Chris Brown Requests Judge To Block Mentions Of Rihanna Assault In New Housekeeper Civil Trial
Brown's legal team argued that the mention of his past legal battle could unfairly sway the jury.
Chris Brown wants no mention of his previous legal troubles, specifically his Rihanna assault case, in his latest lawsuit.
The singer is currently embroiled in a legal battle with his former housekeeper, who claims that she was viciously attacked by his dog while working at Brown’s Tarzana home in 2020. As the issue heads to civil trial, Brown’s legal team has requested that the presiding judge block all mentions of his 2009 assault case regarding Rihanna.
In the lawsuit, filed in 2021 by Maria Avila, the housekeeper argues that Brown should take ownership of the attack and for failing to provide a safe working environment. However, Brown’s attorneys argued that any mention of the Rihanna case is not relevant to the trial at hand but could affect the jury’s decision.
According to the motion reviewed byWBLS, Brown’s lawyers called any mention of the assault “improper, irrelevant, and unduly prejudicial.” Furthermore, they say that the case, which occurred around 17 years ago, is not relevant to the civil trial, which concerns Brown’s proposed liability for the dog attack.
Instead, Brown wants jurors to focus on the facts regarding this particular case and not let his past assault issues sway their view on the matter. However, the plaintiff, Maria Avila, and her legal team have argued otherwise. Brown pled guilty to the felony assault charge against the Barbadian singer, for which he received five years’ probation, community service, and entrance to a year-long domestic violence program.
In her complaint, Avila claimed the attack not only caused severe injuries, but also emotional distress as she seeks damages. Her attorneys also state that Brown’s legal history is crucial to their argument, sharing that it helps establish a pattern over the 36-year-old’s conduct and credibility. Furthermore, she called his request for the blanket ban “overbroad, premature, and legally incorrect,” as confirmed in the filing obtained by Rolling Stone.
Brown intends to challenge this narrative in court, also arguing that she may have provoked the dog, which could have sparked its violent reaction. On the other hand, Avila believes that Brown’s list of prior legal issues could help validate her claim of conduct issues surrounding the singer, especially if his defense tries to portray his character in a way that undermines her trauma.
“If defendants or their witnesses testify in a manner that portrays defendant as nonviolent or non-threatening, minimizes plaintiff’s fear or trauma, or otherwise attacks plaintiff’s credibility based on emotional response, then prior acts evidence may become admissible for impeachment or rebuttal, even if not admissible in plaintiff’s case-in-chief,” detailed the filing.
As both sides make their claim over the relevance of the Rihanna assault case, the judge will determine how crucial its reference is to the trial. If the judge sides with Avila, it would allow the jury to base their decision on Brown’s responsibility for the dog attack, with his past legal woes in mind.
Although previously delayed, the trial remains scheduled to begin on June 15.
The cause of death has been released for recording artist John Forté, who was found unresponsive at his home in January, confirming he died from complications of the flu.
According to the Vineyard Gazette, the state medical examiner in Massachusetts determined Forté died from complications of influenza A, with a seizure disorder listed as a contributing condition. The findings were released April 24.
At the time of his death, Police Chief Sean Slavin stated that there was no foul play suspected. He was 50 years old. Police were called to Forté’s home on Jan. 12, where he was found unresponsive.
Forté was introduced to the world when he appeared on The Fugees’ 1996 debut album, The Score. He recorded several albums, the first, Poly Sci, was released in 1998, two years before he served time in prison after being convicted on drug possession charges. He was given a mandatory 14-year prison sentence, but was released in 2008 after President George W. Bush commuted his sentence.
During his lengthy career, he recorded and produced songs for his own projects and contributed to others’. In recent years, he has been working primarily on scores for several projects.
In 2025, he participated in the Civil Rights documentary Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe in Freedom Cannot Rest (1977-2015), which aired on HBO. He worked with fellow island resident Dawn Porter on the project.
After visiting Martha’s Vineyard in 1998 and staying there during the pandemic, he thrived in the industry. In an interview he did last year with MV Arts and Ideas, he said, “For two decades, I’ve been contributing to soundtracks. But scoring, scoring really happened for me because I’ve been hunkering down here on the Vineyard, being able to have a project that would require going in my studio for three months at a time.”
Forté is survived by his wife, Lara Fuller, and their two children, Haile and Wren.
Designer Desyrée Nicole Marks 5 Years In Atlanta Flagship While Redefining Modern Menswear
Founded in 2016 and fully realized as a brand by 2018, Todd Patrick has carved out a distinctive lane in menswear
When Desyrée Nicole, the designer behind Todd Patrick, first received an unexpected outreach from developers about opening a retail space in Atlanta’s Buckhead Village, she thought it was a joke.
“Ain’t nobody about to buy a store next to Dior,” she recalled with a laugh. “Because at the time Dior, Hermes, Louboutin and Moncler were our neighbors. So we were like, ’How’d y’ all find us?'”
And yet, that leap of faith taken at the tail end of COVID has grown into something far bigger than a storefront. While their original space was roughly the size of a Le Labo perfumerie, today Todd Patrick’s Atlanta flagship stands as a 4,000-square-foot multi-brand luxury menswear destination, positioned alongside some of fashion’s most elite houses, while maintaining the DNA of a brand that was once stitched together in a living room.
“It just shows persistence,” Nicole said. “We’ve always taken the slow and steady approach — making the right steps, not the fast steps.”
Founded in 2016 and fully realized as a brand by 2018, Todd Patrick has carved out a distinctive lane in menswear, one that merges precision tailoring with the raw edge of streetwear. Nicole describes it simply: “modern-day rebel” dressing.
“I always think about what modern-day tailoring looks like for me,” she said. “And then I’m always going to do it my way with an edge.”
That edge shows up in the details — structured denim with rugged finishes, refined silhouettes that refuse to feel too polished, garments that sit comfortably between luxury and lived-in. It’s a reflection of Nicole herself, a self-taught designer who didn’t come up through fashion school, but instead built her skillset in real time.
“I taught myself how to sew… built a brand from scratch,” she said.
That unconventional path has become one of Todd Patrick’s greatest strengths.
Source: Courtesy Todd Patrick
Building Without Permission
Nicole’s journey into fashion wasn’t fueled by a traditional roadmap, and she’s never pretended otherwise.
“I don’t think I ever had a vision of owning my own retail space,” she said. “I just wanted to create.”
While she credits much of her success to simply believing in her brand and trusting that she and her Todd Patrick team (her wife, Gabriella Paulino, is COO) are capable of anything, she also cites the importance of doing good business and not getting distracted by what other brands are doing.
“As a creative, I think the hardest thing you need to learn is that you’re on your own timeline,” Nicole told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “When you’re self-funded, 100% equity, doing everything out of pocket, you feel like you have to keep up with these fashion calendars… going to Paris, producing collections. But you’re spending so much money without being able to recoup it.”
Her advice is simple, but hard-earned: stay on your own timeline.
“Going at your pace is cool. It’s super acceptable,” she said. “Until you have the financial means necessary to be on the calendar every single season, it’s okay to go at your own pace and just create dope stuff because you’re gonna get respect. As long as you’re creating stuff that’s your vision and you do your marketing.”
That same clarity extends to the business side — an area many creatives overlook.
“An LLC does not mean a company,” Nicole said plainly. “Figure out how to do good business. Don’t start a company and start selling all this product and you’re not filing taxes. You will get so much farther in life if you just do good business and do right by people… your turn is gonna come.”
Atlanta, Reimagined
While Nicole is a Detroit native and her Todd Patrick brand was born out of New York, its Atlanta presence has become a defining part of its evolution, even if the brand doesn’t quite mirror the city’s traditional aesthetic.
In fact, Nicole says that’s often the first thing customers notice.
“The second they walk in, they know this is not an Atlanta-owned store,” she said.
Instead of leaning into the city’s flashier fashion sensibilities, Todd Patrick introduces something different: understated luxury, intentional design, and education through experience.
“We’re able to show them something new… one customer at a time,” she said.
That physical space has become essential in communicating the brand’s ethos — particularly because Todd Patrick doesn’t rely on logos or overt branding.
“The store allows people to come in and feel it,” Nicole said. “They can see the quality in person.”
It also creates a more inclusive entry point into luxury, something Nicole is intentional about.
“We want people to feel calm. Welcome,” she said. “Even if it’s out of your price range right now, it’s something you can aspire to.”
Culture, Collaboration, and Staying Grounded
Over the years, Nicole’s work has expanded across fashion, sports, and culture — styling athletes in the NFL and NBA, collaborating with brands, and stepping onto global stages like the Met Gala.
But even with those milestones, her perspective hasn’t shifted.
“I don’t think it changed how I saw myself,” she said of her appearance on Netflix’s Next in Fashion. “It just proved what I already knew — there’s nothing I can’t do.”
That confidence is rooted in preparation. Before appearing on the show, Nicole taught herself how to sew on an industrial machine in just weeks, using YouTube as her classroom.
“I literally took myself through a boot camp,” she said.
Moments like designing for the Met Gala or collaborating with the Detroit Pistons have reinforced the belief that the brand has been blessed with divine timing.
“My birthday, Paris Fashion Week, I think three years ago, I went to a club because the Pistons were playing out there… and I ran into the marketing director.”
The exec remembered Nicole from the D1 university where she’d played college hoops, while he’d been VP of marketing.
“I jokingly was like, ‘y’all might as well just give me a collection,'” Nicole said, recalling how the exec took a moment before responding. “He was like, ‘Let’s talk about it.’ And I had a collection that year.”
“It’s like, alright… we moving in the right direction,” she said.
Still, she’s clear that the brand itself is more important than any single moment.
“I felt like it’s always been bigger than me,” she said.
Protecting the Brand While Scaling
As Todd Patrick grows, Nicole remains deliberate about how and where it expands.
The next phase includes wholesale distribution and global placement in select boutiques, but always with intention.
“We want to be in stores that want to tell our story,” she said.
That storytelling extends beyond fashion into unexpected collaborations and cultural touchpoints, ideas that feel authentic rather than transactional.
“I think saying the right no’s gets you the right yes,” she said.
It’s a philosophy that has helped her maintain the brand’s integrity in an industry where dilution can happen quickly.
The Next Generation
For Nicole, one of the most rewarding parts of her journey isn’t the accolades — it’s the impact.
She lights up when talking about young designers, including a 21-year-old whose jeans now sit inside her store, and even her teenage sister, a budding crochet designer whose Faithfully Hooked Creations she actively promotes.
“Bet on yourself,” she said. “If you don’t advocate for yourself, nobody will know who you are.”
It’s a lesson she’s lived firsthand, from cold emails to chance encounters that turned into major collaborations.
And it’s the same advice she’d give her younger self.
“You got the right idea,” she said. “Stick with it.”
AI-Usage Increases A Need For Data Centers, The Boom Is Showing Up On Your Utility Bills
According to Carnegie Mellon University and North Carolina State University, data center and crypto-mining electricity demand is projected to grow by 250% by 2030.
The growing use of artificial intelligence (such as ChatGPT) has sparked a rising demand for data centers nationwide, and that data has to be stored somewhere. The more artificial intelligence is used, the more demand for data centers will grow, and with it, utility bills will rise.
According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, new data centers are driving up utility bills in at least 13 states.
Americans who live near data centers are paying over 260% more a month for energy than just five years ago, a 2025 Bloomberg analysis found, but this could just be the tip of the iceberg.
According to a joint analysis by Carnegie Mellon University and North Carolina State University, growth in data centers and cryptocurrency mining could increase average electricity bills by 8% nationally and by 25% in some regional markets by 2030.
“Central and Northern Virginia face projected 2030 electricity cost increases exceeding 25%, the highest regional increase in the model,” the analysis notes.
Some Americans are already feeling the strain.
“I’m walking around in a ski suit trying to stay warm in the winter.” Atlanta resident Carolyn Kayne told CBS News during an interview. Kayne explained to the outlet that she turned off her heat and water to mitigate rising utility costs, which have doubled in her apartment over the last two years.
“The average bill for an average customer used to be about $150 a month,” Patty Durand, founder of the nonprofit advocacy group Georgians for Affordable Energy, added. “The average bill now is $225.”
According to Carnegie Mellon University and North Carolina State University, data center and crypto-mining electricity demand is projected to grow by 350% by 2030, and lawmakers must implement policy interventions to balance the benefits and costs for Americans who are already struggling to afford essentials like food, childcare, and housing.
“Rising everyday expenses, including energy and transportation, are adding new pressures on households,” said Urban Institute researchers. “Residential electricity costs have increased faster than earnings across much of the country, leaving customers paying about $40 more in December 2025 on average than they did in December 2017.”
The Ludacris Foundation Celebrates 25 Years Of Giving Back To Community
The foundation cultivates youth-focused initiatives
The Ludacris Foundation, founded by Atlanta artist and actor Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, is marking 25 years of community service and youth-focused initiatives.
The rapper’s mother and the foundation’s president, Roberta J. Shields, explained that it had been his goal since he was young to give back to the community, and he has been doing so since the organization’s inception.
“When Chris was small, we would have goals in terms of his achievements,” Shields said. “Part of those goals was giving back to the community.”
“I really mimicked what I did for my staff with my son,” she said. “He had goals, he had measurements.”
According to the foundation’s website, nine other people help run the organization.
The foundation is run by a small team, with Ludacris serving as chairman and Shields as president, supported by program and communications staff.
With Ludacris returning with new music and a new album, Shields recognizes the foundation’s impact and welcomes what’s in store.
“Every corporate partner that Chris has has provided support to the foundation in some way,” Shields said. “We’ve been extremely blessed, and we’ve never lost the vision of why we want to do this, so that we can bless others.”
The rapper most recently released a new single, “Pull Over,” and has issued a challenge to marching bands across the country.
The #PullOverChallenge has already been answered, with the Atlanta artist already making appearances at Florida A&M University (FAMU) and Clark Atlanta University after the HBCUs responded via social media.
On April 23, Atlanta-based Harbinger Sports Partners announced the initial close of its Fund I strategy. With its founding by the “Shark Tank” star—who serves as chief investment officer—the firm drew backing from major private wealth platforms, family offices, and institutional investors seeking long-term exposure to professional sports ownership.
“This first close validates both our strategy and our belief that minority ownership in elite American sports franchises represents a distinct and rapidly institutionalizing asset class,” Williams said in a press release. “The capital markets are beginning to recognize what we have known for some time – that premier American sports franchises represent a uniquely durable, culturally resonant, and increasingly accessible investment opportunity. We are grateful for the confidence our wealth partners have placed in our team, and we are energized by the institutional interest we expect to formalize in the months ahead.”
Founded by Williams, alongside sports executive powerhouses Steve Cannon, Mark Cuban, and Jonathan Mariner, Harbinger Sports Partners is a private equity firm focused on minority stake investments in top franchises across major U.S. sports leagues. Its strategy centers on three pillars—Identification, Transformation, and Realization—aimed at delivering strong long-term returns through partnerships with teams, leagues, and ownership groups.
The firm differentiates itself by targeting minority stakes in established, profitable North American pro sports teams—a scarce, high-value segment with steady revenue. Unlike broader platforms, the firm focuses exclusively on this blue-chip space to move quickly and precisely.
With Williams already a minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons, the leadership team brings deep industry experience: Cannon previously led AMB Sports and Entertainment and oversaw the Falcons and Atlanta United FC; Cuban retains a 27% stake in the Dallas Mavericks after selling majority control in 2023; and Mariner, a former Major League Baseball CFO, now serves as a general partner.
Together, they are targeting minority stakes in top-tier MLB, NBA, and NFL franchises, leveraging an operator-led approach built on firsthand experience in team ownership, league dynamics, and long-term value creation. Following a strong initial close, Harbinger Sports Partners aims to pair its operator-led expertise with market demand modeling and operational analysis to spot high-value minority ownership opportunities before they reach the broader market.
“We believe the next chapter of sports investing will favor firms that are focused rather than expansive, and deeply embedded rather than externally opportunistic,” Williams said. “Our goal is to become the partner of choice for owners across the ‘Big Three’ leagues who value continuity, credibility, and long‑term alignment.”
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 26: Michael B. Jordan attends Marvel Studios' "Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever" Premiere at Dolby Theatre on October 26, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Michael B. Jordan Puts $10M LA Mansion Back On Market In Latest Move Since ‘Sinners’ Oscar Win
Jordan put the home back on the market amid his Oscars win.
Michael B. Jordan hopes to start anew since his Oscar win for “Sinners.”
The 2026 Academy Award winner for Best Actor has placed his Los Angeles home back on the market. The estate, located on a half-acre in Encino, is currently listed for $10.49 million.
However, this price point is lower than what the Hollywood darling initially paid for the 8-bedroom residence. According to the New York Post, Jordan bought the property in 2022, forking out $12.51 million for the modern farmhouse-style abode.
Now, if he sells at this new market price, he would take a roughly $2 million loss on the sale. However, given his new status in Oscar history, Jordan seems to have plans for a new home to display his trophy.
His current residence, on the other hand, is not too shabby. The three-story mansion spans 11,599 square feet and is enclosed by a gate that could deter fans from sneaking inside.
Other premium features of the home include a high-tech security system, elevator, and grand chef’s kitchen. Upon entry through its 20-foot pivot door, guests can witness the home’s vast, open layout, complete with high ceilings and glass walls.
However, its amenities expand to other parts of the estate as well, including a temperature-controlled wine cellar, infinity-edge pool, gym, and guest house. Fans of Jordan’s work can also catch his acclaimed films, such as the 2025 horror hit, in the screening room downstairs.
While the home initially failed to meet buyers’ interest, Jordan hopes that a second round in the market will take the property off his hands. Beyond his real estate venture, Jordan intends to keep up the momentum following the award winning success of “Sinners.”
Up next, the 39-year-old will direct and star in a remake of the heist film, “The Thomas Crown Affair,” set for release in 2027. However, his place in the industry does not stop there, as his marketing agency, Obsidianworks, regained its full independence in March.
With many opportunities ahead of him, fans of the Hollywood heartthrob can expect to see more of his artistry in the upcoming year.
The ‘Four-Day Work Week’ Seems Great For Everyone But Business Owners: Here’s Why
Experts have shown data revealing a four-day work week increases employee satisfaction and well-being but the practice seems to be failing.
Around the world, the concept of a “four-day work week” seems to have the approval of everyone from employees to human resource experts but not business owners and leaders, who are seemingly stopping the practice from becoming widespread, Harvard Business Review reports.
Experts have shown that a four-day work week increases employee satisfaction and well-being, while addressing modern workplace issues like employee engagement, without decreasing productivity. OpenAI recently published a policy paper encouraging companies to pilot a four-day workweek as an “efficiency dividend” to give workers more time back.
The practice seems to be failing, but why?
Despite the data and push, business owners and leaders loathe the concept, claiming that four-day workweeks only heighten complaints about today’s workplace, targeting younger generations and labeling them as “lazy” or “disinterested.”
JP Morgan Chase’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, pushed some blame on the increased use of AI, saying it will “eventually reduce the workweek in the developed world,” according to The Guardian.
“The change could be disruptive to business communication practices; however, that fear is precisely what motivates organizations to get more serious and intentional about internal communication prior to making the switch,” the authors wrote.
“Undertaking that kind of change can be daunting and time-consuming, which is why such efforts tend to fall to the bottom of everyone’s priority list. However, the prospect of a shorter workweek provides the necessary motivation to encourage that kind of change.”
The concept could be adapte—if it were rebranded. Some ideas include a “performance pay” or “smart pay” or “results/rewards” compensation system, claiming the terms are less lazy and push getting things done more. It also seems to be more appealing to business executives.
As some companies have already adopted a four-day work week, there are ways organizations can redesign the practice to make it more appealing, such as ditching distractions, creating more focused, intentional work environments, adopting AI and productivity-boosting technologies, and structuring definitions and processes for escalations and work emergencies.
On April 27, it was announced that a new podcast from Winfrey, along with her book club and classic episodes of The Oprah Winfrey Show, will be coming to Amazon under a new deal, Deadline reports.
As part of the agreement, Wondery will hold exclusive distribution and advertising rights for The Oprah Podcast across audio and video platforms.
The podcast, produced by Harpo Productions and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tara Montgomery—with co-executive producers Brian Piotrowicz and Brad Pavone—draws on the spirit of The Oprah Winfrey Show, blending self-improvement with conversations on topics like tech addiction, divorce, and grief.
“Hosting this podcast allows me to continue the work I feel called to do—opening the door for conversations that matter,” Winfrey said in a statement. “The kind of conversations that remind us we’re not alone, and invite us to see ourselves and one another more clearly. Expanding our reach globally is an opportunity I embrace, as we continue to connect through stories that invite new ways of seeing and, hopefully, deepen understanding.”
Guests have included Misty Copeland, Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, Mel Robbins, and Serena Williams. The show will begin rolling out two episodes a week starting in July. Fans can stream the podcast on Prime Video, Amazon Music, Fire TV Channels, and Audible, as well as on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other distributors.
The agreement also grants Amazon rights to Oprah Winfrey’s Oprah’s Book Club and Oprah’s Favorite Things, along with the full 25-season archive of The Oprah Winfrey Show.
As Amazon expands its advertising business, it is increasingly integrating its retail platform with audio and video content.
The deal adds to Wondery’s repositioning as a celebrity-driven podcast hub alongside Audible, with shows like New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, Baby, This is Keke Palmer, and Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard.
“Oprah Winfrey has built one of the most iconic, timeless brands in the world, spanning television, publishing, and beyond,” said Steve Boom, Amazon’s vice president of audio, Twitch, and games, in a statement. “Through this collaboration with Harpo Entertainment, we are bringing her voice to more people and expanding how her audiences engage with Oprah in ways only Amazon can deliver.”
Africans Dominate London Marathon In Under 2 Hours
The top 3 runners beat the previous world record of 2 hours and 35 seconds
Two African men finished the London Marathon in under two hours, marking the first time anyone has clocked a marathon time under two hours.
According to The Associated Press, Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe won the marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, smashing the previous record set by Kelvin Liptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, who clocked 2 hours and 35 seconds. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finished at 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 41 seconds to come in second behind Sawe. It was his first London Marathon.
“What comes today is not for me alone,” Sawe said after the race, “but for all of us today in London.”
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo came in third, with a time of 2 hours and 28 seconds. All three African runners broke Kiptum’s three-year-old record.
Another runner has completed a marathon under two hours. Kenyan long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge did that in 2019, but it did not enter the record books because it wasn’t a traditional race. He ran a tailored race, the “1:59 Challenge,” and finished in 1 hour, 50 minutes, and 40 seconds. The race was run in favorable conditions on a six-mile track with a stable of 41 rotating pacemakers.
The winning women also set records in the marathon. Three African women finished under 2 hours and 16 minutes.
Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa won the race when she finished in 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 41 seconds, making it the fastest-ever time in a women-only marathon. Although she set the record for a women-only race, she missed the fastest time by a woman in a mixed race by 16 seconds. Paula Radcliffe set that record in 2003.
“I screamed when I finished because I knew I was breaking the world record,” Assefa said. “I felt much healthier today and have worked really hard on my speed, and all my training has paid off.”
Kenya’s Hellen Obiri finished 12 seconds behind Assefa, marking her personal best time during her first London Marathon. Joyciline Jepkosgei, also from Kenya, followed Obiri after finishing two seconds behind, to come in third place.
