Category: News

Deshaun Watson is eligible to return to the Cleveland Browns on November 14 after serving his six-game suspension from the league for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Watson was sued by 24 different women, all of whom were massage therapists, for sexual misconduct and harassment.

Watson has settled the vast majority of those lawsuits, but now faces a new lawsuit that details more than just inappropriate behavior from the star quarterback during a 2020 massage session in Houston, via News5Cleveland. The lawsuit, which can be read in full here, details an encounter similar to the vast majority of those who filed suit against Watson previously, with him reaching out to the woman, who filed the suit anonymously as Jane Doe, on Instagram to set up a massage at his hotel.

There, she claims he undressed fully aside from a towel and tried to get her to massage his private area, but this account also alleges that he tried to get her to have sex with him and, after she refused, pressured her into oral sex.

On or about December 18, 2020, Plaintiff met Defendant Watson at his hotel, the Houstonian, for a massage. When Plaintiff arrived and began setting up her table, Defendant Watson went into the bathroom, removed his clothes, and came out wearing only a towel. During the massage, Watson continually pressured Plaintiff into massaging his private area. At some point during the massage, Watson removed his towel and offered to let her “get on top.” Plaintiff refused to have sex with Watson, however, he was able to pressure her into oral sex with the Defendant. Watson paid [sic] $300 for her services, although her normal charge was $115 for an hour massage. After the incident, Watson continued to text Plaintiff and went so far as to request to see her again.

The woman that filed the suit is seeking “minimal compensatory damages” in the filing, noting that she seeks to prevent Watson from further conduct like she experienced.

On January 6, 2021, millions of people around the world watched as thousands of MAGA insurrectionists descended upon the U.S. Capitol Building and attempted to overthrow democracy as we know it. Already, the images of those individuals who took part in the insurrection have become an indelible part of modern history — as has Josh Hawley getting his ass the hell out of the building, after cheering on the crowd earlier in the day (which is best enjoyed when set to the Benny Hill theme).

What we didn’t see on that day was exactly what was happening with top Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi, who were moved to secure locations within the building to protect them from the violent crowds. But that all changed today. Earlier today, the January 6th Committee held its latest hearing, and shared uncensored footage of Pelosi and her colleagues, who were far from idle while under attack by an angry mob hellbent on destruction.

At the top of the page, there’s a video with some of the footage seen during today’s hearing, courtesy of MSNBC. It seems to indicate that many elected officials were not fully apprised of how dangerous the situation had become. And when they did learn, they sprung into action. For Pelosi, that meant making sure that the American people saw “that the government can function.”

While Capitol intruders were angrily calling for someone to bring Pelosi to them, the Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are working their phones and their contacts, trying to get the wheels in motion to enlist the Maryland and Virginia National Guards.

What makes the footage even more compelling is that it’s interspersed with bodycam footage from the officers who were there that day, giving us a more holistic view of what each side was doing.

It’s also clear that Pelosi and her colleagues weren’t fully aware of just how dangerous it had become until they were able to watch it on TV. While speaking with Ralph Northam, governor of Virginia, Pelosi relays that they heard someone had been shot. “It’s just horrendous,” Pelosi says. “And all at the instigation of the President of the United States.”

It was previously found that despite reports that Trump sprung into action to enlist the National Guard to help on that day, there was no record of any such call being made.

You can watch the footage above.

(Via MSNBC)

Every so often, there is a week when absolutely nothing goes according to plan. That happened to us in Week 5 with a (very) rare goose egg in this space. No one enjoys going through bad beats of other people, but as a quick smattering, let’s simply run down the amusing nature of what became an 0-5 week.

• Green Bay blows a double-digit second half lead to Daniel Jones in London
• Washington out-gains Tennessee by 144 total yards and 2.7 yards per play, only to have Carson Wentz throw an interception at the goal line
• The full-game under cruises in Rams-Cowboys with both teams averaging five yards per play or fewer, but the first half loses due to a combination of a defensive touchdown, blocked punt, and two fluky long touchdowns in succession
• The nightcap on Sunday ends with the Ravens winning by two in a game laying three after kicking a field goal on fourth and short in an off-brand way for John Harbaugh

Now, to be fair, not every game was a bad beat. Pittsburgh was a horrendous play, and Baltimore-Cincinnati was a coin flip to the point where a one-point loss on the number isn’t out of the ordinary by any means. Alas, there is no more time to lick the wounds, but it was a comedy of errors, and we’ll strive to do better

Before we roll through the Week 6 card, let’s glance at the overall progress.

• Week 5: 0-5
• 2022 Season: 12-13

Come get these winners.

Pittsburgh Steelers (+8.5) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is just a blind, principle play. Mike Tomlin is legendary as an underdog and even better as a home underdog. This is also a prime spot for Pittsburgh to throw the kitchen sink after an embarrassing loss, and it would be difficult for the Steelers to be as bad as they were last week. On the bright side, Pittsburgh could also be one more catastrophe away from being on the “never again” list.

Cleveland Browns (-2.5) over New England Patriots

Overall, I’m not a buyer on the Patriots. This will be either a hobbling Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe for New England, and Cleveland is laying less than a field goal at home. It’s not as if the Browns are a juggernaut, but I like this to three.

Baltimore Ravens (-5.5) over New York Giants

Having a road favorite is gross, but this number should be seven. The Giants got us last week with the Packers in a teaser, but the magic comes to an end here.

Carolina Panthers (+10) over Los Angeles Rams

Dead cat bounce? This is mostly a play against the Rams offense laying 10 points right now, but the Panthers have been playing reasonable football on defense. Carolina is starting PJ Walker, which explains why this number is where it is, but it’s too many points.

Denver Broncos (+5) over Los Angeles Chargers

I’ve been against Denver for most of the season, fading an offense I don’t trust and a coach that seems overwhelmed. This time, we’re flipping the script with a number that is valuable. Denver’s offense has been impossibly bad in the red zone, to the point where the Broncos are challenging all-time NFL marks for futility. That likely won’t continue, and Denver’s defense is legitimately spunky. Los Angeles is scuffling a lot on defense, and don’t forget that the Chargers basically don’t have a home-field advantage. Give me the points.

Earlier today (October 13), The Hollywood Reporter reported that Nicki Minaj‘s “Super Freaky Girl,” which was submitted to the Grammys for consideration for nominations in its rap categories, has been moved into the pop categories. The song, which is currently on its eighth week at the top of the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, features a prominent sample of Rick James’ “Super Freak.” It is worth noting that MC Hammer also sampled “Super Freak” for his 1990 hit “U Can’t Touch This,” and won the Best Rap Solo Performance Grammy Award for the song at the 1991 ceremony.

Minaj took to Twitter to express that she’s not upset about being removed from the rap categories, though she feels the Recording Academy should follow suit with other pop-sounding records, including Latto‘s hit single, “Big Energy.”

“I have no prob being moved out the RAP category as long as we r ALL being treated FAIRLY,” said Minaj. “If SFG has 2B moved out RAP then so does Big Energy! ANY1 who says diff is simply a Nicki hater or a troll. I’d actually LUV 2 c a more street record win- male OR female! IJS rightIsRight.”

Could you imagine someone telling you not to “complain” about being treated unfairly at your workplace? This is my job. I work very hard. No diff from a 9-5 where you should speak up for yourself if you know you’re a great employee & continue to be purposely sabotaged,” she continued.

Minaj did not express and disdain or anger toward Latto, and encouraged the Barbz to approach the idea with an open mind.

“And Barbz, there’s no need to be angry,” she said. “This is simply an open discussion/healthy dialogue. Independent thinking is what makes us human beings!

It appears Latto caught wind of Minaj’s tweets. Shortly after Minaj’s posts, Latto tweeted, “Damn I can’t win for losing… all these awards/noms I can’t even celebrate.”

At the time of writing, Minaj and Latto had not interacted directly regarding the matter.

The nominations for the 65th Grammy Awards in 2023 are set to be revealed on 11/15.

According to Deadline, Martin Scorsese is once again trying to make a television version of Gangs of New York. Just when he thought he was out, right?

Apparently, this will be a new take on the subject matter, leaving behind the characters in the 2002 film in favor of fresh meat. The project was written by playwright Brett Leonard, who also has TV credits on Fear The Walking Dead and the forthcoming Shantaram, which focuses on the criminal underworlds of India, Russia, and Afghanistan through the eyes of a heroin addict/con man played by Charlie Hunnam. For Gangs of New York, the seedy behavior will be localized but, presumably, still set in the late 1800s when the size of the mustaches was only outmatched by the size of the hats.

Miramax TV developed the project and will shop it around soon. Obviously, Scorsese is a big draw, so it should have little trouble finding a home. It’s also exactly the kind of property that’s dense enough to warrant the series treatment, especially considering that Scorsese’s original cut of the film version was over three hours long. It’s a legitimate saga, a series feels like the right format to tell it in, and Scorsese still feels like the right man to tell it. Maybe think of it as his prequel to Boardwalk Empire.

(via Deadline)

Bill Murray calling Chevy Chase a “medium talent” is still the funniest behind-the-scenes SNL drama from that era, but Rob Schneider claimed on The Jim Norton and Sam Roberts Show that Murray’s disdain extended beyond the Caddyshack legend.

“He hated us on Saturday Night Live when he hosted. Absolutely hated us. I mean, seething,” Schneider said, referencing Murray’s February 20, 1993 gig as host on the show. “He hated Chris Farley with a passion. Like he was just seething looking at him. I don’t know exactly, but I want to believe that it’s because Chris thought it was cool to be Belushi, who [was Murray’s] friend who he saw die, that he thought it was cool to be that out of control. That’s my interpretation, but I don’t really know. I don’t believe it. I only believe it 50 percent.”

Schneider also claimed that Murray disliked Sandler because of clashing styles. On the one hand: duh. On the other, it’s nicely convenient for Schneider to appreciate being hated less by his hero than his former colleagues. Not that being hated less is much of a claim to fame. After all, eventually, Murray made up with Chevy.

Schneider’s comments ride a wave of news about Murray’s alleged inappropriate behavior on the set of Aziz Ansari’s feature debut Being Mortal, which has resulted in a $100,000 settlement for a production staffer — a situation which seems more serious than thinking Adam Sandler singing “turkey lurkey schmurkey” is lame.

(via The Hollywood Reporter)

Donald Trump is getting angry! Despite being involved in an estimated 4,000 lawsuits over the course of his life, the former president seems to finally be realizing that he could be about to step in some serious legal doo-doo (yes, that is the official term).

According to The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman—whose new book Confidence Man has been the source of just about every Trump headline over the past several weeks—Trump has reportedly been “raging” over the past few days as his legal troubles continue to mount.

Among the legal battles he’s facing, as noted by Raw Story: the Department of Justice’s documents case, which is only getting worse for him; the defamation case initiated by journalist E. Jean Carroll, who accused the former president of raping her in the ‘90s; and the fraud suit he and some of his family members were named in for being part of American Communications Network (ACN), an alleged pyramid scheme.

As Raw Story reports, Trump was forced to give a deposition in the ACN case last week. And while he’s been attempting to delay a deposition related to Carroll’s case, a judge just ruled against him on that and has ordered him to be deposed next week.

All in all, Trump’s in the middle of a sh*tstorm — albeit a sh*tstorm entirely of his own making. And he may have just inadvertently made it worse. On Wednesday, after the judge ruled against his requested delay in being deposed in the Carroll case, Trump issued a statement in which he stated that “E. Jean Carroll is not telling the truth, is a woman who I had nothing to do with, didn’t know, and would have no interest in knowing her if I ever had the chance.”

Given that his defense in the defamation suit is that he was president when he initially denied her accusations and disparaged her, some legal experts believe that by repeating them again now, he has yet again defamed her.

Oops?

(Via Raw Story)

Now that the furor of behind-the-scenes Don’t Worry Darling drama has died down, director Olivia Wilde is speaking out against how she felt the media treated her film. In a blunt feature at Elle, the filmmaker has sharp words about the soap opera swamp her movie found itself in with many media outlets focusing on her rumored affair with Harry Styles, rumored feud with star Florence Pugh, and the reduction of the movie down to its sexy sequences.

“It is shocking to see so many untruths about yourself traded as fact,” Wilde said. “Florence had a really wise comment that we didn’t sign up for a reality show. And I love that she put it that way, because it’s as though the general public feels that if you are making something that you’re selling to the public, you somehow have accepted that your life will be torn to shreds by a pack of wolves. No, that’s actually not part of the job description. Never was.”

There’s no doubt this is a complicated, complex situation because, as Hunter Harris pointed out, the call was coming from inside the house, but…Wilde is also right. Wilde and the film’s PR team put a lot of emphasis on the movie’s sex scenes as a vehicle for female pleasure that’s not often seen, but many outlets placed an outsized focus on them while forgetting about the rest of the movie. Wilde is also experiencing a press tour that, despite plenty of drama on sets, most male directors simply don’t receive — whether because they aren’t already a part of the gossip economy or because bludgeoning James Cameron with questions about flirting with Linda Hamilton during the Terminator 2 press junket was never going to be a thing.

Giving full credit to all the catalysts, here’s hoping the press junket ride for Wilde’s upcoming Kerri Strug biopic Perfect isn’t so rocky.

(via Elle)

A week ago, the Broncos and Colts played one of the worst football games in recent memory in a 9-6 Colts overtime win that featured five field goals, no touchdowns, and just generally some atrocious offensive play — however, it did give us an incredible Richard Sherman meltdown over Russell Wilson throwing on 4th and 1 in overtime instead of running the ball.

This week’s Thursday Night Football matchup had the potential to be as bad if not worse, as the Commanders took a trip to Chicago to face the Bears in a battle of similarly inept offenses. However, in the first quarter the Bears were able to move the ball pretty well on Washington, marching all the way inside the 10 on their second drive of the game. Unfortunately, that was as far as they would get because of a tipped ball at the line that launched way up in the air and, eventually, fell into the hands of defensive tackle Jonathan Allen for a gutting interception for Chicago.

At first it was assumed one of the big fellas got their mitts up there to knock the ball into the air, but the end zone replay showed that, instead, it was simply Justin Fields rocketing a pass off the forehead of a defensive tackle.

That explains why the ball went so high into the air, going all the way out of frame on the camera, but it also makes it look even worse for Fields. It’s one thing if someone gets a hand in the passing lane, but when you just doink it off a helmet, that’s not even the defense doing anything to mess you up. For a young quarterback having his struggles this season, this isn’t what Bears fans want to see continuing.

Today (October 13), Judge William Ray ruled that YouTuber Tasha K must pay $4 million to Cardi B following defamatory claims she made about the rapper in 2019, according to a report by Billboard.

At the time of writing, Tasha is attempting to pause the ruling and hopes to appeal it. Judge Ray says he will only allow Tasha to pause if he can post a supersedeas bond covering the entire $4 million. If Tasha loses her appeal, the money will reportedly go directly to Cardi.

In one of the videos cited in the lawsuit, Tasha claimed that Cardi had been unfaithful to her husband, using cocaine, and worked as a prostitute.

All the while, Cardi seems confident she’ll win her case. Back in February, she posted a tweet, saying, “Think is a game but trust imma come for everything …..BBHMM.”

Earlier this week, the “Up” rapper celebrated her 30th birthday with a cabaret-themed celebration. She took to Twitter to express gratitude for the life she’s created, sharing pictures of herself in a red unitard with a feathered headpiece

“Made it to 30 with 2 cribs, 6 whips, multiple properties and bless kids,” she said.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group