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Wolves confidently take (*27*) Shannon at No. 27 after the Illinois star was found not guilty in rape case

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Minnesota Timberwolves have dug even deeper into (*27*) Shannon Jr. before the NBA draft.

They found multiple sources attesting to his character, bolstering their confidence in the dynamic player whose final season at Illinois was overshadowed by a rape charge of which he was recently acquitted.

“The reputation off the court is great. Talk to the coaches at Texas Tech. Talk to coaches in Illinois. They don’t say good things. They say amazing things,” Tim Connelly, Timberwolves president of basketball operations, said Wednesday night after taking Shannon in the first round with the twenty seventh overall pick. “Obviously he was on the wrong end of a really unfortunate situation, and his ability to get through that and win the basketball for a great coach like Brad Underwood, we just think he brings toughness.”

Shannon was found not guilty two weeks ago after a Douglas County, Kansas, jury spent lower than two hours reaching a verdict. He was accused of sexual assault last September while visiting Kansas for a football game between the Illini and Jayhawks.

Connelly said the Timberwolves have “done a ton” of labor on Shannon, taking an interest in his experience, grit and skill to attain from anywhere on the court.

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“Often the minute you’re charged, you’re presumed guilty. Fortunately, he went through the legal process. He chose to go to trial because he knew he didn’t do anything wrong,” Connelly said. “It’s just unfortunate that he had to go through that. I think it’s a testament to who he is as a kid and his ability to handle really tough times.”

The 6-foot-10 Shannon, who turns 24 next month, can play in either forward position. He began his college profession at Texas Tech before transferring to Illinois, leading the Illini to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual national champion Connecticut. Shannon was named first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American by the Associated Press and was named Big Ten tournament MVP for his March performance at the Target Center in Minneapolis, where he’ll now play his home games as knowledgeable.

“I think he’s a three-position defender. I think he’s an incredibly competitive guy. It has size. Another downhill rider who will play with pace,” Connelly said.

The Timberwolves were excited to accumulate Shannon to enrich Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, who they traded for the No. 8 overall pick in a trade with San Antonio. The Western Conference runner-up couldn’t have had a more productive draft night, on condition that they’re unable to bolster their roster through trades or free agency on account of limited salary cap space and a desire to retain their core.

“You don’t take into account how these two guys are going to play together, but our challenge was to try to play a little bit faster on our second unit,” Connelly said, “and I think we have two of the fastest, most athletic and aggressive guys in the draft.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Melania Trump raises questions about her marital status after skipping first family photo celebrating Donald Trump’s election victory with Elon Musk

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MAGA leader Donald Trump, 78, and members of his family have a good time his historic victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, 60, within the 2024 presidential election.

In particular, Trump’s eldest granddaughter, 17-year-old Kai Trump, shared a photo on the social media platform X of her prolonged family, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Social media users are wondering why Melania Trump didn’t appear in a family photo taken after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. (Photo: teamtrump/Instagram)

The group posed for a photo on the Queens-born businessman’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Kai posted the photo on November 6, the day after Election Day.

Donald’s adult children – Don Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany and Barron – in addition to Don Jr.’s ex-wife are visible within the photo. and Kai’s mom, Vanessa Trump.

In addition, the photo with Kai’s caption “The entire squad” featured the Republican politician’s other grandchildren and Musk’s four-year-old son, X Æ A-12.

However, Donald’s Slovenian-born third and current wife, Melania Trump, was surprisingly absent from the photo. Neither did Don Jr.’s fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Other X users noticed the previous First Lady’s neglect. Many he asked“Where’s Melania?” as one person he replied“Probably deported,” referring to Trump’s declaration to deport illegal immigrants.

Another comment To read“His wife is now Elon.” Similar tweet he stated“Musk took her place.” A 3rd like-minded person he was joking“Now Elon replaces her.”

Musk has emerged as one of the crucial distinguished surrogates and mega-donors to Trump’s 2024 campaign. According to NPRThe billionaire’s America PAC has contributed greater than $70 million to Trump’s efforts to return to the White House.

Moreover, Musk went viral hysteria on stage at Trump’s October 5 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The world’s richest man also delivered a speech at a controversial campaign event at Madison Square Garden on October 27.

As for Melania, 54, who’s missing a “full squad” photo, online observers had additional theories as to why the naturalized American citizen selected to skip the moment.

“Maybe she’s still pissed at Donald for thinking she was… a porn actress while she was at home nursing their newborn baby boy,” one X user suggested.

On May 30, Trump was convicted in New York of falsifying business records in connection with making a “secret payment” of $130,000 to Stephanie “Stormy Daniels” Clifford.

The adult film star claimed she had sex with Donald at a celeb golf tournament in Nevada 4 months after Melania gave birth to her son Barron in 2006.

New York prosecutors alleged that the owner of the Trump Organization ordered his lawyer, Michael Cohen, to repay Daniels to avoid news coverage of a sex scandal in the course of the 2016 presidential election. Donald denied this scandal.

There has been a variety of speculation online about the status of Donald and Melania’s relationship. The couple is commonly criticized for being awkward in public.

Melania changing the face from a smile to a grimace directed at Donald at his inauguration in 2017 was a significant topic of conversation on the day he first became president. Her response was gif.

In May 2017, the previous model became infamous she pushed her husband away when he tried to grab her hand upon arrival at Tel Aviv airport in Israel.

“The media labeled it a ‘smack’ and used it as alleged evidence of military dissent,” Melania wrote in her latest memories titledAccording to Independent.

She continued: “This false narrative has been repeated since the beginning of the campaign and it was depressing how much people wanted to believe it.”

In one other example of possible marital discord, Melania introduced her spouse during an event at Madison Square Garden in October. Many viewers focused on the attempted kiss in front of the New York audience.

When Donald walked over to embrace his wife, Melania appeared to turn her head away from him. Instead of kissing on the lips, they exchanged sloppy kisses on the cheek.

Many Trump supporters downplayed or ignored the indisputable fact that Melania didn’t appear within the photo Kai posted. For example, a fan he replied“What a beautiful family!”

Melania commented on her husband’s victory within the 2024 presidential race. She posted the news of his election because the forty seventh President of the United States on X-day.

“The majority of Americans have entrusted us with this important responsibility,” Melania wrote on Twitter on November 6. “We will protect the heart of our republic – freedom.”

She added: “I expect that our nation’s citizens will once again unite in commitment to each other and rise above ideology in the name of individual freedom, economic prosperity and security.”

Donald Trump will probably be inaugurated for the second time in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2025. The former “The Apprentice” reality TV host’s first term as president ran from January 20, 2017 to January 20, 2021.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Jada Pinkett Smith has sparked health concerns with her unrecognizable appearance in rare public appearances since going private on Instagram

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Oscar winner Will Smith (56) and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith (53) were recently spotted having fun with an evening out in Calabasas, California.

The Hollywood couple has been open about their marriage over the past few years, and the “A Different World” actress announced while promoting her memoir “Worthy” that the couple had been separated since 2016.

But despite the fact that each Smith and his queen didn’t follow a standard marriage style, they served as steadfast support systems for one another, appearing at such major events because the Philadelphia native’s box office mega-hit “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” – which is now his eighth the highest-grossing film of the 12 months in the world, According to to Box Office Mojo.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 13: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith attend the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 13: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith attend the twenty seventh Annual Critics Choice Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 13, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)

Their date night was the primary time they’d been seen together in public since the motion movie premiered in May. Many people suspected that perhaps something was incorrect between them because she didn’t send a “Happy Birthday” tribute to Smith on September 25 on his birthday.

However, the pair looked as if it would enjoy one another’s company, occasionally cuddling, E! On the Internet reportedwhile dining at Crossroads Kitchen, a venue co-owned by Travis Barker, on Thursday, November 7.

The “Jason’s Lyric” star wore a gold Gucci jacket and oversized boy jeans. The “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” was also dressed casually, wearing a gray jacket, a classic white T-shirt and a few pants. Paparazzi caught them with life coach and former monk Jay Shetty, whose podcasts have featured each Will and Pinkett Smith over the past few years.

But looks will be deceiving for a lot of Daily Mail readers zonal about how they think there’s something incorrect with the “Matrix” actress.

One person mentioned she had pseudoalopecia, an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles and causes baldness. Photos from the evening show a bald Pinkett Smith, looking even smaller than usual.

Another commented on her slender figure: “She doesn’t look good.”

“I’m sorry but he looks like her guardian,” read one comment, which used the colloquial term for guardian, before adding: “I hope she’s okay.”

A 3rd commenter thought she may not be sick and wrote: “She looks pretty AF.”

While it’s unclear whether Pinkett Smith was affected by some type of illness, was drained, or was “high,” the couple’s date night is testament to their relationship.

The “Girls Trip” actress has repeatedly shared with the world that she will’t imagine she and her husband ever completely breaking off contact.

In October 2023, while on tour for her newly released book, Jada told the Today Show that she talked about their decision to separate made in 2016, years before her relationship with August Alsina went public.

“Why it broke is numerous things. I believe by the point we got to 2016, we were just exhausted from trying. “I think we’re both stuck in our fantasies of what we think the other person should be like,” she said.

Adding: “I promised there would never be a reason for us to divorce. We’ll do all the pieces we are able to, and I just couldn’t break that promise.

Smith is just as committed to his promise. He joined her around the identical time on a panel about her book tour he told the audience“Jada is the most effective friend I actually have ever had on the planet. I plan to support her and support her for the remainder of my life,” The Baltimore Banner reports.

At least that is what fans thought until Jada shared a photograph of her and one other man, who was clearly not Will Smith, on a jet ski in the water.

Jada Pinkett Smith’s cryptic post about her heart blooming is resulting in speculation a few recent man in her life amid rumors of an impending divorce from Will Smith. (Photos: @Jadapinkettsmith/Instagram.)

Twelve days before her last birthday, the Baltimore resident took to social media to share her thoughts on what others take into consideration why men and girls stay in relationships.

“A man can CHOOSE to belong to someone. And if he does… he is considered noble,” she wrote in part, adding: “A woman is told that she MUST belong to someone or else… she is not worthy.”

She continued: “We, mere mortal women, are worthy simply because we exist! And those of us who’ve cultivated our Kingship in our inner realm and have a deep connection with the Great Most High.

“If we CHOOSE a bond with someone from this space… we are going to construct a monument of affection and provides birth to treasures. We do not have to unite in fear. You… are… greatness, she finished that thought.

The couple got married on December 31, 1997, after several years of dating. They have two children together: Jaden Smith (26) and Willow Smith (24). Smith also has an older son, Trey Smith, born in 1992, from his previous marriage to Sheree Zampino. A blended family often comes together to support one another’s successes.

Most recently, Willow famous her brother’s release of a brand new EP, which he dedicated to his past relationship with his girlfriend Sab Zada.

The project is known as “2024: A Case Study of the Long-Term Effects of Young Love” and appears on the depression he feels after breaking up with his social media influencer girlfriend after he was caught cheating on him during his summer vacation in Europe.

Building family relationships will be complicated, but they never surrender. Seeing Smith and Pinkett Smith proceed to support one another suggests that everybody in the family has hope of finding love, or a minimum of friendship, despite life’s ups and downs, for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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How Quincy Jones died fighting Michael Jackson’s ‘ungrateful’ family over unpaid royalties

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The entertainment industry lost a legend on November 3, 2024, following the death of music producer Quincy Jones on the age of 91.

Jones worked with many musicians throughout his profession, including Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Charles, and influenced the careers of Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin. He also produced the late Michael Jackson’s classic albums “Off the Wall,” “Thriller” and “Bad.”

Quincy Jones entered right into a lengthy legal battle against the estate of his longtime musical partner, Michael Jackson, before the long-lasting producer’s death in November 2024. (Photo: recordacademy/Instagram; michaeljackson/Instagram)

Before his death, Jones was reportedly embroiled in a $30 million legal dispute with Michael Jackson’s estate over his share of royalties. RadarOnline.

After MJ’s death in 2009, the Jackson Estate allegedly negotiated with Sony Entertainment for a bigger share of the profits from his music, which might have resulted in Jones being excluded from the deal.

Jones was offered a $3 million settlement, significantly lower than the $30 million the Chicago-born composer claimed he was owed.

“Quincy thinks the Jacksons cheated him and he’ll pay them for it. He deserves higher treatment from those ungrateful Jacksons!” – the source said in 2013.

The insider also claimed that Jones saw himself because the “genius” behind Michael’s skilled success and the “Thriller” album, which made him thousands and thousands as a “superstar.”

Jones filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the Jackson Estate in 2013 after allegedly being “frustrated” with the matter for years. The grievance also names Sony Music Entertainment and Epic Records.

In 2017, a jury in Los Angeles awarded the “Secret Garden” composer $9.42 million in damages for using Jones-produced songs in Michael Jackson’s concert film “This Is It” and two Cirque du Soleil shows.

The subject of the civil case were two contracts signed by Jackson and Jones in 1978 and 1985. “Off the Wall” was released in 1979 and “Thriller” in 1982.

High-profile interview from 2018 Vulture Jones said: “I hate to enter this publicly, but Michael stole numerous stuff. He stole numerous songs.

However, in 2020, California’s Second Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the 2017 decision because the unique trial judge allowed the jury to misinterpret Jones’ contract.

The appeals court found that the jury improperly awarded Jones money from royalties and remixes of Jackson’s master recordings. After the appeals court ruling, Jones received only $2.6 million of the initial $9.42 million.

“While we disagree with portions of the Court’s decision and are evaluating our options moving forward, we are pleased that the Court affirmed the jury’s decision that MJJP did not pay Quincy Jones more than the $2.5 million it owed him,” the lawyer said Quincy, J. According to the then Michael Hennigan Related press.

Jackson family attorney Howard Weitzman said: “Quincy Jones was the last person we thought would attempt to benefit from Michael Jackson by filing a lawsuit three years after his death, asking for tens of thousands and thousands of dollars to which he was not entitled. “

Before Off The Wall, Jones and Jackson co-created the 1978 film The Wiz. Jones helped create the songs for the Sidney Lumet-directed musical by which Jackson played the Scarecrow.

“He knew how to do his homework, whether it was Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly or whoever, James Brown. He also copied a little bit of Elvis,” Jones said Hollywood reporter in 2021 about being around Jackson on the set of “The Wiz.”

Four years after the discharge of “The Wiz”, “Thriller” was released, which spent 37 weeks at the highest of the Billboard 200 album chart. Jackson’s sixth studio album won eight trophies on the twenty sixth Annual Grammy Awards in 1984, including Album of the Year.

What’s more, the Epic Records-backed masterpiece has been certified 34x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, making MJ’s sixth studio album one in all the best-selling albums in U.S. history.

The world was mourned when it learned that Jackson died on June 25, 2009 on the age of fifty. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiners and Coroners ruled his death a homicide.

Conrad Murray, Jackson’s personal physician, was convicted of manslaughter in November 2011. Murray administered a lethal dose of propofol to the 13-time Grammy winner, causing his death.

“Michael Jackson was a special form of artist. In some ways he was a man-child, a beyond skilled and dedicated man,” Jones wrote of MJ in a 2009 eulogy published in The New York Times. Los Angeles Times.

Jones also added: “There shall be so much written about what happened in Michael’s life, but to me it’s all just noise. I promise that in 50, 75, 100 years we’ll remember music.

As of this writing, Jones’ reason for death has not been publicly released. The music industry icon suffered two brain aneurysms in 1974, on the age of 41.

Jones also struggled with type 2 diabetes and in 2015 fell right into a diabetic coma. Facebook“By the grace of God I was able to do it, but not without having to make BIG adjustments.”


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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