Kanye West is doubling down when it comes to his “White Lives Matter” t-shirt.
On Wednesday, in an Instagram post showing the black long-sleeve version of the top, the Yeezy founder wrote, “Here’s my latest response when people ask me why I made a tee that says white lives matter… THEY DO.”
Ye, 45, received backlash over the shirt after wearing it during his surprise Yeezy Season 9 show at Paris Fashion Week on Monday.
In a later Wednesday post, the Donda rapper said that everyone’s interest in his shirt took away from other shows during PFW.
“My tee s*** on everybody’s showssss,” he declared. “Nothing happened but my t-shirt… To the Arnaults that hire anybody that worked for me remember my one t shirt took allllll the attention.”
(LOS ANGELES) — An attorney representing the family of a Los Angeles police officer who died after a training exercise in May alleged Wednesday that the officer was targeted and killed after filing a report accusing fellow officers of sexually assaulting a woman.
“I think it’s an intentional act because of the magnitude of injuries,” Brad Gage, the attorney for Houston Tipping’s family, told ABC News. “We know that Houston was a whistleblower who reported this alleged criminal act.”
Bicycle officer Tipping, 32, suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury after he and another officer fell to the ground during a simulation, according to a report released Tuesday by Los Angeles Police Department’s Office of Constitutional Policing and Policy, which called his death a “tragic accident.”
“The impact on the ground with the arm of the officer in that position around the backside of Officer Tipping’s neck…in that instance is where the fracture occurred,” LAPD Chief Michel Moore previously said.
Gage says they intend to file a lawsuit against the LAPD over the officer’s death.
A spokesperson for the LAPD told ABC News on Wednesday that the department does not comment on open and pending cases and that “the report that was released yesterday stands on its own.”
The Los Angeles Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office ruled Tipping’s death an accident.
The LAPD’s investigators said they found no evidence of wrongdoing.
According to the LAPD report, officers taking part in the training exercise are expected to be punched and kicked, which according to Gage, Tipping was subjected to during the exercise, leading to his injuries.
Gage disputed the department’s findings, claiming that Tipping was beaten in a retaliatory act for filing a report by a woman who claimed that four LAPD officers sexually assaulted her in July 2021, while wearing their uniforms.
One of the officers involved in the alleged sexual assault was at the training, according to Gage.
The autopsy report said that a cut to Tipping’s head and fractured ribs were sustained while officers tried to save his life.
(WASHINGTON) — While Iran’s brutal attempts to put down nationwide protests — sparked by the death of a young woman in the custody of its so-called morality police — have done little to stop domestic dissent, the crackdown has dire implications for the regime on the international stage, cementing Iran’s pariah status.
Following Iranian security forces siege of an elite university in Tehran where students were demonstrating, President Joe Biden this week promised his administration would soon impose “further costs on perpetrators of violence against peaceful protestors.” Administration sources say those additional penalties could come as soon as Thursday and are expected to include sanctions targeting human rights violators in the country.
Meanwhile, the top levels of leadership within Iran have sought to blame outside influences for fueling the nearly three straight weeks of unrest. In his first public response to what he characterized as “riots,” Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, baselessly claimed the protests had been orchestrated by the U.S. and Israel.
Will Iran’s attempts to blame the West work?
Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Khamenei’s attempt to point the finger at the West was “reliance on a decades-old authoritarian playbook,” predicting it would have little impact in the current political climate.
“There’s no doubt that Iranians don’t buy Khamenei’s attempts to deflect. That’s why they remain on the streets. Iranians understand who is responsible for their current predicament,” Taleblu said.
“I think the youth who are continuing to come to the streets and have organized protests at their schools and universities know better about who is posing a challenge to their lives,” said Gissou Nia, director of the Strategic Litigation Project at the Atlantic Council and board chair of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. “In previous protests, we saw slogans to the effect of ‘our enemy is not America, our enemy is right here.'”
Iranian powers have also attempted to scapegoat entities closer to home. In recent days, the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has repeatedly struck at Kurdish groups across its border in Iraq, accusing them of inflaming protests.
Taleblu called the missile barrage “an attempt to feign strength abroad when weakness has been showcased at home,” and warned similar — and likely, more severe — attacks will follow if the regime doesn’t face broad consequences.
“The greater Iran’s missile capabilities and the greater Iran’s confidence in a survivable or non-response, the lower the threshold for the use of force of these dangerous weapons. As Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities increase, so will such types of operations,” he said.
Talks on nuclear deal continue
Despite longstanding U.S. disdain for Iran’s IRGC, its ballistics program, and its human rights abuses, the Biden administration has been engaged in a winding and indirect negotiation process with Tehran aimed at finding one area of common ground — a deal to limit its nuclear program.
Though talks have all but collapsed, U.S. officials initially expressed some hope that the unrest might encourage Iran to renew an Obama-era pact known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to secure the sanctions relief that would come with it. But both Behnam and Nia argue that Iran’s crackdown should only darken the already grim outlook on returning to an agreement.
“I think it would be a very wrong moment for the international community to somehow shore up the Islamic Republic [of Iran] in this moment, when the people of Iran are clearly saying they don’t want this government, or that they want substantial change,” said Nia.
Taleblu argues that the Biden administration should shut down negotiations altogether.
“Tehran continues to have Washington right where it wants it on the JCPOA: constantly seeking a deal,” he said. “As long as Biden keeps the door open for the JCPOA, he will be unable to fully stand with the Iranian people.”
This week, Iran made a separate, surprising move that the regime argues should lead to a windfall: allowing Baquer Namazi, an 85-year-old Iranian American held captive in Iran since 2016 on dubious charges, to leave the country for urgent medical treatment and granting a temporary prison furlough to his son, Siamak Namazi — another American citizen considered to be wrongfully detained.
Tehran claimed the developments should prompt Washington to unfreeze $7 billion in Iranian assets being held in South Korea due to U.S. sanctions.
Although the elder Namazi left Iran on Wednesday, the U.S. is still working permanently to secure the freedom of the younger, as well as a number of other American citizens detained in Iran.
U.S. officials have repeatedly denied agreeing to allow any funds to be transferred back to Iran. Taleblu warns reversing course would be detrimental for both Americans and Iranians.
“If Washington intends to pay ransom for hostages with frozen funds, two things will be guaranteed: the apparatus of repression currently on display in Iran will receive a boon, and second, Iran will continue to take hostages,” he said.
(NEW YORK) — At least 30 people, including children, were dead after a mass shooting at a child-care center in northeast Thailand, the country’s Central Investigation Bureau said.
The suspect, who was identified as Panya Kamrab, 34, also died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
Miranda Lambert’s MuttNation Foundation is stepping up to assist pets affected by Hurricane Ian in Florida.
On social media, the singer announced the launch of her fundraiser for the cause, which is a partnership with Greater Good Charities and the Naples, Florida Humane Society. One hundred percent of the proceeds raised will go toward helping Florida animals in need.
“I just wanna send some love and light to anyone affected by Hurricane Ian,” Miranda said in her video message.
“We set up a fundraiser to where 100 percent of the proceeds go to getting food, supplies and medications to the pets affected,” she continued. “So join us in helping. We love y’all. We’re praying for ya.”
Founded in 2009 by Miranda and her mom, Beverly, MuttNation focuses on supporting shelter pets in need and keeping families together with their pets across the U.S. She also recently teamed up with Greater Goods’ GOODS program, providing two million pet meals to help those facing economic setbacks remain with their pets.
Singer/songwriter Ashanti shared shocking images to her Instagram Wednesday of her younger sister’s bruised and bloody body parts.
In light of October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Grammy winner penned a heartfelt message to her sister Kenashia “Shia” Douglas, posting the graphic images with hopes the story might help others who are victims of domestic abuse.
“Words will never be able to express the amount of pain, fury and disgust I feel reliving these moments,” Ashanti started. “But at the same time I am so proud of how strong, courageous, resilient and unbreakable you are.”
She continued, “My sister is a warrior! I love you deep and infinitely. Thank you for being so brave and bringing awareness to this evil, vile and sad behavior that so many women face every day. You did it! You won! Some women feel so scared that they have no way out… by sharing your story you bring hope, strength & continue to raise awareness for Domestic Violence.”
In celebration of her birthday in 2020, Shia took to Instagram with her own personal video showcasing transformative moments in her life. The more than two-minute visual includes a few of the same horrifying images of her beat-up body that Ashanti shared in her post.
“God continues to bless you every day as you grow, prosper… and walk in your purpose…your heart, mind and conscience are clear…you will get back EVERYTHING YOU DESERVE!!! The universe always wins!” Ashanti’s message continued.
The 41-year-old entertainer assured Shia of her unwavering love and support and expressed excitement for the “next chapter” in her life as the creator of holistic lifestyle brand, The Wife of Creation.
“Im here by your side always and forever with whatever against whoever!,” Ashanti wrote. “Loving you infinitely.”
Forty years ago Thursday — October 6 — an unknown artist named Madonna invited us all to hit the dance floor…and four decades later, she’s still doing it.
On October 6, 1982, Madonna released her self-penned debut single, “Everybody.” She’d convinced Mark Kamins, the DJ at New York’s famed nightclub Danceteria, to play it at the club, and when it went over well with the crowd, he agreed to help her get a record deal. She was eventually signed to a three-single deal by Sire Records with an option for a full album.
When “Everybody” was released, the single cover didn’t have a picture of Madonna on it, leading some to believe she was a Black artist; in fact, Sire Records marketed the single as though she was. That misconception was cleared up, however, when Madonna insisted on shooting a video for the song: a low-budget affair filmed at New York’s Paradise Garage. The video was sent to nightclubs across the country, helping the song become a national dance hit.
While “Everybody” didn’t chart on the Billboard Hot 100, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Chart. The song’s success even landed Madonna her first magazine cover: She appeared on the November/December 1982 issue of Dance Music Report.
Over the years, Madonna has performed “Everybody” on many of her tours, most recently on 2015’s Rebel Heart trek. It’s also included on her Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones remix album.
Madonna scholars would later note that with lyrics like “Everybody come on, dance and sing/Everybody get up and do your thing,” “Everybody” was the template for the Queen of Pop’s future career and message that music, as she’d sing in 2000, “makes the people come together.”
Puscifer will be offering limited edition vinyl variants of their latest album, 2020’s Existential Reckoning, throughout their upcoming fall tour.
Only 50 pieces will be available at each show; they’ll come in a different vinyl color unique to whatever city Maynard James Keenan and company are playing that night. Each record is also autographed by the Puscifer members.
Puscifer’s tour launches October 13 in San Francisco and concludes with a home-state show for Keenan, set to take place November 22 in Prescott, Arizona.
Meanwhile, Puscifer is also releasing a remixed version of Existential Reckoning on December 9. The compilation features contributions from Nine Inch Nails‘ Trent Reznor, Tool‘s Justin Chancellor and Phantogram among others.
And if that’s not enough Puscifer for you, the band is premiering two streaming concerts on October 28.
Ever since Andy Grammer released his latest hit “Saved My Life,” fans have shared with him their stories about the special people who saved their lives. But Andy says the song inadvertently ended up saving the special person in his life who inspired it — emotionally, if not literally.
“Leigh is the one that I wrote it about. She’s my godmother, and she showed up for me when mom passed away,” Andy tells ABC Audio. “And she had been having an unreasonably difficult year. She lost both of her brothers…so she was kind of raw and going through it. And to have this song come out — I didn’t plan it at all, the song was written before these things happened to her. But she kind of needed a boost, and it’s really worked out.”
Andy’s also helped fans thank their special people by literally going with the fans to surprise them in person. One fan in particular was adopted and needed extensive surgery, but her mom never gave up on her.
“So, she’s saying that to her mother,” Andy says, describing their surprise visit. “And then we play ‘Saved My Life,’ and they’re crying, and it’s the sweetest thing ever!”
Andy will likely play the song Saturday when he performs at the 36th Carousel of Hope Ball, benefiting the Children’s Diabetes Foundation. When it comes to charity events, he says, “I think that music is an intensifier. So whatever feeling that you’re feeling, when you add music to, it’s like a flame that you’re adding gas to. And if you are all here together to try to raise money… then music can make your heart open up and go like, “Y’know what? I can give more here.”
He smiles, “So, I love to try to be the gasoline.”
Jordan Davis has much to celebrate these days, with the double #1 success of “Slow Dance in a Parking Lot” and most recently, “Buy Dirt.” He says that the latter hit set him down a path of writing about the things he wants his music to say most.
“It kind of freed me, in the sense of, like, that song is everything that I want to say in a song,” Jordan reflects. “It ties in the three things…of faith, family and friends.”
While commercial success is nice and plentiful, the most important thing is putting out music that makes him confident he’s “doing what I’m here to do,” the singer adds.
In his new music, Jordan says he’s staying within the world of gratitude and close-to-the-chest songwriting that he created with “Buy Dirt.” Next up, he’s bringing those themes to his new single, “What My World Spins Around.”
“‘World Spins’ is still in that vein of the three things that I want to write about and sing about,” he points out. “I just feel like I’m really confident right now in releasing new music, and proud of this next record.”
Though he admits it’s “been a minute” since he put out a full album, Jordan teases that fans won’t have to wait too much longer before getting their hands on a new batch of songs.
“I’d put it out tomorrow if I could!” he adds. “Well, actually, it’s not done yet. But when it is done, I would love to get it out as soon as possible.”
