Napheesa Collier, Unrivaled, one-on-One
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 18, 2023

WNBA Player Napheesa Collier Calls Out Pay Discrepancy Between Coaches And Players

WNBA Player Napheesa Collier is calling out the immense pay discrepancies between coaches and players in the league. The professional athlete took to X on Oct. 17 to express her discontent with the salary differences.

Collier’s criticism comes after the news that Pheonix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts will become the highest paid coach in the organization’s history. Collier used her platform to draw attention to the fact that some coaches make four times as much as star players.

 

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad coaches are getting paid, but its kinda crazy they’re making 4 times more than the highest paid players,” shared the 2020 Olympian.

Announced by sports journalist Adrian Wojnarowski a day prior, Tibbetts new salary, which is stated to be upwards of $1 million a season, will be the highest ever given out to a WNBA coach. However, according to Front Office Sports, his lack of experience in the women’s league, or coaching women’s basketball in general, is concerning to naysayers.

The Minnesota Lynx forward is a star player in her own right as well, having made the 2023 WNBA First Team roster.  Despite her accomplishment in the sport, Collier will not make even half as much as Tibbetts will next season. The 27-year-old will earn a base salary of a little over $208,000 for the 2024 season, a far cry from Tibbett’s check.

The highest-paid player currently in the WNBA is Erica Wheeler for the Indiana Fever, whose salary of $242,154 is still a fraction of the new Pheonix Mercury coach’s pay raise. Pay discrepancy between women and men’s sports has been a longstanding issue, especially in the WNBA, where comparisons of their salary to the male counterparts was brought up by players previously.

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum spoke on The Residency Podcast last November on why WNBA players should receive an equal percentage of the league’s shared revenue, just as NBA players do.

As the conversations surrounding women’s pay in sports garner attention once again, athletes in the  WNBA are not holding back on speaking out for salary increases.

RELATED CONTENT: Las Vegas Aces On Verge Of Sweeping New York Liberty With Another Victory, Lead 2-0 In WNBA Finals

Mississippi sheriff Bryan Bailey
by Daniel Johnson

October 18, 2023

Mississippi Sheriff Shirks Accountability Following ‘Goon Squad’ Torture Of 2 Black Men

Despite reportedly calling the actions of his former deputies the worst case of police brutality he has ever seen, Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey is arguing in court that qualified immunity should protect him from any further liability.

Back in March, an Associated Press investigation discovered that some of the department’s deputies, who had nicknamed themselves the “Goon Squad,” took part in at least four violent incidents involving Black men. One of the Black men was Pierre Woods, who was shot and killed by Rankin County deputies in 2009. Two of those deputies went on to participate in the racist violence enacted against two other Black men – Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker – on Jan. 24. Jenkins and Parker were tortured by the so-called “Goon Squad.”

According to court records, officers handcuffed and assaulted Jenkins and Parker with stun guns, a sex toy, and other objects. The officers also used racial slurs against the two men.

As CBS News reported, on Oct. 6,  Bailey’s attorney Jase Dare asked to have the $400 million lawsuit filed by Jenkins and Parker against his client dismissed. 

On Oct. 13, Malik Shabazz and Trent Walker, the attorneys for Jenkins and Parker, said that asking to have the lawsuit dismissed was an attempt by the sheriff to dodge accountability.

Walker released a statement that read, “We believe that the totality of the evidence shows the brutality of the ‘Goon Squad’ was a longstanding problem. The brutality was not just limited to these five deputies, and it’s something that has existed during the entirety of Bryan Bailey’s tenure as sheriff.” 

Dare’s motion to dismiss contains an argument stating that the allegations of Jenkins and Parker are not sufficient to penetrate the shield of qualified immunity, and thus Bailey should not be held accountable for the actions of his deputies. Furthermore, he says in the motion that the deputies were involved in training that complies with the law, so they were also adequately trained. 

The six ex-officers all pleaded guilty on Oct. 16 to a litany of state charges, in addition to the federal charges they pleaded guilty to on Aug. 3. The actions of deputies Brett McAlpin, Jeffery Middleton, Christian Dedmon, Hunter Edward, and Daniel Opdyke as well as ex- Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield could cost Mississippi taxpayers in Rankin County millions of dollars. According to Mississippi Today, Ron Silver, an expert in investigating police brutality and civil rights litigation, says their tax bill could skyrocket. 

“There are unquestionably going to be other victims found,” he said. “They will all have strong civil rights cases against the officers and the county.” Silver also warned that, should the investigation go past the lieutenant and chief investigator, “the financial risk to Rankin County increases exponentially in my judgment,” and finally, “Rankin County needs to be prepared for a huge financial toll from what it tolerated by its officers.”

In April, Senators Edward Markey and Ayanna Pressley re-introduced the Ending Qualified Immunity Act; the legislation notes that qualified immunity was an invention of the Supreme Court. The practice is not protected by law enacted by Congress, unlike the ability to sue officials who violate their rights, which is covered under the Civil Rights Act of 1871. 

In the press release accompanying the announcement of the Act, Pressley stated, “Police brutality is a crisis plaguing Black and brown communities, and a crisis that will continue to go unchecked until we end the dangerous, unjust, and court-invented doctrine of qualified immunity.” 

Pressley explained, “For too long, qualified immunity has prevented accountability and shielded those charged with enforcing the law from any consequences for breaking it. Our bill would restore necessary civil rights protections and is essential to providing the families of those abused by law enforcement with the healing they deserve. Structural change is necessary to address this crisis and save lives, and that must include ending qualified immunity.”

RELATED CONTENT: Former White Mississippi Officers Plead Guilty To The Racist Assault On Two Black Men

Lizzo, dance captain, Shirlene Quigley, lawsuit, dismiss, dancer, thrown out
by Stacy Jackson

October 18, 2023

Lizzo’s Dance Captain Demands Lawsuit Dismissal, Claims Behavior Was Justified

Lizzo’s dance captain, Shirlene Quigley, is demanding the dismissal of a lawsuit that features accusations that she sexually harassed and forced her religious beliefs on dancers.

Quigley and Lizzo were named in a lawsuit filed on Aug. 1 by three former dancers, Arianna Davis, Noelle Rodriguez, and Crystal Williams. A copy of the lawsuit obtained by Radar Online stated that Quigley was “not only vocal about her religious beliefs, but took every opportunity to proselytize to any and all in her presence regardless of protestations.”

Davis, whom Quigley was allegedly obsessed with for being a virgin, claimed the dance captain openly discussed her virginity in interviews.

“Ms. Quigley discovered that Ms. Davis was a virgin, and Ms. Davis’s virginity became a topic of extreme importance to Ms. Quigley,” the lawsuit states. “In the months to follow, Ms. Quigley would routinely bring up Ms. Davis’ virginity in conversations with Ms. Davis. Ms. Quigley even mentioned Ms. Davis’ virginity in interviews she participated in and later posted to social media, broadcasting an intensely personal detail about Ms. Davis to the world. Ms. Davis never gave Ms. Quigley permission to share this private detail about Ms. Davis’ life.”

Quigley, who constantly reminded dancers of her religious status, was open about her private bedroom behaviors, which included “oral sex on a banana in front of the rest of the dance cast” and her “sexual fantasy of having ten penises in her face,” as stated in the lawsuit. Quigley allegedly said, “Masturbating is against my religion, but today I had an oopsie.”

The dance captain claimed her behavior was justified and said that the dancers were let go “for legitimate reasons” that were “reasonably related to one [or] more lawful business purpose.” Quigley also was vocal about not wanting the dancers to receive any money from the lawsuit.

Lizzo and her legal team requested accusations by the former dancers to be thrown out in legal documents filed on Sept. 27. The body-positivity advocate’s filing denies all allegations from the dancers and requested a jury trial against the plaintiffs.

RELATED CONTENT: Lizzo Wants ‘Ridiculous’ Harassment Lawsuit From Former Dancers Thrown Out

Jada Pinkett Smith, Red Table Talk, Worthy
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 18, 2023

Jada Pinkett Smith Talks Return Of ‘Red Table Talk,’ New Season Is ‘In The Works’

Jada Pinkett Smith is ready to return to the table. The veteran actress (Girls Trip, Set It Off) has announced that her talk show, Red Table Talk, will be back for a new season in 2024.

The mother of two revealed the news on Oct. 14 during a TalkShopLive stream as part of her press tour for new memoir, Worthy, when she assured a fan who asked her about the beloved program, which ran for five seasons on Facebook Watch before being cancelled in April.

Red Table Talk premiered in 2018 and featured 129 episodes. More on the way.

“The Red Table is coming back,” Pinkett Smith shared. “We are in the works of a situation right now. So next year. We could not do the Red Table while I was writing this book and while Willow was on her music journey, so we have decided to come back next year.”

The show is co-hosted by the actress, her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and Jada’s daughter, 22-year-old Willow Smith. The three generations of women discuss pertinent cultural topics ranging from conversations on maternal relationships to mental health struggle. In addition to its mainstay cast, the show has also interviewed celebrities from the likes of Ciara, Gabrielle Union, and August Alsina (with whom Pinkett Smith had her infamous “entanglement”) with a seat at the table.

The news is accompanying the release of Worthy,” which reveals more insight into Pinkett Smith’s journey through Hollywood, in addition to her evolving relationship with longtime husband, Oscar winner Will Smith. Red Table Talk also had an episode featuring the married couple of over 25 years discussing the rumors, and actual truth, surrounding their union.

Fans of Red Table Talk, however, will have to wait for further information of when, and on what platform, the show will resume.

RELATED CONTENT: Nick Cannon Speaks On ‘Red Table Talk’ Cancellation

X formerly known as twitter, charging, social media, engagement, initial. tagging, sell, over post, social media, management, NYPD
by Daniel Johnson

October 18, 2023

X, Formerly Known As Twitter, To Test Charging New Users To Access Key Features

Elon Musk is moving forward with the idea of charging users of X, formerly known as Twitter, a source close to the practice informed Fortune. On Oct 24, the social media platform will test out charging new users in New Zealand and The Philippines $1 to post, reply and quote other users’ posts.

This marks the most significant monetization of the platform since Musk took it over in October 2022, and according to their support account, it is not a cash grab, but a move to stop the spread of bots and spam.

The company told Fortune, “This new test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity while balancing platform, accessibility with the small fee amount. It is not a profit driver.”

Twitter/X stressed in a post to its platform that its test of this pilot program will not affect new users and, according to Fortune, it also is murky whether or not the program will be rolled out in other countries. The program, they noted, also differs from Twitter /X’s X Premium, which, for $8 a month, allows users access to “edit” and “undo” features. 

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/TheProselytiser/status/1714563022277181463?t=yf5aGrRDTkpqIJqdQiqHig&s=19

Even though Musk is on record as recently as June saying in a tweet that Twitter is in need of money and is in heavy debt, people are questioning whether to take the company at its word that features like Twitter Blue/X Premium are not cash grabs. Part of the reason Musk hired ex-NBCUniversal advertising boss Linda Yaccarino was to signal to advertisers that he is serious about getting them back, after many left due to his breakneck changes to the platform, the outlet reported. 

Yaccarino has generally been good at deflecting whenever pressed on some of Musk’s decisions, like the fee for new users. In an appearance at Vox’s Code Conference in September, however, she looked unprepared and defensive as she essentially tried to do PR for the company she is supposed to be in control of. 

The platform also outlined its plans through “Not-a-Bot Terms and Conditions,” published on Oct 17. Some users have expressed doubt that Musk, and by extension, the company he owns, is trustworthy with their financial information. Their suspicion comes from the general lack of stability within the company since Musk’s takeover. Musk has pushed 75% of the staff out the door and also initiated changes to advertisements on the platform which may actually be illegal, according to Wired.com.

According to the terms and conditions, “The Not-a-Bot Program is a beta program that X tests for platform integrity improvements. All features and functionality of the Program will be determined by X in its sole discretion, and X may modify, pause, or discontinue the Program at any time with no refund to you.” 

 

RELATED CONTENT: ELON MUSK’S ‘X’ HIT WITH TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT BY MARKETING AGENCY

Nipsey Hussle, Foster, Tanisha, Sam Asghedom, Agshedom, Samantha, sam, emoni, estate, daughter, court
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 18, 2023

Nipsey Hussle’s Family Wins Legal Battle Against His Ex, Now Controls His Daughter’s Estate

Nipsey Hussle’s family has won their legal battle against the late rapper’s ex-girlfriend to control the estate of his 14-year-old daughter.

Tanisha Foster lost guardianship of her daughter Emani. A hearing was held this week where a judge listed Nipsey’s mom Angelique Smith, his brother Sam Asghedom, and sister Samantha as co-guardians over Emani’s finances, including her $2 million-plus inheritance, Radar Online reports.

The “Double Up” rapper was murdered outside his Marathon Clothing store in Los Angeles on March 31, 2019. The only beneficiaries of the musician’s estate were his two children, daughter Emani, and son Kross, whom he had with actress Lauren London.

Hussle’s brother Sam was selected to manage the rapper’s $4 million estate, which was estimated to bring in another $4.7 million annually. His family was also appointed physical custody of Emani over claims Tanisha was not fit to care for the child.

Foster has been locked in a legal battle with the family since August 2021 when it filed for guardianship of Emani’s estate to control her inheritance and make investments.

“Petitioners will manage Emani’s assets prudently and in Emani’s best interests until she reaches 18 years old,” the filing read.

But Foster contested the petition and sought for control of Emani’s estate and to regain custody. She claims to have only agreed to allow the family to have custody of Emani in 2019 due to her “financial limitations” at the time.

She claimed the family agreed to “act in the best interests of Emani,” but shortly after entering into the agreement” Hussle’s mom, brother, and sister allegedly used their “collective financial power and influence to disregard their priorities by controlling the desires of Emani and Tanisha by withholding financial assistance and reducing visitation.”

The courts ruled in favor of Hussle’s family despite Foster’s objection.

RELATED CONTENT: Puma Contributes Annually to Trust Fund of Nipsey Hussle’s Children

Offset, skincare, skin, oil, oily, routine, Harpars Bazar, oily skin, stridex, coconut oil, palmers,
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 18, 2023

Offset Shares His Skincare Routine For Oily Skin With ‘Harper’s Bazaar’

Offset is busy getting to the bag, including the beauty bag by sharing his nighttime skincare routine with Harper’s Bazaar.

The former Migos rapper has been finding various ways to promote his new album, Set It Off, and decided to tap into a new demographic by sharing his process for combatting his oily skin. The video, “Go to Bed with Offset,” was unveiled on Tuesday, October 17.

“Before I go to bed, I have oily skin so I wanna make sure I get all the oil out,” he tells the camera before grabbing his Stridex pads.

“Alcohol-free because I got sensitive skin so I break out with like harsh alcohol.”

Offset wiped down his entire face with the pads and shared his process for ensuring a clean, oil-free glow before bed. He also praised his mom for the hook up.

“She put me on to these in high school,” he shares. “She knew I had oily skin.”

After wiping his face with the Stridex pad, Offset used Aquaphor to moisturize his face. He said he doesn’t use lotion and only uses the healing ointment along with Palmer’s coconut oil to moisturize his body, something he encourages other men who want to impress the ladies.

“Trust me. My wife always tells me,” he said in reference to Cardi B.

Offset expressed his love for Palmer’s coconut oil over other oils that leave him looking too shiny.

“Fellas. You gotta make it a routine,” he says. “You can’t do it once or twice. You gotta just keep doing it to gradually get off of that lotion.

The “Bad and Boujee” rapper also shared his haircare routine for his dreads which includes oiling his entire scalp before bed.

Offset explained his routine of putting on a durag after oiling his scalp to let the product marinate throughout his locs. He also shared his preference for Dove spray deodorant despite it being for women because of its “soft smell.”

He also revealed that he doesn’t wear cologne because of Cardi’s aversion to the smell and his enjoyment of manicures and pedicures.

“Your wife or your lady should be happy that her man keeps her nails clean,” he declared.

RELATED CONTENT: Offset And Daughters Kalea And Kulture Steal The Show At ‘Little Mermaid” Premiere

LeBron James, football
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 18, 2023

LeBron James Proves Multisport Prowess After Vintage High School Football Video Surfaces

LeBron James broke the record of having scored the most points in NBA history and looks to be playing for several more years to add to it. For all the athleticism James possesses, it comes as no surprise that he was also a talented football player in his youth. Now, video footage of a teenage James has appeared on social media and fans have a lot to say about him and his football skills.

JPAFootball posted on their X account the footage of James playing the wide receiver position. During the clip, he is seen making a catch and being tackled to the ground. He gets up and complains to the referee, something most basketball fans would say he does often. Then he catches what appears to be a touchdown in the end zone, that looks like it was disputed, as the referee decides the correct call. Then James, wearing a number 9 jersey, is viewed walking off the football field.

People on Twitter/X gave thought to the footage.

And speaking of LeBron and football, Brian Windhorst, a reporter for ESPN revealed R&B singer Aaliyah’s death in 2001 gave James the inspiration to continue playing football in high school.

While appearing on NBA Today on Oct. 10, Windhorst claimed that before her death, James was not going to play football during his junior year in high school. But after Aaliyah died in a plane crash, James was “not gonna live his life being afraid” and continued playing.

“So Aaliyah’s passing got him to come off the sidelines. He’d skipped the start of his junior year — he missed the first game of the year. He joined the second game with no practice, no training camp. He played 12 games, had 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns, and was one of the great receivers in the history of the school,” Windhorst said.

James is currently preparing to play his 21st season as the Lakers look to add another championship to their mantle.

RELATED CONTENT: Michael Cooper Criticizes LeBron James For Eating During A Preseason NBA Game

Homeless student, Houston
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 18, 2023

New Report Shows Houston School District Suspended Homeless Students Despite State Ban

A Houston Independent School District report shows homeless students were suspended for more than 100 days during the 2022–2023 school year. However, the state banned that practice years ago, the Houston Chronicle reports.

In 2019, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 692, amending the Texas Education Code, stating that districts are not to suspend homeless students unless they violate specific laws involving weapons, violent behavior, drugs, or alcohol. In that case, out-of-school suspensions are limited to a maximum of three days in a row. According to the outlet, HISD allegedly disregarded the law and continued suspending homeless students in both the 2021–22 and 2022–23 school years.

While the report was released to the public in September 2023, it doesn’t clarify what the discretionary suspensions were for or define the meaning of “discretionary out-of-school suspensions.”

The suspensions amount to 2,000 missed school days. To prevent this, the report, submitted by the executive director of Assessment, Accountability, and Compliance, Allison Matney, instructed schools to investigate the causes of the suspensions “…and resolve not to repeat the same actions in the future,” according to Houston Public Media.

During the 2022–23 school year, HISD reported 7,232 homeless students—close to 4% of its student body. Director of Youth Justice for Texas Appleseed Brett Merfish says that homelessness is already traumatic for students, and many have nowhere to go when they face suspension. Being out of school can increase negative educational outcomes.

“If those suspensions are not within the exceptions outlined in the law, then those should not be happening,” Merfish said.

“We need to do better and figure out, with the schools, what is happening in those instances and come up with a solution because the point of this law is to stop out-of-school-suspensions that don’t have to happen or could be handled differently for youth who are experiencing homelessness.”

Staggering numbers were highlighted in the report, including Black students having the highest percentage of missed school days because of out-of-school suspensions. Director of Public Policy for the Texas Network of Youth Services Lauren Rose says she was disappointed in the report and feels there are other solutions to assist homeless students besides suspension. She encourages the state to address classroom behavior issues with positive behavior interventions and support.

RELATED CONTENT: HOMELESS STUDENT FROM FLORIDA TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL AS VALEDICTORIAN OF HIS CLASS

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 18, 2023

Kysre Gondrezick Denies Assault By Rising NBA Star Kevin Porter Jr.

On Tuesday, Oct. 17, Kysre Gondrezick, a former WNBA player and ex-girlfriend of former Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr., has vehemently denied allegations of assault stemming from an incident in New York City in September, as reported by the The New York Post.

In an exclusive interview with The Post, Gondrezick refuted the assault accusations, stating, “He didn’t hit me. He never balled his fists up and hit me. And he definitely didn’t punch me in the face numerous times. That is a lie. I don’t have any injuries to support that.”

This interview followed the recent decision by Manhattan prosecutors to drop a charge of second-degree assault against Porter, citing insufficient evidence. Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Mirah Curzer clarified during Porter’s hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court that what initially seemed like a fractured vertebrae turned out to be a result of a congenital defect, leading to the charge’s dismissal.

However, Porter still faces charges of second-degree strangulation and third-degree assault. He is currently out on $75,000 bail and could potentially face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison if convicted of strangulation.

Prosecutors have maintained that Porter struck Gondrezick multiple times with a closed fist and “forcefully” squeezed her neck. The criminal complaint described the choking as causing difficulty breathing, redness, bruising, and substantial pain.

While prosecutors contended that the altercation ended only when Gondrezick fled the room and was discovered by hotel employees, Gondrezick expressed that certain aspects were exaggerated. She also criticized the Manhattan DA’s office for not conducting a comprehensive interview with her and failing to gain access to her complete medical records.

Gondrezick said, “It happened very fast, not to the degree of what was reported. And it was an argument that occurred in the room for not even 10 seconds.” She also commented on the DA’s office, saying, “We have given them numerous opportunities to come clean and to fix false information, but they have yet to do so.”

Porter was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a related development and is expected to be released immediately, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

RELATED CONTENT: HOUSTON ROCKETS’ KEVIN PORTER, JR. ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED ASSAULT AGAINST BALLER BABE IN NEW YORK CITY

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