Lil Nas X Reveals Losing ‘Control Of The Right Side Of My Face’
'Bro, I can’t even laugh right'
A social media post by recording artist Lil Nas X reveals that he has “lost control” of movement on the right side of his face.
In an Instagram post, in what looks like a hospital room, the man born as Montero Hill films himself on a bed, showing his 10.4 million followers that he is unable to move the right side of his face.
“Soooo lost control of the right side of my face 😭”
The rapper seems to be taking it in stride while laughing at himself, demonstrating the lack of movement.
“This is me doing a full smile right now, by the way,” he said. “It’s like, what the f**k. Bro, I can’t even laugh right, bro. What the f**k. Oh my God.”
After posting the video, he updated his followers with an Instagram reel, assuring them he was OK.
“GUYS I AM OK!! STOP BEING SAD FOR ME! SHAKE UR ASS FOR ME INSTEAD!”
(Image: Instagram/lilnasx)
The clip was posted on April 14, and the “Old Town Road” rapper gave an update on April 15, letting his fans know that his face is showing slight improvement as he is able to move it a little more than the previous day.
“Okay, so a little update: like, I feel like this side is getting better. But, obviously, you can see this left side is blinking. This right eye is keeping an eye out for Selena like it do not give a f**k,” as he shows us the movement in his face for both sides. “It’s like, this is me trying to do a wink like I can force it to shut, but….” he then shows how the other side is not cooperating with the working side of his face.
USA Today reported that Lil Nas X just released his latest project, an EP titled “Days Before Dreamboy,” in late March. He is scheduled to drop a full-length album, “Dreamboy,” later this year. It will be his second album after releasing his debut album, “Montero,” in 2021.
Mae Jemison Corrects Reporter: ‘It’s Humankind,’ Not Mankind
Mae Jemison took one giant leap for gender equality in a recent interview
Trailblazing astronaut Mae Jemison offered a quick lesson during an interview, correcting a reporter who used the term “mankind” instead of the more inclusive “humankind.”
The awkward exchange happened while Jemison—the first Black woman in space—spoke with Vladimir Duthiers of CBS News ahead of Blue Origin’s historic all-female flight on April 14. After a few teachable moments, Jemison gently corrected Duthiers when he asked her to explain, “Why even a trip like this one, all the trips that we take into space, benefit mankind.”
“So it benefits humankind, and I’m gonna keep correcting,” she said in a clip shared online. “And the mankind and the man-made and the manned missions, because this is exactly what this mission is about—is expanding the perspective of who does space.”
The moment was one of several where Jemison made a powerful push for gender-inclusive language while discussing Blue Origin’s all-female celebrity spaceflight, which included singer Katy Perry and journalist Gayle King. Jemison, who spent eight days in space in September 1992, reflected on how her journey revealed that people can be so “human-centric that we forget we are part of this greater universe.”
The interview grew a bit tense when Duthiers appeared surprised that scientific experiments were part of the flight, prompting a pointed response from Jemison.
“I don’t think a lot of people knew [that],” he said. “They thought it was just six women going up into space for a joy ride.”
“What do you mean, just six women?” Jemison pushed back.
“Well, that’s what I mean,” Duthiers said before his colleague Nate Burleson jumped in to attempt damage control.
“He’s speaking to the perspective and some of the narratives that are out there,” Burleson said.
“That’s what I mean!” Duthiers added, “I’m glad that you’re here to help me correct that narrative.”
Jemison made history in 1992 as the first Black woman to travel to space, serving as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. She remains a pioneering force in aerospace, using her platform to advocate for greater inclusivity and representation in the industry.
Joining Perry and King on the historic all-women Blue Origin flight were civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, and film producer Kerianne Flynn.
The mission, which flew 62 miles above Earth, marked Blue Origin’s 11th human spaceflight and the first all-female crewed space trip since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova’s groundbreaking solo flight in 1963.
Activists Announce ‘State Of The People Power Tour’ To Reenergize Black Voters Post Election
The tour begins April 26 and ends June 6
Black voting activists are hitting the ground running to reenergize Black voters post-election with the State of the People POWER Tour.
The nationwide rally comes as President Donald Trump and his administration work to dismantle DEI policies and erase Black history.
The tour was announced during a media briefing organized by Black Voters Matter on April 14. Moderated by former MSNBC Anchor Joy Reid, the briefing brought together media outlets, community organizers, policy leaders, and others to discuss the next steps on how Black Americans should proceed under the current administration.
“I think we all understand the moment that we’re in. We’re facing a really aggressive attempt by the current regime to erase Black history, erase our existence, challenge our presence in federally-funded institutions, challenge the funding of our HBCUs, and even challenge our ability to access federal funds to start businesses,” Reid said on the call.
“This is a moment of crisis, and I think everyone can see that and feel that.”
What Exit Polling Data Say Black Voters Are Feeling
Terrance Woodbury, founding partner and pollster for HIT Strategies, joined the call to brief listeners on the perspectives of Black voters.
HIT Strategies is a public opinion research company that specializes in researching Millennials, People of Color, LGBTQ+, and underserved communities. Woodbury and his team have been conducting on-the-ground research since the presidential election, including weekly focus groups with Black voters.
“There is a fear, frustration, a sense of neglect and [feeling of] ‘who’s fighting for us?’” Woodbury said regarding his conversations with Black voters.
Woodbury said HIT Strategies has followed the most important question: “Regardless of how often you vote, how much power do you think your vote has to make a difference in your community?”
“Since Election Day, HIT Strategies has seen perceptions of power in the Black community drop to the lowest numbers we have seen since recording this metric,” said Woodbury. “What that tells us and what we’re hearing in focus groups, is not only do Black folks feel like we lost on Election Day, they feel like we continue to lose every day.”
HIT Strategies found that Black Americans feel they are losing hard-fought freedoms and rights. From HIT’s research, experts also found that the Democratic party does not seem to understand how to communicate with Black voters on some of the social issues that Republicans are currently using to wedge what Woodbury characterizes as Democrats’ “multiracial coalition.”
“An overwhelming 78% want to see Democrats fight back as much and as visibly as possible” against the Trump administration, Woodbury said.
He said it is imperative that Democrats present a proactive vision and develop a narrative that resonates with and mobilizes Black voters, who are losing faith in the system.
How The State of the People Power Tour Will Energize Black Voters
Black Voters Matters Co-Founder Cliff Albright said a significant strategy Black voters should take in resisting the Trump administration’s agenda is through “nonviolent civil disobedience.”
“We are going to have to take it to the street and use nonviolent direct action. We are going to have to do it in some ways that exceed what we did throughout 2020,” he aids.
“State of the People has really become an embodied love letter to Black America. We are working with each other and for each other,” activist Angela Rye announced on the call. “This was birthed out of a marathon that gave our folks an alternative platform to view for 21 hours up to Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress. For those last three hours, we had a Black leadership summit.”
According to Rye, over a million people tuned in across platforms, and since then, the community has asked, ‘OK, what are we doing next?’”
Rye says the State of the People POWER Tour answers that question. The nationwide call to action aims to restore and reimagine what’s possible for Black communities across the U.S.
The tour begins on April 26 and ends on June 6. Each stop will feature two full days of community care, political education, resource sharing, and cultural celebration that build toward a national agenda rooted in liberation, legislation, and authority.
“The only requirement is that you love Black people, you’re for Black people, and you’re willing to work on behalf of Black people,” Rye said.
Bowie State University Hosts Nation’s First HBCU Prison Education Summit
Bowie invited attendees to the inaugural HBCU Prison Education Summit to join the movement to build the prison-to-HBCU pipeline.
In an effort to build a prison-to-HBCU pipeline, Bowie State University last weekend hosted the nation’s first HBCU Prison Education Summit, bringing together educational leaders, criminal justice experts, and community advocates.
Summit leaders structured the three-day event under its inaugural theme, “Building A Prison-to-HBCU Pipeline.” According to the event’s webpage, the summit called on HBCUs to involve their team of administrators, faculty, staff, policymakers, funders, community partners, and reentry advocates in the movement to establish a network that provides incarcerated and formally incarcerated with opportunities for higher education, reentry services, and personal and professional development.
Attendees were immersed with expert knowledge and resources for building prison education programs. “By building this network, we aim to empower HBCUs to better serve our community through prison education, to advance racial equity for Black people, to use access to higher education to create pathways for upward mobility, reduce recidivism, and break the cycle of incarceration,” the summit’s mission statement read. “Our mantra is, educate to liberate and vow to transform (ELVT) the lives of our people and thus all people.”
This year’s summit objectives included building partnerships and collaborative conversations through constructive discussions among educators, advocates, community organizations, policymakers, and stakeholders; sharing resources, best practices, research findings, and innovative approaches to leverage collective expertise and stay updated on the latest developments; and fostering social justice and empowering change agents. Due to systemic inequalities, Black men and women are disproportionately incarcerated in the United States. In March, a report by the Prison Policy Initiative revealed that 37% of people in prison or jail are Black. Researchers have found that access to education improves life chances and social and economic mobility.
Bowie State’s Criminal Justice Department Chair and Executive Director of the Prison Education Program, Dr. Charles Adams, told WBAL that the institution is one of four in Maryland to offer prison education. “We know as we shift from mass incarceration with finding ways to deal with returning citizens, we have to provide resources, and one of the main resources is education,” he said. In a press release, Adams revealed that the institution is in the third year of its Second Chance Pell Grant program, launched in 2022, to advance prison education. “HBCUs cannot do this alone. By coming together, we strengthen our impact and increase our ability to secure resources to meet incarcerated citizens where they are and better prepare them for potential jobs when they are released back into the community,” said Adams.
Over 200 guests from HBCUs, the criminal justice system, and other organizations gathered in Bowie, Maryland, to attend the inaugural HBCU Prison Education Summit. The university plans to host the summit again next year.
Southwest Airlines Latest Policy Shift: No More Unexpired Flight Credits
The policy switch will begin the same day as the airline's two free checked bags perk ends
Southwest is continuing on its not-so-favorable changes to customer perks, this time saying farewell to its never-ending flight credits.
Credits for any cancelled flights or downgraded fares will come with a deadline to use them. This new policy will go into effect the same day as the end of the airline’s two free checked bags policy.
According to Chron, the company will officially end those perks in late May.
Southwest flyers will have up to one year to use unused flight credits. However, all credits made on or before May 27 will still come with that no-expiration guarantee.
This fare product change will apply to all tiers of a Southwest ticket, including its priciest category of Business Select. However, those who buy basic tickets will only have six months to use those flight credits before they expire. Also, the option to transfer these credits to another Southwest traveler will also no longer work for basic ticketholders.
Southwest has faced significant backlash from longtime customers over its new strategy. Many have called out the airline for prioritizing profit increases over customer benefits, which made them stand out over competitors.
“We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect,” Southwest CEO Bob Jordan said of the new policies.
For extra-loyal customers who use Southwest’s Rapid Rewards, this program also saw upheaval in its variable redemption rates. Southwest will offer lower rates for flights with lesser demand than they once did. Additionally, it will increase redemption rates for popular routes and flight times.
The reduction of its biggest draw to customers, two free checked bags, has caused the most outcry.
The shifts also come as fliers remain concerned over aviation safety following the increased number of plane crashes nationwide and issues surrounding President Donald Trump’s firing of Federal Aviation Administration employees.
Lisa Leslie Celebrates Sending Her Daughter Off To Prom
Lisa Leslie shared her recent proud mom moment sending her only daughter off to prom.
Lisa Leslie is beaming with pride as she celebrates a special mom moment—sending her daughter, Lauren Jolie Lockwood, off to prom.
On April 13, the WNBA icon took to Instagram to post a reel filled with sweet video clips and photos from the big night. Lauren looked stunning in a sleeveless red mermaid gown, accessorized with a sleek silver clutch.
“And just like that…. She was off to the prom! My baby💃🏾It takes a village❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ #Classof2025,” Leslie captioned the post.
Clips captured Lauren striking poses in front of a sparkling silver backdrop, complete with silver balloons that matched her color theme. Her date was all smiles as he joined in for photos with Lauren and her family.
Leslie’s husband, Michael Lockwood, proudly stepped in as Lauren’s chauffeur for the big night. He posed beside his daughter, even standing protectively behind her in one photo—a sweet reminder that Dad is always nearby.
The post showcased Leslie’s pride as both a mom and a family woman—a side the four-time Olympic gold medalist doesn’t often share on social media as she continues to travel the globe, breaking barriers and inspiring others in the world of sports.
Behind the scenes, Leslie shares a beautiful love story with her husband—a former U.S. Air Force Academy basketball player and pilot. The couple tied the knot in 2005 and later welcomed their daughter, Lauren, in 2007 and son, Michael II, in April 2010.
Lauren was born a decade into Leslie’s career with the Los Angeles Sparks, and the WNBA icon retired just two years later. During Nike’s Future 50 for Her event in 2022, Leslie opened up about what it was like to start a family while still actively playing in the league.
“As mothers, you don’t really get praise for carrying a child and still be able to do the jobs that we do,” she said during the panel. “Everybody has to hide it, and you’re trying not to mess up your job. As a player, I got pregnant, and our team went from first place to last place and that was really hard because you feel like you owe everybody so much.”
FDA Warns Of Fake Ozempic Floating Through U.S. Supply Chain
Some of the fraudulent products include counterfeit needles, resulting in the agency not being able to certify if the needles are sterile
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging patients and healthcare professionals to check the legitimacy of their Ozempic prescriptions after the agency seized hundreds of fake units of the diabetes drug in the United States, NBC News reports.
The FDA received a warning from Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and the weight loss drug Wegovy, stating that fake 1-milligram injections were being distributed outside of its authorized supply chain, meaning it may have entered the market through unauthorized distributors or resellers.
Counterfeit products—with the lot number labeled PAR0362 and serial numbers starting with the first eight digits 51746517—were seized on April 9.
According to WRAL, the FDA says pharmacies and individuals should only purchase the Ozempic injection 1 mg and other semaglutide-containing medicines through authorized distributors of Novo Nordisk to guarantee patients are getting the real thing.
Some of the fraudulent products included counterfeit needles, resulting in the agency not being able to certify if the needles were sterile. With neither Novo Nordisk nor the FDA able to confirm the ingredients or effectiveness of counterfeit products, the safety risks of taking them could increase
Some compounded versions—“essentially a copy”—of available commercial drugs are permitted by the FDA but only under particular circumstances like shortages. When Ozempic and Wegovy experienced a shortage in February 2025, the FDA announced the shortage was resolved, ending the sale of compounded versions.
The agency claims it is aware of six different reactions linked to the lot but none associated with the fraudulent products. The real Ozempic products come with their own side effects, such as stomach problems, so it’s not clear if the adverse events were caused by typical usage.
The drug has received some backlash. In September 2024, singer Macy Gray was rushed to the hospital after losing her breath while filming an episode of The Surreal Life. She used her confessional camera time to open up about how “awful” she felt at the time.
“This sucks because I’m here all the way in Colombia, and I really just want to give it my all, but I just feel awful, and I just want it to go away,” she said. “This is not going well. I can’t even walk very much without losing my breath.”
Other celebrities who used the product have raved about the results including Oprah Winfrey, who called the medication a “miracle” for people fighting obesity and diabetes.
The FDA encourages those who suspect counterfeit products to report them by calling a local FDA consumer complaint coordinator.
Al Sharpton Meets With PepsiCo Over DEI Rollbacks Amid Boycott Threat
PepsiCo leaders agreed to meet with National Action Network leaders to discuss DEI rollbacks amid Sharpton's threat to boycott the company
Civil rights advocates of Al Sharpton’s National Action Network met with PepsiCo leaders today to discuss the multinational food and beverage corporation’s decision to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Sharpton pressed PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta in the April 15 meeting to address recent DEI decisions and discuss commitments to ensure equal opportunity employment and contracts and according to a statement from the civil rights leader, the conversation was constructive and the company has agreed to follow up meetings within the next few days. Dialogue will continue after planned meetings to make a final decision on how the National Action Network will move forward with PepsiCo as Sharpton said the organization continues to “deal with a broader swath of corporations with whom we will either boycott or buy-cott.”
According to ABC News, PepsiCo leaders agreed to meet after Sharpton called on the company to restore its DEI programs or face a potential boycott this month.
Sharpton’s April 4 letter to Laguarta criticized PepsiCo’s decision to cease DEI hiring goals and community partnerships. The letter accused the company of betraying its legacy of supporting Black communities and caving to political pressure.
“You have walked away from equity,” wrote Sharpton, who once sat on PepsiCo’s African American advisory board. Additionally, Sharpton threatened a boycott of all PepsiCo products. “You did this not because it was easy—but because it was right,” the letter continued. “That legacy is now in jeopardy.”
PepsiCo is one of several companies, including Target and Walmart, to buckle under the pressure of President Donald Trump’s orders to end DEI programs across the entire federal government. The North American food and beverage company—which owns products like Lay’s, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Doritos, Aquafina, Fritos, and Pepsi—announced its DEI rollbacks in February. The company hit employees with the news that goals for minority representation in managerial roles or its supplier base would no longer be a company priority.
A January “buy-cott” at Costco, led by Sharpton, encouraged American consumers to purchase from the retailer as a result of its commitment to maintain its DEI policies. BE previously noted a March report that revealed Costco’s increase of over 7 million shoppers during a four-week period, compared to Target’s decrease of nearly 5 million. The shift was potentially linked to the retailers adjustments to DEI policies.
ICE Detains Minnesota Father And Former Protestor At Hospital Days After Student Visas Revoked
The man, 33-year-old Aditya Harsono, had pending immigration applications to obtain permanent residency before his visa was revoked.
ICE detained a father in a hospital basement after authorities revoked his student visa days prior.
ICE officers detained Aditya Harsono, a resident of Marshall, Minnesota, on March 27. The 33-year-old worked as a hospital supply chain manager five days before the stripping of his visa.
Until that point, Harsono had lived and worked legally in the United States. The man’s attorney alleges that ICE pressured his employers to get him into the basement for the apprehension. The hospital also fired the man following his arrest.
“What is particularly troubling about the circumstances surrounding Mr. Harsono’s arrest is that his employers, who held him in such high regard, were essentially coerced into staging a meeting in the hospital basement solely to facilitate ICE’s apprehension of him,” the family attorney, Sarah Gad, told Newsweek.
The arrest is assumed to be part of President Donald Trump’s massive deportation plans impacting thousands. His new regulations also expanded ICE’s powers to conduct raids at hospitals and schools.
Harsono’s family believes the revoked visa stemmed from a 2022 misdemeanor for spray-painting graffiti and an unlawful assembly charge during a protest for George Floyd. While courts dismissed the case, his family remains adamant that his past political activism led to his visa removal.
Meanwhile, ICE claimed that Harsono posed a “threat to U.S. public safety,” yet would not disclose exactly how. His family also asserted that his outspokenness regarding pro-Palestinian movements also prompted his arrest.
Harsono, a practicing Muslim, married an American woman with whom he shares one infant daughter. Although an immigration judge granted the father bond, the Department of Homeland Security has appealed that decision. Now, hopes of reuniting the family remain in jeopardy.
“It’s just torn us apart, messed our life up for literally no reason, and it’s happening to so many families,” expressed his wife, Peyton Harsono.
Gad added that Harsono also had pending I-130 and I-485 applications for legal residency. The applications seek to establish a qualifying relationship for a green card and adjustment of status to permanent resident, respectively. However, the revocation of his visa complicates these matters, as his new depiction as an ‘illegal’ immigrant stunts this process.
“ICE’s decision to revoke his visa without notice and then charge him with ‘overstaying’ his visa just four days later was a clear attempt to label him as an ‘illegal’ immigrant,” explained Gad.
She added, “This was not a case where my client was arrested for committing a crime and then transferred to ICE. Mr. Harsono has been a law-abiding, tax-paying resident of the United States, and his employment was authorized under OPT following the successful completion of his education.”
Hasano remains held in the Kandiyohi County Jail, with an expected court hearing set for April 17.
NBA Hall Of Famer Carmelo Anthony Launches Cannabis Brand STAYME7O
'I’m excited to be launching the debut of STAYME7O in New York. New York is home, and bringing this project to life here feels incredibly personal and full circle.'
NBA Hall of Famer and former New York Knicks forward CarmeloAnthony revealed that his cannabis brand, STAYME7O, and agency, Grand National, have launched in New York.
Anthony, who was just inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, announced that his brand’s rollout will begin in April. The entrepreneur has partnered with cannabis entrepreneur Jesce Horton and award-winning Creative Director Brandon Drew Jordan Pierce for the STAYME7O (Pronounced Stay Melo; the 7 signifies his Knicks jersey number) brand.
“I’mexcitedtobelaunchingthedebutofSTAYME7OinNewYork,”saidAnthony in a written statement.“NewYorkishome,and bringingthisprojecttolifeherefeelsincrediblypersonalandfullcircle.Thisisn’tjustaboutcannabis—it’s aboutempoweringourcommunities,upliftingunderservedentrepreneurs,andcreatingmeaningful opportunitiesthatsupportandcelebrateourculture.”
GrandNational is a cannabis-focused agency started by three men, the umbrella company under which STAYME7O falls. Grand National’s initiative is to strategically support cannabis brands and operators in today’s evolving industry. The agency will focus on collaborating withminority-ownedbusinessesanddispensaries, with an emphasis on committing tosocialjusticeandeconomicempowerment.
Aportionof the proceeds from STAYME7O’s sales will support NuProject,anonprofit that providesfunding,financial coaching,andnetworkconnectionstoentrepreneurs trying to buildgenerationalwealththroughthe legalcannabisindustry. The agency also supports theLastPrisonerProject,anonprofitdedicatedtocannabiscriminaljustice reform.
“It’sessentialweopendoorsandcreatemeaningfulopportunitiesforthese communities,” Anthony said.
