Decoding Russell Simmons’ $100 Million Social Media Demand From HBO
The Def Jam founder claims that HBO "intentionally suppressed" evidence he claims would have refuted the sexual assault claims against him.
Last year, Def Jam Recordings founder Russell Simmons filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against HBO and the directors of the documentary, On the Record, for the multiple sexual assault allegations levied against him.
Now, in a post on Threads, Simmons said the company owes him “100s of millions of dollars.”
He accused the company of being “horrific and malicious” in the documentary, and that evidence that may have cleared him was “intentionally suppressed.” For those reasons, he must be compensated with $100 million.
HBO refutes claims that Simmons was ignored in the creation process. Although there was a one-year statute of limitations on his lawsuit, Simmons stated in the recent filing that, because the documentary was re-released, it continues to tarnish his reputation and falls within the one-year window.
A day after Simmons posted the latest demand, according to AllHipHop, three women went to a New York court to request that the mogul pay more than $3.4 million that he owes from sexual assault settlements.
Attorneys for the three women, Sheri Abernathy, Sil Lai Abrams, and Wendy Carolina Franco, filed the claim in the New York Supreme Court, alleging that Simmons missed a January 1 deadline to pay the settlements he signed in October 2025.
In October 2024, Abrams, Abernathy, and Franco filed for “confessions of judgment.” The request was filed after Simmons agreed to pay $1,265,000 each to Abrams and Abernathy, and $515,000 to Franco.
Based on recent documents filed, since Simmons allegedly failed to pay, they are now requesting increased “confessed” amounts, including interest and enforcement costs: $1,614,290.74 for Abernathy and Abrams, and $711,000.31 for Franco.
The recalculated amounts include 9 percent annual interest and additional legal fees.
Investor Group Looks To Buyout Uncle Nearest $108M Loan To Speed Up Sale
While spectators may think the case is about cleaning up a debt, it's more about who has control in Uncle Nearest’s future as it is unclear who has the final say when a company is in receivership.
Uncle Nearest Whiskey brand may be receiving some saving grace, as an investor group is seeking to buy out the $108 million loan to speed up the potential sale, the Lexington Herald Leader reports.
A group of individual and institutional investors who make up the investor group NexGen2780 hopes to buy out the $108 million loan to Kentucky lender Farm Credit, in hopes of speeding up the sale of the troubled Black-owned spirits brand owned by Fawn and Keith Weaver. Walter Miles of Johns Creek, Georgia, presented the idea in a letter filed in federal court before U.S. District Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr.
The Tennessee-based whiskey and bourbon brand has been in receivership since Fall 2025, with the Weavers fighting to regain control of the brand and to stop the sale of assets, including the popular distillery. Recently, the owners filed a civil lawsuit against former chief financial officer Michael Senzaki, accusing him of forging stock transfers and corporate fraud, costing the brand millions.
Fawn, who has been the face of the brand, claims that declining sales are one of the reasons they were trying to dump the receiver, citing that distributors have backed out of deals while bottles are being pulled from shelves and bars. But investors are pushing that time is up.
“We respectfully note our concern that the extended duration of the receivership proceedings may be contributing to a gradual diminution of enterprise value. Prolonged uncertainty can adversely affect brand equity, distributor and vendor relationships, employee retention, and overall market positioning,” Miles, who represents the investor group, said.
“NexGen2780 believes that a timely and orderly sale process, conducted under Court supervision, could help mitigate further value erosion while maximizing recovery for creditors and other stakeholders.”
According to The Lynchburg Times, court proceedings in the case have heated up as a group of entities affiliated with Uncle Nearest, including Grant Sidney, Inc., claim the receiver failed to make marked deadlines by raising vague allegations of financial trouble without identifying specific transactions, in addition to overstepping the required private clarification steps in favor of public court filings.
As a result, the entities requested that the court enforce their prior orders and confirm that they are not part of the receivership estate.
While spectators may think the case is about cleaning up a loan debt, it’s more about who controls Uncle Nearest’s future, as it is unclear who has the final say when a company is in receivership. The role of a receiver is to preserve value for creditors and, if necessary, recommend a sale despite shareholder objections.
Although Fawn is Uncle Nearest’s largest shareholder and controls the majority of board votes, a federal court-supervised receiver will shift how decisions are made moving forward.
The jet was reportedly being chartered while the mogul has been in prison.
After reportedly earning millions from his private jet during his ongoing incarceration, Sean “Diddy” Combs has sold it.
Business Insider said that Silver Air Private Jets confirmed that Diddy sold the Gulfstream G550 last October.
The No Way Out producer, who has been in prison since being accused of various federal charges in September 2024, including RICO charges, reportedly made about $4 million from 126 charter flights during his time behind bars.
A purchase price was not disclosed, but online listings for a pre-owned G550 from that year typically range from $20 million to $30 million. Records show that the jet, which was registered as N1969C, was previously listed as owned by LoveAir LLC, which was owned by Diddy. Now, the tail number is T7-OKS and has been registered in San Marino.
Diddy is currently imprisoned in Fort Dix in New Jersey after being found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He is serving a 50-month prison sentence, and is set to be released in May 2028.
Although the Yonkers-raised executive sought a pardon from President Donald Trump, the president said that’s unlikely to happen.
According to USA Today, Trump told New York Times reporters that, after receiving a clemency request from Diddy, he is not considering granting it. Trump told reporters the request was done through a letter and offered to reveal it. (He did not.)
Trump said he and Diddy were on friendly terms until his first term as president.
“You know, I was very friendly with him,” Trump told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty in August. “I got along with him great; seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well, but when I ran for office he was very hostile.”
Rihanna Co-Signs Elon Musk’s Estranged Trans Daughter As Model Joins Savage X Fenty Shoot
Musk and his daughter, 21-year-old trans model Vivian Jenna Wilson, have been estranged for years.
Rihanna has given the estranged daughter of Elon Musk her own blessing, giving the trans model a spot in the latest Savage X Fenty campaign on the highly-anticipated Valentine’s Day collection from her lingerie brand.
Vivian James Wilson, 21, doesn’t associate with her tech giant father. Instead, the young woman has created her own career path, earning the co-sign from Rihanna. According to Page Six, the promotional photos included the blonde wearing a rose-print black bra and matching miniskirt.
Rihanna also appeared to model a bold red set, stating “Aphrodite was a savage.” The campaign even included other faces such as plus-size model Emma Arletta and “Forever” actress Lovie Simone.
Rihanna tapped Vivian Wilson, the rising model and estranged daughter of Elon Musk, alongside actress Lovie Simone and model Emma Arletta in her latest Savage x Fenty campaign. 🔥 📸: Savage x Fenty pic.twitter.com/mlt4Ct5cCX
The move offers a semblance of support for the Bad Gal Riri, who has not shied away from supporting members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
As for Wilson and her public figure father, the two have been in a non-communicative space for a while.
Wilson is the eldest daughter of Musk, and his second child with his first wife, Justine Musk. Since Wilson came out as trans in 2020, the former Trump official has denounced her transition. The father of 14 has used his social media platform X to further demean Wilson’s chosen identity, stating “he was not a girl” among his old posts.
Despite the controversy surrounding her trillionaire dad, Wilson has embarked on rising modeling career, making appearance on runways and landing a Teen Vogue cover as well.
As she establishes herself in the industry, the Savage x Fenty inclusion marks a major campaign for the emerging model. The move may also indicate how Rihanna feels about the controversial Musk. The Bajan singer has not publicly bashed President Donald Trump and his on-again, off-again ally, but previous Instagram posts during the general election heavily suggested that she did not support Trump.
National Mentoring Month: Spotlight On Programs Changing Young Lives
January is National Mentoring Month
Mentorship is a vital support system that creates empowering connections to help young people develop a sense of value, capability, and social connection. January is National Mentoring Month, a nationwide campaign to celebrate mentoring, raise awareness of the mentorship gap affecting young people, and encourage communities to increase mentoring relationships nationwide.
MENTOR established the initiative in 2002 to demonstrate how adult support functions as a catalyst for youth development in social, academic, and professional areas. Here are several national and Black-focused mentorship programs, including established institutions and culturally specific pipelines that support Black youth.
Boys & Girls Clubs Of America — National Mentoring Program
The National Mentoring Program of Boys & Girls Clubs of America creates connections between caring adults and young people through organized clubs and activities and volunteer mentoring. The program provides role models and support through trained volunteers and staff to children and kids aged 6 to 18 who live in underserved communities across the nation. The mentorship program operates year-round at more than 5,400 club locations, including U.S. military installations, and focuses its efforts during National Mentoring Month in January. Through mentoring, young people gain a sense of safety and value while developing the power to achieve their potential through career exposure, confidence-building, and lifelong relationship skills.
Police Athletic League (PAL) Mentoring Program
Through community-based mentorship, the Police Athletic League (PAL) Mentoring Program develops leadership skills and positive youth connections while teaching life skills. Middle school and high school students in the program participate in leadership development and peer mentoring activities. The program includes regular sessions and community service events. The PAL mentoring program creates stronger trust and leadership skills between youth and police officers, while building positive engagement in communities where mutual understanding develops.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) is the largest youth mentoring organization in the United States that connects adult volunteers to young mentees for developmental support and positive results. Through BBBSA affiliates, youth from more than 5,000 communities throughout all 50 states receive matches with dedicated adult mentors. The mentorship program runs throughout the year with additnal community activities held during National Mentoring Month in January.
100 Black Men Of America, Inc. — “Mentoring The 100 Way®”
The national Black-led mentorship organization “Mentoring The 100” operates through 100 Black Men of America, Inc. to deliver extended mentorship and leadership training alongside community development. The organization delivers assistance to African American youth through trained adult mentors, group sessions, and specific skills training. The organization’s chapters throughout the United States continue to provide mentoring services to higher education students, using their Collegiate 100® and Emerging 100® auxiliary groups. The program operates throughout the school year and continues mentoring relationships into adulthood to create confident leaders who close opportunity gaps.
Jack And Jill Of America, Inc. — Youth Leadership Programs
Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is a national Black family organization dedicated to leadership development, civic service, and mentoring-oriented youth programs that empower future leaders. The organization serves African-American children and teens (ages 2–19) and their families through chapter-based youth leadership and support activities. With over 271 chapters nationwide, Jack and Jill connects families through regional and national programming. Programs operate year-round, with a focus on summer learning, service projects, and leadership modules. Jack and Jill’s youth development curriculum builds foundations in civic engagement, financial literacy, and community service, which are essential elements for mentorship and lifelong success.
Sisters Keepers Mentorship Program
The Sisters Keepers Mentorship Program connects women mentors with Black girls to provide leadership support, encouragement, and guidance. The program provides one-on-one mentorship to Black girls, with mentors who help them develop leadership skills and build community support. The program operates in the United States, and mentorship roles vary by local participation. Mentors have the option to participate in the program for either brief or extended time periods.
Girl Talk, Inc. — Peer Mentorship for Girls
Girl Talk, Inc. provides high school girls the opportunity to mentor middle school girls through peer mentorship. The organization runs more than 375 chapters nationwide where teen girls lead weekly structured mentoring sessions for younger girls. The programs run during the academic year while providing additional engagement options throughout the entire year. Through peer mentorship, girls experience changes in leadership norms while developing confidence and establishing continuous support networks.
Mentorship is a vital support system that creates empowering connections to help young people develop a sense of value and capability and social connection. National Mentoring Month is a movement that encourages people to strengthen mentorship bonds that positively transform youth lives. Youth with mentors are more likely to engage in regular volunteering, develop leadership, and advance academically and emotionally. The effects of dedicated mentorship show themselves in communities through both national mentoring organizations and cultural mentoring networks.
Teyana Taylor Wins 1st Golden Globe, Shows Love To Black Women In Tearful Acceptance Speech
Taylor won for her lauded role in "One Battle After Another."
Teyana Taylor is now an award-winning actress, taking home her first Golden Globe.
Drawing buzz the entire awards season for her performance in One Battle After Another, Taylor won for Best Female Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture at the Jan. 11 ceremony in Los Angeles. The mother of two, looking fabulous in a Schiaparelli gown, showed love for Black women in her acceptance speech.
Already in tears as she walked to the stage, Taylor began her speech by making a cheeky joke, she said, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
“Wait until you see my party in the back,” joked Taylor as she flashed her backside to reveal a crystal thong.
She followed up by jokingly telling her daughters to pay attention to her big moment. The 35-year-old thanked God and the Golden Globe voters for this honor, as well as her family and “tribe.”
“I almost didn’t even write a speech because I didn’t think I would get [this],” remarked Taylor. “My babies are upstairs watching. Y’all better be off them damn phones and watching me right now…Thank you to the Golden Globe voters for seeing me and reminding me that purpose always finds its moment. “
Taylor, who played Perfidia Beverly Hills in the “Paul ‘Let him cook’ Thomas Anderson” film, thanked the director. “Thank you for your vision, your trust and your brilliance. My gratitude is endless.”
After noting cast-mates and producers that helped bring this project and her inclusion in it to life, Taylor did not leave the stage without shouting out her fellow Black women.
“And Last, and most importantly, to my brown sisters and little brown girls watching tonight, our softness is not a liability. Our depth is not too much. Our light does not need permission to shine. We belong in every room we walk into. Our voices matter, and our dreams deserve space,” concluded the actress.
Several Black women have earned the Golden Globe in this category before. Taylor joins the ranks of Angela Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg, and Regina King.
After Telling Voters Not To ‘Waste’ Donations On Jasmine Crockett, Comedians Apologize
Comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers addressed the backlash after discouraging voters from donating to Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Senate campaign.
Comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers are expressing regret for shading Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett‘s Senate campaign run, after telling fellow Dems not to donate to her campaign.
Rogers addressed the backlash on Jan. 10 via his Instagram Story after criticism erupted over remarks he and Yang made on a recent episode of their Las Culturistas podcast, where they shared opinions on Democratic Party strategy ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
“And don’t waste your money sending to Jasmine Crockett,” Rogers said, with Yang telling his friend, “I must agree.”
Matt Rogers: “Don’t waste your money sending to Jasmine Crockett.”
After swift online backlash, both Rogers and Yang, who recently wrapped his seven-season run on Saturday Night Live, issued apologies for their remarks about Crockett.
“Hey, everybody. I hear the response, and I am taking every bit of it to heart, I promise,” Rogers wrote on Instagram. “Transparency and candor matter to me, especially on the podcast. I’m a very progressive person who cares deeply about winning these elections, but my phrasing was not right. I will be more thoughtful! I really do promise.”
“I have great respect and admiration for Rep. Crockett, and I regret that my words suggested otherwise,” Rogers added. “I just want us to win, and I will be better at finding ways to help.”
Matt Rogers apologizes for his comments on Jasmine Crockett via his Instagram Stories.
Yang appeared to express his regret by reposting Rogers’ statement and adding that he “should not have cursorily weighed in on this. Understanding the platform and will use it more responsibly.”
The episode later featured Rogers explaining his take, telling listeners he doesn’t believe the Democratic lawmaker has a realistic path to winning a Senate seat in GOP-led Texas.
“Let me just qualify the Jasmine Crockett thing. She’s not going to win a Senate seat in Texas, you guys. If Beto O’Rourke couldn’t do it, Jasmine Crockett is not going to do it,” Rogers said. “It’s nothing against her, it’s just that she is a politician, in that she is very well-defined already, and it’s my opinion that we’re going to need someone who is less defined at this moment that rises up.”
Ilhan Omar Turned Away From Oversight Visit To Minnesota ICE Detention Center
Ilhan's denied detention center visit occurred amid heightened tensions in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and two other Democratic members of Congress were denied access to a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility near Minneapolis.
On Jan. 10, Omar of Minnesota was joined by Reps. Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling in St. Paul. There, they attempted to tour an ICE detention center holding immigrant detainees waiting on status determinations.
The representatives said they had prior authorization from a senior local ICE official to conduct oversight of conditions inside the facility. They were initially allowed into the holding area, but authorities then abruptly rescinded access, telling them they could not continue the tour, Omar said, speaking to reporters.
“We were initially invited in to do our Congressional oversight and to exercise our Article I duties,” Omar told reporters after the incident. “When we made it in, it was with the authorization of someone who’s been here for a really long time, who understood that we had a Congressional duty to enter the building and see the facility.”
“Shortly after we were let in, two officials came in and said they received a message that we were no longer allowed to be in the building and that they were rescinding our invitation and denying any further access to the building,” she continued.
Omar condemned the denial of access as a “blatant disregard of the law,” asserting that federal statute and court precedent allow members of Congress to inspect federal detention facilities without advance notice. She said the refusal undermines congressional oversight powers and transparency in detention operations.
MINNESOTA MELTDOWN: Rep. Ilhan Omar accuses the Trump administration of trying to block members of Congress from doing their "oversight duties" after she and other lawmakers were booted from an ICE facility during a surprise visit in Minneapolis. pic.twitter.com/YDNm5m2ARk
Department of Homeland Security DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin cited safety concerns for detainees and staff as the reason for blocking further entry, Fox News reported.
“For the safety of detainees and staff, and in compliance with the agency’s mandate, the Members of Congress were notified that their visit was improper and out of compliance with existing court orders and policies, which mandate that members of Congress must notify ICE at least seven days in advance of Congressional visits,” McLaughlin said.
The denied visit occurred amid heightened tensions in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent. Good’s death, which many see as unjustified, has sparked widespread protests and intensified scrutiny of immigration enforcement tactics. On Jan. 10, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Minneapolis to demand accountability and changes to federal immigration policy.
Calling All Entrepreneurs To the Russell Center In ATL For First Fridays February Workshop Series
RICE has become a staple in the ATL as the hub for the growth of Black businesses, with business owners traveling from all over for a seat at the table.
The Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) in Atlanta is calling for all entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies to participate in the February 2026 installment of its First Fridays Workshop Series, designed to build strong connections between small business owners and corporations, according to a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
The popular program, which resulted in an overwhelming response to the December 2025 session, returns Feb. 6 and is known for its full day of networking and educational lessons with a value-driven approach. With past partnerships including Bank OZK, Fiserv, Atlanta Life Insurance Company, and Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE), the series creates connections between RICE’s strong, growing entrepreneurial network and corporate partners.
In addition, the program is recognized as the driving force behind strategic expertise while creating a sustainable learning environment, spanning topics from financial acumen to business practices.
RICE has become a staple in the ATL as the hub for Black business growth, with business owners traveling from all over for a seat at the table. And it seems the center’s growth is unstoppable. In June 2025, the center opened the Wells Fargo Learning Lab after receiving a $1.5 million grant, according to the Atlanta Voice.
The state-of-the-art center hosted an unveiling attended by Georgia U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitt, and Michael Russell of the Russell Companies. Williams commended the expansion, highlighting the need for it as Black businesses continue to grow. “Small businesses are the backbone of our communities—creating jobs, building generational wealth, and driving opportunity where it’s needed most. When Black businesses succeed, all businesses succeed, and our communities thrive,” the lawmaker said.
“I commend Wells Fargo for investing in that vision, and the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs for continuing to be the model for how we uplift and scale Black entrepreneurship.”
The center is an example of corporate support of small business, as RICE President & CEO Jay Bailey celebrated the financial institution being the first to donate before its headquarters was even completed. “This collaboration with Wells Fargo moves beyond philanthropy—it’s a strategic investment in the people building Atlanta’s future,” he said.
“The Learning Lab is where ideas turn into enterprises, and potential becomes progress. This is Atlanta building its future from the ground up, and RICE is proud to be the foundation.”
As registration is open for the First Friday series, participants can expect access to open-minded expertise alongside the opportunity to expand their network with increased visibility.
