Entertainment
Michael Jackson’s sordid family drama and their scandalous love triangle are back in the spotlight after the studio released a photo of his nephew playing the pop icon in the new film
Earlier this month, Lionsgate shocked the world by releasing a teaser for the upcoming film “Michael,” a Jackson family-authorized biopic chronicling the life of the legendary King of Pop, Michael J. Jackson. The prospect of this highly anticipated film, first announced in January 2023, captivated viewers who were wondering who would play Michael.
Taking on the role of the iconic star is Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew and son of his brother, Jermaine Jackson, who bears a striking resemblance to his late uncle.
Last month, photos emerged of Jaafar on stage in a recreation of his uncle’s iconic “Man in the Mirror” look from his legendary 1992-93 Dangerous Tour.
“Michael” “will give viewers a fascinating and honest portrait of the brilliant but complicated man who became the King of Pop,” he says official description of the film. “The film captures his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale – from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, exemplified in his most iconic performances. Like never before, viewers will have the opportunity to look inside one of the most influential and pioneering artists the world has ever seen.”
Both fans and critics agree that the 27-year-old is the perfect selection for the role. Except Jaafar looksthe young artist made his life singing and dancing, similar to the artist of “Thriller”.
However, with the spotlight shining on him, they return to controversial facets of the Jackson family, especially his mother, Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza.
Alejandra, a Colombian model and designer, shares children with two brothers from the Jackson clan: Jermaine Jackson and Randy Jackson of The Jacksons. Making Jaafar her kid’s brother and cousin.
Mom tried to film a reality show with all the kids, however it never got off the air.
Alejandra first met Randy, the youngest brother of the Jackson family, in 1986, when she was a fashion student at UCLA. He was 24 years old then.
They dated for several years, during which they welcomed two children: Genevieve Katherine Jackson, born in 1989, and a son named Steven Randall Jackson Jr., born in 1992. However, Randy never married the mother of his children.
“Randy didn’t treat me like I was the one” – Alejandra he said.
She wasn’t the one for the former playboy. Randy later married Eliza Shaffy, whom he believed he loved, the same 12 months his daughter was born. However, the marriage ended in divorce the same 12 months his son with Alejandra was born. Randy and Eliza had a daughter together named Stevanna Jackson, born in 1990.
In addition to being a cheater, Randy was accused of being violent back in the day and was even charged with battery in 1991 for beating up Eliza and their 7-month-old baby.
He pleaded not guilty to harassment and was given a two-year probation and ordered to attend a domestic violence program. He didn’t complete the program and was arrested again later that 12 months after Eliza reported continued harassment.
Another woman Randy dated who claimed he physically abused her was Bernadette Swann. They dated in the Eighties, and once, after an alleged argument, she ran away from him and sought refuge in Tina Turner’s house. As the woman tried to flee Jackson, he allegedly broke into the “What’s Love Got to Do With It” singer’s property, prompting her to fireside a warning shot.
Turner selected to not press charges to avoid negative publicity.
Alejandra felt that Jermaine was the exact opposite of her brother and stated that he “was more of a family ace” told by Jackson family friend Stacy Brown for the New York Post in 2013.
The South American woman saw how her older brother treated his children and the women from his two previous relationships and thought her fate can be higher with him than with Randy.
The “Let’s Get Serious” singer was first married to Hazel Gordy, daughter of Motown founder Berry Gordy, and had three children: Jermaine La Jaune “Jay” Jackson Jr. in 1977, Autumn Joi Jackson in 1978 and Jaimy Jermaine Jackson in 1987.
He also fathered two children with one other woman, Margaret Maldonado. These children were Jeremy Maldonado Jackson in 1986, conceived during his marriage to Gordy, and Jourdynn Michael Jackson in 1989.
After divorcing Gordy in 1988 and splitting from Margaret, he began dating Alejandra in 1993, despite opposition from family members including his mother, Katherine Jackson, and younger brother Randy.
They married in 1995 and welcomed two children: Jaafar Jeremiah Jackson, born in 1996, and Jermajesty Jermaine Jackson, born in 2000.
After the wedding, Randy was furious.
“Joe Blow on the street, but my brother? In the same house?” he once said, according to Brown. He continued his tirade against Brown and even called Alejandro a “pig” and his brother a “stupid.”
Randy’s disgust spilled over into the way he provided for his children. He withheld child support for his children with Alejandra. Luckily, his brother stepped in and made sure to take care of them.
Although Jermaine respected his brother’s children, he held him in contempt.
“He’s an asshole. He shouldn’t let his feelings for me or Alejandra come between taking care of his children,” Jermaine told Brown. “He needs to deal with it, put all the little things behind him and act like a man.”
After raising 4 cousin siblings with Alejandra, Jermaine eventually grew drained of their relationship and began searching for one other partner. After converting to Islam, he married a second wife named Lawanda in 1999, in accordance with Islamic traditions.
Jermaine then split from Alejandra in 2004 after discovering that she had been married to a man named Nicholas Ray since 1987 in exchange for a green card after entering college. Since she was already married, her marriage to Jermaine was annulled.
A 12 months later, the star entered into one other legal marriage with Halima Rashid, a wealthy woman from the Middle East. Halima divorced him in 2016, after greater than a decade of marriage.
Despite how complicated the family tree is, the children appear to get along well and are well adjusted, as seen by their appearances on the reality show “The Jacksons: Next Generation.”
Those working on the new film appear to think Jaafar is exceptionally well-adjusted and embodied his uncle on the big screen.
“It’s incredibly exciting to watch Jaafar bring Michael to life” – Antoine Fuqua, director of the biopic, he said Last 12 months’s variety. “When I first met Jaafar, there was an incredible bond, he has a natural ability to imitate Michael and great chemistry with the camera.”
The solid also includes Oscar nominee Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson’s father, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson’s mother and Juliano Krue Valdi as young Michael.
Colman Domingo and Nia Long play Michael Jackson’s parents in his biopic. pic.twitter.com/PG3cDsqnoo
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 30, 2024
Graham King said he and his team conducted a worldwide casting call and couldn’t find anyone higher, telling Variety: “It was clear he was the only person to take on the role.” When King met him, he was “impressed by the way he organically embodied Michael’s spirit and personality,” he added.
The world will watch how successfully he copes with the media’s intrusion into his life, perhaps having inherited exceptional resilience from being raised in a family accustomed to regulate. What could seem strange to others is solely abnormal to him.
Entertainment
Melania slammed Donald Trump with third prenup change, fueling rumors of marital drama after she dodged his kiss and claim resurfaced
For years, there was speculation concerning the authenticity of the love between President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump. The theories intensified after Melania was caught repeatedly hiding from her husband’s public displays of affection for years.
Some imagine their relationship is solely business-related, a view that gained popularity when the New York Post reported in September 2023 that its alleged insider claimed that Melania had renegotiated her prenuptial agreement with the forty fifth president for the third time. The move followed Trump’s confirmation of his intention to hunt a second term as president after announcing his re-election campaign on November 15, 2022.
When the couple married in 2005, the initial prenuptial agreement reportedly significantly favored Donald Trump. However, since then the contract has been renegotiated not less than 3 times, with the primary renegotiation going down in 2017 and one other in 2020, when she served as apparently delayed moving to the White House – not less than that is what the New York Post claims in its unconfirmed reports. It is unclear why the thrice-married Trump would conform to loosen up his protections as part of such an arrangement.
In 2023, an alleged insider told the Post’s Page Six gossip column: “Over the past yr, Melania and her team have been quietly negotiating a brand new deal following the suspension of her contract with Donald Trump. This is not less than the third time Melania has renegotiated the terms of her marriage contract.
It continued to be claimed that Melania can be increasingly concerned about Trump’s mounting legal problems. Last yr, he was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with making secret payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. That same yr, Trump was also found liable in a civil suit for sexual abuse and defamation of author E. Jean Carroll. More than a yr ago, Trump was also charged in Atlanta with attempting to overturn the presidential vote within the 2020 elections in Georgia. Trump ultimately faced federal criminal charges related to his mishandling of classified documents after leaving office and the January 6 rebel.
With all this happening against Trump, Melania obviously desired to be certain she can be secure.
“This agreement was necessary due to ongoing legal disputes that (…) (Donald) has suffered,” the source said.
However, the insider also told Page Six that the postnuptial agreement doesn’t mean Melania plans to depart Trump.
They said the revised deal would also provide money for his or her 18-year-old son, Barron Trump.
“Melania is most concerned with maintaining and increasing the considerable trust she has in her son, Barron.”
Another source backed up this statement, saying, “I know she wanted this to provide her with more money, and also – from what I understand – there is at least a set amount that Barron is expected to get.”
Fans shared their thoughts on Melania renegotiating her prenup with The Daily Beast’s. side.
One person said: “Thanks to her we managed to save him. After filing for bankruptcy five times, he will be living on Melany’s benefits.”
The second wrote: “He must secure Barron’s future before the non-existent money disappears.”
A third commenter advised: “Honey, take the money and run.”
CNN is preparing for Trump’s second visit to the White House reported that his wife doesn’t plan to live in Washington full time. Sources told the news outlet that while Melania plans to attend essential events, she will spend loads of time living between New York City – as her son Barron attends NYU there – and Palm Beach, Florida, where many of her friends live.
Her reported impending absence from the White House has sparked whispers about whether Melania is serious about her responsibilities and priorities as first lady, but that is not all. It also sparked more speculation about whether she and Trump have a blissful marriage.
Even during Trump’s victory speech, a smiling Melania avoided being kissed by her husband as he sang her praises on stage. After thanking her and expressing his appreciation for her “best-selling book in the country,” Trump moves to hug and kiss his wife, then places her hand on her cheek as she turns her head barely.
Still, Melania assures doubters that every little thing is effective in her marriage to Trump. In September, she even tried to disclaim the rumors during an interview on “Fox & Friends.”
When asked what she liked about her husband, she replied: “His essence. His humor. His personality. His kindness,” he added later. “It’s very special. His positivity. His energy. It’s unbelievable. Yes, so we’ve got a fantastic relationship.
Entertainment
Jussie Smollett’s 2019 Self-Attack Conviction Overturned – Andscape
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the choice to fireside an actor Jussie Smollett conviction on charges of organizing a racist and anti-gay attack on himself in downtown Chicago in 2019 and lying to police.
The the state’s highest court ruled that the special prosecutor shouldn’t have been allowed to intervene after the Cook County state’s attorney initially dropped charges against Smollett in exchange for waiving $10,000 bail and performing community service. The ruling and appeal didn’t address Smollett’s continued claim of innocence.
Smollett, who’s black and gay, claims two men attacked him, hurled racist and anti-gay slurs and placed a noose around his neck, resulting in an enormous seek for suspects by Chicago police and sparking a world uproar. Smollett was starring in a television drama that was filmed in Chicago, and prosecutors alleged that he organized the attack because he was unhappy with the studio’s response to hate mail he received.
“We are aware that this case has generated significant public interest and that many people were dissatisfied with the resolution of the original case and considered it unfair,” Justice Elizabeth Rochford wrote in a 5-0 decision. “Nevertheless, more unfair than the resolution of any single criminal case would be for this court to find that the state is not obliged to honor agreements on which people have relied to their detriment.”
Smollett’s attorneys argued that the case ended with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office dropped initially 16 counts of disorderly conduct. A grand jury reinstated the fees after a special prosecutor took over the case. The jury convicted Smollett of five counts of disorderly conduct in 2021
Emails searching for comment were sent Thursday to Foxx’s office and Smollett’s attorney, who argued that Smollett was the victim of a racist and politicized justice system.
Testimony at trial showed that Smollett paid $3,500 to 2 men he knew to perform the attack. Prosecutors said he told them what insults to shout and shout that Smollett was in “MAGA country,” an apparent reference to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign slogan.
Smollett testified that “there was no fraud” and that he was the victim of a hate crime in his downtown Chicago neighborhood.
He was sentenced to 150 days in prison, six of which he had already served released pending further notice — 30 months probation and ordered to pay roughly $130,000 in restitution.
The state appeals court’s ruling upheld Smollett’s conviction, declaring that nobody promised Smollett that he would not face a brand new charge after accepting the unique deal.
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis and Justice Joy Cunningham didn’t take part in Thursday’s decision.
Entertainment
Lil Baby didn’t just rap about change – he went to Harvard to achieve it – Essence
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 27: Songwriter of the Year Award winner Lil Baby speaks on stage on the ASCAP R&S Music Celebration on the London Hotel on June 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
Lil Baby will not be only considered one of the most important names in hip-hop – he can also be an aspiring entrepreneur who’s serious about taking his business knowledge to the subsequent level.
The GRAMMY Award-winning rapper recently participated in Harvard Business School’s “Launching New Ventures” program, a prestigious short course designed to help entrepreneurs grow their ventures through modern strategies. The program, which will not be a level-granting initiative, focuses on key entrepreneurial tools, including opportunity assessment, competitive evaluation and developing sustainable business models, – we read on this system’s website.
For Lil Baby, born Dominique Armani Jones, the move was greater than just earning bragging rights. Known for hits like and , the Atlanta native has all the time been open about his desire to construct a legacy beyond music. As head of his record label 4PF (Four Pockets Full), he is committed to creating opportunities for artists and running a business that will not be only profitable, but in addition influential. However, he realized that running a successful label required honing his skills, and Harvard was the right place for this.
Movie shared on X On Wednesday, we got to see Lil Baby participating within the show. The clip ended on a touching note as he was presented together with his certificate of completion, followed by a surprise ceremony organized by his family.
While critics were quick to indicate that he didn’t “graduate” from Harvard – despite misleading headlines – his decision to commit to this system is critical in itself. Shows like “Launching New Ventures” offer insights that may transform corporations and help entrepreneurs overcome challenges, and Lil Baby’s presence signals his commitment to constructing a legacy that goes far beyond music. For Lil Baby, the move is an element of a broader commitment to securing his position not only as a rapper, but in addition as a mogul. His commitment to self-improvement reflects the values he promotes through his music: perseverance, resilience and development.
It’s also value noting that Lil Baby’s decision to attend Harvard sends a powerful message to his community, especially Black entrepreneurs. In a world where barriers to business education still exist, his decision to pursue higher education shows that it’s never too late – or too unconventional – to take what you are promoting seriously.
As Lil Baby grows, one thing is obvious: his diligence knows no limits. Whether he’s behind the microphone or within the classroom, he proves that the important thing to success is to continually strive for more.
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