Judge urged jury to continue deliberations on lesser charge The Manhattan jury reached a verdict after Judge Maxwell Wiley dismissed the second-degree manslaughter charge against Penny on Friday, following a prosecution request after the jury failed to reach a decision. […]
Dominique Brown, a beloved influencer who became popular on social media as she shared her love for Disney, has died at age 34. Although the official cause of her death hasn’t been announced, E! Online reported that Brown died from a food allergy. The 34-year-old was reportedly participating in an event hosted by merchandise retailer BoxLunch in Los Angeles when she experienced an allergic reaction, E! Online reported.
“We are devastated by the passing of Dominique Brown, a beloved member of the BoxLunch Collective, who suffered a medical emergency at an event hosted by BoxLunch on Thursday in Los Angeles,” a BoxLunch rep told People in a statement. “Our hearts go out to her family and friends, and we will do everything we can to support them and the members of the BoxLunch Collective and our team during this painful time.”
JAY-Z has been named in an amended lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs, and the rapper has already issued a response to the civil lawsuit.
In the civil suit filed on Sunday, JAY-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, is accused of raping a 13-year-old with Diddy in 2000. The lawsuit was first filed in October, and Combs was initially the only defendant. Now, Carter has been added.
As Variety reported, the anonymous Jane Deos’ accusation claims “Combs and Carter raped her in 2000 after they had brought her to an MTV Music Video Awards afterparty.”
Shortly after news of the lawsuit, Carter issued a statement, which was also posted on Roc Nation’s Instagram.
JAY-Z’s response to the lawsuit
The statement reads in part, “My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee. What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle. No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!! These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?”
It continues, “My heart and support goes out to true victims in the world, who have to watch how their life story is dressed in costume for profitability by this ambulance chaser in a cheap suit. You have made a terrible error in judgement thinking that all celebrities’ are the same. I’m not from your world. I’m a young man who made it out of the project of Brooklyn. We don’t play these types of games. We have very strict codes and honor. We protect children, you seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable. I look forward to showing you just how different I am.”
Then in response to Carter’s response, Buzbee took to social media to state in part, “Mr. Carter previously denied being the one who sued me and my firm. He filed his frivolous case under a pseudonym. What he fails to say in his recent statement is my firm sent his lawyer a demand letter on behalf of an alleged victim and that victim never demanded a penny from him. Instead, she only sought a confidential mediation. Since I sent the letter on her behalf, Mr. Carter has not only sued me, but he has tried to bully and harass me and this plaintiff. His conduct has had the opposite impact. She is emboldened. I’m very proud of her resolve.”
Regarding the Jay Z case and his efforts to silence my clients: Mr. Carter previously denied being the one who sued me and my firm. He filed his frivolous case under a pseudonym. What he fails to say in his recent statement is my firm sent his lawyer a demand letter on behalf of…— Tony Buzbee (@TonyBuzbee2) December 9, 2024
Combs was first arrested on Sept. 16 on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. He has since been named in a flurry of lawsuits. His trial will be in May 2025, and the court has ruled him to remain behind bars until then.
Artificial red food dye, the coloring used in drinks, snacks, candy and cereal, could soon be banned. Jim Jones, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods, addressed the possible change when he spoke at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee meeting on Thursday.
Jones said it has been more than 10 years since red food dye has been evaluated for safety. The deputy added that the FDA is now reviewing a petition to ban Red No. 3, a substance made from petroleum, which adds a red color to food and beverage, per NBC News.
“We’re hopeful that in the next few weeks we’ll be acting on that petition,” Jones said, according to NBC News.
Steve Mensch, Tyler Perry Studios‘ president and general manager of studio operation, died in a plane crash on Friday night.
As ABC affiliate WFTS-TV reported (per Variety), “Mensch, who was piloting a single-passenger plane, was found dead Friday night by highway patrol near the intersection of U.S.-98 in Homosassa, Fla.” The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Mensch was 62. On Saturday, Perry posted a tribute to Mensch on his Instagram.
He wrote, “I’ve been trying to understand this tragedy all day—what went wrong with that plane. Steve loved flying, and he loved that plane; he took so much pride in it. Steve Mensch was truly a kind soul and a great leader at the studio. We all adored him and are devastated that he’s gone. I’m praying for his family as we all try to make sense of this heartbreak. Life is but a moment; we are like vapors. Hold strong to the people you love AND TELL THEM!”
As Variety reported, Mensch managed Perry’s Atlanta studio, one of the biggest in the U.S., since 2016. Prior to joining Tyler perry Studios, he was the president of Third Rail Studios. He was also once a director at Turner Broadcasting.
In a statement to the publication, Tyler Perry Studios said: “We are incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Steve Mensch Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than 8 years, and well beloved in the community of Atlanta. It is hard to imagine not seeing him smiling throughout the halls. We will miss him dearly. Our heart goes out to his family as we all send them our prayers.”
Residents of the greater Boston area were shocked Friday (Dec. 6) morning, after learning that Democratic city councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson was arrested by the FBI. The controversial politician was taken into custody by federal agents outside her Dorchester home and hit with multiple counts of wire fraud, as well as a singular count of theft. She made a brief appearance in court later that afternoon, where she officially entered a not-guilty plea before refusing to comment to members of the local press. For now, the city councilor has not been convicted of any crime and has not officially made any announcement indicating her resignation. This means she is still a practicing elected official and is expected to return to the office on Monday (Dec. 9) morning. Several of her peers and constituents have since called on her to resign.
Tania Fernandes Anderson’s arrest has sparked a powder-keg of discussion regarding public trust in elected officials, ethics in politics and law and order along party lines. To fully understand the scope of these charges and their ripple effect on the councilor’s reputation, we’ll first have to unpack the FBI investigation into Fernandes Anderson’s conduct, as well as her already spotty relationship with the state ethics commission. Here’s everything we know about the situation so far.
The Investigation Dates Back to 2022
(John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Tania Fernandes Anderson was first elected to serve Boston’s 7th district back in 2021, making history as the first African immigrant and practicing Muslim to join the council. Unfortunately, she quickly courted controversy in her role,after violating Massachusetts’ conflict of interest laws regarding the hiring practices of public officials. According to a report in CBS News, the councilwoman hired multiple members of her immediate family to serve as part of her staff.
These hires include her son, who was given the role of office manager with a base annual salary of $52,000, and her sister, who was hired to serve as director of constituent services to the tune of $65,000 per year. Fernandes Anderson is also said to have dished out bonuses of up to $18,000 in taxpayer money to these hires, seemingly at random. Last year, the state ethics commission caught wind of these ethical violations and ordered Fernandes Anderson to pay a $5,000 fine. She was also instructed to fire these employees.
Unpacking Fernandes Anderson’s FBI Charges
While the hiring debacle left a stain on her reputation as a legislator, the FBI investigation alleges that Tania Fernandes Anderson’s criminal conduct did not stop there. Federal prosecutors claim that she participated in an illegal kickback scheme explicitly due to financial hardship brought on by the $5,000 fine. The filing (originally obtained by the Boston Globe) reads, “From in or about early to mid-2023, Fernandes Anderson was facing personal financial difficulty, which included missing monthly rent and car payments, an impending $5,000 civil penalty from the Ethics Commission and incurring bank overdraft fees, which resulted in low daily bank balances.”
According to prosecutors, the controversial figure paid an employee, known only as “Staff Member A,” a $13,000 bonus, on the condition that the employee would hand the councilwoman $7,000 in cash back during a surreptitious meeting in a City Hall bathroom. The court filing claims that this meeting took place on June 9, 2023, at roughly 4:11 p.m., based on evidence gathered by the FBI. This includes a text correspondence, wherein Staff Member A messaged “Bathroom” to Fernandes Anderson, prompting a response of “Ready” just moments later. Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen presented a statement to the media in response to the councilwoman’s arrest, confirming that she had been charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of theft relating to this incident.
Public Response to Boston Politician’s Arrest
As stated, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has issued a statement insisting that Tania Fernandes Anderson step down from her position. Per Boston 25 News, Wu argued, “Like any member of the community, Councilor Fernandes Anderson has the right to a fair legal process. But the serious nature of these charges undermines the public trust and will prevent her from effectively serving the city. I urge Councilor Fernandes Anderson to resign.” Another city councilor, Ed Flynn, echoed similar sentiments Friday evening, suggesting her resignation would be in the best interest of the city.
Predictably, the councilwoman’s arrest has also sparked an array of discussion from media pundits of the fringe right. As an African immigrant, a practicing Muslim and a member of the Democratic Party, Fernandes Anderson has been an outspoken opponent of white supremacy, police brutality and a number of other partisan issues. This has made her a significant target for right-wing commentators such as Andy Ngo and popular Boston-based journalist Aidan Kearney, AKA Turtle Boy. In the wake of Fernandes Anderson’s arrest, these figures and others have flooded social media with a viral 2022 address given by the councilwoman, wherein she demands, “What the f*** do I have to do in this f***ing council in order to get respect as a Black woman?”
Robin Ayers, an entertainment journalist and beloved radio host at KBLA 1580 Talk Radio, has died at age 44. Ayers’ colleague, Tavis Smiley, expressed his sorrow on X (formerly known as Twitter) as he released a statement on behalf of the family.
“It is with profound sadness that KBLA Talk 1580 announces the passing of our beloved colleague Robin Ayers,” Smiley wrote. “Robin was a bright light. You could see her radiant smile through the radio. We all respected her immense talent, loved her jovial spirit.”
On behalf of her precious family, it is with profound sadness that KBLA Talk 1580 announces the passing of our beloved colleague Robin Ayers on Thursday, December 05. Robin was a bright light. You could see her radiant smile through the radio.We all respected her immense talent,— Tavis Smiley – on 🧵 @therealtavissmiley (@tavissmiley) December 6, 2024
Anna Kane, the woman who anonymously filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2023, has now revealed her identity. As Kane, the ex-wife of Edmonton Oilers player Evander Kane, filed her amended complaint in Federal District Court in Manhattan on Friday, the court ruled that she must use her real name to move forward.
“I had hoped to use a pseudonym in pursuing justice for what happened to me as a teenager,” Kane told People. “Defendants’ demand that I use my name was an attempt to intimidate me, but I am not intimidated. I am prepared to proceed and hold accountable those who have harmed me.”
Although Tank is known as a ladies man, there’s been some speculation about his sexuality due to comments he’s made about what he enjoys in the bedroom. During a recent episode of the Holdin Court Podcast, hosted by father-daughter duo […]
Paris Jackson‘s bandmate and partner, Justin Long, is now her fiancé. Jackson, who has been dating Long since 2022, revealed their engagement in an Instagram post, sharing multiple intimate photos of her lover proposing to her. Jackson, the only daughter of Michael Jackson, also revealed in her post that she’s celebrating Long’s birthday.
“Happy birthday my sweet blue. doing life with you these last years has been an indescribable whirlwind and i couldn’t dream of anyone more perfect for me to do it all with. thank you for letting me be yours. i love you,” Jackson wrote in her message to the California native, who tours with Incubus, E! Online reported.
Stay up to date on exciting projects and upcoming events from the Black Promoters Collective.
©2024 Black Promoters Collective (BPC) All Rights Reserved.
