Trump Says Diddy Asked For A Pardon In Writing, But He’s Not Granting It
Diddy's sentence ends in May 2028.
President Donald Trump disclosed that Sean “Diddy” Combs formally submitted a written request seeking a presidential pardon.
In an interview with the New York Times, Trump shared how the disgraced entertainer asked the fellow media personality for a pardon “through a letter,” which he offered to show the Times reporters. (He did not.)
Unfortunately for the Bad Boy Records founder, Trump does not intend to grant the pardon any time soon. This news differs from Trump’s still vague, yet more optimistic take on the issue, first sparked months ago. Referring to Combs as his old nickname “Puff Daddy,” the president mentioned the request at an Oct. 6 press conference.
However, Deadline reports that Diddy’s former criticism of Trump during his first term severely dashed his chances of a pardon. Diddy’s self-proclaimed adversary, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, also urged Trump not to issue the pardon. Despite Combs’ legal team attempting to appeal to the president, Trump has shut down that option. For now.
“Still, despite outcry from the likes of Megyn Kelly and outrage from Combs’ enemy and Sean Combs: The Reckoning EP Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Trump never totally dropped the notion of a pardon, multiple sources told me,” wrote Dominic Patten of Deadline. “However, in the chaos of Trump 2.0, a deal was never sealed.
The move leaves Diddy to serve out the rest of his four-year sentence.
Following his headline-making indictment and trial, Diddy was found guilty of various counts, such as transportation to engage in prostitution, in July. The jury, however, acquitted him of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Despite the acquittals, the father of seven still received a prison sentence of 50 months. Combs currently sits in theFederal Correction Institution in New Jersey. If Trump sticks by his current decision to forego clemency, Diddy will remain behind bars until his expected release in May 2028.
First Woman Mayor Of Detroit Revives Inaugural Ball After Half a Century
Sheffield opted to revive the affair while raising money for homeless services.
New Detroit mayor Mary Sheffield hosted the city’s first inaugural ball in more than 50 years on Jan. 9, bringing the event back to raise money for homeless services.
WXYZ Detroit reported that more than 400 attendees—including Rev. Horace Sheffield and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib—gathered at the city’s Icon Hotel. The last ball was held in 1974 for Detroit Mayor Coleman Young.
Sheffield confirmed that no taxpayer dollars, transition, or campaign funds went toward the event.
“It’s such an honor to have our first inaugural ball in quite some time,” Sheffield said. “It is so exciting to come together and celebrate such a historic election. Again, I thank every single Detroiter who showed up and supported me to lead this great city.”
“I’m super excited for many reasons. First and foremost, it’s history—the first female mayor of Detroit. I mean, I’m actually witnessing it in my lifetime, and that’s extremely exciting for me,” said Crisette Ellis, first lady of Greater Grace Temple, according to WXYZ Detroit.
Ticket sales raised money for the Homeless Action Network of Detroit. The nonprofit’s mission also aligns with one of Sheffield’s priorities of reducing homelessness in the city. One of the nonprofit’s leaders, Tasha Gray, confirmed the money will go toward ensuring hundreds of Detroit families will not lose their homes as the new year begins.
“With the money from tonight, what we’re going to be doing is working to prevent homelessness for about 500 households who are on the verge of homelessness,” said Gray.
As her tenure gets underway, the Democratic mayor also plans to create a citywide office for addressing poverty and homelessness concerns in Detroit. Emphasizing her platform of uplifting underserved city residents, Sheffield won the general election against Solomon Kinloch Jr. in November. She was officially sworn in on Jan. 1.
Don Lemon Calls Out Stephen A. Smith For ‘Cozying Up To White People’
Lemon called out Smith over his comments on the death of Renee Good, who was caught on video being fatally shot by an ICE agent.
Don Lemon publicly criticized ESPN star Stephen A. Smith over his commentary on the recent Minnesota shooting involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in which Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, was killed while driving away in her car.
In a segment onThe Don Lemon Show, which the former CNN stalwart hosts on TikTok, Lemon accused Smith of tailoring his remarks to appeal to white audiences. He also suggested that Smith’s comments on high-profile political topics are motivated by finances.
On his show, Straight Shooter with Stephen A., Smith claimed “from a legal perspective” the ICE agent was justified in shooting the mother of three in the face. Though, Smith said that as a “humanitarian” that the ICE agent was wrong, he placed the blame on Good, saying she “wrongfully disregarded a law enforcement official.”
Lemon took issue with Smith’s framing.
“He just gets on these like white boy, right-wing podcasts or his own show and just goes off about Black people and things that for which he has no clue,” Lemon said. “It’s just shocking to me, this sort of cozying up to white people.”
Lemon also questioned Smith’s transition from sports commentary into political and social analysis. He said Smith’s sudden desire to weigh in on issues beyond his expertise is suspect, to say the least. Lemon said Smith often speaks from a position of ignorance and risks reinforcing harmful narratives and undercutting serious conversations about race.
“Smith goes off and he talks about sh*t that he has no idea about,” he said. “It seems that’s become his stock in trade to make excuses for white people and to cozy up to people like Megyn Kelly.”
Lemon addressed a broader trend in which prominent Black voices on mainstream platforms come to believe that distancing themselves from Black issues can result in significant financial gain.
“If I became a Black conservative, I would be rich, like a millionaire, or if I just went on and started like bashing Black people,” he said.
Was this a note to Smith signing a $100 million contract with ESPN in 2025? Lemon didn’t name Smith or reference any specific deal, leaving listeners to draw their own conclusions.
Michael Jackson Rocks Billboard R&B Charts With Another Posthumous Top Ten Hit
'You Rock My World' has found new resurgence on another Billboard chart, decades after its original release.
Michael Jackson has rocked the world of the Billboard R&B charts with a Top 10 hit.
Although the King of Pop died in 2009, his musical legacy remains through another posthumous hit. While his classic “Thriller” album continues to be a mainstay on the Billboard charts, a newcomer has made an entry to further his impact on the streaming industry.
According toForbes, one of the last hits of his decades-spanning career has made its debut inside the R&B Digital Song Sales chart. “You Rock My World” was first released as a track in Jackson’s tenth and final album, 2001’s “Invincible.”
Now, the song has renewed hype as one of the bestselling R&B songs of the moment. It entered the R&B digital chart for the first time since its release, securing the No. 9 spot on its ranking.
However, its placement on Billboard is not limited to just R&B. The track also secured a lower but still substantial place at No. 14 in the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart. With that chart’s inclusion of hip-hop’s bestselling tracks, Jackson’s placement for a song released decades ago still proves his prowess.
The song also had success upon initial release. It became Jackson’s final top 10 hit on the Hot 100. “You Rock My World” also earned a Grammy nomination for Male Pop Vocal Performance.
However, Jackson has garnered massive streaming success in his posthumous music career before. Previously reported on BLACK ENTERPRISE, the singer’s arguably most notable hit, “Thriller,” helped him break a new record as a recording artist. The song solidified Jackson as the first artist to break the Billboard Top 10 for six decades in a row.
The song’s album of the same name continues to have a footing on several charts. Although on the decline, “Thriller” still lists on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Vinyl Albums, Top Album Sales charts, and the Billboard 200. As for other classics from Jackson, “Billie Jean” also sits on the Billboard Global 200. However, “You Rock My World” currently stands as the only Jackson hit to have a current presence on U.S. charts.
Kentucky Small Business Owners Receive $25K Financial Infusion
The initiative pairs financing with coaching and mentorship to help entrepreneurs scale operations and manage growth.
Eight Black-owned businesses in Louisville, Kentucky, have received $25,000 lines of credit as part of a local effort to expand access to capital and business support, organizers said. The initiative pairs financing with coaching and mentorship to help entrepreneurs scale operations and manage growth.
The program was launched by business coaching nonprofit Amped in partnership with Republic Bank. It offers credit lines without collateral and business support. The funding and guidance aim to address persistent barriers that many Black entrepreneurs face when seeking traditional financing.
Amped secured an arrangement with Republic Bank to provide each participating business with $25,000 in credit and ongoing coaching. The eight entrepreneurs signed off on the financing at a recent event attended by local Louisville officials and business leaders, WHAS11 reported.
A Republic Bank executive, William Summers, stressed the importance of equity in the financial sector during the ceremony.
“The corporate world was not set up for everybody either,” Summers told WHAS11. “We still have to fight and claw to make sure that, at every level, there is diverse representation.”
Krystal Ray operates an accessory business and is looking forward to expanding sales to other parts of the nation. For Ray, access to the funding is a dream come true.
“I have been dreaming of this for so long, and now I can finally put it into work and travel with my business,” Ray said to the outlet.
Organizers of the current credit-line program said the combination of capital and coaching is intended to give Black business owners both the financial resources and the strategic tools needed to compete and grow in Louisville’s economy. Several recipients say they plan to use the support to expand operations, invest in marketing, and improve financial management.
The Amped-Republic Bank initiative is one of several recent local efforts to promote economic development and business growth for underserved communities, including city-backed incubators and nonprofit accelerators that provide training, networking, and access to capital.
‘The Thing’ Actor And Comedian, T.K. Carter, Dies At Age 69
Carter's decades-long career consisted of numerous appearances on several Black sitcoms.
T.K. Carter, the beloved veteran actor whose career spanned four decades, has died at 69.
According to TMZ, authorities found Carter dead in his home in Duarte, California, on Jan. 9. Law enforcement appeared at the home that afternoon following a call for service request. They said there is no indication of foul play.
Born in New York City and raised in Southern California, Carter began his entertainment career in the ’70s. The actor did not get his breakout role until 1982, starring as Nauls in the horror cult classic “The Thing.” As a comedian, he also took on more lighthearted roles in films such as 1980’s “Seems Like Old Times” while starring in the 1983 sitcom “Just My Luck.”
Throughout the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s, Carter remained on the film and television screen. He held a recurring role in the ’80s’ hit “Punky Brewster” while also appearing on “Good Times.”
The seasoned actor had guest roles in various ’90s Black sitcoms, including “Moesha” and “The Steve Harvey Show,” as well as in “Family Matters” and “A Different World.” According to IMDB, Carter also earned a NAACP Image Award nomination in 2001 for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special, getting the nod for his role in “The Corner.”
Now, fans and his fellow Hollywood veterans mourn the loss of the lifelong actor. Actress, comedian, and television host Loni Love shared words of condolences regarding her “comedy brother[‘s]” death.
Sad to hear about the passing of my comedy brother TK… He was in the business for over 50 years, winner of an Image award and known for his iconic roles in The Thing, Punky Brewster, The Corner, Southern Comfort, Doctor Detroit, Corvette Summer, and Dave and Just Our Luck. I’m… pic.twitter.com/nJi2Qob9fA
“Sad to hear about the passing of my comedy brother TK… He was in the business for over 50 years… I’m glad we shared a good laugh last time we met.. rest well TK,” Love shared on X.
Sad to hear about the passing of my comedy brother TK… He was in the business for over 50 years, winner of an Image award and known for his iconic roles in The Thing, Punky Brewster, The Corner, Southern Comfort, Doctor Detroit, Corvette Summer, and Dave and Just Our Luck. I’m… pic.twitter.com/nJi2Qob9fA
Carter last appeared on screen in 2023 with a three-episode arc on “The Company You Keep” and a five-episode stint on FX’s “Dave.” His cause of death has yet to be disclosed to the public.
Verona ‘VJ’ Jones Steps In To Lead Urbanworld Film Festival As It Hits 30. Explains Why This Moment Matters
As Urbanworld celebrates another decade, Jones is clear-eyed about both the challenges ahead and the opportunity they present.
Verona “VJ” Jones is stepping into a pivotal moment in her career as she prepares to lead the Urbanworld Film Festival into its next chapter. A seasoned marketing executive and cultural strategist with longstanding ties to film, television, and independent storytelling, Jones—co-founder of the publicity and marketing firm Verbal Slick—will lead Urbanworld through a milestone year as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. Jones spoke with BLACK ENTERPRISE and reflected on legacy, community, and the responsibility of stewarding one of the industry’s most enduring platforms for Black filmmakers while navigating a cultural landscape defined by reinvention, collaboration, and purposeful change.
You’ve accepted the role of director of the Urbanworld Film Festival for 2026. On a personal level, what does this represent for you at this stage of your career?
Urbanworld has always represented Black excellence to me. It represented the top tier of our community, our culture, film, and television. By around 2013, I was attending regularly.
After the pandemic, the festival was hit hard, and then the strikes came. I still loved Urbanworld, but it was different. It was not the same experience. That was the moment I started thinking maybe I could help from a publicity standpoint.
How did that support evolve into a leadership role?
In 2023, we [Verbal Slick LLC.] were given the opportunity to lead publicity and content capture for the festival. That experience was incredible. This year, I was placed in an interim role during the final three weeks of the festival. It was a whirlwind, but receiving the offer to officially direct the festival for 2026 was huge.
Urbanworld is approaching its 30th year. How does that legacy factor into your thinking?
Urbanworld turning 30 is significant. Stacy Spikes is not only the founder but a true visionary in film and technology. He created the festival after attending Sundance and seeing a lack of representation. This is decades-long work. My responsibility is to honor that legacy while helping shape what the next 30 years of Urbanworld can look like.
What do you feel you bring to the table as a director?
I bring an understanding of both sides of the industry. I have spent the last 15 years working with film from the client side, so I understand what clients want to see, what they expect in terms of return on investment, and how festivals can activate partnerships in meaningful ways. I also bring a deep respect for independent filmmaking.
How do you plan to expand opportunities for independent filmmakers through the festival?
I am a connector by nature. Through the innovation summit, we want filmmakers to not only learn about emerging tools like AI but also understand how to use them positively for storytelling. It is about bringing thought leaders together, sharing knowledge faster than we have in the past.
You’ve spoken about a shift happening right now. What do you see changing in Black culture and community?
I feel a consciousness shift around how we support one another. I have seen more collaboration in 2025 than probably my entire career in targeted marketing. I have watched sisters come together and say, “You’re better for this gig,” or “Let me pass this opportunity to you.” That is where I want us to be–that kind of intentional sharing of opportunity matters.
When the festival ends, how will you define success?
Success is filmmakers feeling taken care of, sponsors feeling excited, rooms being filled, and people being able to say, “We did that.” We did not have a lot of time to plan. Being able to look at the signage, the lobby, the energy, and know we built something meaningful.
As Urbanworld celebrates another decade, Jones is clear-eyed about both the challenges ahead and the opportunities they present. Her vision centers on connection, innovation, and care for creators, balancing respect for the festival’s founding mission with an urgency to evolve. For Jones, success is measured not only by packed rooms or polished programming but also by filmmakers feeling seen, supported, and empowered to move forward.
Meagan Good And Jonathan Majors Are The Latest Black Celebrities To Gain African Citizenship
Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors gained Guinean citizenship.
Married Hollywood actors Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors have been granted Guinean citizenship, becoming part of a growing number of Black American public figures reconnecting with their African heritage. Good and Majors received citizenship after tracing their ancestral roots to the West African nation through DNA testing, reflecting a personal and cultural journey.
A private citizenship ceremony was held in Conakry, Guinea’s capital, where officials welcomed the couple as new citizens. Speakers at the event said the award of citizenship symbolizes the deep historical ties between African nations and people of African descent in the diaspora, BBC News reported.
Nations such as Ghana and Benin, among others, have for years encouraged people of African descent to explore and formalize their connections to the continent. Guinea’s recognition of Good and Majors follows similar moves by other governments seeking to strengthen cultural and historical links.
This movement of “reconnection” gained renewed momentum after Ghana launched its “Year of Return” initiative in 2019, inviting African Americans and the wider diaspora to visit, invest in, and celebrate the continent’s history. The campaign marked the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in North America.
In 2025, several prominent Black celebrities have sought similar ties, highlighting a cultural shift toward deeper engagement with African identity, citizenship, and heritage. Music legend Stevie Wonder received Ghanaian citizenship in 2024 and continues to participate in cultural events there.
In a ceremony held at Jubilee House on Monday, May 13, the President of Ghana officially conferred citizenship upon Stevie Wonder. Making Ghana his home has been a lifelong aspiration since his initial visit many years ago. #beyondthereturn#steviewonderpic.twitter.com/UcF1mixCai
— Samcilla | Digital Strategist (@samcillabaakojr) May 13, 2024
Rapper and actor Christopher “Ludacris” Bridge holds Gabonese citizenship through family connections and promotes the country to African American audiences. Eudoxie Bridges, Ludacris’s wife, is a native of the country. Additionally, singer and model Ciara became a Beninese citizen under a law granting nationality to descendants of enslaved Africans, and Ciara has publicly celebrated her new status.
Other public figures have also reengaged with African roots. Comedian Tiffany Haddish, who became an Eritrean citizen in 2019, has continued to produce content celebrating East African culture. Haddish is of Eritrean heritage. British actor Idris Elba, who holds Sierra Leonean citizenship, remains active in cultural initiatives on the continent. Elba has Sierra Leonean heritage through his father and Ghanaian heritage through his mother. There is a growing movement of Black creatives to embrace and formalize ancestral connections.
Dwanye Johnson’s ‘ZOA Energy’ To Pay $3M In Class Action Settlement
The drink contains substances such as citric and ascorbic acids that plaintiffs alleged function as preservatives.
An energy drink brand co-owned by actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has agreed to a $3 million class action settlement after it was accused of misleading customers about its product labeling.
The settlement resolves claims that ZOA Energy’s marketing, including the labeling of its drinks as containing “0 Preservatives,” was deceptive. The drink contains substances such as citric and ascorbic acids that plaintiffs alleged function as preservatives. ZOA denied the allegations, saying that its labeling was “truthful, accurate, and compliant with applicable law” and agreed to the settlement to avoid further litigation risk.
Under the proposed settlement, people who purchased ZOA energy drinks in the United States for personal use between March 1, 2021, and Nov. 21, 2025, may be eligible for payments if they file valid claims, according to the settlement website. Claimants with proof of purchase can receive up to $150 per household, while those without receipts may be eligible for up to $10 per household, according to settlement details published online.
Claims must be submitted by Feb. 20, and consumers who wish to object to or opt out of the settlement must do so by Feb. 13. The final approval hearing in the case is scheduled for March 26, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
An energy drink brand co-owned by “The Rock” agreed to a $3 million class action settlement after it was accused of using deceptive marketing tactics. https://t.co/muTBrhOcJE
The lawsuit was filed in late 2023 by a consumer who alleged that ZOA’s preservative-free claims were misleading. The suspicion prompted a class action on behalf of others who bought the product. ZOA is an energy drink brand launched in 2021 and co-founded by Johnson. It is marketed as sugar-free and formulated with natural caffeine, amino acids, and vitamins.
As part of the settlement, customers should visit the official claims website or contact the claims administrator for the necessary forms and instructions.
NFL Takes Brian Flores Discrimination Fight To Supreme Court, Seeks To Block Jury Trial
The NFL asserts that 'The Arbitration Act safeguards' litigants and provides a road to resolution 'without judicial obstruction or interference.'
A federal appeals court has ruled that former NFL coach Brian Flores may proceed to trial with his racial discrimination lawsuit against the National Football League and several of its teams. The NFL has appealed the decision.
The NFL and the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and New York Giants have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling that allows Brian Flores’s racial discrimination lawsuit to move forward in court.
On Aug. 14, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan upheld a lower court’s decision allowing Flores’s claims to be heard in open court rather than being confined to arbitration. In contractual agreements, the NFL Commissioner, Robert Goodell, is named as the default arbiter, creating an imbalance and an unfair advantage for the defendants. The league argues the case should be forced into arbitration, challenging a lower court’s finding that Commissioner Roger Goodell’s role as arbitrator is unfair and unenforceable. The justices will decide whether to take up the appeal after Flores’s legal team responds, though the Supreme Court accepts only a small fraction of such cases.
On Jan. 9, the NFL and its co-defendants, the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and New York Giants,assert that the original terms of the contract, which require arbitration, should be upheld and are appealing the decision.
In “New York Football Giants, Inc., Et Al., Petitioners v. Brian Flores,” the NFL asserts that “The Arbitration Act safeguards” litigants and provides a road to resolution “without judicial obstruction or interference.” The decision to rule against arbitration is a “subjective determination” and if allowed to stand will create a judicial precedent that “unnecessarily complicates the law.”
The initial decision addresses these claims, stating that provisions of the NFL constitution that would have required arbitration were not enforceable under the same Federal Arbitration Act because they did not provide for independent or neutral adjudication.
The appeals court’s opinion stated that arbitration processes giving unilateral control to an interested party do not meet the standards required for arbitration under federal law. The original decision rejects the NFL’s argument that all aspects of Flores’s claims should be resolved through internal league arbitration procedures.
Flores, who previously served as head coach of the Miami Dolphins and is currently the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, argued that discriminatory practices in NFL hiring have denied him and other Black coaches equal opportunities. Flores’s lawsuit expanded to a putative class action, with other coaches joining over time.
Flores’s claims date to a 2022 lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He alleges that the league and multiple franchises engaged in discriminatory hiring practices that disadvantage Black coaches. The lawsuit targets the NFL, the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Houston Texans, among others, and contends that Flores and other Black coaches faced bias in interviews and employment decisions, The Hill reported. Flores’s complaint challenges what his attorneys describe as “sham” interviews conducted to satisfy the league’s diversity rules rather than genuine consideration of minority candidates.
The ruling is considered a significant development in a lawsuit that has drawn national attention to questions of race and opportunity in professional sports, as it ensures that Flores’s allegations will be adjudicated in a public forum, with the transparency of trial testimony, rather than private arbitration.
