Amentha Hunt went to Harrison-Ross Mortuary in Compton, Calif., to pay her respects to her uncle Otis Adkinson, who died on Feb. 28 at 80. But though her family signed a contract with the business to prepare her uncle’s body for burial and gave them one of his suits to wear at the April 7 viewing, Hunt made a surprising, horrifying discovery.
“It was a guy laying there in my uncle’s suit, but it wasn’t my uncle,” Hunt told KCAL News. “I just kept looking at him. I am like ‘He couldn’t have gotten that dark.’”
Hunt says she tried telling a mortuary employee that they had the wrong body, but they dismissed her concerns until she showed them a picture that proved the man they were looking at was not Adkinson. Once the mortuary realized the mixup, guests had to wait three hours while they prepared the right body for burial.
Now, Otis Adkinson’s family is suing the funeral home for “negligence, breach of contract and intentional infliction of emotional distress.” Language in the lawsuit they filed with the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles on May 15 states that the family was “extremely distraught leading to confusing, emotional distress, and arguments amongst the family about why the wrong corpse was at the viewing.”
Family attorney Elvis Tran says he wants justice for Adkinson’s family and to make sure a mixup like this doesn’t happen to anyone else.
“For them to come in and see the wrong corpse, and for the mortuary to deny it’s the wrong corpse, we think it’s really just a basic standard of care that they messed up on,” he told KCAL News. “They really need to improve their ways so they don’t do this to another family.”
No matter what happens with their case, Amentha Hunt told KCAL News that she still lives with the pain of seeing someone else in her uncle’s suit.
“It’s hurting,” she said. “To view the wrong corpse, I still can see that guy.”
The viral video of Denzel Washington confronting the photographer who tested his patience at Cannes continues to pull comments on social media, but now we have a good idea of what he actually said.
As we previously reported, the Oscar-winning actor was grabbed by the arm not once but twice by a photographer who tried to forcefully get the actor to stand for a picture. Since we can’t hear what the “Training Day” star said, deaf lip reader Jackie G has spilled the tea on Washington’s response.
At the premiere of his new film, while on the red carpet with director Spike Lee and co-star A$AP Rocky, 70-year-old Washington was interrupted by a photographer, who reportedly grabbed Washington’s arm, leading Washington to point and tell him to stop.
In the video, the photographer seemingly pulls Washington’s arm the first time to get his attention but that’s when you can see the actor’s smile drop. He then walks towards the cameraman, and according to Jackie G, says: “Hey, you’re the one who grabbed me, right? Let me tell you something. Stop. You ever put your hands on me again, and that’ll be–I’m warning you. You heard me right? Okay.”
As if that first warning wasn’t enough, the photographer went for round two of his mess around and find out antics, but Washington returned with more vigor.
“Stop. Stop. Stop. You got me? Stop,” Jackie G suggests Washington said before successfully freeing himself from the photographers grip.
Denzel’s rep told E! News in a statement that the incident had no effect on a “great evening.”
The comments under the TikTok video were not so understanding, filled with fans defending Washington against the photographer.
“He handled that remarkably well. That dude was way out of line,” wrote one TikTok user.
“The way the tendons of his neck show exactly how much anger he is suppressing here. That man got off easy,” wrote another.
“Yeah this is what the people needed. Denzel wasn’t playing but you ever notice how they never seem to lose a job for this? Embarrassing for Cannes. France cannot just be this,” wrote another.
Other fans had smoke for what looked like an intentional provocation from the photographer:
“That man laughing in my face would send me over the edge,” wrote one user.
“I think they want to push them to make a scene, it’s sad really,” said another.
Luckily, Denzel remained cool—smiled and walked away.
Carmelo Anthony might’ve hung up his jersey, but his real estate game is still making headlines. And now one of his former properties is up for grabs—but only if you’re willing to dish out big bucks!
The former NBA star’s lavish Manhattan apartment is officially up for grabs, and let’s just say—it’s giving luxury on luxury. Located on the iconic Fifth Avenue, this 4,000-square-foot stunner boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and some of the best Central Park views money can buy. Some of the amenities, per Robb Report, include a private elevator, heated floors in the primary suite, and a vibe so elite you’d swear you were stepping into a GQ shoot.
Originally purchased while he was playing for the New York Knicks years ago, the space is as sleek and stylish as the baller himself and can be yours…for $43,000 a month. With high ceilings, oversized windows, and all the upscale finishes your Zillow dreams are made of, it’s clear this isn’t just any old listing.
Keep reading to see what all this high-end home has to offer!
Informal Dining Room
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
The informal dining area is in such close proximity to the living room that all your guests can still have an ease of flow in the conversation while sharing a meal! They won’t miss a beat.
Living Room
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
The cozy interior and the views from the living room are so gorgeous, we couldn’t imagine unwinding anywhere else after a long day!
Hallway
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
Though it may be apartment living, there’s still plenty enough space to decorate and make this place all your own in every nook and cranny!
Kitchen
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
While it may not be the biggest kitchen we’ve seen, it’s got all the right things in it to create some timeless memories! And those stainless steel appliances are pristine!
Bedroom 1
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
This spacious room can be used for multiple purposes whether it be a kid’s room, exercise room, or something entirely different!
Bedroom 2
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
It was great to set up this space as a flex space because the layout is truly immaculate. We can already see the vision for a media room or even a game room!
Primary Bedroom
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
Now you know we couldn’t not show you the primary bedroom. Between the cushy headrest and the roomy interior, this is the ultimate sleep and relaxation zone.
Bedroom 4
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
This additional bedroom may be on a bit of the smaller side, but it’ll be great for a child (or two)! Or even if you want to turn this into a little retreat space, that could definitely fit here too!
Bedroom 5
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
Once again, this bedroom may be small but there’s still plenty of things you can do in here! In fact, let those books by the window be your inspiration: a mini library room would actually be a vibe in here!
Office Space
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
The office space in here is just what anyone needs to get business deals solidified and launch some new ventures!
Bathroom 1
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
This gorgeous bathroom has enough storage space and enough bathing space to provide ultimate comfort for anyone after the day has come an end!
Bathroom 2
Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team Photo: DDreps / The Assouline Team
While not as decked out as the previous one, this bathroom (the second out of four in total) has everything it needs to get the job done. (No pun intended!)
We all remember the wild drama among the women on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” but nothing could compare to the hilarious moments with Kandi Burruss’ mother, Mama Joyce. Known for her unfiltered “tell it like it is” attitude, she has never been one to hold back her disdain for Burruss’ partner and husband, Todd Tucker. The mother of the music star consistently questioned Tucker’s intention for years, openly accusing him of threatening her growth and success. Fast forward to today, Tucker supported his wife and contributed to her empire’s expansion. With all these dotting accomplishments, it is time for Mama Joyce to give this man the apology he deserves.
Beyond the Xscape singer’s success on the iconic “RHOA,” Kandi “Keep A Bag” Burruss has created an impressive resume within the music industry. Aside from her award-winning group, Xscape, Burruss has never faltered in writing excellent records. Her pen game has put her at the top of the charts — and money in her bank account.
Through all of Mama Joyce’s accusations, Tucker never seemed interested in accessing his wife’s fortune. In older episodes of “RHOA,” a former friend and cast member, Phaedra Parks, introduced her and Tucker, as he had previously worked as the production manager on the Atlanta reality show. Mama Joyce visited Parks in her office, airing her grievances while calling out how out of all people to court her daughter, Parks introduced her famous daughter to “one of the workers.”
One X commenter shared, “Kandi never set her Mama Joyce straight from the beginning and this is why there’s a problem now.” In a previous Shannon Sharpe interview, Burruss shared the challenges that she faced in the early stages of her relationship. “My Mom is old school. She would have preferred if I married someone who had more money than me,” she explained. “She didn’t see the value in my husband.”
In one clip, Mama Joyce accused Tucker of being “thrifty,” alluding to his reported reluctance to spend money on Burruss. In another clip, Mama Joyce clarifies that she “lost respect for him” as a man and as her daughter’s husband.
Over the years, Tucker has proven himself to be more than her husband; he has become her business partner. He has played a significant role in expanding their empire, from joint ventures in the family restaurants such as Old Lady Gang and Blaze Steak & Seafood, to launching their production company Broadway Production, which served as the launching pad for the iconic Shakespeare Broadway play “Othello” starring Denzel Washington. Tucker has proved himself to bring the power couple vision’s to life.
From the continuous, shady insults to disrespecting his mother, the “RHOA” fans witnessed the grief Mama Joyce caused Tucker, and it is time for her to make serious amends. One X commenter said, “Todd helped create a whole opportunity for Mama Joyce and her sisters and their family cooking with OLG. And Mama Joyce STILL be talking sh*t… that’s crazy af.” Another X user shared: “Mama Joyce and Kandi are really so lucky Todd’s daughter is far more respectful than I would’ve been if she was talking s**t on my daddy for 10 years.” One X user thinks that Mama Joyce wasn’t malicious, but only to Tucker. “Mama Joyce was kinda mean, but saved all her animosity for Todd which was understandable and more entertaining than malicious. This thing w/the mother’s reeks of maliciousness.”
Mama Joyce was kinda mean, but saved all her animosity for Todd which was understandable and more entertaining than malicious. This thing w/the mother's reeks of maliciousness.
— Cecelia Hailes, Esq (@CeceliaSorice) May 17, 2025
Though we believe that Mama Joyce has been #teamtoomuch as she guards her daughter’s heart and money, Burruss will always advocate for her mother.
The internet just can’t get enough of celebrity look-alikes, and neither can we! On TikTok, celebrity doppelgängers continue to grow their platform for making content impersonating some of our favorite stars. So now, The Root is diving deep into their world and exploring if they actually look like the celebs they claim.
From Rihanna to Morris Chestnut, these Black celebrities are beyond recognizable, and their look-alikes are bound to make you double take. Take a look for yourself and you be the judge.
Rihanna
Photo: Getty Images Dia Dipasupil Photo: Getty Images Dia Dipasupil
This TikToker, @priscila.beatriceoficial, creates lifestyle and makeup content. Her and Rihanna have similar green eyes, and who can deny how crazy similar their cupid’s bows are?!
This man knows he bares an uncanny resemblance to Katt Williams. TikToker @chrissy100rose said Williams’ doppelgänger came into her store one day and did his best impression of the comedian.
@fashionablyjetlagged focuses her content on fashion and lifestyle, but when folks started pointing out the similar features she shares with legendary actress Angela Basset, she had to give the people what they wanted!
Chadwick Boseman
Photo: Getty Images Alberto E. Rodriguez, TikTok Photo: Getty Images Alberto E. Rodriguez, TikTok
In 2021, @sams23_ shared with his followers that some folks say he looks like the late-actor Chadwick Boseman… and he kind of does!
In another universe, Whoopi Goldberg and this TikToker, @happydimples39, could definitely be related.
LeBron James
Photo: Getty Images Luke Hales, TikTok Photo: Getty Images Luke Hales, TikTok
When this client sat down in @a1blendz_’s chair for a haircut, the barber couldn’t help but notice how much he looked like LeBron James.
Morris Chestnut
Photo: Getty Images Emma McIntyr, TikTok Photo: Getty Images Emma McIntyr, TikTok
This TikToker, @postp.chronicles, strangely looks like ‘90s heartthrob Morris Chestnut. Do you agree?
Whitney Houston
Photo: Getty Images Kevin Winter, TikTok Photo: Getty Images Kevin Winter, TikTok
@ellerenee0 showed fans she looks just like the late-Whitney Houston. She even sang “Step by Step,” which amazed folks to the point of asking her to star in a Houston biopic.
There’s no denying this TikTok user, @marcos.twd, and singer The Weeknd could be twins! @marcos.twd makes The Weeknd look-alike content on social media.
Chloe x Halle
Photo: Getty Images Paras Griffin Photo: Getty Images Paras Griffin
All we know is if Halle and Chloe Bailey ever need another sister, this TikToker, @brookellynnn_, could play the role perfectly!
Drake
Photo: Getty Images Frederick M. Brown, TikTok Photo: Getty Images Frederick M. Brown, TikTok
People pointed out that this client of @ab_cuts on TikTok looks just like Drake, but from circa 2010.
After months of @jordan_the_stallion8 hearing that he looks like Method Man, he put the rumors to rest by bringing the Wu-Tang Clan rapper on his page. The two even made a few videos together, and you have to admit the closer they stand next to each other, the more they look alike.
When she started working on “UNTOLD: The Fall of Favre,” a new Netflix documentary that follows some of the most disgraceful parts of NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre’s career, director Rebecca Gitlitz told The Guardian that she wanted to explore whether some people are above the law.
“Have they been told so many times that whatever they do they can get away with it? Stuff like that, where history repeats itself, I wanted to see how that happens,” she said.
One person who seems to think Favre has been getting a pass is former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, Michael Vick, who famously received a 23-month prison sentence for charges related to his involvement in a dogfighting ring in which pit bulls were killed.
During his interview for “UNTOLD,” Vick points out the hypocrisy in the way he was treated when compared to the quarterback who spent 20 years in the NFL, including 15 as quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.
Favre was fined $50,000 but not suspended by the NFL in 2010 for allegedly sending suggestive text messages to a female sideline reporter who worked for the New York Jets. And most recently, he managed to escape criminal charges in 2022, even after text messages put him at the center of a scandal in his home state of Mississippi in which money that was intended for welfare recipients in the state went to pay him for speaking engagements he never fulfilled and an athletic facility at the University of Southern Mississippi, where his daughter played volleyball at the time, instead.
“People go to jail for stealing money every day. If it’s that important, the right institutions can get involved. But, you know, some people are untouchable in certain ways and that’s just the way it is,” Vick says in the film. “I just think that’s kinda how the system is rigged. You know, some situations have to be played out in court. Some have to be played out in the public.”
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) agrees that the system was rigged in Favre’s favor and calls him out for taking money from the people in his state who need it most.
“You take money intended for the poorest. I don’t know how he sleeps at night,” he says in the film.
Although Favre didn’t receive the punishment many people believe he deserves, some are glad the film shines a light on something other than his throwing arm.
“At least this documentary plans on holding him accountable because the law sure didn’t,” wrote someone on YouTube in the comments of the trailer video.
The latest bombshell witness to take the stand is David James, the former personal assistant to Sean “Diddy” Combs who is currently on trial for federal sex crimes. As you can expect, riding so closely with Combs exposed the man to a slew of things— so much so, he broke down in tears on the stand.
Diddy’s “Kingdom”
James told the jury Monday (May 19) he worked for Combs from 2007 to 2009. Overcome with emotion, he explained that during his interview for the job to be the rapper’s assistant, an unnamed label executive pointed to a picture of Combs on the wall and said, “This is Mr. Combs’ kingdom and we are all here to serve in it.”
Prosecutors previously claimed Combs called himself a “king” and made everyone else around him refer to him as such.
Lie Detector?!
On two occasions when Combs’ lost some of his possessions or money, James claimed he was subject to a lie detector test administered by a former Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agent. He was clean each time.
“It was very intimidating,” James said. “I had never taken a lie detector test before.”
Diddy’s Alleged Drug Use
James claimed part of Combs’ typical travel items was a small Louis Vuitton bag that kept $10,000 in cash or more. Other items allegedly included 25 to 30 pill bottles, some with a picture of Barack Obama on them. Additionally, James said Combs carried Advil, Tylenol, Viagra, water pills and “pills to increase sperm count.”
As far as narcotics, James claimed he saw Combs take Percocet and ecstasy. James said a person dubbed “One Stop” was responsible for bringing Combs drugs. On some occasions, however, James himself was also responsible for procuring drugs for the rapper and his friends. He cited one time he was asked to get cocaine and another alleged instance when he was asked to fetch ecstasy for a party.
New Freak-Off Details?
James claimed in order to stock Combs’ hotel rooms, he was instructed to buy baby oil, Astroglide lubricant, and condoms. He was ordered to pay for it in cash as opposed to other items so there wouldn’t be a record of it and was told he’d be reimbursed.
James also said on one occasion when he was delivering the items to the rapper’s hotel room, he saw Casandra “Cassie” Ventura asleep in bed while a man with “long hair” walked across the room. Combs was in the shower, he said. James said he never asked any questions about it.
“ ‘I got her right where I want her, she’s young,’ ” Combs allegedly said, according to James, adding that Combs described Ventura as his “queen” but also “moldable.”
Two days later, James stated he was ordered by Combs to bring Ventura food at a nearby hotel. He said he was “surprised” to see one of Combs’ staff members answer the door instead of the singer. Ventura stayed in for a week, James said. Ventura previously testified herself that after physical beatings, Combs would force her to stay inside a hotel room for days at a time to heal from her injuries.
Suge Knight Manhunt
James claimed he and one of Combs’ security guards went out to Mel’s Diner in Los Angeles to fetch the rapper some food when they saw Suge Knight. When they returned to Combs’ house, James said he was ordered by Combs to drive to the restaurant and circle the block, looking for Knight’s vehicle. In the car with him was Combs and two members of his staff along with three firearms, James said.
James said he was “shook up” by the incident and said it was the first time he felt like he was in danger on the job. He then gave a six months notice following the alleged incident.
While Denzel Washington may be enjoying his time overseas promoting his forthcoming film, “Highest to Lowest” at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, one moment almost threatened his joy. And we’ve got the footage to prove it!
With his back turned away from photographers, Washington’s chill moment got turned up all the way when one brave person decided to pull on his arm in an attempt to get him to turn around for a picture.
Seeing the bold move and perhaps trying to preemptively calm the situation, Rocky quickly stepped in and mouthed to Washington, “Let’s get a picture,” but it was too little too late. Washington instead walked right up to the man who grabbed him and though we can’t hear him, his lips were pretty easy to read:
“Let me tell you something, let me tell you something, stop! Don’t ever put your hands on me again. I’m warning you, OK?” he said as he attempted to walk away.
Then, in another incredulous move, the photog grabs Washington’s arm more forcefully to get him to stay. The “Training Day” star understandably yanked his arm away and kept telling the man to stop several times before he left for good.
Naturally, once the clip went viral on social media, folks online couldn’t help but give their two cents on the matter.
“Denzel Washington might be a minister now, but that doesn’t mean he won’t snatch your spirit by hand if he has to. That last look of disappointment and disgust was FELT,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.
Denzel Washington might be a minister now, but that doesn't mean he won't snatch your spirit by hand if he has to. That last look of disappointment and disgust was FELT. 😭 https://t.co/GSJ41sCduw
Added another, “Not sure who this reporter at #CannesFilmFestival is that lost his mind & thinks it’s OK to put his hands on Denzel Washington, but clearly someone hasn’t seen The Equalizer. I said unhand my king!! Take two steps back! Do you have any idea who you’re fucking with, sir? Back off!”
When former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard took the stand this week against Sean “Diddy” Combs, she did not hold back in the descriptions of the horrors she says she witnessed. Based on one alleged incident she cited, she recalled the celebrities who was allegedly present during an incident she says occurred between Combs and his then-girlfriend 15 years ago. And she’s naming names.
Richard detailed an alleged incident from 2010 claiming Combs assaulted Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in a restaurant where other Bad Boy associates were present. She claimed Usher, Ne-Yo, Jimmy lovine and other celebrities she “could not recall” were all present. When Combs’ attorneys asked why she only mentioned their names now and not prior to federal prosecutors, Richard answered, “I’m not sure.”
That night, Richard testified that Combs and Ventura had been arguing quietly when suddenly, the rapper punched Ventura in the stomach. Richard claims Ventura cowered over in pain before Combs ordered her to leave. It’s unclear if any of the big wigs present witnessed what allegedly happened on their side of the table, but Richard did say “no one intervened.”
Richard said she left with the two from the restaurant. In the car, Ventura allegedly explained that she felt embarrassed and told Combs he should have acted better in public, Richard said. In response, the singer claimed Combs slapped Ventura in the mouth and told her to “shut the f**k up.”
Usher and Ne-Yo are the latest celebrities to be named in the ongoing trial. The public previously speculated that Usher was either in on Combs’ alleged crimes or a victim of alleged grooming. His X account was also randomly erased, causing fans and spectators to go into a frenzy on whether the incident was related to Combs’ trial approaching.
Combs is charged with multiple counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and engaging in interstate transportation for prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty, and was denied bail.
Malachi Allen posted a video saying he’d experienced something this week “no one should have ever witnessed.” Visibly shaken, he went on to say he wasn’t making the video to “play the victim” but to “spread awareness.”
Allen then explained that an older white man approached him, pulled a knife out on him and threatened to shoot him with a shotgun all while calling him the N-word.
“I just want to say that racism is not right no matter your ethnicity [or] what generation you’re from. This was honestly a scary experience for me,” he said through tears, adding that a police report was filed and that charges will be pressed against the individual. “I just hope justice is served.”
The Root reached out to WKU police as well as the local Bowling Green Police Department for details. We also attempted to contact Allen.
Recently, a white woman was caught on camera calling a Black toddler the N-word on a playground. Her racist supporters then flooded a GoFundMe with donations to support her. A Black teenage activist was sent a letter full of racist threats saying she deserves to be hanged from a tree after she won a settlement from getting socked in the face by a cop.
As if we needed to reiterate the message, racism isn’t going anywhere. As much as the token Republicans try to tout that our country isn’t racist, the policies being drafted from the White House are very clearly an attack on Black people, from education to healthcare.
As we wait to see how these policies unfold, we can expect more innocent Black people like Allen to be targeted.
Six months have passed since Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump in the November election for president, and many Americans are still mourning. The devastating blow divided the country even more, and now, former President Joe Biden is finally addressing his theories about why the Democratic party failed.
Since leaving the White House, Biden has kept a relatively low profile. That is until recently, with him sitting down for several major interviews and making public appearances over the last few weeks. During an interview on “The View” Thursday (May 8), Biden spoke about last year’s campaign season, even making a surprising admission.
According to the former president, Harris’ defeat didn’t come as a shock. “Not because I didn’t think the vice president was qualified to be president,” he clarified. Biden went on to defend Harris saying she was more than qualified to run the country. But there was two simple yet deeply complex things he believes stopped her from pulling out the final victory.
It’s no secret that Harris is Black woman. But despite making history as the first woman district attorney in San Francisco and the first woman to serve as vice president, Biden said it was her gender and race that many folks couldn’t see past. Plus, it didn’t help that the Republican party basically used her identity against her, just like they did during former President Barack Obama’s campaigns.
Former Pres. Biden tells #TheView he "wasn't surprised" by Pres. Trump's win in 2024: "[Kamala Harris is] qualified to be president of the United States of America, but I wasn't surprised because they went… the sexist route." pic.twitter.com/GrtA9iZhP0
“I was surprised because they [MAGA] went the sexist route, the whole route. ‘This is a woman,’ she’s this, she’s that, really, I’ve never seen a successful and consistent [of a] campaign undercutting the notion that a woman couldn’t lead the country — and a woman of mixed race,” Biden told “The View” hosts. Let’s all remember the right’s continuous attacks on Harris, previously calling her a “jezebel” and suggesting she slept her way to the top of the political ladder.
The same thing happened in 2016 with the battle between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Trump. Even “The View” host Sara Haines mentioned the 2016 voting frenzy saying Harris’ loss “was like 2016 all over again.” In the cases of Obama, Clinton, and Harris, each candidate presented a “radical” progressive change in the political system. But while Obama, a Black man, was able to win two terms, the ladies didn’t have the same success.
harris had conservative ideas. the only progressive play she had was abortion rights. everything else could easily be applied to a republican. and she didn’t get republican votes because she’s not a republican candidate. she’s not radical, she just happens to be a Black woman.
Of course, if you were paying any attention to last year’s election, Biden’s recent remarks aren’t surprising. It was very clear from the beginning of Harris’ 100-day campaign that voters were hesitant to elect the first female president. But you know who called it? Black women.
On X, @judysquirrels tweeted back in November that Harris is “not radical, she just happens to be a Black woman.” Another Black woman, @tify330, wrote “People hate when Biden is honest, everything he said is true: Sexism, Racism, COVID, Pessimism, Negative view of Gov’t all played a role.”
It remains unclear if this country will ever be ready for a Black women to lead, or even a woman in general. But despite this, Biden continues to praise his former second in command. “We had a very successful effort to change the direction of the country and we did,” he said. “She was every single part of that.”
The Blackest Met Gala is officially behind us, but that doesn’t mean we’re done talking about it yet! Some of the biggest names in the industry put on their flyest and most creative ensembles to cater to the theme of “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” a nod to Black dandyism. And it’s time to talk about some of the many highlights.
It’s easy to miss clues and hints on a night as busy at the Met Gala, but that’s why The Root is here to decode all the fashion details and inspiration that you might have missed. From Ayo Edebiri channeling her father to Teyana Taylor honoring Harlem, these celebrities not only put on a show while on the blue carpet, but the meaning behind their outfits will likely make you emotional. Just take a look.
Damson Idris
Photo: Getty Images Savion Washington
From start to finish, actor Damson Idris’ grand reveal at the Met Gala was something special. Not only did he drive to the Met in a race car, but after the actor’s fashionably late arrival wearing a custom Tommy Hilfiger race suit, there was more. Two attendants ripped off the white suit and revealed a second look: a red three-piece tuxedo, also custom Hilfiger. Of course, the entire performance was a nod to his upcoming film with Brad Pitt, “F1.” But what many didn’t know is his jewelry, including that emerald brooch he was wearing, is from his own line, DIDRIS, which pays homage to his mother, he said.
Janelle Monáe
Photo: Getty Images Dia Dipasupil
Janelle Monáe was practically born for this year’s gala theme. The actress and singer is known for their daring fashion moments and twists on traditional suits. “I think this theme, Black dandyism, is just a part of my lived experience and of my DNA,” they told Harper’s Bazaar. For Monáe, dandyism is about owning individuality and honoring your heritage. At the Met, they showed up in a custom illusory coat, which revealed a separate suit ensemble underneath.
Diana Ross
Photo: Getty Images Dia Dipasupil
The disco legend shut down the blue carpet with elegance and style. She was dressed in a silver gown with a feathered hat, but it was Ross’ cape, which took five red carpet attendants to position, that got everyone’s attention. The cape’s 18-foot train was hand-embroidered with the names of her five children and eight grandchildren, she said in an interview.
André 3000
Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy
Despite being absent from the rap scene, André 3000 is still carrying the music industry on his back… literally! The musician pulled up wearing a stylish boiler suit and a red hat, styled by Law Roach. But what caught most people’s eyes was the baby grand piano strapped to his back. This was an obvious nod to his new EP, “7 piano sketches.”
Shaboozey
Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy
While most people were expecting country singer Shaboozey to show up to the Met in some type of cowboy themed outfit, he turned the tables and gave the people a fashion look that will go down in history. From the 3,000 beads draped on his body to his matching turquoise grill, Shaboozey made the look his own. “I just love how it all works together. When I saw the sketches I was like, ‘Man, I haven’t done anything like this before.’ But it came together,” he told Vanity Fair.
You can’t mention Dandyism without also mentioning André Leon Talley, the late fashion icon and former editor at Vogue. On the Met carpet, actor Colman Domingo, who was also a co-chair for the event, paid tribute with his first look of the night. Domingo wore a blue Valentino cape, inspired by Talley’s signature look.
Lewis Hamilton
Photo: Getty Images Savion Washington, Dia Dipasupil
One of the best looks of the evening came from British race car driver, Lewis Hamilton. The Met Gala co-chair arrived to the blue carpet with Domingo wearing a perfectly tailored white suit. On Instagram, he talked about the meaning behind the outfit. “This year’s theme speaks to royalty, spirituality, and the sacred power of adornment. Materials like ivory and cowrie aren’t just beautiful — they carry ancestral memory. They are markers of identity, protection, and reverence.”
Ayo Edebiri
Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy
Ayo Edebiri channeled her own heritage to honor the Met’s dandyism theme. In an interview, the actress called her Nigerian father “one of the dandiest men I know.” So to honor him, she wore a leather tailcoat, referencing when her father wore “leather trousers and tuxedo tails” to marry her mother. “Which is pretty iconic,” Edebiri added. If that wasn’t enough, the red glass beads in her dress and the beads in her hair were inspired by her Bajan and Nigerian cultures.
Questlove
Photo: Getty Images Dimitrios Kambouris
The music icon paid tribute to his father with his Met Gala suit. Questlove wore a black suit stitched with more than 30,000 pearls, added by hand, according to Vogue. “It’s very heavy. I feel royal,” he said. “Coming from a family of uncles and a dad who wore nothing but tailored zoot suits in the 1950s and 1960s—I used to make fun of their photos hanging in my grandma’s house all the time—the irony isn’t lost on me that now I get to follow in their footsteps and having fun while doing it,” Questlove continued.
A$AP Rocky
Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy
The “Fashion Killa” rapper lived up to the hype! A$AP Rocky was another co-chair for the gala, and what better way to make an entrance than wearing a custom look… you designed yourself. Rocky was wearing AWGE, the creative agency founded by the rapper himself. To go with his sporty black suit, he also wore jewelry by Bvlgari. To make the look even better, Rocky had an umbrella, which had a handle designed as a gun. This was a reference to him recently being found not guilty over a gun case.
Teyana Taylor
Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy
Arguably the best-dressed at the Met, Teyana Taylor channeled her hometown of Harlem for her blue carpet look. She was dressed in a burgundy and grey zoot suit that reportedly took six months to complete. Taylor was fully on theme, but the “Rose in Harlem” singer added her own touch with a red durag. The full look celebrated fashion greats like Dapper Dan and Harlem, where dandyism originated.
Brian Tyree Henry
Photo: Getty Images Jamie McCarthy
Even though Brian Tyree Henry is one of the most underrated fashion icons today, he did not disappoint at the Met Gala this year. He showed up wearing an ensemble from Nigerian house Orange Culture. The burgundy suit and wrap was one of the many nods to fashion icon André Leon Talley, who famously wore capes, scarves, wraps and overcoats.
Venus Williams
Photo: Getty Images Venus Williams
Dandyism is all about channeling individual style, so for tennis icon Venus Williams, what better way to express herself than by combining her favorite sport with fashion? Williams took to the Met Gala wearing an emerald green tennis skirt with a matching sporty top and dramatic emerald coat. The elaborate cape was in tribute to the dandy himself, André Leon Talley.
Regina King’s look was directly inspired by the achievements of women, especially Black women. “The woman is— I feel like— the pulse of the earth. Everything has to come through us… to be here,” she said on the blue carpet. The hand sown design in the center of the actress’ suit embodies the Garden of Eden, paying tribute to Black women. It was designed by Who Decides War.
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz
Photo: Getty Images Dia Dipasupil
The married couple wore coordinating pin striped suits, but what’s more interesting is the design choices behind their outfits. In Swizz’ case, adding a red durag to the look only emphasized the dandy theme of individuality. Keys’ took a slightly different route, wearing a beaded headdress reminiscent of the 1920s and even ancient Eygpt. “When I saw a more contextualized photo of her with her husband Swizz Beats… they kind of reminded me of an era in the 1970s where you would see the Black man and woman standing together with this ‘Black is Beautiful’ look,” Kimberly Jenkins, a cultural scholar, told Today. “They’re suiting, however, seemed to solidly reference the Harlem Renaissance once again.”
A meeting in the Oval Office turned sour after President Donald Trump ambushed South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa with claims of a “white genocide.” But one white man standing in the back of the room stood up to Trump, and though the world might not recognize him, he continues to play a vital role in mending the countries’ shaky relationship.
Growing tensions between the two countries began after Trump’s reelection. That’s when the president cut off trade to South Africa and recently gave 59 white South Africans— better known as Afrikaners— refugee status, as we previously reported. Ramaphosa came to Washington, D.C. in hopes of refocusing his relationship with America.
He even brought famous guests with him to cool off the temperature in the room: Two well-known golfers and— most importantly— the second richest man in South Africa. Johann Peter Rupert is one of 22 billionaires on the entire continent of Africa and one of only seven billionaires in South Africa, according to Forbes’ 2025 report.
The 74-year-old is an international business mogul, so his appearance with Ramaphosa holds more weight than you can imagine.
Rupert got real with Trump after President Ramaphosa’s attempt to refocus the conversation to technological and trade needs was disregarded. While the president perpetuated claims that Afrikaners— the most privileged ethnic group in South Africa— are being targeted, Rupert echoed Ramaphosa’s words saying, “We have too many deaths, but it’s across the board.” The billionaire continued, “It’s not only white farmers… We need technological help.”
Experts told PBS that although white farmers have been murdered in South Africa, those killings account for less than one percent of the total 27,000 annual nationwide report. “The idea of a ‘white genocide’ taking place in South Africa is completely false,” said Gareth Newham, head of a justice and violence prevention program at the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa.
Rupert even added that he’s building cottages for his grandchildren, but despite his wealth and his status as an Afrikaner, he doesn’t feel unsafe. “I often go to bed without locking the door,” he said. The 74-year-old even tried to level with Trump and Vice President JD Vance saying South Africa’s immigration and gang issues are more pressing than the fake genocide Trump continues to claim.
Inside the White House Meeting
What the public saw was only the meeting before the two leaders got together in a private discussion. But according to New York Times reporter, Jon Elligon, who was in the Oval Office during the media blitz, the pre-meeting not going as planned could lead to further tensions.
“The [pre]meeting essentially turned into an ambush of the South African president,” Elligon said. “It was very tense and it broke down quickly.” According to him, if there’s any hope of patching the relationship between the two countries, “a lot of it is going to depend on whether the South African delegation can successfully get Trump to not focus on the Afrikaner issue anymore.”
“American Idol” Season 23 finally has its winner: Mississippi teacher and father Jamal Roberts. Being the second Black man to claim the “Idol” title in 22 years, the historical win was major to fans. However, folks claim the only person who seemed unenthused by Roberts’ victory was panel judge Carrie Underwood.
The country singer took to social media to congratulate the 27-year-old, sharing a photo of the two of them smiling together on the confetti-filled stage.
“Congratulations to the newest winner of @AmericanIdol !!! I’m so proud of Jamal Roberts and all he has accomplished this season and I can’t wait to see what mountains he climbs next! He’s going to do great things! ❤️❤️❤️,” Underwood said in an X post, featuring a picture of her smiling ear-to-ear with Roberts.
In the final episode, Idol fans claimed Underwood made it obvious she was unmoved by him, remaining seated during Roberts’ final performance despite her fellow judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan leaping up to applaud him. People in the crowd also caught the country singer on camera remaining seated until she finally joined the rest of the judging panel in giving him a standing ovation.
Folks also nit-picked at her behavior around Roberts as the judges and others rushed toward him to shake hands while Underwood appeared to keep her distance from him. They then claimed her post congratulating him was “damage control” after giving such a shady reaction to his win.
Carrie Underwood fails to acknowledge American Idol winner Jamal Roberts after his win.
“Her comments about Jamal stood out like a sore thumb. It was a rude comment and totally uncalled for. She did it to hurt him and promote her cowboy favorite. Worst judge ever and a racist to boot,” wrote one TikTok user.
Black folks been giving Underwood the side eye ever since she happily accepted President Donald Trump’s invitation to perform at his inauguration. Folks also gave her the side-eye when she said she didn’t receive the same respect as Beyoncé during her performance. People on social media who believe the singer has gone MAGA said they boycotted watching this season of Idol in protest of her presence on the show for this very reason.
Roberts himself even noted only two of the three judges seemed to really want him to win. Though, he never threw direct shade toward the country singer. Roberts has way too much ahead of him to be worried about who his haters are when he’s in his winning season.
“I felt Luke and Lionel pulling for me. I felt it. So, that’s why I stayed focused and I just continued the journey,” he said to Parade. “- I’m just going to keep singing and keep moving souls, keep making people happy, and keep being Jamal.”
White grievance and straight up racism are the animating features of Trumpism. Donald Trump’s rise and rule can’t be understood without accepting that reality.
That’s why it was utterly predictable that the president would use Wednesday’s White House meeting with South Africa’s president to aggressively push the fiction that white farmers are the victims of a genocide being carried out by Black South Africans.
“We’ve had tremendous complaints about Africa, about other countries, too, from people,” said Trump, who showed the South African president a video clip of a fringe leader there calling for white-owned land to be given to Black residents. “They say there’s a lot of bad things going on in Africa. And that’s what we’re going to be discussing today.”
The video included what Trump described as the burial sites of “over a thousand” murdered white South Africans. None of it was true. Not the burial sites, which The New York Times reported was for a funeral procession for a single white couple that was killed. And not the “genocide,” which no credible agency has confirmed.
The “genocide” is a lie of breathtaking scope, one no president briefed by the world’s most sophisticated intelligence communities could espouse without understanding that he was lying.
Trump, however, misses no opportunity to take up the mantle of the aggrieved white man, who somehow believes himself to be at imminent risk of losing status and power. Despite being born to extraordinary wealth and privilege, Trump embraces that sense of victimhood, that belief that “others” – namely, Black people – are given unfair advantages and still complain about their lot.
This was the future president on NBC’s “Meet the Press” 1989: “A well-educated Black has a tremendous advantage over a well-educated white in terms of the job market. If I were starting off today, I would love to be a well-educated Black because I really do believe they have an actual advantage today.”
Why wouldn’t a man who embraces that lunacy NOT want to return to an earlier time in America when white men dominated everything everywhere and had no reason to sweat any “Black,” well-educated or not? Most political movements are forward-looking, but Trump’s is a sepia-shrouded look back to when white men were omnipotent and America was great.
The crowds who packed venues to hear candidate Trump speak didn’t do so in spite of that mindset. They did so because of it. And Trump, a truly gifted avatar, understands that pleasing his masses – and himself – means pointing out all of the instances when a white man was denied his due or made to feel bad for flexing his power.
So Trump makes a show of firing the Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and replacing him with a white man. Trump launches a sustained assault on diversity, equity and inclusion policies, believing they are a threat to white male dominance. His administration withdraws from reform agreements its predecessor made with police departments in Louisville and Minneapolis, both of which were the site of high-profile instances of Black people being killed by law enforcement. (No weak-kneed “reform” is needed if a police department routinely abuses the Black people it’s supposed to protect! White men can flex; it’s for others to fear.)
There are horrific scenes of mass violence actually taking place in this world. Trump reached for a fictional one in South Africa because it fits with the story he and many other white men tell themselves, one that has them as vulnerable victims. After all, if the focus is on that fiction, there would be no need, no justification, for programs and policies that lift up, protect and advance other people.
Last week, a Houston man was innocently asked to help someone move some furniture out of their house. Not thinking anything of it, the man went over and started moving boxes – until he came across a heavy one that contained a frightening discovery. Now, police are saying the contents were the missing piece to a murder.
Harris County Sherif Ed Gonzalez said this weekend, authorities arrested Steven Eberly in connection to the May 16 incident. They say the 36-year-old hired a neighbor to help him move some furniture at his home. However, according to Click2Houston, when the two went to grab a heavy box in the driveway, the helping hand noticed something terrifying inside: a dead body.
The medical examiner identified the individual as Luis Silva Mendez, a long-time contractor for Eberly and his girlfriend, per ABC13. The report also said Mendez suffered multiple stab wounds.
Police claim those stab wounds came from the hands of Eberly. Mendez’s wife told ABC13 her husband was at the home installing kitchen cabinets. However, before he left for work, she said he lingered a while as if he knew danger was afoot.
“That morning, he gave me a lot of kisses, and told me he loved me a lot… Like he felt something was going to happen,” said Orfila Sara Lopez.
Police say while at the home, there was an incident between Eberly and Mendez which resulted in the fatal stabbing and ultimate concealment of Mendez’s body inside the moving box. It’s unclear what the motive was behind the killing or what the incident was about.
“This was a strange one,” said the sheriff.
Police said after Eberly’s neighbor noticed Mendez’s remains inside the box, he tried to flee the scene, jumping in the deceased man’s truck that was still parked there. However, police said surveillance footage shows Eberly jumping on the back of the truck as the neighbor drove off, breaking the windows to keep him from getting away.
Eventually, the car crashed and Eberly walked himself back toward his house, dripping with blood from a head injury. However, several bystanders called 911 at that point to report the chaotic scene.
Eberly was arrested for murder, tampering with evidence and attempting to take an officer’s weapon. He was thrown behind bars on a $2 million bond.
As we’ve written about, Rumi has been taking social media by storm with her appearances, making fans everywhere cheer over her childlike excitement, dancing, fashion and overall Black Girl Joy. Despite Knowles’ and her big sister Blue Ivy’s slight attempts at trying to control it, it’s clear to anybody who sees her that little Rumi is itching for her own moment in the spotlight.
In a surprising admission, “Mama T” revealed she actually is waiting for the day when Rumi gets to “let loose” onstage and show the world what all she’s capable of. Speaking in a new interview with Extra on, Knowles explained how the young one is starting to develop her sense of confidence by being onstage with Beyoncé and Blue Ivy — and that she’s been waiting for this moment ever since Bey’s “Renaissance Tour” back in 2023.
“She’s told us every night during ‘Renaissance’: ‘I’m ready. I’m ready to go out there.’ And we were like ‘OK, next time.’ And this time, her mom let her go and it’s wonderful to see her out there,” Knowles explained. “But they need to let her let loose because she’s back there doing choreography and twirling and doing pliés and everything else. I’m like ‘let her loose one night.’”
Mama Tina said Rumi was ready for the stage during Renaissance but they waited. “They need to let her let loose one night” 🤣❤️ pic.twitter.com/WWkB3qyDJ6
In a separate interview, Knowles also addressed the “grandma” side-eye moment she had to have with Rumi earlier in May when the eager child tried to speak into the mic as her mother was trying to talk. In the now-viral clip, it appears as if Knowles is scolding her grandchild.
“People have written all kinds of narratives about it,” she said. “It really wasn’t that. It was just that she was reaching for the mic because she wanted to say something, and I realized that, and she was pulling, and I was like, ‘Oh God, that’s all that needs to happen, is the mic hits her in the face.”
Week one of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ bombshell sex trafficking and racketeering trial closed with more shocking allegations than we can count. Amid Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura’s tearful testimony, prosecutors presented a binder of 13 male sex workers allegedly recruited by Ventura and hired by Diddy.
One escort in particular sparked headlines, and he’s a whole mess.
Ash Armand — real name Akshaya Kubiak — was in the spotlight between 2011 and 2016 in Showtime’s uncensored reality series “Gigolos.” The series followed the glammy lifestyle of five male escorts in the bustling city of Las Vegas. On Wednesday (May 14), Armand’s photo was among many presented as evidence for Diddy’s infamous drug-filled “freak off” parties.
— The General Justice Lawyer (@genjustlaw) May 21, 2025
In 2020, Armand claimed he was attacked by a friend — or alleged client — Herleen Dulai, after they allegedly took shrooms together at his home before he “blacked out.” Armand called the police to report her unconscious, however officer’s stated Dulai was “obviously deceased” upon their arrival.
During his hearing in December 2021, Armand declared his innocence, saying “I have never hit a woman in my life, and I certainly never wanted to hurt Herleen,” per Review Journal. The Clark County Coroner’s office ruled Duali’s death a homicide, citing blunt force trauma and strangulation.
On May 20, the trial jury heard testimony from 10 witnesses including another male escort, Sharay Hayes, who sang like a canary. According to Hayes, he had previously created “a scene, a sexy scene, that was enjoyable” alongside Ventura for Diddy, per CNN.
Dishing more details, he alleged Ventura didn’t appear to show any discomfort with the situation, and claimed he never saw the two engage in any filming or violence.
Today, Armand is serving an eight-to-20-year sentence in a Nevada correctional facility after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and mayhem. With his name mentioned in connection to Diddy’s sex trafficking allegations, fans are wondering if he could emerge as a figure in the case. Either way, prosecutors are just getting warmed up.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa came to Washington, D.C. hoping to ease growing tensions between his country and the U.S. Instead, he was ambushed by President Donald Trump, leaving the fate of the relationship between the nations up in the air.
The bulk of disagreements between the two leaders came down to Trump claiming Ramaphosa isn’t doing enough to resolve the alleged “white genocide” happening in the African nation. But here’s the thing… According to experts and political leaders, there is no white genocide occurring in South Africa. But in true Trump fashion, that fact didn’t stop him from bringing alleged receipts to fit his agenda.
The Oval Office meeting comes just over one week after Trump welcomed 59 white South Africans, better known as Afrikaners, into the U.S. with refugee status, we previously reported. According to him, these alleged refugees were targeted in South Africa because of their race, and they needed America to rescue them. Never mind the history of Afrikaners brutalizing native South Africans for generations or the ongoing immigration crisis plaguing America today.
When Ramaphosa sat down for a media blitz orchestrated by the administration, he was met with Trump, who came with dozens of documents and even a video to prove his false theory. “This is sort of the opposite of apartheid,” Trump said of the alleged white genocide. “What’s happening now is never reported. Nobody knows about it.”
Maybe Trump was hoping to relive his heated interaction with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine earlier this year. Instead, Ramaphosa kept his cool, responding to Trump’s continuous claims saying, “There is criminality in our country. People who do get killed, unfortunately, through criminal activity are not only white people, majority of them are Black people.”
The South African government first criticized Trump in February after the president’s executive order allowing Afrikaner resettlement in the U.S. “It is ironic that the executive order makes provision for refugee status in the US for a group in South Africa that remains amongst the most economically privileged, while vulnerable people in the US from other parts of the world are being deported and denied asylum despite real hardship,” the South African government’s statement said according to PBS.
During the meeting between leaders, Trump even played a short video, telling someone to “turn off the lights,” so he could get a better picture. “They’re all White farmers. The family of White farmers,” Trump said of the alleged victims shown in the video. “It’s a terrible sight. I’ve never seen anything like it. On both sides of the road, you have crosses. Those people are all killed.”
Experts acknowledged white farmers have been murdered in South Africa, but those murders only account for less than one percent of the total 27,000 annual killings nationwide. “The idea of a ‘white genocide’ taking place in South Africa is completely false,” said Gareth Newham, head of a justice and violence prevention program at the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa.
Ramaphosa wasn’t wavered by Trump’s accusations against him and his country. Instead, the South African leader continuously shifted the conversation back to economic and trade relations. Still addressing Trump’s concerns, Ramaphosa did ask the president what he wants the South African government to do about the false genocide. That’s when Trump responded saying, “I don’t know.”
Two Louisiana families are grieving after experiencing two heartbreaking tragedies on the same night. Engaged couple Alexus Lee and John “JR” Collins were preparing to celebrate one of the happiest days of their lives before their love story was cut short by the unthinkable.
Alexus, a teacher and recent Southern University graduate, and JR, a truck driver, were planning the next chapter of their lives together – getting married in early 2026 and moving into their newly purchased home with their 4-year-old son, Gabriel.
But the pair died on the same night in separate car crashes just two hours apart. According to Fox 8 Live, Louisiana State Police say Lee lost control of her SUV while driving on Friday morning just after 2 a.m. She died at the scene of the crash after her vehicle overturned.
When authorities broke the news of Alexus’s accident to JR, he headed to the scene just before 4 a.m. While on the way, he lost control of his car and hit a tree. He was ejected from his car and died at the scene.
Now, the family is trying to help the couple’s young son cope after losing both of his parents so tragically.
“He’s just having a little problem comprehending that we can’t talk to them, that we can’t see them. But he understands that they’re asleep,” JR’s mother Sandra Collins told WAFB. “The two families will blend and we will do whatever it takes to give him a good life,” she said.
Alexus’s sister Dominique Lee told Fox 8 Live that after losing her sister she feels like a part of her is gone. But she knows Gabriel’s parents died knowing their son is being cared for by loving family.
“I know they left here knowing their child is in good hands, for sure,” Dominque Lee said.
The relationship between Biggie and Diddy was always layered with it being part business, part brotherhood, and full of ups and downs. Over the decades, Diddy has painted himself as the steward of Biggie’s legacy, but public sentiment has shifted—especially in light of recent headlines.
So today, as we honor Biggie’s life and impact, we’re revisiting some of the most defining moments between him and Diddy that show just how deep—and complicated—their connection really was. Keep reading to get into it all!
Diddy’s Discovery of Biggie Gets Off to a Rocky Start
Known then as Sean “Puffy” Combs who was working as an A&R executive at Uptown Records, he discovered a young Christopher Wallace from Brooklyn in in 1992. Impressed by his gritty delivery and raw talent, Diddy signed him almost immediately. But just as things started rolling, Uptown fired Diddy, leaving the young rapper’s future temporarily in limbo.
However, this moment would ultimately birth Bad Boy Records—and set the tone for a historic loyalty between the two.
Bad Boy Records Is Founded With Biggie as Main Act
Photo: Getty Images Raymond Boyd Photo: Getty Images Raymond Boyd
As the Bad Boy Records ball began rolling, Biggie emerged as the flagship artist and quickly became the face of the label’s gritty East Coast aesthetic. While Biggie was front and center (with Diddy not too far behind him, as shown in multiple music videos) Diddy handled the behind the scenes money and marketing moves—kicking off their rise to stardom in a positive direction.
Biggie and Tupac Shakur Become Friends, Signaling the First Rift in Biggie and Diddy’s Relationship
Despite Biggie and Diddy’s budding success and friendship, things started to take a turn when it the “Big Poppa” star befriended West Coast rapper Tupac. Even though Pac and Diddy never really had any issues on the surface, due to some underlying issues between the Bad Boy Records founder business dealings and Biggie’s growing weariness of them—this newfound brotherhood between the “Hypnotize” and “Keep Ya Head Up” rappers would prove to be an early wedge.
“Ready to Die” Changes the Game and Diddy Pushes Biggie to Be a Bigger Star
Photo: Getty Images Larry Busacca Photo: Getty Images Larry Busacca
One of the more positive moments of their friendship was when Biggie’s debut album, “Ready to Die,” exploded onto the scene in September 1994. It instantly cemented him as the East Coast’s rap king thanks to radio staples like “Juicy” and “Big Poppa.” This quickly turned the once budding rapper into a household name—and consequently turned Diddy into a hit-making mogul.
The East Coast vs. West Coast Rap Rivalry Drives Wedge Between Diddy and Biggie
Photo: Getty Images Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection Photo: Getty Images Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection
As the faces of Bad Boy Records and East Coast rap, Diddy and Biggie became major players in the escalating beef against Death Row Records and the West Coast, fueled by media, miscommunication, and ego. Despite Biggie’s claims that he had no beef with Tupac, the narrative around their rivalry exploded, pulling both him and Diddy deeper into the drama. (The 1994 Quad studios shooting and subsequent song releases didn’t help, either).
As a result, their Biggie’s friendship with both Pac and Diddy was tested under the weight of music politics and public pressure, and it would eventually lead to two out of the three paying the ultimate price.
Biggie and Diddy’s Relationship Hits A Wall Over Publishing Rights
Photo: Getty Images Larry Busacca Photo: Getty Images Larry Busacca
Though it would be decades later before this tidbit was revealed, months before Biggie’s shocking death in 1997, he was allegedly trying to get out from under his Bad Boy contract citing issues with his publishing rights. According to hip-hop photographer Monique Bunn in an interview for Rolling Stone, Biggie told her way back when that his plan was to leave Diddy and the label because the legal fight to get his music rights back was beginning to become too much.
Diddy Pulls Weird Move After Biggie’s Death
According to Burrowes, not too long after Biggie’s death via drive-by shooting in 1997, the label was approached to see about putting the “Big Poppa” star on the cover of Rolling Stone as a way to honor his legacy. However, that didn’t end up happening because Diddy reportedly took the cover spot himself in an attempt to promote his own forthcoming album at the time, “No Way Out.”
Weird move to pull for your “brother,” but OK.
“I’ll Be Missing You” Garners Mixed Fan Reactions
Just two months after Biggie’s death, Diddy released “I’ll Be Missing You” with Faith Evans and 112, a tribute that dominated the airwaves. The song was a success, proving Diddy’s own talent as a solo artist and music icon seemingly overnight. However, folks were split: while some viewed the song as heartfelt, others felt it was just an opportunistic move.
Diddy’s “No Way Out Tour” Feels A Bit Off
After Biggie’s death, Diddy hit the road not too long after for his “No Way Out” tour, which featured Mase, The LOX, Usher, Jay-Z, Faith Evans and more. Though the shows were enjoyable, there was a noticeable void without Biggie at center stage as he worked closely with Diddy on putting the album together before his untimely death. And while Diddy reportedly paid tribute to him during the shows, it still left a sour taste in some fans’ mouths who once again questioned Diddy’s motives behind it all.
“The Notorious B.I.G.: Born Again” Drops to Mixed Reactions
Two years after Biggie’s death, his first posthumous album dropped, produced by Bad Boy Records. While some listeners and critics thought the project was a good body of work tat did well to match the “Juicy” rapper’s artistry with modern sounds—others felt like it was just another attempt by Diddy to capitalize off his friend’s death.
Diddy and Biggie’s Mother’s Relationship Sours
In the years since Biggie’s death, the friendship between his mom—Voletta Wallace—and Diddy became strained over Wallace’s feelings that the Bad Boy producer wasn’t doing right by her son’s legacy. She said as much in her 2005 memoir, writing at the time:
“My son was part of a high-stakes game and didn’t know the rules. I’m glad he does not have to witness that the very people that he thought he could ride and die with wouldn’t think twice about using his mother. I am glad that he’s not here to see how they have used his image and his name.”
Wallace also added that Combs really only “loved” her son “after he was dead.”
Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown gave a candid take on how money, power, and fame in the NFL can fuel the downright toxic behavior of athletes. As many players get entangled in bombshell love triangles and scandals, it’s no surprise Brown is sounding the alarm on the fetishization of women and sexual addiction.
The 27-year-old wide receiver opened up about the issue while mentoring teens at the Delaware County Juvenile Probation Office, describing the visit as a “therapy session” for the kids. He kept it real about how some fellow athletes get caught slipping due to their “fetish” for different women, making it clear that everything isn’t all “peaches and cream” behind the scenes.
“Whatever vice you have…you got women problems right now? Get a 100 million dollars, and see that problem show up loud and clear,” Brown, 27, stated. “It’s guys in the league that get in trouble with women. They got [a] fetish for women. When you got that type of money, that stuff shows up because it’s at your leisure. You can get any woman you want, you can pick and choose.”
Brown didn’t sugarcoat a thing. He took it a step further, addressing how oversexualizing women can lead to p**n addiction and warning about its damaging effects. According to him, the racy adult habit is warping men’s minds—and it’s long past time to start having real conversations about it.
“This is going to a whole ‘nother level because of what p**n does to your brain. It desensitizes your brain,” he admitted. “You’re looking at her as an object, not as a human being. But I see that all the time…that’s real.”
As the entertainment world keeps flaunting cash, fame, and flashy lifestyles, Brown warned the teens that money doesn’t fix your issues—it magnifies them. “You won’t be able to hide it,” he cautioned. He emphasized that the internal issues you’re battling only grow louder when wealth and fame removes limits…and the media has the receipts to back that claim.
Honestly? The headlines speak for themselves. With Tyreek Hill tangled in multiple paternity suits, Diddy’s sex-fueled trial dominating the news cycle, and even Uncle Shay Shay nearly risking it all over an OnlyFans model—Brown’s take on the dark side of money and power appears less like a hot take and more like hard truth. Take notes.
