Adidas Postpones Plans To Sell Another Round Of Yeezys
Kanye West is still getting backlash from his controversial 2022 interview on Drink Champs, during which the music producer made antisemitic statements, which he also made on social media.
At the time, sportswear giant Adidas severed ties with him, ending a longstanding and highly profitable partnership. Several months later, with sales dropping after discontinuing West’s Yeezy brand, Adidas executives decided to sell the remaining supply of Yeezys. This lead to a windfall for the sneaker company, boosting its sagging bottom line.
According to Complex, an internal memo from Adidas revealed that the company has decided to postpone the expected November release of Yeezys. Sources have speculated that the sale of the popular sneakers has been paused due to the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.
“As a brand we will not do a new drop for the remainder of the year both for our internal e-com and retail as well as wholesale,” the internal message reads. “We will not be shipping out any new stock, this direction was given at the board level.”
Adidas was expected to release another set of Yeezys, “Bone,” “Onyx,” and “Zebra” colorways of the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2. Also, Adidas’ Yeezy 500 and 700 models were supposed to go on sale.
Business Insider reported that the sports brand received orders worth 508 million euros ($564 million), when the company reversed its decision to destroy the remaining supply. Adidas initially planned to write the Yeezy product off for $500 million. Shareholder pressure made the company change direction earlier in 2023.
After Adidas had been in a successful business relationship with Ye for almost 10 years he dared the apparel company to act when he said, “I can say anti-Semitic things, and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what?”
That led to Adidas seemingly calling Ye’s bluff and terminating the contract.
As Texas Expands Maternal Mortality Committee Some Worry New Qualification Might Exclude Certain Advocates
Texas maternal health advocates are concerned that a new qualification for members of its maternal mortality review committee to have experience in a relevant “health care field” might exclude people who are otherwise qualified.
According to the Houston Chronicle the state will expand its volunteer Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Committee to investigate pregnancy-related deaths and illnesses. Some are worried the committee’s new professional qualification added in September 2023 might result in the current community advocate Nakeenya Wilson being replaced with someone who is not as “in touch” with the communities that have been impacted the most negatively.
Certified nurse midwife, Dinah Waranch, shared her reservations at one of the committee’s meetings, according to the Houston Chronicle. “A community member with experience in a relevant health care field may not have the same grassroots engagement with the public.” Waranch also said, “And I would be sorry if the community position now occupied by Nakeenya Wilson were taken by someone not as in touch with our women’s public health advocates on the ground.”
Wilson is involved with the community in more ways than one. According to Restore Family Support Services, Wilson volunteers with a number of organizations in Austin including, Impact Austin, I Live Here I Give Here, Black Austin-Mamas, and Black Families of Hutto, among others. The nonprofit director is required to reapply to the community advocate position with the maternal mortality review committee despite her term ending in 2027. However, Wilson is less worried about losing her position, according to the Houston Chronicle. She said her concerns are “less about me and more about who it will be.”
Executive director of Shades of Blue Kay Matthews, an advocate for maternal health care for Blacks echoed Wilson’s qualms. Matthews said according to the outlet, “I felt like (the committee) had taken steps in the right direction. But now I feel like we’re going back to what got us to this point, not being able to have the right people at the table.”
The outlet noted that in 2022 Wilson was outspoken about Texas’ decision to delay the release of maternal death data. It also reported that Texas ranked above the national average for the highest maternal mortality rate. The U.S. has the highest rate among developed countries, according to The Commonwealth Fund.
Jamaica’s Women’s World Cup Team Refuses To Play In International Games, Taking ‘Drastic Stance’ Against Football Federation
Jamaica’s Women’s World Cup team announced plans to take a “drastic stance” against the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) over a dispute for alleged nonpayment, as well as poor management, by refusing to suit up for upcoming international competition, CNN reported.
In a statement shared by team leaders, striker Khadija Shaw and captain Allyson Swaby, as well as other core members of the World Cup-qualifying squad, the players outlined what they feel is mistreatment from the federation and announced that they would not be representing their country in international games, slated to begin on October 25.
“It is with great disappointment we share that the 2023 World Cup roster will not be participating in the upcoming October international window for the first-ever Women’s Gold Cup Qualifiers,” the statement reads. “While this has been one of the hardest decisions we have had to make, we feel it necessary to take such a drastic stance to put an end to the constant mistreatment we receive from the Jamaica Football Federation.”
The players also stated a failure by the federation to present pertinent information regarding coaching, medical, and equipment staff in a timely fashion amongst reasons for their strike, including the naming of the team’s head coach for the tournament.
“We have yet to receive full and correct payments for our historical performances at the World Cup and the numerous outstanding bonuses for qualifying in the summer of 2022,” the statement reads. The team made history this year when they became the first-ever Caribbean nation to advance to the knockout phase of the tournament.
The Jamaica Football Federation offered its take on the matter alongside a suspension of any “selection of the players in question” to represent the country.
“The JFF is eager to clear up all the concerns that team members may have in accordance with the contracts,” the organization said per CNN. “If there is a grievance or concern, this must be placed squarely on the table to be addressed and documented to the JFF.”
The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office in Atlanta has reportedly located potential evidence turned over to them in 2020 by Jacque Hollander, an associate of the late singer. The contents of a green plastic bin, including a black stiletto shoe and a handwritten note, were said to hold proof that Brown’s cause of death was murder. Now that they’ve been found, Hollander’s attorney, Michael Iasparro, requests that the FBI further investigate the ominous happenings surrounding the case.
“What happened to James Brown is, he was murdered for money,” Hollander has said about the funk pioneer’s death.
It was this belief that led her to submit the aforementioned green bin to the office of then-District Attorney Paul Howard in 2020, according to ESSENCE. Howard promised that a team of investigators would be tasked with interviewing six potential witnesses—who were named by Hollander—and make a later decision on how to proceed at a later date. However, Howard’s successor, Fani Willis, would decide to close any further inquiry into the case the very next year, the outlet reports.
When Hollander put in a request to have all evidence returned to her possession, a response was given from the district attorney’s office that was followed by insufficient action. “We have shipped the items requested,” Assistant Chief of Evidence William Chris Clark allegedly responded.
However, Hollander claims that instead of her original items, she was sent a cardboard box filled with newspaper clippings and two cell phones she did not recognize.
Early this year, after suing the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, Hollander’s evidence was returned, seemingly untouched. “You can tell that no one ever, ever even looked at this evidence,” she said. Still, questions remain about the DA office’s conduct regarding the items as well as the circumstances surrounding Brown’s death, which the FBI contends they are not at liberty to answer. “Department of Justice policy prevents the FBI from commenting on the existence, non-existence, or nature of any investigation that may be occurring,” said Special Agent and Public Affairs Officer Siobhan Johnson.
The “Superbad” singer died on Christmas Day 2006 after suffering from a heart attack and having fluid in his lungs.
GoFundMe Refunds Donors After Iowa Woman Faked Cancer Story
Individuals who thought they supported a good cause are reimbursed after 20-year-old Madison Russo allegedly scammed donors with a “fake” cancer story.
Russo scammed donors out of $37,000 by falsely claiming she was battling pancreatic cancer and a tumor “the size of a football.” The deceptive dame allegedly schemed over 400 people who donated to support her “battle” with pancreatic cancer. According to The Associated Press, the Iowa woman used TikTok, GoFundMe, Facebook, and LinkedIn to scam people into donating. In court on Oct. 20, Russo, who pleaded guilty in June to first-degree theft, dodged a prison sentence but was ordered to pay $39,000 in restitution with an additional $1,370 fine.
“Through this scheme, you deceived your friends, your family, your community, other cancer victims, charities, and strangers who were motivated by your supposedly tragic story to donate to help support you,” Judge John Telleen said.
Instead of a 10-year prison sentence, Russo was given three years of probation. The sentence includes 100 community service hours, and she is expected to stay out of trouble during her probation.
The Bettendorf woman told the court that she lied to get the attention of her dysfunctional family. “I didn’t do this for money or greed,” she said. “I did this as an attempt to get my family back together.” Scott County prosecutor Kelly Cunningham suggested against the prison sentence and noted Russo’s clean criminal record, employment status, and exceptional standing in college. Cunningham said the woman was “unlikely to re-offend.”
The woman was caught red-handed after medical professionals noticed things weren’t adding up with her story. Police arrested her in January after medical records confirmed she had never been diagnosed with cancer.
“I fully acknowledge what I did was wrong. And I’m incredibly sorry,” she said. “If there was anything I could do to take it back, I would. The reality is I can’t.”
Father and Son Convicted in Massive Lottery Money Laundering Operation
Ali Jaafar received a five-year prison sentence, and his son, Yousef Jaafar, was sentenced to over four years for money laundering the state’s lottery system. The duo was also ordered to pay $6 million in restitution and forfeit their ill-gotten gains.
A Massachusetts family, with the help of a network of convenience store owners and so-called “ten percenters,” executed what authorities have dubbed “the biggest money laundering operation that the lottery has seen.” Ali, 63, and his son Yousef, 29, faced a federal jury’s verdict in December 2022 on multiple tax evasion and money laundering charges.
The Lottery Scheme Unveiled
The family’s foray into the world of high-stakes lotteries was motivated by unknown reasons. By 2011, Ali was claiming significant sums of money from lottery tickets, with winnings soaring to $1.3 million in 2013. During this period, Yousef and his brother, Mohamed Jafaar, became part of the operation.
Their strategy involved a common practice known as “ten percenting.” Middlemen, often referred to as “ten percenters,” would purchase winning tickets for a predetermined fee in cash, enabling the original winner to receive their winnings discreetly and avoid tax liabilities. The practice, which the law considers tax evasion, saw these middlemen misrepresent their gambling losses on tax returns or provide false identification.
Investigations into such activities prompted a crackdown on high-frequency winners by the lottery commission, leading to the suspension of the Jaafars in May 2019. This prompted a thorough investigation, focusing on the family’s activities, which provided grounds for a potential money laundering case.
In the summer of 2020, Yousef’s attempt to cash more winning tickets triggered a confrontation with Dan O’Neil, a lottery official. However, the official refused to authorize the payments, leading to a standoff.
Mohamed Jaafar eventually decided to cooperate with federal prosecutors in November. In December, a federal jury convicted the father and son duo, followed by their sentencing. The family was found to have paid the owners of multiple lottery ticket-selling stores to facilitate their operations. The state lottery commission has taken measures to revoke or suspend the licenses of over 40 lottery agents connected to the scheme.
According to the Associated Press, the family is disappointed in the City of Akron for the lack of communication. Their attorney, Bobby DiCello, told WKYC-TV of their feelings of abandonment, saying city leaders “never once reached out to discuss the employment of the eight officers or explain why the officers are being reinstated.”
According to the Akron Police Department, officers tried to pull Walker over for a minor equipment violation. Walker allegedly failed to stop, and approximately 40 seconds into the chase, he fired a shot from his vehicle. Dave Yost, the Ohio Attorney General, indicated that the state’s investigation found that Walker allegedly jumped out of the moving car, ran from the police, and didn’t stop or show hands when commanded. Yost also said some of the officers used tasers to stop Walker at first, but when he reached toward his waistband, they assumed he had a gun and fired shots.
A Summit County grand jury declined to indict the officers in April 2023, at which time Yost said, “The grand jury concluded officers were legally justified in their use of force.”
However, Yost also admitted that the body camera video was “especially grievous to watch” before ultimately justifying the grand jury’s choice by saying, “It is unusual, although hardly unprecedented, to have this many officers firing their weapon simultaneously at a single subject.
“The sheer number of shots is one of the things that makes the video so hard to watch,” Yost said. “That being said, it is critical to remember Mr. Walker had fired on the police and that he shot first.” As Black Enterprise reported, the family filed a federal lawsuit shortly following the grand jury’s choice not to indict any of the officers involved in Walker’s killing.
The NAACP requested that the Justice Department open a civil rights investigation, but the department’s only response was that they were monitoring the case. Ohio Rep. Emilia Sykes said that she would ask the Justice Department to perform a “pattern or practice” investigation of the Akron Police Department.
Another family attorney, Paige White, said of the grand jury decision, “Jayland was stopped because he was Black, he was murdered because he was Black, and there is no indictment today because he is Black.”
Richard Roundtree Dies At 81, Fellow Actors Pay Tribute
Richard Roundtree, known for his role in Shaft, has died at 81, as announced by his representatives on Oct. 25. In remembrance of the late star, fellow actors, including modern-day Shaft star Samuel L. Jackson, paid tribute to his legacy amid the news of his death from pancreatic cancer.
Roundtree was known for taking on the original role in the 1971 crime thriller, known for its contribution to the blaxploitation film genre. The late actor played the role of private detective John Shaft, taking on cases primarily in Harlem, New York, in all of its subsequent movies and television shows until 2019.
Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Roundtree’s son in the film, shared with his over 8 million followers his love for the “best to ever do it.” The photo displays an image from one of the Shaft sequels, featuring not only the father and son duo but the new generation’s Shaft as well, portrayed by Jessie T. Usher.
“Richard Roundtree, The Prototype, The Best To Ever Do It,” expressed Jackson of his former co-star. “SHAFT, as we know it, is & will always be His Creation!! His passing leaves a deep hole not only in my heart but I’m sure a lotta y’all’s, too.”
Gabrielle Union, who also worked with Roundtree on her television show Being Mary Jane, expressed her sorrow over losing “the coolest man in the room.”
Working with Richard Roundtree was a dream. Getting to hang with him & our Being Mary Jane family was always a good ass time with the best stories & laughs. He was ALWAYS the coolest man in the room with the BEST vibes & ppl would literally run over to come see him. He was simply… pic.twitter.com/1N8fHVDsA6
“Working with Richard Roundtree was a dream. Getting to hang with him & our Being Mary Jane family was always a good ass time with the best stories & laughs. He was ALWAYS the coolest man in the room with the BEST vibes & [people] would literally run over to come see him. He was simply the best & we all loved him,” shared the actress.
The New York native battled cancer throughout his career. Roundtree underwent chemotherapy and a double mastectomy for breast cancer in 1993. However, his later diagnosis of pancreatic cancer led to his death this October. Other Black actors, including Taraji P. Henson and Sheryl Lee Ralph, also paid tribute to the actor and his storied career.
Of his legacy and impact on the film industry, Varietyreleased a statement made by his manager, Patrick McMinn.
“Richard’s work and career served as a turning point for African-American leading men in film. The impact he had on the industry cannot be overstated.”
WHO Said That? O.J. Simpson In Hot Water Over Comments About Taylor Swift And Brittney Mahomes
Former NFL star O.J. Simpson has become infamous for outlandish remarks made during his stint as co-host of the It Is What It Is YouTube show with Cam’ron, Ma$e, and Treasure “Stat Baby” Wilson. However, his latest commentary on the budding friendship between Taylor Swift and the wife of Patrick Mahomes, Brittney, has the polarizing figure in hot water, Men’s Journal reports.
This man OJ Simpson said he was a little turned on by Taylor Swift & Brittany Mahomes handshake 😭💀
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) October 24, 2023
Swift and Mahomes have been thrust into the NFL sphere by way of the former’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The two women, in support of their partners, have even created a celebratory handshake; which cameras captured during the Chiefs vs. Chargers game on Oct. 22. For a little pizazz, the duo added a chest bump that seems to have given Simpson an afternoon delight. When questioned about the touchdown celebration by It Is What It Is host Ma$e, the Heisman winner failed to contain his excitement. “I didn’t know who the other girl [Mahomes] was, but I thought it was interesting. I was thinking the same thing you was thinking,” Simpson responded. “Their boulders was hitting each other, you know. It was a little bit of a turn-on. [A] little turn-on.”
Following the episode’s airing on Oct. 23, social media was abuzz with responses to Simpson’s comments. “Chiefs need to step up security immediately,’ one X user responded. “Oj simpson saying he was turned on by brittany mahomes and taylor swift handshake chest bump is SO weird,” commented another. Still, some found the clip to be hilarious proof of Simpson’s never-ending ability to talk himself into headline. “Oj saying this with the [USC] Trojans sweatshirt on is funny af,” a X user posted. “The jokes write themselves for this one,” said another.
SiriusXM And Pandora Turn Up The Volume At HBCU Homecoming Events
College-branded cropped sweaters, camo paints, and airbrushed bucket hats painted the scene Oct. 23 as nearly 3,000 college students swagged and surfed at The HBCU PopOut, hosted by SiriusXM The Heat’s Swaggy Sie, featuring DJ Jazzy T from Pandora Now.
In collaboration with Morehouse College, SiriusXM and Pandora brought an exclusive activation to Morehouse and the Atlanta University Center during this week’s homecoming festivities, which featured an evening full of music, giveaways, and an exclusive performance by Grammy-award winning Roc Nation artist Ambré.
“There’s homecoming at a lot of schools and then there’s homecoming at HBCUs, and we are so happy to be able to play a small part,” Nicole Hughey, senior vice president, head of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and social impact at SiriusXM/Pandora, told BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Hughey was recently interviewed on BE’s HBCU-focused podcast “Class Is in Session” to discuss the various ways her company is turning up the volume to uplift HBCU culture and Black voices, artists, and creators: inside the workplace and outside in the community. The HBCU PopOut at Morehouse is one of many such events.
Promoting HBCU Culture On & Off the Air
Hughey describes SiriusXM as the leading audio entertainment company in North America with three audio businesses: the flagship subscription business (SiriusXM); ad-supported, premium music streaming (Pandora); and an extensive podcast network. There are channels devoted specifically to HBCUs.
“We understand the nuances of our audiences, and so when we think about young and diverse talent, HBCUs hands down become a prime entertainment opportunity for us,” she said.
Hughey has worked in three different industries in DE&I for nearly 20 years, but so far enjoys this work in audio entertainment the most.
“To do it at a place like SiriusXM where the music is very near and dear to me…where DE&I—which really speaks to the broadness of perspective—shows up in our content,” Hughey told BE.
“From old-school to new-school to jazz, we do it all, because we know HBCU students represent all types of interesting ideas and thoughts when it comes to their music,” she said.
It’s more than just good music and vibes: Hughey said her company amplifies Black voices and content creators by fostering career pathways for Black college students interested in entertainment technology and by supporting community events. The Pathways Program provides recent HBCU grads and early-career professionals a yearlong training and mentorship program.
In August, SiriusXM and Pandora hosted “For the Love,” an interactive event through SiriusXM Cares, where hundreds of kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens learned about the history of hip-hop at the culmination of their summer youth employment program. Hughey’s company, in partnership with Cricket Wireless, presented the Boys & Girls Club with a $20,000 check, and legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan served as musical headliners.
“We’re serious about the community, and we touch the community in various ways,” Hughey said
HBCU Homecoming Events Continue
In case you missed The HBCU PopOut, there are still opportunities to join the homecoming fun:
On Oct. 26, AUC students, staff and faculty can attend the Target Beyond Brilliance Fashion Mixer Powered by SiriusXM and Pandora ahead of the annual HBCU Fashion Show, showcasing Target’s Black-owned or -designed fashion brands, beauty and haircare brand giveaways, and food hosted by Black-owned eateries.
Ambré’s interview and performance will air as a takeover on Pandora’s HBCU Dream to Be station, debuting Nov. 3.
SiriusXM listeners will also hear the performance on SiriusXM’s The Heat (ch. 46) Nov. 6.
“We’re really intentional about making sure we’re connecting the experience wholistically because we know we are not a monolith. Our experiences vary and we are so multifaceted,” Hughey said, “so anytime we can connect the dots on all of those pieces, we are doing good.”
