Photo Credit: Getty Images
Bill Cosby and OJ Simpson catch it on social media after some posts they put up. First, Bill Cosby did a Father’s Day post encouraging dads to renew their commitment to family. He started the post with Hey! Hey! Hey! It’s America’s Dad. Then Cosby’s spokespeople confirmed he’s lecturing and counseling some of his fellow inmates, including a prison group called Man Up. This did not go over well as Cosby has been bombarded with over fifty sexual misconduct accusers, and he’s currently serving three to ten years for drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand. The media and the social media showed him no mercy and trashed him and his message. Cosby is appealing his case and his team has branded his criminal trial as unfair and racist.
Then there’s OJ Simpson, and could his social media put him back in jail? Simpson has a brand new twitter account. He did a couple of videos, including denying he was Khloe Kardashian’s real father. The trolls came for him. Looks like they’re trying to bait him. You know what? It may be working. His account had knife emojis and the phrase he had some getting even to do. Remember Simpson’s sentence is not exactly complete. He’s on parole after being locked up for nine years in connection to the armed Las Vegas robbery 2007. Could messages like the ones on his twitter account violate Simpson’s parole and return him to prison? Remember OJ, you’re not running through the airport anymore.
Speaking of jail, Reality Star Apollo Nida is back in prison. What?! Why?! He recently was released from a New Jersey prison (Fort Dix) earlier this month and had his sentence reduced. He was even spotted on West Philly’s legendary 52nd Street getting into a car with a woman. Reportedly, it was his new fiancé Sherien Almufti. Apollo use to be married to Phaedra Parks, with whom he shares two children. They divorced in 2017. Apollo was originally sentenced to 96 months in prison after pleading guilty to mail, wire and bank fraud. So why is he back in prison after less than a month of parole? He said he was having sex in the halfway house. That’s a violation! I wanted to see him back and win. You were right up the road, Apollo! He’s now in a Philadelphia Federal Detention Center.
The Life Story of Neil Bogart is coming to the big screen. Bogart was the music executive that started his incredible career running Philly’s Cameo-Parkway record label’s Michigan offices in the 1960’s. He’d later head up the Buddah Records label with landmark successes. Bogart distributed Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom Records (Superfly/Freddie’s Dead) and The Isley Brother’s T-Neck (It’s Your Thing/Work To Do) and had hits with Gladys Knight & The Pips (Midnight Train To Georgia; I’ve Got To Use Imagination), Edwin Hawkins (Oh Happy Day), Bill Withers (Ain’t No Sunshine; Lean On Me; Use Me) and Barbara Mason (Give Me Your Love; Bed & Board). Bogart’s greatest success was founding Casablanca Records with hits from Donna Summer (Love To Love You Baby;Hot Stuff; On The Radio), George Clinton/Parliament (Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off The Sucker);Flashlight; Aqua Boogie), The Village People (Y.M.C.A; Macho Man and Kiss (Rock & Roll All Night). So now, a movie on Bogart’s life, Spinning Gold, is coming to the big screen written and directed by his son, Timothy Scott Bogart. The cast, so far, includes Philly’s Jazmine Sullivan as Gladys Knight, Keenan Thompson as Berry Gordy, Samuel L. Jackson as George Clinton, Jason Derulo as Ron Isley, Jay Pharoah as legendary New York DJ Frankie Crocker and Broadway’s Jeremy Jordan (Supergirl) as Bogart. Neil Bogart died at 39 from cancer. Filming on Spinning Gold is set to begin this summer.
LeBron James, Clay Thompson and the NBA Player everybody’s talking about, Anthony Davis, will be on the same team….on the big screen. King James and friends will star in Space Jam 2. The original Space Jam starred NBA Legend Michael Jordan along with Warner Brothers classic cartoon characters, led by Bugs Bunny, taking on aliens in an intergalactic basketball showdown. The 1996 movie grossed $230 million. Now, Black Panther & Creed Writer/Director Ryan Coogler is helming this sequel which he and James will co-produce. Filming begins this summer with a release date of July 16th, 2021.
Did Drake have to pay hundreds of thousands to make sexual assault allegations go away? Published reports say the rapper/actor and Laquana Morris, a.k.a. Layla Lace, agreed to a settlement worth $350,000. The settlement came after she accused him of sexual assault, and he accused her of extortion, defamation, fraud and emotional distress. No criminal charges were ever filed and Drake denied Morris’ claims. Now an outlet obtained the complaint with all the crazy details. Let’s just say she accused of the rap star of liking things to be and look messy, including her face involving saliva and cups. The complaint notes Morris’ denial this was consensual. At press time, Drake hasn’t commented on the complaint.
Cuba Gooding Jr. has a second accuser. Comedienne Claudia Oshry claims when she was 16 years old when Gooding got drunk and put his finger up her butt. Oshry says she uses the incident in her standup comedy act, and claims she didn’t go to cops fearing repercussions for being in a club underage. Oshry reportedly said since Gooding did this to her, she‘ll use it for all its worth. The comedienne also claims other women have come forward to her accusing Gooding of misconduct, but she didn’t name them. Gooding’s lawyer issued a statement denying Oshry’s allegations. Last week, Gooding was arrested and charged with forcible touching of another woman who claims the 51-year old Oscar winner groped her at a New York bar.
Another Empire star is pinched by Chicago PD. Philly’s own Bryshere Gray, a.k.a. Yazz, The Greatest, who plays Hakeem on the FOX drama series was arrested and charged for a driving offence in Chicago. He was driving a 2014 Rolls Royce with no registration or license according to Chicago Police. Gray’ was released from custody after being booked and issued a ticket. All this follows the arrest and later dropped charges against Gray’s castmate Jussie Smollett. Chicago PD accused Smollett of staging an attack against himself that he reported as a racial and homophobic attack. The city Of Chicago is currently suing Smollett for the cost of the man-hours police put into the case. Is it me or is it feeling like its best if Empire and Chicago police go their separate ways…..quick?!
We remember Gloria Vanderbilt. The fashion icon and mother of CNN’s Anderson Cooper has died after a battle with cancer. Vanderbilt was an actress, an author and an artist. She was born into money as her great, great grandfather built the New York Railroad. She was married four times and in between had love affairs with Frank Sinatra and Howard Hughes. But, she may be best remembered as a fashion icon. Remember Gloria Vanderbilt jeans? The irony is she lost her fashion money reportedly to a fraudulent lawyer despite the fact the jeans are still carried, with her name, in department stores today. Vanderbilt and her son, Anderson Cooper, wrote a joint memoir which delved into losing her husband and Anderson’s dad, Wyatt Cooper, to an open heart surgery operation and a son, Anderson’s brother Carter Cooper, to suicide. Vanderbilt also had two older children, Christopher and Leopold Stokowski. Gloria Vanderbilt was 95 years old.
The BET Awards will honor Mary J. Blige and Tyler Perry at this Sunday. Blige gets The Lifetime Achievement Award for her years as the reigning Queen Of Hip Hop Soul. The Ultimate Icon Award is going to Perry with Tamar Braxton among those paying tribute to him. There’s also a tribute set for Nipsey Hussle. The BET Awards performances will include Cardi B, DJ Khaled, H.E.R. Lucky Daye and Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus. The 2019 BET Awards hosted by Regina Hall airs this Sunday at 8pm.
On the cover of this month’s Ebony magazine isthe cast of Shaft.Samuel L. Jackson, Regina Hall (Girls Trip), Jessie T. Usher (Independence Day: Resurgence), Alexandra Shipp (X-Men; Straight Outta Compton), Method Man and Richard Roundtree (the original Shaft). Shaft is in theaters now.
Tessa Thompson (Creed; For Colored Girls; Selma) is on the cover of Marie Claire and celebrating her new movie Men In Black International (MIB Int’l.). MIB Int’l. co-stars Chris Hemsworth and Emma Thompson. F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton; The Fate Of The Furious) is directing and Men In Black International is in theaters now.
Hip Hop’s Billionaire, Jay-Z, is presenting Made In America 2019 in Philly. Cardi B and Travis Scott are headlining. Also on the bill are Freddie Gibbs, Grace Carter, Kodak Black and Anderson.Paak. The festivities take place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Labor Day Weekend: Saturday, August 31st through Sunday, September 1st. Tickets and information can be found at madeinamericafest.com.
Spider-Man: Far From Home, starring Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Marisa Tomei, JB Smoove and Zendaya, hits theaters July 2nd.
Alicia Keys graces the cover of the latest edition of Essence magazine. It’s their escape, travel, self-care and style issue.
Speaking of Essence, they’re celebrating the silver anniversary of the Essence Festival in New Orleans. Forever First Lady Michelle Obama makes her Essence debut, and she’ll join Mary J. Bilge, Pharrell Williams, Teddy Riley, Missy Elliott, Brandy, MC Lyte, Musiq Soulchild, Major, Ro James, Queen Naija and El DeBarge and the return of Frankie Beverly & Maze to the Essence Fest. The 25th Annual Essence Festival will run Friday, July 5th through Sunday July, 7th.
The Dell Music Center has announced its 2019 line up for the summer. Everything kicks off Thursday, July 11th with the premiere groups of Philly Soul The O’Jays with special guests Russell Thompkins, Jr. & The New Stylistics, The Intruders and Bloodstone and the rest of the lineup:
Thursday, July 18th: Ne-Yo and Tamia
Thursday, July 25th: The Whispers and Stephanie Mills
Thursday, August 1st: India.Arie/Raheem DeVaughn/Major
Thursday, August 8th: Anthony Hamilton/Ledisi/Gregory Porter
Thursday, August 15th: Guy featuring Teddy Riley/Tank/Avant
Saturday, August 17th: Jordan Feliz
Thursday, August 22nd: SWV/Faith Evans/Silk/Next
Thursday, August 29th: Keith Sweat/Johnny Gill/Stokley
Check out who’s coming to town:
Saturday, June 29th – The WDAS Block Party starring Jill Scott, Jazmine Sullivan, Mase, DJ D-Nice and Musiq Soulchild at The Mann Center for The Performing Arts, 52nd and Parkside Avenue. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com.
Saturday, June 29th– Diana Ross in concert at Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto theborgata.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, June 29th– Chaka Khan & Michael McDonald in concert at The Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, July 6th– Earth, Wind & Fire in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Friday, July 12th and Saturday, July 13th– Lionel Richie in concert at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, July 20th– The Royalty Tour starring Mary J. Blige & Nas at The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
Saturday, August 17th – Hammer’s House Party starring MC Hammer, Kid ‘n Play, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Biz Markie & DJ Koolat The Mann Center for The Performing Arts, 52nd and Parkside Avenue, on Saturday, June 29th. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com.
Monday, September 2nd – Patty Jackson’s Annual Party In The Park starring Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Whodini and Big Daddy Kane at The Dell Music Center, 33rd and Ridge Avenue. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com or log onto mydelleast.com
Saturday, September 7th - The Royalty Tour starring Mary J. Blige & Nas at The Liacouras Center. For tickets and information log onto liacourascenter.com.
Saturday, September 28th – Snoop Dogg & Friends at the BB&T Pavilion in Camden, NJ. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
If you would like more info please email me at PattyJackson@iHeartMedia.com or check me out with my midday reports at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm during the day.