SINGER Akon was arrested in Georgia on an out-of-county warrant and spent hours behind bars, law enforcement officials said.The 52-year-old singer, real name Aliaune Thiam, was taken into custody by Chamblee Police on the morning of November 7, reportedly on a warrant issued out of Roswell, New Mexico.Jail records show the star was booked into the DeKalb County Jail and only released some six hours later.According to a Chamblee Police report, officers arrested him after his white Tesla triggered a Flock camera alert linked to a Roswell Police warrant.Officer Joshua Rosa wrote that he found the car outside Tint World on Chamblee Dunwoody Road, where Akon was standing nearby. After running his license, police confirmed he was the wanted person.Rosa said Akon “complied by remaining calm” and told officers he knew about the warrant. He was handcuffed, searched – with no weapons or contraband found – and taken into custody before being handed over to DeKalb County Jail staff.The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed to TMZ that Akon “got locked up in Georgia after being arrested on a warrant … but he’s already been let out of jail.” TMZ reported that the Locked Up rapper posed for a mug shot wearing a black hoodie and appearing mostly expressionless.It remains unclear what the warrant was for. Local outlet Channel 2 Action News said it’s still working to learn what led to the Roswell warrant.Akon’s representatives have not yet commented on the arrest.The five-time Grammy nominee rose to fame in the early 2000s with hits like Locked Up, Lonely, I Wanna Love You, and Smack That. The Senegalese-American singer blends R&B with hip-hop and pop, making  him one of the most distinctive voices of the decade.Apart from his five Grammy nominations, he landed collaborations with artists like Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Lady Gaga.In recent years, he’s been focused on philanthropic projects and new music releases.His “Akon Lighting Africa” initiative has reportedly provided solar power to thousands of communities across the continent. He’s also ventured into tech and development projects, including a planned futuristic city in Senegal dubbed “Akon City.”Announced in 2018, the £4.7 billion project was billed as a “real-life Wakanda,” inspired by the high-tech African nation featured in Black Panther.The site, located near the coastal town of Mbodiène, was intended to be a modern metropolis powered by Akon’s own cryptocurrency, Akoin.Construction was slated to begin in 2021 and be completed by 2023, but progress has stalled, with the site still described as largely undeveloped and overrun by weeds and cattle.

Actress Jurnee Smollett is once again finding herself in the midst of a legal dispute with her ex-husband, musician Josiah Bell. Despite reportedly paying Bell nearly $1 million as part of their 2021 divorce settlement, new court filings reveal that Bell is now seeking 50% of Smollett’s retirement savings, including her 401(k) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) pension.According to Bell, the funds accumulated between 2010 and 2019—during the couple’s marriage—should be treated as community property under California law, which generally mandates an equal division of assets acquired while married.However, many fans and supporters of Smollett have taken to social media expressing frustration, arguing that the actress has already fulfilled her obligations in the divorce settlement and that her retirement savings, built over decades in Hollywood, should remain untouched.Bell, who has reportedly received $7,000 per month in combined child support and spousal support since their separation in 2019, maintains that his claim is legally justified.The situation underscores the complex nature of divorce law, particularly in cases involving high-earning entertainers and long-term marriages. It also raises broader questions about financial fairness—how much is too much when both parties have already reached a settlement?As the case develops, Smollett continues to focus on her acting career and raising their son, while this latest legal chapter reminds fans that even stars aren’t immune to the emotional and financial strain of post-divorce battles.

Sheryl Lee Ralph is mourning the loss of her beloved brother.The screen legend, who starred in Moesha, Sister Act 2 and It's a Living, shared the devastating news with followers on social media, writing in the caption, "My heart is heavy, my world feels quieter. Losing my brother so suddenly has left a gap that can never be filled."In a beautiful dedication to her sibling, the 68-year-old wrote, "Stanley found his true calling in the classroom. After his football career, he devoted his life to education, as a behavioral support teacher for students facing some of life’s hardest challenges."She continued, "His classroom a refuge for students written off,navigating anger, trauma, and legal detention. For many, his classroom was their last stop before the system gave up on them, he never did."It's unclear how old Stanley was or what led to his death, though the actress shared a series of photos ranging from childhood to the present, with her brother and family members. Prayers immediately poured into the comment section, with fellow actress Olivia Spencer and ABC correspondent Deborah Roberts sharing prayer hands emojis.Fellow Abbott Elementary co-star Raven Goodwin wrote, "Condolences to you and yours Miss Sheryl!

The battle rap community is mourning the loss of a pioneer, as news confirms the passing of Posta Boy at the age of 43. Born Jamel Phillips, Posta Boy was a legendary figure who helped bring the art of lyrical combat into the mainstream. He rose to national fame in the early 2000s as a dominant force on BET’s 106 & Park Freestyle Fridays segment. His incredible skill, charismatic delivery, and witty punchlines earned him an undefeated streak that led to him becoming the first MC in the show’s history to have his championship title officially retired.Posta Boy’s legacy extends beyond his television victories; he inspired a generation of MCs and solidified his place in hip-hop history as a foundational figure in the culture of battle rap. Fans, friends, and peers are sharing tributes across social media, remembering his talent and his significant contributions to the genre. He will be remembered as a lyrical giant who left an indelible mark on the rap world.

Netflix has just released a crime documentary that has fans “bawling their eyes out.”Over the past few months, the streaming platform has released several new documentaries, like Amy Bradley is Missing and Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, that have had viewers on the edge of their seats. To add onto the intriguing offerings, Netflix has debuted another true crime documentary, A Perfect Neighbor, which tells the story of a mother that had been gunned down after trying to defend her four children against an “outlier in their community,” who used Florida’s “stand your ground” law to her advantage.A Perfect Neighbor was released on the streaming platform on Oct. 17, months after it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.The story starts off in the fall of 2022 with neighbor Susan Lorincz calling in complaints to the police about children in the area playing loudly and leaving trash in the vacant lot next to her home. The frequent calls continued up until June 2 of the following year, when the children’s mother, Ajike, went over to Susan’s house.That night, Susan called the authorities, claiming her neighbor was attempting to break down her door and threatening her life. Two minutes had passed when the police received another call from Susan, who reported she had shot Ajike through the door. The mother was pronounced dead at the hospital after emergency responders attempted to save her life.Viewers found the story to be heartbreaking. One X user admitted they “bawled my eyes out.”Another wrote, “Watching the Perfect Neighbor on Netflix crying my eyes out.”Recalling the moment the police interviewed Ajike’s children after the shooting, a third said, “When the police asked ‘Are you hurt’ and he said ‘No, but my heart is BROKEN’. I started WEEPING. Omg.”A fourth declared, “I have watched many of crime documentaries but “The Perfect Neighbor” on Netflix was by far the hardest to watch.”The turn of events even shook the director, who told Tudum, “This shocking crime left my family and me engulfed in grief and confusion.”“It was heartbreaking to witness how such a close environment could unravel so catastrophically,” Gandbhir added.It wasn’t until four days after the shooting that Susan was arrested. An investigation was performed to see if her actions met the criteria of Florida’s “stand your ground” law, which allows individuals to use deadly force if they feel their lives are in danger.In 2024, she was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years in prison.The Perfect Neighbor is now available on Netflix.

(October 19, 2025) We are extremely sad to report the passing of R&B singer, songwriter and musician extraordinaire, Erik Rico. We learned news of his passing from a number of his friends, although the date of death and causes of death are unclear.Raised both his native North Carolina and New York state, Rico embraced a multi-instrumentalist foundation—guitar, bass, piano, drums, percussion—all of which became tools in his quest to fuse genres.  His professional career turned a key in 1997 when he was signed by Columbia Records executive Randy Jackson, signaling the arrival of a young artist determined to navigate his own path.Rico’s behind-the-scenes work as writer and producer became nearly legendary: he collaborated with the likes of Jurassic 5, Planet Asia, Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets and even contributed to the posthumous The Rose that Grewfrom Concrete project associated with Tupac Shakur in 2001.In his own right, Rico delivered recordings that showcased his versatility. From his warm debut solo outing, Journey Back To Me, to the harder sounds of Higher Frequency, to the hot grooves of 2013’s Love’s Dance Vol. 1, Rico showed an adventurousness that won for him fans around the world. We had most recently covered Rico in July, when he released the fun track “Disco Funk,” which he had recorded after his move to Mexico.We mourn the passing of this talented musical warrior, even as we celebrate his eclectic, powerful discography of music.

Sean "Diddy" Combs may get a chance to cut down his prison sentence through a drug abuse program.Combs was sentenced to over four years behind bars for prostitution-related charges.His judge will recommend that he be incarcerated near New York and considered for prison drug programs.Sean "Diddy" Combs may be able to shave up to 12 months off his more than four-year prison sentence.Combs' Manhattan sentencing judge has offered to recommend that the 55-year-old hip-hop mogul be considered for any available substance abuse program while incarcerated.In a letter to Combs' lawyers made public late Wednesday, US District Judge Arun Subramanianspecified the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Residential Drug Abuse Program.The RDAP is an intensive, 500-hour, nine-month substance abuse treatment program for inmates. Completing it could entitle Combs to as much as a full year's early release from behind bars, prison consultants have told Business Insider.A lot of people quit — they find it hard," said Justin Paperny, a former inmate whose consultancy, White Collar Advice, advises clients before and after sentencing. "But it helps correct the way you think — flawed thinking, bad decisions — and helps you work to overcome addiction. Many love the program."Subramanian sentenced Combs last week to four years and two months in prison after the rapper was convicted of prostitution-related charges for transporting male escorts across state lines for drug-fueled "freak off" sex encounters with ex-girlfriends.Combs has been locked up at a Brooklyn federal jailsince his September 2024 indictment — and his time there will count toward his overall sentence.In a letter to Subramanian earlier this week, Combs' attorney, Teny Geragos, requested that the court "strongly recommend" to the Bureau of Prisons that Combs be moved to the Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix, a low-security facility in New Jersey.FCI Fort Dix — located more than 70 miles from New York City — offers the RDAP that Geragos suggested would be beneficial to Combs.The judge said in his Wednesday order that he will recommend a prison in the geographic location of Combs' choosing, but not the specific facility. He will leave that determination to BOP, he said.Subramanian said he will recommend to BOP that Combs "be incarcerated as close as possible to the New York metropolitan area" and that he be considered for entry into any substance abuse program "for which he qualifies."At Combs' trial, his defense lawyers blamed the music tycoon's violent side on his drug use.As part of his presentencing request for a sentence of time served, Combs, in a letter to Subramanian, championed his newfound sobriety."Although this situation has been the hardest and darkest time in my life, good things have come out of my incarceration," Combs wrote in the letter. "For starters, I am now sober for the first time in 25 years. I have been trying my best to deal with my drug abuse and anger issues and take accountability as well as positive steps towards healing."Subramanian chided Combs for his "serious" crimes at his sentencing hearing, but told him: "You are going to get through this.""There is a light at the end of the tunnel," the judge said.A judge's recommendation for prison substance abuse programs is always helpful, but there are still other administrative hurdles to clear for gaining admission to programs like RDAP and winning that year off, Paperny said.The BOP has the discretion to deny early release to any inmate whose conviction involves some element of violence and weapons possession, he said.Paperny predicted that the BOP will weigh a number of factors, including the judge's recommendation, but that the key factor will be any description of violence or weapons that may be in Combs' probation report, which is not a public document."A lot of it comes down to the Bureau of Prisons' discretion," he said.The BOP and attorneys for Combs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Abbott Elementary and Everybody Hates Chris actor Tyler James Williams is speaking out about a health battle that he's kept private for years. In a new interview with PEOPLE, the actor revealed that he struggled with a chronic illness that remained unknown to him for many years. Now, he's looking to raise awareness about his condition as part of AbbVie's Beyond a Gut Feeling campaign.“I spent a portion of my life and career in wild amounts of discomfort and pain, only to find out that had I had a more in-depth conversation with a gastroenterologist, a lot of that could have either been treated more directly or avoided,” he told the publication. “So I don’t want anybody who’s in the position that I was in previously to have to go through the same things.” He first began experiencing severe symptoms at 19 years old, and believes he exhibited signs of the disease throughout childhood. But it wasn't until he was 22 years old that he finally put a name to his suffering: Crohn's Disease, a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).“I've experienced some of the milder symptoms of the disease, but then also some of the very extremes as well,” he said. “But so much of that was due to the neglect of not treating the disease ahead of time.”Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), according to the Mayo Clinic, is an umbrella term for a group of disease that include Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease. They cause "swelling and inflammation of the tissues in the digestive tract," sometimes accompanied by sores (ulcers) in the lining of the intestine and rectum. Symptoms include "belly pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, extreme tiredness and weight loss." While it can be mild and is rarely fatal, some people can face serious illness and disability from the disease.Williams explained to PEOPLE that he began going in and out of the hospital soon after his diagnosis."On one of my first hospitalizations, I went in and I was waiting for the doctor to give me some kind of big, really scary diagnosis,” Williams said. “He mentioned Crohn's disease and I didn't know what that was. So although it was explained to me, there was a certain level of seriousness I just didn't take to it. I thought I could just work through it until ultimately I ended up in such an acute position of pain because the disease was kind of running wild.”Williams ultimately needed to have multiple surgeries related to the disease. Surgeries for Crohn's can involve removing a portion of the digestive tract that's become damaged and reconnecting healthy portions, according to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. Other surgeries can help drain abscesses, remove fistulas, and more.“I needed to have three surgeries over the course of three months and was hospitalized on both the east and west coast for the better part of a year,” he said. He had begun to feel things would never change, something that took a toll on his mental health in addition to his body."There's a unique type of depression that comes with, ‘I'm the only one going through this.’ I think that was, from a mental health point of view, one of the lowest places I've ever been,” he said. “A combination of feeling very alone in something and then also the mental toll that comes with dealing with a physical disease. I was in a really dark place for a while feeling like there was no way to get over this hump or to ever feel better.”After making serious lifestyle changes to emphasize eating well, working out, and maintaining a healthy metabolism, Williams says he's in a much better place.“I think I've become very in tune with my body and listening to what my body is saying,” he said. “So I’m on medication and doing well. I've been in what we refer to as remission for at least the last year and a half, if not two years. My gastroenterologists are really happy with where I'm at.“It took a while to get here though. There was a long time I didn't think I could get to this place where I felt what other people feel, what I describe as normal," he continued. "And it's a beautiful place to be now.”

Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine, who testified against her ex-boyfriend Sean "Diddy Combs during his landmark federal sex-crimes trial, is speaking out against the music mogul's potential release from prison ahead of his sentencing hearing.In a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian filed Tuesday, Sept. 30, Ventura Fine opened up about the psychological toll of her decadelong relationship with the disgraced rapper, as well as shared her concerns about Combs' custody status."I still have nightmares and flashbacks on a regular, everyday basis, and continue to require psychological care to cope with my past," Ventura Fine wrote, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. "My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality."Ventura Fine revealed that she's maintained a low profile since Combs' trial, which concluded in July and saw the Grammy-winning rapper receive a split verdict, convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted on the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. The one-time R&B star added that she and her family have also moved out of the New York area as a safety precaution."I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution toward me and others who spoke up about his abuse at trial," Ventura Fine continued. "As much progress as I have made in recovering from his abuse, I remain very much afraid of what he is capable of and the malice he undoubtedly harbors toward me for having the bravery to tell the truth."Who is Cassie? What to know about singer at the center of Diddy's sex-crimes trialVentura Fine, who met Combs when she was 19 as an aspiring singer, testified during Combs' monthslong federal trial, peeling back the curtain on years of alleged physical and sexual abuse, which included participating in several of Combs' reported "freak-off" sex parties. Her bombshell testimonycame nearly two years after Ventura Fine filed a civil lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, which the pair resolved in 24 hours with a $20 million settlement.Combs, who is expected to be sentenced on Friday, Oct. 3, remains in custody at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center after repeated attempts at bail, all of which have been denied.Ventura Fine's statements against Combs come after several of Combs' loved ones and associates, including City Girls rapper Yung Miami and producer Dallas Austin, wrote letters of support to Subramanian requesting "leniency" for the hip-hop mogul's sentence.Cassie Ventura takes the stand: Biggest moments from her Diddy trial testimonyCassie talks suicidal thoughts, healing journey after Diddy abuseIn her Sept. 30 letter to Judge Subramanian, Ventura Fine rehashed the repeated abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of Combs, which included performing numerous sex acts with male sex workers, harrowing physical violence and substance abuse."While the defense attorneys at trial suggested that my time with Combs was akin to a 'great modern love story,' nothing could be further from the truth," Ventura Fine wrote. "Nothing about this story is great, modern, or loving — this was a horrific decade of my life stained by abuse, violence, forced sex and degradation."The "Me & U" songstress said the mental health impact of Combs' purported abuse drove her to thoughts of suicide, adding that she was able to navigate the distress thanks to "my family’s intervention and urging that I seek professional care." Ventura Fine is married to personal trainer Alex Fine; the couple share three children."I have been to rehab and have taken part in dozens of types of therapy modalities to confront, compartmentalize and cope with the horrific memories of sexual and emotional abuse I endured for nearly 10 years," Ventura Fine concluded. "While what he did to me is always present, I am slowly learning how to live my life free of the fear and horrors I endured, and in doing so am fully devoted to my husband and my children."Cassie claims Diddy is not 'a changed man' after trialWhile Ventura Fine has hope for her future, she can't say the same about her ex, Combs."His defense attorneys claim he is a changed man, and he wants to mentor abusers. I know firsthand what real mentorship means, and this disgusts me; he is not being truthful," Ventura Fine wrote in her letter to Subramanian."I know that who he was to me — the manipulator, the aggressor, the abuser, the trafficker — is who he is as a human," she continued. "He has no interest in changing or becoming better. He will always be the same cruel, power-hungry, manipulative man that he is."Ventura Fine also criticized Combs' about-face in acknowledging his physical abuse after the leak of surveillance footage showing him attacking Ventura Fine at a Los Angeles-area hotel in 2016. Combs issued a video apology on social media after the footage was released by CNN in May 2024."When I came out with my allegations in my civil case, he flatly denied them again and again," Ventura Fine said. "It was only after actual video footage corroborated the exact words in my civil complaint that he issued an insincere apology on the internet. Thanks to the footage and my testimony, this is also something he will forever be associated with."Cassie asks judge to consider Diddy's history of 'abuse and control' ahead of sentencingFor Ventura Fine, the pursuit of justice has come at a cost."For four days in May, while nine months pregnant with my son, I testified in front of a packed courtroom about the most traumatic and horrifying chapter in my life," Ventura Fine wrote in her Sept. 30 letter. "I testified that from age 19, Sean Combs used violence, threats, substances and control over my career to trap me in over a decade of abuse."She added: "Reliving in detail the events and truths described throughout the trial and this letter causes me tremendous emotional pain. I am trying with all that I am to move on."Ventura Fine's testimony during Combs' trial was often highly emotional, with the singer breaking down in tears as she recalled the trauma she said she suffered in her relationship with the Bad Boy Records founder. As Subramanian contemplates Combs' sentencing, Ventura Fine asked the New York judge to consider "the many lives that Sean Combs has upended with his abuse and control.""For over a decade, Sean Combs made me feel powerless and unimportant, but my experience was real, horrific and deserves to be considered," Ventura Fine concluded. "While the jury did not seem to understand or believe that I engaged in freak offs because of the force and coercion the defendant used against me, I know that is the truth, and his sentence should reflect the reality of the evidence and my lived experience as a victim."

Go on and take a bow, Rihanna.The singer has given birth, welcoming her and longtime partner A$AP Rocky‘s third child.“Rocki Irish Mayers Sept 13 2025,” the “Diamonds” hitmaker wrote on InstagramWednesday alongside a photo of herself holding their baby girl. News broke in May that the couple were expanding their family after previously welcoming son RZA and son Riot in 2022 and 2023, respectively.Rihanna, 37, debuted her baby bump while walking in New York City ahead of this year’s Met Gala.She stunned on the red carpet in a deconstructed Marc Jacobs suit — and left fans questioning whether she had twins on the way when she seemingly said she “brought the kids” to the event.“As in multiple?” one social media user asked at the time, while another predicted, “We’re never getting an another album.”The following month, Rocky made headlines for appearing to hint at the sex of baby No. 3 after back-to-back boys.When an “Entertainment Tonight” reporter asked whether the rapper was expecting “the girl [he’s] been waiting for,” Rocky replied, “It is, man. It is.”The songwriter, who was at the “Smurfs” premiere, immediately held up a Smurfette doll and clarified, “Right here. You know what I’m saying? Right here.”The journalist teased, “You know what I’m asking.”Rocky, in return, simply laughed and ended the playful interview.At the same event, Rihanna also joked about being pregnant with a “Smurfette” — only to add that she could also be carrying a “Papa Smurf.”She quipped, “Who knows!”As for the little one’s name, Rihanna confirmed, “It’s always going to be an R name. That’s the one thing me and Rocky don’t fight over.”The couple have been an item since 2020 when their relationship took a romantic turn after years of friendship.