News

Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, filed a lawsuit against Lively for defamation in January after she initially filed a sexual harassment complaint against him on Dec. 20. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s lawsuits, explained She accused him and […]

Doechii took a stance in favor of the protests in Los Angeles on Sunday while slamming President Donald Trump. The artist received an award for best female hip hop artist at the 2025 BET Awards, which was held at the Peacock Theater in the city on Tuesday night.

She started her acceptance speech by congratulating her fellow nominees, which included Cardi B, Doja Cat, GloRilla, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, Rapsody and Sexyy Red.

“As much as I’m honored by this award, I do want to address what’s happening right now outside of the building,” she then followed.

Doechii used her BET Awards acceptance speech to shed light on the protests

“There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order,” Doechii said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Trump is using military forces to stop a protest, and I want y’all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us.”

The artist expressed support for individuals who have been deported or incarcerated by ICE in raids ordered by the Trump administration.

“People are being swept up and torn from their families, and I feel it’s my responsibility as an artist to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people: For Black people, for Latino people, for trans people, for the people in Gaza,” she said. “We all deserve to live in hope and not in fear, and I hope we stand together, my brothers and my sisters, against hate and we protest against it. Thank you, BET.”

What is happening in Los Angeles amid ICE raids?

Protests have been held in the city after several immigration raids were conducted last week. On Sunday, protesters shut down the 101 freeway, a major transportation axis of Los Angeles, according to Deadline. They are asking for the raids to be put to a stop and are calling out President Donald Trump over his use of ICE agents in California and nationwide.

Protesters have also been criticizing Trump’s decision to deploy the state’s National Guard in an effort to stop demonstrations. California Gov. Gavin Newsom also expressed his opposition and has requested that the administration “rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles County and return them to my command.”

Jamie Foxx reflected on the April 2023 health scare that threatened his life at Monday night’s BET Awards. The actor was teary-eyed while accepting the Ultimate Icon Award and gave a moving speech about his recovery and how it gave him perspective.

Foxx began his speech by proclaiming, “God is good,” and expressed his gratitude for his supporters.

Jamie Foxx teared up while thanking God for ‘my second chance’ at life

“I cannot even begin to express the love that I feel from everybody out there,” he started his speech. “I gotta be honest, when I saw the In Memoriam, I was like, man, it could have been me. I don’t know why I went through what I went through, but I know my second chance, I’m not gonna turn down.”

He recounted an intimate conversation he had with God and why he chose to share his December Netflix special, Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was, with his Black fans.

“I have so much love to give. I told him [God], I said, man, just give me one more crack at this,” Foxx continued teary-eyed. “I said, for whatever reason you put this on me, I promise I’m gonna do right. And I’m gonna do right in front of y’all ’cause I know a lot of times when we get on, we forget about where we come from. When I did my special, it was in front of Black people. Black people were the ones that said, ‘Man, we got you.’ Not to say that white people can’t pray either. I know that sounds weird, but y’all know what I’m saying. It’s like you guys held me down, and I don’t want to make this whole speech about that, but you can’t go through something like that and not testify.”

Jamie Foxx thanked his daughters, Corinne and Anelise

After reflecting on his three-decade career, the Ray star thanked his daughter Corinne for making “sure I was here.” He also took a moment to thank his younger daughter, Anelise, for her special role in his recovery.

“When I was fighting for my life in there, I gotta say this, they said, ‘We’re gonna lose him because his vitals is bad,’ and I didn’t want my 14-year-old to see me like that,” Foxx told the crowd. “But Anelise overheard the conversation, and she snuck into my hospital room with her guitar and said, ‘I know what my daddy needs.’ And as she played the guitar, my vitals dropped.”

Foxx also thanked BET “for this wonderful award” and shared how much receiving the Ultimate Icon Award means to him.

“I say this all the time, thank you to Black people and the Black award, because this is what really counts. A lot of people think like the Oscars is the biggest thing, and we got to quit thinking like that. And that’s coming from a person who won an Oscar, I was nominated twice, but the Icon Award is the most important award because it comes from us.”

[embedded content]

Jamie Foxx called his recovery the ‘worst year of my life’

Foxx shared in Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was that he suffered a brain bleed that led to a stroke. The actor reportedly passed out while filming Netflix’s Back in Action in Atlanta alongside Cameron Diaz and Glenn Close. The incident left him in a coma for several weeks.

In the special, Foxx recalled his sister, Deidra Dixon, taking him to the hospital, where doctors told him he needed emergency surgery to survive.

“If I don’t go in his head right now, we’re going to lose him,” Foxx said his sister was told. “[She] knelt down outside the operating room and prayed the whole time.”

Though the surgery was successful, Foxx said it was the “worst year of his life.”

The National Guard blocked Rep. Maxine Waters on Sunday when she tried to enter the Los Angeles Federal Building.

Waters was captured on video as she approached the building with her colleagues and requested for the officials to allow her to come inside. As Waters told the guard that she came to use her “congressional authority” to check on immigrant detainees, the guard closed the door on her.

WATCH: Cops slam the door on Maxine Waters as she tries to enter the Los Angeles Federal Buildingpic.twitter.com/MDZjflKsBy— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 8, 2025

What was Maxine Waters’ response to being blocked from a LA federal building?

Later on, Waters went to X , formerly Twitter, to talk about her experience, saying she was trying to exercise her rights and check on SEIU California President David Huerta after he was arrested by ICE. She also pled with the National Guard to not use their weapons against “peaceful demonstrators who were simply exercising their rights to freedom of speech and protest.”

The Congresswoman included a video message to President Donald Trump in her tweet and she did not hold back.

“You are a cruel human being,” Waters said. “You are accusing the poorest people in the land, the most vulnerable people in the land to promote your politics.”

Today, I came to the Metropolitan Detention Center to exercise my constitutional rights as a Member of Congress to check on the safety and conditions of SEIU California President David Huerta, who was arrested by ICE. I pled with the National Guard, which was heavily armed, not… pic.twitter.com/a7sb86yg7F— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) June 8, 2025

How is Trump responding to the immigration protests in LA?

Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, that he has deployed the National Guard to “liberate” Los Angeles from a “migrant invasion.”

“Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free,” Trump wrote, CBS Austin reported.

Waters told CNN that she is concerned about the idea of the National Guard using weapons against protesters.

“I don’t know why we have guns. What are those guns for? Are they to shoot protesters? I mean, there’s no reason to be here with the National Guard,” Waters told CNN, per The Hill. “The president of the United States is a cruel, dishonorable human being who would just as soon as shoot somebody down. But I don’t want that to happen. … I want the elected officials to do everything that we can to dissuade them.”

In the case of Shanquella Robinson, the FBI is making confidential court documents public. In March, the FBI released 100 pages of records about the police investigation pertaining to Robinson, who was just 25 years old when she died in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, WCNC reported.

Robinson died in October 2022 while on vacation with some friends known as the “Cabo 6.” Several months later, the FBI determined they wouldn’t move forward with any arrests due to the limited amount of evidence. Robinson’s death was deemed inconclusive and the case was closed. Her father, Bernard Robinson, still hopes justice is served so that he and his family can have closure.

“No one in this world who’s got kids and daughters would want this done to they child and have to deal with this not knowing what happened and why it happened,” he said, per WCNC. 

What information did the FBI unveil regarding Shanquella Robinson’s case? 

One thing the legal paperwork uncovered was the course of action Mexico’s authorities and the FBI took to evaluate the events that led to Robinson’s death. It was noted that in January 2023, the FBI reached out to the Mexican prosecutor leading the case with 11 inquiries ranging from who owned the parcel where Robinson died to examining surveillance-camera recordings and reviewing 911-call audio. This action was taken three days before Daniel de la Rosa Anaya, the attorney general of Baja California Sur, was scheduled to hold a press conference about the case.

The prosecutor ignored the inquiry by failing to provide the FBI with answers despite sharing the declassified documents with them. During the news briefing, prosecuting attorneys stated they were seeking to arrest a culprit. An arrest warrant was granted for an unnamed suspect in November 2022, which was another notable discovery highlighted in the unsealed documents. Additionally, Mexican law enforcement examined the cell phone of Robinson’s trip companions, but there were no tips on it relating to her death.

Furthermore, the FBI interviewed a person soon after Robinson’s death, who said the group admitted to heavy drinking and tried to “sober her up” in the shower.

Shanquella Robinson’s family filed two lawsuits seeking justice for their daughter

As Blavity reported, Robinson went on a trip with Daejhanae Jackson, Alysse Hyatt, Wenter Donovan, Malik Dyer, Khalil Cooke and one other person. A video recorded by one of the male parties of the “Cabo 6” showed Robinson being assaulted by Jackson while she was allegedly inebriated. In the clip, which went viral, Robinson was completely naked while the other party repeatedly hit her in her head and neck area while yelling at her. No one helped her. Following the story making headlines, Jackson altered her name to E’Mani Green.

In April, Robinson’s mother, Sallamondra, sued the “Cabo 6,” the FBI and the U.S. State Department for $100 million, alleging the agencies were careless in investigating her daughter’s death. In response, the federal government has moved to dismiss that suit. Separately, on the second anniversary of Robinson’s death, the family brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the six people who traveled with her for the actions of Green, formerly Jackson, and those who sat back and witnessed it. The latter complaint asserts wrongful death, battery, negligence, conspiracy, and emotional distress claims. 

Defendants Hyatt, Donovan, Dyer, and Cooke have all filed to dismiss or transfer the case to Mexico. On May 28, Green filed for an extension of time to respond to Sallamondra’s lawsuit.

Will the lawsuits against the ‘Cabo Six’ move forward in the U.S. or Mexico?

In May, the federal judge in Charlotte heard competing motions in the wrongful death case against the “Cabo Six” on which country the lawsuit should proceed in, per WBTV. 

Sue-Ann Robinson, the attorney representing the victim’s family, argued the U.S. courts are the proper forum for the action.

“A United States citizen should not be allowed to go overseas, harm another U.S. citizen, and come back to the United States and essentially say that they’re off base, that they’re not going to be held liable,” Sue-Ann Robinson told the media outside the courthouse, according to WBTV3.

Sue-Ann also mentioned how the stark differences between the two legal systems, hefty costs and language barriers would strain Robinson’s family if they were required to litigate in Mexico.

While Green’s counsel believes the case should be conducted in a Mexican federal court, where Robinson’s death happened, Bernard agrees that those responsible for his daughter’s death should be tried in court in the U.S. since they didn’t cooperate with the FBI.

“I’d rather for the case to be handled here in the United States, because you came back and lied to the whole United States,” Bernard said. “I just want justice.”

Sly Stone, frontman of the influential band Sly and the Family Stone, has died at 82 after a long illness related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—a group of lung diseases that make it difficult to breathe.

“Sly passed away peacefully, surrounded by his three children, his closest friend, and his extended family. While we mourn his absence, we take solace in knowing that his extraordinary musical legacy will continue to resonate and inspire for generations to come,” the Stone family said in a statement on Monday, People reported.

“Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music,” the statement continued. “His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable. In a testament to his enduring creative spirit, Sly recently completed the screenplay for his life story, a project we are eager to share with the world in due course, which follows a memoir published in 2024.”

It concluded, “We extend our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers during this difficult time. We wish peace and harmony to all who were touched by Sly’s life and his iconic music. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your unwavering support.”

How Sly and the Family Stone changed funk and rock forever

Sly and the Family Stone, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, revolutionized funk and psychedelic music. The group was racially integrated and included both men and women as musicians—something rarely seen at the time.

“The band had a concept — White and Black together, male and female both, and women not just singing but playing instruments,” Stone wrote in his 2023 memoir Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin), a nod to the band’s iconic 1970 single.

The band’s best-known hits include “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” “Everybody Is a Star” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).” The group disbanded in the 1980s due to Stone’s substance use.

“It was like seeing the Black version of The Beatles,” funk icon George Clinton told CBS in 2023. “He had the sensibility of the street, the church, and then, like, the qualities of a Motown, you know, Smokey Robinson — he was all of that in one person.”

Sly Stone’s early years and rise to stardom

Stone was born in Denton, Texas, but his family soon moved to California. By the age of four, he and his siblings were singing in their church choir.

He played in bands throughout high school before studying music theory at Solano Community College. Stone later left college to become a DJ at San Francisco’s KSOL, where he played so much soul music that the station earned the nickname “KSOUL.”

In the mid-1960s, Stone and his siblings, Freddie and Rose, each had their own bands. By 1967, they had joined forces and released their debut album, A Whole New Thing.

Sly Stone overcame personal challenges and lived with no regrets

Stone’s substance use led to several hospitalizations before he entered recovery in 2019.

“That time, I not only listened to the doctor but believed him,” he told The Guardian in a 2023 interview. The doctor warned that drugs would kill him if he didn’t stop. “I realized that I needed to clean up. I concentrated on getting strong so that I could get clean. My kids visited me at the hospital. My grandkids visited me. I left with purpose.”

Despite years of struggle, Stone said he had no regrets. “I never lived a life I didn’t want to live,” he told The Guardian.

Stone is survived by his three children: Sylvester Jr., Sylvyette (who goes by her middle name, Phunne), and Novena.

Misty Copeland broke barriers when she was named a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre in 2015.

It was at this moment that she became the first Black woman to be promoted to this rank in the company’s 75-year history at the time. Now, 10 years later, the dancer has announced her retirement, The Associated Press reported.

“It’s been 25 years at ABT, and I think it’s time,” Copeland said in an interview with The Associated Press a week ahead of the release of the official news. “It’s time for me to move to the next stage.”

What exactly is Misty Copeland’s next stage?

In addition to her work as a ballerina, Copeland is also the author of many books, including a memoir, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina. In addition to that, her philanthropic spirit shines brightly through The Misty Copeland Foundation, an organization whose mission is to increase diversity in the dance world and provide the opportunity to pursue dance to kids who grew up without proper resources and funding.

Copeland has also worked on a short film through her production company, Life in Motion Productions.

Misty Copeland’s final farewell

On Oct. 22, ABT is planning a farewell production for Copeland that will include a performance from the prestigious dancer, her first in five years, as well as tributes from other dancers, speeches and film clips.

“It was so important for children growing up and seeing somebody like Misty and saying, ‘Oh my gosh, she looks like I do,’” Susan Jaffe, artistic director at ABT, said, according to The Associated Press. “Through her books, through her lectures, even her endorsements, she has really been a trailblazer.”

Copeland has also played a huge role in putting together the event, planning one last dance: the Romeo and Juliet balcony pas de deux. Oprah Winfrey and Caroline Kennedy will serve as honorary chairs at the event.

“I’ve become the person that I am today, and have all the opportunities I have today, because of ballet, (and) because of American Ballet Theatre,” Copeland said. “I feel like this is me saying thank you to the company. So it’s a farewell. (But) it won’t be the end of me dancing. … Never say never.”

With her exit, there will no longer be a Black woman to hold the title of principal dancer at ABT, nor at most ballet companies across the globe. 

Israel intercepted a boat offering humanitarian aid to Palestine on Monday. The boat, the Madleen, was carrying activists, which included Greta Thunberg.

All passengers are currently being held by the Israeli government after being redirected to the port of Ashdod in Israel.

Greta Thunberg among activists intercepted in international waters

Thunberg and other passengers aboard the Madleen were stopped in international waters as they attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The boat left Sicily on June 1, according to Newsweek. Operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), it was carrying food, baby formula, and medical supplies for Gaza residents.

In April 2025, the United Nations issued an assessment indicating that one in five residents of Gaza face starvation. There are currently 2 million people living in the city.

“If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel,” Thunberg said in a pre-recorded video released by the FFC.

The group invited passengers to record messages before their journey in preparation for the possibility of interception.

UN expert urges global support for Gaza despite Israeli blockade

Francesca Albanese, a special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories for the United Nations, encouraged continued efforts to challenge Israel’s blockade.

“Madleen’s journey may have ended, but the mission isn’t over. Every Mediterranean port must send boats with aid & solidarity to Gaza,” she wrote on social media, according to The Independent.

Israel defends actions, cites security concerns and Oct. 7 attack

Israel’s Foreign Ministry shared a video showing the activists wearing life jackets and receiving food and water. The ministry stated that all passengers would be returned to their respective countries and that the humanitarian aid would be transferred to Gaza following Israeli procedures.

The government added that breaching the current blockade is “unlawful” and contradicts “ongoing humanitarian efforts.” It also said that the Madleen’s passengers would be shown videos of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel upon arrival in Ashdod.

The Oct. 7 attack resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 250 others, who were taken hostage in Gaza. The attack prompted a military response from Israel, which has led to over 54,000 Palestinian deaths, The Independent reported.

In May, another humanitarian boat sent by the FFC, the Conscience, was reportedly damaged by a drone strike near Malta. The group attributed the attack to Israel, though the Israeli government has not commented.

The streets of Los Angeles have been rocked by protests over the weekend, as crowds have demonstrated against raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the city.

Local police, federal agents and the National Guard are now all involved, with city and state leaders clashing with the Trump administration over the protests and the federal immigration sweeps within the city.

What’s happened in Los Angeles this weekend in response to ICE raids?

The current round of clashes over immigration policies began on Friday in response to ICE agents conducting raids and arresting dozens of people in heavily Hispanic areas in and near Los Angeles, including the Westlake district and the Paramount suburb south of the city. Protests grew Saturday, with demonstrators gathering around locations, including the Los Angeles Federal Building and a Home Depot in Paramount.

An ICE statement about the situation claimed, “As rioters attacked federal ICE and law enforcement officers on the LA streets, Mayor Bass took the side of chaos and lawlessness over law enforcement.”

Protesters shutdown the 101 Freeway as they clash with law enforcement in downtown Los Angeles due to the immigration raids in L.A. on Sunday, June 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. | Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

A Waymo car burns in the street as smoke billows during protests in Los Angeles, California, on June 8, 2025. Following a series of aggressive federal immigration operations in Los Angeles, tensions escalated when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducted a high-profile raid on a Home Depot location. The raid sparked widespread protests across the city, where demonstrators decried the targeting of immigrant communities and the separation of families. Clashes soon broke out between protesters and federal agents, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to deploy 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, a move harshly criticized by California officials, including the governor, as “purposefully inflammatory.” | Photo by David Pashaee / Middle East Images via AFP

Demonstrators confront a line of National Guard troops during a protest in Los Angeles, California, on June 8, 2025. Tensions remain high after President Trump deployed federal forces despite opposition from local officials. | Photo by David Pashaee / Middle East Images via AFP

Also on Saturday, President Donald Trump deployed at least 2,000 National Guard troops to LA to fight what he has labeled “RIOTS & LOOTERS” in a post on social media.

Clashes continued on Sunday. Some protestors burned empty cars and shot fireworks at police officers, and officers have, in turn, used pepper spray and nonlethal bullets against protestors. The Associated Press reported that an Australian reporter was shot with a rubber bullet while conducting a live broadcast of the protester clashes.

The police fired rubber bullets at Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi while she was reporting live from Los Angeles today.Appalling and unjustified.pic.twitter.com/QLixvXawDg— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) June 9, 2025

Who’s in charge, and what comes next?

Immigration operations continue to be carried out by federal agents operating under ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. The National Guard has been assigned to protect these agents in their duties. Governors and the president have the authority to deploy the National Guard within a state. In this case, Trump did so over the objection of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. This action marked the first time a president has called in the National Guard without a governor’s approval since 1965 during the Civil Rights Movement. Newsom has condemned the president’s move and said he would sue over the deployment, saying Trump “flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard.”

This is exactly what Donald Trump wanted.He flamed the fires and illegally acted to federalize the National Guard.The order he signed doesn’t just apply to CA.It will allow him to go into ANY STATE and do the same thing.We’re suing him.pic.twitter.com/O3RAGlp2zo— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 9, 2025

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemns National Guard deployment

Normal police operations in Los Angeles are still under the control of the Los Angeles Police Department, which in turn answers to Mayor Karen Bass. The mayor has condemned the National Guard deployment. The New York Times reported that Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell said he would not have requested National Guard assistance but was making “a reassessment” in light of escalating violence, which he blamed on “anarchists” rather than immigration protesters.

With protests likely to continue, the situation in Los Angeles remains a standoff between authorities participating in Trump’s immigration sweeps and protesters opposing these raids, using both peaceful and sometimes violent methods to do so as the LA crisis has created a larger standoff between the Trump administration and local and state authorities in California, even as experts warn that Trump may be laying the groundwork to deploy troops in more areas and situations across the United States.

Khaby Lame has been detained and released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a statement to Men’s Journal, ICE confirmed that the globally recognized TikTok star was detained in Las Vegas on Friday for overstaying his visa, but was later permitted to leave the country. The agency said the Italian citizen arrived in the U.S. on April 30 but remained after his visa expired.

“Lame was granted voluntary departure June 6 and has since departed the U.S.,” ICE wrote.

What did Khaby Lame post on social media after getting detained by ICE?

Lame, who has more than 162 million TikTok followers, has stayed active on social media since the incident. On Saturday, he posted a promotional TikTok video for Kellogg’s cereal. He also shared a photo of a scenic view with a palm tree on his Instagram Story.

On Sunday, Lame posted another Instagram Story featuring a photo with Will Smith, writing, “what a great experience! Thank you for letting me be part of your movie @willsmith @martinlawrence.”

Who is Khaby Lame?

Lame rose to fame after losing his job as a factory mechanic in 2020, France 24 reported. He began creating short-form video content, quickly becoming known for his viral reaction skits. According to France 24, Lame earned about $16.5 million in 2023, largely through brand marketing deals.

Although Lame has lived in Italy since infancy, after being born in Senegal, he didn’t officially receive Italian citizenship until 2022, per The Associated Press.

“It is not that before, before signing, I didn’t feel Italian, so very little has changed,” Lame said after gaining citizenship. “But now I am officially Italian, on paper.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Khaby Lame his real name?

Technically, yes. Khaby is a nickname. His full name is Khabane Lame, and he uses his legal name as the display name on his Instagram account.

Why does Khaby Lame not talk?

Lame said that him not speaking in videos was initially not a purposeful decision.

He told CNN (via CapitalFM.com), “I came up with the idea because I was seeing these videos circulating, and I liked the idea of bringing some simplicity to it. The type of gesture came by chance, but the silence didn’t. I thought of a way to reach as many people as possible. And the best way was not to speak.”