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The Nikie Byrne film is in the early stages of production as the cast list is slowly coming together. Chase Infiniti continues to make strides in the entertainment industry as she's set to star in Niki Byrne's "The Julia Set" alongside Christopher Briney, Chlöe Bailey, and Carmen Ejogo Niki Byrne’s “The Julia Set” has begun production in London with its expanding cast, Deadline exclusively reports . The coming-of-age film will star One Battle After Another breakout star Chase Infiniti, The Summer I Turned Pretty star Christopher Briney, Gillian Anderson from Sex Education , and Jason Isaacs of The White Lotus . Additionally, Nina Hoss ( Tár ), Chlöe Bailey ( Grown-ish ), Carmen Ejogo ( Selma ), Nico Hiraga ( Sweethearts ), Liz Lin ( Salt Along the Tongue ), and Alex Dillard have joined the cast . Infiniti will play Julia, a talented mathematician in a competitive academic environment. Briney plays Pascal, a teacher assistant who enrolls Julia into a prep course for the most challenging math competition in the world, The Putnam Exam. The film is being produced with the support of the If/Then Initiative, which aims to highlight positive STEM role models. If/Then’s Nicole G. Small and Margaret Black will executive produce the film alongside Infiniti.  HanWay Film CEO Gabrielle Stewart recently shared her excitement for the film in a statement alongside the announcement of the new castings. “We all loved Niki’s excellent screenplay following the journey of a young woman assuming her genius in an academic field dominated traditionally by men and how challenging that is for her,” Stewart said. “In a way, this is a female-led Good Will Hunting . And the cast could not be more exciting nor of the moment!” On top of producing the film, HanWay Film will handle its international sales. Potato Salad Cosmic Domination, The Gotham Group, G Nus Media, Cinetrain, and Melegrano will join HanWay to produce the film.

The former friends appear to be on the outs as the OnSite CEO denies any involvement in the unauthorized use of the rapper’s credit card. Rah Ali, former star of "Love & Hip Hop," isn't new to credit card fraud allegations as she's had legal trouble tied to stealing an acquaintance's credit card. Though, that case was squared away a decade ago. Rashidah Ali, CEO of OnSite  and popularly known as Rah Ali, penned a heartfelt letter to deny Nicki Minaj’s allegations of credit card fraud. Earlier this month, the Grammy-nominated rapper alleged that three people used her Amex card without her permission in the span of two months. Controversial YouTuber Tasha K added fuel to the fire by alleging that Ali was one of the three people who used Minaj’s credit card. The YouTuber doubled down on the allegations in a follow-up video, noting that she spoke with Minaj directly about the allegations. Ali posted her letter to Twitter, currently known as X, in which she talks about her loyalty throughout the duo’s friendship. “Throughout the duration of our friendship, I have been nothing but loyal and genuine,” Ali wrote. “I can’t tell you how much it saddens me that you’ve now decided to turn on me, the person who was actually in your corner.” The self-proclaimed stiletto expert accuses Minaj of allowing others to spread such allegations as well as to smear her character.  “To be lied on by someone you don’t know is one thing; for it to come from you is unimaginable. You have put me and so many people who care for you and have rooted for you at risk,” Ali said. The former “Love & Hip Hop” star ends the letter by telling the “Super Bass” rapper to seek help and to reclaim her peace, time, and her crown. Speaking of “Love & Hip Hop,” Ali faced various credit card fraud claims throughout her time on the show. In 2014, MadameNoire  reported that  Ali allegedly took an acquaintance’s credit card without permission and went on a shopping spree. She allegedly made purchases at Shoe Inn, Homewood Suites and Ambience Hotel. The former reality TV star would agree to a plea deal, which had her reporting to a probation officer and paying restitution. Social media users believe Ali isn’t the only one involved in the alleged credit card fraud, as Tasha K claims Minaj took legal action  against Emmy Award winning stylist DiAndre Tristan. The YouTuber alleged that Tristan was previously convicted of credit card fraud in 2010.  Minaj revealed via her Instagram Story that the “credit card thieves” were tracking her moves with a tracking device, which was allegedly attached to their phone number. In the posts, she claims that they will all go to jail due to the fraudulent purchases. The credit card fraud allegations first came to light when Minaj was in a heated social media exchange with fellow New York rapper, Cardi B. The argument happened soon after the release of the Bronx rapper’s sophomore album, “Am I The Drama?”

Huda, and boyfriend Louis, faced backlash for their livestream and concerning reaction to slur. Olandria Carthen has been thriving since the ending of her season of "Love Island USA" as she's been seen at various social events in the entertainment industry. “Love Island USA” breakout star Olandria Carthen has officially responded to a racist slur being used during an Instagram Live hosted by co-star Huda Mustafa and her boyfriend Louis Russell. During the Instagram Live, Mustafa and Russell, who appeared on season three of Netflix’s “Perfect Match,” answered a call from an unknown caller. Without warning, the anonymous caller called Carthen the N-word — and, yes, with the hard -er. The duo proceeded to laugh and awkwardly hang up the phone. Mustafa could be heard asking what was said, followed up by saying the caller said a bad word while Russell only said, “whoa, hey, hey.” In a post following the Instagram Live, Mustafa explained that they could only hear the racial slur, and nothing else. Russell took to Snapchat, claiming that people were using the situation as an opportunity to hate. Carthen, who appeared alongside Mustafa in the seventh season of the hit show, responded via a statement posted to her Instagram Story.  “That kind of language is never acceptable. Not in anger, not as a joke, not ever. Words like that carry generations of pain, and pretending otherwise only keeps the cycle going,” Carthen wrote in the statement. “While I anticipate this will result in surface level apologies that fade in a few days, I’d like to transform this moment into something actionable,” Carthen continued. “I encourage those who have participated in the stream and their followers to demonstrate genuine commitment to anti-racism by donating to organizations and foundations dedicated to educating and uplifting this community…” Carthen then lists UNICEF, NAACP and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund as foundations and organizations worthy of donation. She proceeds to post donation links for each organization. Like clockwork, both Mustafa and Russell posted apologies to their respective Instagram Stories.  “Last night, I quickly posted a statement acknowledging my reaction to the racial slur that was said on Louis’ livestream,” Mustafa said. “I want to take this moment to more fully take accountability for my actions.” She continues to say that she completely respects Olandria, noting that it’s disheartening that anyone would use this type of language. She ends the statement by saying she’s making a donation to the NAACP, and she plans to share a list of organizations that support racial equity, education and mental health support. Russell’s apology came soon after with the “Perfect Match” star apologizing for the caller using language that goes against everything the couple stands for. “Huda and I were extremely caught off guard. As a Black man, I have greater empathy through my own lived experience battling racism,” Russell said. “And the idea that a flustered response to a very unnerving situation could be misinterpreted for me not taking the matter seriously is incredibly disheartening.” This isn’t the first time the “Love Island USA” season seven cast dealt with racism controversies. For one, Yulissa Escobar was sent home after clips of her using racial slurs on a podcast resurfaced. Cierra Ortega also faced backlash for using a racial slur in a resurfaced social media post. Both ladies apologized for their respective controversies. The season ended in July with couple Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales walking away with the $100K prize. Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe placed second with Mustafa and ex-fling Chris Seeley taking third place.

The film festival ended last month, awarding several films and launching a Patreon. Outside of Harper Theater in Hyde Park, people socialize in between film screenings. (Photo Courtesy: Chicago Underground Film Festival) The 32nd rendition of the Chicago Underground Film Festival came to an end last month with a celebration and award ceremony at Brandon’s Speakeasy. Eight films walked away with an award, notably $POSITIONS and TRIPOLAR THE MOVIE . The former won the “Made in Chicago” award as it’s the brainchild of Brandon Daley, a filmmaker based in Chicago. TRIPOLAR won the “Best Narrative Feature” award, a film by Eleanor Gaver. Posed as a comedy, $POSITIONS  follows Kansan Mike Alvarado as he attempts to earn cash to pay off medical debts. Alvarado invested his money in a cryptocurrency platform in hopes of monetary gains. As he does various things to get money, from selling his home to a loan from a drug dealer, the money in his cryptocurrency wallet continues to fluctuate. TRIPOLAR THE MOVIE is the brainchild of Eleanor Gaver who previously released Slipping into the Darkness (1988), Life in the Fast Lane (1998), and Here One Minute (2015) The film ends with Alvarado driving to a warehouse to retrieve a hard drive containing the key to his crypto wallet. He lost the wallet after his brother, a former addict, sold it in order to get drugs. He was able to retrieve the hard drive, though the password phrase to his crypto wallet was deleted.  Continuing in the light of comedy, TRIPOLAR THE MOVIE  serves as a satire on the country’s current socio-political climate. The basis of this weed-infused, acid trip comedy is a mother, Dana, and her daughter’s friend, Daphne, trying to get their movie picked up. The satirical film takes the audience on quite the journey as it pokes fun at gender politics. As the film's website describes it,  imagine “John Waters meets Larry David, but with women, weed, and unapologetic chaos.” Another satirical entry to this year’s rendition of CUFF, Kombucha , took home the Audience Choice Award. The Jake Myers film centered around a “mind-altering drink” that makes employees work themselves to death. Kombucha  served as a punch to the work culture within corporate America. Survival Without Rent , a film by Katie Heiserman and Elana Meyers, took home Best Short Documentary as it captured artists and activists transforming various abandoned buildings into artistic enclaves. The film highlights the history of the squatters’ movement of New York in the 1970s. As its website describes, the film captures  the wave of building abandonment following the city’s financial crisis and the Giuliani Administration going after the squats in lower Manhattan. The documentary as a whole tackles government disinvestment, anticapitalist critique, extralegal activism and the intersection of community arts and urban resistance movements.  The Best Editing Award went to Your Touch Makes Others Invisible , a Rajee Samarasinghe film  that traces the history of the Sri Lankan civil war and the disappearances that came from the conflict. The film features interviews, newsclips, dramatic re-enactments and symbolically coded photos. Fresh Values , directed by Drew Durepos and Isaac Brooks, won Best Narrative Short as it follows a struggling urban co-op that adopts augmented reality technology to save its store. The film has been shown at various festivals this year , including its world premiere at Milwaukee Film Festival and its international premiere at Vienna Shorts. Angelo Madsen’s documentary, A Body to Live In , took home the Best Documentary Feature. The 2024 film highlights the body modification movement , which took center stage in 1989 with Fakir Musafar’s “Modern Primitives” movement. Musafar worked as a photographer, performance artist, and ritualist — his work mobilizing a generation of artists, thinkers, and seekers. Finally, Josh B Mabe’s American Alternative: Kurt Heyl  won the Best Use of Archive Award. As the award suggests, the 11-minute video essay features archival footage of the South Side native, musician and the first film student of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  American Alternative: Kurt Heyl highlights the work and life of the filmmaker, who directed films like The Neighborhood (1968) and Looking for America (2025). During his time at SAIC, he held together the school’s experimental film program with “spit, spirit, and stubborn grit.” The film kicks off the Chicago Media Histories Project with a tribute to what can be described as a “nearly forgotten chapter in underground cinema.” As curtain calls rang out for the year’s CUFF and its award ceremony, The Underground  came to center stage. The quarterly membership program has three different tier levels, each offering different levels of access to the underground film community.  The first level, for $5/month, allows members access to CUFF’s Quarterly Archive Program and events as well as their private Discord community. For an additional three dollars, members on Level 2 will have everything Level 1 has to offer as well as a 15 percent discount on tickets and festival passes. They will also have priority in buying said tickets and festival passes. The final level, Level 3, includes everything of Level 1 and 2 as well as vintage items from CUFF’s archive and 25 percent discounts on tickets and festival passes. They will also have access to bonus archive content. With The Underground making its debut, submissions for next year’s rendition of CUFF have officially opened. Any filmmakers who want their films featured in the festival can submit via the Film Freeway website . Selections will be announced on July 22, 2026 with information packets sent out a week later. The 33rd Chicago Underground Film Festival will likely take place from September 23, 2026 until September 27, 2026 — though, the dates are tentative at the moment.

The music mogul continues to fight for his freedom from behind bars. The Harlem-born music mogul faces more than four years behind bars, though his legal team isn't going down without a fight (Image Courtesy: Kathy Willens, AP) Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorneys filed a notice to the Federal District of New York in plans to appeal the mogul’s conviction and 50-month sentence. Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, though he was acquitted on two other charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Judge Arun Subramanian issued a $500K fine and five years of probation. The Harlem-born musician initially asked for a 14-month sentence with a release set for immediately after the trial — which would’ve been due to his time in jail awaiting trial. The prosecution, accusing him of using his status within the music industry to operate the alleged sex trafficking ring, pushed for an 11-year sentence. It’s unclear what the appeal is based on, but Combs’ lawyers previously argued that the conviction shouldn’t stand because the statute of transportation for prostitution does not apply. Alexandra Shapiro, Combs’ lawyer, was the one to file the appeal on Monday. Rumors of the White House possibly commuting Combs’ sentence emerged on Monday (Oct. 20) when TMZ reported alleged confirmation from a “high-ranking White House official.” The alleged official claimed that the Revolt co-founder could be out as early as the end of last week. RELATED STORIES In a statement to USA TODAY , on Tuesday (Oct. 21), a White House spokesperson said there’s no truth to TMZ’s story.  “The president, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations,” the official added. After the two-month trial, Combs found himself sentenced to four years and two months behind bars. He will receive credit for the year he already served at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

The 32nd rendition of CUFF kicks off five days of films and afterparties with a slow-paced haunted house experimental film with deadpan comedy. The Chicago Underground Film Festival comes back for its 32nd year, kicking off with the experimental horror "Room Temperature." The art of festival flyer comes from the likes of two artists, Alex Scott and Isabel Overby. As the winds of fall slowly find their footing in Chicago, lovers of independent film gather at the Gene Siskel Film Center for the first night of this year’s Chicago Underground Film Festival.  Theater 1 is packed to the rim as Bryan Wendor gives an introduction to “Room Temperature,” the opening film of this year’s festival, as well as a speech on the festival itself. Vendor’s speech celebrates CUFF’s 32 years and highlights the team and sponsors that helped make it happen.  Finishing his speech, the lights finally go out and the opening film finally plays — following a couple of minutes of showing all of the sponsors. “Room Temperature” serves as the brainchild of Zac Farley and Dennis Cooper. The film follows a school janitor who stumbles upon a haunted house hosted by a family. Due to this run-in, the janitor, played by Chris Olsen, finds himself part of the family-run theatrical haunted house. It becomes clear that the family follows along with the father’s obsessive fantasy and storytelling. The obsession gets to the point where the father kills his son’s friend, a French kid named “Extra,” in an attempt to add to the haunted house’s story.  The film’s slow-pace comes through in a couple of aspects, namely its deadpan comedy. In the second scene of the film, we see the janitor cleaning the school bathroom and a woman, presumably a teacher or administrative worker at the school, walks in and asks: “Do you think the kids look up to you?” He takes a moment before answering, noting that the kids don’t either look up or down to him. Rather, they look at him sideways at a slightly downward angle. His slow, deadpan answer elicited laughter from the crowd and set the tone for the rest of the film. The slow-pace of the film comes through in the camera setup as it’s similar to that of a sitcom. The camera would stay in one place and it typically didn’t move throughout the scene. If there needed to be movement in the scene, there would be a cut instead of moving the camera itself.  Though, there were times where the camera itself moved. When the janitor first stumbled upon the house, you saw him walk up to the house. The camera then slowly panned to another woman walking up to the house. She ultimately walked away, and the camera continued to pan back to the house with the janitor standing at the edge of the property. The process of panning the camera took up to a minute or two, and one could say it gave another meaning to “deadpan.” There were a few moments where the camera appeared to be flying, almost as if it were a drone camera. This came after the death of “Extra” and it was used to float through the walls of the house and tents that the family slept in outside the home. The camerawork makes one feel like a ghost, one that’s also part of the haunted house. “Room Temperature” serves as a slow-paced twist on the horror genre as it tackles the complicated dynamic of family while presenting comedy in unexpected moments.  Following the film’s screening, the audience gives a rightful applause and the filmmaking duo behind the film take to the stage for a Q&A session. Dennis Cooper and Zac Farley did not come from the film arena, as Cooper serves as an underground novelist, known for his book “The Sluts,”  and Farley is a visual artist who studied fine arts at California Institute of the Arts and Northwestern University. The duo previously worked together on two films, “Permanent Green Light” and “Like Cattle Towards Glow.” During the Q&A session, Cooper notes that he took years to learn how to become a novelist, taking time to hone his craft before releasing any books. Tony O’Neill, an author and journalist,  described Cooper  as “a master of transgressive literature featuring all manner of minutely-observed depravity,” in a 2007 article for The Guardian.  A Salon article, published at the turn of the millennium , described Cooper as a “dangerous writer, both for the pedestrian reader unable to get beyond surface, and for those who like their homosexual literary aesthetics cozily free of anything resembling depth or complexity.” Both articles quoted William Borroughs, another author, who once said: “Dennis Cooper, God help him, is a born writer.” Zac Farley, currently living in France, later answered a question about the film’s frame rate. “Room Temperature” was filmed at 25 frames per second, which is different from the 24 frames per second norm. He notes that 25 fps is how many films in France are filmed, so it was a second nature type of decision rather than a conscious one.  As the Q&A session draws to the end, film enthusiasts and filmmakers file out of the theater — some gathering in the Gene Siskel Film Center lobby while others gather directly outside on State Street.  Eventually, folks find themselves to Broken Shaker on Ohio Street in the River North neighborhood. Socializing over free sponsored cans of Heineken took over the night as people wind down for the night.  The festival continues with more screenings throughout the weekend, notably “Tripolar The Movie” and “The Secret Lives of Bill Bartell.” Day Two starts with an art installation at Connect Gallery,  dubbed “Palace of Machinery.”  The installation serves as a multi-screen reanimation of 20th-century films. Two artists, Jenny Boles and Stephan Moore, will have their work featured in the installation.

The rapper found himself behind bars for the weekend following an early-morning encounter with police. Lil Nas X hit mainstream success with his 2019 hit, "Old Town Road," later culminating in two GRAMMY awards. “Old Town Road” rapper Lil Nas X, real name Montero Lamar Hall, was arrested on Thursday (Aug. 21) morning, according to Los Angele Sheriff’s Department inmate records obtained by USA Today . Los Angeles Police Department Officer Drake Madison told USA Today that officers responded to a call about “a nude man walking the street.” When the officers arrived at the scene, Hall allegedly charged at officers — leading to his subsequent arrest for Battery on a Police Officer. Madison noted that the rapper was also taken to the hospital for a possible overdose.  Hall’s actions will keep him behind bars until at least Monday (Aug. 25) due to other people being in front of him, TMZ reports . The rapper won’t be given a citation and released due to it being a violent offense. He currently stays in a jail in Van Nuys, according to police records viewed by Complex . Footage has since surfaced of Hall walking around Los Angeles in only his underwear and a pair of cowboy boots. In the clip, he was singing and telling the cameraperson to go to a party. He would later place a traffic cone on his head. Hall and his team has yet to speak publicly about the incident.

Kelley claims she was sexually abused by her stepfather at the time and Judd covered up the incident. The famous country singer is facing heavy allegations from her daughter, who has lengthy history of legal issues. Wynonna Judd’s daughter, Grace Kelley, claimed she was sexually abused by her former stepfather, and the country singer covered up the abuse. Kelley, currently 29-years-old, discusses the abuse during her interview with the Daily Progress. She claimed that D.R. Roach molested her when she was only 10-years-old, who was married to Judd from 2003 until 2007. Roach, Judd’s former bodyguard and ex-husband, was arrested in March 2007 and later charged with three counts of aggravated sexual battery on a child under the age of 13. Judd divorced him following his arrest and conviction, though the victim was never identified, Page Six reports . Kelley following her baptism at the Ground Zero Church of the Nazarene (Photo Courtesy: Grace Kelley) “When he was arrested and it came out in the news, that’s when she divorced him,” Kelley told the Daily Progress.  “So, is my mom rich? Yeah, she’s so rich that she was able to sweep me under the rug and abuse me and then cover it all up,” she claimed to the publication. “I don’t want to talk bad about my mom, but we’ll just say she’s a good performer. She was never a mother.” Kelly told the publication how she’s now sober after a history of drug addiction, and she also found religion while currently living in Charlottesville. Reps for Judd didn’t return Page Six’s request for comment. Kelley, daughter of Judd and her first husband Arch Kelley III, has had her fair run-ins with the legal system throughout the years. In 2018, she was sentenced to eight years in prison for violating her probation. She was released the next year, though she found herself back behind bars in 2021 for violating her probation again. Her latest arrest came in August 2024 for fleeing an officer, driving with a suspended/revoked license and using motorcycle equipment improperly, Page Six reported at the time . During a December 2010 interview with Oprah, Judd spoke out about Roach’s arrest. She found out about the arrest while at the airport, and kicked him out of their shared home “within the hour.”  She said she knew the victim, but she didn’t speak on the situation as it was the child’s story to tell whenever they were ready. Kelley walks the halls of the Ground Zero Church of Nazarene in Charlottesville (Photo Courtesy: Cal Tobias, The Daily Progress). Kelley currently lives in Charlottesville, and ultimately gave her life to God. Her candid interview with The Daily Progress not only details the sexual abuse, but how she turned her life around. She now attends the Ground Zero Church of the Nazarene.

The seasoned actors will step on the Broadway stage for the first time in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Don Cheadle returns to his theater roots as Ayo Edebiri goes beyond the world of comedy and writing. Tony Award winner Don Cheadle and SAG Award winner Ayo Edebiri will make their respective Broadway debuts in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Proof . The revival will be directed by Thomas Kail, a fellow Tony winner, and co-produced by Mike Bosner and Kail. Previews will begin March 31 of next year with opening night set for April 16.  Written by David Auburn, Proof follows a woman named Catherine living with her father — a former world-renowned mathematician. Catherine takes care of her father during a period of mental decline, and she begins to realize how much she shares in common with her father beyond the love for numbers.  One of the former students of Catherine’s father, Hal, spends his days combing through her father’s journals in hopes of finding something of value. In doing so, Hal will question if his best days are behind him. Catherine’s sister, Claire, only wants the best for her, though her motives may not be totally unselfish.  David Auburb's "Proof" was originally released in 2000, later adapted into a movie in 2005. Edebiri recently won several awards for her role as Sydney on FX’s The Bear , and is currently nominated for her work on its third season. She expresses gratitude for the opportunity to bring the play back to life, reports Variety . “It’s hard to find the right words when talking about a text as rich and witty and full as David’s - what I can say is how deeply grateful I am for this incredible opportunity,” Edebiri told the publication. “I can’t believe my good fortune that I not only get to go to Broadway with this play, but have the opportunity to work alongside Don Cheadle, Tommy Kail, and such an amazing team around us.” Cheadle, known for his roles in Hotel Rwanda and Marvel’s Avengers franchises, found a connection to the source material in relation to his experiences as a father. “I couldn’t be happier for the opportunity to return to the stage in this remarkable play with this level of talent assembled to pull it off,” Cheadle told Variety. “As a father of two, both around the same age as Ayo, I’m excited (if not a little nervous) to dig into all the father/daughter messiness, not to mention the mental health challenges the family faces.” The creative team behind Proof  will include Academy Award and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for original music, Teresa L. Williams for scenic design, Tony winner Dede Ayite for costume design and Amanda Zieve for lighting design. Proof  originally premiered Off-Broadway in 2000, later transferring to Broadway in October of that year. In 2001, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and three Tony Awards, including Best Play. It was later adapted into a 2005 film by Auburn, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jake Gyllenhaal. Edebiri has several upcoming projects lined up, including Luca Guadagnino’s film After the Hunt , which will premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Prior to her breakout role in The Bear , she began as a standup comedian — she performed a set on Comedy Central’s Up Next . She also worked behind the scenes as a writer for The Rundown with Robin Thede  and NBC’s Sunnyside . Edebiri would join the writing staff of Big Mouth  for the show’s fourth season. Edebiri worked on Dickinson , an Apple TV+ show about Emily Dickinson’s early days, as a writer and later as a supporting character.  During her time on Dickinson , she met Christopher Storer  who directed two of her episodes. Storer would later develop The Bear , considering Edebiri for the role of Sydney. Cheadle’s credits span decades, starting with his time at the California Institute of the Arts. During his time at CalArts, he acted in several plays including Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold” …and the Boys . He first received widespread notice for his role as Mouse Alexander in 1995’s Devil in a Blue Dress .  He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 2005 for his portrayal of Paul Ruseabagina in Hotel Rwanda . He also starred and produced Crash , which won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Picture.  The rest of the cast, creative team members and ticketing details for “Proof” will be announced in the near future.

The RnB singer says she almost died in an accident, though the specific details as to how she got there are unclear. The RnB singer is currently taking time to herself following a near death experience over the weekend. Singer, actress and reality TV personality Tamar Braxton almost died during the weekend, due to an accident she cannot fully remember. She revealed in an Instagram Story post that she woke up in a pool of blood with a fractured nose and missing teeth. She also notes that she lost some mobility, and is feeling weak. “I struggled to write this but everyone keeps calling me and honestly, I can’t really talk anymore I’m so weak,” the post read. “I almost died Sunday. I was found in a pool of blood from my friend with a face injury.” Tamar Braxton posted on her Instagram Story about the situation, noting that she doesn't have the strength to answer everyone who is calling (Photo Courtesy: Tamar Braxton/Instagram) “As my health is on the mend my mental journey begins… pray for me for real,” Braxton continued. “I don’t even know what happened to me.” In June 2021, she spoke with PEOPLE Magazine about her mental health struggles and a 2020 suicide attempt. She explained how that time of her life was dark and heavy, and she wasn’t sure she would “come out on the other side.” At the time of her suicide attempt, she was home with her son and her then-boyfriend, who found her unresponsive.

The Canada-born rapper’s latest attempt for an appeal of his conviction relating to the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. Tory Lanez's legal team will take to the courtroom again on August 28 to do an oral argument regarding one of his petitions. Tory Lanez’s appeals to submit new evidence regarding his 2022 conviction has been denied by a California appellate court. A three-judge panel, consisting of Judges Lee Smalley Edmon, Anne H. Egerton and Rashida A. Adams, denied two petitions that sought a new sentencing based on new evidence. According to Legal Affairs and Trials with Meghann Cuniff , the three-judge panel has yet to decide on the main appeal. The decision is scheduled for oral argument on Monday (Aug. 18). In the main appeal, Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, argues that Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David V. Herriford shouldn’t have allowed the prosecution to use one of his comments on Instagram as evidence, Meghann Cuniff reports. The comment in question was “that’s not true,” which was in response to another comment that said Harris was the shooter. Another argument in the appeal stems from a recorded interview Kelsey Harris, Megan Thee Stallion’s former friend, gave before the trial. Harris described the shooting and identified Peterson as the shooter, though Peterson’s attorney implied that prosecutors pressured Harris to implicate Peterson. Tory Lanez was moved from his original prison due to a fellow inmate stabbing him (Getty Images) The first petition revolved around a new statement from Peterson’s driver, Jauquan Smith, who drove Peterson, Megan Thee Stallion, real name Megan Pete, and Harris from Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood Hills home. According to the recent appellate order, Smith’s statements were inadmissible as they didn’t comply with the California Code of Civil Procedure.  Smith appeared at the courthouse during the 2022 trial, wanting to testify as a defense witness. The prosecution wanted more time to prepare for the unexpected testimony, though Peterson’s lawyer, George Mgdesyan, didn’t summon Smith due to the upcoming holidays. Mgdesyan feared that delaying the trial any further would lead to a mistrial. Deputy Attorney General Michael C. Keller cited statements Mgdesyan made during trial sidebars and chambers meetings. Mgdesyan “acknowledged that he had spoken with Smith regarding his observations and determined that Smith would not be a helpful witness.” The appellate court order also discusses the DNA found on the 9mm semiautomatic handgun used in the shooting.  Investigators found gunshot residue on both Peterson and Harris, though they never took DNA samples from Harris. Prosecutors argued that it didn’t matter as criminalist Randy Zepeda of the Los Angeles Police Department determined that a male contributed to 90 percent of the DNA found on the gun. Peterson’s habeas petition argued that the jury should have heard it was “marginally more likely a random member of the Black community contributed to [the mixture of DNA found on the gun] than Petitioner contributed thereto.”  The appellate court order notes that Peterson is saying that “his own DNA expert failed to provide industry-accepted methodology.” Plus, he wasn’t able to provide any evidence that would support his stance. Crystal Morgan, the lead attorney of Peterson’s appeal, originally filed the second habeas petition in October of last year. In this petition, Morgan alleged she couldn’t test the firearm used in the shooting for DNA because LAPD no longer had it.  On Nov. 19, the Attorney General’s Office filed a declaration from an LAPD senior property manager, essentially stating that Morgan’s claims were untrue. The firearm, magazine “and all the bullet casings and the bullet fragments that were booked … are still in the Los Angeles Police Department’s custody,” according to the LAPD senior property manager. Morgan later amended her original petition to include a statement from Bradley James, Harris’ former bodyguard. James served as Harris’ bodyguard during the trial, and he allegedly heard her say things that contradicted her trial testimony. According to James, Harris said she shot the gun in the air three times. Peterson then grabbed her arm and pushed it down, leading to the gun firing twice more. His statement was dated for Aug. 28, 2024, leading to confusion as to why it wasn’t submitted until July 2025. The appellate court expressed their confusion, stating that Peterson “offers no explanation for why this document executed 11 months ago wasn’t submitted until July 30, 2025, on the eve of the oral argument, or why it was not raised in his successive writ petition filed October 23, 2024.” The order does allow for one of Peterson’s requests: his motion seeking California statistics regarding the number of people charged with first-degree assault who did or did not receive a gun-related sentencing enhancement. Peterson is also seeking information about charges, conviction rates, and lengths of sentences for celebrities of all races. According to the motion, he’s entitled to the information under California’s 2020 Racial Justice Act. Peterson has been in custody since his Dec. 23, 2022 conviction, currently staying in California’s Colony Prison. The 33-year-old rapper was moved to the facility after a fellow inmate stabbed him 14 times during his time at California Correctional Institution. Peterson’s lungs collapsed as a result of the stabbing. Times Entertainment on YouTube posted CCTV footage of an inmate stabbing Tory Lanez 14 times. For the oral arguments on Monday, Crystal Morgan will spearhead the hearing on Peterson’s behalf. The 2nd District Court of Appeals will stream the hearing o n its website , plus Meghann Cuniff will stream the hearing on her YouTube  as well. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. PST.

The reality television couple are in hot water as their kids may be involved in the murder of an Atlanta rapper. Kirk and Rasheeda Frost have been part of "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" since its inaugural season. Their kids were once featured throughout the series, namely during the tenth season. Ky Lasheed Frost, son of Kirk and Rasheeda Frost, is the prime suspect in the death of Atlanta rapper T-Hood, real name Tevin Hood. According to the Gwinnett County Police Department , the initial investigation revealed a domestic disturbance involving a woman at the home. The woman in question may have been Kelsie Frost, the daughter of Kirk and Rasheeda as well as Ky’s sister. Fox 5 Atlanta reports that Ky arrived at the residence, initially trying to stay separate from the situation. Following the shooting, police found Hood in his home and had him transported to the hospital. He later succumbed to his injuries while at the hospital.  The alleged shooter and a witness had stayed to speak with the police at the scene while someone was detained and interviewed by police. Charges have not been officially announced. Social media users have speculated Kelsie and Ky’s involvement in the shooting, with Kelsie breaking her silence  via a statement on Instagram. “I can’t sit back and let the narrative being created go on. The love of my life is GONE. The man I lay with and cuddle every night…is no longer here,” the post read. “So as I want to ask for respect and privacy, I won’t because I will always defend my baby. I don’t condone s–t in any way, shape, form or fashion. I am sick to my stomach. I don’t wish this on anyone.” Hood's family released a tape of Kelsie allegedly admitting that her brother had something to do with Hood's death. The Neighborhood Talk recently posted the alleged recording, though people were concerned about the legal ramifications. Georgia is a two-party state, meaning that all parties must consent to being recorded. According to The Neighborhood Talk, Hood's family claims Kelsie consented to being recorded. The story is developing.