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Jennifer Lopez has turned European concert halls into her personal therapy couch, but the audience is growing restless with her healing process.

The 55-year-old superstar is serving up a cocktail of heartbreak anthems and bedroom confessions as she works through her Ben Affleck breakup in real time, transforming what should be entertainment into an uncomfortable front-row seat to her emotional unraveling, and fans are begging her to find a different kind of help.

Jennifer Lopez is facing fan backlash for using her European tour to publicly process her Ben Affleck divorce through explicit confessions and vengeful songs. (Photo: Jlo/Instagram.)

During her recent performance at the Lucca Summer Festival in Italy, Lopez got surprisingly candid about her intimate life, telling the screaming crowd about her varying moods behind closed doors. She revealed that sometimes she likes it “hard,” other days she prefers romance with “candles and soft music,” where she likes it “real slow,” and on her more adventurous days.”

The performance wasn’t just about bedroom revelations. Lopez also debuted her cutting new track “Up All Night,” which appears to take direct aim at Affleck with lyrics like “I got tired of you breaking me down,” a narrative she has mentioned several times already post-breakup.

According to alleged sources who spoke to US Weekly, Lopez has been channeling her pain into music, writing and recording enough material for an entirely new album inspired by her relationship with the “Batman” actor.

When Page Six posted about Lopez’s remarks and new song on Instagram, critics were quick to call out what they saw as her inability to move forward.

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A post shared by Page Six (@pagesix)

“Move on, Ben did,” one person wrote.

Another commenter was even more direct: “I don’t think Ben cares. That’s always been the problem.”

The criticism grew harsher as fans weighed in on her pattern of public relationships.

“Ben Affleck is a world class guy, and human being that’s done more for charity and those in need than you have even thought about Jennifer. You dragging him confirms what we already knew: trash,” read one comment.

The pile-on continued with observations about her romantic history: “After four marriages, you might want to step back and look at yourself and stop blaming others for your unhappiness.”

LEGEND! Period! #UpAllNight #JLo @jlo pic.twitter.com/n2oOZ6IYY4

— This Is Jennifer Lopez …. Forever (@jloforever) July 22, 2025

Others questioned her approach when presenting the new music: ” For someone who says she’s done with marriage, she’s sure trying hard to get chose!”

People have been smashing her new project rollout since she started. Political commentator Megyn Kelly took to X, trashing her performance at the Cook Music Festival in Spain.

So she’s a soft porn star now. Great choices! https://t.co/kNO1FgC6GM

— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) July 21, 2025

Lopez finds herself in good company, as Kelly has also bashed other high-profile figures, including Beyoncé, Halle Berry, and Michelle Obama.

The current drama stems from Lopez and Affleck’s complicated romantic timeline that spans over two decades. The pair first dated in 2002, becoming the ultimate “Bennifer” power couple before splitting in 2004 amid intense media scrutiny.

Both moved on to other relationships — Lopez married Marc Anthony and had twins Max and Emme, while Affleck wed Jennifer Garner and had three children. After he divorced the “Elektra” actress in 2015, and the “Jenny from the Block” chart-topper broke up with Alex Rodriguez, the two rekindled their romance in 2021.

Their reunion seemed like a Hollywood fairytale. They married twice in 2022—first in Las Vegas, then in a lavish Georgia ceremony. However, the marriage quickly showed cracks.

When Lopez released her visual album “This Is Me… Now” and its accompanying documentary in February 2024, it put their private relationship on full display.

The star would later file for divorce in August 2024, exactly two years after their Georgia wedding.

Now Lopez appears determined to reclaim her narrative through music and performance.

During her European tour, she’s made it clear she’s done with love songs, telling audiences she decided to perform her “anti-love songs” instead, songs that say “Get out of here! I hate you!”

Whether this public processing will help her heal or simply fuel more criticism remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Jennifer Lopez isn’t going quietly into her post-Bennifer era.

‘Move on, Ben Did’: Jennifer Lopez’s Steamy Onstage Bedroom Confession Has Fans Cringing and Convinced She’s Still Hung Up on Ben Affleck

Add Josh Peck, star of Nickelodeon‘s beloved sitcom “Drake & Josh,” to the long list of people who owe Oprah Winfrey an apology.

On a recent episode of the “Syd & Olivia Talk Sh*t” podcast, Peck addressed a scene from a season 4 episode of the sitcom where his character, Josh Nichols, including the OWN founder’s close encounter.

Oprah Winfrey’s infamous scene from “Drake & Josh” resurfaces amid co-star’s confession. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

Peck admitted that the network failed to ask Winfrey for permission to use her likeness in the episode, titled “Josh Runs Into Oprah.”

“I don’t know. I know we don’t have her permission. 100% we don’t,” Peck told the hosts, comedy writers Sydney Heller and Olivia DeLaurentis, when asked how Nickelodeon got away with the scene.

He then recalled reluctantly filming the scene with a “non-sanctioned” stunt double.

“She was a stunt lady, because she had to do the roll over the car. I was like, ‘Oprah is going to come after you. She’s powerful,'” he recalled.

The now-classic 2006 episode was the season premiere of the sitcom’s final season. Peck’s character, who is constantly teased for practicing interviews on the cardboard cutout of Winfrey that he has in his room, takes his super-fandom to another level, which lands him and his stepbrother, Drake Parker (Drake Bell), in her studio parking lot.

After the wild antics unfold, Josh crashes into the Oprah look-alike’s path with a moving object. The chaotic scene ends with Josh being issued a restraining order by his idol.

Peck remains in disbelief that the scene made it onto the screens.

“To this day, I’m amazed it made it past the script stage. It’s just insane, the whole plot centers on me hitting Oprah, and somehow that was fine,” he said.  

Despite the scene not being his idea, the 37-year-old actor issued his formal apology to Winfrey during the podcast. “I’m so sorry I brutalized you with my vehicle, with my Honda Accord, or whatever it was.”

Regardless of the questionable scene, Peck isn’t oblivious to the fandom still attached to the slapstick sitcom that topped Nickelodeon’s ratings for four years.

“It was such a wild concept, even by early 2000s sitcom standards,” he stated. “But I think that’s what made it so memorable. We were doing slapstick comedy, and it just went there full-on.” With a laugh, he reflected on the fact that the scene remains relevant to fans. “It’s weird how much that scene still circulates. I’ll randomly get tagged in memes …”

As powerful as Winfrey is, she may also have a sense of humor, as evidenced by her never retaliating against the network or any of the actors in the sitcom.

Revealing the network’s failure to ask the former talk show host about making her the butt of the episode’s joke isn’t the only secret that has been revealed about the kid’s network.

Peck’s longtime co-star and friend, Bell, was at the forefront of the scandals that fueled the 2024 docuseries “Quiet On Set.” The five-part documentary television that details the toxic behind-the-scenes world of children’s television programs from the 1990s to the 2000s, some at the hands of the show’s dialogue coach, Brian Peck (who has no relation to Josh Peck).

After the docuseries uncovered the dark side of the children’s network, specifically regarding his co-star, Peck posted an Instagram post in response to his feelings.

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A post shared by Josh Peck (@shuapeck)

“Children should be protected. Reliving this publicly is incredibly difficult, but I hope it can bring healing for the victims and their families as well as necessary change to our industry,” he wrote.

Despite the post, fans criticized Peck for not speaking out in defense of Bell more. Shortly after, Bell posted a TikTok video, asking fans to take it easy on Peck. He, too, said he was “processing” everything and acknowledged that it was a very “difficult” time, and that his former co-star had reached out to him.

“So not everything is put out to the public. … But he has reached out to talk with me and help me work through this and it’s been really, really great.”

‘Oprah Is Going to Come After You’: Josh Peck Apologizes, Admits Infamous Oprah Winfrey Scene on ‘Drake & Josh’ Was Unauthorized

Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, 67, is acknowledging his “an inappropriate relationship” with a former member of his Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.

Melody Walker claimed that she had an extramarital affair with Ellis beginning in 2002 when she was 22 years old and the pastor would have been about 44 years old. The faith leader is currently married to his spouse of 37 years, Crisette Michelle Ellis.

In social media posts, Walker referred to the bishop as a “daddy” and herself as a “side” arrangement. She claimed to have been exploited “emotionally and spiritually” by the leader of the 6,000-member house of worship.

Greater Grace Temple pastor Charles H. Ellis III admits to having an affair with one of his former church members (Photo: @bishopche3/Instagram)

“When you’re 21 or 22 and you finally meet somebody that is a support system, you will hold on to them, married or not,” Walker said about her romantic ties to Ellis, according to Metro Times. “I felt like he was my friend.”

She added, “But at the same time, he exploited my brokenness and my weakness and my need for support and to have a friend. He didn’t have to do the things he did in the name of benevolence. He could really just have been a good spiritual father and not made it what it was.”

Walker insisted she confronted Ellis in 2023 about supposedly suffering from “spiritual abuse” caused by engaging in infidelity with a married man. She publicly expressed concern that her “soul was on the line.”

Over the last several days, Walker has shared photos with Ellis on her @melodicstory TikTok page. The ex-mistress is also promoting a tell-all book titled “The Bishop, His Wife, and Me” about her sordid relationship with the clergyman.

@melodicstory

I keep reading comments about “why was I there????? I was at all his birthday events… This was “Cruising w/ the Bishop” on the Detroit River. July 2004. Cruising with the Bishop lasted about 2-3 years then he started having larger events at Cobo hall. I ain’t gotta lie to kick it #melodicstory #Detoit #explorepage #fyp #Thebishophiswifeandme

♬ Powerful songs like action movie music – Tansa

Ellis has admitted to being unfaithful to his spouse. The father of two adult children and grandfather of two kids released a statement about the allegations to the Metro Times on July 22.

“I was recently made aware of social media posts shared by a former member of my congregation, with whom I had an inappropriate relationship over 15 years ago,” Ellis stated.

The statement resumed, “At that time, these indiscretions were addressed with my bishop in a redemptive process, which included counseling.”

Ellis’ attorney, Gerald Evelyn, is said to be reviewing any alleged “false claims” made by Walker, such as them allegedly setting up a joint bank account. He also retained Mario Morrow & Associates to assist in the investigation and response.

“I ask for continued prayers for myself, my family, as well as this individual and her family,” Ellis requested. “My deepest hope is that all parties involved can find peace and healing.”

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A post shared by Charles H. Ellis, III. (@bishopche3)

Meanwhile, Walker has continuously posted content about Ellis on TikTok. For example, she recently uploaded a slide show including a picture of herself standing next to her former lover.

According to the former Greater Grace Temple congregant, the photo was from the last time she saw the Pentecostal preacher in 2022. A lengthy caption accompanied the two-image carousel.

“Funny. I ran into him at this Detroit public school event back when I wrote retirement plans for educators. He graduated from Detroit Public Schools so he was there for support,” Walker posted.

The aspiring author also offered a warning to other women, adding, “Ladies, don’t ever let a man manipulate [you] into thinking he will be faithful to [you] after he cheated on his wife [with you].”

@melodicstory #melodicstory #storytime #fyp #Detroit #selflove #selfcare #fearofGod #women ♬ original sound – melodicstory

Before this cheating scandal rocked the Greater Grace Temple community, Ellis was entangled in an even more highly publicized scandal involving Italian-American pop singer Ariana Grande.

Ellis was one of the speakers for the televised public funeral for the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin in 2018. Grande was at the ceremony to sing Franklin’s classic hit song “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”

At one point, Ellis was seen putting his arm around Grande’s waist while they stood on stage together. Footage also showed his hand rising up the “Sweetener” album creator’s body to rest close to her bosom which sparked the #RespectAriana hashtag on social media.

“It would never be my intention to touch any woman’s breast,” Ellis told the Associated Press following the online backlash. He also said, “Maybe I crossed the border, maybe I was too friendly or familiar but again, I apologize.”

Ellis went on to maintain that he hugged all the female and male artists who appeared at the service, insisting his church is “all about love.” He also apologized to Grande and the Hispanic community for making a Taco Bell joke when mentioning her name appearing on the funeral program.

As news of Bishop Ellis confessing to cheating on his wife spread across the internet, people weighed in on the Wayne State University graduate’s two-timing ways.

“I knew something was up with dude when he was squeezing all over Ariana Grande at Aretha Franklin’s funeral. He was a bit too touchy feely for me,” one Instagram user commented on the platform.  

A defender of Ellis declared, “Awe, back off! Everyone has ‘work.’ You know what the Good Book says about this kinda thing? Don’t throw them stones.”

However, one critical commenter simply expressed, “Stop putting these folk on pedestals.” Additionally, someone jokingly expressed, “A bishop with skeletons in his closet? I’m shocked.”

‘I Knew Something Was Up’: Bishop Charles Ellis, Who Once Apologized for Inappropriately Touching Ariana Grande, Now Faces New Accusations as Alleged Mistress Comes Forward

An upstate New York police chief was placed on administrative leave after shocking cellphone footage showed his girlfriend assaulting two Black teenagers after shouting racially charged language and claiming to be a law enforcement agent.

The now-viral video shows Susan Rice arguing with the two teens, aged 16 and 18, as they sit on a porch. As they tell her to go inside the house next door, she points to their house, saying, “You don’t even pay for this,” then points to her home and says, “This is my estate.”

Susan Rice was caught on video verbally assaulting teens. (Photo: Facebook video screenshot)

As they continue to dismiss her, she says, “We are the police,” and then calls the kids, “Section 8.”

As they begin to laugh at her, she doubles back, rushes up the porch stairs, and hits the 18-year-old.

Then she turns toward the 16-year-old boy recording the video, who knocks her out and leaves her in a daze on the floor.

Her boyfriend, the Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski, follows behind her and tries to help her up to walk her off the porch. Rice struggles to rise, still stunned by the punch she took.

The incident occurred on July 18 at the 16-year-old’s home in Johnson City Village, located just a few miles from the town of Binghamton. The 18-year-old was a friend visiting, according to WSKG.

In the video caption, the 16-year-old’s mother said Rice started the altercation after hearing the boys laughing, and she thought they were laughing about her.

“She came on to my property on to MY PORCH, and smacked my son’s friend across the face and then smacked my son,” the teen’s mother, Kristina Montgomery, wrote on Facebook. “I’m tired of this privileged a** people acting like they can’t do no wrong well well Susan you have met your MF match!!!”

According to WNBF, Rice had to be treated for undisclosed injuries. The teens did not require medical treatment.

Rice was arrested on July 21 after she went to the Johnson City police station to be interviewed.

She was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, trespassing, and second-degree harassment.

Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham said Zikuski, who was off-duty at the time, was placed on administrative leave while the incident was being reviewed and investigated. Binghamton’s assistant police chief will operate in his stead for the time being.

“The female in the video is a private citizen — not employed by the City of Binghamton nor affiliated with the City in any official capacity. Still, I’m troubled by her language and the implication that she is in any way above the law because of a personal association with a member of law enforcement,” Kraham said, per WBNG.

Zikuski has served as the city’s police chief since 2008.

‘We Are the Police!’: New York Police Chief Suspended, Girlfriend Arrested After She Calls Teens ‘Section 8’ In Viral Video Before Attacking Them

Malcolm-Jamal Warner passed away on July 20, 2025, at the age of 54. Two of his ex-girlfriends have shared public condolences.

Many were shocked to learn “The Cosby Show” actor who inspired generations of television viewers who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s lost his life while on vacation in Costa Rica.

Warner’s official cause of passing was cited as asphyxia after he drowned off the coast of Limón on July 20 after going for a swim with his eight-year-old daughter, as told to ABC News by local police.

Some fans are taking issue with how late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s ex-girlfriends are celebrating his life on social media. (Photo by Iconic/GC Images)

Surfers who spotted Malcolm-Jamal Warner and his daughter in distress reportedly jumped into action, pulling the young girl to safety on a surfboard. A volunteer lifeguard helped bring Warner and another unknown man to shore, where CPR was performed on Warner for 45 minutes. He is survived by his wife and daughter, whose identities have been kept private.

From 1982 to 1992, Warner portrayed upper-middle-class teenager Theodore “Theo” Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” earning him an Emmy nomination in 1986.

His fellow “The Cosby Show” alum Karen Malina White, 60, memorialized him on Instagram.

White played Charmaine Brown on the classic sitcom for two seasons and played Nicolette Vandross on another sitcom starring Warner, “Malcolm & Eddie.” She was romantically involved with Warner for seven and a half years, though the exact time frame of their relationship has not been confirmed.

“What a profound karmic relationship my friend. Thank you. Until we meet again. Love you Always in all ways. My deepest condolences to [Malcolm-Jamal’s mother] Pam Warner, his wife and daughter,” White captioned a picture on Instagram.

The old photo featured Warner embracing White from behind as both former cast mates smiled and clasped hands, which social media users were not fond of.

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A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

“As a woman who had an ex pass that was in a relationship I get it but I kept it extremely cute out of respect to his family & their feelings,” one person wrote on Instagram.

Another said, “If I were newly widowed this would piss me off. This ain’t no condolences. It’s giving taunting!”

A third noted, “Am I the only one seeing the disrespect towards his wife in this? This was tacky and out of line and I’m not here to negotiate it either. SMH.”

White was not the only former partner of Warner’s to face backlash for sharing a condolence post.

Another ex, Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Regina King, 54, also posted a loving message about her ex-boyfriend, via Instagram Story, per The Daily Mail. 

“Some people leave a lasting imprint, not just for who they were but for the energy they carried,” King wrote under a photograph of Warner riding a motorcycle.

She continued, “I’m sending prayers filled with love and understanding to your family and loved ones. Rest easy Malcolm-Jamal Warner.”

Malcolm Jamal Warner had long term relationships with both Regina King and Karen Malina White pic.twitter.com/VPILs46vgl

— Reparations Me Now White Boi (@MadameBiancaD) July 14, 2022

King and Warner dated from 2011 to 2013. According to a social media post by Regina, the former couple split amicably despite reports that Malcolm-Jamal “wasn’t feeling” the relationship.

“Hey everybody PLEASE don’t believe everything you read. Me & @MalcolmJamalWar are good. Life happens. Forward motion. Godspeed,” King tweeted in March 2013.

Hey everybody PLEASE don't believe everything you read. Me & @MalcolmJamalWar are good. Life happens. Forward motion. Godspeed

— Regina King (@ReginaKing) March 22, 2013

While King looked to celebrate her ex’s life following his tragic passing, a few Daily Mail readers took issue with how she honored the Grammy Award-winning musician.

“Beyond disrespectful to his wife and child Regina King,” the person wrote in the tabloid’s comment section.

One fan appreciated King’s remarks, commenting, “That’s a classy tribute. Some of his other exes and costars have posted cuddled up photos or messages implying ongoing romantic feelings.”

That individual continued, “I know she has plenty of photos of them together she could’ve used but she kept it sweet and respectful to his wife. Regina is always awesome.”

The Costa Rican Red Cross confirmed first responders attended to two adult males in Limón around 2:10 p.m. on Sunday. A second unidentified man found in the water with Warner is said to be in critical condition at a local medical facility.

‘Beyond Disrespectful’: Fans Slam Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Exes for Posting ‘Loving’ Tributes After His Passing

The mother of a 13-year-old girl whose daughter was sexually assaulted at a metro Atlanta youth shelter in 2022 is suing her daughter’s abuser, as well as his mother, who is the former director of the shelter, for assault and negligence.

The lawsuit also accuses several other county and state officials and agencies of negligence and conspiring to cover up the sexual abuse of multiple girls at the facility.

Caleb Randolph, 27, was convicted of statutory rape in May of 2024 after an investigation by Clayton County Police and the Georgia Attorney General found that over a period of months in 2022, he had groomed and sexually exploited a teen girl at Rainbow House, a shelter for homeless and vulnerable children in Jonesboro, Georgia where he was employed.

Stock image (Photo: Getty Images/Anna Stills)

Randolph is the son of Mia Kimber, 57, the shelter’s former executive director, who is accused in the lawsuit of covering up his abuse of the girl, identified as “A.C.” Also accused of knowing about the ongoing abuse of multiple girls at the shelter and failing to report it are Tasha Mosley, the current Clayton County district attorney, who was reportedly the board chair of Rainbow House during the period when A.C. was abused, and Jeffrey Turner, the former chair of the Clayton County Commission, which funded the shelter.

The complaint, obtained by Atlanta Black Star, also charges Kimber, Mosley, and Turner with engaging in a civil Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) enterprise with Rainbow House to systematically conceal reports of sexual abuse occurring at the facility.

The teen plaintiff’s troubles began on April 26, 2022, when her mother, “Q.C.,” newly arrived to Georgia, was seeking housing assistance, clothing and financial support from local churches for herself and her three children, and was connected with New Life Church and Community Center in Decatur.

After a church representative didn’t show up for a scheduled meeting at a local park that morning, the complaint says, Q.C. walked her daughter to nearby Lithonia Middle School, where A.C. was enrolled, and went back to the park to wait for the woman, who never showed up.

She did encounter police, who inquired about what she, her other two children and the family dog were doing in the park. Q.C. declined their offer to transport them to a hotel, telling them that she had already secured housing for the family, the lawsuit says.

But several hours later, Q.C. learned from the school principal that her daughter had been removed from school by two police officers and the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), and that a deprivation and child endangerment case had been opened.

Her daughter was initially housed at a DFCS office building in Atlanta for several days, while Q.C. and her other children relocated to a hotel.

The lawsuit says A.C. endured starvation, food poisoning and unfit living conditions while in DFCS custody, was not allowed to shower for several days, and had to wear the same clothes that she had on when she was taken from school.

On May 1, 2022, A.C. was relocated to the Rainbow House, an emergency shelter for children that collaborates with DFCS and other service providers to house, clothe, educate and support youth removed from their homes and parents and from difficult and dangerous situations, including child sex trafficking.

During that month, A.C. was abused, molested and sexually assaulted multiple times by Randolph, who worked in a direct service capacity at the shelter, often unsupervised, the lawsuit says.

Randolph had previously been fired and then rehired a week and a half later for “violation of policy at Rainbow House,” where he subsequently abused and sexually assaulted A.C., according to the complaint.

A lawsuit was filed on July 17, 2025, accusing Caleb Randolph (top left) of sexually assaulting a teen girl in 2022 at Rainbow House, a Jonesboro, Georgia, children’s shelter where his mother, Mia Chanel Kimber (bottom left) was the director at the time. The nonprofit’s former board chair and current Clayton County District Attorney, Tasha Mosley (top right), and former Clayton County Board of Commissioners chair Jeffrey Turner (bottom right) are also accused in the complaint of negligence and failing to report the abuse. (Photos: Clayton County Police Department, Clayton County District Attorney’s Office, Jeffrey Turner Facebook Profile)

The abuse by Randolph of both A.C. and another minor at the facility was allegedly known by several people associated with Rainbow House who had a legal duty to act on and report it, including Kimber, who was Randolph’s mother and the executive director of the nonprofit at the time.

But Kimber did not report the abuse of girls in her care at the hands of her son to law enforcement or to any government authorities, as mandated by law, the lawsuit claims.

Nor did Mosley, who was announced as chair of the Rainbow House, Inc. board of directors in January 2022. At the time, she was also a prosecutor for Clayton County, where she currently serves as the district attorney. The lawsuit says Mosley received reports of abuse at the shelter, including reports about Randolph, and failed to properly investigate them or to report the allegations of abuse and negligence to police and state welfare authorities.

Randolph and Kimber were arrested in March 2023, almost a year after the alleged abuse, after Clayton police received an anonymous tip from a whistleblower after that individual “realized their reports were not being investigated,” Fox 5 Atlanta reported.

Mosley recused herself from prosecuting the Rainbow House employees, and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr took over the case.

Randolph was indicted in March 2023 and convicted in May 2024 of statutory rape and improper sexual contact by an employee in the first degree, both felonies. He is currently serving a 30-year sentence, including 17 years of confinement in prison and 13 years of probation.

Kimber was fired by the Rainbow House board and initially charged in March of 2023 by Clayton Police with party to a crime of child molestation, statutory rape, sexual assault and sexual exploitation, as well as with failing to report the incident.

A spokesperson for state Attorney General Carr told Atlanta Black Star on Monday via email that “after a thorough review and investigation, an indictment was obtained charging Defendant Kimber with one count of Cruelty to Children in March 2025. The case remains open. For this reason, we’re unable to provide additional comment or information.”

Other local and state officials and agencies now face civil liability.

The lawsuit asserts that before A.C. was abused, in February of 2022, Jeffrey Turner, then chair of the Clayton County Board of Commissioners (and formerly the chief of police of Clayton County Public Schools) received a detailed anonymous complaint from a Rainbow House employee regarding “ongoing abuse” at the shelter, compiled by his executive assistant, Katrina Holloway.

The complaint says Holloway placed the report on Turner’s desk, and found it in his trash can the following morning.

Turner also had a legal duty to report the alleged sexual abuse at Rainbow House when he learned about it, the complaint says, noting that he was primarily responsible for approving government grants to fund operations at Rainbow House, many submitted by Mosley.

Defendants Kimber, Mosley and Turner continued to allow the employment of Randolph, who had direct, unsupervised access to the minors placed at the facility, by not speaking up or reporting the incidents, the lawsuit alleges, and their negligence and failures directly led to the teen girl’s physical and emotional injuries, including sexual assault, humiliation, stress, anxiety, mental anguish, economic losses, and loss of enjoyment of life.

The plaintiffs, A.C. and Q.C., seek a jury trial to award a judgment against the defendants of general, special and compensatory damages in excess of $1 million, as well as punitive damages and legal costs.

The plaintiffs are represented by Roger Soroka, of Soroka & Associates, and Bryan Sutlive, of Sutlive Law. 

“This case isn’t just about one predator, it’s about a network of power that enabled him,” Soroka said in a jointly posted statement by the attorneys. “The District Attorney knew, Rainbow House leadership knew, the Department of Family & Children Services knew, and many others knew. They didn’t just look the other way – they actively covered up the repeated sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl. This wasn’t just negligence, it was complicity.” 

“This little girl was a child in crisis, placed in state care to be protected, but instead, was exploited, hidden away, and ignored,” said Sutlive. “Rainbow House and multiple people in power preyed on the most vulnerable — children with no stable homes, no consistent records, and often no one looking out for them. These weren’t just isolated failures; this was a deliberate targeting of kids who could disappear without anyone asking questions. That’s what makes this so dangerous and so evil, and we believe there are many more victims.”

The defendants have 30 days after being served with the complaint to file a response in Clayton County State Court.

Mosley told Fox 5 Atlanta in a written statement last week that she categorically denies all of the allegations in the lawsuit.

“The Board of Directors was not responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Rainbow House thus, was not involved in any manner with staffing other than the hiring of the Executive Director,” she said. “I was not the Chair of the BOD when M. Kimber was hired, but the BOD was notified by the Chair at the time that Ms. Kimber passed all required background screens.”

“There was no previous outcry or any other communication regarding this situation made known to the BOD or myself,” she continued. “The first that I heard of this situation was when I was notified that the Rainbow House was being searched (at the very moment of notification) under a search warrant based on an active investigation by Clayton County PD and that there were employee arrests expected. At the time I was made aware of the search warrant, I hadn’t been a member of the Board for several months.”

The lawsuit also accuses the Georgia Department of Human Services and its Division of Children and Family Services of negligence, claiming that DFCS failed to adequately supervise the minor plaintiff while in its custody, and to ensure that its employees and agents at Rainbow House were qualified, competent, adequately trained and following proper standards of care.

DFCS waited until March 15, 2023, to suspend Rainbow House from receiving new placements of children, “years after reports of abuse at the shelter were initially made,” the lawsuit claims, citing a 2024 U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee investigation on abuse and neglect in Georgia’s foster care system.

An agency spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Human Services told Atlanta Black Star in an emailed statement, “We can confirm that we have not been served, but it is not our practice to comment on pending or active litigation.”

Rainbow House is liable for negligently hiring, supervising and training Randolph, and negligently entrusting him with care for minors, including A.C., the complaint says, citing the nonprofit’s decision to fire Randolph for his “known inappropriate conduct” and then to re-hire him a week and a half later and give him unsupervised access to A.C. as one of it most egregious actions.

“Defendant Rainbow House was aware of previous abuse at the facility and did nothing to stop the abuse from happening again by their employee Defendant Randolph at Rainbow House,” the lawsuit says. By failing to report Randolph to DFCS for his alleged prior incidents of child abuse at the facility, “Rainbow House is liable for the subsequent abuse, physical assault and sexual assault of A.C. by Defendant.”

It is not clear what monetary damages plaintiffs can recover from Rainbow House, Inc., which declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in June 2023, according to tax filings, and ceased operating in August of that year after losing its lease with Clayton County.

The nonprofit’s 2023 tax return listed income of $1.16 million, expenses of $1.75 million, and a revenue loss of nearly $700,000. All of its remaining physical assets were sold off in November 2023. Prior tax returns show that most of its funding came from state and local government. The commercial insurance carrier of Rainbow House, Inc. is unknown.

The lawsuit also faults defendant Clayton County, which, as a funder of a child-caring institution, “had a duty to exercise reasonable care in overseeing facilities to which it provided funding and for which it maintained oversight responsibilities, including ensuring the safety and welfare of children placed in such facilities.”

The county was charged with ensuring the shelter’s compliance with state regulations, including the adequate supervision and protection of children in its care; conducting proper background checks and screening of staff; training personnel; and the immediate reporting of incidents of abuse or neglect, and it failed to do so, the lawsuit says.

Meanwhile, the county continued to fund the shelter’s operations despite knowledge of regulatory violations and “failed to take corrective action when notified of abuse allegations,” the complaint contends.

Clayton County did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

‘Exploited and Ignored’: Georgia Child Services Placed 13-Year-Old Girl In Shelters Where She Was Abused, Starved and Endured Poor Living Conditions Then Government Officials and Staff Covered It Up, Lawsuit Says

Melania Trump‘s alleged private feelings about her stepdaughter have been thrust back into the spotlight as this week tabloids are revisiting a purported damning text message revealing the first lady’s true sentiments about Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner.

The candid six-word assessment, allegedly shared with former confidante Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, has renewed scrutiny of the complex and often contentious relationships in the Trump family.

Melania Trump (right) reportedly called her stepdaughter Ivanka Trump (left) and Jared Kushner “snakes” in a private text message, reigniting discussion about the ongoing tensions within the Trump family. (Photos: @ivankatrump/Instagram, Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The renewed attention to the raw moment of candor, captured in what was presumably a trusted conversation between friends, revives gossip about the longstanding tensions that have defined the relationship between Donald Trump’s wife and eldest daughter throughout their time in the political spotlight.

Wolkoff, once a close confidante of Melania Trump, revealed explosive details about this family discord in her 2020 memoir “Melania and Me: The Rise and Fall of My Friendship With the First Lady.”

The explosive text about Ivanka and her husband Jared simply read “You know how they are snakes,” according to Wolkoff’s five-year-old book.

This private communication offered a rare glimpse into Melania’s unfiltered feelings about her stepdaughter and son-in-law, suggesting a level of animosity that goes beyond mere disagreement.

Melania and Ivanka's war laid bare and brutal nickname whispered in White Househttps://t.co/Pixh15yUE8 pic.twitter.com/OTJAXZ4bFx

— Mirror Celeb (@MirrorCeleb) March 2, 2025

The most startling revelation centered around what Wolkoff dubbed “Operation Block Ivanka,” an alleged coordinated effort to minimize Ivanka’s visibility during Donald Trump’s 2016 inauguration ceremony. According to the memoir, both Melania and Wolkoff meticulously planned the seating arrangements and family positioning to ensure Ivanka would be less prominent in photographs and television coverage of the historic moment.

Wolkoff detailed their strategic approach, explaining how they analyzed seating charts from inauguration walk-throughs to determine camera angles and visibility. The plan involved positioning family members in specific ways during both the seated and standing portions of the ceremony, with young Barron Trump strategically placed between his parents and Donald Trump Jr. positioned next to Melania rather than Ivanka.

The roots of this conflict trace back to the early days of Trump’s first presidency, when Melania initially remained in New York with Barron to complete his school year.

During this period, Ivanka and Jared Kushner relocated to Washington and began assuming many traditional first lady responsibilities. Sources indicate that Ivanka not only embraced this expanded role but attempted to formalize it by proposing that the “Office of the First Lady” title be renamed the “Office of the First Family” to include her participation, the Daily Mail reports.

This suggestion reportedly infuriated Melania and became a catalyst for their ongoing feud. The situation became so strained by 2018 that then-White House chief of staff John Kelly was reportedly called upon to mediate between the two women and their respective offices, highlighting how their personal conflict had begun affecting White House operations.

But the allegation that Melania called Trump’s daughter and her husband “snakes” seemed unbelievable to many individuals online.

“Yes you all are in your family,” wrote one person on Facebook, while another in disbelief said, “As much as I want to believe this, it isn’t true!”

One person on X wrote, “Call it a hunch, but I don’t think Melania likes Ivanka very much. On that, we can agree.”

The discord doesn’t appear limited to Ivanka alone.

Recent events suggest Melania maintains distance from other Trump family celebrations as well. During Tiffany Trump’s recent baby shower in Miami, hosted by Ivanka, Melania was notably absent despite being in the area with Donald Trump that same weekend. While sources cited prior commitments involving Barron as the reason for her absence, the timing raised eyebrows among family observers.

Even as Ivanka has stepped back from politics — living her life up by traveling the world, and stated she won’t return to the political spotlight during her father’s second term — rumors claim the tension persists.

The ongoing saga reveals how personal relationships within political families can become as complex and scrutinized as policy decisions, offering the public a window into the very human struggles that exist even within the nation’s most powerful household.

‘I Don’t Think Melania Likes Ivanka’: Melania Trump’s Blunt Text to Ivanka and Her Husband Adds Fuel to Rumors She Tried to Push Donald Trump’s Daughter Out of the Picture

Viral internet stars Justin and Ami McClure are taking their fans behind the scenes of their lives as digital content creators by appearing in a new docuseries.

The married couple and their 12-year-old twin daughters, Ava and Alexis, as well as their 7-year-old son Jersey, star in Freeform’s “Born to Be Viral: The Real Lives of Kidfluencers.”

Ava and Alexis, from Ami’s previous relationship, were adopted by Justin after marrying their mom in 2015. ABC News Studios filmed footage of the McClures, along with other families who built audiences online, for over five years.

The popular McClures family stars in the new “Born to Be Viral” docuseries. (Photo credit: @mightymcclures/Instagram)

In one “Born to Be Viral” episode, Justin discussed plans for the finances generated by his kids. He revealed how much money his stepdaughters, Ava and Alexis, will receive on their 18th birthday.

“I have a certain amount that I think they should have by the time that they’re 18 years old. So they can buy a house, not so they can waste it and buy a Lamborghini or purses,” Justin, 50, said.

He continued, “But that’s around $500,000. That should be enough. I’m not a fan of giving a child millions of dollars.” Ami sat beside her husband during the on-camera confessional.

A clip of Justin’s comments about setting aside funds for the child stars was posted by OnSite. People on social media shared their takes on the remarks, with a lot of focus placed on Ami’s reaction in the video.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Onsite!® (@its_onsite)

“The mom don’t agree, girl, stand up for your girls. Give them all their money,” one person on Instagram declared. A second wrote, “The fact that the mother is allowing this man, who is not biologically their father, do this is insane.”

A third commenter wrote, “That’s not the girl’s biological dad, and by the look on Mom’s face, she ain’t going for that.” Yet another wondered, “So what y’all doing with the rest???”

Justin caught direct heat, too. A critic expressed, “Not a fan of giving your children what they earned, but you’re a fan of taking money from them… oh, okay.”

A more balanced responder posted, “They don’t need all their money at 18, but they need all their money.” One comment read, “Sounds like he’s giving them a certain amount at 18. Could be giving them the rest later.”

Justin and Ami run “The Mighty McClures” YouTube channel, which launched in 2017. The popular family vlog page currently has 4.1 million subscribers and has racked up over 1.5 billion views.

Ava and Alexis have a separate “McClure Twins” channel with 4.5 million subscribers. The pre-teen sisters, who have been in the online spotlight since they were 3 years old, have amassed more than 2.6 billion views.

As of this writing, their most recent YouTube content was published on July 19. Alexis and Ava’s 10-minute video covered their 12th birthday celebration featuring friends and family members.

Some of their most-watched content has accumulated over five million plays on the platform. For instance, a video of the siblings pretending to be their mom from 2020 has 12 million views.

The McClure Twins’ Instagram page presently has 2.4 million followers. Their younger brother, Jersey, hosts his own YouTube channel and Instagram account as well. Jersey has 664,000 YouTube subscribers and 225,000 Instagram followers.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Justin McClure (@jkmcclure)

“We probably make around $30,000 on YouTube per month. That’s great money. And all we do is keep the machine going,” Justin told “The Creative Independent” in a March 2025 interview.

In the second episode of the “Born to Be Viral” series, Ami admitted that brand partnerships and YouTube advertisements bring in up to $150,000 per month. Ava and Alexis reportedly made about $125,000 from a promotional deal with Nike.

“People have to realize that money is great, but money that compromises what you are or might make people look at you differently is not so great,” Ami, 43, stated in a 2024 interview with Net Influencer.

Ami insisted she and her husband had a goal of transforming their family’s viral success into sustained cash flow, telling the outlet, “We took that virality and turned it into a long-term business.”

Justin and Ami initially met in 2014 when Ava and Alexis were still babies. The twins were born the year prior, in July  2013. Ami married Justin on July 13, 2015, which happened to be Alexis and Ava’s second birthday. The couple’s only son, Jersey, arrived in November 2017.

Ami was married to the girls’ biological father, Justin Pestka, at the time of their birth. In 2018, the former accountant addressed having a new spouse to help her raise her two daughters and separating from her first husband.

“Justin adopted the girls. He is their dad. He is the only dad they’ve ever known, and he will be the only dad they’ll ever know,” Ami explained.

The Nigerian-American also stated, “In 2012, I married a man I knew I should not have married. And finding out I was pregnant with the girls gave me the courage to get out of that relationship because I knew that I could not bring children into a toxic and an abusive environment.”

‘That’s Not the Girls Biological Dad’: Viral McClure Twins Might Lose Out on Millions Over Stepdad’s ‘Insane’ Plan and Their Mom Has Said Nothing About It

An unsettling video circulating the internet has landed a Pennsylvania jail corrections officer in hot water after he was seen spewing racist and inflammatory language while holding a baseball bat covered with barbed wire that purportedly had the term “(N-word) beater” on it.

Brian Davis has been suspended from his job at the Allegheny County Jail, KDKA reported. But calls are mounting for him to be fired.

Pennsylvania Corrections Officer Brian Davis is suspended after racist video surfaces. (Credit: Tanisha Love/X)

In the footage, which started going viral last week, Davis is seen holding the bat and saying, “I don’t give a f**k,” then slowly enunciating the words, “n****r beater.”

It’s unclear when or where the video was taken, but a jail spokesperson confirmed Davis’ suspension as well as the launch of a full investigation into his conduct seen in the clip.

“We can say the ACJ administration, from Warden [Trevor] Wingard down, expects professionalism from all jail employees,” the spokesperson said. “The jail does not tolerate racist or abusive language or behavior. We are investigating the situation, and if the allegations are found to be true, it will be dealt with appropriately.”

Tanisha Long, a community organizer with the Abolitionist Law Center in Pittsburgh, stated that the appropriate action would be Davis’ swift termination, asserting that the inmate makeup of the Allegheny County Jail makes him unfit to serve the facility.

“We need to remember that jail is 65% Black. 65% Black and you have a corrections officer proudly waving a bat with barbed wire that says ‘N-word beater’ on it,” Long said to Pittsburgh-area station WPXI this week. “He needs to go. He needs to do some soul-searching and figure out what it is about Black people that he does not like. But I also think we need to talk to every single person in that jail who has had an encounter with him.”

She added: “For someone who’s just devoutly, openly and violently racist, it’s scary, it’s terrifying. The jail has to move fast.”

Video of a white corrections employee at the Allegheny County jail in Pittsburgh holding a barbed wire wrapped bat that says "N*gger beater" on it is causing people to call for an investigation. pic.twitter.com/SA8ezZM3Yj

— The Movie Monster (@Pauline98476699) July 22, 2025

At-large Allegheny County Council Member Bethany Hallam, who also serves on the jail’s oversight board, shared that she was also disturbed by the video.

She called for an investigation into every grievance filed against Davis, who has been employed at the jail for five years.

“To know that this person was responsible for keeping them safe in that facility, and he had these horrible and disgusting views, it’s disappointing to me,” Hallam said. “I’m happy that it got out there, that we now know how he’s been thinking this whole time.”

Brian Englert, president of the jail’s corrections officers union, said that Davis’ actions are a clear violation of county policy.

“This is a troubling, straightforward charge that violates the county policy we must all abide by,” Englert said. “My understanding is he’s currently suspended pending an HR investigation. ACPEIU membership is made up of a robust group of officers across gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. We hold an obligation of fair representation to members despite the severity of charges until the HR investigation wraps up.”

‘It’s Terrifying’: White Pennsylvania Corrections Officer Caught Waving Baseball Bat Labeled ‘N‑Word Beater’—Now Suspended, But Activists Demand He Be Fired

President Donald Trump and his White House are doing everything possible to try to limit the ongoing fallout and deflect from the swirling Jeffrey Epstein controversy.

Hence, the latest bizarre social media post from the White House.

U.S. President Donald Trump (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The post Monday night features, of course, a macho-looking Trump with a serious look on his lined face. Behind him are American flags, fireworks and bald eagles with a caption that reads, “I was the hunted – NOW I’M THE HUNTER.”

“They came after the wrong man,” the post stated above the graphic, a reminder that Trump promised “retribution” against his enemies during the 2024 presidential campaign.

The reaction was swift, and even conservatives expressed concern with the tone of it.

“Cultish and cringe-inducing. Also, insane,” wrote The American Enterprise Institute’s Christina Hoff Sommers.

They came after the wrong man. pic.twitter.com/hgKfdvAVQS

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 22, 2025

“This post by The White House X account crosses a line that should concern every American, regardless of party. This isn’t just over the top campaign propaganda. It’s a direct use of government branding to promote one man’s narrative of vengeance, using militaristic imagery and cult like symbolism,” podcaster Lorenzo Maldonado posted.

But who exactly is Trump threatening in the post? Well, apparently, former President Barack Obama, Trump’s predecessor during his first term in office, in 2016.

Trump accused Obama of “treason” Tuesday, a week after his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, released a report also alleging the former president and other officials were involved in a “treasonous conspiracy.”

The report asserts that an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election was a fraud and intended to make Trump look bad.

“No. You were convicted. Now you are pretending that others are crooks to normalize your crimes,” social media personality Brian Krassenstein posted on X.

Gabbard’s report made almost no news at the time because the MAGA world is still in an uproar over Trump’s decision two weeks ago to close the Epstein files.

Trump has been trying to make the Epstein controversy go away for weeks now, after stoking conspiracy theories for years … and telling his supporters on the campaign trail that he would release all the documents in the Epstein case if re-elected.

Speculation abounds that Trump is now trying to bury the files because he is compromised by something in the Epstein documents.

The president was friends with the disgraced financier and convicted child sex trafficker until the early 2000s and has denied that he was ever at Epstein’s private island or had anything to do with Epstein’s criminal acts.

‘They Came After the Wrong Man’: Trump’s Bizarre White House Post Seemingly Threatening Revenge Sparks Backlash as Critics Say It’s ‘Cultish and Cringe-inducing’

A traffic stop in Norfolk, Virginia, could have quickly taken a dangerous turn after white cops stopped a Black driver for apparently trying to give an acquaintance a ride home. The entire ordeal was caught on cellphone video and shows that while the driver was exasperated, he kept his cool and managed to drive away, frustrated, but alive.

The video, posted on the YouTube channel The Freeman Channel, shows how the entire traffic stop unfolded.

A video screenshot shows a police encounter in Virginia. (Photo: YouTube screenshot/The Freeman Channel)

The man had gone to a Ziggy’s restaurant just before closing to get a takeout order. He’s well-known at the eatery, and as he was leaving, a restaurant worker and another person approached him from a nearby 7-Eleven convenience store and asked for a ride home. The driver first said no, but when the pair offered him money, the driver agreed.

That’s when the situation went south. Unbeknownst to the driver, two police officers were watching the exchange from a nearby cruiser. They would later claim they thought it was a drug deal. They pulled him over, questioned him, and demanded that he exit the car and allow a search.

Here’s part of the exchange.

After the cops pulled the car over, one of them asked, “How ya’ll know each other?”

The driver had his hands up while shaking his head.

Driver: “How can we help you?”

Cop: “I just asked a very simple question.”

Driver: “Yeah, we said how can we help you? We’re not doing anything. You’re literally wasting your time.”

Cop: “OK, so you picked him at 7-Eleven.”

Driver: “No, I was at 7-Eleven.”

Cop: “Yeah, and you picked him up.”

Driver: “Yeah, I seen him and he asked for a ride.”

Passenger: “I work at Ziggy’s.”

Cop: “So what did ya’ll exchange?”

Passenger: “We didn’t exchange nothing.”

Driver: “You did give me something.”

Cop: “You gave him something, and he put it in his left pocket.”

Driver: “I did. You want to go in my left pocket? Yeah, go ahead in my left pocket.”

Cop: “Step out for me.”

Driver: “No, I don’t want to do that.”

Cop: “Ok, you have to. Pennsylvania v Mimms says you have to.”

Driver: “Why would I have to?” as the cop opens the car door

Cop: “Because that’s the case law.”

Driver: “Is my phone off? Case law for what? What do you suspect me of?”

Cop: “I will explain that to you once you step out of the car.”

Driver: “You’re saying that, but you’re forcing me out of the car. Right? I don’t want to get out.”

Cop: “But so then you’ll go to jail for obstruction.”

Driver: “For obstructing what?”

Cop: “You’re obstructing my investigation.”

Driver: “What are you investigating? What do you suspect me of?”

Cop: “I’m going to ask you to step out of the car one more time.”

Driver: “You suspect me of a crime?”

Cop: “Yes, absolutely.”

Driver: “What crime?”

Cop: “Reasonable suspicion that you guys did an exchange.”

Driver: “Exchange of what, for what?”

The cop then threatens the driver, “Do me a favor, unhook your seatbelt and step out of the car, or I’m going to take you out of the car.”

The driver complies with the request, shaking his head as he comments that he doesn’t have a choice. “I don’t have anything on me. You’re literally wasting your time,” he tells the officers.

The two cops lead the driver away, toward their cruiser, out of sight of the cellphone video

The second cop comes back to the car with his flashlight on to search the inside of the vehicle, asking the two passengers if they have anything in their pockets and demanding to inspect a pack of cigarettes.

Both passengers told the cop they had given him money for the ride, which is what the driver was putting into his pocket.

“We gave him $10 so we could get a ride.”

You can hear the driver, still outside the vehicle, insisting to the cop that the passengers gave him $10.

The cops, realizing there were no drugs or illegal activity underway, eventually let the trio drive away.

One of the officers references the 1977 Supreme Court case Pennsylvania v. Mimms as justification for ordering the driver out of the car. The ruling allows police to order a driver out of a car during a traffic stop and conduct a pat-down if they fear for their safety. The court ruling decided the actions do not violate Americans’ Fourth Amendment rights.

The entire incident sure appeared like a major incident of harassment.

And the comments on BP Cast’s YouTube page, where it was reposted, reflected that.

BP Blast: “Being a good Samaritan will get you harassed by police officers,” BP Cast observed.

“These officers really thought that this was a drug deal,” he told his viewers..

“God forbid someone use an Uber or a Lyft in front of these cops. Giving someone something is illegal now,” one viewer said.

“This is exactly how the Drug War directly affects every single person in America, even if you don’t do drugs,” another said.

‘Going to Take You Out of the Car!’: Virginia Cops Force Black Man Out Vehicle and Accuse Him of Selling Drugs After He Gave Someone a Ride, Video Shows

Penny Thompson, a 42-year-old Black woman from Ohio, was looking forward to spending a month with her 15-year-old son after picking him up from his father’s house in North Carolina earlier this month.

She even stopped at a local Walmart in the Cleveland suburb of Mentor to purchase a 55-inch television set so her son could play video games while staying with her.

But then a random white woman came out of nowhere to accuse her son of stealing her wallet from her purse on the sole basis that “he looked guilty” without providing any evidence as to why he looked guilty.

Penny Thompson, left, said a random white woman falsely accused her 15-year-old son of stealing her wallet from her purse, but the wallet was inside her purse the entire time. (Photo: Penny Thompson)

Turns out, the missing wallet was inside her purse the entire time.

“This would never have happened if we had been white,” said Thompson in an exclusive interview with Atlanta Black Star.

“There were other white kids in the store, other boys his age and size, but they were not accused. Meanwhile, the wallet was in her purse the entire time inside the truck.”

Thompson, in fact, said they had been racially profiled from the moment they walked into the store because the manager insisted she provide identification to see if it matched the debit card she was using to buy the television set, while other white customers making large purchases were not asked to produce identification.

“We were racially profiled from the time we walked in the store to the time we walked out of the store and into the parking lot,” Thompson said.

‘You Know He’s Guilty’

The incident took place on July 6, resulting in a viral TikTok video her son had recorded, showing the white woman accusing Thompson of playing “the race card” when it was clear she was racially profiling her son with false accusations. 

Thompson said she was already annoyed at having to show her identification and not receiving any help from employees to load the television into her car after driving eight hours from North Carolina.

Then, while loading the items she purchased into the trunk of her car, a blue pickup truck driven by the white woman’s husband pulled up behind her car, blocking her in.

“When this blue truck pulls up, I’m like, wait a minute, are they going to try to rob us?” she said.

The white woman — whom Thompson had never seen before — then stepped out to accuse her son of stealing the wallet.

“I tell them they better call the police immediately,” Thompson said. “I then tell my son to get the manager inside the Walmart.”

Once back outside with a manager and an employee, her son began recording the interaction, showing the white woman accusing Thompson of pulling the race card.

“I don’t care what color you are,” she said. “He looked guilty.”

“Guilty of what?” Thompson asked.

“You can act like it’s because you’re Black, but it’s not,” the white woman insisted. “You know he’s guilty.”

But it was the white woman guilty of making false accusations.

At one point, the white woman removes her glasses and tells her husband that she is waiting for Thompson to hit her.

“Ain’t nobody touching you,” responded Thompson. “Go home.”

“I’m waiting,” the white woman said. “Go ahead.”

Thompson said she told the woman she was “going to beat that ass” before her son started recording, but said she was only speaking in anger and had no intention of hitting her.

“She was trying to provoke me to hit her,” she said. “And I’m like, wait a minute, I’m not going to get scabies or whatever from touching this lady or whatever she got going on.”

The two-and-a-half-minute video ends before the cops arrive, but Thompson said they arrived within minutes and kept them there for 20 minutes as they tried to figure out what was happening.

The cops then allowed them to leave, telling Thompson they would be in touch if they found any evidence that her son had taken the wallet.

She said the cops reviewed video footage from inside the store, but eventually, cops wrote in their report that the wallet was found in the woman’s purse.

Thompson said she is unsure if she will pursue legal action against the woman because she believes she may be mentally ill and probably does not have a lot of money anyway.

“This woman has nothing. What is she going to be able to do for me?” she said. 

“I guess it’s more against Walmart and protecting their customers. Come on now, I spent more money than anybody that day.”

Earlier this year, a Black woman from California was falsely accused of stealing a woman’s ring from a pilates gym before the woman found the ring inside her home.

‘She Was Trying to Provoke Me to Hit Her’: White Ohio Woman Falsely Accuses Black Boy of Stealing Wallet That Was Inside Her Purse

Former President George W. Bush’s fierce defense of Barack and Michelle Obama against divorce rumors has fans revisiting what they believe is the pivotal moment he became smitten with the former first lady. Social media erupted with playful theories and admiring comments about Bush’s protective stance toward Michelle, suggesting it reveals something deeper than political friendship.

The 43rd president’s passionate defense became public through his daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, who shared the family moment during Thursday’s “Today with Jenna & Friends.” The television host revealed how she decided to get her father’s perspective on swirling rumors about the Obamas’ marriage, only to receive an unexpectedly stern response that left no room for doubt about his feelings.

Bush’s defense of the Obama marriage has fans celebrating the candy moment that sparked his friendship with Michelle Obama. (Photos by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

“I remember I called my dad and I was like, ‘Have you heard this rumor?!’ And he was like, ‘I don’t believe it. It’s not true,'” Jenna revealed to her guest host Octavia Spencer and audience. She noted her father was “kind of mad” that she had even entertained the gossip enough to call him.

“He was like, ‘That isn’t true. I know them and it isn’t true,'” she remembered.

Bush’s protective reaction has sparked widespread discussion among fans on Facebook, with many interpreting his fierce loyalty through a playful lens.

“George got a crush on Michelle,” one said, while another elaborated, “It was said that Bush love Michelle. They are friends. He is going to stand up for her.”

“He has been consistently sweet on Michelle for over a decade. Who wouldn’t? She’s gorgeous. But I give George credit, he’s got good taste. His wife Laura Bush was a cutie pie too!” one comment read.

Some took the theories even further, with one user joking, “Former president George W. Bush love himself some Michelle Obama. He makes sure he brings her candy,” referencing one of the first times that sparked the two’s fondness for each other.

Despite the playful speculation, others focused on the substance of his defense, with one person noting, “George W Bush was a lousy president, although he will never be rated anywhere near as bad as Trump. However, since he obviously knows the Obama’s personally, he is doing the right thing here in shutting down rumors that they are divorcing.”

The friendship between Bush and Michelle Obama has become legendary in political circles, forged through protocol seating arrangements at state funerals and official ceremonies.

One pivotal moment was the grand opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture on September 24, 2016, where cameras captured a much commented on hug between them that first sparked widespread public fascination.

1st Lady Michelle Obama hugs Pres. George W.Bush at opening of @NMAAHC I was there for 1 of museums chief sponsors @BankofAmerica pic.twitter.com/XWw41G5nHO

— David Hume Kennerly (@kennerly) September 24, 2016

Their relationship gained viral attention through memorable moments, including Bush passing Michelle a mint at Sen. John McCain’s funeral in September 2018 and again at Bush’s father’s funeral in December.

The candy pass between Michelle Obama and George W. Bush, mirroring the one that warmed our hearts during the funeral of John McCain. pic.twitter.com/TDnunfnL4E

— Brenna Williams (@brennawilliams) December 5, 2018

These gestures became symbols of bipartisan decency in an increasingly polarized political landscape.

Bush explained their dynamic during a “Live with Jimmy Kimmel” appearance in April 2021, describing how he handles lengthy eulogies: “I go to a lot of funerals, and so does she. And because of protocol, I’m always stuck next to her or she’s always stuck next to me, and I get a little antsy during the long-winded eulogies, so I started cracking a few jokes, and you know, and she seemed to think they’re funny.”

Michelle has spoken warmly about their friendship, telling Jenna Bush Hager in a November interview, “He’s a beautiful, funny, kind, sweet man.”

She emphasized their shared values despite political differences: “Our values are the same. We disagree on policy, but we don’t disagree on humanity, we don’t disagree about love and compassion.”

The mainstream loves their friendship so much that People magazine did a pictorial spread on all the times they were caught hanging out together. Their collective reaction ranges from heartfelt appreciation for their bipartisan bond to tongue-in-cheek speculation about Bush harboring romantic feelings for the former first lady, turning what began as malicious gossip into celebration of an unlikely friendship that has captured America’s imagination.

Meanwhile, Barack and Michelle Obama directly addressed the divorce rumors during the July 16 episode of Michelle’s podcast with her brother Craig Robinson, handling the situation with characteristic humor. When Craig jokingly asked, “Wait, you guys like each other?” Barack quipped, “She took me back! It was touch and go for a while.”

The comments reflect how Bush’s bond with Michelle Obama has captured public imagination in ways that transcend typical political discourse. Fans continue to celebrate the candy-passing moments that made their unlikely friendship a cultural phenomenon, with many pointing to those sweet gestures as when America fell in love with their bipartisan chemistry.

‘He Is Going to Stand Up for Her’: George W. Bush’s Fiery Response to Daughter Jenna Over Michelle Obama Has Fans Recalling the Exact Moment That Friendship Got Too Real

A recent photo of Zoë Kravitz having what seems to be a casual outing is igniting concerns for her well-being. 

The actress was spotted leaving The Bowery Hotel in New York City on Friday, July 18, wearing an understated outfit while sipping some iced coffee.

Sporting a red oversized shirt with the words “Black History Month” on it in bold black letters, she paired black athletic shorts with it and a pair of black short heels. But it seems the baggy clothes made Kravitz appear thinner than her usual petite frame. 

Zoe Kravitz makes fans go into a frenzy, claiming she lost too much weight. (Photo by Cindy Ord/WireImage)

Other photos taken of Kravitz in the city showed her wearing the same red shirt with black baggy pants. She also had on a black hat and a black pair of shades. As effortless as the outfit appeared, according to a few fashion outlets, the look was put together by her new stylist, Danielle Goldberg.

Apparently, this was Goldberg’s first time working with Kravitz, but she has other prominent figures among her clientele. She dresses actresses like Margaret Qualley, Jodie Comer, Ayo Edibiri, model Emily Ratajkowski and even Solange. 

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Pop culture Instagram page Deux Moi shared the photos of Kravitz’s look, where fans expressed their concerns over her size in the comments. 

One person said, “Wow, baby girl has lost a noticeable amount of weight.”

Two other observers wrote, “Too thin” and “Malnourished.. Sad.”

Others came to her defense by taking the position that there is nothing wrong with her current weight.

“Look at her mother.. this lady is naturally small. Great genetics. Please stop with the comments about her body,” said one person. 

Another said, “I’m about to do two things I hate—comment on bodies and give men power but I can’t help it because it is a noticeable pattern. She has gotten much thinner after her breakup. She also has mostly disappeared from public — not attending some events that for her are a given, like the Met. But now she has a movie to promote. I hope she comes outside more but is also feeling well.”

Another commenter expressing the same sentiments said, “She has always been petite and small frame. She looks gorgeous, just like her mother. Channing fumbled.”

Kravitz was previously engaged to Channing Tatum in 2023 after starting their romance in 2021. Tatum was the star of Kravitz’s directorial debut film “Blink Twice,” which was released in 2024. They split up that same year in October. 

As for her body type, the “Kimi” star has always been a slim woman. Many would say she inherited that from her mother, “The Cosby Show” alum Lisa Bonet.

The mother-daughter duo have often drawn comments about how much Kravitz resembles Bonet — from their shared love of long locs and microbraids to their signature boho-inspired style. Still, Kravitz has since branched out, experimenting with fashion far beyond the boho aesthetic.

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As for her father, if the last name wasn’t revealing enough, her dad is Grammy award-winning singer Lenny Kravitz. The “Fly Away” singer doesn’t have a huge build either, but he has more of a lean muscular body. 

But Kravitz has gone on cleanses before. Back in 2014, she talked about her process of preparing to play a character suffering from anorexia and bulimia in the film “The Road Within.”

To drop the 20 pounds for the role, she told Us Weekly, “I ended up drinking clay because it cleans out your body and fills you up. I was eating like a Mason jar of pureed vegetables a day and running. Though it seemed to do the trick, Kravitz was sure to emphasize to other people to not do the cleanse. She called it “awful” and said she would “never encourage anyone” to do it. 

‘She Has Gotten Much Thinner’: Shocking Images of Zoe Kravitz Has Fans Zooming In on Her Legs

A trip down memory lane has lady fans of 80-year-old Rod Stewart drooling at the mouth. 

What got women online all hot and heavy for the British rock and pop singer was a single image taken more than five decades ago.

The photo, which was shared to his personal Instagram account on July 20, shows a glimmery Stewart standing on stage with an intense gaze.

Rod Stewart shares a steamy throwback photo of himself online that has his lady fans steaming. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

“On stage at MSG in the ’70s. Who remembers this?” Stewart captioned the shot.

According to rock and roll photographer Bob Gruen — whom Stewart credited as the person who captured the photo — it was taken during Stewart’s 1972 performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Stewart’s glistening chest on stage was partially thanks to his shimmery outfit, which had gold and silver embellishments on his top and pants. But that’s not all, the singer also had a natural glow that came from the sweat on his torso, which his audience could see through his completely unbuttoned shirt. 

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A post shared by Sir Rod Stewart (@sirrodstewart)

Fans couldn’t help but get a little flirty in his comments section. 

One fan kicked things off with a playful self-answered question: “Do you think he’s sexy? YES.” The comment was a nod to Stewart’s 1978 hit single, “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.”

Another said, “Hot then Hot now.” A third added, “I had a poster of them above my bed in 1971. My Mom hated it.”

Stewart also shared the same photo to his Facebook account, which garnered even more reactions from fans.

“I had a poster on my ceiling of rod in the 70s he looked just like what he did msg oh! Those were the best days,” said one person. Another claimed they “Saw 3 Rod shows at MSG [in the] ’70s.”

Stewart, born on Jan. 10, 1945 in Highgate, London, has four older siblings. In 1961, he joined a band called The Raiders before eventually taking up busking, performing on London streets for money. 

He busked with folk singer Wizz Jones in 1962 by playing the harmonica. In 1963, he joined an R&B group called The Dimensions, but eventually left when a new lead singer in the group caused Stewart to receive less opportunities to play the harmonica and sing. Over the next few years, he joined or played with several other bands like The Hoochie Coochie Men, The Soul Agents, and The Steampackets. 

In the midst of playing with these bands, he also released some solo records. The first song, “Good Morning Little School Girl,” was released in 1964 by Decca Records. In 1965, Stewart released the second one, “The Day Will Go On,” with Columbia Records. He joined the Jeff Beck Group in 1967 and left that group in 1969 to join Faces. He stayed with that group until 1975 after continuing to establish his solo career while in the band.

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A post shared by Faces (@the_official_faces)

His 1971 single “Maggie May” scored him his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. His other popular ’70s hits include “Tonight’s the Night,” “Have I Told You Lately,” and “The First Cut Is the Deepest.”

Throughout the rest of his career, he would continue making fan favorite hits like “Hot Legs” and “The Killing of Georgie.”

For the last several years, Stewart has not slowed down in his music career. In 2021, he and Faces reunited and recorded several songs together. The following year, he had several performances at The Colosseum for his Las Vegas Residency. In fact, the artist has continued his 13-year residency in Las Vegas into the current year and will have his next set of performances in September. 

If that wasn’t enough, Stewart’s also continuing his One Last Time tour, which has the entertainer traveling between the U.S. and other countries for the remainder of the year. On July 22, he will perform for his fans at the Budweiser stage in Toronto.

‘Hot Then and Hot Now’: Rod Stewart’s Shirtless Photo Has Lady Fans Zooming In

A power-tripping Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy handcuffed a Black man in front of his children and forced him into the back of a patrol car after pulling him over for running a stop sign earlier this month.

Alec Sisson said he had his two sons in the car with him, ages 8 and 10, and was less than two blocks from his mother’s house when he was pulled over after admittedly rolling through the stop sign at a slow speed.

The 29-year-old man said he handed over his license and registration, but then the deputy began fearing for his safety after learning Sisson did not have proof of insurance, ordering him out of the car.

A Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy pulled Alec Sisson over for running a stop sign, then ordered him out of the car and handcuffed him because he did not feel safe. ((Photo: Alec Sisson)

“I was driving my mom’s car so I did not have a copy of the insurance card with me but I told him I could call my mom and she would bring out a copy,” Sisson explained in an exclusive interview with Atlanta Black Star.

“But he told me to turn the car off, roll down all of my windows and step out of the car.”

Once he was handcuffed and placed in the back of the patrol car, the deputy then used his flashlight to search under the seats of his car while his children were still in the car.

The deputy whose name is Guerrero tried to justify his actions by citing United States Supreme Court case law. The 1977 holding in Pennsylvania vs Mimms gives law enforcement officers the right to ask drivers to step out of their cars during traffic stops for officer safety.

Guerrero did not express any particular reason he did not feel safe as he and Sisson wrangled about the lack of insurance card.

“I said, ‘I’m sure your guy can run it on your computer to validate this car has valid insurance,” Sisson said.

But the deputy insisted on handcuffing and frisking him which was when Sisson told his 10-year-old son to record the interaction.

Sisson posted the video on TikTok where it went viral, showing the deputy handcuffing and frisking him then trying to stuff him into the back of the police car as Sisson asked for a supervisor.

He repeatedly asked the office, “what are you doing?”

“Where’s your supervisor?” he pleaded. “I’m not letting my kids be unattended.”

Watch the video below.

Case Law

Pennsylvania vs Mimms allows law enforcement officers to ask drivers to step out of the car under the guise of safety.

In addition to the stop sign infraction, the deputy claimed the father had no proof of insurance, which is considered a traffic infraction in California, not a crime, according to a California law firm, which states the following on its website.

Driving without insurance is more of a regulatory violation than a crime and as such, is an infraction, not a misdemeanor. 

The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, the agency that certifies law enforcement officers in the Golden State, describes reasonable suspicion as follows:

Reasonable suspicion is the standard used to justify a detention. It exists when an officer has sufficient facts and information to make it reasonable to suspect that criminal activity may be occurring, and the person to be detained is connected to that activity.

In fact, California law enforcement officers are able to determine whether a car is insured through their in-car database. Guerrero could have easily confirmed the car was insured in a matter of seconds, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Escalating Traffic Stop

Sisson who lives in Nevada but has been staying with his mother in California to help her because she has fallen ill, has a driver’s license out of Nevada and also a concealed weapons permit.

Although he was not carrying a gun at the time, he informed the deputy of his concealed weapons permit as he was being handcuffed in the hopes the deputy would recognize he was a law-abiding citizen since he had to undergo a background search to obtain the permit.

But the deputy just escalated the traffic stop by calling for backup, resulting in at least four more patrol cars pulling up to the scene.

Sisson says arriving deputies falsely accused him of having a suspended driver’s license out of California and also threatened tow his car and have his children taken by the state child protective services agency.

Fortunately, his son had called his father’s wife, who called his mother who arrived with the insurance card to show the deputies.

That was when they released him after 20 minutes of detainment with only a citation for failure to stop, which is considered a vehicle code violation in California, punishable by a fine.

However, Sisson hopes to retain an attorney to sue the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for escalating what he apparently considers a pretextual stop and detaining him in handcuffs.

“The traffic stop left me very distraught,” he said.

‘What Are You Doing?!’: California Deputies Threaten to Seize Black Man’s Kids Over Missing Insurance Card During Traffic Stop Despite Ability to Confirm Coverage Through Database

A female passenger is being hailed a hero after a viral video shows her taking charge of a harrowing situation on a Delta flight from Atlanta to Tucson.

The video, first posted on TikTok by user @amorfatitestlab shows a Black woman standing over a white woman whose arms are tied behind her back with a makeshift restraint. The technique is referred to as a hogtie.

Nicole Pruitt recalls hog-tying a woman on a Delta Air Lines flight. (Photos: TikTok/@amorfatitestlab)

According to the passengers in the video, the white woman ran from the back of the plane to the front and attempted to open emergency exit doors and the cockpit doors. 

In a follow-up video, both posted by the Black woman’s son, he says his mother, who was sitting in first class, gave the passenger “an a–– whupping she won’t forget.” 

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The TikToker, whose real name is Tyrique Perry, said the disruptive passenger tried to break into the cockpit and open emergency exit doors mid-flight. 

The woman reportedly “overpowered the stewards,” while male passengers hesitated to intervene. The woman was heard shouting, “God will protect me” and “The Lord is my shepherd.” 

According to Perry, his mother ultimately “had to take matters into her own hands to protect herself and all the other passengers on board.”

Nicole Pruitt, a retired U.S. Army veteran who lives in Arizona, was trained for moments like this. 

“This chick came all the way from the— back,” Pruitt recalls. 

She said, “I don’t want to be on the plane.” “God got my –” she said.

What has she said? She said, “I have a calling and God told me to do it.”

God tell you to do what? You are there to find out.

No, I want this f— and find out.

“I had an earpiece in my ear. I put that— in my little seat pocket right there.”

I said, “Please. Excuse me,” I said. “I’m gonna beat her a— right now.”

Although the passenger’s intentions weren’t made clear, many online believe Pruitt may have stopped a terroristic act or threat. Some are calling on Mama Nicky, as she is affectionately known, to be awarded for her bravery.

“Come on, Delta! She needs lifetime first-class tickets!!!!! She LITERALLY saved everyone!!” One TikTok viewer wrote. “As a flight attendant, it is people like Mama Nicky that we are eternally grateful for!!!!

Atlanta Black Star has reached out to Perry for comment.

 FOX 5 Atlanta reports that a Delta flight from Atlanta to Tucson was forced to make a return to Hartsfield-Jackson after a passenger caused a mid-air scare.

Flight 937 had been in the air for about an hour on July 16 when, according to a Delta spokesperson, a customer “situation” prompted the flight crew to turn the plane around and head back to Atlanta.

When the plane landed back in Atlanta, emergency medical personnel met the flight upon landing. Law enforcement was notified, but the person was not arrested.

Delta later resumed the flight to Tucson, arriving nearly three hours behind schedule. There were 180 people on the plane, including the crew members and pilots.

“Delta sincerely appreciates the actions of our crew and customers for deescalating this situation,” said airline spokesperson, Samantha Moore Facteau, to Atlanta Black Star in a statement.

‘Excuse Me, I’m Gonna Beat her A—’: Arizona Mom Takes Down Deranged Woman Who Reportedly Tries to Break Into Cockpit, Hog-ties Her on Delta Air Lines Flight

Tyler Perry is cutthroat when it comes to his work and his craft, even if that means cutting family members out of his business.

Perry, 55, joined entrepreneur Derrick Hayes and rapper Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins for an episode of gospel singer Kirk Franklin’s “Den of Kings” podcast.

At one point in the episode that aired on July 20th, Perry spoke about hiring family members to work for him as part of his ever-growing entertainment empire that includes owning Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

Billionaire filmmaker Tyler Perry opens up about having to fire a family member after his mother passed away. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

“How do you keep at bay everyone that was there from the beginning that watched you struggle and suffer, but then there’s this automatic tension of what do I owe?” Franklin, 55, asked the panel of successful men.

“How much do I owe back? Who do I have to bring along? How do I have to let some go?” He continued.

Perry responded calmly, “I fired my aunt. She said she wanted a job. She would always call, asking for money. I’m like, ‘OK.’ I was sending the money. I like, ‘Listen, I want to help you. I don’t want to help you build this thing, not be welfare.’”

The billionaire known for playing Mabel “Madea” Simmons in plays and movies did not name the aunt that had to be let go, but he did clarify that the unnamed kinswoman was “calling in” and not showing up to work.

Tyler Perry says he fired his aunt after giving her a job because she kept calling in and not showing up—and reveals one family member got mad when he refused to give him a million dollars. pic.twitter.com/Qg8KV9oVzg

— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) July 21, 2025

“I don’t believe in giving us things that are just going to handicap us. That is the worst thing you can do. And I’ve had family members that I’ve done that to because my mother has asked me to,” Perry stated.

He added, “And when she passed away in 2009, I sent all of them letters saying, ‘Listen, you got 60 days to become gainfully employed because I’m not going to keep supporting you like this.’” 

Perry went on to say that the dismissed relatives were able to find other jobs even though they were not “making a lot of money.” But the veteran playwright and actor believed that decision instilled pride in his former employees.

“You’ve got to watch the family members that come putting holes in the boat when you’re trying to get across the sea. So sometimes you build a boat by yourself,” Perry told Hayes, 38, the founder of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks.  

Perry continued, “Y’all all wait over here on the shore. Stay here. I’m building this boat. I’m going to go over and build this, and then I’m going to come back and see who’s worthy to come. Anybody who’s going to drag you down or put holes in the boat or try to destroy you, why bring them over?”

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Footage of Perry’s comments about his family spread across social media on July 21. The Art of Dialogue posted the clip on X, which led to people voicing their opinions on the topic.

“White people don’t talk like this, Black people cry about nepotism, but when in [a] position to practice it, we don’t do it,” one X user expressed.

However, someone replied to that critical tweet by backing up Perry, writing, “If you weren’t so broke, you’d understand you don’t feed the leeches.”

A third person on the social media app tweeted, “I see a lot of people who don’t understand what generational wealth is and [are] confusing it with handouts and leeching.”

“It’s better to just leave family and business separate,” a poster suggested. One fan praised Perry’s remarks by declaring, “The boat description was incredible.”

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A post shared by Tyler Perry (@tylerperry)

Perry partially built his $1.4 billion fortune through producing, writing, and directing movies such as “Madea’s Family Reunion” in 2006, “Acrimony” in 2018, “A Madea Homecoming” in 2022, and “Straw” in 2025.

His television properties include television sitcoms and dramas like “House of Payne,” “Meet the Browns,” “For Better or Worse,” “The Oval,” “Ruthless,” and “Beauty in Black.”

Perry once again put back on a dress and wig to play his signature character in the recently released “Madea’s Destination Wedding” movie. The comedy debuted on Netflix on July 11, 2025, and jumped to No. 1 on the streamer’s chart of the Top 10 movies in the United States.

I can’t thank you enough and I don’t take this or you for granted. This is movie number 30 and y’all still riding with me! Thankful. pic.twitter.com/U110xZTwVL

— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) July 12, 2025

In 2019, Perry became the first Black American to own a major film production studio when he opened Tyler Perry Studios on a 330-acre property in Atlanta. The site hosts 12 soundstages, each named after prominent Black actors or actresses.

His reign as a Hollywood heavyweight resumed in 2024, when he re-upped his partnership with the BET Media Group to ensure that the BET cable network and BET+ streaming service would be the homes for his self-created content through 2028.

‘I’m Not Going to Keep Supporting You’: Tyler Perry Had to Draw the Line with Several Family Members, Forcing Them to Find Jobs After His Mom Passed

A racially charged confrontation inside a JCPenney store has gone viral after a white woman falsely accused a Black man of being connected to an apparent jewelry theft, and then doubled down by aggressively confronting his family when they pushed back.

The video, posted on Monday to Instagram, shows the moments after the white woman, dressed in a red shirt, pointed at a Black man who had just entered the store with his family and said he looked like the suspect loss prevention officers were chasing moments earlier. 

A video screen grab shows a woman confronting someone holding a camera. (Photos: TikTok/squeezed_lemonade)

The man’s mother-in-law and other relatives had just walked in when the woman launched the accusation, prompting one of the Black women to demand answers.

“So you said you saw a Black guy run that way?” she asked the woman. The woman nodded and said, “Yes, just about like him,” claiming the alleged thief was wearing shorts and looked like the Black man in their group, specifically pointing to her son-in-law.

The Black woman, who was wearing glasses that record video, took offense and then put the white woman on the spot: “Because he’s a Black guy?”

Despite having just watched the group enter the store together, the white woman seemed unwilling to back down. But as the Black woman challenged her bias, the white woman abruptly turned defensive and accused her of “starting trouble” before storming off.

“No, you’re starting trouble!” the Black woman shouted back, her voice cutting through the store. “Don’t accuse my son-in-law of being a thief!”

The shouting match took a turn when the white woman suddenly reversed course and marched back toward the Black woman, bumping into her in front of a jewelry display. The two women clashed physically—jostling, elbowing, and chesting up on each other—before employees rushed over to keep them apart.

Tensions flared as the two women yelled at each other, and with their voices rising, the situation was on the brink of igniting a brawl. Middle-aged staffers stepped in to de-escalate the fracas, while the white woman, now backpedaling, claimed she hadn’t accused anyone of anything—an act of gaslighting that only inflamed the situation further.

As the white woman retreated into the distance, both women kept hurling barbs in a bid to have the last word. But then the Black woman cut through the noise with the line that would define the ordeal.

“I’m not my ancestors, but I’ll show you!” she yelled across the store—a pointed reminder of the enslaved forebears who resisted their oppressors, and a warning that she wouldn’t be silent.

She later posted a detailed account of what took place, accusing the white woman of racial profiling and physical assault.

“Today I was assaulted in @jcpenney by a Karen!” she wrote, while tagging the store in the post. “After she accused my son-in-law of being a thief. As we walked in, loss prevention was chasing a jewelry thief out the store. This lady instantly accused him of being with him. My son-in-law said she said to him twice ‘I bet you know him’ and he said nothing back, and the third time she said ‘I bet you know him don’t you’ with her finger pointed towards his face, is when my daughter heard her. She then realized, after my daughter looked confused and asked ‘what,’ is when she must’ve realized that my son-in-law was with us. After asking her what did she say and mean by that, she became angry and aggressive and pushed me.”

She claimed that JC Penney staff agreed the woman had assaulted her, but never asked her to leave. Fearing that she would be portrayed as the aggressor, the Black woman said she left the store, but later returned to file a police report. “They already know who she is!” she wrote.

JC Penney responded to the incident on the same post, issuing an apology:
“Thanks so much for reaching out—we’re truly sorry to hear this happened. This isn’t the experience we want our customers to have, and we’re here to help!”

In a polite message, they encouraged the woman to send details privately so the incident could be addressed internally:
“To assist you further, please send us a private message with: Store location, date and time of your visit along with your contact information. We’ll make sure your concerns are shared with the right team. Thanks again for bringing this to our attention—we appreciate you!”

In the comments section, the episode reignited broader conversations about how false accusations are still used by some whites as a way to police and humiliate Black people. Many called out the store employees for telling the Black woman to move on, while staying silent about the white woman’s aggressive behavior. Others argued the staff should have just called the police immediately, though it remained unclear who ultimately made the call.

‘I’m Not My Ancestors, But I’ll Show You!’: Chaotic Scene Erupts Inside JC Penney After White Woman Picks the Wrong Black Man to Accuse of Stealing

Karoline Leavitt is breaking fans’ focus with her effortless fashion. 

The White House press secretary joined President Donald Trump for a media session with reporters on Tuesday, July 15, and apparently stole the show. Trump and Leavitt approached the crowd of press discussing topics like investments in artificial intelligence, the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, the legitimacy of the Jeffrey Epstein files, tariffs, and more.

During their Q&A session, Leavitt stood next to Trump mainly listening in on questions with an occasional glance and smile at her boss. So while she was mute during the interaction, she didn’t need to say much for fans to get distracted by her. Her outfit was enough to gain attention before the pair left to go to Pittsburgh. 

Karoline Leavitt steals the show in tight fitting dress. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The blond 27-year-old wore a vibrant green dress with a pleated skirt that fit snugly from her waist up but had more swing and movement at the bottom. The dress had some vertical textured lines in the chest and shoulder region. The lines shifted and went horizontally across her abdomen area before returning to the vertical again from her waist down. 

According to Amazon, the midi dress can be purchased for less than $30. 

Leavitt also wore a necklace featuring what appeared to be a gold pendant. She styled her hair in loose waves and kept her makeup minimal, aside from a noticeable pop of peachy-pink lipstick.

Fans commented on her gown in an Instagram user’s clip from the press conference. 

One person said, “What is the President saying? I’m a little distracted by green.”

A second admirer wrote, “She looks gorgeous in green.”

The dress may have fit a little too tight, according to a few, because it had some fans speculating that the press secretary could be expecting another child. 

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A post shared by KAROLINE LEAVITT (@karolineleavitt)

One person said, “She looks like she’s pregnant. Caroline is looking a bit thick too.”

Someone else wrote, “She prego again.”

She has yet to confirm or deny the rumors that she is expecting her second child. She’s already a mother to her first born son, Nicholas “Niko” Robert Riccio. She welcomed him with — and named him after— her husband, 60-year-old Nicholas Riccio in July 2024. 

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A post shared by KAROLINE LEAVITT (@karolineleavitt)

With her job as the press secretary, Leavitt and her husband’s relationship is often a target for people who want to make jabs at her because the couple have quite the age gap between them. 

They met back in 2022 while she was running for a congressional seat in New Hampshire. The real estate developer and Leavitt were introduced at a mutual friend’s restaurant and the rest is history. They got engaged in 2023 and welcomed their child the following year. The two married in January, just a few days before Trump was inaugurated for a second time.

‘Looking a Bit Thick’: Karoline Leavitt’s Tight Green Dress In New Video with Donald Trump Has Fans ‘Distracted’