Snoop Dogg Reveals New Partnership With The Children’s Place
Snoop Dogg is getting The Children’s Place some new swag. The hip-hop icon will be part of the clothing company’s holiday campaign that celebrates music, family, and, of course, fashion.
“The Snoop Dogg Holiday Collection” invites three generations of the rapper’s family to take part in the festivities. The new campaign features Snoop and his wife, Shante Broadus, with their children, grandchildren, and dog Charlie as they gather round for the holiday season.
The news was celebrated with an Oct. 3 commercial titled “An Iconic Holiday Part 2” that showcases the entrepreneur’s family decked out in “head to toe swag” while decking the halls with joy.
In true fashion, patriarch Snoop Dogg is playing Santa, complete with matching pajamas for all as they enjoy dinner.
“Got me the family decked out head to toe for the Christmas season—the grand-babies, too. The host with the most learns from the best,” the legendary artist says as he nods to his wife of over two decades.
The Children’s Place cheered on their newest face in a comment underneath the post.
“Iconic family in some iconic holidays looks,” shared the brand.
“Familyiseverything,” expressed Snoop Dogg, a father of four. “Workingwithfamilyistrulyablessing.HavingShante,my kids,andmygrand-babiespartofthisholidaycampaignisnothingshortof incredible.”
The entire collection will feature formal wear and comfortable sleep sets to fit all members of the family so those holiday photos remain timeless. The introduction of beloved icon and his family dressed in this new assortment hopes to spark stylish cheer to millennial families nationwide.
To feel “festive and fly” like the California native himself, buy the new Snoop Dogg collection for The Children’s Place, which is available now.
Malika Andrews Granted Restraining Order Against Crazed Stalker Of ESPN Talent
ESPN anchor and NBA Today host Malika Andrews has been granted a restraining order against a man accused of stalking the sports journalist and her coworkers, including Stephen A. Smith.
The 28-year-old TV personality asked a Los Angeles judge to order Ahmed Abubakar to stay 100 yards away from her and her fiancé, reporter Dave McMenamin, and fellow ESPN talent. The temporary restraining order was granted mere hours after the petition was filed.
Andrews alleges that the 41-year-old New Jersey man began sending her direct messages via Twitter in September 2022. When Abubakar’s attempts at communicating with her went ignored, Andrews claims the man’s messages became menacing. The accused allegedly traveled to Los Angeles to make contact with Andrews and other ESPN on-air talent at the network’s facility.
“You malignant c*nt. You work 1 hour today. You didn’t even tell me you were going to a fu**ing wedding. You keep so many fu**ing secrets from me,” one of the messages Abubakar allegedly sent to Andrews reads.
“As a friend you treat everyone well except for me. You are great on camera and also off camera with most friends except me. Why you treat me like s**t as a friend.”
According to TMZ, Abubakar was allegedly arrested for attempting to make contact with ESPN’s First Take host Molly Qerim at her Connecticut residence back in August. Andrews claims that Stephen A. Smith has been another target of Abubakar in recent months. Andrews alleges that the 41-year-old located her unlisted personal phone number, which he used to further his unwanted communication with the journalist by placing several phone calls throughout the summer.
“You lied to police you b***h saying you never met me,” another alleged message from Abubakar to Andrews reads. “I hope endometriosis destroys all your genital organs so you never get a man, and you[r] sickening obsession with money.”
Atlanta’s Water Boys Make A Business Out Of A Childhood Hustle
Atlanta is known for its many enterprises, and its local water boys are among its most known cultural elements. Three of these young entrepreneurs have turned the everyday hustle into a viable business that does more than make some extra cash.
Three Atlanta adolescents have turned their after-school gig into Water Boyz ‘N the Hood, a brand that references the classic 1991 film.
11Alive spoke to Amir, Serg and Mekhi on how they found a way to make their brand about communal support and entrepreneurship. What was once boys selling water bottles on the side of the road has catapulted into all types of merchandise, including hoodies, hats, T-shirts, and now branded bottles of water.
The water boys’ efforts are not stopping with new marketing. They’re visiting water plants to gain knowledge on the distribution of safe, clean water to their communities. Not only are the sales connecting them to learn more of the industry they are undoubtedly are part of, but also to gain funding to support their families.
“It did make me feel good,” shared Serg. “I can buy my mom on my brother something. I could buy my family something, and it won’t hurt me.”
A former water boy, filmmaker Greg Williams, has chosen to film their lives and what it means to make a brand for oneself out of this seemingly simple idea.
“The bottle is way bigger than just part of their hustle, a water boy’s story is bigger than just a bottle,” Williams said.
While the many waters boys across the city are trying to find legal ways to make money, their services are not always conducted with a smile on everyone’s face. The safety of both seller and patron has been a growing risk, with the boys venturing out onto busy streets at a young age, as well as the scams tweens can push onto unsuspecting customers.
However, this cohort of aspiring salesmen seeks to reduce that stigma by creating a brand that uplifts the tradition and celebrates their hardworking hustle.
The impact that water has had for this pioneering trio has been quite lucrative, as the money amassed can have a profit of hundreds from a $5 case of water.
Now, it’s allowing them to buy into their dreams and begin a new legacy for the group.
Amid A Racial Reckoning On Museums, Penn Museum Will No Longer Display Human Remains
The Penn Museum in Philadelphia announced Oct. 2 that it will no longer display visible human remains such as bones, teeth, and hair. As NPR reports, the change comes as museums face criticism over how they procured human remains from Black and indigenous peoples to put them on public display.
In April 2021, the museum formally apologized for including the skulls of Black people that the museum acquired in an unethical manner. Christopher Woods, the museum’s director, said in a statement at the time:
“The Penn Museum and the University of Pennsylvania apologize for the unethical possession of human remains in the Morton Collection. It is time for these individuals to be returned to their ancestral communities, wherever possible, as a step toward atonement and repair for the racist and colonial practices that were integral to the formation of these collections.”
Regarding the more recent move, Woods told NPR, “It’s about prioritizing human dignity and the wishes of descent communities. We want to make sure that these are our front and center of how the museum operates.”
Woods said that the school would continue using human remains in its advanced classes, but the museum would not be putting those remains on public view.
Penn’s policy is so far the most radical of any museum in the world. Others, such as the British Museum, have created ethical policies regarding human remains but still allow them to be displayed.
Another Philadelphia museum, the Mütter Museum at the College of Physicians, is famous for its extensive collection of diseased human remains, but announced an Oct. 17 event in which it will hold a public discussion about the ethics and consent regarding those displays.
“This two-year-long project will be the most robust community collaboration project ever undertaken by the museum,” Kate Quinn, executive director at the Mütter, told NPR. “Over the past few months, many in the Mütter community have passionately expressed their thoughts about the Museum’s future, and we’ve been listening.”
Post-George Floyd, museums faced a reckoning in how they displayed exhibits, and it was not limited to natural museums such as the Mütter. A planned Philip Guston retrospective, which was to be simultaneously displayed at several fine arts museums in 2020 including the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, was postponed until 2025 because of the multiple Black Lives Matter protests that summer. Some of Guston’s paintings portrayed the KKK, albeit unfavorably.
A collective of artists denounced those museums’ lack of preparation amid the cultural and moral moment that faced them, writing in an open letter that there was a “longstanding failure to have educated, integrated, and prepared themselves to meet the challenge of the renewed pressure for racial justice that has developed over the past five years.”
The museums responded by moving the retrospective up to 2022 and adding a note from a trauma specialist regarding some of the works on display. In a 2021 interview with The Guardian, Guston’s daughter, Musa Mayer, discussed her feelings about how postponing the retrospective was essentially a misreading of her father’s work.
“The history of racism in the United States is one of periods when it is submerged in the popular consciousness, followed by periods of great unrest, like the present one, when it is manifest, and no one can deny its existence,” Mayer said to the newspaper. “My father made those works at a time when the Ku Klux Klan were no longer as menacing as they had been in his youth, but racism was still, of course, a presence in the consciousness of mainstream white America. The paintings are essentially about white culpability — the culpability of all of us, including himself.”
Usher Plans To Bring ‘Guilty Pleasures’ To Super Bowl Halftime Show: ‘I Want It To Be Intimate’
Usher might be using his Las Vegas and Paris residencies as practice for what he plans to bring to the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show.
The Grammy award-winning singer is busy in Paris performing as part of his residency, but he’s not too busy to discuss his upcoming Super Bowl performance, what he describes as a “bucket list” gig.
“You want to win a Grammy, you would like to win an Oscar, you’d love to win a Brit Award. But not many get to play the Super Bowl,” he toldThe Sun.
“Outside of the Olympics, it’s the most internationally watched show. So if there is an opportunity to speak to an entire world, that may or may not necessarily know about what I do as an entertainer, they get a snapshot.”
Just last week, Usher was announced as the headliner and it’s a moment the “Yeah” singer is still reveling in.
“I’m still savoring that call from (show curator) Jay-Z, who said, ‘You got the Super Bowl,'” Usher said. “I’m trying to savor it because everything else after that is about the work.”
As for what he has planned, Usher might be teasing parts of his halftime performance while performing his sexy residency that includes rollerskaters and pole dancers of all shapes and sizes.
“Once I leave Paris I can really get into the choreography and the technical side of it, because it’s a huge space to play,” he shared. “The next step is to figure out what music, because it’s 13 minutes. I need to figure out what songs create an arc of a story, which is what this residency has been about trying to do, too.”
For Usher, he has always admired the “athletic” ability of an exotic dancer and wants to introduce Atlanta’s signature strip club experience to the world in an artistic way.
“It’s all about our guilty pleasures. I want it to be intimate but on a big scale and to take people to places maybe they wouldn’t normally go to, both emotionally and physically,” he explained.
“So it’s like being taken to a strip club in Atlanta. We normally see Cirque Du Soleil and we celebrate it. But I’ve always looked at the culture of moving in that way, with a pole, artistically.”
“I’ve never looked at a pole dancer as ‘she’s just a pole dancer, she’s a stripper.’ It’s athletic,” he continued. “And here’s what’s great about the show—all shapes and sizes and colors and creeds is what makes it attractive.”
Super Bowl LVIII goes down on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, where Usher will take the main stage for his first headlining set after performing alongside the Black Eyed Peas and Slash in 2011.
LeToya Luckett Is Putting Her Husband First In Next Marriage
Singer and actress LeToya Luckett, feels husbands should come before the kids when it comes to marriage.
Luckett has had plenty of time to reflect on relationships since her 2021 divorce from Tommicus Walker. As a guest on the “Good Moms Bad Choices” podcast in 2022, the former Destiny’s Child member gave fans the inside scoop on how she has been navigating the dating pool as a single mom of two. In a resurfaced clip, she says in marriage number three, she plans to do things a little differently.
“Know that if we get married, they don’t come first. It’s you.”
That’s the Biblical order,” Luckett said.
“So I try and go by the Biblical order even though that’s harder said than done. I’ve been on the other side of that not happening twice and it does interfere.”
Her comments opened the floodgates on social media for criticism, calling the songwriter a “pick me.” “Putting a man who is not the father of your kids before your kids screams pick me a– bird,” one user said, according to Atlanta Black Star. “You’re basically telling your children that this new man who just came around is more important than them.”
Another said her mindset causes “mommy and daddy issues.” Other users pointed out a sense of hypocrisy as a two-time divorcee. “Ewwww. She’s a bird. It kills me when people speak biblically yet do not follow the bible,” the user wrote. “It’s dangerous to only apply the parts you want. She’s divorced twice.“
The mother of two was married to relationship expert and author Rob Hill Sr. in 2016 and split two months later.
“It’s harder to say as a mom with two kids because nothing should come before your kids,” she continued.
“I’ve been on the other side of that not happening twice and it does interfere a little bit because when you get married, right and you become someone’s wife and than there’s other things that come before you, you feel it immediately especially when you’ve been waiting to be a wife, and be first, or feel desired in that position. It can a thing.”
Girls Who Code TIP Program, Leadership Academy Helps Alumni Land Tech Jobs
Girls Who Code is helping women from underrepresented groups nail their technical interviews.
The educational organization launched its two newest initiatives, a Technical Interview Prep (TIP) program and a Leadership Academy, to offer more opportunities to its alumna as they enter the workforce. According to the program’s website, TIP offers hands-on interviewing practice, confidence and skills-building tools, and other resources.
“Many Girls Who Code students report that fear and inexperience with technical interviews prevent them from successfully applying to competitive jobs. We know that most colleges do not provide specific training on technical interview prep, and students who don’t have “insider access” or a network of well-connected peers and mentors are at an unfair disadvantage,” the TIP page reads.
Fast Company reported that by August 2023, the program helped 462 students prepare for the technical interview process.
The organization extended its program offerings last year with a four-month Leadership Academy. The program provides mentorship and networking skills for 100 students from underrepresented groups.
“We learned that our students are excited about the possibilities and are already using generative AI tools for school, to explore personal interests, and to navigate complex conversations,” CEO Tarika Barrett said.
“However, they are also concerned about ethical implications, bias, and the potential impact on the workforce.”
To feed its mission of closing the gender gap in tech, Girls Who Code is preparing to launch an AI course next summer. Additionally, the organization will introduce an AI and financial literacy challenge for middle, high, and college students who participate in coding clubs.
“When new technologies emerge, our priority is to ensure our students feel empowered by the immense possibilities of their growing skill set and to consider ways to broaden their exploration of diverse career options available in the tech field,” Barrett said.
Girls Who Code introduced its data science course this past summer, which supported 1,600 high school students. The organization’s founder, Kimberly Bryant, graced a panel in September during BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s Women of Power TECH Summit to discuss her experiences building the company that Fast Company reported has served over 500,000 students since its 2012 inception. Earlier this year, BE reported that Girls Who Code partnered with The Vonage Foundation to launch a two-week Summer Immersion Program for 9th through 12th-grade students to learn more about the computer science field.
San Francisco 49ers’ Arik Armstead Breaks Down NFL Player’s Taxes And Take Home Pay In Video Series
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead took to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sept. 25 to explain how the NFL’s game check structure works. The University of Oregon graduate posted a series of videos briefly explaining to the general public who may be familiar with his day job but not how the finances operate.
Armstead explains what it means for a player financially when the team converts their base salary into a signing bonus before explaining how taxes on an NFL game check work.
Armstead says, “So the tax section breaks down all the taxes that were taken out every game check before you ever receive it. Some people pay taxes from the money they make, but they take out taxes beforehand.” Armstead continued.
“So you see, right here, you have this M.E.D. or med, which is probably some sort of medical tax or Medicare or Medi-Cal. You have the federal tax, which is probably the most hefty, is $144,000; you have your state tax, which is $40,000; and then you have the total, which you pay in taxes, which is $194,000 out of my game check.”
Users asked him different questions about tax deductions, and someone noticed Armstead contributed the maximum amount to his 401(K) pension plan.
Armstead also noted that the NFL does not allocate any sick or vacation time for players, who are often expected to play through injuries if possible. He does say that there is an NFL off-season, however, and many players choose to use that time to go on vacation, or some will do a “working vacation” where they’ll work out in a location like Cabo San Lucas like former Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Armstead’s salary was recently converted into a signing bonus, and the team created $41 million in hard cap space, that is, the money a team has available to spend on player salaries. As a result of the moves to convert Armstead, tight end George Kittle, and left tackle Trent Williams’ contracts into signing bonuses, the speculation is that it will allow the team to give one more player a bigger piece of the pie.
However, that speculation is tempered by the fact that the Niners have cash now, but in the 2024 fiscal year, they have big contracts hitting their books. According to Spotrac, a contract tracking website, in 2024, the team will have about $4 million in cap space if they attempt to retain all their players currently under contract. As Armstead alluded to, teams often use this tactic to essentially create cap space that they don’t actually have, which can sometimes put players in positions where they make less than you would expect, as Arik Armstead’s game check of $200,000 even though his cap hit for 2024 sits at almost $29 million.
Black Chyna Selling Old Clothes For Money Amid Custody Battle With Tyga
After giving up Only Fans to turn a new leaf, Blac Chyna is selling off items from her closet to make ends meet.
Angela White, formerly known as Blac Chyna, has been on a straight and narrow since dropping her nickname, reversing her BBL, and dissolving her facial filler for a more natural appearance. But now that she’s stopped flaunting her body online for profitable clicks, the former reality star is struggling to make ends meet.
According to recently filed legal documents, White has resorted to selling her personal items through an online consignment store all while fighting the father of her eldest child for custody, TMZ reports. The once burgeoning entrepreneur who owned a beauty salon in Los Angeles is now struggling with her businesses and claims to have only brought in $178k this year from selling her old clothes and shoes online and to family and friends.
White also knows she can only sell so many of her old items before they run out and she’s out of options to make money. With the former exotic dancer battling with Tyga for legal and physical custody of their son King, she is struggling with footing all her legal bills and wants her rapper ex to cover the expenses.
Additionally, Chyna says Tyga is interfering with the 24 hours a week she does get with their son and refuses to communicate with her directly. On top of not sharing his phone number or home address, Chyna claims Tyga also has her in the dark about King’s health, safety, and where his school is located.
Sources for Tyga claim otherwise and say White is well aware of where the rapper lives. They also note that Tyga pays for all of King’s schooling, living, and medical expenses. The 11-year-old reportedly has his own line of communication with White that she has access to, hence not having Tyga’s phone number.
Chyna wants the courts to solidify a schedule where she can spend more time with King without Tyga’s interference. She also wants the “Rack City” rapper to cover $125,000 in her legal bills.
Family Of Fanta Bility, 8-Year-Old Killed By Pennsylvania Police, Granted $11M Settlement
Fanta Bility was killed by police officers in a Philadelphia suburb in August 2021, following a dispute at a high school football game. Now, the Sharon Hill Borough of Pennsylvania has reached an $11 million settlement with her family and other victims of the incident.
Bility, who was eight years old at the time, died after being struck in the back by a bullet fired at a moving car by police officers searching for two teenage suspects. Three other bystanders, including Bility’s 12-year-old sister, were wounded in the shooting. Officers Brian Devaney, Sean Dolan, and Devon Smith were all fired from their positions and placed on probation in May 2023. They also pled guilty to charges of reckless endangerment after striking a deal to reduce their manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter indictments.
“There is no amount of money that will ever bring Fanta back or erase the memory of the horrible tragedy that occurred on August 27, 2021, from our minds,” said Siddiq Kamara, a spokesperson for the Bility family. “However, with the criminal and civil cases now resolved, we hope to move on and focus specifically on the Fanta Bility Foundation and keeping Fanta’s legacy alive.”
The family established the foundation in January 2023 in honor of what would have been Bility’s tenth birthday to “ensure she is never forgotten”.
The settlement will be distributed to the Bility family as well as eight other victims; including two women who were in the car that police mistook as the getaway vehicle. The borough has also announced plans to better train officers in an effort to avoid repeating a tragedy of this magnitude.
“In moving forward, we will continue to mourn with and extend our deepest sympathies to the Bility family,” a statement from Sharon Hill read. “We will also continue to raise the bar by remaining committed to improving and implementing policies to protect against this type of tragedy and working diligently to ensure the safety of Sharon Hill residents while restoring public confidence and trust.”
