Royce Reed Resurfaces Claims Of Being The Original Creator Of ‘Basketball Wives’
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 13, 2023

Royce Reed Resurfaces Claims Of Being The Original Creator Of ‘Basketball Wives’

Royce Reed is still standing on business when it comes to her alleged role in the formation of VH1's hit reality series "Basketball Wives."

Royce Reed is still standing on business when it comes to her alleged role in the formation of VH1’s hit reality series Basketball Wives.

According to the Basketball Wives alum, she was the show’s original creator and not Shaunie O’Neal-Henderson. Reed claims she just didn’t know how to ask for producer credit.

The former Orlando Magic dancer recently appeared on “Reality With The King,” where she took a trip down memory lane on the launch of “BBWives.” Reed, who was fired from the original show for an undisclosed reason, claims O’Neal-Henderson was present but hardly engaged in the initial discussions about the show.

The show was pitched to at least eight networks, with CW being the first major network to show interest in developing the show.

“[Tom] started having me go to all the meetings. I was the one who pitched the show when we went and filmed the little sizzle; I was the only cast member that went to all the stations. I was the only one that was in those meetings. Shaunie wasn’t even there. It was me and Tom,” Reed told Carlos King.

“I was the only cast member who went to those meetings,” Reed added, claiming O’Neal-Henderson “was not there… her friend was there…I think she was, like, doing another show.”

When asked why she didn’t receive producer credit, Reed credited it to her being naive at the time. King went on to ask if Reed believes she created the show.

“Yes; I sold the show,” she declared.

King jokingly replied, saying the show was stolen from her, to which Reed agreed, saying she was “apparently fired.”

This isn’t the first time Reed has made the bold claims. Back in 2013, she shared a lengthy Instagram post explaining her exit from “Basketball Wives” and revealing the real alleged creator of the show.

“The BBW Show idea was that of Tom Huffman, not Shaunie O’neal. Shaunie originally turned down the idea of BBW because she wanted to do her own show with her then-husband Shaquille O’Neal,” Reed wrote, as captured by The Christian Post.

RELATED CONTENT: Dwight Howard’s Ex Royce Reed Surrenders Herself to Authorities For Felony Child Neglect

Jeezy Recalls Being ‘Too Embarrassed To Ask’ About Money Management
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 13, 2023

Jeezy Recalls Being ‘Too Embarrassed To Ask’ About Money Management

Jeezy is all about his bag and businesses. But there was a time when he needed a little pep talk from Jay-Z to take his funds seriously.

Jeezy is all about his bag and businesses. But there was a time when he needed a little pep talk from Jay-Z to take his funds seriously.

The rapper, entrepreneur, and published author recently appeared on “Assets Over Liabilities,” where he recalled his early days in the rap game and slacking on his money management. There was a time when Jeezy took over a year to cash a publishing check due to all the money he had made from hustling.

“You got to talk to John Plant over at Warner because he was the first person that gave me a check for publishing,” Jeezy explained. “I ain’t cash the check for like a year-and-a-half.

“He called me like, ‘What’s going on with the check I gave you?’ ‘I’m a keep it real with you; I left it in some pants, and I think it got faded, and I don’t know where it’s at,'” he added.

It then took a follow-up call from Jay-Z to get Jeezy moving on cashing the publishing check.

“JAY-Z called me like, ‘Yo, you gotta quit playing.’ I was like, ‘Alright, I gotta.’ Now, at the time, when I came in from the streets to music, I was good. I was straight. The music, to me, I was more infatuated that people liked what I was doing.”

Jeezy had such a hustler mentality that he didn’t enter the rap game for the money. He just enjoyed making music that people loved. Once the show money started rolling, the “Thug Motivation” rapper thought he was set and overlooked the paychecks due to all the cash he was receiving.

“I didn’t need the money, so I thought. I just had the bread. Then, I was getting money for shows; it was like taking ice cream from a baby. It was the sweetest sh*t ever,” he said.

Jeezy still didn’t even have a bank account when he released his debut album in 2005.

“When Def Jam gave me my check, I didn’t have an account,” he recalled. “Shoebox, I was just putting checks in the box. I didn’t understand how it worked. I was too embarrassed to ask… By the way, I was paranoid of banks. The first thing I’m thinking is it gon’ be money laundering.”

The Atlanta native signed to Def Jam in 2004 and released his debut album “Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101” the following year. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 172,000 copies in first-week sales and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

RELATED CONTENT: Jeezy And Nia Long Get Candid About Life, Love, And Legacy In One-On-One Chat ‘I‘Might Forgive… But I Don’t Forget’

low-income, postpartum, Medicaid
by Iman Milner

November 13, 2023

Chicago Family Seeking Public Support To Bring Body Of Loved One Back Home For Burial After Sudden Overseas Death

A Chicago family is seeking public support to help bring the remains of their loved one back to the States after her sudden overseas death.

The family of 26-year-old Justice Gatlin is seeking public support to bring her body back home to Chicago following her sudden death in Taipei, Taiwan. The mother of two was traveling with friends to Bali when she died unexpectedly before arrival, Fox 32 Chicago reports. Gatlin’s family needs $37,000 to facilitate the return of her remains to the States.

“Now her body is being held in Taipei, Taiwan, and we’re trying to raise the money to bring our little girl home,” said Gatlin’s father, Donald Eugene Thompson Jr. “There’s going to be a cost as we have to get her body prepared to bring her home. Then there will be a price to bring her back to the airport.” The family has reportedly been in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Taiwan and has managed to raise $12,000 independently in Gatlin’s honor.

According to the U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Consular Affairs, for the remains of a U.S. citizen to be returned to their family, the following documents must be in place: consular mortuary certificate, affidavit of a local funeral director, and a transit permit.

Gatlin’s family has started a GoFundMe to help procure the rest of the funds in hopes that they can truly begin their grieving process. “I want to see my daughter. I want to see my baby. I need this for myself to see my child. I’m trying to just bring her home so I can give her the proper burial that she deserves,” said Gatlin’s mother, Kendra Harris. “If it wasn’t a bang, if it wasn’t another country, with different regulations. It wouldn’t be my daughter. My daughter was sunshine. She was the sweetest person in the world. She is very intelligent.”

It is unclear what Gatlin’s exact cause of death was; however, her family assumes that she suffered a fatal seizure during her travels, Fox 32 Chicago reports.

Marlon Wayans, transgender
by Iman Milner

November 13, 2023

Marlon Wayans Opens Up About Accepting His Child’s Transition, ‘I Want My Kids To Be Free’

Comedian Marlon Wayans spoke openly about his journey to accepting the gender identity of his son, Kai, who is trans.

Comedian Marlon Wayans got personal during an interview on The Breakfast Club on Nov. 10 when he shared details about his journey to accepting his son Kai’s gender identity. Buzzfeed reports that Wayans’ new comedy special Skittles or Rainbow Child chronicles the “painful” road he traveled to embrace all of his children equally.

“I have a daughter that transitioned into a son. My daughter Amai is now Kai, and so, I talk about the transition,” Wayans said. “Not his…their transition but my transition as a parent, going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance.” The Don’t Be A Menace star also shared that he still struggles with Kai’s preferred “they/them” pronouns but works hard to “respect their wishes.” For Wayans, the intention is to help others navigate similar circumstances.

“There’s a lot of parents out there that need to have that message,” he continued. “I know, I’m dealing with it. It was a very painful situation for me, but man, [the special] is one of the best, funniest hours I probably could ever imagine.”

With his admission, Wayans joins the likes of Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union, who were also vocal about the decision their daughter, Zaya, made to transition and how it helped them not only discover their own biases but find new ways to love and support their children.

“I want my kids to be free. I want them to be free in spirit, free in thought, free to be themselves,” Wayans said. “The more you know yourself, the more you can govern yourself, the more you live your truth, the happier your existence. So, if they can’t get that in the household with their father and their mother, how the f*ck do I send them out into the world with that kind of confidence? And I’m just so proud of them for being them.”

As Black men work to push past the ideologies of patriarchy and make room for new gender and sexual expression, fathers like Wade and Wayans are often met with community support as Black LGBTQ+ youth continue to face hurdles in society at large. When the comedian’s comments began to circulate on social media, many applauded his transparency on the situation and his obvious love and respect for Kai.

“This is beautiful & this is the direction, support, and affirming queer people should receive from their parents,” one X user commented. “That right there is unconditional love,” said another.

Nia Renée Hill and Bill Burr
by Stacy Jackson

November 13, 2023

Actress Nia Renée Hill Gives Donald Trump The Double Middle Finger At UFC Match in New York

Video footage shows actress Nia Renee Hill sticking two middle fingers up at Donald Trump and dropping them right before he turns his head.

Cameras spotted a woman who appeared to be actress Nia Renée Hill, the wife of comedian Bill Burr, sticking two middle fingers up in the air during a UFC fight in New York on Nov. 11.

According to footage captured at the event, Hill was flipping off former President Donald Trump. The actress and her husband appeared to have already been seated. Radar Online reported that Trump, a longtime UFC fan, was entering the Madison Square Gardens arena to attend the pay-per-view fight when cameras caught the Old Dads actress flipping the bird.

The incident occurred moments before Diego Lopes and Pat Sabatini faced off in the UFC featherweight fight and struck some nerves from Trump supporters on social media. The post published to X by verified user Still Boneless gathered comments against Hill that described her gesture as “classless” and “trashy.” However, a swarm of X users defended the flip-off. “She represents an entire nation,” one user wrote. Another chimed in and commented, “She isn’t wrong.”

Other users argued that the actress was simply embracing a “badass” moment and flipping off the camera.

“Donald Trump walked into an arena that holds 20,000 people, and 19,999 people were so happy. And then there was Bill Burr’s wife,” The Post Millenial editor Libby Emmons posted. A user commented under Emmons’ post and said Hill is “upset because nobody knows her name and just calls her ‘Bill Burr’s wife.’”

The podcaster has been hit with backlash from his wife’s actions during Saturday’s fight. Instagram users headed over to Burr’s page demanding, “Get your wife under control” and “Check your wife she cost you millions.”

According to a recent anniversary post on the Netflix star’s Instagram page, the two actors celebrated a decade of marriage: “20 years together, 10 years married, 2 children, 1 beautiful life. Happy Anniversary @wilfredburr,” Hill wrote on Oct. 20. Hill, an author and filmmaker, is known for her roles in TV series such as Crashing and Lila, Long Distance. She founded the Tenderheaded Films production company in 2012.

Lil Kim Believes Her Memoir Will Outsell The Bible, Foxy Brown Says Otherwise
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 13, 2023

Lil Kim Believes Her Memoir Will Outsell The Bible, Foxy Brown Says Otherwise

Lil Kim is confident in her upcoming memoir and believes the book has the potential to outsell the Holy Bible.

Lil Kim is confident in her upcoming memoir and believes the book has the potential to outsell the Holy Bible.

The Queen Bee’s first-ever autobiography is slated for a 2024 release, and she’s teasing how well the memoir will perform. According to Lil Kim, the presales of her book The Queen Bee will surpass one of the greatest books in the world.

“My book has been done,” Kim said during an Instagram Live session on Thursday, Nov. 9, captured by XXL.

“When we post our presales, we be surpassing the Bible. And that’s crazy,” she continued. “And the thing is, it’s like the Bible, like I don’t take that lightly. I already know that.”

It’s a bold statement for Kim, considering the Guinness Book of World Records cites the Christian Bible as the “Best-Selling Book” of all time. Research shows that over the last 1,500 years, somewhere between 5 and 7 billion copies of the Bible have been sold.

If Kim doesn’t outsell the Bible, she’s already blaming it on the publishing industry and her Blackness.

“But it’s like some crazy s—t going on behind the scenes,” Kim said. “You have to be really careful when you deal with these book companies because they try to, like, literally take advantage of you. You know I’m a little Black woman.”

The “Jump Off” rapper plans to write her fans a letter to tell them everything that’s been happening behind the scenes.

“Y’all really deserve to know what’s going on,” she said.

Kim received strong responses to the bold promotion of her upcoming memoir. Many mocked Kim’s claims to outsell the Bible. Among the critics were her longtime nemesis, Foxy Brown, who took to her Instagram Story to post the word “BIBLE” and a laughing emoji.

Kim and Foxy have a longstanding feud dating back to the ’90s. If there’s one rapper who likely won’t be supporting Kim’s memoir, it’s Foxy Brown…and maybe even Nicki Minaj.

RELATED CONTENT: UGG And Telfar Unveil Star-Studded “Krinkle” Collection Campaign

Kelly Oubre Jr., crash, Lamborghini
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 13, 2023

After Philadelphia 76ers player, Kelly Oubre Jr. Is Injured In Hit-And-Run, Team Wins 8 Straight Games In His Honor

While walking in downtown Philadelphia near his home, 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. was struck by a car and broke a rib on Nov. 11, in Philadelphia’s Center City.

After the Philadelphia 76ers traded James Harden, the expectation for the team dropped as they lost one of their key players. Yet, they were riding on a 7-1 streak but were given extra motivation for their last game when one of their teammates was injured in a hit-and-run car accident.

NBA.com reported that while walking in downtown Philadelphia near his home, 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. was struck by a car and broke a rib on Nov. 11 in Philadelphia’s Center City. The driver fled the scene. Oubre was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, was listed in stable condition, and released a few hours later.

The newly acquired 76ers player was walking near his home at about 7:20 p.m., and as he was heading west on the street, a gray vehicle that was going “at a high rate of speed” struck him “in the upper chest area with the driver-side mirror,” police said on Nov. 12.

The 76ers played the Indiana Pacers Sunday night, and his teammates pulled through for him, winning their eighth straight victory. Tyrese Maxey had a phenomenal career game as he scored 50 points. Last season’s MVP, Joel Embiid, had 37 points as the team won 137-126.

As Maxey closed in on 50, he stated that Embiid was more anxious than he was to get to that 50 mark.

“Joel wanted me to get 50 more than even I did,” Maxey said after the contest. “When he gave me the ball, he said, ‘You are going to shoot this basketball.’ And that’s why I appreciate my teammates, my coaches, and the fans. It was a great night, and we got the win, which is what matters most.”

Maxey joins “The Answer” Allen Iverson to have scored 50 points while under 23.

Embiid, who also pulled down 13 rebounds, mentioned “K.O.” in comments after the 76ers victory.

“The game today, I’m sure Tyrese was thinking about it, and we were all thinking about it,” Embiid said.” We just want him to take his time, recover, and know that we have his back. He’s needed because he’s a big part of us. We missed him tonight, but he should take his time.

In the locker room after the game, the players acknowledge Oubre during a FaceTime session with the injured player.

The team stated that Oubre would be re-evaluated in about one week.

university of South Carolina, booing, LSU
by Derek Major

November 13, 2023

Gamecocks Coach Dawn Staley Calls Out NCAA Review Of Officiating In National Championship

South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley does not want the NCAA Review of Officiating of the National Championship game last season to keep those officials from other prominent assignments in the future.

South Carolina Gamecocks Head Coach Dawn Staley does not want the NCAA Review of Officiating of the National Championship game last season to keep those officials from other prominent assignments in the future.

The Grio reports the NCAA review of officiating in LSU’s 102-85 win over Iowa in April that gave the Tigers their first national championship was below expectations. Staley, whose Gamecocks lost to Iowa in the Final Four semifinal, said she hoped the review wouldn’t keep the officials from prominent games in the future.

The NCAA did not release its officiating report from the game. Instead, it shared general conclusions from the game and did not publicly release the names of the officials who worked the game, according to the outlet.

This wasn’t the first time the three-time Olympic gold medalist commented on officiating in the National Championship game. In May, Staley was on The Pivot podcast hosted by former NFL players Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder, and Fred Taylor and said she wasn’t sure if the narrative behind the game was “two Black officials or just because it was bad officiating, but I know what’s going to happen to those two officials … I’ve got to look out for them too because that’s the way it is.”

Staley, who has won two national titles in South Carolina and coached numerous players in the WNBA, is an unabashed supporter of Black women. Before the Gamecocks opened their season in Paris earlier this month against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Staley asked organizers to seek a Black female coach to be the opponent, leading to the selection of Notre Dame, coached by a Black woman, Niele Ivey.

After the Gamecocks 100-71 win. Staley ensured her team looked respectful during the photo commemorating the victory.

auto theft ring, cadillac, 1999, tow truck, grandmother
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 13, 2023

Video Reveals Tow Truck Driver Repossessing Dying Man’s Vehicle Right After Cops Allegedly Shoot Him

Stephen Perkin's neighbor disclosed that police didn't have good lighting when they assumed he had a gun.

A neighbor’s video surveillance footage of an interaction between an Alabama father, police, and a repo man emerged on Nov. 4.

In an incident that occurred on Sept. 29, 39-year-old Stephen Perkins was allegedly shot and killed by police officers in Decatur, Alabama, outside his home. As he lay dying, the repo man— who had gone to the house earlier—confiscated his truck.

According to the New York Post, recently released surveillance footage captured the tow truck driver taking the dead man’s vehicle immediately after officers allegedly shot Perkins. Police claimed the family man brandished a firearm before a cop fired 18 shots at the 39-year-old patriarch. Seven bullets hit him. Perkins’ family disputed the claim that he was so far behind in payments that the truck was being repossessed.

After the shooting, police officers claimed that Perkins pointed a gun at the officer who shot him. Video footage revealed that Perkins had a flashlight in his hand when they approached, but the officers allege that he had a gun mounted to the flashlight. There was no mention of a weapon being recovered.

In the initial report of the shooting, Decatur police spokeswoman Irene Cardenas-Martinez claimed that the officers gave Perkins first aid before the ambulance arrived.

“Officers on scene provided Mr. Perkins with medical aid before he was transported to the hospital,” she stated. “An officer retrieved a medical pack and began assessing his injuries while other officers applied pressure to the wounds and applied a tourniquet to one of his legs before medics arrived.”

Yet, the video does not show any of that taking place. The family disputes that, and a neighbor also stated that she did not witness those alleged actions. The Perkins family said that he was ambushed by the police officers who never gave him a chance to comply with instructions to get on the ground, as they fired at him almost immediately upon confronting him.

Family spokesperson Brenton Lipscomb told NBC News, “From the immediate footage that we’re seeing, it looked like an ambush of him not even knowing who was in his yard. They were in uniform, but it’s a very dark neighborhood. No police cars were in front of the house. They were parked down the street, hiding in neighborhoods’ yards, hiding around the house.”

Susan Capps, who lives across the street, told a different story concerning the event. It was the footage from her security camera that was recently released.

“I stood outside the whole time, and I saw them pat him down. I did not see them render any first aid. All I kept hearing was, ‘Put the gun down. Put the gun down.’ I saw him move one arm slightly and heard him say, ‘Help.’ I saw his arm move like up toward his head, and then I didn’t see him move again,” the neighbor said.

“And then I heard an officer call and say he ‘needed an ambulance ASAP,’ and then a little later I heard him say ‘he’s out.’”

Capps also stated that she asked one of the officers about Perkins, and the person allegedly lied and told her that he was fine.

News 19 reported that the Decatur Police Department said an investigation of the incident was completed. Chief Todd Pinion will review the findings and determine if disciplinary actions will be taken. Pinion then said he would give his recommendation to Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling.

The police officer who shot Perkins has been placed on leave while the incident is under investigation by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Tim scott, GOP, Black Jobs, Trump, Black republicans, Black voters
by Sharelle Burt

November 13, 2023

Republican Tim Scott Drops Out 2024 Presidential Race On Live Television

After the last debate, Tim Scott called it quits.

As of Nov. 12, Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is done with his presidential bid.

Scott sat down virtually with Fox News’ Trey Gowdy for an interview while fighting the flu. During the conversation, Scott dropped a bombshell that caught Gowdy entirely off guard, announcing that it won’t be as a presidential candidate the next time he visits Iowa.

“When I return to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate,” Scott said. “I am suspending my campaign. I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear that they’re telling me: not now.”

Not only was Gowdy, a former GOP representative, surprised, but so was Scott’s staff. Several staff members said they learned about the campaign suspension at the same time the world did. Before his announcement, the senator’s campaign sent out another fundraising email.

“We want to give you ONE LAST CHANCE to donate this weekend and help Tim reach his campaign goal,” the email read. “Can you chip in to help Tim win?”

Scott’s withdrawal from the presidential race comes a few days after the third Republican debate on Nov. 8 in Miami. During his campaign, launched in May 2023, Scott had been trying to catch up to the 2024 frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, who is still leading by large margins in primary polls in key states like Iowa. According to a poll from NBC News, Des Moines, and Mediacom, Scott garnered 7% support, which put him in fourth place.

Scott’s campaign took a lot of hits over the past few months. His campaign and super PAC spent nearly $25 million on ads in Iowa and other early states to highlight him as an optimistic conservative. However, money grew tight, and his poll numbers began to dip.

Former South Carolina governor and presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who just jumped to second place in early-state primary polls, celebrated Scott’s efforts on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Tim Scott is a good man of faith and an inspiration to so many,” she wrote. “The Republican primary was made better by his participation in it. South Carolina is blessed to continue to have him as our senator.”

Scott is the second candidate to drop out of the race, behind former Vice President Mike Pence, according to the Associated Press. Pence announced his withdrawal in October 2023 during an appearance at a Republican Jewish Coalition gathering in Las Vegas, saying, “This is not my time.” When asked who he will support moving forward, Scott said he’s not prepared to endorse any of his remaining Republican rivals.

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