Kim Kardashian, Tik Tok Live, disability, Ye, North West, dyslexia

by Mary Spiller

October 20, 2023

North West Let The Whole Internet Know She Has Dyslexia

North West, 10, revealed in a recent livestream with her mother that she has dyslexia. Although Kim Kardashian didn’t seem too fond of her sharing the information, the oldest child of Kim and Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, shared a bit about herself Oct. 18.

In the video clip shared on their joint TikTok account, North and Kim chatted with viewers. At the same time, an episode of The Kardashians played in the background, the family’s Hulu reality television series. As goofy filters flicked over their faces, North randomly said, “Guys, I have dyslexia. Do you even know what that is?”

Before North could elaborate any more about the revelation, Kim interjected. She playfully responded, “Northie, you are sure spilling the tea on here, OK.”

North didn’t seem to understand her mother’s desire for privacy and continued joking, asking if she should “drop an album.”

The 42-year-old media personality considered ending the TikTok livestream entirely if North didn’t stop. She told her daughter on camera, “I am going to get off this live right now because you are just saying way too much. I love you, but you know I purposely don’t talk about stuff that you are going through.”

In response to the threat of having to end their live stream video, North quickly responded, “I know, I know,” and moved on from the subject.

@happiness4.20 North West shares that she has dyslexia on live & hinted she could be dropping a Album!! #NorthWest #kimkardashian #west #north #kim #fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #foryoupage #foryourpage ♬ original sound – Southernbelle 💋

According to the Mayo Clinic, dyslexia is a learning disorder resulting from an alteration in language-processing regions of the brain. It is characterized by difficulties decoding words or “reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words.”

North has been active on TikTok recently, posting dance videos, slime tutorials, and funny trends.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 20, 2023

Marlon Wayans Claims Racial Discrimination In Denver Airport Dispute

Comedian Marlon Wayans said he is unjustly facing a disturbing the peace charge over a dispute with an United Airlines employee, according to the Associated Press.

Wayans alleges that the airline employee singled him out in their dispute due to his race. His attorneys filed court documents on Oct. 19 requesting the dismissal of the case related to a luggage disagreement at Denver’s airport.

Wayans, who is Black, received a citation for disturbing the peace, a municipal violation, in June.

The incident reportedly began when a United Airlines gate agent informed him he couldn’t board a flight to Kansas City with three bags. Despite his efforts to consolidate his luggage into two bags to adhere to airline policy, the gate agent allegedly attempted to physically block him from boarding. Wayans managed to board the flightbut was asked to disembark before the plane’s departure.

According to Wayans’ court filing, the gate agent permitted white passengers with three bags to board the flight while Wayans rearranged his luggage. The court filing also included still photos from surveillance video showing white passengers with yellow arrows indicating each of their bags. Approximately 140 individuals boarded the flight, with many carrying three bags and oversized bags that violated the airline’s policy.

Wayans’ legal team accuse the gate agent of racial discrimination against Wayans. By continuing to pursue charges against him, they argue that Denver prosecutors perpetuate that discrimination and deny his right to equal protection under the law.

“The City of Denver’s position is an affront to constitutional and social equity principles,” Wayans’ legal team said.

At the time of the incident, United Airlines released a statement asserting that an unidentified customer “pushed past” an employee at the jet bridge and attempted to board the plane.

However, statements recorded on police body cameras and referenced in the court filing provide an alternative perspective. The gate agent informed officers that Wayans had “shoved,” “pushed,” or “elbowed” him as the comedian boarded the plane. Wayans’ lawyers claim this is a false representation and suggest that the agent may have had minor shoulder-to-shoulder contact with Wayans as he was boarding.

The police officers involved in the investigation expressed doubt that any criminal activity had taken place, according to the court filing. The gate agent requested charges to be pursued.

The city attorney’s office did respond to the Associated Press’s requests for comment while United Airlines did not reply to an email seeking comment.

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 20, 2023

DJ Envy’s Business Partner Charged With Wire Fraud In Alleged New Jersey Real Estate Scheme

The business partner of The Breakfast Club’s DJ Envy has been charged with fraud in connection to a New Jersey real estate scam, according to a press release from the District of New Jersey’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Forty-five-year-old Cesar Pina was arrested Oct. 18 on wire fraud charges, one week after investors claimed they were tricked out of millions of dollars. The Department of Justice launched an investigation into Pina’s investment schemes, calling them “Ponzi-like” and that he allegedly defrauded dozens of victims.

Prosecutors said Pina gained a “significant” social media following based on his partnership with Envy, whose real name is Rashaun Casey, in order to attract investors. DJ Envy and Pina teamed up often for seminars where they would pitch opportunities to flip properties in distressed areas of the state.

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said Pina’s social media following was used to spot his next victims.

“As alleged in the complaint, Pina exploited celebrity status and social media to develop a devoted following of potential victims,” Sellinger said. “Promising returns that were too good to be true, Pina allegedly defrauded dozens of people of millions of dollars.”

Dozens of investors have filed lawsuits against Pina to get their money back. They claim he promised to rehabilitate and flip properties and give them a 20 to 45 percent return on the profits months later. Some lawsuits accuse Pina of getting investors to buy into one property that generated millions of dollars for him in profit.

“We allege Pina offered a ridiculously high rate of return to investors, then took the millions he got and invested it in himself,” James E. Dennehy, FBI Newark special agent in charge, said. “History has proven time and again, Ponzi-schemes don’t work. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow eventually runs out. Investors take note–it’s your money, don’t let them steal it.”

Pina’s wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. After his arrest, Pina stood before Judge Edward S. Kiel in federal court in Newark and was released on $1 million secured bond with electronic monitoring. He isn’t allowed to leave the state.

DJ Envy went on air with co-host Charlamagne Tha God on Oct. 11 to address the allegations.

“My attorneys don’t want me to speak but I think there’s things I need to clear up a little bit,” Envy said. “I wanted to teach our community about investing and generational wealth. So I did these seminars and brought industry professionals to all these seminars.”

He added that he wasn’t aware of what Pina may have been doing with the money.

Federal agents reportedly visited the iHeartRadio offices, where Envy works, to confiscate electronic equipment in connection to their investigation of Envy and Pina.

DJ Envy’s attorney, Massimo F. D’Angelo, rebuked those claims in a statement to XXL.

“My understanding is that the report that federal agents visited iHeartRadio offices yesterday and removed electronic equipment in connection with the investigation and charges brought against Cesar Pina is false. The complaint that was filed against Mr. Pina by DOJ in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey was filed against Mr. Pina, personally, not my client.”

diddy, tupac, sean combs, bad boy records

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 20, 2023

Did Tupac Consider Signing With Bad Boy Records Prior To Joining Death Row Records?

One of the deadliest hip-hop beefs may not have happened if Tupac Shakur signed with Diddy’s Bad Boy Recordings—which was in play, according Tupac’s older brother, Mopreme Shakur.

Making an appearance on The Art of Dialogue podcast, Mopreme expressed that Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G., a Bad Boy artist, were once cool. Tupac thought about joining Biggie before signing with with Suge Knight’s Death Row after serving a prison in 1995.

“He considered going to Bad Boy because he wanted to be on a Black label. He wanted to be with his people. He wanted to be with the brothers. You know what I mean. He supported Black business,” Mopreme revealed.

“So, there was a period where we were all cool. And over time, things happened, Pac started seeing things. And, you know, Biggie was on Puffy’s label so with them two, it was Puffy calling the shots. So, um, there was some legitimate problems there.”

We all know the ending, though there is still some mystery over who actually murdered Tupac even if Keefe D has been recently arrested for the crime. The suspect has mentioned in several interviews and a book he wrote over the years that Bad Boy label owner Diddy was responsible for placing a hit on Tupac and Suge Knight. Diddy has always denied any involvement in the murder of Tupac. Others have pointed the finger at Knight, who is currently in jail for murder, quite the downfall for the former rap mogul.

Tupac was shot several times in a drive-by in Las Vegas after a boxing match featuring Mike Tyson on Sept. 7, 1996. The rapper and actor (Above the Rim, Poetic Justice) died in the hospital six days later at the age of 25.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 20, 2023

‘Collect Calls With Suge Knight’ Podcast Set To Debut On Halloween

Marion “Suge” Knight, the former Death Row Records mogul currently serving time in prison, is set to launch a podcast from behind bars, promising to offer insights, anecdotes, and perspectives, according to TMZ.

Teaming up with Dave Mays, the CEO of Breakbeat Media and founder of The Source magazine, Knight is bringing “Collect Calls With Suge Knight” to the airwave, which aims to break down the prison walls and provide listeners with an unfiltered look into the mind of one of the hip-hop industry’s most notorious figures.

Mays told TMZ that five half-hour episodes have been recorded. The podcast is set to premiere on Halloween 2023.

“And I’m so excited to be able to enlist the help of my longtime friend and one of hip-hop’s most formidable, pioneering, and fearless leaders to help Breakbeat continue to achieve this goal. Collect Call With Suge Knight will awaken hip-hop fans worldwide and build bridges across multiple generations,” Mays told TMZ.

The podcast is expected to cover various topics within the hip-hop sphere. Knight plans to address the artists, hip-hop pundits, and media outlets using his name as a headline-grabbing tool. He also intends to discuss Snoop Dogg’s ownership of the Death Row brand. Give Knight’s extensive history in the industry, figures such as Master P, Wack 100, Warren G, and Akon may all find in the podcast’s spotlight.

Audio episodes will be available on Thursdays, while video versions can be viewed on Fridays. The podcast is set to hit all major platforms. A sneak peek of the inaugural conversation is slated for release on October 24.

Knight, once one of hip-hop’s power players, was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2018 after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter in a fatal 2015 hit-and-run.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 20, 2023

Megan Thee Stallion To ‘Amicably Part Ways’ With 1501 Record Label After Settling Legal Battle

Megan Thee Stallion and 1501 Certified Entertainment are going their separate ways (peacefully) after settling their years-long legal battle.

The Grammy award-winning rapper and her former label “mutually reached a confidential settlement to resolve their legal differences,” 1501 announced on Thursday, October 19. As part of the agreement, Megan and 1501 will “amicably part ways,” Billboard reports.

“Both Megan and 1501 are pleased to put this matter behind them and move forward with the next chapter of their respective businesses,” 1501 said.

The label’s president Carl Crawford and the company “wish Megan the very best in her life and career,” he said.

Megan and 1501 spent the last three years battling it out over a record deal the “Savage” rapper called “unconscionable.” She first spoke out against the label in 2020 when she claimed she was forced into signing a deal in 2018 that was below industry standards.

After signing with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Management in 2019, Megan claimed to have sat down with “real lawyers” who helped her realize how “crazy” the deal with 1501 was. The announcement of their split comes one week after the “Body” rapper announced her status as an independent artist ahead of releasing her new self-funded album, Fader reports.

“Hotties, this part of my album is definitely funded by Megan The Stallion,” Megan said on Instagram Live.

“I have no label right now and we’re doing everything funded straight out of Megan Thee Stallion’s pocket so the budget is coming from me.”

Megan went on to share her excitement for the new project that marks her return as an independent artist. She also expressed interest in signing with another label after taking some time to do things on her own.

“I’m so excited to be doing something for the first time independent since it was just me and my momma,” she said.

“It’s really just me until we sign to a new label. I don’t want to sign to a new label right now because I just want to do it myself.”

Many labels will be fighting for a chance to sign the chart-topping rapper who has achieved two Hot 100 hits since her 2019 “Hot Girl Summer” debut. So far, Megan has struck gold with 2020’s “Savage” and a standout feature on Cardi B’s “WAP.”

prison, Oregon, nurse, sexual assault, inmates, Tony Klein

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 20, 2023

Disgraced Former Nurse Sentenced To 30 Years In Oregon Prison For Sexually Assaulting Inmates

On Oct. 16, a former Oregon Department of Corrections nurse employed at the state’s sole women’s prison was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexually assaulting nine inmates during his tenure.

The former nurse at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, 39-year-old Tony Daniel Klein of Clackamas County, Oregon, committed abhorrent acts during his time as a nurse from 2010 to January 2018. Klein exploited his access to the female inmates, engaging in “non-consensual sexual conduct with many female inmates entrusted to his care,” according to court documents.

The disgraced former nurse, who often had unsupervised access to his victims, manipulated situations to isolate them in concealed areas within the facility. The victims were made to believe he held power over them, warning them they would not be believed if they reported his abuse. Many victims submitted to his advances out of fear of reprisal or reporting his conduct within the Oregon Corrections Facility.

“In his position, Klein interacted with female inmates who either sought medical treatment or worked as orderlies in the prison’s medical unit, aided by his access to the women and his position of power as a corrections employee,” stated officials in the court documents.

Following a federal grand jury indictment on March 8, 2022, charging him with multiple civil rights violations, Klein was found guilty by a federal jury in Portland on July 25, 2023. He was convicted of 17 counts of depriving his victims of their constitutional right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment by sexual assault, along with four counts of perjury. On Tuesday, he received a 360-month prison sentence and five years of supervised release.

“Today’s sentence sends a clear message that using a position of authority to prey on individuals in custody will never be tolerated by the Department of Justice. Holding Tony Klein accountable for his crimes would not have been possible without the courage and resolve of the women he abused and the dedication of our partners at the FBI and Civil Rights Division,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 20, 2023

Sabrina Peterson Ordered To Pay 5-Figures In Legal Fees To T.I. And Tiny

On Oct.16, T.I. and Tiny emerged victorious in their battle for legal fees with their former friend, Sabrina Peterson. According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline, Peterson has been ordered to pay a substantial sum to the couple after most of her claims in the lawsuit were defeated.

A recent hearing took place regarding T.I. and Tiny’s motion to recover legal fees from Peterson. The couple’s lawyer, Andrew Brettler, and his team, successfully persuaded a higher court to overturn a lower court’s decision that favored Peterson.

The heart of the matter was Peterson’s responsibility for the $164,000 legal bill incurred by T.I. and Tiny while defending themselves in the case. Although the lawsuit remains active, many of the original claims have been dismissed.

Peterson contested the request for legal fees, arguing that the bill was excessive and lacked evidence for certain hours billed. However, in the recent hearing, the judge sided with T.I. and Tiny, granting them $96,702.

The minute order stated, “The Court finds that based on its experience with fee rates in the Los Angeles area and based on the representations set forth in the Brettler declaration, the fee rates requested by the Harris Defendants are reasonable.” Peterson was given 90 days to pay the amount.

Peterson responded to comments social media users made regarding the court decision on a post shared by The Shade Room.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

In 2021, Peterson sued T.I. and Tiny for defamation, accusing the couple of damaging her reputation after she publicly accused them of various forms of sexual and physical abuse. Among her allegations, she claimed that T.I. threatened her with a gun, stating, “B—-, I’ll kill you.”

Tiny responded on Instagram with a now-deleted post. “Hold up …. So you want your abuser to train your son … now when did you say my husband assaulted you? Did you change your mind or change it back? What’s up wit you today Pooh? I’m confused. Stop harassing my family. You strange. Everybody know you been special. Please Get help,” TMZ reported.

In her lawsuit, Peterson also accused the couple of subjecting her to online harassment.

T.I. and Tiny denied all allegations, asserting that Peterson’s reputation had been tarnished before their statements. Their lawyer characterized her as “an adjudged liar, a convicted felon with a lengthy rap sheet for crimes involving dishonesty and violent assault, and has a reputation for being unscrupulous.” The rapper argued that any statements made were not defamatory but constituted an opinion, and the couple demanded the case be dismissed.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 20, 2023

Inmate Makes Daring Escape From Houston Court During Brawl In Another Courtroom

Michael Devon Combs, who was charged with assaulting his girlfriend in March 2022, escaped from a courtroom hearing in Houston after a fight took place in another courtroom and the court officers went to assist their colleagues.

Luckily, Combs was apprehended Oct. 19 after authorities asked the public for help on its Facebook page.

The New York Post reports that the 32-year-old was in leg shackles but removed them during the fracas and walked out of the Texas courthouse. The escape took place around 10 a.m. on Oct. 17. Combs had been in the holding area on the 19th floor of Houston’s criminal courthouse.

“I had my back to him when everything happened. I mean, if I were just able to give him some advice, I would have told him it’s not smart to do that. Don’t do it,” Combs’ attorney, Mark Lipkin, told the Post.

Combs got the chance to escape when, in another courtroom, at the trial of Frank DeLeon Jr., who pleaded guilty to killing 16-year-old Diamond Alvarez, the victim’s family members lunged at DeLeon. Alvarez’s mother claimed that he was “laughing in her face” as she delivered an emotional victim impact statement.

A panic alarm sounded in the courthouse and deputies attending to Combs left to respond to the distress call. That’s when Combs saw his opportunity to escape. Deputies didn’t realize he was missing until 15 minutes after they returned to the courtroom. By that time, he was able to get out of the shackles off his ankle monitor and walk out of the courtroom, prompting this Facebook update from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

“A Harris County Bond Defendant, Michael Devon Combs, 32, escaped from 1201 Franklin after having his bond revoked. He was last seen fleeing the 176th Court (after freeing himself from leg irons) at approximately 10 a.m., and his current whereabouts are unknown.”

After he was caught, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office updated its page.

by Iman Milner

October 20, 2023

Discrimination And Lack Of Capital Keeps Black Farmers In The 1% Minority

With less than 2% of Americans living on farms, careers in agriculture fail to be as lucrative as they once were. For Black farmers, however, the outlook is even bleaker as many struggle to keep their land amid discriminatory lending practices and being shut out of benefit programs.

The Center for Public Integrity reports that Black farmers are the only racial group to have decreased over the last century.

“Historical discrimination in this country has been about Black and white, not that others have got everything they deserve either,” said Lloyd Wright, a former director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Civil Rights. “If you’re trying to address racial discrimination and you don’t address the Black problem, you’re really not addressing racial discrimination.”

Ninety-six percent of all farmers are white; only 1.4% are Black.

The USDA, whom many farmers turn to as a last line of defense when financial hardships arise, was accused of discrimination against Black farmers in 1999 after they “denied, delayed or otherwise frustrated the applications of those farmers for farm loans and other credit and benefit programs.”

The $2.2 billion settlement awarded cash, debt relief, and tax payments to some 35,000 farmers. However, it failed to address the systemic practices that led to the disbanding of the USDA’s Office of Civil Rights and allowed instances of discrimination to continue.

“The culture didn’t change. The employees didn’t change,” said Sylvia Stewart, research communications director and senior research associate at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

“When farmers went in to apply for their loans, they still saw the same people who threw their applications in the trash. You still have that stagnant culture that continues to hang around.”

Then there’s the issue of the land itself, the outlet reports. “Land is the key to all of it,” said Willard Tillman, executive director of the Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project. “If there’s anything they’re [USDA] going to do to help the farmer, it’s not going to help them to the magnitude of those that have all the land.”

In 1997, 94% of all farmland was white-owned, according to The Center for Public Integrity. Farm size is yet another way Black farmers often find themselves the target of discriminatory practices.

Due to maintenance and labor costs, Black farmers often face the difficult decision to sell part of their land to keep themselves afloat. An ability to retain more land could cause a significant change in circumstances for Black farmers and workers.

“By bringing Black farmers to parity on per-farm revenue and profit, there is $5 billion in economic value that can be created,” according to a 2021 report by McKinsey & Company. “Increasing business participation for Black farmers could create ladders of opportunity for 66,000 Black workers employed in the agriculture sector and beyond.”