Simone Biles, President Joe iden
by Stacy Jackson

December 1, 2023

Simone Biles Lands Partnership With Athleta Sportswear

Simone Biles and Athleta are again celebrating women with a new holiday campaign featuring leggings, sports bras, and sweatpants.

Olympic gymnast Simone Biles has announced a new campaign with Athleta, and it’s all about the women feeling comfy and balanced.

The Athleta celebrity spokesperson took to Instagram on Nov. 30 to share news about the hoilday campaign.

“Holiday ‘fits coming in strong – and comfy. There’s no time like the present,” Biles captioned a carousel of photos modeling some of her favorites from the line of athletic wear.

Biles showed off her favorite color-coordinated Athleta looks on social media, with hopes of inspiring new ideas for her fans’ winter wardrobes. She posed for the camera in outfits that featured sports bras, leggings and sweatpants.

“I love the intersection of style and performance, and they’re so comfortable, I haven’t wanted to take them off,” Biles said in a press release obtained by E! News.

The holiday campaign features an Athleta Salutation Bodysuit, Conscious Crop Bra and Salutation Stash Mesh Tight, Solace Bra & Ultra High Rise Elation Tight, and Ultimate Longline Bra. The collection boasts a range of toasty, yet bold colors like clover berry, spiced cabernet, toasted brown, and of course, no collection is complete without classic Black.

The Olympian’s Athleta fashion venture is a reminder to her fans to prioritize self-care.

“I know the holidays can be a hectic time, but please remember to continue to prioritize yourself and your well-being through it all,” she said. “For me, I try to balance it all by making sure to spend quality time with my husband and family and making time for my own self-care. I encourage everyone to find what works for you. We only have one life, so treat it with care!”

Biles says she hopes women and girls “stay present” for themselves and find time to welcome balance into their lives this holiday season. The athlete has been an advocate for young girls through her Athleta campaigns.

Earlier this year, BLACK ENTERPRISE covered that Biles dropped her “Because I Can” back-to-school collection with Athleta to make girls feel special and empowered throughout the school year.

Find Biles’ top Athleta picks here.

RELATED CONTENT: Simone Biles Celebrates Husband Jonathan Owens’ First NFL Touchdown On Thanksgiving Day

The game, sexual assault
by Rafael Pena

December 1, 2023

The Game Accused Of Concealing Assets In Sexual Assault Case

Priscilla Rainey, the woman who successfully sued rapper The Game for sexual assault in 2016, claims he's avoiding paying off the settlement.

Priscilla Rainey, the woman who successfully sued rapper The Game for sexual assault in 2016, is accusing him of resorting to deceptive tactics to evade paying the $7 million judgment against him. Rainey alleges that The Game, born Jayceon Terrell Taylor, along with his manager Cash Jones, established a web of shell companies to shield his assets from being seized.

Rainey, a former contestant on The Game’s VH1 dating show, She’s Got Game, alleged that during the show’s filming, the rapper sexually assaulted her. The court awarded Rainey millions in damages, but collecting the money has been arduous.

In her recent court filing obtained by RadarOnline.com, Rainey outlined her case against The Game, Cash Jones, and several companies linked to the rapper, including JTT Holdings, F12 & Associates, 5th Amendment Entertainment, and Pass Go 2 Win LLC.

Rainey has been persistent in her efforts to collect the judgment, filing various lawsuits to access The Game’s royalties and business profits. In her latest lawsuit filed in 2021, Rainey contends that The Game and Jones used these companies to maneuver money and prevent her from seizing it.

The court documents reveal that Rainey has only collected approximately $500,000 out of the $7,130,100 judgment. She alleges that The Game and Jones conspired to transfer and conceal assets through shell companies, making it clear through social media that they have no intention of paying the judgment.

The accusations include claims that The Game transferred ownership of his company to Jones transferred the rights to his trademark to Jones’ company, and transferred the ownership of his mansion to Jones. Rainey argues that these transfers are an attempt to elude financial responsibility.

Rainey asserted in the filing, “No one need guess about [The Game’s] and Jones’ intent to not pay the Judgment owed by [The Game] to Rainey, as they have made it abundantly clear in various social media posts that they never intend to pay a dime to Rainey on her judgment.”

She also challenged the legitimacy of the transfer of The Game’s mansion to Jones, asserting that it was a fraudulent move to obstruct her ability to place a lien on the property. Rainey is now seeking the court’s intervention to rule the home as owned by The Game.

Cash Jones has vehemently denied all allegations of wrongdoing. A trial on this matter is scheduled for the upcoming month, adding another layer to the contentious legal battle between The Game and Priscilla Rainey.

RELATED CONTENT: Diddy Steps Aside As Revolt Chairman Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

T.I. Stands On Business And Steps To Club For Using His and Son King’s Image To Promote Event
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 1, 2023

T.I. Stands On Business And Steps To Club For Using His and Son King’s Image To Promote Event

T.I.'s son isn't the only one who will stand on business. The rapper went viral after confronting a club who used their likenesses on a flyer.

T.I.’s 19-year-old son King isn’t the only member of the family who will stand on business. The rapper went viral after confronting a club who used his and his son’s likeness to promote a party.

A video circulating online showed the moment T.I. visited Atlanta’s Elleven45 Lounge to call the venue out for promoting a party with a flyer that included photos of him and King.

“Na, you can talk to me!” T.I. yells in the clip before directing his attention to a doorman. “Until then, ain’t nothin’ goin’! Ain’t nobody gettin’ nothing goin’. Nothing!”

“Call who you need to call, do what you need to do! Ain’t nothing happenin’. No money, no beers, no-no partyin’, no sections, nothing!” he continued “You put me and mine on the mothafu**in’ flyer, na get me everything. And if you can’t, don’t play with me.”

The “Whatever You Like” rapper issued a final warning before leaving the scene letting the club know how well connected he is in his hometown.

“I don’t know if y’all from here, but n***a, don’t play with me in this city. It’s my mothafu**in’ city,” he exclaimed.

For those wondering about the flyer, it included an image of T.I. choking up his son King in reference to their now-viral dispute that took place last week inside a box suite at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. King became upset with his parents T.I. and Tiny Harris after they called out his claims of growing up in the hood.

When Tiny and T.I. joked about King spending time at his grandmother’s house because she let him suck a pacifier until he was 12, King became enraged and started yelling about how he will “stand on business.” It prompted T.I. to grab his son and remind him, “You can’t do nothing with me.”

Fans and critics have continued referencing the now-viral moment on social media, hence the nightclub trying to use it to promote a party.

RELATED CONTENT: After Public Dispute Goes Viral, T.I. Sticks With Son King Harris

The BOSS Network To Honor Influential Women Of The ‘Divine Nine’ During 2023 ‘Ladies That Lead Conference’
by Stacy Jackson

December 1, 2023

The BOSS Network To Honor Influential Women Of The ‘Divine Nine’ During 2023 ‘Ladies That Lead Conference’

Honorees of this year's virtual conference are women of the 'Divine Nine,' who have demonstrated leadership across their communities.

Women of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc., are preparing to be honored as the BOSS Network hosts its annual “Ladies that Lead Conference” on Dec. 2.

This year’s conference, presented by leading technology company Sage, will offer guests a virtual experience packed with panel discussions, fireside chats, award presentations, networking opportunities, and more as influential women share their stories and strategies for success.

“Our entire BOSS Network team is filled with anticipation about our upcoming Ladies That Lead virtual conference,” BOSS Network CEO Cameka Smith said in a press release.

According to the official website for the event, the designated theme for the 2023 conference is “Leadership is Legacy.”

Honorees of this year’s virtual conference are prestigious women of the “Divine Nine” sororities who have demonstrated exceptional leadership across their communities and the world. “I am personally ecstatic to be able to champion this outstanding slate of honorees–from the head of Chicago’s Urban League to the heads of the Divine Nine’s Black sororities,” the award-winning entrepreneur added.

The 2023 Ladies that Lead Conference honorees include:

  • Elsie Cooke-Holmes, National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated,
  • Rasheeda S. Liberty, National President of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated,
  • Dr. Stacie NC Grant, National President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
  • Danette Anthony Reed, National President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and
  • Donna Jona Anderson, President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated.

A “Special Leadership” honor will be presented to Karen Freeman-Wilson, president of the Chicago Urban League, a group of community leaders committed to achieving equity for Black communities.

The annual conference, which boasts an attendance list of over 500 businesses and entrepreneurs each year, marks one of several events and initiatives the BOSS Network has established as part of its mission to support women entrepreneurs through its online community.

On April 13, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported that the network announced 25 Black women entrepreneurs as recipients of the 2023 Sage Invest in Progress $10,000 grant.

“As our fifteenth anniversary approaches in 2024, I believe that incredible work that BOSS is doing has just begun,” Smith said.

The BOSS Network has supported over 200,000 women of color nationwide. For more information about the conference, visit LadiesThatLeadTour.com or TheBOSSNetwork.org. Saturday’s event will take place from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CST.

RELATED CONTENT: Black History Month: The Divine Nine

Buffalo Bills Linebacker Von Miller Charged with Assaulting Pregnant Woman
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 1, 2023

Buffalo Bills Linebacker Von Miller Charged with Assaulting Pregnant Woman

Von Miller allegedly struck the mother of his children at their Dallas apartment.

Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller has been accused of assaulting a pregnant woman in Dallas.

After the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office issued a domestic violence warrant for his arrest, Miller turned himself in to the Glenn Heights Police Department and was charged with assault of a pregnant person. According to police department, Miller was transported to the DeSoto Regional Jail “where he was booked in without incident, posted bond, and released.”

NFL.com reports that Miller faces a charge of third-degree felony assault of a pregnant woman, which can put him in jail for two to ten years, as well as a $10,000 fine. He was released after posting bail of $5,000 on Nov. 30.

Police say Miller allegedly assaulted the mother of his children, the Associated Press reports. They have been involved for seven years and have three children together. Miller allegedly put his hands on the neck of the woman, pulled out some of her hair, and threw her onto a couch. She was treated for minor injuries, police said.

Police officers were summoned to their apartment Wednesday after they had gotten into an argument. Police said Miller was “visibly angry” when the mother of his children went into the office in the apartment and slammed the door behind her. After telling her to get out, she tried to get her laptop and phone, and Miller allegedly started pushing her.

As he did so, she repeatedly yelled out, “Stop. I’m pregnant,” according to the affidavit. Miller then put his hands on her neck after she fell into a chair, and he put pressure on it for about 3 to 5 seconds, police wrote. Miller then threw her laptop down on the floor and stomped on it. He allegedly pulled out some of her hair and threw her on a couch.

She told him that some of the assault was captured on video. After telling him she was going to contact the police, he left the apartment.

She also disclosed to police officers that she was six weeks pregnant and showed them a picture of a positive pregnancy test. She also revealed a screenshot of a text conversation with Miller telling him the possible due date of the baby and a doctor’s visit.

“This morning, we were made aware of an incident involving Von Miller,” the Buffalo Bills Director of Communications Kevin Kearns said, according to CBS News. “We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at this point.”

The NFL said it was “aware of the matter and have been in contact with the club” and offered no additional comment.

Lenny Kravitz Questions Why He’s ‘Not Celebrated’ By Black Media
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 1, 2023

Lenny Kravitz Questions Why He’s ‘Not Celebrated’ By Black Media

Lenny Kravitz is opening up about the lack of flowers he's received from the Black media despite his massive success in music.

Lenny Kravitz is opening up in the winter issue of Esquire about the lack of flowers he’s received from Black media despite his success in music.

Described as a rock, neo-psychedelia, and progressive soul artist, Kravitz has been highly celebrated for his fusion of rock, funk, and R&B. But despite setting the record for most consecutive Grammy wins in one category by a male performer, Kravitz wonders why he’s rarely been recognized in Black spaces.

He found mainstream success in the early 90s with his first Top 40 album, Mama Said, which featured the hit single, “It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over.” But Kravitz says it still took nearly a decade into his career for Vibe magazine to honor him with a cover.

“To this day, I have not been invited to a BET thing or a Source Awards thing,” he said. “Here is a Black artist who has reintroduced many Black art forms, who has broken down barriers—just like those that came before me broke down. That is positive. And they don’t have anything to say about it?”

His absence in Black media and award shows led him to question why his success wasn’t “celebrated by the folks who run those publications or organizations.”

Born May 26, 1964, as the only child of NBC television news producer Sy Kravitz and actress Roxie Roker (The Jeffersons), Kravitz’s biracial background consists of African-American and Bahamian descent from his late mother and Russian-Jewish origin from his late father. Kravitz has been open about the racism he and his parents experienced growing up in a mixed-race household.

Yet, he imagined his success in music would be embraced by the Black community like his predecessors who inspired him. “I have been that dream and example of what a Black artist can do,” Kravitz said.

It wasn’t just the Black media who would shun the “Fly Away” singer. “There was this one article that, at that time, said, ‘If Lenny Kravitz were white, he would be the next savior of rock ’n’ roll,’” he shared. “I got a lot of negativity thrown at me by all these older white men who weren’t going to let me have that position.”

In the end, Kravitz is “not here for the accolades.”

“I’m here for the experience,” he said.

To date, Kravitz has won many awards, including four straight Grammy awards for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance from 1999 to 2002, and American Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.

He has a single nomination from the BET Soul Train Awards (2018, for the Soul Train Certified award) and has been nominated for his film roles, People reports. He also won an NAACP Image Award for outstanding supporting actor in a motion-picture in 2010 and 2013 for Precious and The Hunger Games along with two Black Reel Awards—best supporting actor for Precious in 2010 and outstanding song for The Butler’s You and I Ain’t No More in 2014.

His genre-bending style of music was ahead of its time but can now be seen regularly through artists like Andre 3000, Childish Gambino, Tyler The Creator, and Pharrell Williams. Kravitz will release his 12th studio album, Blue Electric Light, in March 2024 which will perhaps garner him some nominations at Black award shows.

RELATED CONTENT: Chaka Khan Reflects On Illustrious Career, Bond With Prince Ahead Of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction

Shedeur Sanders Remains Resilient As CU Football Faces Challenges
by Rafael Pena

December 1, 2023

Shedeur Sanders Remains Resilient As CU Football Faces Challenges

In a season marked by challenges for the University of Colorado Buffaloes, quarterback Shedeur Sanders isn't going anywhere.

University of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who experienced a staggering number of sacks in 2023, recently had to sit out the final game against Utah on Nov. 25 due to a fractured back.

Colorado lost 23-17, the team’s sixth straight loss after a blazing start that captured the attention of college football fans everywhere.

Sanders, who has been through a tough year both on and off the field, took to social media to convey a message of reassurance to the fans amid a flurry of player departures and recanted commitments. The team has witnessed a wave of players and recruits expressing their intentions to leave or not join the Colorado football program.

The quarterback’s optimistic post not only provided fans with a glimpse of the player’s resilience but hinted at the team’s positive atmosphere. Shedeur Sanders, following in the footsteps of his renowned head coach, father Deion Sanders, has embodied the spirit of “We coming,” a phrase that set the tone for Colorado’s football season.

As the Buffaloes navigate the complexities of a transitional season under Coach Prime, Shedeur’s message provides a glimmer of hope for the future. With the transfer portal set to open on December 4 and the early signing day for recruits scheduled for December 20, the team anticipates positive developments and potential additions to bolster its ranks.

Keep in mind, Coach Prime’s first season in Boulder after a wildly successful tenure at Jackson State was extremely promising, even if the 4-8 record (after a 2-0 start) doesn’t reflect it. Last year’s team went 1-11, so the Buffaloes won four times as many games as last season and turned the campus into a destination for the media and celebrities. It’s easy to understand why Coach Prime was named the 2023 Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated.

George Santos, Campaign
by Sharelle Burt

December 1, 2023

New York Rep. George Santos Gets The Boot As House Makes Historic Vote To Expel Him

Santos is the sixth House member to ever be expelled in U.S. history and the third since the Civil War.

CNBC reports that Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was expelled from Congress on Dec. 1 for alleged financial crimes and campaign deception.

Lawmakers from both sides of the House aisle voted 311-114 to have the controversial congressman ousted, making him the sixth House member in U.S. history to be given the boot. Now, with Santos no longer in office, the number of House Republicans drops to 221 versus 213 Democrats, narrowing the Republican’s slim lead, which makes it slightly more difficult for the majority to have legislation passed without Democratic support.

According to The Hill, Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Nikema Williams (D-GA) were the only Democrats to vote against his expulsion, while Reps. Al Green (D-TX) and Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) voted present.

It also gives the state of New York a chance to redeem itself with a New Democratic candidate to lead them. According to state law, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) has 10 days to announce a special election to fill Santo’s seat, with a vote coming in late February 2024.

On Twitter, Hochul said she is prepared to do right by the people of the third district. “I am prepared to undertake the solemn responsibility of filling the vacancy in New York’s 3rd District,” the governor wrote. “The people of Long Island deserve nothing less.”

Santos is facing a federal indictment on 23 counts of wire fraud, identity theft, and several other campaign finance charges. Controversy overshadowed his leadership as fellow Republicans looked at him as dragging down the party’s image.

On Nov. 30, fellow New York congressman Rep. Marc Molinaro referred to Santos as his “future former colleague” on the House floor. “Dear God, Mr. Speaker, my future former colleague is divorced from reality,” Molinaro said. “He has manufactured his entire life to defraud the voters of his district and on his choice, for a member of Congress. He has lied to donors and to colleagues, taking advantage of election law, using campaign funds to personally benefit himself. And he has defamed not only his office but the institution itself.”

The vote comes just 24 hours after Santos announced he wanted to issue a resolution to have fellow New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman expelled from Congress, which Bowman called a “meaningless stunt.”

RELATED CONTENT: Disgraced Congressman George Santos Wants To Force A Vote To Expel Rep. Jamaal Bowman

Ghostface Killah, Wu-Tang Clan, Keurig
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 1, 2023

Ghostface Killah Releasing Autobiography In 2024

"Rise of a Killah: My Life in the Wu-Tang" will be released on May 14, 2024

If you haven’t gotten enough of the Wu-Tang Clan, an upcoming memoir will whet your appetite. According to the Macmillan Publishers website, Ghostface Killah, born Dennis David Coles, will release a book on St. Martin’s Press titled Rise of a Killah: My Life in the Wu-Tang next year.

The memoir, which will retail for $35, will also be available in an audio format. The scheduled release date is May 14, 2024.

The book is described as an autobiography that takes us back to his childhood in the Shaolin, as the popular supergroup calls their Staten Island hometown. He will talk about the trials and tribulations he faced growing up on the island as he and his fellow emcees took the world by storm at a time when hip-hop was making its metaphoric rise to the top of American culture.

According to the website, he writes about his family life and how crime and violence in his neighborhood contributed to his life, along with his brothers-in-rhyme. It also features his art and discusses “a formative touring trip to Japan in 1997.”

The recording artist and entrepreneur has just completed a tour with the group, along with Queens legend Nas and Long Island’s own De La Soul.

Last year, in May 2022, Ghostface returned to Staten Island to open a coffee shop, Killah Koffee Shop, in West Brighton, according to SI Live. The opening took place a year after Ghostface and his business partners, Ross Filler and Shawn Wigs, started selling their line of artisanal coffee online. If you can’t make it to Shaolin, order the coffee from the Killah Koffee website. The coffee is made with 100% Arabica beans that are considered reminiscent of the smooth, flamboyant style Ghostface has branded himself since the early 90s.

“Killah Koffee is made with 100% Arabica beans and is reminiscent of the smooth, flamboyant style one can only expect from Ghost,” reads the description of the beverage on the website. Flavors include Marble Cake, Supreme Dark Roast, Marvelous Medium Roast, or Vanilla Milkshake.

RELATED CONTENT: WU TANG’S GHOSTFACE KILLAH OPENS KILLAH KOFFEE SHOP IN STATEN ISLAND

LSU, Tigers, Angel, Reese, four games, sit out, Las Vegas, college, basketball, bayou barbie
by Iman Milner

December 1, 2023

‘I’m A Human, Too’: Angel Reese Returns To LSU

The LSU standout is back and happy, she says.

National champion and elite college basketball player Angel Reese has returned to the LSU Tigers following a controversial absence.

The All-American poured in 19 points in a defeat of Final Four opponent Virginia Tech before hinting at her mental health as a possible reason for her four-game hiatus during the start of the season, USA Today reports.

Before playing on Nov. 30, Reese had missed the previous four games after being benched during the second quarter of the team’s Nov. 14 game against Kent State on Nov. 14.

The 21-year-old addressed the media following the Virginia Tech win. “I’m just super happy to be back with the team” before addressing the pressures that have come with her newfound celebrity.

“I want to people realize that I’m not just an athlete. I’m a human, too. I go through things,” she said. “My mental health is the most important before anything and I’m gonna make sure I’m OK before anything because I don’t wanna cause any harm or cancer in the locker room.”

The six-foot-three forward was thrust into the national spotlight last year due to her athletic prowess and undeniable leadership of a program that faced lofty expectations under the tutelage of storied head coach Kim Mulkey.

After averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds in the 2023 season, Reese earned All-American honors and led her team to a national championship while racking up an unprecedented number of NIL deals. Growing concerns over whether her growing popularity and earning power would negatively affect her focus on basketball came to a head when Mulkey decided to bench the superstar player. However, the newly minted Reebok spokeswoman seemed unfazed by the rumors surrounding her absence from the team.

“Whatever stories that were wrote or written, don’t believe everything you read,” Reese said. “I’m back and I’m happy. I’m here and I’m moving forward. I’m going to take this team and help take this team as far as I can.”

RELATED CONTENT: Angel Reese Back In The Game After Absence

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