Category: News

Nearly a year ago, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds. There was every reason to believe he would go free; it’s happened to many cops before him. And so, after a month and a half-long trial — one of the most covered in history — a number of people were relieved to learn that the jury found Chauvin guilty on all of the three counts with which he was charged.

The outpouring was immediate. From musicians to activists, they were stunned by the good news, if cautiously optimistic. After all, the long history of racial discrimination that led to Floyd’s death — and which led to a number of similar police killings during the trial itself — would not be overturned overnight. But for now, there was much rejoicing.

Others made sure to remind people how much work still has to be done.

Such responses were markedly different from those made by conservative commentators. It didn’t take long for people like Ben Shapiro, Tomi Lahren and more to spout irate nonsense, even if, in the case of Greg Gutfeld, they generally agreed with the verdict. But nevermind that for now. Here’s Barack Obama.

While there’s been much rejoicing over the guilty verdict for Derek Chauvin, convicted of murdering George Floyd just under a year ago. But not everyone’s in a good mood. Conservative commentators were quick to spout inventively offensive remarks. Greg Gutfeld got schooled by his own Fox News colleagues after he confessed he was mostly happy, but only because it meant his neighborhood wouldn’t be overrun with protesters. Ben Shapiro said something dumb. As did, alas, Nancy Pelosi. And, of course, so did Tomi Lahren.

“You got your justice so I’d assume there will be peace in Minneapolis tonight? No rioting? No looting? No harassing officers?” Lahren tweeted at people who were almost certainly not going to protest against a verdict they see as just. But she wasn’t done. “Is the Foot Locker safe tonight? Should be, right? Justice, right? No need to steal in the name of George Floyd anymore, right?”

Mind you, the reaction to Chauvin’s verdict has been jubilant, if bittersweet: Real justice, as many have pointed out, would have been George Floyd walking away from the ordeal alive. Moreover, it was the months of protests, often with violent pushback by police, that turned the murder of Floyd into something that could actually affect real change.

But Lahren wasn’t having that. And people weren’t having Lahren’s comments. They wondered who “you” was referring to, exactly. They wondered why she chose Foot Locker. Actually, they didn’t have to wonder very hard; they knew the answer.

Some simply bashed her.

Others pointed out that she didn’t say anything remotely similar about what happened at the Capitol building on January 6, when there was plenty of rioting and looting and harassment, as well as multiple deaths.

Others pointed out some other bad takes she had after the verdict was read.

Some dragged Ben Shapiro (and Nancy Pelosi) into it.

And others had a novel idea: Maybe start ignoring her completely.

There are a fair number of siblings active in the music industry today: Chance The Rapper and Taylor Bennet; D Smoke and SiR; Chloe x Halle; VanJess. Then there’s Young Thug and his brother Unfoonk, who joined forces for the track “Real,” off the former’s newly released album Slime Language 2. The song has become one of the fan favorites off the project. And now there’s a music video, which begins with Unfoonk being released from jail and returning home, where he gets back to recording music. Thug eventually joins him for a makeshift studio session, kicking off what turns out to be a nice display of brotherly love.

The video for “Real” is the second that’s been released since Slime Language 2 arrived last Friday. The first was the one for “Ski,” in which Thug and Gunna threw a lavish pool party, with appearances from Swae Lee, Nav, Seattle Seahawks’ wide-receiver DK Metcalf, and fellow YSL members T-Shyne, Strick, and Lil Duke.

If you’re looking forward to hearing more from Young Thug, you can catch him on Cordae’s upcoming Just Until… EP which drops on Wednesday.

You can watch the “Real” video above.

Slime Language 2 is out now via YSL Records/300 Entertainment. Get it here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Nearly twelve months ago, the world saw another unarmed Black person die in the hands of police. On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin who kneeled on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, an incident that was caught on camera by witnesses. It was yet another case of Black lives being slain by law enforcement and while Chauvin would eventually be arrested and charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, there was heavy doubt that the end result would be a guilty verdict. Well, that doubt was erased when a jury for the trial found him guilty on all charges.

A sigh of relief could be felt all around the world, from Twitter to the people who gathered outside the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota where Chauvin’s trial was being held. Similar sentiments could be felt within people in the music world, as they took to social media to share their thoughts about the guilty verdict. Some reactions were brief like Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion who said, “History,” and “Justice” in their respective posts. Other messages were a bit lengthier like Questlove’s who wrote, “We still have to fight for justice yall. Remember that “we voted Obama in yay racism is gone!” feeling? Yeah…let’s learn from that.” He added, “I’m happy for the Floyd family tho. Especially his daughter. But there is still a slew of mountain to climb.”

You can read more tweets from the music world below.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Ben Shapiro, conservative commentator and noted “WAP” critic, can always be counted on to say the wrong thing. The day Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd was one of them. While many were celebrating the rare case of a murderous cop being thrown in jail, Shapiro went trolling.

The Daily Wire honcho took umbrage with Don Lemon’s response to the verdict, which found Chauvin guilty of all three charges that had been brought against him. “Justice has been served,” the CNN host said. Shapiro did not like that.

“And we all know he would never have said this had the reverse verdict been reached,” Shapiro tweeted.

Did Shapiro think Lemon — or really anyone — would say “justice has been served” if a cop who had been filmed killing an unarmed man as he gasped for breath and asked for his mom was acquitted? Apparently! Or something. Sometimes conservative pundits and lawmakers, like Jim Jordan, don’t think their tweets through.

But people were quick to point out Shapiro’s lack of logic. One response put it most succinctly: “almost like there’s a difference between a murderer going free and not.”

Many agreed.

Others simply brought burns.

Some got the sense that Shapiro and other conservatives were angry that there wouldn’t be riots over an innocent verdict.

And others threw Shapiro’s catchphrase — the one he’s long had as his pinned tweet — back in his face.

Testicular cancer typically affects men between the ages of 16 and 44 and is the most common solid tumor to occur in men of this age group. These tumors grow rapidly and can double in size in just 10 to 30 days.

The disease is potentially fatal if not discovered early and accounts for about 11%-13% of all cancer deaths of men between the ages of 15-35. An estimated 9,60 people were diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2020, resulting in around 440 deaths.

So it’s incredibly important for people with testicles to check themselves regularly.

That’s why The BC Cancer Foundation in British Columbia, Canada has come up with a hilarious, memorable, and somewhat anatomically correct new testicular cancer awareness pin to remind people to check themselves. It’s a clever way to spark up some conversation about a health issue that a lot of people are uncomfortable talking about.

The Ballsy Pin takes the cancer awareness ribbons we’re used to seeing, turns them upside down, and adds a new friend for company. The ribbons hang a bit differently than the usual pin as well.

These pins are great because they use humor to get people’s attention which, for some young men, a risque joke may be the best way to get them to listen.

“Our aim is to increase awareness among young men and promote early detection by encouraging them to do self-checks at home,” said Sarah Roth, President & CEO, BC Cancer Foundation. “We hope the Ballsy Ribbon will become as recognizable and synonymous with testicular cancer as the pink ribbon for breast cancer.”

The pins are being released in commemoration of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month which happens every April.

London Drugs is helping to spread the word by making the Ballsy Ribbon available with a donation to The BC Cancer Foundation at its locations across British Columbia.

Both groups are encouraging those who wear the pin to share photos of it online at #BallsyRibbon.

“The health and wellness of our customers is a core piece of our business,” Chris Chiew, General Manager of Pharmacy at London Drugs, said in a statement. “We are proud to partner with BC Cancer Foundation to raise awareness for Testicular Cancer and how men can take charge of their health.”

Now that we’ve got your attention: If you have testicles, it’s recommended that you check yourself once a month. Some of the warning signs of testicular cancer are a lump or swelling in a testicle, loss of sex drive, and tender or swollen breasts.

Remember, early detection is the key to preventing the disease from becoming fatal.

HOW TO SELF-CHECK FOR TESTICULAR CANCER:

Step 1: Perform the test during or after a hot shower or bath

Step 2: Test one testicle at a time by gently rolling it between your thumb and fingers.

Step 3: If you notice any hard lumps, smooth rounded bumps, or changes in size and consistency, contact your doctor.

By now, you are likely aware that Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts (second-degree unintentional murder along with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter) against him in the matter of George Floyd’s death. The jury announced their verdict after over 10 hours of deliberation following the trial, and Chauvin (who kneeled on Floyd’s neck for over 9 minutes) was led away in cuffs without bail to await his sentencing (in eight weeks). If one adds up the maximum sentences for all three counts, Chauvin could receive up to 75 years in prison, and for the moment, many are breathing a sigh of relief for this victory within the Black Lives Matter era.

Well, something awkward happened after the verdict. Nancy Pelosi spoke to the press and, uh… she probably should have rethought her intended words.

“Thank you, George Floyd, for sacrificing your life for justice. For being there to call out to your mom. How heartbreaking was that?” Pelosi declared. “Because of you, because of thousands, millions of people around the world who came out for justice, your name will always be synonymous with justice.”

It’s not the most graceful way to make her point, and people are quite frankly shocked by her choice of words. There’s a lot of cringing going on out there.

(Via CNN, New York Times & The Recount)

Injury issues have ravaged the Brooklyn Nets this season, particularly since they acquired James Harden with the hopes of putting together a superstar trio of the former league MVP, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving. Harden is on the shelf right now with a hamstring issue, and in an update released on Tuesday, the team announced that his return is getting pushed back.

According to the Nets, Harden, who has not played since April 5, has suffered a setback while going through a rehab session that has caused him to undergo an MRI. As a result, Harden will be on ice indefinitely, during which time the team will continue to monitor his hamstring.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN added some context, reporting that Brooklyn (as has been their approach whenever a star has been injured this season) plans to take this slow and that Harden’s return may be close to when the NBA playoffs are slated to begin next month.

Head coach Steve Nash confirmed during his pregame press conference that the team is going to let Harden recover at his own pace, and if he does not suit up until after the start of the playoffs, the Nets are willing to be patient.

Harden has been magnificent since joining the Nets, averaging 25.4 points, 11 assists, and 8.7 rebounds per game.

As more and more states legalize the use of recreational marijuana, there’s more and more reason to celebrate everyone’s favorite unofficial holiday: 4/20. The best way to do that? Well, aside from the obvious, we recommend checking out one of the many stoner comedies our favorite streaming services have available today. From Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back to Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, these are the best stoner comedies to enjoy with your best “bud.” Sit back, relax, and blaze it.

1. Superbad (Netflix)

If it’s been awhile since you’ve last watched one of 2007’s most quotable movies, there’s no better day than today. Join McLovin’ and friends as they attempt to send off their high school career with a bang, literally. With an all-star cast of Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen, Dave Franco, and Emma Stone, Superbad is fun trip back to the beginning of some of our favorite actor’s careers.

2. Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (Netflix)

A fictional film about a real-life band undertaking a journey to steal Satan’s guitar pick and become the greatest rock musicians of all time? If you’re not high while watching it, you’ll certainly feel it. Despite the film not doing so hot upon release, Jack Black and Kyle Gass’ zany performances and sheer enthusiasm have cemented this film as a cult classic.

3. Dazed and Confused (Amazon Prime)

Speaking of cult classics, Amazon Prime is currently home to one of the best of the best with 1993’s Dazed and Confused. This coming-of-age comedy features an ensemble cast filled of future stars, such as Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, Joey Lauren Adams, Parker Posey, and, of course, Matthew McConaughey.

4. Animal House (Amazon Prime)

Animal House is a problematic classic but a classic nevertheless. This entry in the National Lampoons’ series is all about the worst — but most entertaining — fraternity at Faber College and their quest to stick it to the man, man. Starring the late, great John Belushi, this one is a must-watch for fans of the comedian.

5. Dude, Where’s My Car? (Hulu)

After a night of hijinks and heavy drinking, best friends Jesse (Ashton Kutcher) and Chester (Seann William Scott) must ask themselves a question we’ve all been faced with before: where is my car? As they attempt to remember the night before and locate their clunker, the situation and stakes escalate to unreal and epic proportions. While the film was panned by critics, it’s regarded as a classic stoner comedy, making it the perfect 4/20 flick.

6. How High (Hulu)

How High follows friends and cannabis enthusiasts Silas (Method Man) and Jamal (Redman) on their journey from underachievers to Harvard grads after smoking the ashes of their former friend and gaining supernatural insight in the form of his ghostly guidance. Yes, you read that correctly. Another bizarre fun fact? This ridiculous romp is directed by Bob Dylan’s son, Jesse Dylan. This 2001 film is an experience, and one best enjoyed under the influence.

7. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (Hulu)

Let’s be real, this list wouldn’t be complete with Jay and his best buddy Silent Bob. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back follows the pair after they receive a restraining order from Randal Graves of Kevin Smiths’ Clerks (yes, there is an entire Kevin Smith universe) and set off on their own adventure. One of the more successful films on this list, this movie features appearances by Ben Affleck, Eliza Dushku, Shannon Elizabeth, Will Ferrell, Ali Later, and Chris Rock.

8. Super Troopers (Hulu)

With their livelihood at stake, a motley crew of Vermont state troopers decide to prove their worth in this classic comedy revolving around a drug bust and police corruption. With some of the most iconic lines in comedy and hilarious performances, this one is sure to get some giggles. And, if just can’t get enough of the Spurbury highway patrol, the film recently got a sequel that ain’t too shabby.

9. Wet Hot American Summer (Hulu)

When it comes to ensemble casts, Wet Hot American Summer might just have all the previously mentioned films beat. Starring Janeane Garofalo, David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd, Christopher Meloni, Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, and more, if you can believe it. This criminally underrated movie is a must-see for comedy fans.

10. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (Hulu & HBO Max)

Not only is Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure a great stoner movie, it’s a great movie, period. With endearing performances from both Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, it’s no wonder this film is beloved enough to merit a new entry in the series all the way in 2020. Join Bill and Ted as they create the history report of a lifetime and save Ted from his father’s wrath and a buzzcut.

On Tuesday, nearly a year after killing George Floyd while cameras rolled, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three counts with which he was charged. It was, for many, a huge relief; the American legal system has a long history of acquitting violent behavior by police officers, and there was fear this would be no different. Even a certain Fox News host was grateful, though not for the same reason.

That host was Greg Gutfeld, the network’s longtime middle-of-the-night cutup, who was recently given his own regular late-night show, which is allegedly supposed to be a comedy program — their attempt at their very own The Daily Show. He appeared on a panel shortly after the verdict was read, and he decided to offer his own hot take on the news.

“Now I’m just going to get really selfish,” Gutfeld began. “I’m glad that he was found guilty on all charges,” he said — but there was a catch: “even if might not be guilty of all charges. I am glad that he is guilty of all charges because I want a verdict that keeps this country from going up in flames.”

Gutfeld’s words quickly rankled his colleagues, among them Judge Jeanine Pirro, who could be heard loudly groaning and muttering as he spoke. Gutfeld pressed her on what she found so offensive, saying, “I’m at least being honest. My neighborhood was looted. I don’t ever want to go through that again.”

But Pirro tried to be the voice of reason — well, not really. “We do not sacrifice individuals for the sake of how people feel,” she explained.

Granted, there’s no real hero in this situation — no voice that will appeal to those currently celebrating a rare case in which a violent cop was actually put behind bars. But it may be a harbinger of what’s to come for the Republican party: a chaotic next few days in which they try to process their messy feelings, turning on each other instead of everyone else.