by Jameelah Mullen

January 23, 2026

‘I Was F—ing Exhausted’: Mary J. Blige Responds To Chatter Around Lax Performances

Sometimes, you just need a nap.

There was no hateration in the dancerie; Mary J. Blige was just tired.

The Queen of Hip Hop-Soul was a guest on the IRL podcast, where she addressed the viral reactions to her performances on the For My Fans Tour.

Fans noticed that the singer sometimes seemed uninterested during the show. Clips of Blige’s performance quickly turned into online jokes. When host Angie Martinez asked the singer about the fan reactions, the “I’m Going Down” did not hold back.

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“I was f**king exhausted because I was on the 30th of 40 shows,” The songstress said. ”We were in Chicago, or something like that, and I was exhausted. I was kind of over everything, and I was just tired.”

Some fans posted clips of the singer’s performances with hilarious captions:

“My level of effort at work for the rest of the year.”

@stonetaylor5 Get @reshare_app • @sharemyscream I've had enough 😂🤣 . . . . . . #work #corporate #funnyvideo #workmemes #workhumor ♬ original sound – Stonetaylor

The Power Book II star noted that artists, especially women, work hard, and mentioned Beyoncé, who did 32 concerts during the 90-day Cowboy Carter Tour. Blige said back-to-back performances can sometimes take a toll on one’s body, so fans were not wholly wrong in their assessment.

The singer, who has been performing professionally since she was 18, added that she felt unfairly judged by some fans. Blige admitted that when she saw videos of her performances, she didn’t realize her exhaustion would look so obvious.

After the podcast clip appeared on social media, several fans lauded the 55-year-old for being straight.

“I appreciate her honesty… she is human, and doesn’t apologize for it, “ social media personality MJ Harris Speaks wrote.

“She’s a G for that for keeping it a buck, I love that, “a fan xclaimed.

“Mary owes us nothing. And I love her for this dose of reality, one commenter wrote.”

The songstress recently announced her upcoming Las Vegas Residency, “Mary J. Blige: My Life, My Story,” which starts in May. he actress appeared on the Bevalations podcast, where she hinted of a few surprise guests during the 10-date show. The singer also promised an expansive set list featuring her “B-side” tracks.

“Come with your Mongolians, your furs, your high heels, your blonde bob wigs,” Mary J. told fans. “Whatever era of Mary J. Blige that you know and remember, come correct the “My Life “ singer exclaimed.

“Mary J. Blige: My Life, My Story” takes place at Dolby Live at Park MGM during May and July.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 23, 2026

Attorneys For Drake File Appeal After Dismissal Of Defamation Lawsuit Against UMG

The Canadian rapper is still feuding with the label over "Not Like Us."

Canadian recording artist Drake is not letting his feud with his distribution label, Universal Music Group (UMG), go. He has appealed a federal judge’s’ decision in the “OVO” label head’s defamation lawsuit.

According to Rolling Stone, the suit, which uses his rival, Kendrick Lamar’s award-winning and popular diss track, “Not Like Us,” as the backdrop of the legal action, was dismissed when Judge Jeannette Vargas determined that the statements Drake alleged were defamatory amounted to “non-actionable opinion,” effectively ending the high-profile case.

Attorneys for the rapper filed an appellate brief that requests that the ruling be overturned, citing that the song’s line labeling him a “certified pedophile” caused fans of “Not Like Us” to believe it and causing him serious harm.

They claim that the dismissal of the lawsuit could have far-reaching consequences. The ruling that diss tracks are non-actionable opinion created a “dangerous categorical rule” that would protect recording artists and labels from defamation liability.

“The court effectively created an unprecedented and overbroad categorical rule that statements in rap diss tracks can never constitute statements of fact,” according to the brief.

Drake’s attorneys are requesting that the appellate court remand the case, insisting that it be decided at trial rather than on a motion to dismiss.

UMG must submit a brief response by March 27. (In case you forgot, Lamar is an Interscope Records artist, which is a division of UMG. Drake’s current label is Republic Records, which is also part of UMG.)

Less than a month after the dismissal, the legal team for Drake informed the court that it would be taking this action when they filed a notice of appeal on Oct. 29, 2025.

“A rap diss track would not create more of an expectation in the average listener that the lyrics state sober facts instead of opinion,” Vargas wrote in her Oct. 9 ruling, describing the song as full of “profanity, trash-talking, threats of violence, and figurative and hyperbolic language.”

The top-charting single dominated the Grammy Awards, with Lamar winning five awards, including Song and Record of the Year in 2025.

Opal Lee, Southern Methodist University, Grandmother Of Juneteenth

by Kandiss Edwards

January 23, 2026

Opal Lee, Grandmother Of Juneteenth, Is Now A Barbie

Mattel announced the doll is the newest addition to its Barbie Inspiring Women collection.

Opal Lee, the Texas-born activist known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” will have a Barbie made in her image. Mattel announced the doll is the newest addition to its Barbie Inspiring Women collection. The collectible doll celebrates Lee’s decades-long work leading to Juneteenth’s recognition as a federal holiday.

The Opal Lee Barbie doll is styled in a signature outfit reflecting Lee’s annual Opal’s Walk for Freedom. The outfit includes a custom T-shirt, white joggers, and sneakers.

The Mattel Barbie Inspiring Women collection is a series designed to honor “extraordinary women who inspire future generations.”

Lee said partnering with Barbie on her doll was a joyful experience and hoped it would encourage young people to appreciate the power of one voice.

“It has been a joy to partner with Barbie on my Inspiring Women doll,” Lee said in a statement. “I hope my story encourages the next generation to never underestimate the power of one voice, and that can change the world.”

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Lee is best known for her efforts to raise awareness about the historical significance of June 19, the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Texas were informed of their freedom. The announcement came more than two years after the Civil War ended. Her advocacy included annual 2.5-mile walks to symbolize the delay in freedom reaching all enslaved people. Lee organized a march from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., at the age of 89, which helped bring national attention to the celebration of freedom for all Black Americans in 2016. Five years after Lee marched to Washington, D.C., Juneteenth became a national holiday in 2021.

Mattel said the Opal Lee edition will be available at major retailers and online. The collectible offers a tangible tribute that highlights Lee’s lifelong commitment to community, education, and equality. The Inspiring Women series has previously included dolls honoring figures such as Venus Williams and Rosa Parks.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 23, 2026

Jennifer Hudson, The Roots, Jimmy Jam Among 800 Hollywood Creatives Pushing Anti-AI Campaign

Hollywood’s top creatives are rallying against AI models that exploit copyrighted works.

Jennifer Hudson, The Roots, Jill Scott, and Jimmy Jam are among 800 Hollywood creatives in music, film, and television backing a campaign against the use of copyrighted works in AI models.

On Jan. 22, the Human Artistry Campaign launched the “Stealing Isn’t Innovation” initiative, protesting tech companies’ alleged mass use of human-created works to develop tools that could compete with real creatives, Deadline reports. Signatories include actors Scarlett Johansson and Cate Blanchett, authors like Brad Meltzer, and musicians such as Chaka Khan, CeCe Winans, and Yolanda Adams.

Led by the Human Artistry Campaign—a coalition of Hollywood groups including the RIAA, SAG-AFTRA, the Recording Academy, and the Directors Guild of America, with the Motion Picture Association being notably absent—the initiative emphasizes the need to protect the creative community. The campaign accuses major tech companies of using American creators’ work to build AI tools without permission or regard for copyright law.

“Big Tech is trying to change the law so they can keep stealing American artistry to build their AI businesses—without authorization and without paying the people who did the work. That is wrong; it’s un-American, and it’s theft on a grand scale,” the campaign states. “The following creators all agree. Do you? If so, come join us.”

The campaign claims that AI companies’ use of copyrighted works to train their models constitutes a “massive rip-off,” threatening U.S. jobs, economic growth, and the global “soft power” backed by the nation’s creative industries. Rather than using works without permission, the organization wants tech companies to license content and allow creators to opt out of AI training.

“Real innovation comes from the human motivation to change our lives. It moves opportunity forward while driving economic growth and creating jobs,” Human Artistry Campaign senior advisor Dr. Moiya McTier said in a statement. “But AI companies are endangering artists’ careers while exploiting their practiced craft, using human art and other creative works without authorization to amass billions in corporate earnings.”

So far, few Hollywood companies have licensed content for generative AI. The largest deal came in December, when Disney signed a three-year agreement with OpenAI to bring some of its iconic characters to the video-generation tool Sora. Earlier, Sora 2.0 sparked controversy by producing characters from Bob’s Burgers, Pokémon, Grand Theft Auto, and SpongeBob SquarePants. The company initially said rights holders could opt out, but reversed that stance days later.

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 23, 2026

Here We Go Again! Conservative Group Claims Los Angeles School System Desegregation Policy Discriminates Against White Students

The 1776 Project Foundation believes the dated policies "are racially discriminatory in their purpose and effect."

Conservative group 1776 Project Foundation is back, and this time it is suing the Los Angeles Unified School District over claims that its desegregation policy— dating back decades—pushes discrimination against white students, USA Today reports.

The Jan. 20 lawsuit argues students at “non-PHBAO”—meaning predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian, or “other Non-Anglo”—schools receive “inferior treatment and calculated disadvantages.” The group, whose corresponding PAC was behind the nationwide campaign attempting to oust school board members they felt were in favor of racial and social justice lessons, alleges LAUSD programs “are racially discriminatory in their purpose and effect.”

It also alleges Middle Eastern students are classified as white by the school district and should be “part of the disfavored group, as are others who fall on the wrong side of the District’s bizarre racial and ethnic line-drawing.”

While the Los Angeles school district remains one of the most segregated in the country, according to the New York Times, group founder and conservative political consultant Ryan James Girdusky labels the policy as “the most blatant example of racial discrimination by a major school district in this country.”

The policy in question dates back to the 1970s, when a court order pushed the district to desegregate in an effort to improve conditions for students of color with smaller class sizes, in addition to other benefits for students at schools where enrollment was predominantly PHBAO. Schools that fall under the acronym category are a result of their resident student population. If a school is located in an area with more than 70% Hispanic, Black, Asian, or other, it is designated as PHBAO.

The policy came about as a way to address the “harms of segregation” such as low academic achievement and self-esteem, lack of access to post-secondary opportunities, interracial hostility and intolerance, and overcrowded conditions. But now that is potentially at risk.

The suit comes as the Trump administration war on diversity, equity, and inclusion continues.

As agencies like the Department of Defense scrubbed websites and archives of remnants of Black history and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) chair hypes white men to file workplace discrimination claims, affirmative action expert and Yale Law School professor Justin Driver says America is living in “an era of racial revanchism” following the 2023 controversial Supreme Court ruling to overturn affirmative action.

“Los Angeles Unified remains firmly committed to ensuring all students have meaningful access to services and enriching educational opportunities,” a district spokesperson said. But 1776 Project president,Aiden Buzzetti feels the court order isn’t “relevant anymore to the present day, and it is currently inflicting present-day harms.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 23, 2026

Elle Duncan Named New USA Sports Host For WNBA Coverage

Elle Duncan will continue her reign of WNBA coverage at USA Network as part of the inaugural sports show "USA Sports."

Elle Duncan is extending her legacy of WNBA coverage at USA Network in her new role as USA Sports’ official WNBA correspondent.

On Jan. 22, Duncan was named studio host for USA Sports’ inaugural WNBA season, handling pre- and postgame coverage on USA Network, according to Sports Business Journal. The role follows her recent move to Netflix, where she serves as an on-air host for sports and live events.

“Duncan’s hiring comes after the WNBA and Versant announced in November an 11-year media rights deal giving USA Network the broadcast of WNBA games, including the regular season and select playoff and Finals matchups. The agreement, running from the 2026 season through 2036, will feature at least 50 games annually on USA Network, with Wednesday-night doubleheaders accompanied by dedicated pre- and postgame studio coverage.

Duncan moves her WNBA expertise from ESPN to USA Network. At ESPN, she hosted the 6 PM SportsCenter and led WNBA and women’s college basketball coverage, including WNBA Countdown with Chiney Ogwumike and Andraya Carter. The trio became a fan favorite during women’s Final Four broadcasts for their chemistry and love of the sport.

It’s rare for a journalist to shine across multiple networks, but Duncan is doing just that. She is leading WNBA coverage at USA Network while also taking on a new role at Netflix as an on-air host for sports and live events. Duncan’s Netflix contract gives her the flexibility to work with other networks, so long as it doesn’t conflict with her Netflix commitments.

Duncan’s agent confirmed that her Netflix duties will include hosting MLB Opening Night, the MLB Home Run Derby, and contributing to the streamer’s NFL Christmas Day coverage. She will make her Netflix debut on Jan. 23 during Skyscraper Live, a two-hour global event featuring free solo climber Alex Honnold attempting to scale Taipei 101, Taiwan’s tallest building.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 23, 2026

NBA Player Moses Moody Sued For Damage Done To Rented Condo

His former landlord stated that Moody owes him $19,557.33 for the cost of the repairs.

Golden State Warriors player Moses Moody has been taken to small-claims court after being sued for damage to a condominium he previously rented. The landlord claims he did not repair damage that led to a water leak.

According to SF Gate, the landlord of a Mission Bay condo unit, Amir Tabarrok, has accused Moody of damaging the “ceiling and walls due to water leak resulting from failure to run the required ventilation when doing laundry.” The landlord stated he had to replace the unit’s sheetrock, pay for water mitigation, and fix damaged hardwood floors. The lawsuit was filed Jan. 21.

Moody lived in the unit from August 2021 until October 2025.

Tabarrok stated that Moody owes him $19,557.33 for the cost of the repairs. The actual cost was $28,053.90, including unpaid rent, but after using the basketball player’s security deposit, plus interest, the price was reduced to what he says is owed. Included in the repair costs are damage to the bedroom carpets, hardwood floor, electrical switches, and kitchen backsplash. He also included damage caused by drilling holes in the walls and window frames.

Since the suit was filed in small-claims court, the statutory limit is $12,500, so that’s what he is hoping to be awarded.

Moody has been playing with the Warriors since 2021, after playing his collegiate career at the University of Arizona. During his last year in college, he won the SEC Freshman of the Year, making the SEC All-Freshman Team, and First-team All-SEC. He averaged 16.8 points and 5.8 rebounds while leading the Razorbacks to a 25-7 record, prompting him to forgo the next three years of college to enter the NBA Draft. After being drafted with the No. 14 overall pick, he won an NBA Championship in his rookie season.

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 23, 2026

Georgia Governor Suspends Rep. Sharon Henderson Amid Unemployment Fraud Accusations

While Henderson’s seat is up for reelection, it is unclear if she has plans to seek a fourth term given the accusations.

Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has suspended Democratic state Rep. Sharon Henderson from her duties after she faced accusations of fraud by collecting federal unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Associated Press reported.

A review commission felt the accusations against Henderson affected her ability to perform her civic duties for District 113. Kemp agreed and issued the suspension until her case is resolved — or her term expires in January 2027.

In a statement, Henderson’s attorney, Gerald Griggs, said his client is prepared to fight the charges and pushed back against the suspension. “We look forward to litigating this matter in court,” Griggs said.

“In America, every individual is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Henderson faced indictment in December 2025 on charges of theft of government funds and making false statements. The democratic lawmaker was accused of collecting $17,811 in unemployment benefits illegally; however, she pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.

Following the indictment, Henderson spoke publicly on Facebook, saying, “I was extremely confused and shocked when I was told by FBI agents that I was being arrested,” Henderson wrote, according to The Covington News.

“All I could think was ‘what could I possibly have done?’ I was baffled. I have never been accused of any wrongdoing in my entire life. I’ve never had any legal issues, never been accused of any crime, and I have never been arrested. I am 67 years old. I would never do this or do anything illegal!”

But prosecutors are saying otherwise. Henderson allegedly falsely claimed benefits in 2019 as a substitute teacher for the Henry County school system, who was laid off.

However, prosecutors say the lawmaker hadn’t worked within the school system since 2018, and her contract included an acknowledgment that substitute teachers aren’t entitled to unemployment benefits. They also alleged she falsely claimed to have worked for the school system in 2019 and 2020, all while seeking benefits in 2020 and 2021.

Henderson’s suspension came just 24 hours after former state Rep. Karen Bennett pleaded guilty to accusations of making false statements to collect $13,940. Before she was charged, she resigned from the House.

While Henderson’s seat is up for reelection, it is unclear if she has plans to seek a fourth term, given the accusations. In the interim, Karla Daniels Hooper has expressed interest in securing her seat.

ABCs of wealth building, financial literacy, Tanisha Adjokatcher, book, author, black

by Black Enterprise

January 23, 2026

Impossible Moon Bookshop To Host Weekend-Long Grand Opening In Atlanta

Owner of Impossible Moon Bookshop Breanna J. McDaniel is an Atlanta native and award-winning author of children’s picture books

Impossible Moon Bookshop, a Black woman-owned independent bookstore and community space, is set to open on Hapeville’s Main Street.

The grand opening will be a weekend-long celebration that brings literature and fellowship to the Southside of Atlanta. The main event is scheduled for Jan. 24. The opening will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 585 N. Central Ave. Following the ribbon cutting, the day will be filled with author meet-and-greets, children’s crafts and storytelling, and a special adult-only A Risqué Reading event in the evening.

Owner Breanna J. McDaniel is an Atlanta native and award-winning author of children’s picture books including Hands Up! and Impossible Moon. Impossible Moon is more than a retail space. McDaniel described her vision on the official website as “intergenerational connection and an environment of belonging.” The programming for the opening reflects that sentiment with sessions for young people and adults alike. Programs available in the space include book clubs, tutoring sessions, and community gatherings. The bookshop is positioned near Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and aims to serve as a literary hub in Metro Atlanta.

McDaniel posted about the arrival of Impossible Moon Bookshop to the area stating, “Its GO time!.”

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McDaniel’s long-held dream for the store dates to a decade of planning, a crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $20,000 and community support that helped bring the concept to reality in late 2025. She said local donors saw the bookstore as a resource and gathering space amid a decline in general bookstores in the southside of Atlanta.

In addition to serving as a commercial bookstore, Impossible Moon’s programming will emphasize community collaboration and partnerships with local businesses and artists. Upcoming planned collaborations include art crawls and story nights that reflect Hapeville’s Main Street culture, Shelf Awareness reported. The bookshop’s guiding principles include support for community members who are most vulnerable and celebrating the humanity of all patrons through shared literary experiences.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 23, 2026

Pam Bondi ‘Enraged’ After Judge Rejects DOJ Attempt To Charge Don Lemon For Anti-ICE Church Protest

Don Lemon has avoided charges for covering an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church, though the DOJ may still pursue other legal avenues.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is reportedly “enraged” after a federal magistrate judge declined the Justice Department’s initial effort to charge journalist Don Lemon for his coverage of an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church.

On Jan. 22, Lemon was temporarily cleared for reporting alongside protesters who breached a Minnesota church over the weekend, CNN reported. But Bondi, who has been in Minnesota meeting with federal prosecutors for the past two days, is reportedly outraged by the ruling, and the DOJ may seek alternative ways to bring charges against the former CNN host.

“The Attorney General is enraged at the magistrate judge’s decision,” a source familiar with the matter said.

Lemon, a former CNN host now working independently, joined dozens of protesters who stormed Cities Church in St. Paul on Jan. 18, disrupting a service and sparking tense confrontations over Pastor David Easterwood’s dual role as church leader and acting ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations director in St. Paul.

Lemon has maintained that he attended the demonstration in a journalistic capacity and not as a protester, a distinction his attorney reiterated in response to the judge’s ruling.

“The magistrate’s reported actions confirm the nature of Don’s First Amendment-protected work this weekend in Minnesota as a reporter,” Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said. “It was no different than what he has done for more than 30 years, reporting and covering newsworthy events on the ground and engaging in constitutionally protected activity as a journalist.”

Despite a Minnesota federal magistrate judge’s refusal to sign off on charges related to the protest, insiders caution that the case remains open and that the Justice Department may seek other ways to charge Lemon. Should the DOJ press ahead, Lemon is reportedly ready to fight back.

“Should the Department of Justice continue with a stunning and troubling effort to silence and punish a journalist for doing his job, Don will call out their latest attack on the rule of law and fight any charges vigorously and thoroughly in court,” Lowell said.

While Lemon avoided charges, Bondi announced arrests related to the church protest, including St. Paul School Board member Chauntyll Louisa Allen and civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, whom she accused of helping organize the protest. A third individual, William Kelly, was later arrested.