NOT SO FAST! Will Smith Did NOT Meet Spiritual Guru During Trip to India
Sources have confirmed that Will Smith did not visit his spiritual guru Sadhguru during his visit to India.
All eyes have been on the star since his Oscar night slap of Chris Rock. The King Richard star’s first public spotting since being banned from the ceremony for 10 years was a trip to India.
The move appeared to be a self-discovery trip amid all the heightened media attention around the shocking live-televised moment. While it might’ve been a trip with holistic intention, Smith didn’t make time to meet with Sadhguru as previously reported.
According to members of Sadhguru’s media relations team, Smith and Sadhguru did not meet during the actor’s recent visit to Mumbai, The Indian Expressreported.
“Sadhguru is on a global tour to promote Save Soil Movement,” the rep stated. “Sadhguru has not met Will Smith recently.”
Smith was recently spotted at Mumbai airport, smiling and laughing with his fans.
Many assumed Smith was making time to meet with Sadhguru since they connected in 2020. In a vlog Smith posted online, he shared his respect and admiration for the spiritual guide, as noted by Indiatimes.
“Sadhguru is in town. I have been following him for a while. He wrote a wonderful book called Inner Engineering,” Smith shared at the time. “I want my family to meet spiritual people, to start interacting with people who are not hooked on the material world.”
When it comes to Smith’s Oscar’s slap attack, Sadhguru credited the actor for being a good person who made a wrong decision.
“From what I know of Will, he is a wonderful human being, absolutely wonderful human being,” Sadhguru said.
“At the same time, does he have the right to go on stage and hit somebody? Absolutely no! Absolutely no in public places, people going and expressing themselves in violent ways must be absolute no, not just for him, but for anybody for that matter….”
U.S. Vice President Harris Tests Positive for COVID-19
“U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday but is not exhibiting symptoms,” a spokesperson said, at a time when there has been an increase in cases among White House staffers.
“Harris has not been in close contact with President Joe Biden or first lady Jill Biden due to their travel schedules,” her press secretary, Kirsten Allen, said.
“Harris will isolate and return to the White House when she tests negative,” Allen added.
“After consultation with her physicians, Harris was prescribed and has taken antiviral drug Paxlovid,” Allen said.
“Harris came into the White House on Tuesday but tested positive and left before meeting Biden,” a senior administration official said.
Infections have risen in some parts of the United States due to the highly transmissible Omicron BA.2 subvariant, even as cases are falling overall, according to public health officials.
In recent weeks, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Harris’ communications director Jamal Simmons, White House press secretary Jen Psaki and deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre disclosed positive tests.
Other high-ranking officials to test positive this month have included U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, next in the line of succession to the presidency after Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Chris Murphy on Tuesday announced that they tested positive for COVID. A senior Senate Democratic aide said “because of senators’ absences, votes might be delayed on some Biden nominees who face strong opposition from Republicans.”
The Senate is split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans. Ties can be broken by Harris, who also is currently unable to come to the Senate to cast such votes.
Administration officials have said recently that President Biden’s regular contact with advisers and supporters could expose him to COVID-19.
“However, the administration is keen to project a sense of normalcy as many Americans are returning to work and socializing with friends and family,” they said.
Both Biden and Harris are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have received two booster shots. They have in recent weeks mingled with unmasked guests at the White House, including an event attended by 200 guests with former President Barack Obama to talk about Democrats’ signature healthcare law.
With midterm elections scheduled for November, 51% of Americans disapprove of Biden’s job performance, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, as the country struggles with high inflation and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, pushing Biden, Harris and high-ranking administration officials to travel more and spend more time in large groups without a protective mask.
Innovator Tracey Pickett built a thriving company by creating products to protect Black women’s hair from the elements.
Intimate knowledge of the trials Black women endure to protect their hair from the elements led serial entrepreneur and former corporate attorney Tracey Pickett to develop a coveted, game-changing product several years ago.
Today, Pickett is the CEO and inventor of Hairbrella — “The Rain Hat Reinvented.”She designed it to help safeguard hairdos from being ravaged by rain, humidity, snow, and other inclement conditions. Pickett refers to her brainstorm as “the world’s first satin-lined rain hat guaranteed to keep your hair dry, and style protected no matter the forecast.”
Tracey Pickett (Image: Hairbrella)
The rain hat, complete with a visor to also shield the faces of consumers, has been in demand, Pickett maintains, since “worldwide women spend over $80 billion and countless hours a year on their hair but lack the proper protection to keep it looking great.”
When the pandemic struck, Hairbrella created an extended visor shield after the entrepreneur received requests from women seeking extra protection. The move helped sales grow 700% that year, Pickett says, citing that her customer-obsessed firm quickly responds to identify and implement solutions to address consumers’ concerns. In fact, she says about 23% of her customers work in the healthcare industry, including nurses and dental hygienists, and a sizable number can be counted among mail carriers in the services industry.
Hairbrella currently offers nine distinct products, including rain hats, sleep caps and scrub caps for women, men and children.
After launching the Atlanta-based Hairbrella in 2016, Pickett says her firm produces seven-figure annual revenues. And the company’s sales continue to surge, fueled by the partnership it formed in 2017 with Amazon. She says this year, Hairbrella was launched in Amazon stores in Canada and the United Kingdom and expects to expand into Japan soon.
“Amazon really makes it easy for us to take what we’ve established here and then offer those same products to new networks. They give us education to market effectively,” she says.
“And because of that, we will be able to expand globally without truly having a lot of the headache that should usually come with that.”
Developing a thriving business by solving hairy challenges
Based on firsthand experience, the innovative entrepreneur knows about how inclement weather can wreak havoc on Black women’s hairstyles and professional appearance at critical moments. Pickett was inspired to create the product after a mishap as a University of Georgia Law School student racing to an important on-campus interview during a rainstorm.
“I didn’t have an umbrella. I just had a plastic bag, and I ran across campus. I remember feeling defeated when I got there because I looked a mess, and I really wanted to do well in this interview,” she recalls.
“So, I knew this was a problem that a lot of women deal with. And I felt like I wouldn’t step in the shower without a shower cap; why am I walking outside without something to fully insulate my hair from the rain.
In that moment, I said, ‘This is a problem I feel like I can solve.’”
That episode, along with encouragement from Sara Blakely, founder of the shapewear company Spanx, inspired Pickett to launch Hairbrella.
“I remember years ago watching her story on Oprah, how she went from just an idea, had $5,000 in savings, and grew that to a billion-dollar company.”
Pickett remembers “asking God for a sign” that she could get on a similar entrepreneurial path. It came when Blakely sat next to her at a hibachi restaurant in Atlanta. Pickett then shared her idea with her business idol.
“Sara looked at me and said, ‘I hear people pitch their ideas all the time. I feel really good about this one. You should definitely go for it.’ I knew that this was truly a journey that I was intended to take. She has continued to be a North Star for me,” Pickett says of the impromptu meeting.
Pickett initiated the development of Hairbrella after working in corporate and intellectual property law. She also was the founder and CEO of Eboticon, an emoji app.
“I knew this (Hairbrella) was the idea that I was intended to grow a team around and one that I wanted to give my full attention to.”
Pickett says one of her biggest startup obstacles was not knowing what it took to grow a business. So, she engaged in online research, identifying contractors on the internet and discovering how to design prototypes.
To finance the development of the venture, Pickett says she initially invested $75,000 of her own money and then secured additional funding from angel investors. To further propel growth, Collab Capital, a venture fund started by financiers Jewel Solomon Burke, Barry Givens, and Justin Dawkins to provide access to capital for Black founders, invested $500,000 in 2020 to help expand the product line. Since Hairbrella’s inception, Pickett has raised more than $1 million in venture financing.
Leveraging relationships to sustain growth
Now, Hairbrella, the leader in the rain hat category on Amazon.com, aims to double down on its relationship with the online retailer. Pickett maintains a “big plus” of its association is gaining entrée to millions of customers.
“Amazon is very great about making sure that what they are offering on their platform is quality,” she says.
Moreover, Hairbrella’s participation in Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator (BBA), a $150 million commitment from Amazon that is dedicated to help build sustainable diversity and provide growth opportunities for Black-owned businesses, has paid off.
“The program has been great for us as we looked to expand our product offerings, refine our marketing strategy, and expand into international markets,” Pickett says.
So how does the company plan to leverage other business relationships to sustain growth? Pickett says the company’s next phase involves building up its product line through its first major, brick-and-mortar retail partnership with footwear and accessories firm Steve Madden to launch a capsule collection of rain hats next month.And the firm plans to begin selling a line of swim caps, ponchos,and sun hats this year and enter the B2B space by providing innovative hair coverings for the healthcare, food service, airline and delivery service industries.
Asserts Pickett of her grand ambitions: “We want to reach $100 million in revenue in three to five years. There has been no Black inventor of a billion- dollar consumer product brand. I am excited that this is something that’s been put in my heart to go for.”
According to reports, Andrew Woolfolk, who played the saxophone, died at 71 after battling an illness for six years.
JANUARY 01: Photo of EARTH WIND & FIRE; L to R: Johnny Grahm, Larry Dunn, Andrew Woolfolk, Al McKay, Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Freddy White, Ralph Johnson (Photo by Gems/Redferns)
According to an Instagram post from fellow Earth, Wind & Fire member Philip Bailey, the Texas-born musician, passed away earlier this week. The cause of death wasn’t revealed in the social media post.
Bailey wrote: “I met him in High School, and we quickly became friends and band mates. Andrew Paul Woolfolk was his name. We lost him today, after being ill of over 6 years. He has Transitioned on to the forever, from this Land of the dying to the Land of the Living. Great memories. Great Talent. Funny. Competitive. Quick witted. And always styling. Booski… I’ll see you on the other side, my friend.”
Billboard has reported that Woolfolk joined the group in 1973, playing the flute and the saxophone. He performed live with the group off and on and on until 1993. The saxophonist was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame along with his fellow original Earth, Wind & Fire members in 2000.
According to the New York Post, Woolfolk’s prowess on the saxophone can be heard prominently in the classic songs September and Boogie Wonderland. Woolfolk’s saxophone can also be heard in other recognizable hits, including Let’s Groove, That’s the Way of the World, and After the Love Has Gone.
The saxophone wasn’t his only instrument; he also played flute and percussion on several songs.
The popular Earth, Wind & Fire won six Grammy Awards and sold tens of millions of records during the 1970s and early 1980s.
Fox News has reported that Woolfolk took a break from the group in the ‘80s and ’90s and returned in the early 2000s. He didn’t stop working as he collaborated with recording artists like Deniece Williams, Stanley Turrentine, Phil Collins, Twennynine, Philip Bailey, and Level 42.
Former Minneapolis Officer in George Floyd Case Appeals Murder Conviction
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has appealed his conviction and sentence for the murder of George Floyd, arguing that the judge in his case abused his discretion and made multiple errors during the trial.
In the appeal filed in Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday, his lawyers raised 14 separate issues, including Judge Peter Cahill‘s decision to deny Chauvin’s request to move the trial out of Hennepin County, which includes Minneapolis, because of the intense pretrial publicity.
“The overwhelming media coverage exposed the jurors — literally every day — to news demonizing Chauvin and glorifying Floyd which was more than sufficient to presume prejudice,” the appeal said.
Chauvin, a white man, was convicted in April 2021 of killing Floyd by kneeling on the Black man’s neck during a 2020 arrest. Chauvin was sentenced to 22-1/2 years. In December, Chauvin pleaded guilty in federal court to charges he violated George Floyd’s civil rights.
A jury found Chauvin guilty of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the death of Floyd. The verdict was widely seen as a landmark rebuke of the disproportionate use of police force against Black Americans.
The 82-page appeal asked the court to reverse the conviction and hold a new trial in a new venue or re-sentence Chauvin.
It also raised legal arguments against prosecutors, accusing them of misconduct by not disclosing all evidence they had and belittling the defense during closing arguments. It also said that prosecutors improperly prepared witnesses for testimony.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison was not immediately available to comment.
Timing Is Always Right To Refresh Your Finances: Five Ways To Build Wealth
With the end of the first half of 2022 coming, now is perhaps fitting to enlarge your personal finances.
It possibly has been a while since you looked at how to erase debt, stockpile money and examine how to invest more thoughtfully the rest of this year. Yet, it is never too early or late to refresh your finances to ensure you’re moving ahead wisely to generate and build wealth for 2023 and beyond.
The hitch is there are multiple forces to maneuver while trying to control your money in today’s uneven business landscape. For instance, U.S. employers have reportedly provided roughly 6.5 million jobs in the last year and unemployment has dipped to only 3.6%. The nation’s economy ended 2021 bullishly, as GDP grew purportedly grew to 6.9% in the fourth quarter.
However, there still is turbulence. Consider that all major stock benchmarks in this year’s first quarter had their largest quarterly declines in two years, falling 4.6% for the Standard and Poor’s 500 and up to 9% for the Nasdaq Composite, per Forbes Advisor.
For the first time since 2018, the Federal Reserve in March raised interest rates and is expected to do so six more times this year. The Fed’s action was a move to help combat inflation at a 40-year high. And economists at Goldman Sachs have cautioned the odds of the U.S. economy falling into a recession in the next year have grown greatly due to the Ukraine-Russian war, per Fox Business News.
The good news is boosting savings and building assets is always useful. But you may do well to apply such tools as diligence, research, commitment, and help from a financial planner to reach your goals.
BLACK ENTERPRISE connected with top Black influencers in personal finance and wealth-building to gain feedback to help close the nation’s racial wealth gap. They include new and experienced leaders offering smart-money advice who can be assisting in elevating your finances to higher levels.
Compounding investments offer multiple benefits
Investing/Retirement Planning: “The most important thing people need to do for retirement is start by paying yourself first,” said Shelly-Ann Eweka, senior director of financial planning strategy at TIAA, the retirement giant. Set up automatic investment plans for your 401k, IRA/Roth IRA and then build your lifestyle around your remaining available income. She said those who do the opposite — who look to save or invest at the end of the month with “what’s left over” — often never get started.
Many people don’t realize saving for retirement is more sensible in the long run.
Eweka explained, “say you make about $55,000 a year, which is typical for recent college graduates. So you save $100 a month starting at age 25 and earn a 6% return, a standard assumption in these scenarios. When you are 65, you’ll have accumulated about $200,000. But if you wait until 40 and double your contribution to $200 monthly, at 65 you will have less than $140,000 because it did not have as long to compound.”
She said, “the sooner you start to save, the more your investments can compound so your earnings earn earnings. A lot of companies will match what you save for retirement up to 3%.”
Eweka shared, “if you make $55,000 a year — again typical for a recent college graduate — and you save 3% of that salary, your company could match your 3%.”
“That’s $1,650 from you and another $1,650 from them. If you don’t save that much, you’re leaving free money on the table.”
Once you retire, you cannot just hope you will outlive your money. You will also need guaranteed lifetime income. That can be Social Security, pensions, and annuities. Specifically, a growing number of workplace retirement plans are including annuities as an investment option.
“Talk to your employer about different options for retirement savings and talk to a financial planner.”
Eweka added, “They can help you tailor a plan that will help you improve your financial wellness and plan to retire comfortably.”
Do research before buying any rental property
Real Estate: An expected rise in rent prices, a greater demand for rentals and rent growth projected to surpass home sales in 2022 are among key indicators industry experts foresee this year. One factor to consider before buying any rental property is do some research. Be sure to ask about the real estate market conditions where you are and how will you proceed with a purchase. Master real estate investor, Joseph Asamoah, who owns 36-plus single-family properties in the Washington, D.C. area, offered some insight.
Among his suggestions is choose a location that is on the way up and has a lot of potential. In his experience, he says the best rental investment locations will first have a healthy economy that displays job opportunity growth. He added another important feature of a real estate market is to have newly developed companies or other successful companies that are moving to the location of choice.
“This type of activity greatly helps with population growth which in turn will result in a greater demand for housing,” he says.
“Thus, your rental properties will have a higher occupancy rate and a lower vacancy rate.” He suggests buying properties that are reasonably priced — relative to prices in your market — where you can add value and those with appreciation potential. Some red flags Asamoah says, should be avoided now include not doing your homework and overpaying, underestimating your costs and lining up financing and having adequate reserves before starting.
Permanent life insurance can help build wealth
Insurance: There often is a misconception that life insurance mainly only covers burial or final expenses. Yet, many Black Americans are unaware it can be a strong wealth builder. Life insurance can create another income source, especially for retirement, says ShirleyAnn Robertson, financial professional at Prudential in Schaumburg, Ill. She said, “many permanent life insurance policies have the potential to accumulate cash value.” She added, “it can be used to cover many financial commitments, including extra retirement income.”
Each time you make a payment on your permanent policy, a portion of that covers the cost of your insurance, policy fees and the remaining funds build cash value.
“The growth potential varies among the type of permanent policies, the interest credited and the design of a company’s policy.”
That premium cost is based on age, gender and physical conditions. Along with leaving a meaningful amount of money to people you love; life insurance can offer access to money in sickness.
“People are living longer and it’s important to think about how you could get the extra money to take care of yourself if you get a chronic or terminal illness.”
Entrepreneurially, Robertson says life insurance can help protect your business, employees, and family.
“If one of your partners or key employees dies or becomes disabled, you want to minimize business impact. Life insurance can help you hire interim support or recover income, and it also can help you to attract and retain top talent.”
Tax deductions for business owners and multi-family property owners
Taxes: Though the 2022 tax filing season is done, experts report there are moves taxpayers can make now to help them save money before 2023 arrives. For instance, if you had a baby this year, you could update your W-4 to show that.
“At the same time, the tax law is heavily favored towards business owners and multi-family property owners,” said Andrew Coombs, managing partner and founder of Coombs CPA in Newark, N.J.
He explained, “when you own a business or real estate properties it allows you the flexibility to take various deductions in the tax law.”
He noted, “expenses from multi-family properties and depreciation expenses for the property can benefit your tax return.” Property taxes, mortgage interest and mortgage insurance also can be deducted.
“I recommend individuals have a separate bank account for each business and each multi-family property. The separate bank account allows you to be organized and protects people in the event of an IRS audit.”
Coombs also said, “making contributions to employer-sponsored retirement accounts is beneficial because it helps you plan for your future, while also benefitting from tax deductions.”
One-stop app can assist Black Americans in becoming homeowners
Fintech: A growing number of financial technology firms, including Black-owned ones, have emerged in recent years to offer services including mobile banking, insurance and wealth management. One such firm is known as MoCaFi.
“Our goal has always been to move marginalized — defined as unbanked or underbanked — mostly Black Americans from financial insecurity, to security, to economic stability and then thriving status,” said Wole Coaxum, founder and chief executive officer.
“We believe high-quality, no-cost financial services can help close the racial, ethnic, and social wealth gaps preventing over 90 million Americans from fully pursuing prosperity.”
Marjorie Fields Harris, MoCaFi’s head of public relations, shared on the firm’s fresh one-stop app.
“The Blueprint by MoCaFi app enables users to track their assets and liabilities, simulate steps to gain a strong credit score and create a favorable financial profile to obtain a mortgage. It also is intended to help those trying to build wealth to better track their spending and gain access to capital. The app helps people build and establish credit, reduce debt and create budgets. The Blueprint app can also help users save for a down payment and closing costs and track their progress to become mortgage ready.”
Jamie Foxx Criticizes Stephen A. Smith For Calling Out Ben Simmons, Smith Responds
Multifaceted entertainer Jamie Foxx has recently spoken out about how ESPN‘s Stephen A. Smith has called out Brooklyn Nets basketball player Ben Simmons for sitting on the sidelines this season.
Sports announcer Smith has been criticized for how fervently he speaks about and to Black athletes and for reportedly not having the same energy for white athletes.
Smith recently went after Simmons like a wrecking ball and railed on him for not playing, calling it “one of the most pathetic situations I’ve ever seen in my life.”
After his latest rant over the weekend regarding Simmons, The Shade Room reported that Foxx hit back and responded to Smith’s statements on the media outlet’s Instagram account.
“That is completely unfair @bensimmons has a family this man has people that love him and this man just plays basketball but to be dragged through the mud like this is unfair…and why is it @stephenasmith you only go at basketball players. You completely mute when it comes to the Tom Bradys the Aaron Rodgers of the world… You get where I’m going… stop it bruh it’s out of bounds.”
According to the New York Post, Smith responded to his friend Foxx about his comment.
On First Take, Smith starts off by stating he and Foxx are close friends, and he went on to compliment the actor and comedian for his talent. Then in typical Stephen A. Smith fashion, he starts to discredit his sports acumen, stating Foxx has “no credibility when it comes to sports” — because he’s a Dallas Cowboys fan.
Ouch.
“Jamie Foxx knows better,” Smith said on the program.
“He’s just highly protective of the Black athlete, as he should be because they deserve our protection in a lot of situations. Jamie Foxx knows good and damn well it ain’t got nothing to do with brotherhood for me. I protect brothers all the damn time, trust you me, it’s what I DON’T say that proves my protection.”
Smith disputes the claims that he doesn’t go after white athletes in the same way he does Black athletes.
“I’m only supposed to be complimentary?” he asked. “I’m calling out a Kyrie [Irving] and a Ben Simmons because of their impact and effect on the Black athlete. When you go to the collective bargaining table, and [the owners] use them as an example to try to minimize their contribution to players, that’s about those players. That’s about the Black athlete.”
Shaquille O’Neal Explains Why He Told His Sons They Have To Go at 18, But Not His Daughters
TNT announcer and serial entrepreneur Shaquille O’Neal has drawn a line in the sand on when his children can leave the nest.
The former Los Angeles Lakers center has stated his sons will have to leave home when they reach the age of 18, but his daughters “can stay as long as they want.”
According to People, O’Neal made the latest admission on this week’s episode of The Pivot Podcast. The NBA Hall of Famer has six children, three sons and three daughters. He remarked on the show that his daughters could “stay as long as they want,” while his three sons have “got to go” when they become the legal age of 18.
O’Neal has four children with his ex-wife Shaunie O’Neal, Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah. Shaunie has a son, Myles, from a previous relationship, and O’Neal has a daughter, Taahirah, whom he shares with his former girlfriend, Arnetta Yardbourgh.
He admits he likes his daughters better than his sons on the podcast.
“I like my girls a little bit better. Because as a man you have to protect, provide and love your woman. I trust them more because they’re more sensitive, they’re more caring and they’re thinkers.
“You know how boys are. My boys, you bring something in front of them, and they’re gone. I tell my boys when y’all get 18, you all got to go. Girls can stay as long as they want.”
The former NBA player was asked if he meant what he said, and he responded, “I’m dead serious.”
“The girls can stay as long as y’all want; take your time. Go to college, get your master’s, get your doctorate, I’ll pay for it; take your time,” he says.
This revelation comes a week after Shaq admitted that he was the cause of the breakup of his marriage to Shaunie.
According to the New York Post, the NBA Hall of Famer opened up about the cause of the divorce from his ex-wife.
The TNT announcer appeared on an episode of The Pivot Podcastlast Tuesday and revealed, “I was bad,” before admitting, “She was awesome. She really was. It was all me,” when discussing his relationship with Shaunie.
Michigan Officer Identified In Shooting Black Man In The Head After Traffic Stop
On Monday, the Grand Rapids Police Department identified the cop who fatally shot 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya in the head during a traffic stop earlier this month.
Local authorities confirmed that officer Christopher Schurr, who has served in the department since 2015, was responsible for shooting Lyoya. According to theNew York Post, Schurr has been placed on administrative leave following the April 4 killing in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
After nearly three weeks, Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom said that revealing Schurr’s name was “in the interest of transparency, to reduce on-going speculation, and to avoid any further confusion.” The statement comes after the department released four videos capturing the different angles of the incident.
BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that the footage confirmed that Lyoya fled the traffic stop after briefly engaging with Schurr. He appeared to be grabbing and pushing away a taser gun that the officer pulled out during an ongoing struggle. Lyoya attempted to flee again but was subdued face down on the ground. Schurr then discharged his gun and fired a single shot into the back of Lyoya’s head.
Last week, an independent autopsy was performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Werner Spitz. It revealed that Lyoya was shot once, and the gun was pressed to the back of his head. But an official autopsy has not been released.
The Lyoya family rally together on the steps of the Michigan Capitol to demand justice for Patrick Lyoya on April 21, 2022, in Lansing. AP
In recent days, the death of Lyoya, a Congolese immigrant, has fueled police brutality protests against their treatment of young Black men. Kent County prosecutors are currently awaiting the conclusion of a state police investigation to decide to move forward with possible charges against Schurr, the Daily Beast reported.
“An intentional three-week delay in releasing the name of the involved officer, which they clearly knew at the moment of the shooting, is offensive and the exact opposite of being ‘transparent,’” Ven Johnson, an attorney representing the Lyoya family, said in a statement. “Once again, we see the Grand Rapids Police Department taking care of its own at the expense of the family’s mental health and well-being.”
The release of Schurr’s identity also comes days after Lyoya’s funeral, where Rev. Al Sharpton insisted, “How dare you hold the name of a man that killed this man. We want his name!”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to Host 2022 Billboard Music Awards
Exactly 25 years after taking home his first Billboard Music Award in 1997, Bad Boy Records Founder Sean “Diddy” Combs is returning to the stage to host the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. He is also executive producing the show.
Billboard announced that the hip-hop mogul would host and executive produce the 2022 Billboard Music Awards on May 15. The producer received his first Billboard Music Award for the Puff Daddy & The Family 1997 album, No Way Out.
“This will be unlike any awards show – I’m bringing the love and setting the frequency at an all-time high,” said Combs in a written statement. “The Billboard Music Awards truly represent the artists and where music is today, so I’m excited to curate the biggest live performances and surprises. The world has to tune in to see.”
The entrepreneur and philanthropist will manage the May 15 event airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. It will also play on the Peacock streaming service.
One of the first artists that Diddy produced, Mary J. Blige, will receive the Icon Award at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. Blige, who is slated to perform, has won 10 times at the Billboard Music Awards in previous years. She joins a long line of great artists who have received the trophy, including P!nk, Garth Brooks, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Cher, Celine Dion, and more.
Other artists performing on the MGM Grand Garden Arena stage are Burna Boy, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Rauw Alejandro, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, with additional artists set to be announced soon.
Billboard Music Awards finalists and winners are established on essential fan interactions with music, including album and digital song sales, streaming, radio airplay, and social engagement, tracked by Billboard and its data partners, including Luminate (formerly MRC Data).
The 2022 Billboard Music Awards is being produced by MRC Live & Alternative, with Diddy and Robert Deaton serving as executive producers.
Tickets to attend the show are open to the public and available here.
