• News

by Wendy Medina

February 27, 2022

Ex-Goldman Sachs Banker Admits To Faking Divorce To Marry Kimora Lee Simmons

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Disgraced former banker for Goldman Sachs Tim Leissner has revealed that he hasn’t only faked one divorce, but two from two different women. 

The 52-year-old admitted to committing fraud to try to marry model Kimora Lee Simmons during an ongoing corruption trial of former Goldman associate Roger Ng on Tuesday. 

“I photoshopped the divorce document,” he testified in Brooklyn federal court. 

Simmons and Leissner were wed in 2014, while he was still legally married to his former spouse Judy Chan, reports the New York Post.

Prosecutor Drew Rolle inquired if Chan had any knowledge of the marriage, to which he confessed, “Judy did not want to make any transfers related to my new family life in Los Angeles,” after asking her to help him put a $900,000 down payment on a house.

“It didn’t work,” he said. “I think she did some research on the Internet and found out I was trying to buy this house.”

Amid the trial, it also came out that the former banker additionally falsified another divorce prior to Chan.

The two former bankers were arrested and charged for the Malaysia 1MDB scandal in 2018, a scheme in which Malaysia’s then-Prime Minister Najib Razak funnled about $700 million from the sovereign wealth fund into personal accounts, in one of the biggest corruption and money laundering scandals in the world.

While Leissner has pleaded guilty to aiding the fraud mastermind, financier Jho Low, to loot hundreds of millions of dollars from the fund, Ng maintains his innocence.

Leissner continued to sing in court in exchange for a lighter sentence, testifying that he kept $60 million in bribes, was watching over $80 million in off-shore shell companies for Low, and that one of his many affairs was attempting to blackmail him for a $10 million mansion.

The Baby Phat model shares a child with the German ex-banker, Wolfe Lee Leissner, and while they are separated, they are not yet divorced. 

• Arts and Culture

by Yolanda Baruch

February 27, 2022

Fans Threaten Creators Of Rebooted ‘The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder’ Not To Change The Theme Song

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The creators of the rebooted animated series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder said they received messages from fans threatening them not to change the beloved theme song for the show initially sung by Solange and R&B pop group Destiny’s Child, reports Insider.

The theme song for the animated show is considered “sacred” by fans, but the creators of the show — executive producer Bruce W. Smith, Space Jam, The Princess and the Frog, and executive producer Ralph Farquhar Moesha, Married…with Children, agreed that they did not want to turn away fans of the original series and theme song; however, they did want to update the track. 

“We certainly acknowledged the fact that we had a legion of fans of the original show, but we certainly wanted to give it an upgrade,” Farquhar said.

Smith continued, “One of the things that really is sacred within ‘The Proud Family’ universe we discovered is our theme song. We were getting just short of death threats of not changing this song [saying,] ‘You better not change this song.'”

While “Louder and Prouder” did make some noticeable changes in the show’s animation style and theme song,

Kurt Farquhar, the younger brother of one of the creators, Ralph Farquhar, composed the original song and made revisions to the musical score. Kurt said there were no intentions of scrapping the original music but overhauling it with a new beat and 29-year-old R&B singer Joyce Wrice who grew up watching the Proud Family. 

Kurt, Ralph, and Bruce agreed that Wrice’s talent as a vocalist personifies the character of Penny Proud and is the ideal singer to take over the reins of the version sung by Solange and Destiny’s Child.

“There’s no greater new talent than Joyce Wrice to take the reins of this from Beyonce and Destiny’s Child and Solange,” Kurt said. “Destiny’s Child was on a meteoric rise, and Solange was at the beginning of her career. They spoke to that generation and now in a way, they’re being handed off to Joyce, who’s going to speak to her generation.”

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is a show that centers around a 14-year-old Black girl named Penny Proud, voiced by Kyla Pratt, who takes viewers on her journey as she navigates her growing pains and operating in the world, according to a Disney press release. 

The new series will follow Penny and her eccentric family: parents Oscar and Trudy, twin siblings BeBe and CeCe, and her grandmother Suga Mama (and Puff!). Fans will also see her girl squad Dijonay Jones, LaCienega Boulevardez and Zoey Howzer.

Actress Pratt reprises her role as Penny Proud, as well as, Tommy Davidson as Oscar Proud, Paula Jai Parker as Trudy Proud, Jo Marie Payton as Suga Mama, Karen Malina White as Dijonay Jones, Soleil Moon Frye as Zoey Howzer and Alisa Reyes as LaCienega Boulevardez. Cedric the Entertainer will also return as Uncle Bobby Proud.

New episodes of “Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” are available on Disney+.

Fans and supporters of Tory Lanez are in full attack mode against Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

The unfiltered hate for the Grammy winner stems from an altercation with Lanez in July 2020. She alleges the “What’s Poppin” rapper shot her when they were enjoying an evening out with TV reality personality Kylie Jenner. Later, Lanez was arrested and charged with felony assault, according to Hip Hop Dx. 

Many have doubted Megan’s account of the incident, and she recently posted the vitriolic message and life-threatening attacks she receives on social media. 

On Feb. 25, she shared the disgusting messages that flood her DMs with her 27.7 followers. She uploaded a picture to her Instagram stories from an account called “megantheestallionbiggesthater” the statement reads, “Megan Needs To Be Shot And Killed,” reports Onsite!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Onsite! (@its_onsite)

“This is the type of s*** I get online and see EVERY DAY,” said the “Body” rapper about the post.

The recent online storm against the college graduate followed when DJ Akademiks took to Twitter to dispute that detectives did not find Lanez’s DNA on the weapon used to shoot the “Hot Girl Summer” artist, according to the Rap-Up.

Other media outlets reported that Akademik’s claims were untrue. New York Post reporter Eileen Reslen posted “fake news tweet was sent out before the hearing even started,” in response to Akademik.  

FAKE NEWS ALERT: Any reports of Tory Lanez’s DNA not being found on the weapon in the Megan Thee Stallion case are FALSE. Today’s pre-trial hearing was just postponed to April 5 and that fake news tweet was sent out before the hearing even started. #megantheestallion #torylanez

— Eileen Reslen (@EileenReslen) February 23, 2022

In a series of posts, Megan swiftly made it known that Akademiks was spreading a false narrative of the situation and the case. 

Megan Thee Stallion responds to DJ Akademiks’s tweet about the Tory Lanez case: pic.twitter.com/gKhRCfmflH

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 23, 2022

And the tweet has been deleted: pic.twitter.com/0yxaH9AsR0

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 23, 2022

“Yall got breaking news 15 minutes before court started and nobody has even been called in yet??” she asked. “Yall tryna win a social media campaign this is MY REAL LIFE! Yall tryna get retweet’s SPREADING FALSE NARRATIVES! @iamakademiks Why are you lying? What did you gain?”

Megan rebuked the peanut gallery for believing hearsay and not doing adequate research. 

“Whats even more fu**ed up is this shit is all public record and nobody even cares to read,” she added. “But yall will get a lie trending.. Imagine how i feel..reliving this shit everyday publicly. It hurts im so tired,” reports the Rap-Up. 

Lanez also entered the fray by tweeting a barb  “….. u can’t buy and tweet your way out of this one ..not today,” he wrote.

….. u can’t buy and tweet your way out of this one ..not today .

— Tory Lanez (@torylanez) February 23, 2022

The pre-trial hearing has been postponed until April 5.

• Fashion & Beauty

by Wendy Medina

February 27, 2022

Viral Fashion Icon Steve Harvey Praises Wife For His Modernized Wardrobe

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Steve Harvey has made a comeback in the fashion world, from his hallmark suits that his wife Marjorie referred to as “pimp suits” to sporting high fashion looks that had many giving a double-take.

Although the “Steve Harvey suit” was iconic in its own right, the popular TV show host has been serving look after look on his Instagram, having some Twitter users dubbing it “Steve Harvey Fashion Week” as he released fit after fit for his front-row appearances at New York Fashion Week last month. 

But who’s to credit for this transformation? It certainly doesn’t hurt to have a fashion designer as a wife. 

In a recent cover with Paper Magazine, where Harvey paid homage to the late fashion trailblazer André Leon Talley, he shares that his wife, Marjorie Harvey, was the one responsible for revamping his look. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Steve Harvey (@iamsteveharveytv)

“She got me out of the big suits to begin with,” he recalls. “She just came home one day and said, ‘I’m tired of being married to a pimp.’ And I said, ‘What the f— do you mean?’ And she said, ‘The big suits and all of that.’ I’m sitting up here thinking, ‘Hold on, you ain’t say nothing when you married me, I had on them big suits.’ She said, ‘Yeah I married you, but I was going to change you,’” he laughs. 

Ditching the oversized shoulder on the suit jacket and wide pant leg, personal stylist Elly Karamoh was summoned for his expertise, stunning the internet as he now showed up dripped in designer, bold colors, and sleek lines, as previously reported.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Steve Harvey (@iamsteveharveytv)

Calling himself “the flyest 64-year-old on the planet” in an interview with Yahoo! last year, Harvey undoubtedly lives up to his “self-imposed” title, and the internet agrees. 

However, the legendary comic we grew up watching still bleeds through the designer in the form of daring colors.

“‘Range, Mr. Harvey, range,’” the comedian brings to mind Karamoh reminding him. “‘You don’t get stuck on this look right here. We have to show range.’”

On Saturday night’s telecast (February 26) of the NAACP Image Awards, venerable actress Angela Bassett earned the Outstanding Actress In A Drama Series for her role as Athena Grant on the Fox drama 9-1-1.

Bassett, 63, is one of the highest-paid Black actresses on a televised drama, reportedly making $450,000 per episode, according to Vanity Fair. 

Bassett boasts a 35-year career in movies, television, and theater, and she shows no signs of letting up. She rightfully earned the lucrative payout bestowed upon her. Meanwhile, the movie-going audience patiently waits to see her grace the big screen again as Ramonda for Marvel’s Black Panther 2, reports ET Online. 

Questlove, filmed at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, virtually presented the actress with the NAACP Image award, her eleventh NAACP Image Award, and the 23rd nomination.

“Thank you, NAACP, for your support tonight and my entire career,” she said. “Definitely want to thank my fellow nominees whose work is consistently nuanced and beautiful and inspiring.”

Bassett gave thanks to Fox-Disney, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear, the show creators of 9-1-1, and shouted out her castmates and crew members who she acknowledged “worked and gave everything to make a number 1 show.” She also showed appreciation to her husband, children, and the family dog.

“I’m so blessed and so fortunate that we have that collaboration and respect with one another whether it’s in the writer’s room or in front of the camera,” said Bassett, an executive producer in the virtual press room.

“It means the world. They take whatever I bring and take it seriously. They are right there with me and behind me.”

Bassett shared the category along with fellow nominees Dawn-Lyen Gardner (Queen Sugar), Octavia Spencer (Truth Be Told), Queen Latifah (The Equalizer), and Rutina Wesley (Queen Sugar).

For a complete list of winners visit here.

• Black History Month

by Yolanda Baruch

February 27, 2022

All Natural Makeup Line Range Beauty Scores ‘Shark Tank’ Deal

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Two cousins from Atlanta, Georgia, Alicia Scott, and Myisha Fantroy, pitched Range Beauty, once featured on Beyoncé’s website, on Friday on ABC’s Shark Tank, reports Meaww.

Scott, 32, grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Virginia Tech with a fashion merchandising and design degree. She developed an all-natural, toxin-free makeup line when she worked as an account executive for a fashion designer. She noticed Black models at fashion shows would bring their own makeup kits because the makeup artists would have limited options, reports Sportskeeda.

“Whenever I was backstage or on a campaign shoot, I started to notice when Black models were cast, they would come prepared with their own makeup kits,” she says, according to Bustle.

She further inquired why they brought their own beauty products, and they told her the makeup artists did not carry cosmetics that fit their melanin-rich skin tones. 

From there, Scott immersed herself in learning how to create chemical-free cosmetics and taught herself using YouTube, reports Sportskeeda. 

She designed her product line to include foundation, primer, powder, and body oils, all priced at the masstige level, which are inexpensive products priced between drug-store brands and luxurious items, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

Scott wanted her makeup line to cater to Black women who experience acne and eczema that applying makeup can exacerbate. She also required healthy ingredients for her products. 

Range Beauty encompasses a range of skin tones and types and is an inclusive beauty line that nourishes acne-prone or sensitive skin. 

“Range became the answer for a lot of people wanting beauty without breakouts, or who never saw their skin tone represented,” says Scott. “With my eczema and acne, I had to make sure to expand past the ‘flawless face’ marketing term because that term didn’t include me.” 

Range Beauty uses ingredients that soothe and smooth the skin like cornflower, French clay, vitamin E, calendula, chamomile, and argan oil, instead of ingredients found in other beauty products that are toxic to a woman’s skin, reports Bustle. 

Scott’s brand also includes anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial agents for darker skin women, reports Sportskeeda. 

To date, Scott’s cosmetic line generated $367,000 in sales in 2020. However, her sales fell in 2021 when the Covid-19 pandemic caused a supply-chain crisis. 

Scott and Fantroy appeared on Shark Tank with her cousin and business partner Fantroy and offered $150,000 for 6% equity in their company. 

Lori Greiner and guest Shark Emma Grede, first Black female guest Shark, founder and CEO of Good American, founding partner of the Skims brand, and co-founder of Safely, saw the immense potential for the Range Beauty brand. Together they offered $150,000 for a 20% cut in the company. 

Scott attempted to negotiate for more capital with a lesser equity percent, but the sharks rejected her counter-offer. Eventually, the two Atlanta women caved and agreed to the deal with Greiner and Grede and left the tank elated that they had two successful sharks working with them to heighten the reach of Range Beauty.

Range Beauty is available on their website, online at Target, and soon sold on Amazon.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

February 27, 2022

Create Your Website With Ease With Straw.Page

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The need for a personal webpage can vary. Those who have launched personal business ventures might want to display their wares on the internet to enhance their company’s footprint. Social-media influences could want to grow their audience by having a personal webpage to catalog their videos and photos.

Virtually anyone can find value in owning a webpage. However, doing so in the past usually required knowledge of coding to create said webpage. These days, it’s far easier to do so.

Straw.Page Mobile Website Builder makes owning a webpage possible, and for a limited time, a lifetime subscription to the program is available for just $99. That’s a savings of 59% from its MSRP ($245).

Straw.Page is a drag-and-drop website building that also works on mobile devices. The editor is extremely flexible, and it uses a grid-based interface that allows you to use it without design restrictions.

It comes with infinitely-generated templates, and it’s mobile-first so your website looks the same on all devices. Additionally, it doubles as a blogging platform where you can design your theme.

All that’s needed to use Straw.Page Mobile Website Builder is any web browser. Updates are included with purchase, so you’ll always be able to use the latest version. Straw.Page Premium offers custom domains, unlimited pages, privacy-focused analytics for your website and links, password protection, and higher upload limits.

With the rise of the online marketplace, countless people have been able to launch successful online businesses or platforms to showcase their talents. Owning and maintaining a website is no longer a barrier, as Straw.Page has made it possible for anyone with a mobile phone or a desktop device to have their own.

Purchase it today for $99 and begin to create and build a webpage that you can showcase online.

Prices subject to change.

The Uber eats driver that Snoop Dogg called out last month is reportedly suing the 50-year-old Death Row Records label boss.

A CBS affiliate in Los Angeles reported that Said (he declined to give his last name) fears for his and his family’s safety after Snoop posted a complaint about the Uber Eats driver on Instagram. Said alleged that the “Beautiful” emcee exposed his personal information online to his followers, and he wanted to fight back. 

“There’s my picture there and also there is my first name,” Said said. “After I see the video, I’m kind of like…I have anxiety, and I fear for my family’s safety.” 

He also stated he followed company protocol and reached out to Snoop during the transaction. Said maintained that he didn’t know he was delivering food to the rapper.

On Jan. 27, Snoop posted a now-deleted 11-second video to Instagram about his experience with the app. Said was to deliver the food to an industrial section in Inglewood. The driver said that he met Uber Eats’ requirement of waiting eight minutes and then canceled the order. 

“I contacted the customer many times and I also followed the protocol by the book,” Said said.

Uber Eats responded to the incident saying, “We truly regret Snoop Dogg’s frustrating experience. We have reached to apologize and refunded him for the order.”

Upon seeing his employer’s response to Snoop, Said felt that Uber Eats didn’t have his back. He hasn’t returned to the job.

“When I read that, I just felt like it’s not fair because I am the one that deserves an apology from Uber Eats, not Snoop,” he said. “But I have to fight for my rights and family’s rights. I just feel like I’m not treated well from this celebrity or Uber Eats.” 

Uber Eats also stated that it protects its drivers by withholding their last names and using anonymous phone numbers when reaching out to customers. The company does, however, use license plates.

Real Housewives of Potomac (RHOP) star Mia Thorton shared with her fans that she was diagnosed with cancer.

On Friday, the 37-year-old reality star wrote a poignant post on Instagram detailing the moment her doctor contacted her with the shocking news. 

“Same time last week, Doc called at 7:31am — ‘Mia I’m so sorry but your test results came back and I need you to go to Johns Hopkins Cancer Center today for further evaluation,’” Thornton began the post. 

“You can only imagine the overwhelming amount of emotion G and I endured trying to figure out why. However, even with such terrible news, I felt an extreme amount of peace and energy instilled that allowed me to remain strong,” she continued. “I’ve been in and out of visits to specialists every day and the storm is not over but this experience is changing me. I am working with a phenomenal team of physicians and I appreciate the outpouring of support. I have not been diagnosed as yet so please keep me in prayer.”

The stunning entrepreneur also spoke to her followers about faith and seizing the day.

“I know God has a plan and I know we are often challenged to remain humbled that tomorrow is not promised and that our days on this earth are numbered. A message from my heart. A gentle reminder to Live, Love & Forgive as if today was your last.”

Thornton ended the message with words of encouragement.

“Be great Kings & Queens!”

Fans and celebrity friends wrote reassuring messages of support and love to the ailing reality star. 

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Sheree Whitfield wrote, “Keeping u in my prayers!!”

One fan, who survived cancer, encouraged Thornton to keep her head up.

“God is a healer ♥️ stay strong 💪🏾 keep POSITIVE FOLKS around you at ALL times, Mustard seed faith and FIGHT!!! You got this! Speaking from experience 💃🏾 #14yearsstrong #CancerFree 💜💜💜.”

Another fan wrote, “Mia, I’m so sorry to hear this, my love! Please stay encouraged, prayed up, spirits high no matter what (as stress exacerbates illness of any kind) and I’ll keep you in my most elevated thoughts! You got this, the battles already been won and nothing can hinder the anointing that’s over your life! You continue to be blessed and don’t think of anything, but healing and your children. 🙏🏽🤗🥰😘😘😘.”

Thornton joined RHOP in its sixth season. According to her bio on BRAVO, the woman graduated from Southeastern Institute with a degree in neuromuscular massage therapy. Before joining the reality series, Thornton was a clinical director in North Carolina. The mother of three also owns Amilleon London, a high-end gift and swimwear site. She’s been married to her husband, Gordon, for nine years. 

We are sending the Thornton family our prayers.

• News

by Keka Araújo

February 26, 2022

BALLING GONE WRONG: Oakland Woman Sentenced To Three Years In Federal Prison For Multi-Million Dollar PPP Scam

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An Oakland, Calif. woman was sentenced to three years in federal prison for attempting to scam the government out of $4.5 million in pandemic relief funds for fake companies she created in 2020. The woman also has to pay more than $1 million in restitution. 

On Feb. 24, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a press release detailing Christina Burden’s crimes. Burden, 32, was found guilty of two counts each of bank fraud and money laundering. 

In 2020, the California woman registered four shell companies with the IRS and two of those with the California Secretary of State. According to Burden’s arrest affidavit, she designated herself as the proprietor of Pinkie’s Place LLC., Creative Synergy Group, Blessing Box Co. LLC., and Burden Consulting Group LLC. The 32-year-old woman applied for a total of $4,696,637.67 in PPP and EIDL loans, was only funded for $1,143,191– of which $150,900 came from EIDL monies. Burden, who is an accountant and consultant by trade, misrepresented herself on the loan applications by saying that she had 89 employees and a monthly payroll of $700,000.

Before she was found guilty, U.S. Attorney David Anderson alleged that Burden enjoyed a massive spending spree with the money so many other people needed.  

“The Paycheck Protection Program provides a financial lifeline to needy businesses and their employees. We allege that Christina Burden obtained PPP funds by fraud, submitting false business information, false employee numbers, false bank statements, and false tax returns. She used those funds for a spending spree on entertainment, luxury goods, and high-end excursions, including travel by private jet.”  

By the time Burden was arrested for the alleged fraud and money laundering on Feb. 5, 2021, the woman had spent a large portion of the money on personal items for herself, friends and family members, including “$184,000 on private jet travel, airfare and hotels; $124,000 on purchases from lux merchandise from Louis Vuitton, Nordstrom, the San Francisco Giants Dugout Store, Sunglass Hut, Tumi, Wayfair and Neiman Marcus; $16,000 on boat and car rentals; and $14,000 on various restaurant and entertainment expenses, among other purchases.”

Lastly, she purchased a Mercedes and a Land Rover for $150,000.

In a crazy twist of fate, a woman with the same name and occupation in Oakland, Calif., has been catching heat for the 32-year-old’s crimes. Upon further research, the defendant is ten years younger than the woman. The other Burden (with an incredibly good sense of humor) posted a message to her Facebook account with the press release from DOJ. 

“Here we go again… It ain’t me! I got this chick by over ten years in age,” she wrote. 

The guilty woman is set to report to prison on Apr. 7.