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The three singers are the latest to split from their music manager after several years together. Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande and Idina Menzel are looking toward a future without their manager, Scooter Braun. The “Skyscraper” singer is currently searching for new management, though she’s grateful for her time with Braun. A source close to the situation says the split was amicable and mutual. Billboard reports that Lovato is in conversations with potential new candidates. She signed with Braun in 2019. Regarding Grande, she parted ways with Braun after a decade of being signed with him. The duo began working together on her first album, “Yours Truly,” which has its 10 year anniversary coming up next week. A source close to Idina Menzel told The Hollywood Reporter that she's parted ways with the talent manager in January. This follows her signing with Braun in 2019. The news of Lovato, Grande and Menzel splitting from Braun follows a report from Puck that claimed Justin Bieber also split from Braun. Though, representatives from both Bieber and Braun denied the rumors of a split. Not only did Grande and Lovato walk away from Braun, J Balvin parted ways with SB Projects in May after signing in 2019. Balvin has been signed to Roc Nation since the split from Braun. The talent manager hilariously poked fun at the situation with a tweet that read, "Breaking news... I'm no longer managing myself." The music manager made headlines for his dispute with Taylor Swift over the rights to the master recordings of her first six albums. Braun’s Ithaca Holdings acquired the masters in 2019 and later sold them to a private equity company Shamrock Holdings. This led to Swift re-recording her first six albums for herself, with “1989 (Taylor’s Version) slated for a October 27 release.

The former Fugees front woman will tour “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” for its 25-year anniversary. Lauryn Hill announced that she will embark on a tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her debut album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” The 17-date tour will make five stops in Australia with the remaining 12 stops in North America, including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Denver and Philadelphia. The Fugees will also reunite for many of the dates. “‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ is and was a love song to my parents, my family, my people, my musical and cultural forebears, my teachers, my loves, my Creator,” Hill wrote in a press release about the tour. “I wrote love songs and protest songs – (still love songs) about the subjects and interests that inspired and moved me. I was confident that what inspired me would resonate with an audience that had been led to believe that songs of that kind could only live in the past.” Hill’s debut album is one of the most decorated albums in hip-hop history. The album won five out of its 10 nominations at the 1999 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best R&B Album and best Femal R&B Vocal Performance for “Doo Wop (That Thing.” In 2021, the album was certified diamond by the RIAA. With Citi Bank as a sponsor for the tour, Citi cardmembers have access to presale tickets on Wednesday. General tickets can be purchased on Friday, August 24. Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour Dates Sept. 8 - Minneapolis - Mystic Lake Sept. 23 - New York - Global Citizen Festival Oct. 1 - Gold Coast, AUS - Promiseland Festival Oct. 3 - Melbourne, AUS - Rod Laver Arena (with Koffee) Oct. 5 - Sydney, AUS - Kudos Banks Arena (with Koffee) Oct. 7 - Auckland, NZ - Eden Festival Oct. 17 - Newark, N.J. - Prudential Center (with Fugees) Oct. 19 - Brooklyn, N.Y. - Barclays (with Fugees) Oct. 21 - Washington, DC - Capital One Arena (with Fugees) Oct. 23 - Philadelphia - Wells Fargo Arena (with Fugees) Oct. 26 - Toronto, ON - Scotia (with Fugees) Oct. 28 - Chicago - United Center (with Fugees) Oct. 30 - Fort Worth, Texas - Dickies Arena (with Fugees) Nov. 2 - Denver - Ball Arena (with Fugees) Nov. 5 - Los Angeles - Kia Forum (with Fugees) Nov. 7 Oakland, Calif. - Oakland Arena (with Fugees) Nov. 9 - Seattle - Climate Pledge Arena (with Fugees)

The Chicago-born rapper was arrested on a few charges following a police raid of his LA home. Following a police raid on his Los Angeles home, Polo G was arrested for kidnapping, robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. On Thursday, Polo G, whose real name is Taurus Bartlett, was taken into custody by the Burbank Police Department. A spokesperson for the Burbank Police Department told XXL Magazine that both Bartlett and his brother, Taurean, who goes by Trench Baby, were arrested on charges stemming from an April 2023 police report. Bartlett’s attorney, Bradford Cohen, released a statement following the rapper’s initial arrest: “The incident surrounded someone staying in Polo’s home and not Polo directly.The officers detained Polo to verify that he is not a convicted felon and never was a convicted felon, as they assert a firearm was found in the home. It is widely known that Polo is not a convicted felon and never was a convicted felon, I personally got all of his charges in Miami dismissed when he was in our opinion wrongfully arrested and charged. They have refused to allow us access to our client which is also an illegal and unethical practice and someone all have to answer for these new wrongful actions.” TMZ obtained photos and video of Bartlett and his brother being arrested following the raid on their LA home. Both Bartletts are seen leaving the Los Angeles home with their hands up, and they were later put into handcuffs. video courtesy: TMZ Bartlett’s next court date is scheduled for October 26.

The “Crown” rapper finally comes out with a debut album, and she did NOT disappoint. Chika recently released her debut album, “SAMSON: THE ALBUM,” on July 28. The album’s release follows more than four years after the rapper’s official debut in 2019. The Montgomery-born rapper’s name was already popping by that time, notably her November 2019 video where she put on a pale foundation following Donald Trump’s election win. Chika also called out Kanye West in a freestyle over his “Jesus Walks” beat after he publicly supported the controversial president. During her interview with Billboards’ Pridecast, a podcast that centers around influential names in the queer community, she stood ten toes down on her position regarding West. “I feel like he’s selling out for, ultimately, money, and also just to be a part of the conversation when he wasn’t for so long,” Chika explained. “He doesn’t know the damage he’s doing.” She was also part of a Calvin Klein ad campaign that led to a showcase at Coachella and her first music video for her song, “No Squares.” According to Advance Local, “High Rises” served as Chika’s first commercial product of her professional career. The song features the rapper’s story, including her childhood hurt, her struggles as an artist and her gratitude to her supporters. SAMSON , an almost hour-long project, takes Chika on a journey detailing her confidence and God-given talents. The album features a theater play approach with various interludes throughout the project. The album begins with “OVERTURE,” which features a voiceover from Lin-Manual Miranda: “Our stories are all we got. So, if you’re gonna tell it, tell it boldly. Tell the truth. Without fear.” The song features Chika ready to explore her story as well as her self-proclaimed genius. Accompanied by a full orchestra, the song sets the confident and reflective tone of the entire album. “OVERTURE” blends into the next song, titled “INTRO,” adding more instruments, including drums and what sounds like a tambourine. With the added percussion, Chika toots her own horn, sitting in her confidence and throwing humility out the window as she quips “f–k being humble.” "The only options they gave me: die as a hero or be glad to live as a villain," Chika raps, leaning into her villain era. Holding true to the reflective nature of SAMSON , Chika discusses her challenges with mental health and its impact on those close to her during “REQUIEM FOR A DREAM.” Throughout this song, it switches between a lullaby-based chorus and drill-based verses. The chorus sees Chika singing as she switches back to rapping during the verses. “TRUTH OR DARE” is a take on the industry and how people tend to put on a fake persona. This song tackles the common theme of Hollywood that not everything is as it seems. During the chorus, not only does Chika clock in on the nice things she does have, she cites the ways she needs to move forward. “New house, new whip // New clothes, new drip // Stay fly, take trips // Just grind, no tips,” Chika rhymed. With Freddie Gibbs as feature, he clocks in on the politics of the music industry. “This loyalty shit is fictitious now // Only see you when bottles and b–hes out // And you do so much d–k eating // Can’t really tell if you dressed for the h–s or the n–s now,” Gibbs rapped. After spitting some truth about the industry, “OUTRO” comes in as a midway intermission. It’s almost a journal entry as Chika begins the song by saying: “To be honest, I’m just talking right now.” Interestingly enough, “OUTRO” is only the fifth song out of the 20-song album. Rather than have it as the conclusion, it serves as an intermission from one act to another. Not only does the reflective project as a whole feature Lin-Manuel Miranda and Freddie Gibbs, it also features Snoop Dogg and Stevie Wonder. “UNC’S INTERLUDE” features Snoop Dogg essentially giving Chika a pep talk and saying she’s on the right track. His words of encouragement are heard in the next song, “BLIND,” during which Chika reflects on her life and wonders if she has time to figure things out. Steve Wonder makes his appearance in the last song of the album, “GET HERE,” which calls for people to appreciate where they are and where they’re going. SAMSON drew a comparison between Chika and the biblical character, who had extraordinary strength. One of the more direct comparisons was in, “DELILAH,’ a sensual love song to a woman named Delilah. In Chika’s song, she invites Delilah to “come home when you feel safe again,” promising that she will keep Delilah warm. She notes that other people may see her as this tortured soul while Delilah sees her heart. As the biblical story goes, Samson fell victim to Delilah after he broke his religious and moral obligations many times. For one, he decimated the Philistines in a private war and later fended off an attack at Gaza after he visited a prostitute. Delilah would later betray him as she made him reveal the secret to his strength: his hair. She later brought in a Philistine to cut Samson’s hair. In her interview with Rolling Stone , Chika explains that Samson would later ask God to regrant him his strength in order to get revenge. She explains that he used his strength to pull down the pillars he was chained to, ultimately killing himself and everyone else in the building. “I think that my strength has always been my vulnerability, but at the same time, it’s always been my weakness because that’s the thing that’s weaponized the most against me,” Chika said in the Rolling Stone interview. SAMSON gives the world a well-crafted introduction to Chika, a strong individual who tends to find her strength in her vulnerable moments. This body of art perfectly encapsulates the rapper’s journey through her mind, especially regarding her career and the politics of the industry.

The festival will have 50 screenings in total and host four post-screening events and after parties. The Chicago Underground Film Festival, known for their screenings of original films and video, will take place Sept. 13 until Sept. 17 for its 30th anniversary. Opening night of the festival will take place at Gene Siskel Film Center in the Loop with the remaining screenings happening at The Harper Theater in Hyde Park. The festival opens with a screening of Soda Jerk’s Hello Dankness and ends with the screening of Sean P. Fahey’s For Kicks . The festival also features screenings, panels and nightly after parties. One of those post-screening events will take place on the festival’s first night. The event will have Another VU, a Velvet Underground tribute band, as the entertainment. The band will perform two sets at Bottom Lounge in the West Loop. Doors will open at 9 p.m. with music starting an hour later. The following day, on Sept. 14, Experimental Filmmaker Karaoke will take place at Miyagi Records, a record store near Washington Park. The event began as a tradition made by the 2008 Portland Documentary and Experimental Film Festival (PDX). The festival later shut down in 2009, though its organizers, Matt McCormick and Gretche Hogue, are bringing the event to this year’s Chicago Underground Film Festival. Another event, taking place at The Promontory on Sept. 15, will highlight Chicago’s Footworking and experimental film. It will serve as an audio-visual experience with music from DJ Spinn, Jana Rush and RP Boo. The event will also feature films from Wills Glasspiegel. The final post-screening event, dubbed “Clusterf—k,” will serve as a collaborative and creative moment amongst artists. It will celebrate all art forms and artists outside of traditional art forms. Artists, vendors, DJs and those who enjoy a party will come together at the Kulture Museum to “create the ultimate collision of creativity,” read the press release. The schedule as well as tickets and festival passes are available on the festival’s website .

An arrangement that comes after many allegations of the record label owing money to its artists. Bad Boy Records founder Sean “Diddy” Combs reassigned publishing rights to artists and songwriters who helped the label become the powerhouse it is today. A source confirmed the news to Variety on Monday. The artists included in this reassignment are Notorious B.I.G’s estate, Faith Evans, Ma$e, the Lox, 112 and other unspecified creators. Variety states that the assets are worth hundreds of millions of dollars, though the specific details weren’t available. The assets increased dramatically in value when the music catalogs of various artists struck nine-figure deals when they were sold or partially sold. A source told Variety Combs received many multi-million dollar offers for Bad Boy’s publishing catalog, all of which Combs declined. According to the source, most, not all, of the recipients have been located and contacted. The recipients that have been contacted have signed the necessary paperwork. Ma$e, a multi platinum-selling Bad Boy rapper, often called out Combs for the money he was allegedly owed. Ma$e said in 2020 that Combs refused his $2 million offer for Ma$e’s publishing. Last week, Cam’ron leaked the news of the publishing arrangement in an Instagram post. “[Ma$e] just got his publishing back from Puff. Just finished the paper work for that yesterday,” the post read. The source told Variety that Combs sees the publishing deal as part of the broader goal to promote the economic empowerment of Black artists and culture. Combs’ upcoming album, “The L.O.V.E. Album: Off the Grid,” with features from Swae Lee, Mary J. Blige, Justin Bieber and others, will drop on Sept. 15.

The couple of "Summer House" didn’t make it down the aisle for their November nuptials. Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke from Bravo’s hit show “Summer House” are no longer together. The couple broke up months before their November nuptials, leaving Hubbard both blindsided and devastated. They subsequently canceled their destination wedding in Mexico. Radke penned a letter to family and friends, in which he announced the split. He also offered his apologies for the confusion and inconvenience it may have caused. The letter was later obtained by PEOPLE. “Words cannot possibly express how difficult the last two weeks have been for Lindsay and I,” Radke wrote. “We are so incredibly sorry to all of our guests for the confusion and lack of communication. We were left trying to figure out how this all exactly happened before we could even have the opportunity to determine the path forward amongst ourselves.” Radke later offered alternatives for their loved ones could pursue in regards to their wedding in Mexico. For one, they could still go to Mexico as a vacation or they could cancel their reservation altogether. Hubbard released her own statement via social media, breaking her silence on the matter. “The last two weeks have been the most heartbreaking and emotional weeks of my life,” Hubbard wrote. “My entire life was ripped out from underneath me. I’ve had a hard time making sense of it all —— with no answers or closure on why.” Hubbard later notes that she feels humiliated and heartbroken by how the break up went down. She also makes it clears that it wasn’t her decision and that she doesn’t agree with “quitting a relationship” without trying everything to save it. “Southern Charm” star Craig Conover put his two cents into the fray, noting that he’s surprised they didn’t walk down the aisle. “I at least thought they would get married and then whatever happened, but also whenever everyone gets to see the season, it’ll make more sense,” Conover told Page Six. “For two months, we had all dealt with this. It’s not like they had a great summer and all of the sudden this happens.” The couple initially attempted their romance in the fourth season of “Summer House,” though it didn’t work at that moment. They later came back together in January 2022 with the Bravo series capturing their relationship and their August 2022 engagement. The breakup was caught on camera during the upcoming season of “Summer House,” a source told Entertainment Tonight. Filming for the eighth season of the Bravo show has already wrapped and will feature the breakdown of the couple’s relationship.

The five-month long strike came to an end when the Writer's Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers came to a tentative agreement. The four-month long writer’s strike came to an end last week following contract negotiations with Hollywood studios. In the last week of September and after 148 days of the strike, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) announced a tentative agreement. On Sept. 26, WGA’s leadership announced that they voted to end the strike and recommended that members vote in favor of the new contract. Voting for the new contract began on Oct. 2 and President Joe Biden praised the writer’s tentative deal prior to his appearance on the picket lines alongside striking auto workers. “There simply is no substitute for employers and employees coming together to negotiate in good faith toward an agreement that makes a business stronger and secures the pay, benefits, and dignity that workers deserve,” Biden said. The WGA released a summary of the deal terms in a simplified version of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). The specifics of the deal haven’t been released, though, voting on the deal will end Oct. 9 at 1 p.m. PST. One of the main points of contention throughout the strike was the use of artificial intelligence. According to the agreement’s summary, AI cannot replace the work of the writers. “AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the [Minimum Basic Agreement], meaning that AI-generated material can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights,” the summary read. Writers will also have the choice to use AI, but it’s not a required part of the job. Any company that employs WGA writers must inform them if any given materials were made by AI or uses AI-generated material. The guild has the right to assert that use of writers’ material to train AI is prohibited. Not only did writers win the fight against artificial intelligence, they will receive better residuals. Regarding streaming services, like Netflix, films and shows that are viewed by more than 20 percent of the streamer’s domestic subscribers, writers are entitled to a bonus that equals half of the domestic and foreign residuals. Streamers also agreed to provide WGA members with the total number of hours streamed of self-produced streaming programs. WGA members will also receive increases in their minimum pays. Most minimums will increase by 5% when the agreement is ratified, 4% on May 2, 2024 and 3.5% on May 2, 2025. Even though the WGA is voting to ratify its own agreement, writers will continue to picket in solidarity with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television (SAG-AFTRA) members. The actor’s guild is currently in negotiations after three months of striking. For the full summary of the WGA’s tentative agreement with AMPTP, read here .

The “Thank U, Next” singer and real estate agent make the breakup official with settlement after two years of marriage. Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez officially settle their divorce only weeks after filing, PEOPLE Magazine confirms. Due to the prenup in place, Grande will pay Gomez $1.25 million and she will not be required to pay spousal support. The payout will come as one time, tax-free payment rather than be paid out over time. Gomez will receive half of the proceeds from the sale of their Los Angeles homes and $25,000 for his attorney fees, TMZ reports. The swift process of the settlement is no surprise as Grande’s attorney, Laura Wasser, is known for quickly settling divorces. For example, she’s behind the settlement between Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner. Grande and Gomez’s divorce settlement has been filed in court and the only thing left is a judge’s signature. A source close to the situation spoke with TMZ about the duo’s feelings for one another. “There is still a strong mutual love and respect between Ariana and Dalton and they wanted to make sure everything was done right in lockstep with one another,” the source said. As quickly as the divorce was settled, Gomez was seen making out with actress Maika Monroe. Instagram gossip account DeuxMoi published a photo to its Instagram Story that featured the makeout session. DeuxMoi received a tip from a source that claimed the couple was “PACKING on the PDA.” It’s clear in the photo that the duo were making an effort to conceal their identities as well as their locking lips. Interestingly enough, Grande has been engulfed in dating rumors for sometime since the divorce filing. It was previously reported that Grande began dating her “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater soon after filing divorce from Gomez. Slater subsequently went through a divorce of his own and he’s working to co-parent with ex-wife Lilly Jay. Grande and Gomez filed for divorce only two years after tying the knot in May 2021.

As the WGA strike heads into its second week, read up on what triggered it and what’s happening now. The Writer’s Guild of America, representing 11,500 writers, went on strike due to contractual negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) falling through. This is the first strike of its kind in 15 years. According to the Chicago Tribune, despite film and television budgets increasing, the share for writers has dwindled. WGA said that streaming services use “mini rooms,” a term for a smaller staff, for shorter stints, which has made it harder to have a consistent source of income. According to a report by the guild, the lack of a seasonal calendar amongst streaming services has lowered pay even further. Any annual pay under the current contract fell short of the increases in inflation. The AMPTP represents the industry’s studios, streamers, and production companies. It claims that the writers’ demands would require the writers to be kept on staff and paid when there is no work for them. “If writing needs to be done, writers are hired, but these proposals require the employment of writers whether they’re needed for the creative process or not,” the AMPTP said in a document obtained by The Chicago Tribune. Negotiations typically drag on for hours past a contract deadline, but that wasn’t the case this time around. Talks ended hours before the May 2 deadline. According to the Chicago Tribune, the AMPTP said it offered increases in compensations as well as improvements to streaming to residuals. The AMPTP included the highest wage increase in 25 years as well as a new category of rates that would allow for higher minimums for mid-level writers. The group was willing to improve their end of negotiations, but the writers were asking for more than they were able to give. Late night shows are the first to be impacted by the strike as writers work up to the last minute before a broadcast. Pre-recorded non-live shows will not see the effects immediately. These shows are already produced and they will continue to air according to schedule. According to Variety, the strike will have to go on for months before the impacts are noticeable. Non-scripted shows, like news and reality shows, won’t be affected as they aren’t under WGA agreement. The strike can’t stop showrunners from coming in a producer capacity; it works as long as they don’t write a script. Most showrunners are WGA members, so they will likely stop their producing work in an act of solidarity of their peers. The strike can be tricky for writer-directors as they can join the strike in their writer capacity. Though, they would still have to fulfill their director duties as The Directors Guild of America has a no strike clause in their contracts. If they do walk off a set due to their discomfort, they run the risk of being replaced. The strike could also delay the production of various films and television shows if a script needs a rewrite or if it isn’t complete. Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” are two shows that fell victim to this. According to Brittani Nichols, a writer for “Abbott Elementary,” the writers of the show write as they air. In her interview with Democracy Now , she explained that if the strike continues, the show’s episodes won’t come out on time and that could change the amount of episodes that air. Matt and Ross Duffer, the brother duo who are co-creators and co-showrunners for “Stranger Things,” announced the delay during Cinco De Mayo weekend. They took to Twitter to explain the situation. “Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then -- over and out. #wgastrong,” the tweet read . Many celebrities have been seen supporting the writers, notably Pete Davidson and Jay Leno who gave food to those on the picket lines. It’s unclear how long the strike will be or how well the negotiations are going.

The woman who accused the rapper of sexual assault will be able to collect large judgement. Priscilla Rainey, the woman who accused The Game of sexual assault, is one step closer to collecting the $7 Million judgment she’s owed. In court documents filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, Rainey accused the rapper of creating shell companies to avoid paying the judgment. She also alleges The Game, real name Jaceyon Taylor, stepped down as manager of JTT Holdings and transferred the company to Wack 100, real name Cash Jones. This prevented Rainey from securing Taylor’s property to pay off the judgment. Rainey claims that Taylor was paid $905,000 from 5th Amendment, dating back to 2017. She also believes he was paid through JTT Holdings, saying the company sent her $342,000 in 2019. During the trial Jones testified that Taylor transferred the company to him to help with a debt. The judge didn’t believe Jones’ claims and sided with Rainey. As a result, Rainey can choose to put a lien against Taylor’s home, which he attempted to transfer to Jones as well.  The judge ultimately voided that transaction, allowing for the possible lien to satisfy the $7 million judgment. Rainey filed the suit in 2021 with the claims about Taylor's alleged shell companies. She attempted to serve the Compton-born rapper with the court documents relating to the suit, but that proved hard to do. Rainey later hired a private investigator to help with the process of serving Taylor. A filing read: “On Friday, July 29, 2022, surveillance was conducted on the residence from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at which time Taylor was followed to his vehicle to an office building in Encino. Personal service was announced and attempted as Taylor entered the building, however, he refused to take possession.” The filing also notes that Rainey had attempted to serve Taylor at least six times between October 15, 2021 and November 3, 2021. In her 2015 lawsuit, Rainey alleged that The Game sexually assaulted her repeatedly during the filming of his reality show, “She’s Got Game.” She would only receive a part of the judgment, which she claims only totaled $500,000. Neither Taylor or Rainey have publicly commented on the update of the case.

The documents feature emails, depositions and lists of witnesses relating to the case. The court documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein’s human trafficking and sexual abuse case have been slowly released to the public throughout the week. As many as 153 names appeared in the documents, though it doesn’t automatically imply a link to criminal activities. Many of the names come up in passing or in non-salacious settings, according to Senior U.S. Judge Loretta A. Presta. The documents highlight the federal charges against Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell.  Some of the names included, like former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew, were already known to have links to Epstein. Most of the people publicly named have denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. According to NPR, the documents are coming out now due to the persistence of both the victims and a local newspaper. Dozens of women stepped forward to accuse Epstein and Maxwell of preying on them when they were teenagers. One of the well-known is Virginia Giuffre, who sued Maxwell for defamation in 2015 – Maxwell called her a liar for claiming to be a victim. Judge Preska eventually ordered for some records to be released in full as people hadn’t objected. For other records, the person’s identity was already widely known. Journalist Julie K. Brown and the Miami Herald fought for the documents to be released. Brown tracked down more than 60 women in her year-long investigation of Epstein, and later revealed the full story behind the sweetheart deal cut by Epstein’s legal team. The Miami Herald  published “Perversion of Justice”  in November 2018, an investigative series that highlighted Epstein’s sex trafficking ring and subsequent abuse. Here are the main takeaways from the now-released documents: Various Men Dubbed “John Doe” Have Their Identities Revealed The released documents reveal the identities of various John Does, including former President Al Gore and late New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. Other notable names include former U.S. Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, actor Kevin Spacey and former Israeli Prime Minister Enid Barack. Lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who helped Epstein get his non-prosecution in Florida, was also named.  Giuffre accused Dershowitz of sexually assaulting her, though he denied the allegations. She later settled her dispute with him in 2022, saying she may have been mistaken. Magician David Copperfield was named in the documents, which describe the time he had dinner at Epstein’s home with a young girl.  One of the victims quoted former President Clinton saying that he “likes them young,” a clear reference to the age of the victims. Sjoberg Describes the Abuse She Endured and Witnessed Johanna Sjoberg was another victim featured in the documents. She testified that Maxwell approached her on her college campus when she was only 20 years old. Maxwell wanted to hire Sjoberg to be her personal assistant. When Sjoberg began working with Maxwell, she realized her “true job” was to complete sex acts with Jeffrey Epstein. She worked as a massage therapist from 2001 until 2006. She confirms that she knew Giuffre was underage when she met her on the trip to New York with Epstein in 2001. Sjoberg knew this because when Giuffre couldn’t get into a casino, she asked her age – Giuffre admitted to being only 17 years old. “At the time, I had the impression that she did not have a family or she walked away from her family,” Sjoberg said. “And it seemed to me, you know, they had just sort of adopted her, not as a child, but they would take care of her.” She also testified that she saw Giuffre when she was only 17 in Epstein’s New York mansion with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine. Sjoberg later said that Epstein would have up to three massages every day from three different girls. She notes that Epstein said he needed three orgasms a day as “it was biological, like eating.”  She described the time when Maxwell explained why she herself doesn’t give Epstein massages. “She (Maxwell) said she didn’t have the time or the desire to please him as much as he needs and that’s why there were other girls around,” Sjoberg said in testimony.  Sjoberg notes that Maxwell would ask her to essentially recruit other girls to perform the massages. She testified that she was naked for up to 50% of the massages she personally performed, for which she was paid $200. If those massages included sexual acts, she was paid more than the usual amount. The Small Players: Who Were the Everyday Joes that Helped With or Witnessed the Abuse? With everyone focusing on the celebrity names listed throughout the court documents, there’s not much talk about the everyday players. A list features the scheduled interviews with Epstein’s various associates, including employees and alleged co-conspirators. Two of Epstein and Maxwell’s alleged co-conspirators mentioned throughout the documents include Nadia Marcinkova and Sara Kellen – also known as Sarah Kensington or Sara Vickers. The list for future witnesses notes that Marcinkova helped with the recruitment process and Kellen was present during the time Giuffre was with Epstein and Maxwell. Another name that’s been mentioned numerous times in various documents is Emmy Taylor, Maxwell’s “assistant.” The list puts the word in quotations as Sjoberg once testified that Maxwell referred to her as “my slave.” In one of the many instances that Taylor was on Epstein’s private jet, Maxwell woke her up as the plane was landing. Taylor proceeded to unzip Epstein’s pants, but Maxwell told her to prepare for the plane’s landing. Other notable witnesses include: Jo Jo Fontanella, Epstein’s butler Ross Gow, Maxwell’s press agent Dave Rogers, one the pilots for Epstein’s jet Maria and Juan Alessi, husband and wife who were part of Epstein’s household staff Jean Luc Brunel, a model scout who owned both a modeling agency and management company; he received financing from Epstein Download the first batch of the court documents here: