Entertainment
Fans Uncover JJ Redick’s Alleged History of Using Racial Slurs as Duke Student Claims New Lakers Head Coach Called Her the N-Word
After being formally introduced as the twenty ninth head coach in Los Angeles Lakers history, rumors began to emerge that JJ Redick had used racial slurs in the past.
The former NBA star sparked countless debates when reports surfaced that he had agreed to a head coaching contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Although his lack of previous coaching experience was widely discussed, his hiring once more brought allegations of racism to the fore.
Halleemah Nash, a social media user whose bio says she is a Duke University graduate, accused Redick of calling her the N-word on the school’s campus. Redick played college basketball at Duke from 2002-2006 and was named National College Player of the Year after his final season with the Blue Devils.
“Only once in my life has a white man called me the N-word to my face, and that was on the campus of Duke University when I was working on the basketball team.” he tweeted Nash June 25. “And today he was named the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. What a world.”
In a separate tweet, Nash added: “For context, this was many years ago and I believe we all have room to grow, especially as we mature at the college level. We live in a world where these exchanges are happening, and the intersection of race, privilege and lack of responsibility has collided with this pressure.”
According to LinkedIn page Bearing the surname Nasha, she coordinated the “Blue Devil Inner City Youth Project” with the university’s basketball team in 2003-2004.
Redick’s representatives categorically denied any wrongdoing after Nash’s social media post received greater than 18 million views and counting.
“No, something like this has never happened,” the spokesman said he said TMZ Sports.
While it’s unclear whether Redick actually said the word, fans continued to share their reactions to the claims.
“Many people are too young to remember JJ from Duke, but those who can probably aren’t too shocked by this story,” one person he wrote on X
“I remember him, he was one of my favorite players and I’m definitely shocked,” one other person said.
However, it would not be the first time Redick has been in the highlight for using racial slurs. The latest allegations led fans to unearth several other instances during which the former NBA star was accused of using offensive language.
In 2018, Redick faced backlash when he apparently used the Asian word “fissure.” Redick tried to wish basketball fans a Happy Chinese New Year, but apparently used offensive language as an alternative.
Redick appears in a video wishing “all NBA Chink Chinese fans a very happy Chinese New Year.”
At the time of the incident, he was playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.
He later apologized for using profanity and stated that it was simply a result of his “lack of linguistic fluency” and that the word was not part of his “vocabulary”.
“No doubt the language was unclear to me because the word I allegedly said was not in my dictionary. “I’m disappointed that anyone would think I would use that word,” it wrote on Twitter in February 2018.
He then tried to clarify his behavior.
“(S)orry if I upset anyone,” he was about to say something else before he said it.
“I meant to say ‘Chinese NBA fans.’ It sounded weird in my head, so I changed it mid-sentence to “NBA fans in China”… It got here out the unsuitable way.
He continued: “At the time we were recording it, no one in the room…heard a word I allegedly said. If I had known it sounded like that, I would have been embarrassed and would have recorded the greeting again.”
The apology tweets have since been deleted.
Redick appeared to be coping with a volatile situation in his personal life as well, when he was accused of calling his ex-girlfriend a “dirty n***a” and “sc” because she didn’t terminate her pregnancy as required by the alleged “abortion agreement.”
Contents contract, which was allegedly made in 2007, was originally published by gossip site MediaTakeout as an exclusive in 2013. Redick, who was a 22-year-old debutant in 2007, allegedly made an agreement with model Vanessa Lopez that if she got pregnant, she would terminate the pregnancy and they might remain in a relationship for at the very least a yr after the procedure. If Redick rescinds their agreement to remain together, he may have to pay Lopez $25,000. If they broke up and Lopez wasn’t pregnant, Redick would don’t have any obligations and any further contact with Lopez can be considered stalking.
Lopez claims she got pregnant, angering the NBA rookie.
Redick reportedly sent emails to Lopez just after she had an abortion at 16 weeks of pregnancy in 2007. In 2014, Lopez shared the alleged emails with a pro-life website Life news after announcing that he intended to put in writing a book about his experiences.
An email allegedly sent by Redick to Lopez on September 13, 2007 read: “Vanessa, we need to confirm that you did this. It will be easier for you now, trust me. If you really had an abortion, just get a test to prove it.”
The second alleged email was sent by Redick to Lopez’s brother on September 26, 2007, and contained quite a few insults and allegedly a picture of a monkey.
“Greg, my brother-in-law left her a voicemail calling her a unclean n***a. We have problems if this silly sp-c leaks this. What the hell can we do?
In July 2013, Redick took to Twitter to disclaim the allegations made against him by Lopez.
In a series of tweets, he said: “I would love to answer the outrageous, false and malicious media reports regarding my past relationship with V Lopez in 2007. Mrs. Lopez was not and never was pregnant with a toddler fathered by Ja. And Mrs. Lopez didn’t and has never terminated the pregnancy of the child whose father I’m. Constantly calling attention to those lies is seriously harmful to me and my family. Thank you.”
It was never determined whether there was any truth to the accusations. Lopez has a history of making unsubstantiated claims against skilled athletes, including Shaquille O’Neal. In 2010, she filed a lawsuit claiming that the former player stalked her after their affair.
TMZ reports that a judge insulted Lopez by dismissing her lawsuit in 2013, saying, “(Lopez) lied frequently. She lied about facts important to the defense and showed a complete lack of respect for the justice system.”
Since then, Lopez has not backed down from her claims about Redick. As for the Lakers’ latest head coach, he has not personally responded to the discourse surrounding his alleged use of the N-word against a Duke alum.
Entertainment
An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit
Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”
She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.
Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.
On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”
One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.
Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.
Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, cropped a photograph of him in a jumpsuit and then set Instagram on fire with her look.https://t.co/n7YNGctQFE pic.twitter.com/DNKP2i9o9C
— Sean Joseph (@sjoseph_sports) December 2, 2024
When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.
Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”
Lauren Sanchez 2003 vs. Lauren Sanchez 2024
Nothing to see here, people, move on#LaurenSanchez pic.twitter.com/mgr4vj6mFq
— Occam was right (@OccamWasRight) November 21, 2024
Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”
Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.
Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.
Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.
Entertainment
Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape
India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.
“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”
Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.
Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.
Name:
India Shawn
Hometown:
Los Angeles
Artistic soundscape
Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric
The oldest musical memory
Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.
Influences
For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.
Creative process
Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”
Challenges and development
As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”
Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.
Current project
“There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”
Entertainment
ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence
With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.
Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.
From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.
In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.
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