Author: Wamala

Award-winning music journalist Ivie Ani is adding a major new title to her résumé after being named a Culture Ambassador for Martell Cognac, marking a new chapter in her work across music, media and fashion. Ani, a New York University alum, has built a profile through journalism, strategy and cultural storytelling, with much of her work focused on identity and Black culture across the global diaspora. Now, her perspective will become part of Martell’s Culture Ambassadors platform, which centers cultural expression, storytelling and collective achievement. Lanre Odutola, Head of Culture & Partnerships at Martell, said Ani brings a distinct perspective…

King Harald V of Norway, the country’s monarch for 35 years, has died at 89 following a serious health crisis. The Royal Palace in Oslo confirmed Friday, Aug. 28, that Harald died peacefully at 6:35 a.m. local time at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet. The palace said the announcement was made “with deep grief.” Harald’s death came after a series of health setbacks. He had been hospitalized after developing a bacterial bloodstream infection and was receiving antibiotic treatment. His condition was later described by the royal household as “very serious.” The monarch’s final days drew widespread concern in Norway. Family members…

King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, the longtime monarch of Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom, has died at 34 after the kingdom confirmed he had been critically ill. The official announcement came late Thursday, Aug. 27, with Tooro Kingdom Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki confirming that the king died at approximately 10 p.m. while receiving medical treatment in the United States. The news came hours after the kingdom had told the public that King Oyo was in critical condition, following weeks of reports that he was receiving specialised treatment abroad. The kingdom had previously not publicly confirmed details about his…

Miguel is drawing a hard line around his family’s privacy. The Grammy-winning R&B singer has spoken out about what he says has been a difficult year for his loved ones, alleging that his family has faced racism, harassment, stalking, privacy invasions and false accusations. Miguel also said his wife, Margaret Zhang, has recently been subjected to racist and anti-Asian attacks. He did not name Zhang directly in the statement, but his comments came as the couple prepares to welcome their second child. The singer emphasized that public criticism is one thing, but targeting family members and children crosses a different…

Gladys Knight is slowing down—but the Empress of Soul is not retiring. After more than seven decades onstage, the 82-year-old music legend announced Thursday that she plans to reduce the number of performances she takes on while making more room for family and personal projects. Knight described the decision as a carefully considered step into what she called the “next stage” of her career and life. “After much soul-searching, I’ve decided that I will be easing into fewer performances,” Knight wrote. The announcement marks a significant change for an artist whose career has stretched across generations and helped define the…

Cardi B has a warning for people who are suddenly finding themselves famous: the spotlight comes with a lot more pressure than they may expect. The “Aha Aha” rapper opened up about fame, scrutiny and the psychological challenges of celebrity life in Vogue Arabia’s September issue, reflecting on what happened after she achieved the level of success she once dreamed about. Cardi said she takes pride in proving doubters wrong and reaching milestones that others had not. “I have proven a lot of people wrong over and over and over again,” Cardi said. “It makes me feel good that I…

Vic Mensa launched “The Vic Mensa Show” with a guest who knows him better than most: longtime friend and fellow Chicago rapper Chance the Rapper. The two artists used the premiere to revisit a friendship that began when they were teenagers and eventually became part of the foundation for Save Money, the Chicago collective that helped shape a generation of independent hip-hop. Mensa recalled first meeting Chance at Jones College Prep during an open mic. At the time, Mensa was a student at Whitney Young Magnet High School and had traveled to Jones College Prep to perform. He later spotted…

Yung Miami is turning up the heat on “Spend Dat,” and she’s bringing Lil Baby and Kodak Black along for the remix. The former City Girls star announced Wednesday that the highly anticipated version of the track will arrive Friday, Aug. 28, giving fans a new lineup for a song that has already made noise on the Billboard Hot 100. “Wham & Yak WTF IS UPPPPPP!! Spend Dat Remix OUT THIS FRIDAY!” Yung Miami, whose real name is Caresha Brownlee, wrote on social media, using Lil Baby and Kodak Black’s nicknames. The collaboration comes after Yung Miami spent months building…

Kehlani has canceled two scheduled tour performances after an emergency hospital visit left the singer unable to perform. The 29-year-old artist was due to perform Wednesday at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey, followed by a Thursday show at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Both dates have now been scrapped after medical professionals advised her to rest her voice. Kehlani shared the update with fans on Instagram after spending the night dealing with severe pain and difficulty swallowing. “After two off days feeling completely normal.. ive been up all night unable to swallow & in so much…

Samuel Monroe Jr., the actor who made his film debut in the influential 1993 drama Menace II Society, has died at 52 after months of serious health complications. His mother, Joyce Patton, announced his death on Facebook, thanking supporters who had been praying for her son and asking them to continue supporting his family. “I want to thank all of my Facebook family and friends, new and old, for praying for Samuel Monroe Jr., my son,” Patton wrote. “But today God called him home.” She also asked for continued prayers for Monroe’s family, particularly his three children. Monroe had been…

The singer was photographed for the first time since her godmother’s passing, appearing somber as she arrived at an L.A. recording studio. Miley Cyrus is making her first public appearance since the death of her godmother, Dolly Parton — and the singer appeared to be keeping a low profile as she headed into a Los Angeles recording studio. Cyrus was photographed Wednesday wearing an all-black outfit, including a black T-shirt, jeans, shoes and handbag. She also wore sunglasses as she made her way inside. The emotional outing comes just one day after Parton died at age 80 following a brief…

Selena Gomez is facing a new round of criticism from investors suing her over Wondermind, with their attorney accusing the singer and actress of using her celebrity influence to help attract money to the mental-health company. Attorney Jeffrey Neiman, who represents the investors, tells TMZ that Gomez’s name, influence and promised role were central to efforts to secure investment in Wondermind. “Mental health is not a marketing strategy, and should never be used as a vehicle for personal financial gain,” Neiman said. The attorney argues that the issue goes beyond Gomez simply being associated with the company. He claims her…

Selena Gomez is fighting back against investors who accused her of fraud, asking a judge to throw out the lawsuit and calling the claims against her “meritless” and “frivolous.” Gomez filed a motion to dismiss Wednesday, arguing that the investors’ allegations fail to establish that she committed fraud or otherwise engaged in wrongdoing. According to court documents, Gomez says the plaintiffs’ claims are “vague, generalized, and contradictory.” She also argues that the investors’ own allegations indicate she was not involved in, and would not have had knowledge of, the alleged false statements at issue. Her attorney, Mathew S. Rosengart, came…

Dolly Parton could receive one of Nashville’s biggest possible hometown tributes, with fans pushing to rename Nashville International Airport after the country music icon. A petition calling for the airport to become “Dolly Parton International Airport” has surpassed 100,000 signatures, gaining more than 50,000 supporters in the day following Parton’s death Tuesday at 80. The petition was actually launched in January 2025, long before her death, and had been sitting at roughly 53,000 signatures. News of Parton’s passing dramatically accelerated the campaign. Now, the proposal has picked up support from some recognizable names — and potentially a path toward becoming…

Bianca Censori is getting some one-on-one time with the Kardashian-West family — and this time, it was a girls’ day at a Los Angeles mall. Kanye West’s wife was spotted Wednesday spending time with Chicago West and Dream Kardashian, taking the two cousins around the mall as they checked out shops together. The outing brought together two branches of the Kardashian family. Chicago is one of Kanye and Kim Kardashian’s four children, while Dream is the daughter of Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna. Photos from the outing show Bianca walking through the mall with the two girls as they browsed…

Tim Curry, the legendary actor whose unforgettable performances made him a cult icon across film, television and theater, has died at 80. Curry, best known for playing the flamboyant Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” died Tuesday night at his Los Angeles home, according to his manager and multiple reports. A cause of death has not been disclosed. Law enforcement responded to Curry’s home late Tuesday for a death investigation. Authorities said there was no indication of foul play. Curry’s death closes a remarkable five-decade career that repeatedly found him playing characters audiences could never forget. His breakthrough…

YouTuber Chris Sails was arrested after authorities accused him of falsely telling police that his children had fallen into a body of water, triggering a search-and-rescue operation before officers determined the kids were safe. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the Waller County Sheriff’s Office responded on August 16 to a report involving a suspicious person who was allegedly running and jumping onto residents’ cars. When an officer arrived, the documents say Sails was sitting in the roadway next to a light pole and appeared to be praying. The officer allegedly observed him rolling around in the street moments…

Hit-Boy says his celebrated creative partnership with Nas may have reached its final chapter, revealing that he does not expect the two to work together again. The Grammy-winning producer made the comments during a conversation with Elliott Wilson and DJ Vlad, reflecting on the three-year period that produced some of Nas’ most acclaimed late-career music. “We did a lot of great work, but I don’t see us working again,” Hit-Boy said. He did not provide a detailed explanation for the apparent split. When pressed about why another collaboration seems unlikely, however, Hit-Boy suggested there is considerably more happening behind the…

Ye’s planned return to Russia appears to have hit a major roadblock, with Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg saying the rapper’s scheduled October concerts cannot take place at the venue. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, had been scheduled to perform at the stadium on October 10 and 11. The arena has now said there is no agreement in place for either show. “Gazprom Arena was not and is not the organizer of this event,” the stadium said, adding that the concerts were being handled by Moscow-based concert agency Say Agency. The venue also said it never signed a rental…

Busta Rhymes has agreed to pay $25,000 to resolve a federal lawsuit filed by his former personal assistant, Dashiel Gables, bringing competing legal claims over alleged unpaid wages and workplace conduct closer to an end. The settlement also resolves a countersuit filed by Rhymes, who accused Gables of making false claims that allegedly damaged the rapper’s reputation and business prospects. Neither side admitted wrongdoing as part of the agreement. Gables worked for Rhymes from the summer of 2024 until January 2025. In his federal complaint, he alleged that he routinely worked between 15 and 18 hours a day while receiving…