Desus Nice Guest Hosts ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ [VIDEO]

Last month, Daniel “Desus Nice” Baker parted ways with his longtime creative partner Joel “The Kid Mero” Martinez. The former Desus & Mero co-host recently took on another temporary late-night hosting gig.

Desus Nice filled in as a replacement for Jimmy Kimmel on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! The Bronx-raised comedian used his monologue to briefly address his departure from the Showtime network.

“Listen, it’s weird to be hosting a show on network TV because I was on Showtime for the past four years, where they pretty much let you say whatever the f### you want,” stated Desus Nice. “Guillermo, can I say whatever the f### I want on ABC?”

Desus Nice also touched on other topics during the opening portion of last night’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! He joked about the FBI’s search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.

In addition, the nearly 12-minute segment covered President Joe Biden, a buzzed bear, and more. Desus also talked to people on the street to get their thoughts on Los Angeles versus New York City.

The rest of the show also featured Desus Nice interviewing Emmy nominee Jerrod Carmichael and Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. The host later introduced “Lullabye” performer Grace Ives.

On July 18, the verified Desus & Mero Twitter account revealed the series was coming to an end. Desus Nice confirmed the news by tweeting, “Shouts to Showtime & shouts to the hive, thanks for being part of the journey. Proud of the show my staff made every episode. Big tings soon come…”

Bad Bunny Blocks YoungBoy Never Broke Again From Debuting At No. 1

It appeared YoungBoy Never Broke Again was on pace to earn another Number One on the Billboard 200 chart with The Last Slimeto. However, less than 500 album units prevented the rapper from claiming the top spot.

YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s The Last Slimeto opened at #2 on the weekly Billboard 200 album chart. Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti returned to #1 this week.

According to Billboard, Un Verano Sin Ti pulled in another 108,800 equivalent album units. YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s The Last Slimeto opened with 108,400 equivalent album units.

With The Last Slimeto‘s #2 opening, YoungBoy now has ten Top 10 projects in his discography. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native charted three projects in the Top 10 this year.

YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s Colors mixtape reached #2 near the top of the year. The Better Than You collaborative effort by YoungBoy and DaBaby peaked at #10 in March.

Over the last three years, YoungBoy repeatedly dropped chart-topping projects. 2019’s AI YoungBoy 2, 2020’s 38 Baby 2, 2020’s Top, and 2021’s Sincerely, Kentrell made it to #1 on the Billboard 200.

Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti spends an eighth nonconsecutive week at #1. Last week’s leader, Beyoncé’s Renaissance, slipped two spots to #3. Eminem’s Curtain Call 2 greatest hits compilation debuted at #6 with 43,000 units.

Future’s I Never Liked You, Drake’s Honestly, Nevermind, and Lil Durk’s 7220 secured Top 10 positions as well. I Never Liked You rose from #9 to #7. Honestly, Nevermind jumped from #10 to #8. 7220 climbed from #13 to #10.

Adele Wants Marriage & Children With Rich Paul: “I’ve Never Been In Love Like This” 

Adele is loving life at the moment, revealing she is “happy as I’ll ever be,” with Rich Paul and is ready to take things to the next level with her new beau. 

The British singer revealed that she’s become “obsessed” with her man, sports agent boyfriend Rich Paul after they officially announced their relationship last year. Now, Adele says she is ready to settle down and have more children. 

Adele Is “Obsessed” With Rich Paul

While she is notoriously silent about her private life Adele gushed about her newfound love. “I’ve never been in love like this,” she declared during an interview with Elle magazine. “I’m obsessed with him. I definitely want more kids,” she added.  

The superstar songstress first met the multi-millionaire agent friend of Lebron James while at a party a few years ago. She was previously married to entrepreneur Simon Konecki but separated shortly after their wedding in 2021. The pair share a nine-year-old son Angelo.  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by 👑 (@kingjames)

Instagram

When asked to address engagement rumors, she kept tight-lipped but did admit she “absolutely’ wants to get married again. Despite the diamond ring she’s recently sported with she stated, “I’m not married,” before adding, “I’m just in loooove! I’m happy as I’ll ever be. I might as well be married.”  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Adele (@adele)

Despite being swept up in domestic bliss with Rich Paul, Adele remains focused on her music. “I’m a homemaker and I’m a matriarch, and a stable life helps me with my music,” she revealed. “But right now, all I got in my brain is Vegas. I wanna f###### nail it.”  

Adele was distraught when she canceled her Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. She called it “the worst moment in my career,” but couldn’t go ahead as she just wasn’t satisfied with the show.  

“There was just no soul in it,” she recalled and said the setup “lacked intimacy,” though she conceded she may have been aiming too high.  

“But it actually made my self-confidence in myself grow, because it was a very brave thing to do,” said Adele. “And I don’t think many people would have done what I did. I’m very proud of myself for standing by my artistic needs.” 

Jack Harlow, Lizzo & More To Perform At 2022 MTV VMAs

Both Jack Harlow and Lizzo reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2022. Both acts will also hit the stage at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards inside New Jersey’s Prudential Center.

Jack Harlow returns to the VMAs for his first solo performance at the show. The Kentucky-bred rapper scored his second No. 1 on the Hot 100 when “First Class” topped the weekly rankings in April.

“First Class” lives on Harlow’s Come Home the Kids Miss You album. The 10-time VMA nominee goes into the 2022 ceremony with seven nominations which puts him in a tie for most of the year.

Lizzo debuted at the 2019 Video Music Awards. For those VMAs, the singer/songwriter performed a mashup of her hit singles “Good As Hell” and “Truth Hurts.”

Special, Lizzo’s fourth studio LP, dropped on July 15. The 12-track project hosts the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping song “About Damn Time.” Special became Lizzo’s highest-charting album of her career.

MTV also announced K-Pop group BLACKPINK and Rock band Måneskin as performers for the VMAs. Plus, Hip Hop star Nicki Minaj will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.

Jack Harlow, Kendrick Lamar, and Lil Nas X lead the 2022 VMA nominations with seven each. LNX and Harlow’s “Industry Baby” is up for Video Of The Year, Best Collaboration, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects, and Best Choreography.

The 2022 MTV Video Music Awards will take place on Sunday, August 28 at 8 pm ET/PT. Other scheduled performers include Anitta, J Balvin, Khalid, Marshmello, Panic! at the Disco, and Kane Brown.

The Game Celebrates Drillmatic: “The Best Rap Album Out” 

The Game dropped his highly anticipated album Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind on Friday (Aug. 12) after several delays. 

While fans are still waiting to see if Eminem will respond to “The Black Slim Shady,” the Compton rapper has nothing but gratitude for supporters of the album. He took to Instagram Live to chop it up with his followers and show his fans love.  

“Everybody that supported the album,” he said to the camera, “everybody that showed me love with this Drillmatic s###… Everybody that’s bumping it, sending me your favorite songs, posting it on your story, that s### means a lot to me.” 

The Game then continued and applauded himself for his longevity in the industry. “It’s dope to be 20 years in… and still get the love and the support from my day one fans and everybody in the world.” 

He also suggested anyone who hasn’t listened yet check out the project. “I promise you it’s the best rap album out right now,” The Game added. “Probably the best full album out, I ain’t gone even lie.” He captioned the post, “Sunday Love 🖤” check it out below.  

https://www.instagram.com/tv/ChQ0plol7G9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The 31-track, feature-packed Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind includes assists from some of Hip-Hop’s heavyweights. Kanye West featured on “Eazy” and also on “Fortunate” with Dreezy and CHILLER and pulled up to the release party to perform with The Game. Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, NBA Youngboy, A$AP Rocky, and Big Sean also make appearances.  

Nipsey Hussle Removed From Drillmatic

Meanwhile, earlier this week, Wack 100 called out Nipsey Hussle’s brother Blacc Sam over sample clearance issues. Wack claimed Sam nixed “World Tours,” The Game’s collab with Nip, shortly after the project was released.  

“I got an email from my attorney, at about 7:30, an hour and a half before it dropped. Nipsey’s brother put in a demand for it to be pulled,” Wack revealed on Clubhouse. Read the full story here on AllHipHop.com.  

Drake Reacts To Beating The Beatles Historic Chart Record 

Drake once boasted, “I got more slaps than The Beatles” on Meek Mill’s “Going Bad,” and now, he does.  

The OVO honcho has toppled another of The Beatles long-held records after charting his 30th top-five single, surpassing The Beatles for the most top five hits in the Hot 100’s history. 

Billboard announced the Canadian superstar broke the record with “Staying Alive,” his collaboration with DJ Khaled and Lil Baby. The song debuted at No. 5 on the Aug. 20-dated chart, taking Drake to 30 hits in the top five, overtaking The Beatles, who have 29. The British band held the record for 55 years, though their last new entry was in 1970.  

While other artists might have been a little bit more excited to break the long-standing record, Drake took it in his stride. He shared a report of the announcement in his Instagram stories writing, “drinks tonight anybody?” 

However, Drake is not easily overwhelmed, despite making history. Hours after the post inviting friends for drinks, he posted another photo. “Just another celebration” was the message written on the dessert plate. He also added a shrug emoji to emphasize just how normal record-breaking is for him.  

Instagram Drake

This is not the first time Drake, who has a tattoo of himself standing in front of the four Beatles, broke one of their records. His 2018 album Scorpion set a record by posting seven simultaneous singles on Billboard’s Top 10. He overturned The Beatles record of five singles set in 1964. The project also broke streaming records, becoming the first album to achieve one billion streams in its first week. 

Eminem, Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre Tease Epic Collab With Studio Selfie 

Eminem set social media alight on Monday afternoon (Aug. 15) when he shared a photo with his “bros,” fellow Hip-Hop icons Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.  

The rumor mill went into overdrive when the Detroit legend shared a photo of the trip in the studio. Fans immediately began predicting an iconic collaboration from them; all three are currently releasing music as solo artists, and a collab would be one for the Hip-Hop History books.  

Do Eminem, Snoop & Dr. Dre Have New Music Coming?

Earlier this year, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre joined forces to perform at the epic Super Bowl Halftime show. They were also joined by Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige for one of the most talked about moments of the year so far.  

Meanwhile, the Doggfather joined Em on the single “From the D2 to the LBC,” released in June. The song served as the lead single from Eminem’s recently released greatest hits album Curtain Call 2. However, it serves as a good omen if the pair are working on more music together as they revealed they brought the best out of each other.  

Eminem shared a clip of himself and Snoop in the studio which begins with the West Coast legend telling Slim Shady he pushed him to level up.  

“Yeah, but you killed it though, bro,” but Snoop replied, “You challenge me Marshall. You put me back in my karate school days, where I used to be a young MC and, you know, loved the challenge of having to try new styles and new cadences.  

“The rap game is supposed to be challenging; it’s supposed to make you dig in your bag. ‘Cause I’ve heard you on other songs with other rappers and you tend to show out, so I wanted to make sure I was going to represent.” Eminem then agreed, telling Snoop, “You showed out.” Check out the clip below.  

A$AP Rocky Charged With Assault For Alleged A$AP Relli Shooting 

A$AP Rocky has been formally charged with two counts of assault with a firearm following his April arrest in connection with the shooting of his friend and former A$AP mob member, A$AP Relli. 

On Monday (Aug. 15), the Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced they charged the Harlem rapper with assault with a semiautomatic firearm and allegations of personally using a firearm, as per a report from Rolling Stone. If convicted, A$AP Rocky could face up to nine years behind bars. 

“Discharging a gun in a public place is a serious offense that could have ended with tragic consequences not only for the person targeted but also for innocent bystanders visiting Hollywood,” Gascón said in a statement. “My office conducted a thorough review of the evidence in this case and determined that the addition of a special firearm allegation was warranted.” 

Cops were waiting at LAX to arrest A$AP Rocky on his arrival following a trip to Barbados with Rihanna. He posted a $500,000 bond and was swiftly released. 

A$AP Rocky Also The Subject Of A Lawsuit

As reported by AllHipHop.com, Terell “A$AP Relli” Ephron claims he’s suffered physical, mental, and emotional injuries over the shooting. He filed a lawsuit against the rapper, alleging Rocky “lured” him to an obscure location under false pretenses. “Unbeknownst to Mr. Ephron, A$AP Rocky was not just planning for a conversation and came armed with a semi-automatic handgun,” an earlier statement alleges. “After arriving at the location, a conversation ensued whereby without provocation, warning, or any justification, A$AP Rocky produced the handgun and intentionally fired multiple shots at Mr. Ephron.”  

He is seeking at least $25,000 in damages. A$AP Relli’s attorneys said he’s dealt with “multiple death threats and irreparable harm to his career” since the shooting. 

A$AP Rocky will face trial over the shooting in the criminal case on August 17. 

Mariah Carey Mansion Burglarized By Thieves

Mariah Carey’s mansion in Atlanta, Georgia, was reportedly targeted by burglars while she was on vacation last month.

The “We Belong Together” singer was reportedly away on holiday with her boyfriend Bryan Tanaka and her 11-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan when the burglars gained access to her Atlanta property, according to Page Six.

Police officials confirmed the break-in, which was reported on July 27th. However, they told the publication that since “this is still an open investigation, the information may be limited.”

It has not been revealed what was taken from the pop diva’s property.

In July, Mariah posted photos on social media showing her on vacation in Capri, Italy.

Two weeks later, she revealed she had rented out a mansion in the Hamptons, New York, with the caption, “Out East for the week, soaking it all in.”

The singer reportedly paid more than six figures to rent out the house for two weeks.

According to Page Six, the singer bought the $5.65 million property in Atlanta’s elite suburb of Sandy Springs in November last year.

The home features nine bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, as well as a swimming pool, screening room, tennis court, and playground.

She also reportedly has homes in New York and Beverly Hills, California.
Mariah’s representatives have yet to comment on the report.

Machine Gun Kelly Gets His Own Day In Cleveland

Machine Gun Kelly Day in Cleveland, Ohio has been declared for August 13th.

During a special event at Cleveland’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, the city’s mayor Justin Bibb revealed the day dedicated to the U.S. rapper.

The event marked the opening of a new Machine Gun Kelly exhibition featuring some of the rocker’s personal items, including his “Tickets To My Downfall” outfit and Schecter PT Model electric guitar.

As part of the proceedings, Bibb presented MGK with a framed celebratory document – officially declaring the date to be Machine Gun Kelly Day – in front of the singer’s own 27 Club Coffee Shop.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by mgk (@machinegunkelly)

The 32-year-old, who partly grew up in the American city, shared a video of the moment on Instagram, in which Bibb can be heard saying, “Four years ago, I met MGK, and I didn’t know that someone could love the city of Cleveland as I did. But he does, and so today is officially Machine Gun Kelly Day.”

MGK captioned the video: “These are happy tears.”

Justin Bibb took to his own Instagram page with a photo of him and the singer, captioning his post: “We’re Cleveland till we die.” The post has since been deleted.

The rocker played his Mainstream Sellout Tour at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland that night. He wrote of the event on his Instagram, “From getting arrested at South Park Mall in 2011 for telling fans to show up, to selling out the STADIUM tomorrow in my hometown. Legendary. This will be the concert of all concerts.”

Nipsey Hussle Honored With Hollywood Walk of Fame Star on His Birthday

Nipsey Hussle received the 2,729th Hollywood Walk of Fame Star today August 15, 2022 on what would’ve been the late, great rapper’s 37th birthday. Nipsey was honored posthumously in the category of recording.

As fans gathered at the 6200 block of Hollywood Blvd in Los Angeles, California, Lauren London, Samantha Smith (Nipsey’s sister), Margaret Boutte (Nipsey’s grandmother), and Dawit Asghedom (Nipsey’s father) took to the podium to honor and celebrate Nipsey’s legacy. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by AllHipHop (@allhiphopcom)

“I think he would want everyone to remember that you can’t get to what’s possible unless you commit to moving forward. That doesn’t mean forgetting where you come from, but it requires acknowledging the reality you were born into, and the power you have to change that reality for the better.  So whenever you are in the city of angels and you see this star, I hope it encourages you to break away from whatever may be holding you back, and for you to run your marathon.” said Lauren London.

She went on to say:

“Nip will forever live in our hearts. I am grateful for the love and support the world has shown us, but especially I want to thank the city of Los Angeles. I love you, and as y’all know, The Marathon Continues. 

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce highlighted Nipsey’s achievements from him founding his All Money In record label in 2010 to the release of ‘Victory Lap’ and Nipsey receiving posthumous Grammys in the categories of Best Rap Performance for “Racks in the Middle” and Best Rap/Sung Performance on “Higher.”

Hussle’s entrepreneurship  and philanthropy were also highlighted today with the acknowledgement of his The Marathon Clothing store and its use of game-changing technology as well as his STEM initiative for the Crenshaw neighborhood called The Neighborhood Nip Foundation.

Celebrities in attendance included YG, Roddy Ricch, Russell Westbrook, and fellow Hollywood Walk of Fame honoree, Big Boy

Nipsey’s family was also presented with a proclamation declaring August 15th Nipsey Hussle Day in the city of Los Angeles.

Following the reveal of the star, fans began singing the rapper’s songs as well as wishing him a happy birthday. 

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce continues to transform business and improve lives as they celebrate entertainment, music, art, and enterprise.

DJ Khaled, Ashanti, Jenifer Lewis, and Kenan Thompson were also honored with their own Hollywood Walk of Fame stars recently. 

Ellen DeGeneres Pays Tribute To Anne Heche As Body Bag Video Goes Viral

Ellen DeGeneres and James Tupper have paid tribute to the late Anne Heche.

The “Donnie Brasco” actress was declared legally dead on Friday after being in a coma as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident on August 5th. She was 53.

Following the sad news, TV host Ellen took to Twitter to remember her former girlfriend.

“This is a sad day. I’m sending Anne’s children, family, and friends all of my love,” she wrote.

Ellen and Anne were in a high-profile relationship between 1997 and 2000.
In addition, James posted a snap of his former partner on his Instagram page and added, “Love you forever,” alongside a broken heart emoji.

Anne and James met on the TV show “Men in Trees” set, dated between 2007 and 2018. They welcomed a son named Atlas in 2009.

Meanwhile, Anne’s ex-husband Coley Laffoon dedicated an emotional video to her on Instagram on Friday. The former couple was married between 2001 and 2007. They became parents to son Homer in 2002.

“In the wake of Anne’s passing, I just wanted to say a few things. One, I loved her, and I miss her, and I’m always going to. Two, Homer is O.K. He’s grieving, of course, and it’s rough. It’s really rough, as probably anybody can imagine, but he’s surrounded by family, and he’s strong, and he’s going to be O.K.,” he said. “Your check-ins, showing us your heart, offering prayers and everything, it’s so beautiful. Thank you. It’s hard for me, it’s hard for my family, it’s really hard for Homer. But we’ve got each other, and we have a lot of support, and we’re going to be O.K.”

Many of Anne’s former co-stars, including Robert De Niro and Alec Baldwin, posted tributes online.

The tributes came as footage of the actress bursting out of what has been labeled a body bag, started to go viral on various social media platforms.

Identity Of Cooperating Witness In Young Thug Case Leaks; Family Threatened

A leak is causing trouble in the Young Thug and YSL racketeering case.

According to Atlanta’s WSB-TV, a discovery document and part of a cooperating witness’ statement leaked online. Prosecutors and Young Thug’s attorney raised concerns over threats against the witness and family members.

“YSL enthusiasts and/or actual gang members are threatening someone they believe is cooperating with the state,” Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis told WSB-TV. “And not only that person but their very small children.”

Young Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel called for the threats to stop. He also condemned the leak, saying it’s not helping his client.

“This is putting people at risk and is poisoning the jury pool,” Steel said. “Please stop immediately.”

Steel added, “Whomever is placing items of discovery online is not doing anybody a favor. It is totally inappropriate to try to try this case in social media. This case will be tried fairly and justly in Fulton County Superior Court.”

Authorities are still investigating the leak. Willis claimed the D.A.’s office will ensure the safety of witnesses in the Young Thug/YSL case.

“We’re gonna have to do things that make sure the witnesses are safe,” Willis said. “We need people to understand that they can cooperate. They can do the right thing and the state will be here to protect them.”

Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffrey Williams, faces gang-related charges as part of a sweeping indictment against YSL members. The D.A.’s office initially charged him with conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and participating in criminal street gang activity.

Authorities later hit Young Thug with an additional charge of participating in street gang activity, possession of a firearm while committing a felony, possession of a machine gun and three counts of violating Georgia’s controlled substances act. His lawyer denies all of the allegations against his client.

John Boyega Happy To Use His African Accent For The Woman King

John Boyega signed up to star in “The Woman King” because it allowed him to speak in his father’s African accent.

The upcoming American historical epic film tells the story of the Agojie, the fearless all-female warrior unit who protected the African kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century.

Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch, Thuso Mbedu, and Sheila Atim portray the warriors alongside Boyega as King Ghezo.

In an interview with Men’s Health magazine, Boyega, the British-born son of Nigerian immigrants, explained that using an African accent onscreen was a huge selling point.

“The fact that I would be able to speak in my father’s accent, in my native tongue, and portray something that’s different from what I’ve done before, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m coming. I want to be a part of that big-time,'” he said.

“The Woman King” is one of three films the “Star Wars” actor has coming out this year. There is also the sci-fi comedy “They Cloned Tyrone,” in which he plays multiple clones aged between 28 and 78.

He described the narrative as a “unique and strange story that blew me away” and called working with co-star Jamie Foxx “a joy.”

His third 2022 film, “Breaking,” is a drama in which he stars alongside Michael K. Williams. It was one of The Wire star’s final roles before he died in September last year.

Lauren London Reveals How Nipsey Hussle Would’ve Reacted To Being On Walk Of Fame

Lauren London remembered her partner Nipsey Hussle at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on Monday (August 15).

The actress proclaimed Nipsey Hussle was “destined for greatness” in a speech to his friends, family and fans. She mentioned how the late rapper would’ve felt about getting a star on the Walk of Fame.

“Nip would have been honored by this moment,” she said. “I think he would want everyone to remember that you can’t get to what’s possible unless you commit to moving forward. That doesn’t mean forgetting where you come from. But it requires acknowledging the reality you were born into and the power you have to change that reality for the better.”

She continued, “So, whenever you’re in the City of Angels and you see this star, I hope it encourages you to break away from whatever might be holding you back. And for you to run your marathon until God says that it’s finished.”

Lauren London concluded her speech with gratitude and referenced Nipsey Hussle’s famous catchphrase.

“Nip will forever live in our hearts,” she said. “I’m grateful for the love and support the world has shown us, but especially, I wanna thank the city of Los Angeles. I love you. And as y’all know, the marathon continues.”

Listen to what Lauren London had to say below.

Dwayne Johnson Fought For Black Adam To Get a Stand Alone Movie

Dwayne Johnson fought for his comic book character “Black Adam” to have his own origin movie instead of making his introduction in “Shazam!”

The action man originally signed on to star as “Black Adam” alongside Zachary Levi as the titular superhero in Shazam!, which began development in 2014.

However, when he got the script, Johnson realized introducing both characters in the same film would do his supervillain “an incredible disservice.”

“When the first draft of the movie came to us, it was a combination of ‘Black Adam’ and ‘Shazam:’ Two origin stories in one movie,” Johnson recalled to Vanity Fair. “Now that was the goal – so it wasn’t a complete surprise. But when I read that, I just knew in my gut, ‘We can’t make this movie like this. We would be doing ‘Black Adam’ an incredible disservice.’ It would’ve been fine for Shazam having two origin stories converge in one movie, but not good for ‘Black Adam’.”

Johnson called up Warner Bros. and DC Films and campaigned for the projects to be split into two so both characters’ origins could be told properly.

He was successful, and it was announced in early 2017 that “Black Adam” would get his own film.

“I made a phone call,” he explained. “I said, ‘I have to share my thoughts here. It’s very unpopular…’ because everybody thought, ‘Hey, this script is great, let’s go make this movie.’ I said, ‘I really think that you should make ‘Shazam!,’ make that movie on its own in the tone that you want. And I think we should separate this as well.'”

Johnson’s likeness briefly appears in 2019’s “Shazam!” as a magical holograph of “Black Adam” is conjured by the wizard Shazam, and Levi will likely make a similar cameo in “Black Adam.”

Their characters are expected to meet properly onscreen in the future.

“Black Adam,” helmed by Johnson’s “Jungle Cruise” director Jaume Collet-Serra, also stars Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, and Pierce Brosnan.

It is due to be released in cinemas in October.

Usher Has High Hopes For His Son Naviyd

Usher believes his 13-year-old Naviyd is the most likely to become a performer like his father.

When asked if any of his four children would follow in his footsteps, the “Yeah!” singer singled out his second son Naviyd because he pays close attention to his father’s Las Vegas residency show, which is held at Dolby Live at the Park MGM hotel.

“In terms of their interests and me pushing them into one direction, if that’s what they want to do, then of course I am going to support it,” Usher told TV show Extra. “Out of all of my kids, I think Naviyd is the one who gives me the majority of the notes and comments when he comes to my show. Everyone else is having a great time, and he is just like zeroed in, like, ‘Missed that cue…’ So, he may have already been bitten by the bug.”

The “Burn” hitmaker shares Naviyd and 14-year-old son Usher V with his ex-wife Tameka Foster. He also has two children under the age of two with his girlfriend, Jenn Goicoechea.

But Usher admitted none of his children are too concerned about what their dad does for a living.

“They got their own lives. They either playing basketball, acting camp… my older kids. My younger babies, they are swimming, and they are having a good time with each other,” he smiled.

Salman Rushdie Remains ‘Feisty And Defiant’ After Onstage Attack

Salman Rushdie remains in “critical condition” after he was attacked onstage at an event in New York on Friday.

A man stabbed the “Midnight’s Children” author after rushing onto the stage shortly before he was scheduled to deliver a lecture. Rushdie suffered injuries to the liver and hand and may lose an eye.

On Sunday, the 75-year-old’s son, Zafar Rushdie, issued a statement via Twitter in which he offered an update on his father’s health.

“Following the attack on Friday, my father remains in critical condition in hospital receiving extensive ongoing medical treatment. We are extremely relieved that yesterday he was taken off the ventilator and additional oxygen, and he was able to say a few words. Though his life-changing injuries are severe, his usual feisty and defiant sense of humor remains intact,” he wrote. “We are so grateful to all the audience members who bravely leaped to his defense and administered first aid along with the police and doctors who have cared for him and for the outpouring of love and support from around the world.”

Elsewhere, agent Andrew Wylie insisted Rushdie’s “road to recovery” had begun.

“It will be long; the injuries are severe, but his condition is headed in the right direction,” he commented.

Hadi Matar has been charged with attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault. He pleaded not guilty to the charges during a court appearance on Saturday.

Rushdie’s fourth novel, “The Satanic Verses,” was the subject of controversy after its publication in 1988.

Muslims claimed the writer mocked their faith with the book, and following death threats, he was put under police protection in the U.K. for many years.

3 Continents, 1 Man. Abel Maxwell’s Inspiring Journey To Success

Abel Maxwell’s main drive is to leave a legacy of his own. “Chasing success is only natural, but sometimes people need to slow down a little bit and ask themselves one important question: What happens when you are gone?” says Maxwell. “People often think that their legacy is the money and sentiments they leave to their loved ones. But a true legacy is so much more. It’s more than money, cars, and houses.”

For Abel Maxwell, leaving a legacy means having someone that will tell and recount your story and wisdom for generations to come. “You need to ask yourself who will tell your story when you’re gone. Who’ll share your life experiences with future generations — things that will help shape their way of thinking and help them succeed in life?” he says. “Only when you have answers to those questions, can you say that you achieved success and fulfillment.”

Abel Maxwell is a Toronto-based musician, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. In demand on international scenes with four recorded albums, Abel Maxwell has become a recognized influencer who inspires young people to pursue excellence and chase their dreams.

He’s been the Official Spokesperson for Épelle-Moi Canada, which aims to promote the French language, in partnership with Spelling-Bee Canada. He was also a Producer and Radio Show Host with the University of Ottawa’s CHUO 89.1 FM leading his well renowned and acclaimed show TROPIC FM. In 2015, Maxwell was nominated as the best male performer at the Trille-Or Gala by Radio Canada and APCM, and in 2016 he was awarded the UNESCO/International Humanitarian Fashion Week Community Achievement Award.

However, Maxwell’s journey to get to where he is now wasn’t easy, but it makes his success even more impressive. Ten years ago, he left his home in Lyon, France, and landed in Toronto with only a dream. Maxwell had no money and no connections. He barely spoke English. However, he was determined to make a name for himself, so he wasn’t picky about what he had to do to survive. He did odd jobs until he eventually found himself working in corporate finance.

Those were times, Maxwell explains when he had very little faith in himself. He was afraid to pursue his dream of inspiring the younger generation. However, the finance job allowed Maxwell to pursue a results-oriented mentorship and find inspiration to do what he loves — music. “I didn’t believe in myself and I was full of fear when it was about pursuing my dream of performing music and inspiring young people,” says Abel Maxwell.

“I started to educate myself and got mentorship to find more inspiration and more confidence and now I have a few awards, a best-selling book, four albums, working on my fifth one, and many international engagements under my belt.”

Thanks to his drive, persistence, and dedication, Abel Maxwell is well on his way to achieving unfathomable success. As he explains, now that he’s an accomplished author and artist, his goal is to inspire the birth of new brands and inspire young people to never give up chasing dreams.

“I want my legacy to be a blueprint for every young person that has a dream to become the best version of themselves,” says Abel Maxwell. And for them, he has a piece of advice that will undoubtedly help them on their journey to success, “Whatever dream you undertake, never give up. Keep moving forward no matter the obstacles and no matter the judgments of people. Ironically, those people who used to laugh at you will say that they always believed in you and, in the end, you will win.”

Judge Refuses To Exclude Jurors Who’ve Seen ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ Documentary From His Trial

People who’ve seen Surviving R. Kelly will be allowed to serve as jurors in the disgraced singer’s Chicago trial.

R. Kelly’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean asked a judge to ban any prospective jurors who’ve seen the Lifetime documentary series. U.S. District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber denied the request on the first day of jury selection, which began on Monday (August 15).

According to NBC News, nine people revealed they’ve seen at least part of Surviving R. Kelly in juror questionnaires. 70 potential jurors said they haven’t watched any of the docuseries.

R. Kelly’s attorney claimed it’s “impossible” for a person to watch the docuseries and separate it from the criminal case. But Judge Leinenweber pushed back, saying it’s wrong to prevent someone from serving as a juror if they’ve only seen part of the series.

Lifetime’s six-part documentary premiered in 2019. It covered decades of R. Kelly’s alleged sexual misconduct and featured interviews with his victims.

R. Kelly is currently facing a trial for child pornography and obstruction of justice charges in Chicago. At least two of his alleged victims will testify.

Earlier this year, the 55-year-old artist was sentenced to 30 years in prison following a conviction in New York. A jury found him guilty of federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges in 2021.