Jennifer Hudson is asking a judge to seal her custody battle with former fiance David Otunga from the public.
The Dreamgirls star announced her separation from the wrestler, her partner of a decade, in November, 2017, and accused him of “aggressive, threatening and harassing behaviour”.
She filed for an emergency protection order, claiming her ex had pushed her while holding their son, but later dropped the petition after Otunga denied the allegation.
The former couple has been battling for custody of son David, Jr ever since the split, with Jennifer and her ex firing off legal claims and counter-claims, with Hudson admitting she feared her former lover would kidnap their son, while he accused the star of defaming him.
Frosty relations between the pair briefly thawed as Jennifer agreed to make David their kid’s primary caregiver, as part of a temporary custody deal, while she juggled parenting with her career commitments, including serving as a judge on both the U.K. and U.S. versions of The Voice talent show.
However, the warring couple has returned to the battlefield to scrap over David, Jr.’s schedule, and Otunga has even attempted to subpoena Jennifer’s sister, Julia, to sit for a deposition. He has also accused Hudson of hypocrisy for demanding he be barred from speaking to the media about their custody battle, while releasing her own statements.
The case will proceed to trial if the former couple is unable to agree a settlement before March (19), and Jennifer is requesting the public be banned from “the upcoming child-related legal proceedings”.
According to The Blast, Otunga is asking for an extension to respond to the motion.
(CNN)A New York Police Department detective was shot and killed Tuesday, and a sergeant was hit in the leg, after they responded to a reported robbery at a cell phone store in the borough of Queens, city officials said.It was an apparent incident of friendly fire, Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said. As the two officers went into the store, a suspect came out of a back room with a replica handgun. The detective and sergeant fired, and as they were leaving the store, the detective was apparently shot by uniformed officers.”Once again our hearts are broken in the NYPD,” O’Neill said.Brian Simonsen, 42, and a 19-year veteran of the department, was killed, police said.
Detective Brian Simonsen was shot and killed while responding to a reported robbery at a cell phone store in Queens, New York.O’Neill and Mayor Bill de Blasio met with the family at a hospital.”It was heartbreaking to see,” de Blasio said. “The shock that they are feeling was so painful to see.””Make no mistake about it, friendly fire aside, it’s because of the actions of the suspect that Detective Simonsen is dead,” O’Neill added.
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP/REX/ShutterstockNicki Minaj attends the Oscar de la Renta show during Fashion Week on in New York City on Sept. 11, 2018.
On Monday (Feb. 11), BET issued a statement apologizing to Nicki Minaj for a tweet that shaded her while simultaneously celebrating Cardi B‘s Grammy win for best rap album.
“Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj is being dragged by her lacefront,” the since-deleted tweet from the network read, redirecting to an article on BET.com about Cardi’s award.
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Nicki Minaj Takes to Twitter to Pull Out of BET Events & Call Out Grammy Producer
However, the damage was already done, as fans took screenshots of the tweet and called out the network for its comment, calling the tweet “insensitive” and “disrespectful.”
Minaj announced Monday via Twitter that she and the rest of Young Money would pull out of this year’s BET Awards and BET Experience, where she was set to perform as a headliner. “Young Money will no longer be apart of the BET Experience or award show,” she tweeted. “Summer Tour dates dropping soon.”
Amid the backlash, BET issued a statement to Billboard apologizing to the rapper:
“BET loves Nicki Minaj. We have supported her from the very beginning of her career and will continue to do so moving forward. Nicki has paved the way for so many performers and has solidified her place as one of the most powerful figures in the music industry. Unfortunately, the respect we have for Nicki was violated by this post that should never have been written. The post does not reflect how we feel about Nicki. And further does not reflect our company values. We deeply apologize for the hurt, disappointment and confusion that this post has caused. We are committed to doing everything we can to address the situation. We are also conducting an internal audit to assure these types of posts are not published again. We have apologized to Nicki and her team. The post has been removed and we have taken additional appropriate action. We understand Nicki’s position and look forward to continuing our dialogue with her. Finally, we apologize to all of her fans. This should have never happened.”
The BET Experience is set to take place in Los Angeles June 20-22, followed by the BET Awards ceremony on June 23.
It’s unclear whether the forthcoming LP is the same project that Chance has been working on with Kanye West. Whatever the case, it’ll be his fourth full-length to date and first since 2016’s Coloring Book.
Rich Polk/Getty ImagesSoulja Boy attends the 2019 Billboard Power 100 on Feb. 7, 2019 in Los Angeles.
Numerous hip-hop figures are urging fans to boycott Gucci over the Italian fashion house’s release of a high-neck black wool sweater closely resembling blackface.
Although Gucci has apologized and pulled the sweater from stores, rappers like T.I., Soulja Boy, and Waka Flocka Flame have issued strong statements of protest against the fashion brand.
“As a 7 figure/yr customer & long time supporter of your brand I must say…Y’all GOT US f—ed UP!!! APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED!!!!” Tip wrote on Instagram alongside a Gucci logo. “We ain’t going for this “oops my bad I didn’t mean to be racist and disrespectful towards your people” shit!!! Y’all knew wtf y’all was doin and WE AINT GOING FOR IT!!!”
Soulja Boy, who is often seen wearing a Gucci headband, also took to social media to share his frustration over the blackface sweater.
“Smh what is this man? —-♂️ no more @gucci headbands for me. Who’s responsible for this? Because it’s not funny! At all!” the rapper posted on Instagram alongside a photo of a model wearing the sweater.
Earlier this week, Gucci apologizes for the clothing item, writing in a statement: “We consider diversity to be a fundamental value to be fully upheld, respected, and at the forefront of every decision we make.”
The biggest night in music is just two days away and before host Alicia Keyskicks things off on Sunday night (Feb. 10), we’ve rounded up a list of every star presenting and performing at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
Below are alphabetical lists of everyone fans can expect to grace the stage at Staples Center in L.A.
Host Alicia Keys
Presenters Alessia Cara Anna Kendrick Bob Newhart BTS Cedric The Entertainer Charlie Wilson Eve Jada Pinkett Smith John Mayer Julian Edelman Kane Brown Kelsea Ballerini Luke Combs Meghan Trainor Nina Dobrev Smokey Robinson Swizz Beatz Wilmer Valderrama
Performers Andra Day Arturo Sandoval Brandi Carlile Camila Cabello Cardi B Chloe x Halle Dan + Shay Diana Ross Dua Lipa Fantasia H.E.R. Janelle Monae J Balvin Kacey Musgraves Lady Gaga and Mark Ronson Little Big Town Maren Morris Miley Cyrus Post Malone with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers Ricky Martin Shawn Mendes St. Vincent Travis Scott Yolanda Adams Young Thug
The Grammy Awards will air Sunday, Feb. 10 on CBS starting at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.
Offset (Heater Kaplan), 21 Savage (Phillip Cosores), and Chris Brown
Chris Brown, forever contemplative and mild-mannered, is in the middle of a social media meltdown after Offset called him out for poking fun at 21 Savage’s ongoing legal situation.
Over the weekend, 21 Savage was arrested by ICE over issues with his immigration status. Though many of his fellow musicians have come to his defense, Brown seemingly made light of the situation by posting a video of 21 Savage overdubbed with a British-sounding rapper. Offset responded by writing in Brown’s Instagram comments, “Memes ain’t funny lame,” provoking an angry outburst from Brown. TOP ARTICLES1/5READ MOREChris Brown and Offset feud over 21 Savage meme
“F**k you lil boy. Better worry about what u got going and focus on ‘you,’” Brown wrote. “All this cap on IG is what’s lame. Yo energy wont [sic] that when I came to Drake show in LA. If you don’t get yo a hip a hop a hibbet a hibbet to the hip hip hop and ya don’t stop the rockin facea** out of my comments. Sensitive a** n***a. Call me personally. U want some clout when all u gotta do is pull up […] If you a real man fight me. Oh and another thing, suck my dick!”
Offset later responded to Brown with an Instagram Story that read, “Coke head don’t want ”
Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for PoliticonTomi Lahren at the ‘Chelsea Handler in Conversation with Tomi Lahren’ panel during Politicon at Pasadena Convention Center on July 29, 2017 in Pasadena, Calif.
Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren isn’t afraid to voice her opinion about hot-button issues to help push the conservative narrative, and she’s become tangled with some of the biggest names in hip-hop in the process — whether it’s a one-sided conversation or a back-and-forth with an artist.
The 26-year-old pundit clashed with Cardi B at the top of the year over the monthlong government shutdown that left millions of Americans without pay. Their interaction spawned Cardi’s now-infamous “dog walk” line, which went viral.
On Sunday, Lahren got into it with Cardi again when she mocked 21 Savage‘s arrest by ICE agents, playing off bars from his “Bank Account” track. “I got one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight ICE agents ready to deport ya,” she tweeted. Cardi and Nicki Minaj both took exception to her cruel tweet, firing back in defense of their rap compatriot.
Cardi B & Nicki Minaj Take Aim at Tomi Lahren Over Jokes About 21 Savage Arrest
This probably isn’t the last time we’ll hear Lahren feuding with hip-hop artists, even though she claims to be a huge fan of the genre. Below, find a compiled list of all her hip-hop beefs.
Wale Wale initiated things with the political commentator back in 2017 when he intentionally mispronounced her name on the Phil Ade-assisted song “Smile.”“Maybe I should meet Tomi Lahren, I’ll Lauryn Hill her/ Train her, she miseducated anyway, yeah/ Prolly hate the color of my face,” he rapped.
“So if you’re gonna put someone in a song…diss ’em.. perhaps get their fricken name right next time,” she tweeted back, to which Wale hilariously replied, “Ok, Tammy.” This was really only the beginning of their turbulent relationship, as the bickering continued into 2018.
Wale came to the defense of former first lady Michelle Obama when Lahren repeatedly criticized her behavior at various points. “Tammy when we stand ..u mad.. when we kneel u mad… why u so mad Tammy,” Wale questioned after Tomi told Obama to “sit down” last September.
The “Poledancer” rhymer then had more words for the South Dakota native when she once again blasted Michelle Obama for alleging that she was upset Melania Trump didn’t call her for advice. “Just say you threatened by the power of black women and go Tammy.. you and your zany hijinks won’t prosper today,” Wale tweeted in November.
Finally, Wale couldn’t wrap his head around the jokes that filled social media following 21 Savage’s arrest. Once Lahren taunted 21 with lyrics from “Bank Account,” the D.C.-born rapper couldn’t hold back any longer. “U a bird and a half,” he said.
Cardi B Cardi B fancies herself an American history connoisseur of sorts. As the January government shutdown continued, the Bronx native had enough of what was going on and decided to break her silence in a scathing rant, pointing the finger at the GOP.
“Looks like @iamcardib is the latest genius political mind to endorse the Democrats. HA! Keep it up, guys. #MAGA2020,” Lahren wrote. Bardi snapped back, threatening, “Leave me alone I will dog walk you.”
“I’m sure you would. Still doesn’t make your political rambling any less moronic,” Tomi replied.
The “Bodak Yellow” artist then closed out the conversation by comparing Lahren to a “sheep.” “You’re so blinded with racism that you don’t even realize the decisions the president you root for is destroying the country you claim to love so much,” Cardi penned. “You are a perfect example on no matter how educated or smart you think you are you still a SHEEP!”
When the Fox Nation host scorned 21 Savage after he was detained by ICE authorities over the weekend, Bardi played off of her previous “dog walk” comments, tweeting, “Don’t make me get my leash.”
Lahren got the final word when she attempted to find common ground on immigration issues but admitted to being a fan of Cardi’s. “Here’s something maybe we can agree on, our immigration system is broken,” Lahren wrote. “We need to keep our country safe while also making sure people who work hard, contribute and don’t leech off the system are able to LEGALLY immigrate here.”
Nicki Minaj Ostensibly, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B tag-teamed to assist each other in going after Tomi Lahren on Monday. Minaj also took issue with Lahren’s comments regarding 21 Savage. Nicki was disgusted at the manner in how Lahren indulges in hip-hop-related topics. “Your obsession w/our culture is scary to say the least. I hate giving you the attention you so desperately crave. Laughing @ ppl getting deported as if your ancestors discovered America. Are you Native American? You fkn clown,” Nicki tweeted.
The former host for The Blazelightened up and expressed her hopes for 21’s eventual citizenship. “When you’re in the country illegally, you get deported. I didn’t write the law and neither did ICE. They enforce it. I hope @21savage is able to get an entertainment visa or become a citizen one day,” Lahren responded. “P.S. My ancestors did discover America.”
When you’re in the country illegally, you get deported. I didn’t write the law and neither did ICE. They enforce it. I hope @21savage is able to get an entertainment visa or become a citizen one day.
Jay-Z Hov actually flipped Lahren publicly denouncing his former drug-dealing days and incorporated her words into his assist on Pusha T‘s “Drug Dealers Anonymous.” “Your husband was a drug dealer, for 14 years he sold crack cocaine,” Lahren’s voice can be heard to kick off his verse, referencing Beyoncé. “14-year drug dealer and still counting/ Who deserves the medal of freedom is my accountant,” Jay raps.
“I’ve got 99 problems but trust me, being on your rap ain’t one,” Tomi responded later after hearing the 2016 track on Twitter.
The war of words continued in 2018, as Mr. Carter sat down for an interview with Van Jones and explained how we ended up with Donald Trump as president. “You don’t take the trash out. You just keep spraying whatever over it to make it acceptable. As those things grow, we create a superbug and now we have Donald Trump,” he said.
Lahren took a jab at Jay and backed the president. “As opposed to you who raps about bitches and sisters and brags about selling crack. Yeah…Trump is the problem…sure.”
The Game The Game is the latest MC to ether Lahren. In a since-deleted post, the West Coast rapper took to Instagram on Tuesday (Feb. 5) for a sexually explicit tirade sniping at Lahren for speaking on 21 Savage’s arrest. “@21savage gettin detained by ICE is not funny nor anything for ya middle of the mall clip in wearin’ hoe ass to be joking about,” The Game wrote in a tamer section of the caption. “You the same dumb broad that was singin the lyrics to his song not along ago… now using his situation & the culture deep down you love so much for content on ya bum ass twitter page etc.”
Beyoncé Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players taking a knee isn’t the only thing to anger Lahren when it comes to the gridiron. For her “Final Thoughts” segment on Tomi, Lahren ripped Beyoncé for her Black Panther-centric halftime performance at Super Bowl 50 back in 2016.
“Guess what, Beyoncé: White people like your music too. White people buy your songs on iTunes, memorize your lyrics, and admire your talent and beauty. Little white girls wanna be like you just as little black girls do, but instead of recognizing that, you’d rather perpetuate the great battle of the races,” she emphatically stated. “Your husband was a drug dealer. For 14 years, he sold crack cocaine. Talk about protecting black neighborhoods, start at home.” (Revisit the Jay-Z section above for how Jay responded to that last line.)
Charlamagne Tha God Tomi Lahren had Charlamagne Tha God on as a guest for her The Blaze TV show, as the pair talked about prevalent issues for black Americans. Lahren repeatedly called out the Black Panther organization as a terorrist group, which Charlamagne vehemently disagreed with. They moved into debating the Michael Brown shooting and Black Lives Matter movement. Lahren was actually supposed to be a guest on The Breakfast Club with Charlamagne, but bailed at the last-minute.
Charlamagne posted a photo alongside Lahren in late 2016, sparking outrage from followers who didn’t understand why he would sit down with someone preaching a dangerous rhetoric. “Do you want diplomacy or do you want division? I’m talking to Tomi because I care about the rhetoric that comes out of her mouth, because she has influence,” he later explained on The Breakfast Club. “The narrative she paints about Black Lives Matter is dangerous. The same way people can hit her up on social media and tell her how wrong she is, I can meet with her [in person] and tell her the same things. I don’t like talking about people. I like talking to them.”
Eminem It’s no secret Eminem is no fan of Donald Trump. Shady attempted to eviscerate the president with a cypher at the 2017 BET Hip Hop Awards. The shots were to no avail, as Trump didn’t respond. Later that week, Lahren took aim at a number of celebrities, including Eminem, saying he should be “ecstatic that Donald Trump is trying to bring back jobs to a city and state destroyed by Democrats and their policies.”
WATCHCardi B Stands Up For “Bartier Cardi” Collaborator 21 Savage | Billboard News
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake may lead the nominations, but Sunday’s Grammy Awards looks set to be a showcase for girl power.
Outspoken rapper Cardi B, whose music and personal life has dominated pop culture for the past two years, leads the charge on music’s biggest night with a live performance and five Grammy nominations, including for album and record of the year.
R&B singer Alicia Keys will host the Grammys for the first time, while Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monae, Camila Cabello and Kacey Musgraves are also among the performers at the Los Angeles ceremony.ADVERTISEMENT
Adding to the star power, Motown legend Diana Ross will take the stage to mark her 75th birthday in March, and hopes are high that Lady Gaga will perform her Grammy and Oscar-nominated song “Shallow” from the movie “A Star is Born.”
Yet Cardi B is likely to grab most of the attention. The 26 year-old New York artist is one of only a handful of female rappers and has captured attention with her message of female empowerment, on and off marriage to rapper Offset, and a string of hit records and collaborations, including “I Like It,” “Girls Like You” and “Taki Taki.”
“Cardi B is a very strong woman who is in control of her career. She is really talented and has something to say and she is just fun. She is like a breath of fresh air,” said Melinda Newman, West Coast editor for Billboard magazine.
“Between Alicia Keys and all the female nominees, I think we will have a very female-leading show. That’s not necessarily by design, that’s just how it’s shaking out this year,” Newman added.
It is a far cry from 2018, when the dearth of female nominees and performers caused a media uproar and prompted the Recording Academy, whose members choose the Grammy winners, to expand the number of nominees in the top four categories to eight from five.
This year five of the eight nominees for the coveted album of the year award are women – Cardi B’s “Invasion of Privacy,” Janelle Monae’s “Dirty Computer”, folk singer Brandi Carlile’s “By the Way, I Forgive You,” country artist Kacey Musgraves’ “Golden Hour” and R&B newcomer H.E.R.’s self-titled “H.E.R.”ADVERTISEMENT
FILE PHOTO: Cardi B performs ”Finesse” at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards Show in New York, U.S., January 28, 2018.REUTERS/LUCAS JACKSON/FILE PHOTO
FILE PHOTO: Cardi B performs during Z100’s iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2018 concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, U.S., December 7, 2018.REUTERS/EDUARDO MUNOZ/FILE PHOTO
Six of the eight musicians competing for best new artist are also women, including “New Rules” British singer Dua Lipa, Chloe & Halle, Bebe Rexha and H.E.R.
While the show may give the impression that girls run the world, there is no guarantee how many will take home a Grammy.
Lamar leads with eight nods, many of them for writing most of the “Black Panther” movie soundtrack album, which is up for album of the year. Drake, the most commercially successful artist of 2018, follows with seven nominations, including for his album “Scorpion” and single “God’s Plan.”
It is not yet known whether either of the rappers will perform on Sunday.
The Grammy Awards take place in Los Angeles on Feb. 10 and will be broadcast live on CBS television at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT (0100 GMT).
(CNN)Grammy-nominated rapper 21 Savage was arrested in Atlanta early Sunday by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to ICE spokesperson Bryan Cox. The agency says he is illegally present in the United States.ICE says that the rapper, whose real name is Shayaabin Abraham-Joseph, is a citizen of the United Kingdom, according to Cox. The agency alleges that he entered the US legally in July 2005, when he was a minor, but subsequently failed to depart under the terms of his nonimmigrant visa. ICE says Abraham-Joseph became unlawfully present when his visa expired in July 2006.”Mr. Abraham-Joseph is presently in ICE custody in Georgia and has been placed into removal proceedings before the federal immigration courts,” ICE said in a statement. “ICE will now await the outcome of his case before a federal immigration judge to determine future actions.”An attorney for Abraham-Joseph said his representatives were working to secure his release.”We are working diligently to get Mr. Abraham-Joseph out of detention while we work with the authorities to clear up any misunderstandings,” Dina LaPolt said in a statement to CNN. “Mr. Abraham-Joseph is a role model to the young people in this country, especially in Atlanta, Georgia, and is actively working in the community leading programs to help underprivileged youths in financial literacy.”Abraham-Joseph was also convicted on felony drug charges in October 2014 in Fulton County, Georgia, ICE said.Cox said Abraham-Joseph was arrested in a targeted sting.21 Savage features on the song “Rockstar” by Post Malone, which was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Rap Performance at the Grammys.ICE’s allegation that Abraham-Joseph is British came as a shock to the artist’s fans, as he is most closely associated with Atlanta and its music scene. He has said the “21” in his name is a reference to a street gang in Decatur, and his songs often refer to his past in East Atlanta’s Zone 6. In “Bank Account,” for example, he raps that he is “straight up out the 6.”The Atlanta-based rapper released his album “Issa Album” in 2017, featuring the hit song “Bank Account.” His second album “I Am > I Was” was released in December 2018. He has also released a collaborative album with Offset and Metro Boomin named “Without Warning” in October 2017
