

According to TMZ, Marvin Gaye III, the namesake of Motown legendary singer and songwriter, Marvin Gaye,  is being investigated for allegedly assaulting his cousin with a gun. He apparently took off in his Corvette from his Los Angeles residence before police officers arrived. .

Law enforcement sources told the media outlet that police received a phone call around 8:05 p.m. Thursday in response to a “family dispute.” The officers went to the Calabasas home.

Another family member of Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders is joining him at the University of Colorado Boulder.

According to Sports Illustrated, Shelomi Sanders, the daughter of the school’s new head football coach, is transferring to the school to play on the women’s basketball team.

Shelomi Sanders as well as her father and two brothers, attended Jackson State University when “Coach Prime” coached the football team. She was a member of the JSU women’s basketball team.

Last month,  former JSU starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders officially transferred to the university to lead the football team.

Shelomi Sanders, daughter of Colorado football HC Deion Sanders, will be joining the #cubuffs WBB team next week. A true freshman, she will practice this semester and redshirt. T-Fr. early enrollee Mikayla Johnson (from Anchorage) also joining the team this week as a redshirt.

— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) January 11, 2023

The college freshman, who is listed at 5’7” and plays guard. She logged a total of nine minutes across two games. She could possibly be redshirted. If medically cleared, Sanders could possibly start practicing with the team next week.

The coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of Colorado Boulder, JR Payne, told the Denver Post that, along with transfer Mikayla Johnson, from Anchorage, Alaska, Shelomi Sanders will require a “lot of training.”

“There’s not really time at this point in the season to get a lot of those type of reps [in team settings],” Payne said. “It’s such a huge physical transition to the level and amount of training that we’re doing in the weight room. And, they’ll get enough basketball with the group that they will understand expectations and how we operate, how we do things.”

After leading Jackson State University to a second straight SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) championship, “Coach Prime” was introduced as the football team’s new head coach on December 4.

Rihanna came in hot with the new teaser for her highly anticipated Super Bowl LVII performance.

In the January 13 recording, the Grammy Award-winning singer, who rocked a black form-fitting jumpsuit with a feathered coat, is seen coming out of the shadows as a voiceover compilation from several fans blared in the background.

The comments highlight Rihanna’s years-long absence from the music industry. For context, the mother of one released her last album, Anti, in 2016. As the voices amplify, Rihanna places her finger on her mouth and says,”Shhh,” while the chorus to her track “Needed Me” starts to play.

https://twitter.com/rihanna/status/1613809277185187842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1613809277185187842%7Ctwgr%5E7d411213be0260e6d166ec0f7c01558e659e16a3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.nbcnews.com%2Fwo9to8R%3F_showcaption%3Dtrueapp%3D1

Following the release of Rihanna’s Super Bowl teaser, many fans expressed how excited they were to see the upcoming show in the comment section.

“Now the Superbowl got my attention.”

“At last she’s back  show them how it’s done girl!”

“Ahhhh can’t wait queen! Show’em how it’s done!”

“Yaaaaaaas super excited about this”

This video comes months after Rihanna revealed that she would be headlining the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show by sharing a post on her Instagram. In the September 2022 upload, the singer’s hand is seen holding a football.

As the NFL also confirmed the announcement. The head of Roc Nation, Jay-Z, released a statement regarding the news. Rihanna has been a part of the mogul’s Roc Nation record label since 2010.

 

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A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri)

While bringing up the accomplishments Rihanna have achieved in nearly two decades in the entertainment industry, Jay-Z said, “Rihanna is a generational talent, a woman of humble beginnings who has surpassed expectations at every turn. A person born on the small island of Barbados who became one of the most prominent artists ever. Self-made in business and entertainment.”

Super Bowl LVII will take place State Farm Stadium on February 12 in Glendale, Arizona.

Lori Harvey is known for remaining unbothered by all the rumors and chatter surrounding her love life. But there is one years-long rumor she finally decided to address and a current romance she seemingly confirmed.

The socialite and skincare entrepreneur recently sat down with E! News host Adrienne Bailon for an interview that aired Thursday and opened up when asked about the “biggest misconception” about her.

“It’s so funny, because I’m so quiet, there’s been so many stories that have been made up about me,” Harvey said.

“I’ve seen stories about me being fully in love with somebody, and we have this whole relationship, and I’ll see the guy, and I’m like, ‘I’ve actually never even met him before.'”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_-iuDQ8dY8&t=10s

The SKN by LH founder then appeared to subtly reference reports that romantically linked her to Sean “Diddy” Combs, 53, back in 2019 after she had been previously linked to his son, Justin Dior Combs, 29, People reported.

“I’ve heard I dated a father and son before. Absolutely not true,” Harvey said.

“I’ve even heard that I’m a lesbian at one point. So you know, there’s been a lot of different things, a lot stories, a lot of misconceptions.”

Bypassing the rumors as “hilarious” and “very entertaining,” Harvey went on to share the relationship advice she received from her famous comedian dad, Steve Harvey.

“Just remember that you’re the prize, always,” she shared.

When asked to elaborate, Harvey clarified. “[That] means not compromising my values, my happiness, my peace, not settling for less than what I know I deserve and not being afraid to walk away from a situation if it’s no longer serving me.”

Harvey split from actor Michael B. Jordan, 35, last June over reports that “she is very focused on her career,” and “wasn’t ready to commit.”

“She still wants to have fun and be free,” a source told People. “Michael is a great guy. She is sad that their relationship didn’t work out, but she is moving on.”

Harvey is currently romantically linked to Snowfall star Damson Idris who seemingly confirmed their romance by posting a PDA-packed photo with the model on his Instagram Story on Friday in honor of her 26th birthday, Page Six reported.

It looks like it may be official!! After a rumored romance, Damson Idris posted a photo of him and Lori Harvey to his IG story, as well as a solo photo of Lori pic.twitter.com/0KO1ZiwjBa

— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) January 13, 2023

The British actor, 31, posted two photos of Harvey on his Instagram Stories Friday. One showed him kissing her on the cheek as they cuddled. Another showed Harvey holding up multiple stacks of money on what appeared to be the Snowfall set.

“The Plug,” he captioned the pic.

Lori Harvey is on to the next one and doesn’t care who’s bothered by it.

Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole had a “rollercoaster ride” of a week but ended things with a major bounce back after a recent snub.

The Atlanta restaurateur shared her excitement on Thursday when she learned she had been nominated for an NAACP Award for “Outstanding Literary Work” for her book Eat Plants B*tch. Cole posted a video showing the moment she received the big news while riding in a car with her fiancé and team.

“God really has a sense of humor!” she captioned the post. “20 MINUTES AGO, I GOT NOMINATED FOR AN NAACP AWARD!! 🏆”

 

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A post shared by Pinky Cole (@pinkycole)

Cole thanked her team, family, and swarms of supporters before noting her wild “rollercoaster ride” of a week.

“Thank you to @13apublishing and @simonandschuster, my team, my mom, hubby, my kids, my best friends, and all of the people who support me every single day!” she wrote.

“If this ain’t bout the wildest rollercoaster ride 😂THANK YOU GOD!”

Her nomination announcement came one day after she let her followers know the Today show segment she announced on Tuesday had been canceled. Cole addressed a lawsuit from a former employee accusing the restaurant chain owner of taking tips from staff and not paying minimum wage.

Cole called out the media, who turned the lawsuit into headline news resulting in her segment getting canceled one day before she was set to make the appearance.

“My lawyers have advised me not to comment on this, but now my reputation is being compromised and I’m being removed from an opportunity that I worked my entire life for,” she shared in her lengthy statement.

“To get a call that I was removed from tomorrows show because they don’t want to be involved in the storylines, is bizarre to me, but all good.”

For Cole to announce an NAACP Award nomination one day later is quite the bounce back. Her fiance, Derrick Hayes, shared his pride for Cole’s accomplishments and nomination.

“I’m proud of you !!! You deserve it all!! 💪🏽,” he wrote.

“what closed door,” added someone else.

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

January 13, 2023

‘Drink Champs’ Signs Audio Exclusive Licensing Deal With Warner Music Group’s Podcast Network, Interval Presents

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Interval Presents, Warner Music Group’s (WMG) in-house podcast network, announced the award-winning hip-hop podcast series “Drink Champs” will join its network via a new distribution partnership.

Through the collaboration, Interval Presents gained the exclusive licensing rights to the audio version of the podcast on all major podcast platforms. The next episode of the weekly podcast series, and the first episode under the Interval Presents partnership, will premiere on January 27.

“Drink Champs” is joining Interval Presents’ impressive programming slate of culture-driven audio content at the intersection of music, pop culture, and social impact alongside “Rap Radar” hosted by renowned music journalists Brian “B. Dot” Miller and Elliott Wilson, “Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams,” “The Last Resort” hosted by indigenous artist and activist Xiuhtezcatl, as well as previously announced upcoming projects with Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o and pop star Jason Derulo.

“‘Drink Champs’ has been at the forefront of cultural conversations for nearly a decade and has created some of the most iconic moments at the intersection of culture and music. They’ve built an incredible platform that we’ve admired from afar, and now we’re incredibly excited to welcome them to Interval Presents,” said Allan Coye, General Manager of Interval Presents and WMG’s Senior Vice President of Digital Strategy & Business Development. “Our collaboration will focus on further amplifying N.O.R.E. and EFN’s unique and unfiltered approach to storytelling and bringing the show to new podcast listeners.”

A long-form podcast with a conversational art for exploring ideas, friendship and the most interesting anecdotes from the hip-hop community, “Drink Champs” is a leader in unconventional, cultural storytelling, making it a natural partner for Interval Presents as the company expands its network.

“I’m feeling good about partnering with Interval Presents and joining the all-star team they’ve got. We’re ready to take things to the next level for us and the culture at large! Let’s go!!” said N.O.R.E., rap artist and co-host of the podcast.

“We were impressed with the network’s dedication to the culture and the support we’ve received to expand our show to reach new heights allowing us to further pioneer and break barriers in the space!” said DJ EFN, co-host of the “Drink Champs” podcast.

“Drink Champs” launched in 2015. Each episode features co-hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN enjoying free-flowing conversations over drinks with special guests and celebrities including Dave Chappelle, Alicia Keys, Patti LaBelle and more. The groups discuss the highs and lows of the hip-hop world from the past to the present, while reminiscing about their careers and events that brought them to today. The podcast recently won Best Hip-Hop Platform at the 2022 BET Hip-Hop Awards and was nominated for Best Music Podcast for the 2023 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards. “Drink Champs” is represented by UTA, which brokered the distribution deal with Interval Presents.

Listen to “Drink Champs” on Apple Podcasts or any major podcast platform, with new episodes released weekly on Fridays beginning January 27. For more information about Interval Presents and future updates, follow along on Instagram and Twitter.

The popular BBC show, The Apprentice, is being questioned for their lack of diversity.

After seeing this season’s lineup for the popular series and Dragon’s Den, season 17 Den contestants Natalie Duvall and Alison Burton questioned if women of color, particularly Black women, are being purposely set aside. In an Instagram post, the business owners spoke on the lack of representation, remembering theirs as the “only successful pitch.”

“Why are Black female entrepreneurs being erased on shows like these? More specifically… darker skinned representation?,”  they wrote from their business’ profile page.

 

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A post shared by March Muses (@marchmuses)

“Yes we know it’s just a TV show… but it has an impact, and why can’t we be a part of it?,” the former contestants question.

The owners of March Muses from Croydon, South London, say they had a great time on the show but still saddened by this reality. “We are only seen as the lighter skinned, ambiguous colour and we are talking about business here and we are talking about a reality TV show [sic],” Duvall told The Voice.

Yahoo News UK reported that Joanna Jarjue was the last darker-skinned woman represented on The Apprentice, making it to week 12 in 2017.

This season’s lineup casted a few people of color, including Simba Rwambiwa, a senior sales representative from Birmingham, and salon owner Rochelle Anthony from Bedfordshire. While that’s a great start, Burton feels they need to try harder. “I feel like with Black women, they are using a BAME approach, and BAME is a term that I absolutely hate,” Burton said.

BAME stands for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic. While the term is used often in the U.K., its highly criticized. “But when they use BAME, they can get away with throwing a melting pot of people to tick that diversity box,” Burton told The Voice. “And that’s where we get the ambiguous heritage thrown in there and people will say, ‘OK, well, she’s not white’ or if you have an Asian woman that ticks a box.”

BBC did take notice to Burton and Duvall’s concerns. In a statement obtained by Mirror, a spokesperson said it is “proud” of the former contestants.

“On both of these shows we make active efforts to reach a wide range of Black women in business as we know the valuable contribution they make to the UK and global economy, and we are pleased with the diverse range of contestants who have taken part across both series and the contribution they make to the success of those shows.”

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 13, 2023

Juror in Young Thug Case Ordered to Pen 30-Page Essay as Punishment for Missing Court Date

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The trial of Young Slime Life’s (YSL) Young Thug is being watched closely by the world, due to the rapper’s influence and popularity.

According to Channel 2 Action News, a woman who is being identified as Juror No. 64 is being uncharacteristically punished because she chose to go on a trip to the Dominican Republic instead of showing up for jury duty.

Earlier this week, after Juror No. 64 did not show up in court, deputies informed Judge Ural Glanville that the person was expected to report to jury selection on Monday. When he was told of her misdeed, he told the deputies to take her into custody when she did make her return to the courthouse. When she did show up, the juror told Glanville that she previously contacted the court to inform them of her trip and also sent them an itinerary of the trip.

Glanville initially planned on holding the juror in contempt of court, but he decided to give her a different penalty instead. On Thursday, the judge ordered Juror No. 64 to pen a 30-page essay, including 20 different sources, on the importance of serving on a jury. She’s been given three weeks to complete the assignment, and must present the essay to the judge Feb. 13.

Not only must she write the piece, but she was given instructions from him that specified the style and sources needed. He also warned the juror that he would be checking the essay to ensure that there isn’t any sign of plagiarism.

• News

by Diamond Jeune

January 13, 2023

Passengers Say They Were Held Hostage, Called Police After 20-Hour Train Delay

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Passengers on a train earlier this week thought the worst was happening after their trip was delayed for nearly 20 hours.

According to ABC News, the event began on the evening of Jan. 9, when 563 passengers boarded the train from Washington D.C. with the expectation of arriving in Florida, in the Orlando area, the following day. But the individuals’ expected 17-hour ride turned into a 37-hour journey because of freight derailments.

The outlet stated that the Amtrak train was headed southbound when it stopped in Denmark, SC, and had to find an alternative route because a CSX freight train had crashed into an empty vehicle on Monday night.

Amtrak confirmed the news late Tuesday in a statement saying, “The train was detoured off its normal route in order to continue operating south. We have been providing regular updates to customers, along with meals, snack packs, and beverages. The onboard staff is working with pet owners to provide bathroom breaks.”

BREAKING: A travel nightmare is unfolding right now on Amtrak. Passengers on the Auto Train have been stuck on board for 29+ hours, currently sitting in the woods in rural South Carolina. Passengers called the local police saying they’re being held hostage.
LISTEN: pic.twitter.com/Jog4PHYT7G

— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) January 11, 2023

At the same time, CSX also revealed that the crash took place sometime before 11 p.m. and there were no reported injuries. On Tuesday Amtrak shared that they were also facing delays because the Auto Train service was canceled and its other trains, including Silver Meteor and Silver Star, were missing stops because of the detour.

Once passengers became aware of the chaos, a handful of people called the authorities and claimed they were being held hostage. Many of the calls were captured on video and shared on social media. As the conductor caught wind of the passengers’ actions, they tried to de-escalate the situation by apologizing for any “inconvenience” this experience had caused.

That person said, “For those of you that are calling the police, we are not holding you hostage. We are giving you all the information in which we have. We are sorry about the inconvenience.”

Since then, no additional details have been released at this time.