Dionne Warwick fans were left disappointed after a concert scheduled for June 24 in Illinois was postponed due to a “medical incident” TMZ reports.

An email was sent to ticket holders June 15 stating the singer is having issues with one of her legs and has decided to cancel her show at the Rivers Casino Des Plaines outside of Chicago.

However, Warwick hopes to make it to the Land of Lincoln soon. A rep for the 82-year-old “That’s What Friends Are For” singer told People that “it’s a minor issue that has been fixed, and she is fine.” Warwick hopes to reschedule the Illinois show for a later date.

She still has shows scheduled for Aug. 9 in Selbyville, Delaware, Aug. 11 in Gethsemane, Kentucky, September 1 in Ojai, California and Sept. 2 in Beverly Hills, California.

This seems like a minor setback for the legendary singer as she is opening a sound bath spa in Venice called The Ohm Zone with her son, Damon Elliott. She’s also working on an inspirational album and is working with fellow icon, Dolly Parton, on a song entitled, “Peace Like a River.”

The song was written by the country legend and produced by Warwick’s son and manager. Parton said in an interview that she was honored to sing with one of her idols.

“I have loved her since we were younger and getting to sing with her was one of the highlights of my career,” Parton told Billboard. “I loved that she loved my song, and I loved singing it with her.”

The collaboration is actually the first time to two met in person and Warwick said it felt like they had “known each other for years.”

“We were there to take care of our business, but along with that, we found time to not only smile but outright laugh,” Warwick told Billboard.  “Dolly is very, very grounded—which I was thrilled about—but she’s also very business, which I happen to be about as well.

RELATED CONTENT: Teyana Taylor: We’re Already Working On Dionne Warwick Biopic

Da Brat and Jesseca Harris-Dupart are dancing all the way to the delivery room as they prepare for the arrival of their baby boy.

The married pair took to social media June 15, to give fans a happy update on their pregnancy ahead of their expected due date in July. According to Brat and Judy, the rapper has been put on bed rest as their baby-to-be gears up for a possible early arrival.

But instead of laying down all day, the “Funkdafied” rapper and Kaleidoscope hair mogul did a little two-step to “Gracie’s Corner” newest single featuring Big Freedia.

“THIS SONG GO HARD….. WE HAD TO @graciescorner We need this baby to stay in 2 more weeks but he seems to think otherwise ,” they captioned the video post.

They continued with a “Pregnancy update” that touched on the baby’s possible arrival ahead of their July 27 due date.

“Our doctor said that we can safely deliver at 38weeks as we are a mature age for pregnancy ..which would be 7/13… but now it may be now at 36weeks so we are OFFICIALLY on bed rest but still enjoying life ,” they shared.

 

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Brat and Judy have remained very transparent with their pregnancy and fertility journey on social media and their WeTV reality show “Brat Loves Judy.” Season 3 captured their IVF experience where they selected a donor through a cryobank.

While the couple was hoping to conceive a child with a Black donor, they learned how difficult that is due to the low amount of Black donors. As a result, Brat and Judy confirmed their first child together will be biracial.

Many were shocked when Brat and Judy announced their pregnancy in a gangster-inspired maternity shoot for People magazine in February. Brat opened up about her surprise to become pregnant at 48 after going her whole life thinking she would never carry a child.

“I never thought I was going to have kids,” Brat said. “I just thought it wasn’t in the cards for me.”

“I’ve had a great career, a full life. I felt like, because I didn’t get pregnant earlier on, then it just wasn’t going to happen for me.”

But the Dish Nation host has broken many stigmas by conceiving and carrying full-term over the age of 40 and she has her wife by her side every step and dance on the way.

Fashion designer Telfar Clemens announced plans to end the brand’s game-changing Bag Security Program as he gears up for a launch of brick-and-mortar stores.

On June 7, Clemens announced the drop coming the week of June 11 would be it’s last within the Bag Security Program, Business of Fashion reports. According to the CFDA winner, the brand is ending the program to pursue less social media-driven options like the TelfarTV streaming platform and the physical store locations coming in 2024.

”Bag security changed our lives and changed fashion … and we were able to leave the fashion system,” Clemens said.

“We literally do exactly what we want as a company. That’s exactly what we are doing by moving on from it, too.”

Clemens launched the Bag Security Program in 2020 to combat the bots and resellers that rush to grab up new product releases and resell them at hiked-up prices. In response, Telfar started allowing buyers to make unlimited pre-orders for certain styles without fear the popular and viral items would sell out.

It came at a time when most fashion companies were taking a hit while Telfar saw one of its best years yet, as noted by Today. A Year in Fashion Report cites the 270% increase week-over-week since August 2020 that Telfar saw while a global pandemic shut down the world.

The brand sells a variety of handbags and apparel but its Shopping Bag, ranging in price from $150 to $257, remains its most popular item. Especially since Beyonce started shouting the brand out in her songs. Typically, any time Telfar drops a new Shopping Bag, it immediately sells out and leaves many loyal buyers upset about not securing a new piece.

The Queens native’s announcement came one week after his brand sent out text messages to its customer base informing them about a secret sale where they had one-hour exclusive access to purchase any Telfar product. Now fans can gear up for Telfar stores where they can buy items in person and not compete against bots.

• Politics

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 16, 2023

Herschel Walker Re-Enrolls At University of Georgia After Losing 2022 Election

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Herschel Walker’s plan after losing the 2022 Senate race was to re-enroll himself at the University of Georgia and finish his education.

A university spokesperson confirmed the former NFL player is a student at the school he played college football at in the early 1980s, The Hill reports. Walker, 61, was also seen inside an academic advisor’s office at the Franklin College of Arts & Sciences.

He studied criminal justice while playing for the Bulldogs during his tenure 40 years ago, but left to play professional football, as noted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. However, during his 2022 Senate campaign, Walker initially claimed to have graduated and received a Bachelor’s Degree from UGA in the top 1% of his class before later admitting to leaving the school his junior year to join a professional football league.

The NFL alum was at the center of a controversial Senate campaign for multiple reasons, including his false claims of having graduated from UGA. Elsewhere, two women came forward with claims against the anti-abortion Senate hopeful accusing him of paying for their abortions during their relationships.

Walker denied the claims but they were one of many scars that resulted in his failed bid to unseat Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). He lost to Warnock by about three points in December 2022.

In May, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a government watchdog organization, urged the Federal Election Commission to investigate Walker’s 2022 Senate campaign over a payment he allegedly solicited for his company.

The group accuses Walker and his company — HR Talent LLC — of violating federal election law by allegedly accepting more than $535,000 in donations that a donor believed was going directly to Walker’s campaign.

Walker has been secluded from the public eye since his election loss. But it appears he might be on the low while working to finally obtain the degree he lied about having during his Senate campaign.

• News

by Sharelle Burt

June 16, 2023

‘Stop, Please, You Got Me’: Bodycam Shows Jor’Dell Richardson Surrendering Before Cop Shot Him In the Stomach

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New body cam footage shows 14-year-old Jor’Dell Richardson being pinned down when he was fatally shot in the stomach by Aurora Police Department officers, the Denver Post reports.

Richardson ran from officers Roch Gruszeczka and James Snapp on June 1 after they were called to investigate suspicious activity. When Gruszeczka arrived, he saw teenagers run from a convenience store and said, “They just shoplifted out of there. I’m going to light them up.” Videos show both officers then chased Richardson into an alley and tackled him to the ground. While Richardson was pinned to the ground, he told police, “Stop, please, you got me,” seconds before Gruszeczka yelled, “Gun, gun, let go of the (expletive) gun!” He then said, “I’m going to shoot your ass! Dude, I’m going to shoot you!”

Richardson was then shot while he lay face up. Video shows both officers were restraining at least one of his hands.

Richardson’s weapon was a pellet gun, which looks similar to a handgun, according to Aurora police Chief Art Acevedo. “We know without a doubt it was on his person,” the chief said during a press conference on June 9. However, it has not been determined whether the victim was holding the pellet gun when shot.

Gruszeczka called for medical assistance after the shots were fired. Richardson can be heard pleading for help, saying, “I’m sorry! I’m done! Help me. Take me to the hospital! I can’t breathe! Help!” on the body cam footage posted to YouTube. According to the Atlanta Black Star, Richardson was involved in an armed robbery at a convenience store where he flashed a pellet gun at a clerk. He and a few other teens allegedly stole vape canisters.

The victim’s mother, Laurie Littlejohn, said the tragic incident had ruined her life as they just celebrated Richardson graduating from the eighth grade. “He was the light of our house,” Littlejohn said. “For a week now, our light has dimmed low.” Siddhartha Rathod, the family’s attorney, said during a press conference he wants the police department to be held accountable as it took them a week to announce that the weapon was simply a pellet gun. “We are here to demand accountability because justice will never come,” Rathod said.

RELATED CONTENT:  Body Camera Footage Released After Fatal Police Shooting of Black 14-Year-Old in Colorado

The NBA has suspended Memphis Grizzlies’ all-star guard Ja Morant for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season for conduct detrimental to the league.

This is the third suspension for Memphis’ top player. Morant, 23, was suspended for eight games in March following a similar incident when he held up a handgun in an Instagram-live video while at a Denver nightclub. He was suspended again from team activities by the Grizzlies on May 14 after a video went viral on social media showing Morant holding a firearm

“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement, according to ESPN. “The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated.”

After the two suspensions, Nike pulled Morant’s shoe from its website and shoe app.

Morant will be barred from participating in any public league or team activities including preseason games. He will also be ineligible for any season awards and according to Silver, will have to hit specific conditions to be reinstated.

“For Ja, basketball needs to take a back seat at this time,” Silver said. “Prior to his return to play, he will be required to formulate and fulfill a program with the league that directly addresses the circumstances that led him to repeat this destructive behavior.”

Morant was drafted by the Grizzlies with the second pick of the 2019 NBA Draft and won the Rookie of The Year Award following a breakout season.

This season, he averaged 26.2 points this season and helped Memphis secure the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, where they lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers.

RELATED CONTENT: Camron Gives Ja Morant Some Real Advice Ahead Of NBA Suspension

After four long years, CURLFEST 2023 returns to New York’s Randall’s Island in July.

This year’s theme of “Bounce Back” will be a “testament to resilience and commitment to creating safe spaces for our community to connect and build by way of art, music, and more.” according to the event page.

 

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The event is curated by The Curly Collective, founded by Charisse Higgins, Tracey Coleman, Gia Lowe, Simone Mair, and Melody Henderson. According to the Miami Herald, the four women started throwing small events back in 2010, creating a safe space to share good and bad hair stories, product recommendations, and the “big chop.” As the group gained popularity, the ladies took a chance and launched the first CURLFEST in 2014.

It was a huge success, with Black women from all over wearing their hair naturally in numerous ways as the festival celebrates those who rock their crowns in afros, braids, Bantu knots, and of course, curls. “CURLFEST® was born to be the change that was long overdue in the beauty industry,” the website reads. “To flip the false narrative around unruly brown beauty and create one that accurately showcases the glory of our crowns, the richness of our skin, and the joy of our culture.”

This year, registrants can expect those same beautiful vibes with CURLFEST Marketplace, featuring the best of the best in Black and women-owned vendors from around the country. The Beauty Row will host some brands that are a favorite among Black women, including giveaways, games, and more. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase from vendors across the diaspora. Festival founders say they look forward to building up the next generation of women to love their crowns. “Our hope is that the next generation of women and girls grow up knowing that whether fair-skinned or dark, straight-haired or kinky, beauty has many faces. Including theirs.”

Tickets are on sale now.

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 16, 2023

Philadelphia High School Grad Denied Diploma For Dancing On Stage, ‘I Was So Embarrassed’

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A Philadelphia high school graduate was left “embarrassed” after she was denied her diploma during the graduation ceremony for dancing on stage.

Hafsah Abdur-Rahman, 17, is calling for change after she was denied her diploma from The Philadelphia High School for Girls for doing a dance known as “The Griddy” during the June 9 ceremony, ABC 6 reports. A now-viral video shows the teen getting called to accept her diploma and dancing over to the faculty member holding the document.

However, instead of handing the graduate her diploma, the teacher denied Abdur-Rahman for doing the dance on stage.

“She (the principal) stole that moment from me,” Abdur-Rahman said. “I will never get that again.”

My blood is boiling. They stole this girl’s big moment, both for her and her family. If this had happened to one of my children, I would have rushed the stage. pic.twitter.com/x60EaIgEmI

— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) June 16, 2023

While students and families were warned by the principal that they couldn’t cheer or clap when they walked on stage, the teen thought her dance would be accepted.

“I understood the rules because I was saying ‘shh’ in the video. Do not say nothing because I want my diploma,” said Abdur-Rahman. “I knew and understood what we were supposed to do.”

The teen thinks because others laughed at her dance, that’s what prevented her from receiving the diploma.

“If they thought that I shouldn’t do ‘The Griddy’ across the stage and do the Girls’ High traditions, nobody should have been able to wave or blow kisses or do period signs because I feel like that’s the same thing, she said. “I feel like that’s unfair.”

Abdur-Rahman said her moment was in honor of her sister who was killed at 14 years old and now it was ruined.

“I was so embarrassed. I couldn’t even enjoy the rest of the graduation,” Abdur-Rahman said.

She wasn’t the only one who didn’t receive their diploma, three other girls didn’t receive their diploma on stage but did so after the ceremony. The school has since released a statement about withholding the diplomas.

“The District does not condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates,” the statement read.

“We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future.”

Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill reposted the video on Twitter and blasted the school for how it “stole this girl’s big moment.” Many agreed saying they would have “cussed everyone out on stage.”

One user noted “the reaction from her classmates & the audience” that seemingly shows how “that behavior is not tolerated at that specific school.”

• News

by Sharelle Burt

June 16, 2023

Racist Technology? Amazon Blocks Smart Home Devices Access Over Racist Remarks

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Amazon suspended the Amazon Home account of a Black man in Baltimore after a delivery driver accused his doorbell intercom of being racist, the New York Post reports.

Brandon Jackson found himself kicked out of his Home system on May 25 after an Amazon driver dropped off a package and then reported him for being racist. Jackson told his story in a lengthy Medium post and said he didn’t know he was kicked off until he called Amazon. “This incident left me with a house full of unresponsive devices, a silent Alexa, and a lot of questions,” he wrote. “I was told that the driver who had delivered my package reported receiving racist remarks from my ‘Ring doorbell.’”

Jackson started to unravel the alleged events piece by piece. In the post, he first identified that most drivers that serve his neighborhood look like him, claiming it’s “highly unlikely that we would make such remarks.” He then pointed out that he has several cameras on his property that would prove the delivery driver wrong. And lastly, no one was home when the alleged racist remark was made. “Finally, when I asked what time the alleged incident occurred, I realized it was practically impossible for anyone in my house to have made those comments, as nobody was home around that time (approximately 6:05 PM),” Jackson wrote.

After reviewing the footage, he determined that the Amazon doorbell didn’t make any remark beside the standard automated response: “Excuse me, can I help you?” Jackson, an engineer for Microsoft, also saw the driver was wearing headphones at the time of the delivery and could have easily misinterpreted what was said.

After contacting Amazon, Jackson said his service was restored almost a week later, on May 31. However, the incident has him questioning his loyalty to Amazon as he never received an email informing him of the resolution. “This incident has led me to question my relationship with Amazon,” Jackson said. “After nearly a decade of loyalty, I’ve been given a harsh reminder that a misunderstanding can lead to such drastic measures.”

Misa Hylton is bringing her signature aesthetic to create a go-to summer sandal.

In collaboration with Teva, Misa blends fashion with functionality. The iconic stylist  merges her colorful hip hop aesthetic with the popular shoe silhouette to create Misa Hylton x Teva’s capsule collection. The shoe debuted at Macy’s June 13. The Flat-form Universal shoe will incorporate luxurious gold metal hardware on its updated strapping system. The design will also feature abstract paints and graphic sketches for a street-wear flair. The Hurricane XLT2 Gladiator also features the luxe gold metal, but with the addition of peach tones in its design with a suede finish.

Hylton is a pioneer at bringing hip hop inspired looks to mainstream focus in fashion, styling iconic Black artists in some of their most memorable outfits. Her visionary eye to create trends is dutifully inspired in this capsule collection while her Japanese heritage is also brought to the forefront in the color scheme and graffiti graphics, tying in with her love of jewelry to create a sandal true to her image.

Of the collaborative design effort, Hylton explained her purpose behind each details of the shoes:

“When designing for the Teva x Misa Hylton collaboration, I wanted to infuse these elements to create a timeless collector’s item – a small piece of my world – that can be dressed up or down, offering versatility and flexibility, while remaining unique and original,” Hilton expressed in a press release.

The  collection will be exclusively sold at Macy’s. The American shoe brand is delighted to have the retailer giant host the venture  bringing forth a new wave of active street-wear.

Anders Bergstrom, the Vice President of Teva Footwear said, “Through our collaboration with Misa Hylton, we want our consumers to own and celebrate their individual style without having to sacrifice comfort for fashion, while still creating a collection that empowers you to take on all your everyday adventures.”

The limited-edition shoes, ranging from $80 to $135, drop on June 13 at Macy’s in store and online with additional availability at Teva’s online store.

RELATED CONTENT: Misa Hylton: The Woman Who Redefined Hip-Hop and R&B Fashion