by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 11, 2024

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Heads To Broadway For One-Night Performance In ‘&Juliet’

The Supreme Court judge will appear in a walk-on role during the Dec. 14 evening show.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson will perform in a one-night performance of “& Juliet” on Broadway.

The first Black woman appointed as a Supreme Court judge will hit the stage for the 8 p.m. show on Dec. 14, appearing in a walk-on role. According to the post of the jukebox musical announcing the special event, Jackson will also host a talkback after the performance.

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A post shared by & Juliet Broadway (@andjulietbway)

Moreover, Brown Jackson detailed her “unabashed love” of theater in her new memoir, Lovely One. She even wrote about her dream of performing on Broadway in her application essay to Harvard. She also took theater classes at the Ivy League school, revealing that she once acted a scene out with Matt Damon.

“I, a Miami girl from a modest background with an unabashed love of theater, dreamed of one day ascending to the highest court in the land—and I had said so in one of my supplemental application essays [to Harvard],” wrote Jackson in the book. “I expressed that I wished to attend Harvard as I believed it might help me ‘to fulfill my fantasy of becoming the first Black, female Supreme Court justice to appear on a Broadway stage.’”

Now, Jackson’s dream will come to fruition. She already completed the first step when she was confirmed to serve on the Supreme Court in April 2022. It followed a nomination by President Biden that February.

The post also captioned, “Let’s make that teenage dream come true, Justice Jackson.”

Her inclusion in “& Juliet” also aligns with her values, as the musical evokes themes of female empowerment. The musical is a modern take on the Shakespeare classic “Romeo & Juliet.” It also includes pop hits from artists such as Britney Spears and Katy Perry. However, this reimagining focuses on Juliet’s life if she did not die alongside her star-crossed lover. The show takes place at the Stephen Sondheim Theater, and a U.S. tour is ongoing as well.

The exact role Jackson will take remains under wraps. However, Deadline reports that production created an ensemble role specifically for her. Her memoir, Lovely One, is available for purchase at multiple retailers.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 11, 2024

Tupac’s ‘How Do U Want It’ Enters TikTok Billboard Top 50

The song debuts on the chart 28 years after his untimely killing.

Tupac Shakur died Sept. 13, 1996, and 28 years later, one of his hit singles entered one of Billboard’s charts.

According to Forbes, the single “How Do U Want It” was released three months before his untimely death and just debuted on the TikTok Billboard Top 50. The chart lists the most popular, most-heard, and most-used tracks on the social media app, and Tupac’s entry, featuring one-half of the R&B group Jodeci, K-Ci & JoJo, came in at No. 16.

When the single initially came out, it appeared on the B-side of another hit record, “California Love,” on the album All Eyez On Me. Both songs reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart that year.

Although the talented rapper and actor was killed almost 30 years ago, no one was convicted for his killing. That may change next year when former gang member Duane “Keffe D” Davis is scheduled to go on trial on March 17, 2025.

The 60-year-old Davis was arrested in Henderson, Nevada, on Sept. 29, 2023. He was apprehended after Las Vegas police officers searched his residence on July 17, 2023. He was charged with first-degree murder for his alleged role in Tupac’s murder and pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. If found guilty, he faces a life sentence in prison. He is presently jailed at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas.

Tupac was shot several times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas after attending a boxing match that featured Mike Tyson on Sept. 7, 1996. The beloved yet controversial rapper died six days after being shot at 25. Davis, who wrote the book Compton Street Legend and did many interviews over the years, has previously stated that the killing of the “Me Against the World” lyricist was committed by his nephew, Orlando Anderson, who was killed two years later.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 11, 2024

Jay-Z’s Attorney Claims Tony Buzbee Attempted To Make Woman File False Allegations Against Diddy

Tony Buzbee's firm is accused of attempting to convince a woman to make false claims against the former Bad Boy CEO

The inclusion of Jay-Z in Tony Buzbee’s crusade for alleged victims against Diddy has brought an allegation of the attorney attempting to convince a woman to make false claims against the former Bad Boy CEO.

According to TMZ, Alex Spiro, who represents the “Hard Knock Life” rapper, has stated in court papers that a young woman contacted his law firm to inform them that Buzbee’s law firm tried to encourage her to file a fraudulent claim against Diddy when she went to his law firm for another matter unrelated to Diddy. She said she reached out to his firm to seek representation about allegations of sex trafficking and abuse.

She said she made it clear it had nothing to do with Diddy, but an associate of the firm encouraged her to file a claim against the “No Way Out” recording artist anonymously.

She stated that the Buzbee associate asked, “At what point did you meet Diddy?”

The woman also said she had been discouraged from filing a criminal complaint. She also claims “she felt directed and coached by Mr. Buzbee’s firm to say that someone held her down and put drugs in her mouth when that was not her experience.” After refusing to do so, she was dropped as a client, according to the documents submitted in federal court.

Buzbee has responded to the claim by saying, “This is so ridiculous. If someone calls our intake and has a viable case that we believe has merit and we can pursue we will pursue it. We are currently pursuing hundreds of cases against individuals other than PDiddy. What we won’t do is pursue a case that we don’t believe has merit.”

According to Deadline, Buzbee also made another claim against Jay-Z, saying that he has sent investigators to current clients, offering them money to sue his law firm.

“Jay Z’s team is desperate and seemingly out of control. Their investigators have recently been caught on tape offering current clients of our firm one thousand dollars to sue our firm. This conduct is reprehensible and illegal. There will be consequences coming soon.”

He also took to social media with his accusations.

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A$AP Rocky, CDFA, Fashion Icon, Ray Bans

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 11, 2024

A$AP Rocky To Star In Spike Lee’s New Joint, ‘Highest 2 Lowest’

Although Rocky will lead the project, the plot of the film remains under wraps.

A$AP Rocky continues to build his film résumé. The rapper and entrepreneur will star in Spike Lee’s upcoming film Highest 2 Lowest.

Paparazzi snapped pics that suggested Rocky would play a lead in the feature, which intends to be a reimagining of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 thriller, High and Low. After the photos of the set leaked, Indiewire confirmed that Rocky would portray the character of Yung Felon.

While participating in the jury for the Red Sea International Film Festival, Lee later confirmed the casting and details for his version of the Japanese crime thriller. Instead of the original characters, Lee’s take will feature acting heavyweights such as Denzel Washington in a modern interpretation. The rest of the plot remains under wraps, including more insight into Rocky’s character.

“This is not a remake. This is a reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s great film,” said Lee, as reported by Deadline. “In Kurosawa’s film, Toshiro Mifune is a shoemaker. In our film Denzel Washington is a music mogul with his own label and his reputation as the best ears in the business. So, this is the fifth film with the dynamic duo.”

Washington and Lee have collaborated five times throughout their respective careers, with 2006’s Inside Man being their last joint project. Now, the Lee-proclaimed “dynamic duo” is back filming, with Rocky now in the mix.

The film is still in production and has a set release date of summer 2025. However, Rocky is not the only rapper hitting the screen. Ice Spice also reportedly has a role in the feature. It will be distributed theatrically by A24 before heading to AppleTV+ for streaming.

Although Rocky has yet to play a lead, this is not his first acting gig. The father of two had a supporting role in 2015’s Dope and 2018’s Monster, among other films. He also has another A24 project, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, in post-production.

Apartment, Atlanta, AI, dog, crimefighting

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 11, 2024

Atlanta Apartment Gets Unusual Security Detail With AI-Powered Crimefighting Dog

The AI dog, named Beth, comes with 360 cameras and a siren to help prevent crime.

An Atlanta apartment has innovative security walking among its premises. An AI-powered, crimefighting dog hopes to increase safety and deter crime.

Named “Beth,” the robotic dog will roam the area surrounding Atlanta’s 445 Cleveland Apartment complex. While shaped like an animal, it comes stocked with 360-degree cameras, a siren, and the ability to climb stairs. The apartment partnered with the City of Atlanta to test Beth’s performance and safety provisions.

City Councilman Antonio Lewis helped bring the initiative to life. Residents will also see multiple Beths patrolling the complex. He calls it a “reimagining” of protecting one’s neighborhood to assist better, not replace, police officers.

“There are multiple Beths, so you’re always gonna feel like Beth is everywhere,” Lewis said. “What we did before didn’t work. We cannot lock our way out of this. This is reimagining public safety, using the technology and tools that are available to us.”

However, Beth is not the first robotic dog to take to the Atlanta streets. The difference lies in its “owner,” who is a human operator based in Bogota, Colombia. The apartment’s owner, Avi Wolf, explained how the system works, allowing Beth to travel anywhere on the property in one minute.

“Our operator who is physically watching these cameras needs to deploy the dog. It’s all in one system, and they are just controlling it, like a video game at home, except it’s not a video game—it’s Beth,” detailed Wolf.

While technologically advanced, Beth is cost-effective. Wolf also revealed that her system costs one-third the cost of other AI-powered machines. Thus far, residents feel hopeful about the potential safety benefits.

Furthermore, Beth’s presence hopes to persuade potential troublemakers to take another route. Lewis believes that the dogs, expected to be fully operational by the end of the year, will decrease violence and crime.

“My goal is that young folks see Beth and say, ‘I want to go get a job. I can’t do what I was doing,’” expressed the elected official.

Beth is still a Georgia-bred machine, with Atlanta software company Undaunted developing the software that led to her creation.

GoFundMe Deads Multiple Pages That Support Suspected Killer Of UnitedHealthcare CEO

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 11, 2024

GoFundMe Deads Multiple Pages That Support Suspected Killer Of UnitedHealthcare CEO

GoFundMe says their platform cannot be used to raise money for the legal defense of violent crimes.

GoFundMe has shut down multiple pages suggesting support for Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of the UnitedHealthcare CEO.

After an intense manhunt sparked immediately after the CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot on Dec. 4, Mangione was found and arrested in Pennsylvania. He successfully evaded authorities for six days, but building evidence of his identity led to his capture. Footage of the shooting has emerged into a media spectacle, accompanied by evident support from some of the public.

Mangione’s suggested reason for killing Thompson prompted multiple GoFundMe campaigns in support of him following his arrest and charges of murder. However, as the pages were created, GoFundMe swiftly took action to shut them down. The crowdfunding website says it’s due to its policy on what causes can be funded on its platform.

“GoFundMe’s Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes,” said a GoFundMe spokesperson to The Independent. “The fundraisers have been removed from our platform, and all donors have been refunded.”

The shooting and the reasons for it have led to greater questions surrounding the healthcare industry and its treatment of customers. Many consider it a wake-up call to healthcare companies to stop denying coverage for sickly individuals.

Moreover, as Mangione’s reveal as a person of interest made headlines, so did the lore surrounding his motive. His suspected manifesto also attacked the healthcare industry and corporate greed. Given this new insight, some people have leaned in to publicly support the man.

“I am supporting Luigi Mangione,” detailed one of the GoFundMe page’s descriptions. “I hope to get him the help he will need in this upcoming trial. He will need all the help he can get and I hope he can be comfortable dealing with this hardship in life.”

However, Mangione has also become the subject of internet farce, sparked by his background as an Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Baltimore family.

“Legal defense for he who shall not be named wink, wink,” wrote another page.

While Mangione cannot secure lawyer fees through this method, his arrest and future trial will draw more attention to his controversial actions.

by Mitti Hicks

December 11, 2024

Anti-Feminist Sentiments Rising Among Gen Z and Young Men

wide variety of misogyny and gender-based bigotry have spiked in recent years.

A new study released by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) gives people resources to recognize and prevent violence related to gender-based hate. The guide is the third in a growing suite of resources co-created by both groups. It also comes as SPLC and PERIL say anti-feminist sentiments have risen significantly among Gen Z and young men.

According to SPLC and PERIL’s research, a wide variety of misogyny and gender-based bigotry have spiked in recent years. This includes a documented rise in forms of male supreme violence that’s now recognized on the spectrum of domestic violent extremism, including threats, plots, and attacks from misogynist incels. SPLC and PERIL note this is unsurprising as discriminatory bills have also increased nationwide. Many of these laws are rooted in anti-LGBTQ+ ideas and beliefs, which also overlap with other discriminatory rhetoric and beliefs.

“At the intersection of anti-Black racism, anti-LGBTQ+ hate and misogyny, Black women, girls, and transgendered women experience an outsized amount of harm and violence,” the study says.

Where Is The Surge In Hate Happening?

Gender-based hate is fostered online, according to SPLC and PERIL. This includes video game chats, comment trolls on social media sites, memes, and short-form videos. People have also created Reddit pages to manipulate and denigrate women. SPLC and PERIL refer to these online spaces and communities as the “manosphere.” Researchers describe the manosphere as a collection of blogs, forums, and websites whose members mobilize around misogyny and toxic masculinity.

The manosphere links together a variety of male supremacist groups that both SPLC and PERIL say create an entitlement to women’s bodies, time and attention, grievances, and blame with women who fail or resist to meet their expectations. It also leads to anti-feminism rhetoric, to name a few.

“Their level of popularity is hard to overstate,” the report reads. “The misogynist influencer Andrew Tate, for example, was one of Google’s most-searched people in 2022.”

Romanian law enforcement arrested Tate in 2022. Officials indicted him in 2023 on charges of rape, human trafficking, and establishing a criminal gang to exploit women sexually, the study revealed.

Online & Offline Pathways To Radicalization

According to the research, there are pathways to radicalization both online and offline. Some thing to look out for, especially in young people, are gaming chats, following or searching what researchers call “self-help influencers” on Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok, and young girls and women researching trad wife influencers, for example.

Signs that parents and teachers can look out for include expressing sympathy for extreme and hateful views, changes in speech patterns, language, or narratives, desire to restore perceived loss of status, and self-isolation or sentiments expressing a lack of belonging.

As the study suggests, parents and caregivers should start talking to young children early. Researchers say young people can be set in their beliefs by age 10. Parents can also discuss and model internet safety and discuss peer-to-peer support.

For the entire report and list of resources, visit splcenter.org/peril and perilresearch.com

Floyd Mayweather, money team, money, money man, watch

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 11, 2024

Floyd Mayweather Is ‘Proud To Support The Jews’ After Being Swarmed By Angry Mob In London

This isn't the first time the boxer was called out on his support of Israel.

Boxing champ Floyd Mayweather is speaking out after rumors spread that he was attacked by an angry mob for his support of Israel, the Jerusalem Post reports.

The incident occurred in London, where Mayweather appeared at a jewelry store. As a crowd started to follow him, a bystander allegedly asked the boxer if he supported Israel, to which he reportedly responded with, “I’m proud to support the Jews.” That is when things went left.

The comment reportedly led a member of the mob to take a swing at the world champion. However, Mayweather said, in a statement, that never happened.

“Let me set the record straight…there’s no truth to the rumors going around. I wasn’t punched or touched in any way. What you’re seeing is just my security doing their job to keep things under control,” he wrote in a statement posted on social media.

“I was in the UK for a quick 48-hour stop to do some shopping, and unfortunately, people let jealousy and negativity fuel false stories. I’m perfectly fine, and there’s really nothing more to it.”

Statement from Floyd Mayweather after videos emerged of him being pursued by a group of protesters in London last night… pic.twitter.com/IaafevetB7
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) December 11, 2024

In a video circulating on X, Mayweather is seen being escorted out of the store in Hatton Garden to his vehicle, which is waiting outside. The mob follows him as his security team tries to get him in the car, and Mayweather looks seemingly frustrated by the situation.

Floyd Mayweather chased out of Hatton Gardens in London. The public are angry over his comments and support for Israel. pic.twitter.com/qUSVsvsE9j
— Tam Khan (@Tam_Khan) December 10, 2024

According to the Daily Mail, some members of the crowd were heard yelling racial slurs at Mayweather and his team. This isn’t the first time the boxer has been called out over his support of Israel amid the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. The retired heavyweight champion arranged for a jet to deliver over 5,000 pounds of supplies on Oct. 15 and then posted his stance on Instagram. “I stand with Israel against the Hamas terrorists,” he wrote.

“Hamas do not represent the people of Palestine but are a terrorist group that are attacking innocent lives! I stand for all humans and wish for the safe return of all Americans and Israelis and any human that were kidnapped as hostages during these horrific war crimes.”

More than a year later, Mayweather has continued his support. Days before the London incident, he announced the Mayweather Israel Initiative on his social media account to gift Israeli orphans when they celebrate their birthdays over the next year. A mobile van will distribute birthday gifts throughout the region. “Over the next year, every orphan in Israel will be visited by the Floyd Mobile and receive special birthday gifts,” he wrote on Instagram.

“To all the widows and orphans: keep your heads held high as we honor the cherished memories of those who have passed. A heartfelt thank you to Shai Graucher for your incredible work in making this possible.”

Deobra Redden Jumped At A Judge And Got Hit With 26 To 65-Year Sentence

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 11, 2024

Deobra Redden Jumped At A Judge And Got Hit With 26 To 65-Year Sentence

Deobra Redden was seen on video attacking a Nevada judge

Deobra Redden, who went viral for leaping onto a courtroom judge’s bench, has been given a 26 to 65-year prison sentence.

According to The Associated Press, a Nevada judge gave Redden a long-term sentence after he pleaded guilty but mentally ill in September after he was charged with attempted murder. Clark County District Court Judge Mary Kay Holthus testified at Redden’s trial as she stated she feared for her life when he attacked her on the bench.

Redden attacked Judge Holthus as she denied him bail on Jan. 3. He was initially in court facing charges including battery, robbery, assault, injury to property, and coercion. Before the court appearance, a judge ordered a competency determination for him and he was determined to be competent to stand trial in October 2023. The attack was caught on video. Redden was seen making a giant leap from the floor to the bench and attacked the judge and grabbed her hair.

Courtroom staff, including court officers, jumped to Holthus’ defense as they were seen pulling Redden off the judge and punching him as they pried him away from the judge.

The judge did suffer minor injuries but did not go to the hospital.

Courthouse News Service reported that Redden pleaded with the judge before being sentenced at the recent hearing.

“I don’t understand why the state is going after my character,” Redden told the judge. “I’ve had problems since I was a kid. I’m just being me, growing up and trying to do the right thing.”

“I know I’m not a bad person,” Redden added. “On Jan. 3, I was listening to music, I was in a good mood. I don’t know why the state is trying to prove me as a bad person. I’m not an evil person.”

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His words fell on deaf ears as Judge Susan Johnson handed him the 26-year minimum term with parole.

“Your actions on that day wasn’t just retaliation; it was judiciary,” Johnson said. “While you do have mental issues, you did know the difference between right and wrong.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 11, 2024

‘This Really Hurts’: Jordan Neely’s Father Responds To Daniel Penny’s Acquittal With A Civil Suit

Jordan Neely's estate and father pursue a civil lawsuit against Daniel Penny after acquittal.

Jordan Neely’s estate and his father are pursuing a civil case in response to Daniel Penny’s acquittal, seeking justice for Neely’s death caused by a fatal chokehold.

Penny was acquitted Monday of criminally negligent homicide in Neely’s chokehold death on a crowded F train in New York City last year. With his criminal trial behind him, Neely’s father, Andre Zachery, is moving forward with a civil case that could require Penny to testify, the Gothamist reports.

“It may be that the best justice left,” said Rodger Citron, a law professor at Touro Law Center who specializes in civil procedure. “Here is another case, another forum in which a different jury applying a different standard of proof may find civil liability against this defendant.”

Penny faced a potential four-year prison sentence after the more severe charge of second-degree manslaughter had been dismissed. Neely, a 30-year-old former Michael Jackson impersonator living with schizophrenia, had begun yelling threats after boarding the train on May 1, 2023. His final moments, captured on bystander video, sparked weeks of protests and garnered national attention.

Prosecutors in the criminal case accused Penny of going “far beyond what was necessary” when holding Neely in a chokehold for an excessive duration, ultimately leading to his death. Meanwhile, Penny’s attorneys argued he acted in self-defense to protect himself and other passengers, suggesting that his actions might not have been the direct cause of Neely’s death.

However, Zachary’s recently filed civil case argues that Penny acted negligently and recklessly, causing Neely’s death.

“This really, really hurts,” Zachery said outside court after the verdict. “What are we going to do, people?”

A civil lawsuit differs from a criminal case in that it requires only five-sixths of the jurors to agree there is a preponderance of evidence to establish liability, whereas criminal charges demand a unanimous decision from all 12 jurors, convinced beyond a reasonable doubt. Another difference is that Penny might not have the option to avoid testifying in a civil trial as he did in his criminal trial. One civil rights attorney says he could be compelled to testify because the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution does not shield defendants from self-incrimination in civil cases.

“He will have to go on record to explain exactly what he was doing at the time that Jordan nearly expired and then subsequently died,” civil rights attorney Joshua Lax said. “Answer questions under oath about what it is he was doing, why he was doing it? Why didn’t he do things differently? Why didn’t he pay attention? Why didn’t he stop — all of that he’s going to have to answer.”

It would also be up to the jurors to decide how much the settlement to Neely’s estate would be.

“It could be very high or it might be on the lower end or not at all,” Lax said.