DOJ Releases Epstein Files Photos Featuring Clinton, Michael Jackson, Chris Tucker, And Other Celebrities
Newly disclosed images tied to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation show prominent public figures in social settings, though officials stress the materials are released without context and do not allege wrongdoing.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Dec. 19 released a new set of photographs and documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, including images of former President Bill Clinton and several well-known celebrities, as required under federal transparency legislation.
As reported by People, the materials were made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates that records related to Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation be released in a searchable format. The newly disclosed files include photographs showing Epstein alongside high-profile political figures, entertainers, and socialites. However, officials emphasized the images were released without explanatory context and do not accuse those pictured of criminal conduct.
Among the images are several photos of Clinton socializing with Epstein and his longtime associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. One image shows Clinton relaxing in a hot tub and swimming pool with Epstein and Maxwell, alongside a woman whose face has been obscured. Other photographs depict Clinton standing between Epstein and another man with his arms around them, and seated near a woman on what appears to be a private aircraft.
Another photo shows Clinton attending a dinner with Epstein, Maxwell, and Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger. Separate images include Epstein posing next to the late pop star Michael Jackson, who is wearing dark sunglasses and a black jacket with a white flower pinned to his lapel.
Actor Chris Tucker also appears in multiple photos, including one showing him embracing Maxwell on an airport tarmac. Kevin Spacey, who has faced previous sexual misconduct allegations unrelated to Epstein, is visible in a group photo alongside Maxwell, Clinton, and others. Magician David Copperfield is shown in one image wearing a bathrobe and embracing Maxwell.
A spokesperson for Clinton directed inquiries to a statement posted on X by Clinton’s Deputy Chief of Staff Angel Ureña. “They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton,” the statement said. “Never has, never will be.”
The statement further argued that Clinton severed ties with Epstein before his crimes became public, adding, “There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light… We’re in the first.”
The Justice Department reiterated that individuals appearing in the photos are not accused of wrongdoing. The release comes as part of an ongoing process that remains incomplete. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Dec. 19 that the department is not yet able to publish all Epstein-related materials due to the scale of required redactions.
Today, the Department of Justice publicly released materials related to Jeffrey Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Additional responsive materials will be produced as our review continues, consistent with the law and with protections for victims.…
“Additional responsive materials will be produced as our review continues, consistent with the law and with protections for victims,” Blanche wrote in a post on X.
Officials said hundreds of thousands of pages remain under review, and further disclosures are expected as the process moves forward.
Keith Lee Named TikTok’s First U.S. Creator Of The Year At Inaugural Awards Ceremony
The food reviewer and influencer was honored in Los Angeles for his impact on small businesses and community-driven content across the platform.
TikTok has named food critic and influencer Keith Lee its first-ever Creator of the Year in the United States, recognizing his rapid rise and widespread influence during the platform’s inaugural U.S. TikTok Awards.
Lee, 29, received the honor on Dec. 18 at a ceremony held at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The event marked the first time TikTok hosted its awards show in the U.S., following earlier ceremonies in Australia, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Germany.
“I never in a million years thought I was going to be standing on this stage,” Lee said while accepting the award, appearing emotional as he addressed the audience.
As reported by People, Lee has gained national attention over the past year for his straightforward food reviews, many of which spotlight independently owned restaurants. His posts have been credited with driving significant business to small eateries across the country, often after he shares candid feedback about his dining experiences.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Lee said the platform offered him more than just visibility. “This means more to me than I can explain,” he said, referencing his upbringing and the opportunity TikTok gave him to share his story.
He also emphasized how the app has allowed him to elevate others, saying it gave him “a platform to be able to show small businesses around the country,” a mission that has become central to his online presence.
Lee acknowledged the personal challenge of embracing recognition, noting, “It’s hard to do something for myself, because I always put other people in front of me, but this is for me.”
During his speech, Lee thanked his wife, Ronni, who attended the ceremony, crediting her for encouraging him to begin posting food content, which ultimately led to his success.
In recognition of Lee’s win, event host LaLa Anthony announced TikTok would donate $50,000 to Feeding America, tying the honor to Lee’s community-focused values.
The awards show, themed “New Era, New Icons,” was streamed live on TikTok and Tubi and featured performances and creator recognitions. Singer Ciara headlined the night with a live performance, celebrating her influence on viral music and dance trends on the app.
Other notable winners included “Love Island USA” Season 7 contestant Jeremiah Brown, who received Rising Star for expanding his content into book discussions and community engagement, and Mariah Rose, who earned MVP of the Year for her sports commentary covering the NFL and NBA.
The ceremony highlighted the growing impact of digital creators and TikTok’s expanding role in shaping modern entertainment and culture.
Brick-By-Brick: Rockhouse Foundation Surpasses $11M in Giving As Recovery Efforts For Hurricane Melissa Take Center Stage
Director of Partnerships Vanessa Moore spearheads the recovery charge for Hurricane Melissa and a better Jamaica.
The Rockhouse Foundation, the esteemed charitable vanguard of the 51-year-old Rockhouse Hotel and its sister property, Skylark Negril Beach Resort, has reached a historic milestone, raising more than $11 million USD to modernize the educational infrastructure of Western Jamaica. Since its inception in 2004, the foundation has moved beyond simple charity to execute a profound transformation of six area schools and the total expansion of the Negril Community Library, creating a sustainable model for social responsibility within the tourism sector.
Photo Courtesy of Rockhouse FoundationPhoto Courtesy of Rockhouse Foundation
At the heart of this mission is the Savanna-la-Mar Inclusive Academy (Sav Inclusive), a pioneering institution built entirely from the ground up by the Foundation. Born from a visionary dialogue between Foundation President Peter Rose and a hotel staff member seeking resources for her autistic son, the academy represents a rare, fully inclusive environment where children with and without disabilities learn side by side. What began in 2017 with 30 preschoolers has flourished into a vibrant campus of 265 students through Grade 6, boasting a therapeutic sensory room, a dedicated team of speech and physical therapists, and a fully solarized, eco-conscious infrastructure.
Photo Courtesy of Rockhouse Foundation
To steward this expanding mission, the Foundation recently appointed Vanessa Moore as director of Partnerships. A Jamaican native whose professional journey came full circle in November 2024, Moore brings a formidable background as a high-level executive for MTV, the Oprah Winfrey Network, NBC, and TMZ. Her appointment continues a familial legacy of service; her father, Bertel Moore, served as the Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar and the CEO of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation, embodying a deep-seated commitment to the community that Vanessa now carries forward.
Moore’s transition from Hollywood’s brand boardrooms to Jamaican advocacy was catalyzed by a personal awakening regarding social justice and the needs of the underserved.
“My heart was truly rooted in the space of advocacy and activism,” the multihyphenate reflected on her career pivot. “I saw something very special about the DNA of the Rockhouse brand; it was rooted in families and community. Those things are what carry life on.”
Compassion in the Wake of Crisis
The Foundation’s impact has never been more vital than in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which left 82% of Westmoreland without power.
In a period of unprecedented challenges, the foundation demonstrated its logistical agility by raising over $500,000 via GoFundMe to provide immediate relief. This effort has been instrumental in rebuilding homes for employees and pupils, such as young Rojuan—a student with cerebral palsy who gained the ability to walk and talk through the Academy’s specialized care—and Zendaya, whose family of eight is being supported with a new home.
The foundation also moved quickly to protect its student families and staff. Under Moore’s direction, the Foundation’s separate relief, which came in clutch for displaced hotel employees, surpassed $100,000.
“The Rockhouse Foundation Hurricane Recovery Fund will provide direct support to rebuild the Sav Inclusive School and to help the students, families, and teachers most affected by the storm. Your donation — large or small — will go directly toward: Providing direct assistance to the hardest-hit families, students, and teachers. Repairing and rebuilding damaged classrooms and therapy spaces. Replacing essential educational and therapeutic equipment lost to flooding. Restoring a safe, nurturing environment where our students can return and thrive,” the organization’s GoFundMe explained.
Photo Courtesy of Rockhouse Foundation
While the Jamaican government estimates the cost of school damage at upwards of 15 billion Jamaican dollars, Moore notes that 80% of the effective relief has come from grassroots and international NGOs. Operating out of Skylark Negril Beach Resort, partners like World Central Kitchen have served over two million meals, proving that the private sector is now the primary engine of recovery for the island’s western region.
“It’s a call to action for the world to stand up as human beings and be kind and decent world citizens to help your fellow brother. As a person who has been an advocate for the underserved for many years, it breaks my heart to know there are citizens of Jamaica who will be without electricity potentially through March of next year,” Moore explained.
This humanitarian work is fueled by the success of the Rockhouse Hotel, which in 2025 was awarded a prestigious MICHELIN One Key, recognizing it as a “very special stay.”
By underwriting 100% of the Foundation’s administrative costs through its hospitality operations—including the acclaimed Miss Lily’s and the boutique Skylark resort—the organization ensures that every cent of public donation goes directly to the children.
From the new hydroponic farm to the expansion of Sav Inclusive through high school, the Rockhouse Foundation is the powerhouse of integrating world-class tourism with local empowerment.
Opinion: Clip Culture And Paid Campaigns Are Threatening Black Creator Communities
Black creators and Black-owned businesses are being targeted online to fuel chaos.
Written by Brandy Star Merriweather
The aftermath of The Streamer Awards was a microcosm of what has been happening behind the scenes to Black professionals in the creator community. Although there were small microaggressions that sparked recent conversations, there has been a domino effect of more misleading social clips and rumors that have been able to fuel a clear divide. This is the result of the very damage and self-inflicted, perpetuated trauma that continues to undermine and destroy the progress we’ve made.
I believe Black creators and Black-owned businesses are being targeted online to fuel chaos, increase paid, incentivized online engagement, and destroy our community. After a year of observing ‘clip’ servers, TikTok pages, and X pages that post recurring false information–- I was able to spot patterns. Some of the same accounts are fueling rumors and narratives that damage our community and its successful leaders.
Controversial social conversations always have a better chance in becoming a trend due to consumers’ heightened emotions, but when the same pages, with the same sponsors are leading the false narratives and out of context clips-– when will we realize we are being used and socially manipulated?
This year, it’s no secret that Black creators have risen to a level of stardom and priority that has changed how we consume traditional content. Young stars like Kai Cenat, Zoe Spencer, Brooklyn Frost, IShowspeed, Reginald, and more have kept millions entertained this year. These creators and their platforms represent versions of Black excellence. Their Live storytelling has the power to teach, inspire, and impact generations around the world. Relationships are maintained only if direct communication and clarity are given internally. If not, we start to see a shift in these creators’ dynamics, online and offline, due to social narratives, the creators’ communities, and outside opinions telling the creators how to think toward each other and Black-owned businesses.
This is not new-– in 2020, “Racist Jokes, Microaggressions, and Tokenism in the Influencer World” was written by Lindsay Dogson, where she highlighted stories from creators who were vocal about their experiences with their peers and their communities online and behind the scenes. We saw a pattern of powerful creators using their platforms to ostracize Black creators.
Today, we see the same systems. New businesses have risen in the creator economy, powered by inexperienced bros who are working together to build monopolies by gaining investments, vastly acquiring companies, and excessively using the names and work of Black creators. We are seeing the mental health of those very creators decline as they suffer in silence, being used in a broken system they have been accustomed to being a part of.
With the increase of AI, these systems are only getting quicker, louder, more manipulative, and impactful. As consumers, we have to be conscious and make rapid systems to support each other even more. It’s clear our community has been targeted, and the only way to change this is to unite more to debunk false online narratives, protecting each other when we can, and seeking direct clarity with one another offline and online.
One of the primary drivers of this manufactured chaos is the emergence of engagement-based platforms and third-party aggregators that profit directly from outrage. These systems are intentionally designed to amplify controversy, particularly when it involves Black creators and Twitch stars, because the emotional volatility surrounding our community produces higher clicks, higher shares, and higher ad revenue.
Studies on digital engagement models have repeatedly shown that negative content—especially content centered around conflict or moral panic—spreads 60% faster than neutral information. This is the exact reason “clip farms” and aggregator pages often cherry-pick moments, strip away context, and publish distorted narratives. The more inflammatory the interpretation, the more the algorithm rewards it. What’s even more alarming is that some of these accounts share backend networks, sponsorships, and financial pipelines, meaning they rely on coordinated sensationalism to remain profitable. The result is a digital ecosystem where misinformation about Black creators is not accidental—it’s incentivized, reacted to, and profitable.
This evidence underscores a critical truth: the divide we are seeing is not organic conflict arising from the community itself but a manufactured cycle created by those who benefit from our fragmentation. When profit is tied to controversy, Black creators become recurring targets, and the trauma experienced within the community is perpetuated at scale. This directly aligns with the thesis that Black creators and Black-owned businesses are being strategically targeted and socially manipulated for engagement and revenue to benefit their competition.
A second factor fueling this harmful dynamic is the lack of representation and cultural competence within the companies and teams that profit the most from Black creators’ success.
As the creator economy expands, investment firms, management agencies, and tech startups are entering the space with little understanding of the cultural nuances and community ties that shape Black digital expression. Many of these entities are led by individuals who have never collaborated with, supported, or uplifted Black creatives prior to recognizing the financial value of their influence. This often results in exploitative business practices—using Black creators’ images for pitches, collecting inflated percentages through predatory contracts, and strategically positioning them as “front-facing diversity” while withholding meaningful power behind the scenes.
The significance of this evidence is clear: when institutions lack cultural understanding or diversity in leadership, they inevitably mishandle the communities they profit from. Their decisions—whether intentional or rooted in ignorance—reinforce the same patterns of tokenism and emotional labor that Black creators have fought against for years. This directly connects back to the thesis by illustrating how systemic exploitation, not simple miscommunication, drives the online chaos that harms our community.
Some might argue that the online controversy surrounding Black creators is simply a reflection of normal internet discourse—messy, fast-moving, and fueled by passionate fans. They may say that every creator, regardless of race, faces misinformation and drama. While that may be partially true, it overlooks the disproportionate scale, frequency, and consequences faced by Black creators. The data patterns, repeated targeting, and coordinated amplification reveal that this is not random engagement—it is a systemic issue. The harm is deeper, the stakes are higher, and the long-term impact on careers, mental health, and Black-owned businesses is significantly more severe. Ignoring this context minimizes the real, measurable manipulation happening behind the scenes.
The evidence is unmistakable: Black creators are being deliberately pushed into cycles of digital conflict and misinformation, not because of who they are, but because their cultural impact generates profit for those who exploit it. This manipulation threatens the health of our community, the futures of rising stars, and the integrity of Black-owned businesses that deserve protection—not distortion.
If we want to shift this reality, we must build intentional unity, challenge false narratives in real time, and prioritize direct communication over algorithm-fed assumptions. The lack of positive “clip” server systems and social armies to counter the negativity is doing us a disservice. The call is simple but urgent: protect each other, verify before you amplify, build media, and refuse to let manufactured chaos define our community’s future.
Sip The Season: Diaspora Holiday Drinks Stirring History, Heritage, And Holiday Cheer
From creamy coconut punches to ruby-red hibiscus infusions, these drinks carry deep cultural histories.
During the holiday season, African, Caribbean, and Latin American diaspora communities celebrate with joyful gatherings that feature drinks that bring cheer to families and friends. The beverages, which include creamy coconut punches and ruby-red hibiscus infusions, have deep historical roots, migration stories, and tales of community resilience and joy across generations. Each drink represents the diasporic celebration of togetherness.
The following selection of diasporic holiday beverages will enhance your festive mood.
Puerto Rican Coquito
Puerto Rican Coquito, a creamy coconut-based rum punch, is a cherished holiday tradition throughout Puerto Rican communities, especially among families and parranda, or festive circles. The drink originated in Puerto Rico, but now people enjoy it throughout the Caribbean region and in the U.S., particularly in diaspora regions such as New York and Florida. At parrandas, Caribbean Christmas parties, people share Coquito as a symbol of their home and cultural heritage.
Caribbean Sorrel
The Caribbean Sorrel drink is ruby-red in color and is made by brewing the Hibiscus sabdariffa plant with ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and sometimes adding rum and sweeteners. Many regions consume Sorrel throughout the year, but it remains a traditional beverage for Christmas and New Year festivities across the Caribbean. Sorrel connects diasporic cultures through the use of hibiscus, which originates from African culinary traditions that crossed the Atlantic.
Haitian Crémas
Haitian Crémas is a sweet, creamy holiday beverage that features coconut, along with evaporated and condensed milks, spices, lime, vanilla, and Haitian rum. Haitian families and diaspora communities in North America, especially those living in Miami, New York, and Boston, enjoy this drink during their year-end celebrations. Crémas brings holiday warmth and nostalgia to the table, delivering a rich taste that showcases Haiti’s heritage.
Trinidadian Ponche de Crème
Ponche de Crème from Trinidad is a Caribbean cream punch that resembles eggnog and uses milk, eggs, sugar, rum, nutmeg, and citrus notes from Angostura bitters or lime zest. Trinidad and Tobago, along with the wider Caribbean community, love this drink during Christmas time and holiday celebrations.
Caribbean Ginger Beer
The English-speaking Caribbean communities, along with their diasporic families, enjoy Caribbean Ginger Beer, a spicy fermented ginger beverage made from grated ginger, water, sugar, lime, and cloves. The beverage is labeled non-alcoholic, but it tends to pack a punch. Black diasporic communities across Caribbean islands have adopted this drink as a holiday tradition.
Caribbean Peanut Punch
Among Caribbean families and street vendors, the Caribbean Peanut Punch remains a beloved beverage, combining peanuts or peanut butter with milk, condensed milk, sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Occasionally, rum or stout beer gets mixed into the drink. The beverage may have originated in Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago before spreading to diaspora markets. During holidays and special occasions, people serve this drink to deliver comfort and energy. The creamy, spiced flavor of this drink is essential for festive menus and homes that celebrate Caribbean heritage and culinary traditions.
Chance The Rapper Blesses 100 Chicago Children With Bicycles
'It’s a quintessential childhood gift, like everybody remembers their first bike.'
Chicago’s Chance the Rapper continues to give back, recently showcasing his philanthropy at a Raising Cane’s restaurant in Chicago Ridge, where he handed out new bicycles and helmets to local children.
The recording artist, in association with the restaurant and his nonprofit organization, Social Works, gifted the kids with the bikes and a free meal. Social Works posted a video clip from the Dec. 15 event.
One hundred children left with smiles after receiving their holiday presents.
The Chicago rapper spoke with WBEZ about giving children bikes, reminiscing about his father teaching him to ride one.
“It’s a quintessential childhood gift, like everybody remembers their first bike,” Chance told the media outlet. “My dad taught me how to ride a bike, and it was a big deal. It was like going through driving school; he was very intent on getting me to understand it and not giving up.”
He also stated that this isn’t the first time the restaurant donated bikes to the organization. In fact, this year, it doubled the bikes it donated. Social Works received 200 bikes after being given 100 last year.
“They hit us up this year and increased it to 200, so we were able to give away so many bikes,” Chance said. “We actually just did a giveaway two days ago at a Green Line station and set up a small warming center.”
According to the Social Works website, Chance founded the nonprofit to empower youth through the arts, education, and civic engagement. The organization turns 10 in 2026, and since its inception, it has contributed $12 million to the Chicagoland community, reaching over 50,000 students.
In September 2024, Chance connected with Raising Cane’s to bring a food truck to the Michele Clark Magnet High School after the restaurant donated $100,000 to Social Works.
“I feel like when you do take those chances to live in your purpose and just be brave, good things come.” Chance the Rapper toldBLACK ENTERPRISEat the time. “So, the fact that this [donation] is coming right after is a huge blessing of SocialWorks.”
On Dec. 10, Uthmeier filed a lawsuit accusing Starbucks of giving preferential treatment to minorities in hiring and pay, in violation of Florida’s civil rights law, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. The state is seeking over $100 billion in civil penalties and damages.
“Racial hiring quotas and preferences are illegal in Florida,” Uthmeier tweeted. “That’s why we are taking legal action against Starbucks. DEI is DOA in FLA!”
In a tweet from his official Attorney General page, Uthmeier accused Starbucks of using DEI “to implement illegal race-based policies for hiring and advancement. Using DEI as an excuse to hire, promote, or humiliate an employee based on race violates Florida’s civil rights law, and we just filed a lawsuit to hold Starbucks accountable.”
Racial hiring quotas and preferences are illegal in Florida. That’s why we are taking legal action against Starbucks.
Florida’s lawsuit reflects conservatives’ criticism of DEI policies, which some argue discriminate against white individuals. Starbucks has denied the claims, asserting that its programs and benefits are “open to everyone and lawful.”
Florida’s latest lawsuit over Starbucks’ DEI policies follows the dismissal last month of a similar case filed last year with the state Division of Administrative Hearings. Uthmeier’s office noting it would instead pursue the matter in state or federal court.
In his newly filed 21-page lawsuit, Uthmeier accuses Starbucks of deliberately discriminating against “non-favored races”—including White, Asian, and multiracial individuals—over the past five years through racial quotas and hiring goals.
The suit also alleges the Seattle-based company paid employees differently based on race, linked executive bonuses to participation in quotas and race-based mentorship programs, and excluded “disfavored” races from mentorship and networking opportunities.
“Defendant’s racist employment actions have caused significant financial losses and damages to Florida residents,” the lawsuit said. The alleged practices blocked “a vast number of Florida residents” from employment and caused others “to be fired, denied promotions, paid at a reduced rate of compensation, denied bonuses, and denied opportunities for mentorship and networking because of their race.”
The lawsuit demands that Starbucks end all DEI practices and pay civil penalties for each alleged act of racial discrimination at its 934 Florida locations, which Uthmeier estimates could total at least $100 billion under state law. It also seeks compensatory damages for “mental anguish, loss of dignity, and other intangible injuries.”
U.S. Councilwoman Speaks To Students And Undermines Civil Rights, LGBTQ Community, Constitution
Andreatta made comments about her daughter’s sexual orientation and questioned foundational civic principles.
Councilmember Holly Andreatta’s remarks at a high school club meeting have drawn widespread criticism from students, parents, and local officials after she made comments about her daughter’s sexual orientation and questioned foundational civic principles.
On Dec. 11, Andreatta spoke to members of Club America, a high school chapter of Turning Point USA at Twelve Bridges High School. Students recorded her comments and later circulated the video online. The remarks generated backlash on campus and in the broader community, CBS reported.
In the video, Andreatta referenced her daughter’s sexual orientation in a way that students and critics found offensive.
“My oldest daughter had a lot of trauma as a child… and as a result of it, she’s a lesbian. She’s gay, and she’s married to a woman,” she said.
Andreatta also addressed topics including diversity in hiring and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Her charged rhetoric prompted questions over whether the remarks were appropriate for a school setting.
Andreatta also discussed other subjects, stating a foundational American ideal, the separation of church and state, is “a myth,” asserting her belief that religion should inform public life.
Students at the Turning Point USA meeting reacted with concern. According to CBS Sacramento, sophomore class president Eliot Armstrong said he was troubled by the comment about sexual orientation and that it “could be really offensive to people,” particularly classmates who identify as LGBTQ+. The club’s president, Garrett Culp, said some student members have been “ruthlessly attacked online” and have filed a police report over harassment they received after the video spread.
The controversy spilled into a Western Placer Unified School District board meeting where dozens of speakers weighed in. Some called for the club’s disbandment, arguing the event had fostered an “unwelcoming environment,” while others defended the group’s right to exist as a forum for discussion.
In a written and video statement posted to TikTok, the councilwoman acknowledged her remarks and apologized to her daughter for sharing personal details. She said some statements were mischaracterized online and claimed she intended to engage in respectful dialogue.
The Western Placer Unified School District said it is legally required to allow student-led clubs to form and operate, regardless of viewpoint, while also aiming to protect student well-being and free expression.
Tyra Banks Hit With Lawsuit Due To Lease Disagreement
Christopher Powell alleges Tyra Banks flaked on a 10-year commercial lease contract.
Tyra Banks and her ice cream business are facing a $2.8 million lawsuit over a commercial lease dispute tied to a planned Smize & Dream “hot ice cream” shop in Washington, D.C.
The lawsuit was filed by Christopher Powell, a landlord and entrepreneur, who alleges that Banks, her company, School of Smize LLC, and business partner, Louis Martin, entered into a 10-year commercial lease in April 2024 for a flagship Smize & Dream location in the District’s Eastern Market neighborhood. Subsequently, Banks and her company abandoned the premises without fulfilling the lease obligations, the Grio reported.
Powell’s complaint alleges that Banks originally presented the D.C. location as part of a larger business plan to build a global Smize & Dream brand, a brand aimed at worldwide reach.
“She said Smize & Dream would not only be an ice cream shop, but also an initiative to provide underserved youth in Washington with education in science, sales, and hospitality,” the filing states.
Additionally, Powell claims the group “abruptly abandoned the premises” in June 2024 and failed to pay rent, leaving him with financial losses. Powell further alleges that shortly after withdrawing from the lease, Banks and Martin opened a Smize & Dream location in Sydney, Australia. Yet, the company continued facilitating pop-up events near the original D.C. site.
Powell is seeking $2.8 million plus late fees, accrued interest, attorneys’ fees, and other associated costs, according to Axios. The complaint includes claims of breach of contract and related allegations tied to the lease agreement.
Lawyers for Banks and Martin have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing a lack of jurisdiction and that the complaint fails to state a claim. A federal judge granted Powell an extension to respond to that motion.
Smize & Dream, described as a “hot ice cream” concept with a social mission, has generated attention for its branding and pop-up events in multiple U.S. cities and abroad.
The radio host will also continue to lead the Black Effect Podcast Network.
Radio host Charlamagne Tha God has renewed his deal with iHeartMedia. The new terms: $200 million over five years, according to Forbes..
Charlamagne, real name Lenard McKelvey, has extended a longtime partnership that includes his role as co-host of the nationally syndicated morning show, The Breakfast Club. Additionally, the radio host will lead the Black Effect Podcast Network, according to Forbes.
The renewed agreement keeps Charlamagne aligned with iHeartMedia across radio, podcasting, and digital media. The deal builds on a relationship that began more than a decade ago and formalizes Charlamagne’s ongoing involvement in developing audio content and talent under the iHeartMedia umbrella.
Charlamagne co-founded the Black Effect Podcast Network, in partnership with iHeartMedia in 2020, to amplify Black voices and stories across genres, including news, politics, entertainment, and wellness.
According to Deadline, the renewed deal ensures Charlamagne will continue to oversee the network’s growth while remaining a central on-air presence on The Breakfast Club.
“When I was looking at doing my new deal with iHeartMedia,” Charlamagne said, “I was, like, ‘I don’t want to just be talent. I want to create this podcast network. I want to create the BET for podcasting.”
Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, said in a statement, “Charlamagne is a creative force who continues to push boundaries in audio and beyond, and we are thrilled to extend our partnership with him as he builds on the success of The Breakfast Club and the Black Effect Podcast Network.”
Charlamagne also addressed the lucrative contract, saying he is “grateful” to continue working with iHeart.
The Breakfast Club, which Charlamagne co-hosts with DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious, airs on more than 90 radio stations nationwide and has remained one of iHeartMedia’s highest-profile radio properties.
The show is known for interviews with entertainers, athletes, and political figures and has become a central platform in hip-hop and popular culture.
The Black Effect Podcast Network has grown into a significant part of iHeartMedia’s podcast portfolio. The network hosts many culturally relevant shows, including All The Smoke, 85 South, and Drink Champs.
Charlamagne’s is also the author of multiple books and hosts the Comedy Central program Hell of a Week.
