Month: October 2021

ESPN sent College GameDay to the Texas State Fair on Saturday morning. As is oftentimes the case, college football fans have their eyes on the game that kicked off at 11 a.m. local time, with the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners going toe-to-toe in one of the sport’s premier rivalries. This year’s game is especially interesting, as the No. 4 Sooners haven’t looked particularly convincing this season despite being undefeated while the 21st-ranked Longhorns have looked better since an early season beatdown at the hands of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

These two teams, along with the No. 12 Oklahoma State Cowboys, look primed to compete for a Big 12 championship this season and OH MY GOODNESS THERE’S A FOX ON THE FIELD AT THE GAME.

This happened during the first quarter of the game, and things appear to be all good with the fox. Of course, there are questions to be asked with how, exactly, a fox managed to get onto the field, but it stands to reasons that it was chilling out elsewhere at the fair and just managed to break contain, something the Sooners hope does not also happen to its defense as it tries to slow down standout Longhorn running back Bijan Robinson.

Earlier this year, Games Of Thrones actress Esme Bianco revealed that her past relationship with Marilyn Manson “almost destroyed” her. In a profile with New York Magazine, she spoke about the emotional and physical abuse she endured, and about receiving help from Manson’s former assistant, Jessica Walters, and a former member of his inner circle, who corroborated her claims. Two months later, she filed a lawsuit against Manson and lodged human trafficking and abuse allegations against him as well. Manson attempted to get her lawsuit thrown out on the grounds of statute of limitations, but his motion was recently denied.

A U.S. District Court Judge ruled that Bianco’s lawsuit against Manson can move forward. The decision came in a written statement that was provided by Deadline. “A reasonable jury could find that the effects of Warner’s alleged unconscionable acts, including the perceived threat to Plaintiff’s safety, immigration status, and career, persisted years after her last contact with Warner,” the judge wrote. They also requested that Manson provide a formal response to each of the accusations Bianco made in her lawsuit within 14 days.

Bianco also delivered a response to the ruling. “My hope is that this ruling empowers other survivors to pursue justice for themselves while signaling to abusers that they cannot bully victims into silence,” she said in a statement. The judge’s decision comes after a separate lawsuit for sexual assault against Manson was dismissed due to the statute of limitations. However, the victim, a woman who was anonymously identified as Jane Doe, was granted 20 days to refile the lawsuit with more details in order to be considered for a future case, an opportunity she went through with.

The Congressional investigation into the events of Jan. 6 has kicked things up another notch. The GOP has been very against it from the start, and they’re not happy that subpoenas have gone out to a number of Trump loyalists, among them Steve Bannon and Mark Meadows, demanding what is likely damning evidence about the day’s events. Trump has instructed them to simply ignore these requests, even giving them an excuse: The intel, he claims, is protected by “executive and other privileges.” But President Joe Biden has shot that line down, leading Trump to fire off one of his wackadoodle responses.

“Biden has rejected our request to withhold White House information from the House Unselect Committee investigating the January 6th protest,” he wrote in a statement, as per Raw Story. But, he asserted, Biden “but has not taken a stance on the insurrection that took place on November 3rd, often referred to as the Crime of the Century.”

Of course, Biden has taken a stance on November 3: He won the election, beating Trump by millions of votes. The misinformation Trump and his allies have spread led to the violent storming of the Capitol building, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that Trump is frantically blocking evidence because it’s almost certainly very, very incriminating.

All Trump can do, then, is make veiled threats — or just invoke the president’s son. “This will put the current White House in a terrible position when the inevitable request for information comes concerning the massive corruption by Hunter Biden and the already well-documented crimes committed by the Biden family, the least of which are Hunter’s paintings selling for as much as $500,000 a piece,” he added.

In the meantime, the subpoena parties who are trying to ignore the requests will likely face severe legal consequences. It’ll be easier for someone like Bannon to not comply with authorities when he’s sitting in jail.

(Via Raw Story)

R. Kelly was recently found guilty of kidnapping, racketeering, and sexual exploitation of a child during his trial in a Brooklyn court. The ruling came after seven weeks of shocking and graphic testimonies from witnesses. The conviction resulted in the removal of Kelly’s YouTube channel. Unfortunately, that did not stopa boost in his streaming numbers. According to Rolling Stone, Kelly experienced a “double-digit growth” in his streaming numbers and a “triple-digit growth” in sales.

The publication noted that from September 27 to October 3, Kelly’s on-demand audio streams increased by 22 percent and his video streams went up by 23%. His album sales jumped 517% while his streaming numbers went from 11.2 million to 13.4 million during this period. This uptick will certainly take a hit now that his YouTube account has been removed, a spokesperson for the company explained to Bloomberg. “We can confirm that we have terminated two channels linked to R. Kelly in accordance with our creator responsibility guidelines,” they said in a statement.

This comes after his honorary “key to the city” in Baton Rouge was revoked following his guilty verdict. Baton Rouge Metro Council member Denise Marcelle, who gave the singer the key back in 2013, expressed her “regrets” for even awarding it to him in the first place.

The Bond movies have always struggled to keep up with the times, not always successfully. But no era of the series has been more overtly progressive than the Daniel Craig years. His 007 is a moody brooder, haunted by the one that got away. (In No Time to Die, he still hasn’t gotten over Eva Green’s Vesper Lynd, some 15 years after her death in Casino Royale.) He rarely even sleeps around. But there’s one tradition that has not yet been snuffed out: People are still using the term “Bond girls.”

Léa Seydoux, who’s played Bond’s steady across two movies, thinks it’s time for an update. In a new interview on Good Morning America, the French actress was asked if she felt the phrase, long used to describe the ladies Bond shacks up with (or not), was “antiquated,” Sedoux agreed. “I think we can call them ‘Bond women.’”

Seydoux added that she liked that her character, Madeleine Swan, is “uncommon” and “quite unexpected for a Bond girl,” because, she says, “she’s not here to please James Bond. She’s, this time, a real woman with depth and vulnerability, which is something quite new for a Bond woman.”

She added, “I think I can thank Daniel in a way because he’s a feminist, and it’s because of him that the female characters have changed so much. It was time to now have stronger female characters, so I’m really happy for that.”

You can watch Seydoux’s GMA interview in the video below.

Minus two rotation players and facing elimination on the road, the Phoenix Mercury gutted out a huge win over the Las Vegas Aces for the franchise’s fifth WNBA Finals. The intensity on both sides to start the game was incredible, and as tends to happen in big-time playoff games, the superstars set the stage.

Brittney Griner was engaged and aggressive from the jump, scoring 15 points in the first half. Her Phoenix frontcourt mate, Brianna Turner, brought the same energy on defense and on the glass, tallying two steals, two blocks and seven boards in the first half alone.

The glue for Phoenix, despite being without starting wing Kia Nurse (torn ACL) and backup wing Sophie Cunningham (ankle), came in the form of veteran guard Shey Peddy, who matched Turner with two steals and a gutsy 11 points.

On the other side, reigning MVP A’ja Wilson reminded everyone why she has that trophy on her shelf, mustering up a fire only she has to open this win-or-go-home contest. Wilson attacked the offensive glass and found her way into nine points in the first half.

As with Phoenix, it was a battle of post players, with fellow Aces starter Liz Cambage also coming out with a level of intensity that matched the stakes of the game. Cambage battled Griner down low and tapped into the Aces’ offensive flow herself.

Las Vegas took over to open the third, powering to a 14-0 run led by Wilson, Cambage, and point guard Chelsea Gray. After the Aces ripped off a 24-0 run in the third period in Game 4 on Wednesday, the recipe looked the same in Game 5, as Las Vegas brought a connectivity and effort level that the depleted Mercury couldn’t match.

The legendary Diana Taurasi took a seat with about 4:30 to go in the third after missing her fifth triple of the night, the Aces still in control of the game. Griner was able to get to the line a couple times, but Phoenix went more than six minutes without a made field goal. Taurasi checked back in at 3:08.

The Las Vegas lead stayed at eight throughout the period, and after the quarter ended, Taurasi got into a scuffle with Aces guard Jackie Young after Young collided with Taurasi on the sideline after a made basket. The two were in one another’s faces for several moments before officials broke it up.

On the first possession of the fourth quarter, Griner came up limping after nailing a right-handed hook shot in the post. It continued to bother her for several moments, before Taurasi also seemed to knick the left ankle sprain that has bothered her all season. The entire Mercury team hobbled, Taurasi stepped up.

The WNBA’s all-time leading scorer came around a screen at the top of the key and nailed a massive three to give the Mercury a lead for the first time in the second half, capping off a 10-0 run to put Phoenix up, 68-66.

Down suddenly, Las Vegas went back to its best offensive formula, putting the ball in the hands of Kelsey Plum in the pick and roll. Plum responded with six points and an assist in the next few possessions, culminating in a killer layup to put the Aces back on top.

As clutch time set in, the score tied at 81, Taurasi answered. Las Vegas’ ball movement continued to create great looks, and the Aces were able to find a mismatch under the basket with Cambage posted up on Taurasi. She tossed a shot up, but Taurasi smacked it off course, blocking a go-ahead layup. On the other end, Taurasi got a pass in transition and nailed a three to go up, 84-81.

Gray quickly responded with a three of her own to tie it back at 84.

When Phoenix got the ball back, Taurasi tossed up an errant shot trying to draw a foul, but Peddy recovered the ball and was able to draw a foul on a three-point attempt of her own. Peddy made two of three free throws to give the Mercury a two-point lead.

The Aces called a timeout, drawing up an inbounds play for Wilson. She drove to the hoop from the left elbow, but Griner stayed with her, blocking Wilson’s shot at the rim to seal Phoenix’s win and their fifth trip to the WNBA Finals.

The biggest meme of this young NBA season has easily become a Jason Kidd photo from Mavericks Media Day, which was likely planned out as something extremely harmless, a former franchise great donning the classic colors and logo from a prior era. What it turned out to be is Kidd wearing an oversized, short-sleeved button-up with an absolutely enormous collar. As preseason continues for Dallas, reporters were finally able to get Kidd’s comment on the photo, and his response did not miss the moment.

At long last, Adele’s name is buzzing around the headlines again.

Anyone who follows the megastar on social media knows the announcement of her new album, “30,” has been a bit of a global phenomenon. She was recently on both, yes, BOTH, covers of U.S. and British Vogue, where she gave her first interview in five years.

Her interviews cover a wide range of topics, where she answers questions in her quintessential relatable, slightly sailor-mouthed style we’ve all come to know and love. And whether she’s talking about her divorce, weight loss or accountability as a celebrity, she’s giving us a new look at owning your life. For me, those lessons are:

Admitting when you’re wrong is more important than maintaining your image.

In her British Vogue interview, Adele was asked about the criticism she received for a picture posted on Instagram during the Notting Hill Carnival last year. The photo showed the pop star sporting Bantu knots while she wore a Jamaican flag bikini, which received backlash calling her out for cultural appropriation.

If 2020 couldn’t get anymore bizarre, Adele is giving us Bantu knots and cultural appropriation that nobody asked f… https://t.co/uzuAaQQvmt

— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens)
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And yet, despite the negative comments, Adele’s picture has remained on her feed. Not out of pride, however. Quite the opposite.

In the interview, she states:

“I could see comments being like, ‘the nerve to not take it down,’ which I totally get. But if I take it down, it’s me acting like it never happened … And it did. I totally get why people felt like it was appropriating.”

Never one to resist self-deprecating humor, she admits, “I didn’t read the f**king room.”

Sometimes learning from our mistakes is more important than saving face. And it’s something that not many are willing to do, especially those with careers dependent upon public personas. I agree that taking down the photo would be, in turn, a way of erasing it all from history. By not taking it down, Adele holds both humility AND integrity.

Body positivity is no one’s business but your own.

Especially when it comes to self-care. The iconic singer had also received some negative feedback regarding her weight loss, including but not limited to: loud opinions, uniformed theories and outright accusations of being a sellout.

Sellout? More like someone who prioritizes mental health.

She said in the British Vogue interview:

“It was because of my anxiety. Working out, I would just feel better. It was never about losing weight, it was always about becoming strong and giving myself as much time every day without my phone. I got quite addicted to it. I needed to get addicted to something to get my mind right.”

As for why she didn’t document her workout regime: “I did it for myself and not anyone else. So why would I ever share it? I don’t find it fascinating. It’s my body.”

And to the accusatory spectators, she says, “People have been talking about my body for 12 years. They used to talk about it before I lost weight. But yeah, whatever, I don’t care. You don’t need to be overweight to be body positive, you can be any shape or size.”

Getting real about what makes you happy—or unhappy—is the best way to set an example.

When asked about her divorce from Simon Konecki and how it had affected their young son Angelo, Adele told U.S. Vogue, “It made him really unhappy sometimes. And that’s a real wound for me that I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to heal.”

She added that the latest album, in part, was to show her son:

“Who I am and why I voluntarily chose to dismantle his entire life … If I can reach the reason why I left … if I can find that happiness and he sees me in that happiness, then maybe I’ll be able to forgive myself for it … I want my son to see me really love, and be loved. It’s really important to me … I’ve been on my journey to find my true happiness ever since.”

Is there a Grammy for Best Use of an Album to Teach Your Children Self-Love? If so, that award goes to Adele.

Owning your part is the way to heal a broken heart.

Many fans who got through break-ups by belting out the lyrics to “Chasing Pavements” might be a touch disappointed by this, but: Adele’s new album will not not be featuring themes of retribution and heartbreak. This is a good thing.

Instead of making a finger-pointing divorce album, Adele described “30” as “It was more me divorcing myself. Just being like, Bitch, fuckin’ hot mess, get your fuckin’ shit together!”

While reflecting on her previous works, she noted:

“I realized that I was the problem … all the other albums are like, You did this! You did that! Fuck you! Why can’t you arrive for me? Then I was like: Oh, shit, I’m the running theme, actually. Maybe it’s me!”

If only more pop artists could allow their lyrics to reflect more nuance and maturity. Sure, it might feel cathartic to sing at the top of your lungs how someone did you wrong, but where is the personal growth in that? What Adele is sharing here carries so much more value, and reminds us all to take back our own personal power.

Like many fans, I cannot wait to check out “30.” I’m expecting this woman (who is the exact same age as myself) to offer the wisdom of a thousand lifetimes. If the suspense is killing you, check out a quick teaser of one of Adele’s new songs below.

Adele – Easy On Me (Clip)

www.youtube.com

As the old saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child. The more loving adults in a child’s life the better chance they have to grow up to be healthy and happy. That’s why it’s pretty wonderful that Wayne Brady, one of America’s most versatile performers and personalities, has said that he’s going to help raise his ex-wife’s newly adopted son.

To some, it sounds a little strange that a man would volunteer to help raise his ex-wife’s child, especially when she has a boyfriend at home. But Brady, his ex-wife Mandy Taketa, and her boyfriend, Jason Michael Fordham, have a different relationship than most people in a similar situation.

Brady and Taketa were married in 1999, had a daughter, Maile, in 2003, and were divorced in 2008. But the former couple learned to put their differences aside to raise their daughter and have since grown to be best friends. So, given their relationship and the fact that Taket’s new son will be Brady’s daughter’s brother, it’s understandable for him to play a big role in his life.

Brady admits that getting to where they are now wasn’t easy.

“It’s not easy, that’s the thing. … You see the end result,” he told Us magazine. [People say], ‘Oh, you guys are aspirational.’ Well, if you knew the fighting and the therapy and the tears and the work that it takes to make this look easy, then we’ve earned the right to co-parent together and we’ve earned the right to have a blended family. … It’s all about the work.”

The three are so close that Brady quarantined with them during the early days of the pandemic.

“People ask that like, ‘Oh, my God, it’s so crazy.’ No, it’s not crazy. Like I said, [you have to] spend time with the family that you love,” he told Us. “My ex-wife is my best friend and she’s my family and her boyfriend is part of that family. So who else would I spend this time with? … I’m very fortunate that we have that type of relationship.”

Taketa announced that she and Fordham adopted a baby boy named Sundance-Isamu last month on Instagram. In the post, she mentioned that Brady would have a big role in the child’s life.

She also thanked the child’s birth mother, Ana, for the amazing gift she gave to their family.

“Ana, thank you for making me a mommy again along with you. Thank you for blessing Jason with the gift of fatherhood, making Maile a big sister, & Wayne a godfather. He’s going to spoil Sunny like crazy!” she added.

The next day, Brady posted a video holding the baby and announced his new title, “Duncle.”

“This is my godbaby, but He’s gonna call me Duncle, ‘Daddy-Uncle’ because I plan on being around and doing all that stuff,” Brady shared in an Instagram video.

Duncle Wayne later posted a photo of the two in matching Versace outfits.

Kudos to Brady for stepping up and giving young Sunny another great role model to guide him through life. He’s also shown a lot of people that having an ex doesn’t necessarily mean making an enemy. It could be an opportunity to create a beautiful friendship.

Where most rappers have to arrive at a crossroads in their career before deconstructing themselves on a record, 30 year old Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins has made a career out of doing so constantly. On his fourth album, Elephant In The Room, due out later this month, he opens up once again with conversations about both himself and the world around him.

With the just-released “Contacts,” he floats over a clean-hitting, contemplative beat produced by Rascal, Tae Beast and Eli Brown spitting “Stretching out, my shoulders wide / All my burdens boulder size,” before the cognizant punctuation on the hook that “Real eyes realize real lies, help me see the truth.” In the song’s video (above) directed by Ren, he takes his clone hostage before an unexpected twist at the end that can’t be missed.

Jenkins shared some thoughts on the upcoming album:

“From my estranged relationship with my father to friendships that don’t feel the same anymore to the even more basic idea of acknowledging that I need help. We become accustomed to allowing none progressive qualities and truths to occupy so much space in our lives simply by ignoring them, or ignoring them despite them being right in our faces! I intend to face several of those dormant issues/topics head-ons in the hopes that others can, at the very least, identify with the spaces I’ve grown from.”

Elephant In The Room is out October 29th via Cinematic Music Group. Peep the tracklist below.

Elephant In The Room Track List