For the last three months, Britney Spears is seeking to have her father Jamie Spears removed as her conservator, much to his consternation. After asking a court judge to take her father off the conservatorship, Britney and her lawyer formally filed a motion for his removal. Now, mere days later, the pop singer’s lawyer, Sam Ingham, reportedly told a court that Britney fears her father and that she would not perform until he was removed from the position on her estate.
According to TMZ, Ingham reportedly revealed the news during a court hearing on Tuesday, where an attorney for the pop singer’s mother, Lynne Spears, also asked her father to step down from the conservatorship. Lynne’s lawyer said that while Britney is grateful for her father’s help and support, Lynne believes that it’s time for Jamie to let go of his position.
Britney and her lawyer filed the original motion for her father’s removal after they found out Jamie hired a new business manager for her estate without her knowledge. The hire came after the previous manager stepped down without any prior notice. Britney was also unhappy that Jamie requested in a letter stating that her estate account remains at City National Bank until her new conservator takes over. Ingham said the request was a “blatant attempt by James to try to retain full functional control of her assets, books and records in the face of Britney’s objections, TriStar’s resignation and the appointment of Bessemer Trust.”
Even after Joe Biden’s presidential win on Saturday, the news continued to be scary and weird. The losing candidate, incumbent Donald Trump, refuses to concede. Those around him are baselessly alleging voter fraud. It’s a nightmare. But some of the news is just weird, even when it involves recent failed Republican candidates. Such is the curious case of one Dean Browning, a fairly obscure political figure from Pennsylvania who started trending after tweeting that he was a “gay black guy.” And then things got really weird.
The story’s hairpin twists and turns unfolded over Tuesday afternoon into early evening, but places like Vox and Snopes have tried to make some sense out of the nonsensical. It started on Sunday when Browning — a former county commissioner who earlier this year lost the Republican primary for his district in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley — tweeted a pretty stock, if bold, conservative tweet: “What Trump built in 4 years, Biden will destroy in 4 months.”
That tweet went viral; it currently has over 12,000 retweets. (Browning has it pinned.) But it took two days until he received a reply that made him a sudden superstar. Someone pushed back, arguing that Trump tied to “take credit” for “what Obama built in 8 years.” Then came Browning’s inexplicable retort: “I’m a black gay guy and I can personally say that Obama did nothing for me, my life only changed a little bit and it was for the worse. Everything is so much better under Trump though. I feel respected – which I never do when democrats are involved.”
Browning, as his avatar attests, is not black, and after several hours, after much of Twitter had sicced upon it, he took it down. Luckily people had screengrabbed it.
Dean Browning, former Lehigh County comissioner who seems to have forgotten to log into his burner account, was about 2,500 votes away from being the GOP’s nominee in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional district this year. pic.twitter.com/ftiY68wae6
Eventually Browning tried to explain, saying it was all a simple (if weird) misunderstanding. “Regarding the tweet that is going viral from my account — I was quoting a message that I received earlier this week from a follower,” he wrote. “Sorry if context was not clear. Trump received record minority votes & record LGBTQ votes. Many people won’t say it vocally, but do in private.”
Regarding the tweet that is going viral from my account — I was quoting a message that I received earlier this week from a follower.
Sorry if context was not clear.
Trump received record minority votes & record LGBTQ votes.
Many people won’t say it vocally, but do in private.
Is it really so strange to quote someone who’s definitely not you without attribution? Sure! But this is where things got even more surreal. A lot of people called bull, even theorizing that Browning had one of those fake “black Republican” accounts so popular among Russian bots. One journalist even singled out one of Browning’s frequent reply guys: one “@DanPurdy322,” who was prone to…unusual tweets about black women.
Not long thereafter, Browning chimed back in, saying the message was from this Dan Purdy. He even included a link to this person’s Twitter account, which, by the way, has since been suspended.
Here is a message from Dan Purdy, who has decided to responded to the controversy.
I wish the media would pay attention to the voter irregularities in the state of Pennsylvania as much as they have this Twitter story. https://t.co/8UUpC0Y8UH
That seemed fishy, too, but then the account posted a video of a black man claiming to be Don Purdy. ““I sent that message to Dean, Dean accidentally posted it somehow, that’s the end of the story,” the man said. “No, he’s not a sock puppet. No, I’m not a bot.” That video was soon deleted.
so the video was taken down, but here it is in case you want your brain to melt: pic.twitter.com/umGPjt5sN4
According to Vox, even the video aroused suspicion, which some accusing him of being a hired actor. Soon internet sleuths like Jon Hendren (aka @fart) did some Googling and found the Dan Purdy account belonged to someone with a suspended account, as well as a number of aliases, one of them being “White Goodman.”
so from googling it would appear @deanbrowningpa‘s black guy identity “Dan Purdy” was also once used on the suspended account @soulcookie322. but before that account became Dan Purdy, it was a white guy named “Pat Riarchy” and “White Goodman”. dean is really something else pic.twitter.com/gFkUPkNDPV
— food truck drove away with my debit card (@fart) November 10, 2020
But there’s (at least!) one more twist. Other internet sleuths went further, pointing out similarities between the face and the avatar of this professed Dean Purdy and one William Holte. And William Holte is otherwise known as Byl Holte, a regular on Medium who’s often written about feminism and anti-racism in media, caling himself an “anti-feminist TV critic.” And one other thing about him: He’s the adopted nephew of R&B legend Patti LaBelle. Because why not! 2020!
So there you have it. Sort of. Thing is, this is far from over, and there could be more twists, especially once Browning and Purdy respond to press requests. For now, we hope this has been a welcome surreal distraction from the news, which has been see-sawing between optimistic and grim, much as the Four Seasons Total Landscaping debacle helped us deal with a soon-to-be former president who may have to leave office by force.
We live you with one of the finest works by Patti LaBelle — not her recent Verzuz with Gladys Knight, but her duet with Michael McDonald.
The Los Angeles Lakers are fresh off winning the 2020 title, adding a record-tying 17th championship banner to the rafters at Staples Center. It marks LeBron James’ fourth title and fourth Finals MVP, further cementing his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
For other players, it’s the first time reaching the mountaintop, a culmination of years of hard work and dedication and the glamour-less daily grind that happens when no one’s watching. Few players embody that ideal better than Alex Caruso, an undrafted prospect who fought his way up through the G League ranks to become a key rotation player for the Lakers during their championship run.
Caruso has become a fan favorite in Los Angeles and around the league, the sort of scrappy underdog that appeals to something universal in us and makes it easy to root for him. In a recent appearance on the J.J. Redick podcast, The Old Man and the Three, Caruso talked about how the key for him securing his place in the NBA and getting out of G League limbo was to understand his role and find his niche.
“That’s a big reason guys get stuck in the G League is that they don’t understand the position they’re trying out for,” Caruso said. “It’s like going to a job interview thinking you’re going to be the CFO of the company, and they’re looking for a guy to clean the bathrooms…It’s a self-awareness of understanding what you’re good at, what teams need, and trying to do that.”
Caruso certainly made the most of his opportunities, and last summer, earning a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Lakers. He’ll now prepare to help L.A. embark on their title defense when the new season tips off on Dec. 22.
Kehlani began 2020 by releasing her phenomenal sophomore album, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t. Since then, the Oakland native has shared a number of videos from the album while also appearing on work by others, including Russ, Disclosure, and Victoria Monet. Currently, the “Toxic” singer is prepping a deluxe re-issue for her latest album. Before its arrival, she sat down for an interview with Fat Joe, in which she revealed her top five favorite R&B singers.
The singer began her list with Musiq Soulchild, whose “Just Friends (Sunny)” she sampled on “Down For You,” off her 2015 breakout mixtape You Should Be Here. (The two also worked together on “Footsteps,” off her 2019 mixtape, While We Wait.) She also mentioned India.Arie and Jill Scott as other favorites from the neo-soul world, and also branched out to the traditional R&B world, adding Brandy and Mariah Carey to her list.
On a recent note, Kehlani last made headlines after she played Bryson Tiller’s love interest in his video for “Always Forever.” She also appeared on Ty Dolla Sign’s third album, Featuring Ty Dolla Sign, where they joined forces on the track “Universe.”
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Did Baby Yoda go too far? Or to be accurate, did the writers of The Mandalorian cross a line? On the 10th and most recent episode of Disney+’s Star Wars show, our bounty hunter semi-hero (Pedro Pascal) helped ferry a character known as Frog Lady (Misty Rosas) to safety, along with a container filled with eggs that represent the last hope for her species. And the show’s little whipper snapper couldn’t help but keep eating them.
It proved the most controversial thing yet to happen on Disney+’s crown jewel. Even Kevin Smith, Star Wars superfan, thought it was a bit much.
Me trying to explain to my kid that Baby Yoda eating those eggs isn’t cute, it’s genocide. pic.twitter.com/PJGjc7WpCI
Still, the intense response prompted one a Lucasfilm executive, creative art manager Phil Szostak, to clarify a point, hoping to make it seem less grisly.
For the record, Chapter 10 of #TheMandalorian makes it clear that the Frog Lady’s eggs are unfertilized, like the chicken eggs many of us enjoy. But obviously, chickens aren’t sentient beings and the Child eating the eggs is intentionally disturbing, for comedic effect.#StarWarshttps://t.co/Js51fLpE3C
“For the record, Chapter 10 of #The Mandalorian makes it clear that the Frog Lady’s eggs are unfertilized, like the chicken eggs many of us enjoy,” Szostak wrote. “But obviously, chickens aren’t sentient beings and the Child eating the eggs is intentionally disturbing, for comedic effect.”
Still, it’s a pretty dark moment for the show — but not so dark that it hasn’t already inspired a new Funko Pop set. Mileage may vary, we guess.
The Chris Paul sweepstakes might be the biggest storyline to follow this summer. With Giannis Antetokounmpo seeming destined to stay put in Milwaukee regardless of whether he signs an extension and the free agent pool being far less exciting than it looks destined to be next year, Paul getting moved and the Thunder kicking off a full-blown youth movement could be the thing that sends shockwaves throughout the league.
This begs the question: Where will Chris Paul go? A number have been linked to him this offseason in some form or fashion, and on Tuesday evening, the Phoenix Suns became a potential suitor. According to Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Suns and the Thunder have spoken to one another about a potential move for the All-Star guard.
The Phoenix Suns have had discussions about acquiring Chris Paul from the OKC Thunder, sources tell me & @TimBontemps. Story forthcoming.
Bontemps and Windhort report that “talks have been ongoing and continued to gather traction but there is no deal imminent.”
While Paul has a monster of a contract — he’s owed $41.3m in 2020-21 and has a $44.2m player option for 21-22 — he showed this past season that he’s still capable of doing the incredible, helping the Thunder earn the 5-seed last season and getting them to a Game 7 in the first round against the Houston Rockets.
The Suns were the story of the NBA’s Bubble, but with how much the ball was put in Booker’s hands, it was evident they could use someone to run the point and free him up to play more off the ball. Paul, theoretically, helps with that, and while it might mean they have to move on from two solid players like Ricky Rubio and Kelly Oubre to make the money work, he’d bring a steady hand and a veteran presence in the backcourt Phoenix could really use.
Besides the air of superiority and overall assumed fanciness surrounding it, what turns off many drinkers to the thought of purchasing a bottle of Scotch is the price. Even the most inexpensive offering from a well-known distillery is going to be more expensive than your go-to bourbons or ryes. But if you can get past that sticker shock, you’ll be opening the door to a brand-new flavor experience while broadening your whisk(e)y palate.
Plus, Scotch is perfect for fall drinking. Especially its smokier expressions (remember, it’s sort of always fall in Scotland).
Below, we asked a handful of bartenders to tell us the Scotch whiskies they feel are worth the price. They range in price from $50 to $175 but their value is really what the bartenders are commenting on.
The Balvenie 12 Year American Oak
Andy Printy, beverage director at Chao Baan in St. Louis
My current go-to for Highland single malts is Balvenie’s 12 Year American Oak. Logged into the Highlands subcategory of Speyside, this particular expression is not only super approachable but seasonally appropriate! A nose of cocoa, baking spice, and dank lumber gives way to citrus, butterscotch, and baking spices on the palate.
I recommend drinking neat or with just a couple drops of water.
The Peat Monster from Compass Box is more than a great dram. It’s an experience that every whisky lover should treat themselves to. Once you can get past the nearly overwhelming smokiness, there is a unique elegance there.
Much of our ability to taste is linked to specific memories. For me, it’s like drinking green tea with my wife while tending a bonfire.
Oban 14 Year is my favorite Highland single malt, for it elegantly spans the traditional softer and fruitier notes of Highland whisky with the sea-laden peat smoke aspects of an Islay.
Roberto Berdecia from La Factoria in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Glenfiddich Project XX. Different from the rest of the whiskeys and very affordable. Created by 20 malt masters, using 20 different barrels, this unique whisky is filled with hints of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and charred oak.
Marta De La Cruz Marrero, food and beverage supervisor at Burlock Coast in Fort Lauderdale
The Balvenie 14 years Caribbean Cask. Caribbean Cask has been matured in traditional oak whisky casks for 14 years, and then ‘finished’ in casks that previously held Caribbean rum. This creates the ideal finish. Malt Master David Stewart filled American oak casks with his own blend of select West Indian rums. When he judged the casks to be ready, the rum was replaced with the 14-year-old spirit and the wood was put to work adding the final touches.
The result is an exceptional single malt whisky with the traditional smooth, honeyed character of The Balvenie, married with notes of toffee and a hint of fruit, with a warm, lingering finish.
Highland Park 12 is my pick. This single malt Scotch has nice and approachable yet complex flavors like clover honey, cinnamon, toasted caramel, and just a hint of smoke.
Tullibardine is one of my favorites, they have a Sauternes Finish at a good price that I can’t get enough of. It reminds me of home — where we often used to finish a big family dinner with a Sauternes wine.
Antonio Lumbrazo, bartender at Richard’s Bar in Chicago
I love the smokiness of a Laphroaig 10. It’s one of the best, reasonably-priced Islay whiskies on the market. It’s smoky, sweet, and ends with a unique hint of brine.
The Oban 18 is a wonderful Scotch with tons of character and smoothness. Between the fruity aroma of cucumber cordial, lychee, ripe pears, and candies oranges with the long finish of allspice, toasted cookies with a bit of anise.
This is a Scotch that’s difficult not to love. You might pay over $100 for a bottle, but it’s a value at any price.
Music festivals have suffered a huge blow this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Some have opted to push things back a year, hoping the world will be back to normal next year. Others have taken advantage of the internet and held virtual showcases for people quarantining. While Travis Scott’sAstroworld Festival did not announce an official cancellation or postponement, a tease from the platform’s official Instagram page revealed that the festival will not make its return this year. But it’ll be back.
“See you next year… at Astrofest can’t wait to turn the f*ck up!” the post read alongside a picture of an astronaut. The message was signed off by Scott, while the post itself featured a caption that boldly proclaimed “THE PARTY NEVER ENDS.” According to the platform’s Facebook page, the Astroworld Festival was locked in for a November 7 date before the pandemic hit. The 2019 Astroworld Festival was largely successful, with performances from Migos, Gucci Mane, Young Thug, Pharrell, Marilyn Manson, Megan Thee Stallion, Playboi Carti, DaBaby, Rosalia, Young Dolph, and of course, Scott himself.
Scott has kept busy this year despite just a handful of musical releases. The Houston has spent most of the year working on his branding as he’s partnered with Fortnite, McDonald’s, and PlayStation for various creative endeavors.
Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
On Saturday, the majority of news networks called the presidential race for Joe Biden. Even Fox News! What followed hasn’t been surprising: The loser, incumbent Donald J. Trump, has refused to concede, firing off baseless accusations of voter fraud and other misinformation. So far pundits say the system will work out in the end, that Trump will leave office by hook or by crook. But the chorus of naysayers has brought back waves of anxiety to a nation that had been, at least in the cities, enjoying the rare good news.
But just as there’s always a tweet that finds Trump complaining about the very thing he just did, there’s always video of his entourage saying the opposite of what they’re saying now. The Daily Show team put together one of their patented supercuts and, lo and behold, it shows people like Kayleigh McEnany (pre-Press Secretary), Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, calling those who cry voter fraud “sore losers,” who “have a problem conceding defeat,” and they even mock the idea of “some mystery votes hiding somewhere.” And if you swap “Republicans” in for “Democrats,” they all sound like they’re members of the Trump resistance.
The clips, of course, aren’t new. They hail from the 2018 election, which saw the Democrats overtake the House. One favored Democratic leader who failed to win: Stacey Abrams, who was narrowly defeated in Georgia’s gubernatorial race by Republican Brian Kemp. Kemp was accused of voter fraud and voter suppression, particularly since, as then-secretary of state, he was in charge of Georgia’s elections and voter registration. Still, Abrams decided against pursuing legal action. Given that Trump has already filed numerous dodgy lawsuits, it’s safe to say if the shoe were on the other foot McEnany and company would — or at least should — be even madder now than they were two years back.
Construction on St. James Church in Antwerp, Belgium began in 1476 and wasn’t completed for another 180 years. Over the generations, it would become the burial site for many of the area’s notable residents including Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens.
The church was constructed in Gothic style with a Baroque interior and is famous for having one of the largest working tower clocks in the world.
Like any great piece of architecture from hundreds of years ago, the church is constantly being renovated. Currently, the site is undergoing restoration of its inner and outer shells.
via Wikimedia Commons
Recently, a worker on the site discovered a secret message left by men who performed a similar job on the church nearly 80 years ago.
The restoration worker was looking in a keystone that hangs from one of the ceilings in the tower and noticed a matchbox tucked inside an ornament. When he opened the matchbox, he found a note written on the back of two coupons.
The note was dated July 12, 1941, and signed by four workers at the chapel: John Janssen, Jul Gyselinck, Louis Chantraine, and Jul Van Hemeldonck.
The note was dedicated to anyone who happened to find it in the future. It recounts the struggles of a bygone era but gives some positive advice to about how to live the best life possible, no matter the circumstances.
“If this ceiling will be painted again, we will no longer belong to this earth…We have to tell the following generations that we didn’t have a happy life. We have lived through two wars. One in 1914 and one in 1940, that can still count! We’re working here hungry they extort us to the last cent to eat little.”
“I advise our descendants when it comes to war again. In the course of life, take good care of a stock in the house, such as rice, coffee, flour, tobacco, wheat, grain for you to keep alive. Have a sufficient amount of food in excess like rice, coffee, flour, tobacco, grains, wheat, to keep you alive…Enjoy life to the fullest and if necessary take another wife. The ones who are married: Just go home! Salut men!”
It’s interesting to see that when the workers were providing advice to people in the future, it was about making sure that you have the necessities to make it through hard times, because they were probably luxuries during that time.
But they also said that it’s just as important to share your life with someone that you love.
via Wikimedia Commons
When the letter was written, Belgium was in turmoil. Although the country was neutral at the onset of World War II, the country soon had to mobilize after it was invaded by Hitler in May of 1940, a little more than a year before the letter was written.
Antwerp was an important port in the war that handled 40,000 tons of supplies a day until it was captured by the Nazis.
The occupation of Belgium would last until 1944.
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via Wikimedia Commons
via Wikimedia Commons