House of Blues Chicago Calls Off Matisyahu Show Due to Security Concerns From Pro Palestine Protest

The Friday night performance at the House of Blues, featuring American Jewish reggae singer and rapper Matisyahu, was called off due to concerns over potential protests.

Just hours before the scheduled event, Live Nation notified ticket holders of the cancellation without providing a specific reason, only mentioning that refunds were being processed.

Matisyahu expressed his disappointment on social media Friday afternoon, stating, "Dear Fans, it deeply saddens me to share this with you. Our sold-out show tonight at the House of Blues Chicago won't be happening due to a threat of protests. The situation remains confusing, with all parties involved blaming each other. However, I assure you, our security team has not reported any threats of violence, and they're always in the know about the situation in every city we visit."

He revealed that despite the event's cancellation, the House of Blues compensated him, and he intends to donate these funds to support the families of hostages held by Hamas, in a gesture made "in honor of International Women's Day" to recognize "the women and girls still held captive by Hamas" and "United Hatzalah of Israel," a volunteer emergency medical service.

Matisyahu emphasized, "This setback won't deter us. The broader implications of yielding to such pressure threaten the very core of artistic freedom, intellectual integrity, and the empathy needed to bridge divides. We remain committed to our performances, opposing hatred, and advocating for peace."

Prior to the cancellation, the U.S. Palestinian Community Network-Chicago and the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression announced their intent to protest Matisyahu's concert, criticizing him as a "racist, Zionist musician" and stating he was unwelcome in Chicago.

In their opposition, they argued, "Hosting a musician who has entertained the Israeli Occupation Forces, supported Israel and the AIPAC lobbying organization, and denied the ongoing genocide is unacceptable."

Once the concert was canceled, the planned protest was also called off, with the USPCN claiming victory on social media, highlighting the power of collective action.

Matisyahu has experienced similar issues recently, with last month's concerts in Santa Fe and Tucson being canceled due to venue staff objections. He addressed these incidents on social media, suggesting the cancellations were either due to anti-Semitism or a misunderstanding of his empathetic stance towards both Israelis and Palestinians.

Despite these challenges, protests have not stopped Matisyahu's performances entirely. A show in Minneapolis went ahead despite protests, demonstrating his determination to continue his music and message. He also performed in Milwaukee and has scheduled appearances in Detroit and Cleveland, standing firm against opposition.

International musicians Face Financial Burden as U.S. Visa Fees Soar

The U.S. Government has recently announced a significant increase in the fees for O and P visas, which are non-immigrant temporary worker visas granted by the United States. The changes are set to take effect from April 1, 2024. The new fee for an O visa, granted to an individual who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, is $1,055, up from $460.

On the other hand, the P visa, which is often utilized by independent artists, athletes, and entertainers, has seen its fee rise from $460 to $1,015. This type of visa is particularly important for those who wish to perform at specific events, competitions, or performances in the U.S.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stated that the increase is necessary to cover operational costs and avoid future backlogs. This suggests that the USCIS is aiming to improve its services and reduce processing times by increasing its resources. However, this decision has been met with criticism from various quarters, with many arguing that it will deter artists from applying for these visas.

For those needing to expedite the processing of O or P visas, the USCIS offers the Premium Processing Service. This service guarantees 15 calendar day processing for a fee of $2,500. The Premium Processing Service fee is separate from the base filing fee.

While fee waivers or reductions are typically reserved for certain humanitarian or other special situations, for O and P visas specifically, there isn’t typically a fee waiver available. However, some applicants may be eligible for a fee reduction or waiver based on their specific circumstances. For example, non-profit organizations, schools, or individuals with financial hardship might be eligible for a fee waiver. Additionally, people under the age of 14 may have their fees waived.

The increased fees could pose a significant financial burden on artists, particularly independent artists or those from countries where the exchange rate makes the fees even more costly. This could make it unaffordable for many artists to work and perform in the U.S. The increased costs could potentially wipe out over a third of any potential profits a tour might make. This could lead to changes in tour planning, with artists potentially choosing to perform in fewer cities or forgoing a U.S. tour altogether.

While the USCIS has justified the increase in visa fees as a necessary measure to cover operational costs and avoid future backlogs, the move has sparked concerns among artists and industry bodies. The increased fees could potentially deter artists from applying for these visas, thereby limiting the cultural exchange and diversity that foreign artists bring to the U.S. The impact of this on the U.S. entertainment industry in the long run remains to be seen.

Russell Simmons Faces Defamation Lawsuit Over Sexual Assault Allegations

Russell Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam Records, is facing a new lawsuit. This time, it’s for defamation. The lawsuit has been filed by Drew Dixon, a former music executive who alleges that Simmons sexually assaulted her and then defamed her by labeling her a “liar” when she made the accusations public, as per court documents that Rolling Stone obtained.

Dixon, who served as an A&R executive at the label from 1993 and left shortly after the alleged assault in 1995, initiated the lawsuit in New York on Thursday. She is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.

Dixon’s lawyers refer to a December interview in which Simmons minimized the allegations of harassment and sexual assault, stating “Yeah, [rape is] a serious word, but I think they’ve changed the meaning.” He also insinuated that his accusers might be “thirst[ing] for fame” and asserted that all his relationships were consensual.

The court papers allege that Simmons “has gone on a concerted and malicious campaign to discredit Ms. Dixon and to so damage her reputation” to the extent that her claims would not be believable. They further state that “this defamation has exacerbated the paralyzation of Ms. Dixon professionally.” (A representative for Simmons did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

In a statement given to Rolling Stone, Dixon’s lawyers, Sigrid McCawley and Kenya Davis of Boies Schiller Flexner, said, “Ms. Dixon has taken enough abuse. Not only was she violently raped by Russell Simmons – profoundly disrupting her personal and professional life – but after she tried to move forward and heal, he then further abused her by publicly proclaiming that she lied about the rape in search of ‘fame.’ Mr. Simmons has used his public platform to re-traumatize and terrorize Ms. Dixon, and the time has now come to hold him accountable for his defamatory statements and to end this cycle of abuse.”

Dixon first disclosed her alleged encounter with Simmons to The New York Times in 2017. She claimed that she had to constantly ward off Simmons’ sexual advances while working at Def Jam. She alleges that he would often try to grope and kiss her and would expose himself to her. One night in 1995, while waiting for a car in Simmons’ apartment, Dixon alleges that he grabbed her from behind, pinned her to a bed, and sexually assaulted her. “The last thing I remember was him pinning me down to kiss me on the bed,” she told the newspaper, saying she “blacked out” and the next thing she remembered was being naked in a hot tub together. Dixon immediately informed a friend about the incident and later submitted a handwritten resignation letter, leaving her position at Def Jam.

Last December, Simmons responded to the accusations from more than 20 women who allege that the music mogul harassed or sexually assaulted them. (In addition to The New York Times article where Dixon and two other women came forward against Simmons, the 2020 documentary On The Record also featured multiple women who accused him of misconduct.)

In a conversation with journalist Graham Bensinger, Simmons confessed that he had been in “crude, compromising situations,” but insisted that he has “never been forceful in any of my relationships.”

Dixon’s attorneys underscored four statements from the interview to substantiate their claim of defamation, stating that in “their full context” Simmons has effectively accused Dixon of lying. Early in the discussion, Simmons admits that he’s slept with “thousands” of people but suggested only “six people” have come forward against him.

“I can simply tell you that I was in so many compromising situations, that people can have a recollection from 30 or 40 years ago, and it can be different from my recollection,” Simmons added. “And it could be one where there was perhaps a collaboration. If you had more foursomes than most guys at once, could someone leave and feel hurt? Could some reimagine a story out of thousands of people? Could someone want notoriety in the market where people thirst for fame, even infamous.” The lawsuit alleges that Simmons “has persisted in his efforts to discredit Ms. Dixon, referring to the ‘main accuser’ from On the Record and labeling her a liar for publicizing the account of the assault — defamation that began in December 2019 and has continued to this day.” The suit further claims that “this defamation has climbed the ranks to the apex of the leadership circle, encompassing not just Ms. [Oprah] Winfrey, but also other founding board members of Time’s Up, which includes some of our nation’s most influential women across various sectors from business to politics to entertainment.” (Winfrey had initially signed on as an executive producer of On the Record, but Simmons alleged she withdrew from the project “at his urging back” in late 2019.) This marks the second lawsuit against Simmons in the past week. A Jane Doe accuser lodged a lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging that after she joined Def Jam in the mid-1990s, Simmons “disrupted and derailed” her career following an alleged sexual assault at his New York apartment. (Simmons’ attorney refuted the allegations in a statement to Rolling Stone.)

Jane Doe’s lawsuit was filed under the provisions of New York’s Gender Motivated Violence Act, which offers a lookback window for survivors of gender-motivated violence until March 1, 2025. The music industry is currently undergoing a MeToo reckoning after both California and New York enacted laws to waive the statutes of limitations on sexual abuse allegations. Other individuals who have been sued include Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jimmy Iovine, Axl Rose, and the former CEOs of the Recording Academy, Neil Portnow and Mike Greene.

New Selena Documentary Faces Backlash from Quintanilla Family And Fans

Abraham Quintanilla, the father of the late Tejano icon Selena, has expressed his disapproval of a new documentary featuring Yolanda Saldívar on Oxygen True Crime. He stated that neither he nor any family member was involved in the production of the two-part series titled “Selena & Yolanda: The Secrets Between Them”. He also questioned the decision to interview Saldívar, who is currently serving a life sentence for Selena’s murder, arguing that she has a history of lying and will lack credibility with the audience.

Saldívar, who was in charge of Selena’s fan club, shot the Tejano star in 1995, just as she was on the verge of a mainstream commercial breakthrough. This happened after Selena accused Saldívar of embezzlement.

Promotional materials from Oxygen True Crime indicate that the documentary includes an in-prison interview with Saldívar, marking the first time in over two decades that the convicted murderer has spoken at length in English and on camera about the shooting. The series will also feature interviews with members of Saldívar’s family.

The broadcast date is approximately a year before Saldívar is eligible for parole. The documentary will include a series of prison interviews with her, as well as interviews with some of Selena’s family members and previously unseen documents. Fans are far from understanding the purpose of the documentary. One fan commented on X/Twitter, “It’s pointless. I can see something with something like the docuseries for Mckamey Manor, or how they did for some of the more prolific serial killers. Where they aren’t giving them excuses.” Others are calling for a boycott, saying, “I’m Boycotting it. Everybody should too. She took a Valuable, Irreplaceable life.” Another fan criticized Oxygen, saying, “Shame on you! This is so unbelievably disrespectful to Selena’s family. Those poor people have had to grieve the loss of their loved one and you’re allowing her killer to have a platform.” Selena’s father told TMZ, “No one’s gonna believe what she has to say anyway. Everyone knows there’s zero truth to anything that comes out of her mouth.”

Selena Por Vida

Killer Mike Responds to Grammy Night Arrest

Apart from the buzz around Taylor Swift, the 2024 Grammy Awards were marked by the arrest of Killer Mike. Footage of the rapper’s detention, which occurred shortly after his triple Grammy win, circulated widely on social media that Sunday night. He was subsequently released, but the reasons behind his arrest remained largely undisclosed. A source for Rolling Stone has now revealed that the arrest was a result of a dispute with a security guard following his victories.

The source detailed that the artist, whose real name is Mike Render, was halted by a guard who requested his tickets and guided him towards a security checkpoint. Render attempted to bypass her, leading to a second halt, during which she claimed that Render knocked her to the ground. The guard reportedly sustained injuries from the alleged assault, prompting her to summon additional security and contact the police. She received medical attention and filed a citizen’s arrest for misdemeanor battery.

This explains why the authorities didn’t postpone the matter until after the Grammys to address it discreetly: because “it was a private citizen, and she had everything she needed to exercise her rights to make a citizen’s arrest,” as the source clarified to the outlet. “And we are bound by law to make that arrest.”

Killer Mike, on the other hand, refutes the accusation. A representative from his team informed Rolling Stone that the “situation has been overblown, but we are confident that the facts of the case, when laid bare, will show that Mike did not commit the alleged offense, and he will be exonerated.” In his personal statement, Render expressed, “As you can imagine, there was a lot going and there was some confusion around which door my team and I should enter. We experienced an over-zealous security guard, but my team and I have the upmost [sic] confidence that I will ultimately be cleared of all wrongdoing.”

In the aftermath of his awards, he stated, “We are incredibly proud and are basking in this moment.” He also shared his gratitude for a personal blessing: “I am also grateful that one of my prayers has been answered—the day after my Grammy win—I learned that my son, who has been on the list for a kidney for years, finally has a match. Obviously, we are elated.”

Lil Pump Gets An Ugly A** Tattoo Of Trump’s Mugshot

Lil Pump, the artist behind “Gucci Gang,” is a staunch supporter of the former president, Donald Trump, and his Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. His loyalty to the one-term Republican leader was recently demonstrated when he tattooed a well-known image of Trump, from his time on The Apprentice, onto his leg. On Tuesday (Jan. 30), the 23-year-old Pump, whose real name is Gazzy Garcia, shared a photo on Instagram of the new tattoo, which is a replica of a widely circulated mugshot of Trump. This mugshot was taken when Trump was arrested and processed in Fulton County, Georgia, in August of the previous year after he turned himself in following his indictment for allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2022 election in that state. This indictment is one of four, amounting to 91 felony charges, that the current GOP presidential front-runner is facing as he campaigns for the presidency for the third time.

Alongside the image, Pump wrote, “MAGA [two American flag emoji].” The post also included an older photo of a grinning Pump standing next to Trump at a rally. In a November post featuring the same photo of Pump and Trump, the rapper referred to the former real estate tycoon as the “Greatest president of all time.”

Pump has been vocal about his support for Trump for almost four years, starting in October 2020 when he posted a video criticizing President Biden’s proposed tax policy, which aims to make the wealthy pay a larger share of taxes. This was followed by the release of the song “Lil Pimp Big MAGA Steppin.” Trump, in turn, invited Pump, who was wearing a MAGA hat, to join him on stage at a rally in Michigan just before the 2020 election polls opened (though he mistakenly called him “Lil Pimp”). However, as reported by the Smoking Gun, Pump, who was 20 at the time, was not eligible to vote for the first time because he did not register in his home state of Florida in time.

Pump’s tattoo tribute is the latest in a series of hip-hop endorsements for Trump. Chicago rapper Bandman Kevo also tattooed the first-ever presidential booking photo on his leg in August of the previous year. Trump has received endorsements or words of praise from rappers Benny the Butcher, Sexyy Red, Kodak Black, and most notably, Ye, who visited Trump in the White House in November 2002.

Just this week, after years of animosity, Snoop Dogg expressed “nothing but love and respect” for Trump. This change of heart was brought about by one of Trump’s final actions as president: granting clemency to Death Row Records co-founder Michael “Harry-O” Harris in the final moments of his single term in office.

Trump launches a “Holy War” On Taylor Swift

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift hasn’t even endorsed President Joe Biden for reelection yet. That hasn’t stopped members of Trump Supporters upper crust from plotting to declare — as one source close to Donald Trump calls it — a “holy war” on the pop megastar, especially if she ends up publicly backing the Democrats in the 2024 election. According to three people familiar with the matter, Trump loyalists working on or close to the former president’s campaign, longtime Trump allies in right-wing media, and an array of outside advisers to the ex-president have long taken it as a given that Swift will eventually endorse Biden (as she did in 2020). Indeed, several of these Republicans and conservative media figures have discussed the matter with Trump over the past few months, the sources say. While Swift has not yet issued an endorsement in the 2024 race, The New York Times reported Monday that Swift is a key name on Biden aides’ “wish lists of potential surrogates.” A potential Swift appearance at Super Bowl LVIII alongside her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, has already prompted the MAGA right’s culture-war into a battle about how this NFL season has been rigged to boost Biden. Behind the scenes, Trump has reacted to the possibility of Biden and Swift teaming up against him this year not with alarm, but with an instant projection of ego. In recent weeks, the former president has told people in his orbit that no amount of A-list celebrity endorsements will save Biden. Trump has also privately claimed that he is “more popular” than Swift and that he has more committed fans than she does, a person close to Trump and another source with knowledge of the matter said. Last month, the source close to Trump adds, the ex-president commented to some confidants that it “obviously” made no sense that he was not named Time magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year — an honor that went to none other than Swift in December. in an email, Trump campaign senior adviser Jason Miller shrugged off the prospect of a Swift endorsement for Trump’s rival. “Joe Biden might be counting on Taylor Swift to save him, but voters are looking at these sky-high inflation rates and saying, ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,’” Miller wrote. The former president has already taken public swipes at Swift because of her endorsement of two Tennessee Democrats running during the 2018 midterms. “I like Taylor’s music about 25 percent less now,” Trump said following the pop singer’s statement. Swift also blasted Trump during the 2020 election, accusing him of trying to “blatantly cheat and put millions of Americans’ lives at risk” following the Trump administration’s efforts to hinder mail-in voting amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, as Trump has been having a popularity contest with Swift in his own head, others close to him — including GOP operatives, some of his 2024 staff, and Trump-y media figures — have been brainstorming different ways to go after Swift. Since late last year, these Trump allies have repeatedly discussed how to turn the culture-warrior dial up to 11 if she re-endorses Biden this year, the sources recount. “It would be more fuel thrown onto the culture-war fires,” says an official working on the Trump reelection efforts. “Another left-wing celebrity who is part of the Democrat elite telling you what to think.” Publicly, members of Trump’s inner sanctum and social circle are already signaling Swift’s prominent position atop their enemies list — a situation that has reached fever pitch now that Swift’s boyfriend will once again be playing in the Super Bowl.

Notorious Troll Doxxed By swifties Over AI GENERATED Nudes of Taylor Swift

It has been reported that Taylor Swift is “furious” about the explicit, AI-created images of her that are being shared on social media.

Indeed, the “Cruel Summer” artist is contemplating legal measures in response to the explicit pictures from NSFW sites that became widespread this week, as per an informant.

“Whether or not legal action will be taken is being decided, but there is one thing that is clear: These fake, AI-generated images are abusive, offensive, exploitative and done without Taylor’s consent and/or knowledge,” the source disclosed to the Daily Mail Thursday.

“The Twitter account that posted them does not exist anymore. It is shocking that the social media platform even let them be up to begin with,” the informant continued.

Swift’s loved ones are also “furious,” according to the report. “Legislation needs to be passed to prevent this, and laws must be enacted,” the source insisted.

While Swift, 34, has yet to make a public statement about the controversy, her dedicated followers promptly filled X, previously known as Twitter, with supportive messages and finding the troll in an effort to counteract the dissemination of the unsuitable pictures.

After some investigation, fans identified the troll as: Zvbear. Swifties have been doxxing him, trying to get him arrested and even killed. Zbvear wrote on X, “I don’t care how powerful Swifties are they’ll never find me I’m like the Joker I use fake numbers and addresses for everything I do As long as my account is still active I can never lose”.

After the onslaught from the swifties, he stated, “I gotta go private till this tsunami passes… The only time in history I privated my account was cause of Jen*na Ortega fans for 24 hours Now I’m dealing with Swifties A whole different animal… This is a Tactical Retreat, every great army has done this”. Zbvear then disappeared and made his account private. Zbvear is allegedly a Somalian troll notorious for these kinds of pranks.

Will Zbvear face charges for the AI nudes of our beloved Taylor or will he vanish into the darkness? We will be tracking this story as it unfolds.

Fans Take Legal Action Against Madonna for Delayed Concert

Two fans of Madonna in New York City have initiated a lawsuit against the pop icon for the delayed start of her concert, asserting that they “had to get up early to go to work” the following day.

The legal action, lodged on Wednesday in a federal court in Brooklyn, was brought by Michael Fellows and Jonathan Hadden, who purchased tickets for a show on December 13 at the Barclays Center, a part of Madonna’s Celebration tour.

The concert was scheduled to commence at 8.30pm, but the musician, aged 65, didn’t appear on stage until after 10.30pm, as per the lawsuit.

When the two attendees departed past 1am, they were “left stranded in the middle of the night” and faced “limited public transportation, limited ride-sharing, and/or increased public and private transportation costs”.

The lawsuit alleges that the late conclusion of the weekday show also impacted their ability to “take care of their family responsibilities the next day”. Fellows and Hadden are accusing Madonna, Barclays Center, and tour promoter Live Nation of “unconscionable, unfair, and/or deceptive trade practices” due to the postponed start time, which they argue is a breach of contract and “a wanton exercise in false advertising”.

The lawsuit is aiming for class action status for attendees of other late-starting Celebration shows, including Madonna’s subsequent two concerts in New York on December 14 and 16.

In the live music industry, delays are not unusual. Madonna has previously faced similar lawsuits: in 2019, a fan from Florida argued that her tardiness on her Madame X tour was a breach of contract; and again in 2020, in a lawsuit filed by two concertgoers from New York.

Both lawsuits were eventually voluntarily dismissed.

Drake’s Music: The Ideal Soundtrack for Your Next Target Run, Says Yasiin Bey”

Yasiin Bey, a highly respected figure in the Hip Hop community, has recently expressed his views on a prominent figure in the current music scene.

In an exclusive interview with The Cutting Room Floor on Patreon, which was broadcasted on Wednesday (January 10), the Brooklyn-born artist delved into the topic of contemporary rap and its key player.

“Drake is pop to me,” he shared with the host, Recho Omondi. “In the sense like, if I was in Target in Houston and I heard a Drake song, it feels like a lot of his music is compatible with shopping. Or shopping with an edge, in certain instances.”

While Bey did describe the music of the Canadian sensation as “likeable,” he and Omondi humorously discussed the concept of music serving as a perfect accompaniment for commercial activities.

“I love this mall!” Bey humorously declared. “They have everything here. This is the new Drake — you hear it?”

Switching to a more serious tone, Bey proposed that music suitable for shopping might lose its relevance during “the collapse of empire.”

“Are we not in some early stage of that at this present hour?” he questioned. “Buying and selling — where’s the message that I can use? What’s in it for your audience?”

In a bold statement, he said, “I’d bet a million dollars on DOOM against Lil Wayne,” expressing his affinity for DOOM’s unique style. “He rhymes as weird as I feel. When I saw that Madvillain record, I bought it on vinyl and I didn’t even have a record player. I bought it just to stare at the album. I stared at it and I just kept going, ‘I understand it.’

“’Cause, you know, I was a teenager growing up listening to [John Coltrane’s] Love Supreme and [Miles Davis’] Bitches Brew and [Charles Mingus’] The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, but I was also rhyming.”

The unfortunate demise of MF DOOM (whose real name was Daniel Dumile) at the age of 49 in October 2020 due to respiratory issues was also mentioned. It was later revealed that he succumbed to angioedema, a rare side effect of blood pressure medication.

Ariana Grande’s Stalker Sentenced to Over Three Years in Prison

“Aharon Zebulun Israel Brown”, the stalker of “Ariana Grande”, has been found guilty and is set to serve a prison term of three years and eight months.

In 2021, Brown trespassed on Grande’s Hollywood Hills property at least 92 times, one of which involved him carrying a hunting knife.

Despite Grande securing a five-year restraining order against him, Brown continued his intrusive behavior and violated her Montecito property in 2022.

John T. Savrnoch, the District Attorney of Santa Barbara County, revealed this week that Brown has admitted to charges of first degree residential burglary, issuing criminal threats, and stalking an individual who had an active restraining order against him.

His punishment has been predetermined and will be formally handed down on May 3, as stated in a press release from the district attorney’s office.

Along with his prison sentence, Brown will be issued a restraining order that will remain valid for 10 years this time.

He will be forbidden from being in Grande’s vicinity and from reaching out to her.

From February to September 2021, Brown infiltrated Grande’s Hollywood Hills residence more than 90 times over a seven-month span.

In September, Brown trespassed on the property, brandishing a hunting knife and threatening Grande’s security personnel: ‘I’ll f***ing kill you and her!’

When the police were called, he tried to flee but was eventually apprehended.

Following the incident involving the knife, Grande secured a five-year restraining order against Brown and sold her Hollywood Hills home for $14 million a month later.

Despite these measures, Brown’s fixation on Grande persisted. He sent her threatening messages on Instagram between May 26 and June 26, 2022.

On June 26, he broke into her Montecito home, severing her phone lines and alarm system wires with a screwdriver. At the time of the break-in, Grande was not at home. The police eventually found Brown hiding in a crawl space with the assistance of a K-9 unit.

Upon investigating Brown, the authorities discovered his extensive online search history related to his stalking activities.

It appears that Brown used the internet to locate her address and devise ways to bypass her security system.

He also seemed to have an unhealthy interest in Grande’s personal and professional life, as evidenced by the over 2,000 videos or images of Grande found in his possession.

Notorious Music Leaker, King Bob, Indicted On Federal Charges For Stealing $800k In Crypto

A recent indictment reveals how Noah Michael Urban, a 19-year-old from Palm Coast, is alleged to have stolen a total of $800,000 from five distinct victims. Urban, who is also known by various pseudonyms including “King Bob,” has been widely shared on social media, with thousands of users posting his mugshot and identifying him as a notorious music ‘leaker.’ He is known for posting unreleased music from various artists under the social media username King Bob. A large number of X users have linked Urban to leaked tracks from Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, and Ariana Grande. However, at present, Urban does not face any charges related to music theft. Urban, who uses several other aliases besides King Bob (‘Sosa,’ ‘Elijah,’ and ‘Anthony Ramirez’), was arrested on Tuesday. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office booked him, according to jail logs, and he was charged with being a fugitive from justice.

On Thursday, he was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, eight counts of wire fraud, and five counts of aggravated identity theft. Aggravated identity theft differs from regular identity theft in that it involves the accused stealing someone’s identity and then using that information to commit another crime.

The United States Attorney’s Office Middle District of Florida suggests that the fraud may have started earlier, but Urban’s alleged crimes were committed from at least August 2022 to March 2023. He is charged with both actual fraud and conspiring to continue to defraud victims.

The indictment charges Urban with wire fraud conspiracy because he attempted to “obtain personally identifying information” from additional victims and use it to access their cryptocurrency exchange accounts. The document also mentions that Urban had co-conspirators.

The indictment states that Urban defrauded his victims “by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.” It also outlines each of the eight counts of wire fraud that Urban faces and how he used “wire communication” to carry out his “scheme and artifice.”

Michael Jackson Named in Epstein Court Docs with No Evidence of Wrongdoing

The name of Michael Jackson, the late pop icon, appeared in some court papers that were recently made public and related to Jeffrey Epstein, who was charged with sex trafficking. However, the documents did not accuse the singer of any misconduct. The papers, which were revealed on Wednesday night (Jan. 3), belong to a 2015 lawsuit that Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein, filed against Ghislaine Maxwell, the girlfriend of the deceased financier. Maxwell was found guilty in 2021 of assisting Epstein in luring and abusing minors. She received a 20-year sentence. The late King of Pop — who was cleared of charges that he abused young boys in 2005, and strongly rejected the claims during his lifetime — was mentioned during the testimony of a witness, which happened on May 18, 2016, as per the documents that Billboard obtained. In the transcript, Sigrid McCawley, the lawyer of Giuffre, asks the witness — who also accused Epstein of wrongdoing — about the famous people she met with the financier, who had ties to the wealthy, influential and well-known. “Did you ever meet anybody famous when you were with Jeffrey?” McCawley asked.

“I met Michael Jackson,” the witness answered. “At his house in Palm Beach. At Jeffrey’s house in Palm Beach.”

McCawley also inquired if the witness had massaged Jackson, which she said no to.

Later in the testimony, Laura Menninger — a lawyer for Maxwell — resumed the questioning about the 13-time Grammy winner: “You were asked about the famous people. You said you met Michael Jackson?”

The witness affirmed again that she had encountered the artist, and also repeated that she had never massaged him. The documents did not contain any claims of misconduct by Jackson, thankfully.

Sharon Osbourne Hints at Ozzfest Revival

Ozzfest, which has been dormant since 2018, might be revived, according to Sharon Osbourne. She hinted at a potential resurgence on a recent episode of The Osbournes Podcast.

In the episode, Ozzy Osbourne queried his wife Sharon about the festival’s future. He asked, “Not just one [at] the fucking Forum, but a whole Ozzfest?” Sharon responded affirmatively, “Yeah, sure,” she said. “Of course.”

Kelly Osbourne then raised a concern, “But it always comes down to: Are the bands and managers going to be realistic though?”

Sharon acknowledged the benefit of spin-offs and alternative festivals for fans, agreeing with Kelly’s point. She questioned, “Why is it when it comes to us that everybody thinks that we are trillionaires and so that every manager who wants their band on our festival wants one of the fucking trillions they think we’ve got to put on the festival?”

The family reminisced about the early versions of Ozzfest, which featured bands like Pantera, Sepultura, and Soulfly. They emphasized the importance of promoting emerging artists. “It’s always great to have the baby stage,” Sharon stated. “That’s what it’s all about: breaking new bands. That’s why we did it.”

Jack observed that many of the new metal festivals are “basically just Ozzfest.” Sharon concurred, “It’s the same bands just going around and around and around and around,” she said. “But that’s what’s so good, because we started something, people have taken it, and it’s still great for the genre." The latest Ozzfest took place in 2018 at the Forum in Los Angeles, featuring artists like Rob Zombie, Jonathan Davis, Marilyn Manson, and Ozzy Osbourne.

Recently, Ozzy confessed that he might never be able to perform live again due to his ongoing health issues, including a recent spinal surgery that revealed a tumor. In July, he withdrew from his headline slot at the forthcoming Power Trip festival, where he was set to share the stage with Metallica, AC/DC, and Guns N’ Roses. He managed to perform live twice in 2022, once in Birmingham, England, and once in Los Angeles, but each performance was brief and he had a stand for support if needed. “I’m taking it one day at a time, and if I can perform again, I will,” he told Rolling Stone UK in November. “But it’s been like saying farewell to the best relationship of my life. At the start of my illness, when I stopped touring, I was really pissed off with myself, the doctors, and the world. But as time has gone on, I’ve just gone, ‘Well, maybe I’ve just got to accept that fact.’”

He added, “I’m not going to get up there and do a half-hearted Ozzy looking for sympathy. What’s the fucking point in that? I’m not going up there in a fucking wheelchair. I’ve seen Phil Collins perform recently, and he’s got virtually the same problems as me. He gets up there in a wheelchair! But I couldn’t do that.”

Check out the Episode:

Elon Musk Criticizes Green Day for Changing Lyrics to Attack MAGA Agenda

During a televised show on New Year’s Eve, the lead singer of Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, altered a line in one of their hit songs “American Idiot” to criticize former president Donald Trump and his followers. He replaced “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” with "I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda.” This provoked a backlash on social media, where the world’s wealthiest person, Elon Musk, slammed the band for going “from raging against the machine to milquetoastedly raging for it”. Trump’s supporters, who adopted his slogan “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) in his 2016 presidential campaign, were also outraged by the move.

The lyric change happened in Los Angeles and was broadcasted on ABC’s “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”. It was the latest in a string of anti-Republican protests from the band, who first released “American Idiot” as a commentary on the “confusion” of the world under the George W. Bush administration in 2004. Green Day was a trending topic on X, the former name of Twitter, on Monday morning, where some accused them of “selling out” to “ensure they are DNC compliant” and Citizen Free Press, a conservative news site, called Armstrong “not a punk rocker but just another tired, listless vessel for the corporate political agenda.”

The band has a history of making political statements—Green Day chanted “No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!” on stage at an American Music awards show that occurred days after Trump’s 2016 election victory, Armstrong in 2020 accused Trump of “holding half of the country hostage” and in August the band sold limited edition merchandise that featured the former president’s mugshot and called him the “ultimate Nimrod,” a reference to the band’s 1997 “Nimrod” album cover. “I f**king hate Donald Trump so much,” Billie Joe Armstrong said to an audience at a Cannes Lions performance in 2018. “I used to scream ‘I hated George Bush.’ This one is a little different. This one is bad, it’s like acid gone bad.”

Jackson 5’s Jermaine Jackson Faces Sexual Assault Allegations from the 1980s

Jermaine Jackson, one of the original members of the Jackson 5 and the elder brother of Michael Jackson, has been accused of sexual assault in 1988 by a woman, as per a recent lawsuit filed in California.

The concise lawsuit, which was lodged in Los Angeles on Wednesday, contains allegations from the complainant, Rita Barrett, that Jackson attacked her in her residence over thirty years ago, after he arrived at her home without prior notice. Barrett’s assertions in the lawsuit include that she became acquainted with Jackson through her profession as a music contractor and also via Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records. She claims to have had a close relationship with Gordy through her spouse, Ben Barrett.

The lawsuit declares, “Defendant Jackson forced himself into Plaintiff’s home, and with force and violence sexually assaulted Plaintiff.” It continues, “During the assault, Plaintiff, a woman of faith prayed to God for help. During the assault, Plaintiff feared for her life. After the assault and when Defendant Jackson was satiated, he left the residence.”

The lawsuit names Jackson, along with his businesses Jermaine L. Jackson Music Productions and Work Records, as defendants. The causes of action listed are sexual assault, battery, sexual battery, and negligence. Barrett is seeking damages, the amount of which is not specified.

Jeff Anderson, Barrett’s lawyer, said that “Rita Barrett suffered an egregious and violent sexual assault.” He added, “This is about her power and the declaration of it when she learned something could be done under the law, and she found the strength and support to find us and is now standing up for herself and others.”

While Gordy is not listed as a defendant, the lawsuit alleges that he shielded Jackson due to financial considerations. Barrett claims that she informed Gordy about the incident the day after it occurred because of his connection with both her and the Jackson family. She asserts that Gordy “was uniquely situated to both report Defendant Jackson’s acts and to aid plaintiff during her time of trauma.”

The lawsuit further alleges, “Instead, Mr. Gordy withheld and concealed the acts, further perpetuating the coverup and allowing Mr. Gordy, Defendant Jackson, and others in the business relationship to continue to reap profits derived from Mr. Jackson’s work and reputation for years to come.” The lawsuit was filed under California’s AB2777, similar to New York’s recently expired Adult Survivors Act, which temporarily lifts the statute of limitations on certain civil claims related to sexual misconduct. These laws have resulted in a surge of sexual abuse lawsuits in the music and entertainment sectors, with allegations being made against actors, artists, and executives, including Vin Diesel, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Axl Rose, and L.A. Reid, among others, in lawsuits filed in recent months.

Blueface Sued For Defamation by Soulja Boy’s Ex

Jackilyn Martinez, who has a young son with Soulja Boy, is taking legal action against Blueface for defamation. This follows a series of social media posts by the rapper suggesting that he could be the father of Soulja Boy’s one-year-old son.

Martinez lodged her complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court on a Friday. She claims that her legal team sent Blueface a cease-and-desist letter on a Tuesday, but his response on Instagram was dismissive and derisive, stating, “Nobody even said your name.”

In her legal documents, Martinez asserts that she had protected sex with Blueface once in 2018, but there has been no contact between them since then. She firmly states, “There is zero chance that the defendant is plaintiff’s child’s biological father,” as per her complaint obtained by Rolling Stone.

Blueface, legally known as Johnathan Jamall Porter, allegedly stated in his social media posts, which are included in the complaint, that he had sex with Soulja Boy’s “baby mama the day before your baby shower,” and he specified the date of the shower as June 11, 2022. He further speculated, “Might be my kid he ain’t even get the DNA test,” in another post mentioned in the lawsuit.

Martinez alleges that after she announced on her Instagram that she had sent Porter a cease-and-desist letter, she began receiving numerous death threats on the platform from unidentified individuals. One message read, “We gun in u down,” while another chillingly stated, “When u in the grave I’ll make sure you baby Alr,” according to the complaint.

Martinez expressed in her filing that she is deeply worried for her and her child’s safety and well-being, stating, “Plaintiff is gravely concerned for herself and her child’s safety and well being, and plaintiff is extremely nervous and afraid to go outside and/or be in public.” She argues that the alleged defamatory statements portray her as “promiscuous” and “unfaithful to the father of her child.” Martinez accuses Porter of failing to retract or remove the statements from social media, and she suspects that he made these claims to boost his career by “engaging in a feud” with Soulja Boy, legally known as Deandre Cortez Way. Her lawsuit includes charges of defamation, false light, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. She is seeking actual and punitive damages, legal fees, and a permanent injunction preventing Porter from defaming her.

Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour Spotted Working on “New Album”

Polly Sampson, the wife of David Gilmour, has been posting pictures on social media showing her husband working on a “new album” in his studio.

The guitarist from Pink Floyd has been dedicating time to work in his recording studio located in Brighton. His wife, who is also a writer and lyricist, has been documenting his recent studio visits and sharing them on her personal Instagram account.

The shared photos show Gilmour collaborating with various artists such as Brian Eno’s brother, pianist Roger Eno, and Guy Pratt, who has collaborated with both Pink Floyd and Gilmour multiple times. Other artists featured in the photos include drummer Adam Betts, who has worked with Pulp and dance acts like Pete Tong, Goldie, and Squarepusher, bassist Tom Herbert, who has performed with Mercury Prize-nominated bands The Invisible and Polar Bear, and producer Charlie Andrew, known for his work with Alt-J, James, Wolf Alice, and London Grammar.

While the exact purpose of Gilmour’s studio sessions remains unclear, the Pink Floyd fansite Neptune Pink Floyd reported that Sampson informed Romanian entertainment website Zile si Nopti that Gilmour is creating an album of original songs. This “new album” would be Gilmour’s first LP since the release of ‘Rattle That Lock’ in 2015. Since then, he has released the standalone single ‘Yes, I Have Ghosts’ in 2020 and revived Pink Floyd with Nick Mason for the charity song ‘Hey, Hey, Rise Up!’ featuring Andriy Khlyvnyuk from the Ukrainian band BoomBox.

Gilmour’s most recent live performance took place in 2016 during his six-night stint at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Keefe D’s Statements on 2Pac’s Murder Merely for ‘Entertainment Purposes,’ Lawyers Claim

The attorneys of Keefe D, whose real name is Duane Davis, have asserted that his comments about 2Pac’s murder were merely for “entertainment purposes.” Davis is the sole individual ever charged with 2Pac’s 1996 murder and has pleaded not guilty, with his trial scheduled for next year.

His legal representatives have recently asked for his release from jail and bail ahead of the trial, a request that has been denied since his arrest in September. As per KTNV, his lawyers have cited several reasons in their motion for this request, including that many of Davis’s public statements about the murder of the rap icon were for “entertainment purposes.”

They argue that the prosecutors have based their case on excerpts from Davis’s 2019 book, Compton Street Legend, co-authored by Yusuf Jah, and “did not delineate which parts of the book, if any, were written by Duane.” They also pointed to interviews Davis has given about 2Pac’s death in recent years, alleging an “astounding amount of hearsay and speculative testimony” was presented to the grand jury that decided to indict the 60-year-old.

“The truthfulness of the content of the interviews was never verified,” they contend in the filing. “The book and interviews were done for entertainment purposes and to make money from a situation that [LAPD officers] and others had already profited [from].”

Davis’s lawyers also state that he has been dealing with health issues while in jail, including a previously disclosed colon cancer diagnosis. “He is not getting his bi-monthly oncologist check-ups. Additionally, his heart health has declined,” the petition states. "He was put back on a group of medications to try to get things under control.

“He has to take these medications in the jail because he is unable to do the things necessary to maintain proper health. His diet in jail is terrible. He is given heavily-processed meals full of sodium that barely pass as food.” Davis was arrested for 2Pac’s murder in September following a search of his residence, marking the first arrest in the 27-year-old case. His next court appearance is set for January 1, with the trial commencing on June 3, 2024.

While Davis has been arrested for the murder of the rap legend, it is not believed that he was the shooter but was in the vehicle that pulled up next to 2Pac and Suge Knight in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996, and fired multiple shots. He is the only living suspect in the case.

The prosecution alleges that 'Pac was shot in retaliation for assaulting Davis’s nephew and fellow gang member, Orlando Anderson, in a Vegas casino earlier that evening.

Tiffany Red Coraborates Cassie Ventura’s Accusations Against Diddy In EXPLOSIVE Open Letter

In her bombshell abuse lawsuit, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura accused Sean Combs of controlling and isolating her, regularly assaulting her, and coercing her into sexual acts with other men during their long-term relationship. The suit, which was settled within a day after being filed in November, mentioned many friends, assistants, security guards, and Bad Boy Entertainment staff who allegedly saw some of the abuse.

Red, a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who has written songs for Zendaya, Joe Jonas, Jason Derulo, and Tamar Braxton, among others, wrote an open letter to Sean Combs to back up the claims of abuse Ventura made against the hip-hop mogul. Red is still a close friend of Ventura’s, and they met while working on Ventura’s second album, which was never released. Red says she was there on the night of Ventura’s 29th birthday party in August 2015, when Ventura claimed Combs and his security guards “cornered” and “forced” her to leave because Combs wanted her to join in sexual activity with other men.

Red says she felt scared and helpless as she saw Combs yell and swear at Ventura on the night of her party. She says she tried to intervene for Ventura when Combs, who was “intoxicated” and angry, insisted Ventura go with him. She says she later found out what happened when Combs took Ventura away that night, and it “shocked her to the core.”

When Rolling Stone contacted Combs’s representative with a detailed list of questions, they referred to a previous statement. Combs wrote, “Enough is enough. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to kill my character, ruin my reputation and my legacy. Horrible accusations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be very clear: I did not do any of the terrible things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

Red has quietly backed up her friend for years and even took on the role of her manager when Ventura tried to restart her career and break free from Combs professionally in 2019. But Ventura found out that her termination deal depended on a nondisparagement clause. Now, Red is speaking up to tell of the trauma of witnessing that night and share her hopes that others will be free to tell their stories.

Dear Sean Combs,

I’m stepping forward to recount my experience as a witness to events detailed in my friend Casandra Ventura’s now-settled civil lawsuit against you. I’m breaking my silence, freeing myself from haunting recollections, standing in solidarity with Cassie, and standing up for myself. I fear for my safety as her suit alludes to me, although not by name. I hope that revealing my identity to the public will afford me some measure of protection

Cassie and I became friends in 2015 while co-writing songs for her album that you never released. We remain close to this very day. I’m one of the friends mentioned in her lawsuit, specifically from the night of her 29th birthday, as detailed in the section labeled “Mr. Combs Forces Ms. Ventura Into Sex Trafficking.” 

The weight is heavy as I gather my thoughts to articulate these distressing memories. Physical reactions — the surge of heat on my face, sweaty palms, racing heart, and the onset of a panic attack — serve as stark reminders of the toll it’s taking. I am traumatized by you. The burden of vocalizing these experiences should never have been mine or anyone else’s.

I first met you in person in August 2015 at a surprise party you threw for Cassie’s 29th birthday at a hotel in Los Angeles. I was at her old apartment before the party with friends in the Wilshire Corridor Condos, right down the street from your home. Rushed by calls from your team about her ETA, we were in a frenzy to get her ready without spoiling the surprise. We all piled into a black car service from her place to the party.

We arrived at the area reserved for her party at the hotel, and you popped out singing “Happy Birthday.” There were many friends, a few famous faces, and cameras recording as we sang. She was definitely surprised. 

Eventually, we all started to mingle around the room. Up until that point, I’d only spoken to you once before on FaceTime with Cassie about songs we were working on together. You approached me and introduced yourself, saying, “So you’re the one writing all these songs about me?” I said yes, and you stared back and said, “That means she’s talking to you, huh?” I was uncomfortable because it seemed like you were talking about the more turbulent parts of your relationship. 

We did a song called “Loyal” that you didn’t like. We were writing about her pain. In the first verse of that song, she sings, “I don’t know what is real, I just know how I feel, and you keep acting like you don’t know what you did wrong, trying to get me to chill. Since we ain’t been together, I been on some whatever.” She was pushing back in that song. You later came back up to me and said you were playing. I didn’t believe you. One of your security guards did something similar. I’d never met him before, either. He approached me and said, “I heard a lot about you, Tiffany.” You both creeped me out, and this interaction was super intimidating. It felt like you both wanted me to know that you knew who I was and you didn’t like how close I was to her.

Later that evening, after being at the party since it started that afternoon, Cassie wanted to go to a karaoke spot called Blind Dragon on Sunset Boulevard with some friends. You were not happy that she was leaving. I remember your people hovering around us, trying to discourage Cassie from leaving, but we went anyway. You followed us and arrived just a little bit after we did. It was instantly uncomfortable. You pulled Cassie out of the private karaoke room; she put her head down and went with you. I followed to see if she was OK because something was off. When I walked out of the room, you had her backed into a corner in the hallway outside of the door, and your security surrounded you two as you cursed her out with your hands in her face. She and I briefly made eye contact. I felt helpless. She looked afraid and kept looking down at the floor. I didn’t know what to do. I was scared.

Karaoke was cut short because you wanted her to leave with you. Cassie asked me and two other friends if we’d meet her back at her place and stay the night. She was stopping at her house first to grab a bag and then going with you. I said yes because I was worried you would hurt her. Prior to this incident, she had confided in me that you were physically abusive, and the way you were in her face that night was alarming to me. I didn’t want to leave her alone.

When we got back to her house, she kept saying to us she didn’t want to go with you, but you were already on your way to pick her up. One of our friends was packing an overnight bag for her. I’ll never forget it; it was the biggest Birkin bag I’d ever seen. It was blue. I kept asking why they were packing her stuff if she clearly said she didn’t want to go with you, and this person said, “She always goes.” You arrived at the door and whisked her away. Cassie looked uneasy. I didn’t know where you were taking her. Once you left, the person who packed the bag said, “They’ll be back; watch.” It was almost like they had seen this movie before.

A few hours later, I was woken up by you screaming, “Emotional singing bitch, where are you?!” You and Cassie were back, it was around 3 or 4 a.m. When I walked out of her bedroom where I was asleep, you yelled, “Emotional singing bitch, there you are.” I was mortified, humiliated, and scared when I realized you were talking to me. You were visibly intoxicated, and so was Cassie. She appeared sedated and very withdrawn. It was the first time I saw her this way. You started screaming at us, “Tell your girl she wants some birthday dick. I flew all the way from Miami. She gone get this birthday dick!” You were visibly angry that she didn’t want that from you. I was terrified; I said, “She doesn’t have to have sex with you if she doesn’t want to.” You just kept screaming, “She gone get this dick.” All I kept thinking about was how, before you came to get her and she was sober, she kept telling us she didn’t want to go with you.

You two left her place in chaos on a golf cart and drove off into the night. We watched you from her balcony, driving toward your house. I thought you were going to get pulled over and go to jail or crash from being so high. It was like a real-life scary movie. I was terrified for Cassie and completely traumatized. She later told me you made her have a “Freak Off”— which Cassie described in her lawsuit as an “arrangement” where you would make her perform sexual acts with male sex workers — that night. The reason you called me “emotional singing bitch” was because you were listening to new songs we wrote during the “Freak Off” that had begun after you came to get her earlier that night. I am disturbed to my core by this. It makes me think it must have been songs Cassie hadn’t recorded yet that were still demos. I can’t begin to explain how it makes me feel thinking about my voice playing in the background of that nightmare. 

Throughout my time knowing Cassie, I’ve seen many concerning instances. There were occasions when I heard you yelling at her and making threats, observed her so high I was afraid of her overdosing at a party you threw for her in Malibu, and witnessed both of you getting IVs after a different night of partying. Additionally, when I was part of her management team in 2019 — a year after she was able to leave you — I saw you try to silence her by attempting to tie a nondisparagement clause to her record deal termination agreement, which felt unjust.

With Cassie bravely sharing her story, I’m finally free to share mine. That night of her birthday, and so many others, are burned in my brain and have tormented me since. I feel compelled to show up for Cassie and myself and confirm that everything she described in her complaint about what happened that night is consistent with what I experienced. Cassie and I became close while writing songs together nearly a decade ago. One of our friends used to call us “TiffAndra.” Never could I have imagined this is how it would turn out. The music I helped create for her suffered due to these events, compounding the trauma. It’s devastating. I still mourn that time in my songwriting career.

I continue to work through the PTSD, paranoia, and anxiety from these events. It’s one of the catalysts for my advocacy for music creatives today with my organization, The 100 Percenters. Your abuse of power has inflicted ongoing harm on countless individuals, including myself, my friends, and my peers. You are a literal pillar in Black music. So many of us looked up to you. This moment hurts for us, too, but no one deserves to endure all this, Puff. It’s not right. You’re hurting the very Black and brown people you say you love and support. It pains me to write this letter to you as a Black woman, but when will this cycle of abuse stop? It has to stop. 

Recent events, such as the unveiling of accusations against numerous former record label CEOs and artists for sexual assault due to the Adult Survivors Act in New York, underscore the gravity of the situation. The systemic issues of rape culture and misogyny deeply entrenched in the music industry pose a real threat to so many people’s safety every day in this business. How can we expect meaningful change when senior leadership and superstars face accusations of these crimes? 

The power imbalance makes it nearly impossible to fight back and terrifying to speak up. But despite that, here I am, standing beside my friend. There are moments in life when some of us have to face the hard choice of speaking truth to power or not. This is one of those moments.