News

Tyler Perry is facing a lawsuit.

The multihyphenate creator and studio owner is being sued by Derek Dixon, an actor from BET’s Tyler Perry’s The Oval for sexual assault and harassment. According to TMZ and People, Dixon claims the assault took place in 2020, after he was invited to Perry’s Atlanta home.

Dixon initially met Perry in 2019 when he landed the role of Dale on Ruthless. According to the suit, as reported by People, Perry would text him—sometimes with suggestive advances—but also stated that he wanted to find Dixon a job and change his life. These conversations led to Dixon’s role on Tyler Perry’s Ruthless on BET+

What Derek Dixon alleges happened at Tyler Perry’s home

As TMZ reports, the 2020 incident at Perry’s home is where things escalated. Dixon believed the visit would help him build a friendship that could lead to more acting gigs. However, Dixon drank too much while visiting and tried to sleep it off in a guest room. He claims that during the night, Perry entered the room, got into bed with him, and started touching his thighs. Dixon said he rejected Perry’s advances, but that didn’t deter Perry during their working relationship.

What the lawsuit says about alleged texts and Dixon’s role on ‘The Oval’

Shortly after the incident, Dixon was cast to reprise his role as Dale on The Oval, which led to Perry allegedly sending him sexually suggestive texts. These included questions about Dixon’s sexual preferences and statements about having sex with men. Dixon also notes that his character on the show was written as a gay, homeless and desperate store clerk who had to sleep with other characters for a place to stay. According to Dixon, this type of character resembled someone Perry told him he was interested in—”someone who would be loyal and dependent upon Tyler,” according to the article.

Dixon claimed he feared for his job, so he never outright rejected Perry’s advances. He was afraid that if he accused Perry of sexual harassment, he would be fired. Instead, he told Perry he wasn’t “the sexual type.”

Despite Dixon trying to distance himself by saying he wasn’t sexual, Perry allegedly continued. In another 2020 incident, Perry launched into a highly sexual conversation with Dixon, allegedly asking if Dixon “likes it rough in bed,” grabbing him by the throat and saying, “Look how excited you just got.”

A 2021 incident included Dixon being in Perry’s guest house in his underwear when Perry came in to give him a hug goodnight. That hug, which Dixon described as inappropriate, allegedly led to Perry pulling down his underwear, groping his behind, and telling him to “relax and just let it happen,” adding that the sex wouldn’t hurt.

Both incidents occurred at Perry’s home, and both times Dixon claimed he rebuffed Perry’s advances.

Derek Dixon’s $260 million lawsuit and Perry’s legal response

Dixon eventually quit The Oval in 2024, claiming he could no longer tolerate the mistreatment.

He is suing for quid pro quo and workplace sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault and battery. He is seeking $260 million in damages.

Perry’s attorney, Matthew Boyd, claims Dixon is trying to pull a shakedown scheme. He told TMZ, “This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than a scam. But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”

Bryshere Gray, known for his role as Hakeem Lyon on Fox’s popular television series Empire, faces criminal charges in Chesapeake, Virginia, following an incident with one of his associates.

R. Kelly issued a bid to be released from detention after he claimed prison officials have been plotting to murder him. He is currently serving a 30-year sentence for racketeering and sex crimes, as well as a 20-year sentence for a child pornography conviction.

The singer’s lawyers said he was moved to solitary confinement after their initial filing, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. Kelly reportedly stopped eating out of fear it had been poisoned. He was taken to the hospital after feeling dizzy and seeing black spots. He said he started feeling ill after taking medication as indicated by prison officials. 

At Duke University Hospital, Kelly was told he had been given an overdose. He was allegedly scheduled to go into surgery after doctors found blood clots in his legs and lungs, but prison officials removed him and put him back in solitary confinement, according to his lawyers.

Kelly is requesting to be put on temporary home detention because of these alleged incidents. He is also seeking a presidential pardon.

“We are engaged in conversations with multiple persons close to the White House and to President Trump,” a statement from his lawyers read, according to ABC 7 Chicago. “My client does not have the luxury to wait for vindication from the Courts that will follow the exposure of the corruption at the heart of his prosecutions.”

Kelly is currently being held at a medium-security prison in Butner, North Carolina.

Federal prosecutors called R. Kelly’s bid to be released from prison ‘repugnant’ and ‘deeply unserious’

“Imagine a scenario where any and every incarcerated criminal could go back to the criminal court(s) that imposed a sentence of imprisonment upon them, allege that they fear imminent harm and demand to be released from custody while the matter was investigated,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Julien wrote Monday, per The Chicago Sun -Times. “Every convicted murderer, rapist and terrorist will have a newfound shot at freedom.”

He added that Kelly “is a serial child molester whose criminal abuse of children dates back to at least President Bill Clinton’s first term in office — decades before Kelly was taken into federal custody.”

“Kelly has never taken responsibility for his years of sexually abusing children, and he probably never will,” Julien also wrote.

What happens next for R. Kelly?

A hearing is set for Friday, during which a judge is expected to look over Kelly’s claims. However, there are doubts as to whether the judge has the authority to look into the matter in the first place.

Which brands did General Mills cancel? According to the New York Post, the Minneapolis-based company stopped manufacturing three fan-favorite Cheerios brands: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch and Honey Nut Cheerios Minis. A dry cereal enthusiast also […]

Chrisette Michele shared that she’s recently been diagnosed with autism. During a doctor’s visit, the R&B singer was informed that she had been living with autism, which affects how a person communicates, socializes, learns and experiences the world, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. 

What did Chrisette Michele say about her autism diagnosis?

On Monday, Michele, who’s 42, shared the news publicly in an Instagram post: “I just learned I’m autistic. Official diagnosis. They used the word ‘severely.’ I’ve been quiet on here,” she said. “But… I’ve been outside. Singing. … but learning to strip the mask. One show at a time. (The irony) Just… coming to grips with a lot and giving myself room to take it all in.”

The Grammy winner admitted that her autism diagnosis put a lot of things into perspective, saying that her “life and its challenges finally make sense.”

Fans show Chrisette Michele love after sharing her autism diagnosis

Michele received so much support from her fans in the comments section of her Instagram post.

One person commented: “As a fellow neurodivedgent who was diagnosed last November, the grief and then immediate liberation from realizing I’ve been living for the comfort of others to mask knowing something was different inside. Whewwww, the shedding of the mask felt immediate. We are free 🤍🤍🤍.”

“Neurodivergent babes unite!💕 There’s so much freedom in knowing and it’s truly like unlocking a whole nother level of understanding in yourself.. give yourself grace and love as you unmask, wishing you the best babe!🩷,” another person chimed in.

“Soror. You are fearfully and wonderfully made,” a third person wrote. “Your show tonight was amazing. Thank you for being YOU! Prayers up. 💙🤍🕊️”

In response to a woman who wondered if “fear” would’ve stopped Michele’s music career if she knew she had autism, the artist replied: “Self awareness is my super power. It teaches me what to pray for, what to work on and how to work on it. It comes a little at a time as science and treatment develops. God knows all… but for those of us who pray in English and in tongues… it’s always good to be able to address the ‘issue’ and grow from it. A diagnosis just helps me understand HOW God made me and how better to utilize what He created.”

Michele is currently embarking on a summer tour that kicked off in Alexandria, VA, earlier in June. The tour concludes in Elkhart, Indiana, on August 15.

Jon B regrets calling Chloe Bailey and Gunna‘s sampling of his 1997 hit “They Don’t Know” in their “You & Me” collab, released in 2022, a “ratchet record.”

The R&B crooner opened up about his past comments on Shirley Yu’s Shirley’s Temple podcast. 

The singer says he ‘wasn’t used to being on podcasts’

“I regretted how I spoke on it the first time because I wasn’t used to being on podcasts,” Jon B said, according to Complex. “First of all, I didn’t do a lot of podcasts. So I was sort of new to that whole thing of speaking my truths in a way.”

“It hurt me because I was like, ‘Man, that could be my daughter right there,’” he added. “It hit different because I never wanna come off like a hater.”

Jon B also claimed that Bailey and Gunna only contacted him to receive clearance for the sample after the song was released. The sample was officially cleared by Sony Music at the time, and it’s unclear whether or not Jon B owned his masters, according to Vibe.

“I like having the ability to say ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ before something is released,” he said. “If it’s out already, the damage is done, you know what I mean?”

What was Jon B’s unfiltered reaction at the time when Chloe Bailey and Gunna dropped ‘You & Me’?

Initially, Jon B’s reaction was the following: “They put that ratchet record out. I couldn’t stand it. I wish they never did it.”

“[They] never actually never got my rights to do that record either, so Gunna we gotta holler about that. … That’s some business s**t we got to handle,” he continued. “Yeah, I mean, you know what, it’s all a compliment to what we did. That’s [producers and co-songwriters] Tim [Kelley] and Bob’s [Robinson] compliment, that’s my compliment, but at the same time my lane is my lane and my area is my area and I earned that. If you made a hit in your area, you do your song whatever it is, I’m not going to just come into your area, take your joint, and make it mine and not pay you or whatever.”

Bailey reacted to Jon B’s comments during a September 2024 appearance on The Breakfast Club.

“Jon B is an incredible artist,” she said. “If that song didn’t exist, we couldn’t sample it. I love what Gunna and I did to it. I’m sad he feels that way, but, hey, everyone has opinions.”

Donald Trump has become the first sitting president not to be invited to the NAACP national convention. It is the first time in 116 years that the current U.S. presidnet has not been invited.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson announced the news at a press conference on Monday, saying the President is not invited to next month’s national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, but the decision has “nothing to do with political party.”

“Our mission is to advance civil rights, and the current president has made clear that his mission is to eliminate civil rights,” Johnson said, per the Associated Press.

In April, the NAACP sued Donald Trump

The lawsuit followed after Trump ordered the Department of Education to withhold federal money from schools that refuse to end DEI programs. In its lawsuit, the NAACP stated that the department is failing to give equal opportunity to Black students.

Presidents Regan and Bush were invited to past NAACP national conventions

The NAACP invited President Ronald Reagan despite the backlash he faced for using the term “welfare queen.” Reagan coined the term to refer to people who are misusing federal aid, but many Americans saw it as a racist term targeting Black women.

However, in his speech at the 1981 NAACP convention in Denver, Reagan denounced white supremacists, saying his administration would stand up against “those who, by violence or intimidation, would attempt to deny Americans their constitutional rights.”

In 2006, the NAACP invited President George W. Bush to the convention despite the criticism he received for mishandling Hurricane Katrina. Bush, who faced wide backlash at the time for what many saw as neglecting New Orleans’ Black residents, was chosen as one of the speakers at the convention.

American Express Co. announced Monday upcoming upgrades to its U.S. Consumer and Business Platinum credit cards, aiming to distinguish itself in the competitive luxury credit card market.

“More than forty years ago, we introduced the Platinum Card, and we continue to offer Platinum Cards with global servicing, unique benefits and experiences that our Card Members love,” Howard Grosfield, Amex’s group president for U.S. consumer services, said in a news release statement.

Howard Grosfield also stated that Platinum credit card features are mostly popular among Millennials and Gen Z, who account for more than 35% of total U.S. Consumer spending in the last quarter.

” We’re going to take these Cards to a new level, not only in what they offer in travel, dining and lifestyle benefits, but also in how they look and feel, to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” he explained. 

What are the new Platinum credit card features?

American Express offers access to over 1,550 airport lounges worldwide—more than any other credit card issuer—and plans to open three new Centurion Lounges in Newark, Salt Lake City, and Tokyo, bringing the total to 32, per the news release. 

Additionally, the New York-based company is expanding its dining and hotel offerings through platforms like Resy, which provides access to over 20,000 restaurants in more than 30 countries, and its recent acquisition of Tock, adding 7,000 more venues. 

Its Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection now feature 2,600 curated properties, including the exclusive benefit of guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout at over 1,600 locations.

What benefits can Platinum Business Card holders expect?

American Express plans to enhance its Business Platinum Card with new benefits designed to support business growth. 

Current features include flexible spending limits, travel and business perks, virtual cards, and cash flow tools, as well as access to dining, lounge, and hotel programs. 

Cardholders also enjoy exclusive experiences worldwide, including motorsports, tennis, music festivals, and sporting events, as well as more brand partnerships. The company will provide further updates this fall.

Amex’s Platinum card faces competition from rival premium cards.

American Express has faced increasing competition in the premium credit card market since it raised the Platinum card’s annual fee to $695 and added a $200 hotel credit in July 2021, Bloomberg reported.

What is JPMorgan Chase’s Sapphire Reserve card?

JPMorgan Chase announced Tuesday an update to its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, raising the annual fee by 45% to $795 — the most significant increase since its 2016 launch, CNBC reported. The updated card, launched Monday, offers more than $2,700 in annual benefits by combining existing perks with new travel- and dining-focused rewards.

New features include a points redemption program that doubles the value of select travel offers and a $500 annual credit for hotel stays. Cardholders also receive $300 dining credits for chosen restaurants, $300 for ticket purchases at StubHub or Viagogo, and free Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions valued at $250 annually, the company said, according to CNBC.

Customers who spend $75,000 or more annually gain additional perks, including top-tier status with Southwest Airlines and IHG Hotels and Resorts.