Chile… something’s been brewing between Klay Thompson and Ja Morant, and let’s just say the tension finally boiled over. Two stars, both with something to prove, exchanged words during Saturday’s game — and neither held their tongue. Grab your popcorn, because this storyline is getting spicy before anyone even steps back on the court.
Y’all! Memphis took home a 102–96 win Saturday night, and although Ja Morant missed his third straight game with a calf strain, he still found time to send some long-distance smoke. Klay, who dropped 22 points off the bench and hit 6-of-12 from deep, missed a potential game-tying three in the final seconds — and Ja wasted zero time reminding the cameras who he thought the real shooter of the night was.
After the final buzzer, Klay Thompson and Ja Morant came face-to-face, with footage showing Ja pointing his finger in Klay’s face, prompting Klay to push it back before stepping toward him. Teammates quickly rushed in to separate them, though what was initially said to spark Klay’s reaction remains unclear. During Cam Spencer’s live postgame interview, Ja walked up and said, “Tell ‘em who the best shooter in the house was, it wasn’t bro from Golden State.”
Klay Checks Ja & Turns Up The Heat
Klay did not let that slide. Back in the locker room, he clapped right back, calling Morant’s comments nothing with “intelligent depth” and saying Ja “has a lot to say all the time, especially for a guy who rarely takes accountability.” And he wasn’t done. Klay doubled down, saying Ja’s been “running his mouth for a long time,” and that it’s “funny to run your mouth when you’re on the bench.” He even took it further, implying Morant’s off-court issues have kept him from living up to his star potential: “We need our best players to be out there… I hate to see that go to waste.”
The Fans Hit The Comment Section Like It Was Game 7
Fans immediately sprinted to The Shade Room’s comment section to toss in their two cents, and the theories were flying. Some Roommates joked that Ja must’ve said something slick about Klay’s bae Megan Thee Stallion, while others defended Klay, saying he’s never messy enough for anyone to come at him like that. A few commenters were confused altogether, wondering why Ja was stirring the pot when he wasn’t even playing and was posted up on the bench in a Nike tech.
One Instagram user @ratheblessed1 wrote, “He definitely said something negative about Megan 😭😭😭”
This Instagram user @therealmemphitz said, “Ja said get yo lil dizzy sizzy red bone azz tf outta here“
And, Instagram user @q33n.elly commented, “Love this Klay era 🙌🤎”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @dtay_blackie added, “Come on now, JA had on a Nike Tech. You already knew he was on timing. He’s a certified YN 😂”
While Instagram user @bunjeevision shared, “Thats not Klay Thompson no more. Thats DaKlayvius 🥷🏿 😂”
Finally, Instagram user @elle_mvrie said, “How you hating from outside the court? You can’t even get in! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭”
“Okay. That’s my opinion. Yeah, it’s fine,” Erika replied when Decider asked her about Garcelle’s comment at BravoCon.
Meanwhile, Boz admitted to wishing they could’ve worked things out with Garcelle prior to her sudden exit from the season 14 reunion.
“I would hope that we would all be able to talk things through and to be able to really dissect conflict. I believe in resolution always, and it doesn’t work if the person isn’t there to do it,” she noted.
As for whether she’d welcome Garcelle back to RHOBH, Erika noted, “It’s not my decision,” as Boz said “a conversation would be necessary.”
“A lot of opinions,” Erika replied. “A lot of talking. And sometimes I don’t know what about.
Also at BravoCon, Erika appeared on the November 18 episode of BravoCon Live with Andy Cohen, where she was asked if she’d rather have Lisa or Camille return to the show. And, after a brief pause, Erika didn’t mince words.
“They’re both dead to me,” she stated, via Bravo’s The Daily Dish.
While fans have called for the returns of both women in recent years, Erika isn’t interested. And, if both women are sticking to their guns, neither will be returning anytime soon. In fact, during her own interview with Jerry O’Connell, 51, at BravoCon, Lisa said, point-blank, “I’m not going back.”
“I did that. I did that for 10 years, and that was so many years ago. I’ve moved on, and hopefully, so have they,” she stated.
“I wish them well,” she added. “I don’t really have a relationship with them for sure, but my life is extraordinarily busy, and I personally don’t have any time for negativity.”
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsseason 15 premieres on Thursday, December 4, at 8/7c on Bravo.
What a time to be alive! Soulja Boy has the internet reminiscing after he brought back his nostalgic “Bird Walk” dance. The dance recently surfaced on TikTok, with countless users joining the challenge—and now Soulja is showing everyone how it’s done.
Soulja Boy Brings Back The ‘Bird Walk’ & The Internet Can’t Get Enough
In his latest TikTok, Soulja Boy is bringing pure nostalgia. On Friday, Nov. 21, the Atlanta rapper uploaded a video to his 2008 hit “Bird Walk.” The song and dance that accompanies it has recently gone viral on the app, with many users hopping on the challenge. But Big Soulja said “aht aht,” as he took us back and participated in his own challenge. While showing off his moves, he captioned the video, “This is how you do it,” letting folks know he still got it.
Instagram user @jessslayyyy wrote, “He’s always had some of the best dances!! We used to be turned in the skating rink 😂😭😭”
Another Instagram user @aiyaannaaa wrote, “first rapper to have his dances go viral on tik tik 💯💯💯💯💯”
While Instagram user @_ohthatstyyyy_ wrote, “Miss this erraaaa sooo bad !! Parties, flip phones, skating rink and Myspace plus more uggghhh”
Instagram user @akmillsss wrote, “This was literally the best era to me. We were having too much fun 😮💨🔥 Nobody was acting too cool to dance and show tf out”
Another Instagram user @crowncrick wrote, “He so happy they back doing his dances Mr. 1st to do everything 😂😂😂”
While Instagram user @f.ergg wrote, “Ayeee I got hype seeing him”
Instagram user @neettails_ wrote, “They could never make me hate him 😂😂😂😂😂😂. I love me some souljaaaaaaaaa”
Another Instagram user @thatsso_rie wrote, “He moves the exact same way he did when he came out 20 years ago”
While Instagram user @riqosuaveee wrote, “Bird walk LEGENDARY 🔥🔥🔥”
Soulja Boy Wants A Role In The Upcoming Labubu Movie
Earlier this year, Soulja Boy made headlines, claiming he was the first rapper to ever to cop a ‘Labubu’ chain. Now, according to Hollywood Reporter, a Labubu movie is in the works at Sony—and Soulja wants in. In a post on X, he asked, “Is it really a Labubu movie if I’m not in it showing my Labubu chain? 😊”He also responded to a to an X user asking who should be cast in the movie, suggesting, “Me, Keke Palmer & Jenna Ortega?”
Kandi Burruss left fans speechless after announcing her split from her husband Todd Tucker. The reality star spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about the decision and said she’s ready to start a new chapter after more than a decade of marriage.
Kandi Burruss Opens Up About Ending Marriage With Todd Tucker
On Friday, November 21, PEOPLE shared Kandi Burruss’ exclusive statement, in which she revealed that she and Todd Tucker are going their separate ways after eleven years of marriage. Kandi told the outlet that deciding to get a divorce was a tough choice, but she’s focused on co-parenting their children in a healthy, positive way.
“After deep thought and a lot of prayer, I’ve made the decision to move forward with a divorce. This is a difficult and emotional time, but my focus remains on protecting my peace, being the best mother I can be, and co-parenting with love and respect,” Kandi told PEOPLE.
Additionally, the former ‘RHOA’ star said she’s looking forward to starting a new chapter and asked for grace as she navigates through the transition. “I’m stepping into a new chapter pouring into my work, my family, and my own growth. I’m grateful to everyone who supported us throughout the years.” Burruss continued, “I ask for privacy, grace, and understanding as we navigate this transition with our family.”
More About Todd & Kandi’s Relationship History
Fans might recall that Kandi and Todd met while filming season four of ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ in 2011. PEOPLE reports that they got engaged in January 2013 and later tied the knot in April 2014. The couple has two children together: a 9-year-old son, Ace and a 5-year-old daughter, Blaze. They also each have children from previous relationships — Burruss has a 23-year-old daughter, Riley, and Tucker has a 29-year-old daughter, Kaela. Kandi and Todd also have several business ventures together — a soul food restaurant chain in Georgia and a trucking company. The pair even gave folks an exclusive look inside their family life in one season of their very own reality series, ‘Kandi & The Gang’
Social Media Reacts To Kandi & Todd’s Split
After TSR shared the news about Kandi and Todd’s breakup, fans flooded the comment section with reactions. Folks couldn’t believe the couple was really separating and kept hoping it was a bad joke.
Instagram user @http.savannahl wrote, “Wowwwwwwww. This is one couple I wanted to see beat the odds – after all of what Kandi’s mom was saying on the show their union! SMH 🙏🏾”
Instagram user @imerickrobinson wrote, “Sending love to them both. I hate to read this. Prayers to both of them and their family. 🙏🏾”
While Instagram user @libragirl1016 wrote, “It seemed like Todd and Kandi were really solid. Definitely didn’t see this one coming.”
Then Instagram user @sav_vu88 wrote, “NOOOOOO i just got done re watching RHOA , im sad for them smh.”
Another Instagram user @paging_dr.a wrote, “Folks keep saying Mama Joyce was right, but I’m sure her actions likely had a part in this.”
Instagram user @sweeneestyleblogger wrote, “I hate to hear this! 😔”
Then another Instagram user @ko_bangaa wrote, “Mercury must be in Gatorade.”
Finally, Instagram user @britnyhorton wrote, “No. No. No. No. No.”
Following 11 years of marriage and two kids, son Ace, 9, and daughter Blaze, 5, the 49-year-old Real Housewives of Atlanta alum has just issued a statement confirming she has split from Todd, 52.
“After deep thought and a lot of prayer, I’ve made the decision to move forward with a divorce. This is a difficult and emotional time, but my focus remains on protecting my peace, being the best mother I can be, and co-parenting with love and respect,” said Kandi to PEOPLE via a statement on November 21.
She continued, “I’m stepping into a new chapter pouring into my work, my family, and my own growth. I’m grateful to everyone who supported us throughout the years, and I ask for privacy, grace, and understanding as we navigate this transition with our family.”
Kandi’s confirmation of a split came after RHOA fans on a Reddit thread mentioned that Kandi had allegedly removed “Tucker” from her Instagram bio, where she was previously listed as “Kandi Burruss-Tucker.”
They also signaled a blind item from Crazy Days and Nights, which said, “I told you months ago it was coming, and now the southeast Housewife had dropped her married name.”
In the comments of the post, several RHOA fans recalled Kandi’s recent appearance at BravoCon, where she accepted the Wifetime Achievement Award. As they explained, Kandi said she “appreciates all the support, especially now,” and Todd did not attend the event.
Kandi also reportedly ditched her wedding ring for the fan convention.
“She seemed sad to me. Like leaning into the emotions of accepting the award but it seemed deeper,” one person suspected.
“I wanted their marriage to be good. I was rooting for them. For love. This sucks. I hope it’s not true. Hopefully she’s back on rhoa I’d love to see what she says,” another said.
“Soon as I saw that they both stopped wearing their rings I knew something was wrong,” wrote a third.
As RHOA viewers will recall, Kandi and Todd’s marriage wasn’t exactly blessed by her mom, Joyce “Mama Joyce” Jones, who worried he was after her money.
Kandi also faced rumors of an impending split from Todd earlier this year, but quickly shut them down during an interview with Us Weekly.
“[Riley Burruss] actually sent it to me. She was like, ‘Why do people keep saying that y’all about to get divorced?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know,’” she recalled.
However, weeks later, Kandi admitted things between Todd and her mom had taken a turn for the worse.
“Let’s see, Friday, they did pretty good. The kids, Ace and Blaze, had graduated from their school, so they were doing pretty good, but by the time I got back from my trip the other day, my mom was back to not feeling us. So, hopefully it’ll change,” she revealed on Amazon Live.
You may not be too familiar with LA County Assessor Jeffrey Prang. You’ve probably never heard of the office of the LA County Assessor, or you might only have a vague notion of what it does.
But with a career in city politics spanning nearly thirty years, he’s among the longest-serving openly gay elected officials in the United States, and for his work serving the people of Los Angeles and championing the rights of the city’s LGBTQ people, the Stonewall Democratic Club is honoring him at their 50th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Night Nov 15 at Beaches Tropicana in West Hollywood.
Prang moved to Los Angeles from his native Michigan after college in 1991, specifically seeking an opportunity to serve in politics as an openly gay man. In 1997, he was elected to the West Hollywood City Council, where he served for 18 years, including four stints as mayor.
“I was active in politics, but in Michigan at the time I left, you couldn’t really be out and involved in politics… My life was so compartmentalized. I had my straight friends, my gay friends, my political friends, and I couldn’t really mix and match those things,” he says.
“One of the things that was really impactful was as you drove down Santa Monica Boulevard and saw those rainbow flags placed there by the government in the median island. That really said, this is a place where you can be yourself. You don’t have to be afraid.”
One thing that’s changed over Prang’s time in office is West Hollywood’s uniqueness as a place of safety for the queer community.
“It used to be, you could only be out and gay and politically involved if you were from Silver Lake or from West Hollywood. The thought of being able to do that in Downey or Monterey Park or Pomona was foreign. But now we have LGBTQ centers, gay pride celebrations, and LGBT elected officials in all those jurisdictions, something that we wouldn’t have thought possible 40 years ago,” he says.
Prang’s jump to county politics is emblematic of that shift. In 2014, amid a scandal that brought down the previous county assessor, Prang threw his name in contention for the job, having worked in the assessor’s office already for the previous two years. He beat out eleven contenders in the election, won reelection in 2018 and 2022, and is seeking a fourth term next year.
To put those victories in perspective, at the time of his first election, Prang represented more people than any other openly gay elected official in the world.
Beyond his office, Prang has lent his experience with ballot box success to helping get more LGBT people elected through his work with the Stonewall Democrats and with a new organization he co-founded last year called the LA County LGBTQ Elected Officials Association (LACLEO).
LACLEO counts more than fifty members, including officials from all parts of the county, municipal and state legislators, and members of school boards, water boards, and city clerks.
“I assembled this group to collectively use our elected strength and influence to help impact policy in Sacramento and in Washington, DC, to take advantage of these elected leaders who have a bigger voice in government than the average person, and to train them and educate them to be better advocates on behalf of the issues that are important for us,” Prang says.
“I do believe as a senior high-level official I need to play a role and have an important voice in supporting our community,” he says.
Ok, but what is the LA County assessor, anyway?
“Nobody knows what the assessor is. 99% of people think I’m the guy who collects taxes,” Prang says.
The assessor makes sure that all properties in the county are properly recorded and fairly assessed so that taxes can be levied correctly. It’s a wonky job, but one that has a big impact on how the city raises money for programs.
And that wonkiness suits Prang just fine. While the job may seem unglamorous, he gleefully boasts about his work overhauling the office’s technology to improve customer service and efficiency, which he says is proving to be a role model for other county offices.
“I inherited this 1970s-era mainframe green screen DOS-based legacy system. And believe it or not, that’s the standard technology for most large government agencies. That’s why the DMV sucks. That’s why the tax collection system sucks. But I spent $130 million over almost 10 years to rebuild our system to a digitized cloud-based system,” Prang says.
“I think the fact that my program was so successful did give some impetus to the board funding the tax collector and the auditor-controller to update their system, which is 40 years behind where they need to be.”
More tangible impacts for everyday Angelenos include his outreach to promote tax savings programs for homeowners, seniors, and nonprofits, and a new college training program that gives students a pipeline to good jobs in the county.
As attacks on the queer community intensify from the federal government, Prang says the Stonewall Democrats are an important locus of organization and resistance, and he encourages anyone to get involved.
“It is still an important and relevant organization that provides opportunities for LGBTQ people to get involved, to have an impact on our government and our civic life. If you just wanna come and volunteer and donate your time, it provides that, if you really want to do more and have a bigger voice and move into areas of leadership, it provides an opportunity for that as well,” he says.
Lala Kent is clapping back at Jeff Lewis, who reportedly shaded a fan for attending BravoCon while in recovery.
After it was alleged that the former Flipping Out star, 55, had told the audience member that they shouldn’t be in Las Vegas for the fan convention during a moment that was ultimately cut from an “Ask Andy” panel, the 35-year-old Vanderpump Rules alum and cast member of The Valley spoke out in support of the fan.
“Someone sent this to me. I heard it was followed by Jeff saying, ‘If you’re in recovery you shouldn’t be at BravoCon,’” Lala began. “I am in recovery, [and] have only attended BravoCon as a person in recovery.”
As Pump Rules fans well know, Lala got sober in 2018 and celebrated her seven-year anniversary earlier this month.
“To this man,” she continued, “Thank you for sharing your story. You are seen. You are heard. I am so happy you decided to come. I am sending you love, and know we are in this together. It is one day at a time.”
“You also made me feel less alone. So thank you … We got this,” she added.
Jordy Cray drew attention to the fan, describing Jeff’s antics against him, on TikTok.
Although Jeff’s new show, Still Flipping Out, was announced at BravoCon, rumors have been swirling that the series could be in jeopardy due to his behavior at the event.
Amid the backlash, Jeff told Us Weekly that Andy Cohen, 57, was “upset” with him.
“I think that maybe a couple of my jokes were inappropriate and insensitive,” he explained. “I have apologized … I know this guy. We’ve known each other for 18 years. He vents and look, and I sincerely did apologize. Now I gotta give him time to cool off. My experience with him, he’ll get back to me in one to three weeks.”
Kevin Gates knows how to keep fans laughing and he proved that when he joined Bobbi Althoff for an exclusive interview. The rapper had folks online in tears after a clip dropped of him showing off his powerful vocals for Bobbi.
Kevin Gates Turns Interview With Bobbi Althoff Into Pure Comedy With Vocal Flex
Recently, Kevin Gates linked up with Bobbi Althoff for a hilarious interview during his ‘Amilio’ tour. While chopping it up with Bobbi, he flexed his vocals, proving he can rap and hit a lil’ note too. A clip from their viral interview is blowing up on social media, showing him rocking all black on a tour bus while Bobbi and her crew watch him get in his bag. Out of nowhere, Kevin comes in strong, saying, “Beefing with my chick while I’m in jail,” then softly sings a few more lines. Bobbi Althoff could barely keep a straight face and we see why. Peep the video below.
Kevin Sits Back & Lets The Jokes From Social Media Roll
After TSR reposted Kevin singing, the comment section blew up with reactions. Even Kevin jumped in, saying he pulled up just for the comments. Meanwhile, folks cracked jokes, calling him completely unhinged and wondering how nobody lost it laughing at him. See some of the responses below.
Instagram user @bighomieblocks wrote, “Why he yelling doe lol.”
Instagram user @tia_becca_ wrote, “I didn’t expect that outburst🗣️ beef’n wit my chick while I’m in jail 🎶”
While Instagram user @e.lashaa wrote, “that room too small to be hollering like that!”
Then Instagram user @keiana.j wrote, “Idc I love Gates 😭🤣 up there looking like a pack of black sweets 😏🥰😂”
Another Instagram user @shes_feisty wrote, “This just how my mood be changing 😂”
Instagram user @jordyn2_gorgeous wrote, “it took me a min to realize he’s serious 😂”
Then another Instagram user @firstclass_ken wrote, “His starting note was UNHINGED 🤣🎶🎼🎵”
While another Instagram user @bonitabillionaire wrote, “How did nobody laugh? 😭😭😭”
Instagram user @_icancarelesss wrote, “He would of kicked me out immediately the way I would of started hollering 😂😂😂😂😂”
Finally, Instagram user @madein_parris wrote, “Yo lock him up immediately 😭😭😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂”
Kevin Gates Gets Real About Reason Behind His 42-Day Fast
In addition to performing, Kevin Gates takes his health seriously. He’s also going viral for keeping it 100 about his 42-day fast. The rapper told Bobbi he decided to take on the challenge in hopes that it would help him tap deeper into his spirituality. “When the body doesn’t eat, you become stronger,” Gates said.
Aaliyah Jay, an OG beauty influencer, has been setting trends for years. Now, she has folks chatting after she hopped on a new trend of adding AI-generated animals to her photos.
AI is here, but not everyone is a fan of it. OG beauty influencer and YouTuber Aaliyah Jay is at the forefront of the latest backlash after adding two AI-generated Dalmatian dogs to her recent photos.
So how did we get here? On Tuesday, November 18, Aaliyah posted two photos to her X account: one original image and one AI-generated. In the original, she wears all black with cherry red boots as she poses on what appears to be a classic New York stoop. In the AI-generated version, Aaliyah added two Dalmatians to accompany her on the steps. She uploaded the photos side by side and asked social media, “Original photo vs. AI animals photo. Which one you like better?”
Aaliyah Jay Educates Trolls On AI Use Following Criticism Over Her Flicks
Aaliyah didn’t hold back in responding to the comments about her pics. She took to X to let folks know she understands users who oppose AI and said she was not aware of the alleged harm it causes within the creative community. But she didn’t stop there. Aaliyah reminded critics that AI not only appears in the photos she created but also powers the very apps they use to share their opinions.
“But yet, you’re on that very same app that’s powered by the same man and his AI tech company, smoking an electronic cigarette somewhere polluting the air and your lungs, with star stickers on your face tryna get puss out those pimples cause you don’t take care of yourself as you use all your screen time on an iPhone.”
From there, Aaliyah Jay ended her lengthy response by telling folks to “get in the field” and “clean up the environment.”
Instagram user @moelovesyou_ wrote, “What does AI have to do with a small town having no water? I’m confused”
Another Instagram user @jyoubadd wrote, “The Dalmatians are a nice touch 🤏🏽”
While Instagram user @iamyanidadon wrote, “She ate with that response let people edit what they want on their phone that yall don’t pay for 😂😂”
Instagram user @thedenisemarie wrote, “Aaliyah had time today and I’m here for it!”
Another Instagram user @kentravions wrote, “And we didn’t forget when y’all was doing that Baby AI shii trying too see how y’all kids would look 😂😂😂”
While Instagram user @zoin3000 wrote, “You should’ve just paid for real dogs AI might look cool but it’s actually killing the environment and destroying the creativity of humanity”
Another Instagram user @avrge.gia wrote, “She lost me at “tweeting isn’t activism, when it literally is and has been and can be used for it… Like did she not forget the whole BLM movement and how social media helped spread information across the country?……..”
While Instagram user @meyahantoinnette wrote, “she tore yall down.”
The former Bravo star is currently in police custody after she was detained by cops on November 19 at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
According to CBS News, Mia, 40, was charged with larceny and it stems from a claim accusing her of stealing furniture from a furnished condo she was renting.
The police report claims that Mia, and a man identified as Jared McGriff aka her ex-boyfriendIncognito, “suddenly moved out of the unit in the middle of the night” on October 28. She allegedly took furniture worth $11,000 with her which included a television.
Fox5Atlanta adds that the owner of the condo proceeded to file a police report through a friend on November 6 regarding the alleged theft.
Mia was ultimately arrested at the airport due to a warrant out for her arrest. According to the body cam footage, Mia told cops she was aware of the arrest warrant.
Just weeks ago, Mia made headlines when she poked fun at the arrest of her former RHOP costar Wendy Osefo. Following the arrests of Wendy, and her husband Eddie Osefo, for alleged insurance fraud, Mia was seen laughing during an interview as she stated, “I’m very, very shocked because I thought Miss 4 Degrees had it together. I thought she had it together. I mean, isn’t Eddie an attorney for heaven’s sakes?”
For the time being, Mia has yet to speak out on her arrest and remains in custody.
Erika Jayne‘s friend and attorney, James Wilkes, is being accused of stealing millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds from the United States government in an effort to fund her lavish lifestyle.
Two years after designer Christopher Psaila, of the Marco Marco fashion house, filed an $18 million lawsuit against the 54-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, accusing her of conspiracy and malicious prosecution, the same man is suing James, claiming he was the “mastermind of a conspiracy” behind an alleged plot to delay and derail his initial case against Erika.
According to a November 17 report from Radar Online, Christopher believes James scammed the government out of money meant for those in need by being dishonest about the number of employees he had on payroll.
As Christopher explained, James falsely “represented to the PPP that his firm had 40 full-time positions more than it actually had.”
“The source of the funds that Wilkes used to pay, invest in, or loan Erika Jayne and her team, and to pay attorneys to defend Erika Jayne and team in other lawsuits, were two Covid loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (‘PPP Loans’) in the amounts of $2,393,079 and $2,000,000,” the federal lawsuit explained. “The U.S. Small Business Administration forgave both of these loans, which were meant for salaries for employees who would otherwise be laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
As RHOBH fans may recall, Christopher faced fraud charges after he was accused of making $800,000 in fraudulent charges to Erika’s American Express card between 2014 and 2016, and his business was raided the following year. And while the charges against him were eventually found to be false and dropped, he said the allegations caused him to lose “tens of millions of dollars.” He ultimately sued Erika and two former Secret Service agents.
“Any investigation at all, or review of the evidence seized in January 2017, would have uncovered that Marco Marco and Psaila had documented proof that all costumes and services had been supplied to [Jayne], that all the charges were authorized, and that no fraud occurred,” his case stated.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsseason 15 premieres Thursday, December 4, at 8/7c on Bravo.
It’s been more than a year since Megan Thee Stallion filed a defamation lawsuit against Milagro Gramz (real name Cooper). The case has been inching towards a trial for several months, and this week, it kicked off with jury selection in Miami. Megan has accused the blogger of being part of a “coordinated campaign” to tarnish her reputation — allegedly with the financial backing of Tory Lanez. He has been named in the lawsuit and deposed at least three times. But on the last jailhouse chat, the incarcerated rapper reportedly refused to answer questions. In response, a judge reportedly held him in contempt and fined him a double stack!
What Happened During The Deposition Of Tory Lanez?
According to Rolling Stone, Judge Lisette M. Reid filed her decision on Sunday (November 16) following his third jailhouse deposition. The third questioning took place last Friday. Tory Lanez reportedly began by asking what the consequences would be for declining the questions. Learning of a possible fine and being held in contempt didn’t deter him.
“Whatever the fines are, I’ll pay them,” Tory Lanez reportedly said. “I’m a millionaire. I don’t care.”
Judge Reid wrote in her filing about Tory’s alleged behavior. She said Tory “stormed out of the room” at one point, and directed comments like “liar” and “calm down” at Megan’s lawyer. Additionally, he refused to answer questions about how he met or learned about Milagro Gramz. He also declined to say whether he was involved in any contact with the blogger via text or Instagram. The judge said Megan’s legal asked the questions “properly” but Lanez still “refused to answer and ultimately terminated the deposition without answering any questions.”
Daystar Peterson (the rapper’s legal name) now owes Megan Thee Stallion’s lawyers $20,000. The fine is for “his obstruction of Plaintiff’s multiple attempts to depose him,” the judge said in her filing. Tory Lanez’s lawyer, Crystal Morgan, also took an L. Rolling Stone reports that the judge also fined her. He has not publicly commented on the ruling.
What’s The Latest On Megan Thee Stallion’s Case Against Milagro Gramz?
The new ruling was the talk of the internet as Milagro Gramz’s trial finally kicked off on Monday.
MORE DETAILS TO COME.
Judge Recently Ruled Against Overturning Tory’s Conviction
This is week two of Tory Lanez’s facing legal setbacks involving Megan Thee Stallion. A California court last Wednesday denied the rapper’s appeal of his guilty verdict from the 2020 shooting of Meg. A three-judge panel from the California 2nd District Court of Appeal issued a ruling saying they affirm the triple-charge conviction. Lanez was convicted of three felonies in December of 2022: assault with a semiautomatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Monday (November 17) it’s investigating a new sexual battery allegation against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. The music mogul is serving a four-year prison sentence on prostitution-related convictions. He was transferred to Fort Dix in October, and his mugshot went viral shortly afterward.
Male Producer Alleges Diddy Sexually Exposed Himself
A male music producer and publicist claims he was asked to come to a photo shoot in 2020 at a Los Angeles warehouse. His name is redacted in the police report. At the warehouse, Sean Combs allegedly exposed himself while masturbating. Diddy allegedly told the accuser to assist, according to NBC News, citing a police report. Combs then tossed a dirty shirt at the man, the producer said.
The accuser said he did not tell anyone for several years because he felt embarrassed. However, he came forward to the police in Largo, Florida. That happened on September 20.
Combs’ lawyer did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment on the latest allegations.
Producer Also Says Sean Combs Confronted Him For Being A “Snitch”
The LA County Sheriff’s Department said it received an official copy of the report from the Florida department on Friday. In response, it will be investigating the allegations. The report also details an incident from March 2021. In that incident, the accuser claims two men covered his head before Sean Combs came into the room and called him a snitch, according to NBC.
What’s The Latest On The Producer?
Sean Combs was convicted in July of flying his girlfriends and male sex workers around the country to engage in drug-fueled sexual encounters over many years. However, he was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life. He was initially set to be released in May 2028, but Page Six recently reported that officials pushed the date back to June 4, 2028.
In the meantime, he can earn reductions in his sentence through his participation in substance abuse treatment and other prison programs. Reports from last month state that he is employed at Fort Dix in the prison chapel, and is in an intense drug and rehab program.
This story was produced by the Associated Press and reprinted with permission.
ATLANTA — It was the worst summer in years. Sechita McNair’s family took no vacations. Her younger boys didn’t go to camp. Her van was repossessed, and her family nearly got evicted — again.
But she accomplished the one thing she wanted most. A few weeks before school started, McNair, an out-of-work film industry veteran barely getting by driving for Uber, signed a lease in the right Atlanta neighborhood so her eldest son could stay at his high school.
As she pulled up outside the school on the first day, Elias, 15, stepped onto the curb in his new basketball shoes and cargo pants. She inspected his face, noticed wax in his ears and grabbed a package of baby wipes from her rental car. She wasn’t about to let her eldest, with his young Denzel Washington looks, go to school looking “gross.”
He grimaced and broke away.
“No kiss? No hugs?” she called out.
Elias waved and kept walking. Just ahead of him, at least for the moment, sat something his mother had fought relentlessly for: a better education.
The link between where you live and where you learn
Last year, McNair and her three kids were evicted from their beloved apartment in the rapidly gentrifying Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta. Like many evicted families, they went from living in a school district that spends more money on students to one that spends less.
Thanks to federal laws protecting homeless and evicted students, her kids were able to keep attending their Atlanta schools, even though the only housing available to them was in another county 40 minutes away. They also had the right to free transportation to those schools, but McNair says the district didn’t tell her about that until the school year ended. Their eligibility to remain in those schools expired at the end of last school year.
Still wounded by the death of his father and multiple housing displacements, Elias failed two classes last year, his freshman year. Switching schools now, McNair fears, would jeopardize any chance he has of recovering his academic life. “I need this child to be stable,” she says.
Related: Become a lifelong learner. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter featuring the most important stories in education.
With just one week before school started, McNair drove extra Uber hours, borrowed money, secured rental assistance and ignored concerns about the apartment to rent a three-bedroom in the Old Fourth Ward. At $2,200 a month, it was the only “semi-affordable” apartment in the rapidly gentrifying ward that would rent to a single mom with a fresh eviction on her record.
On Zillow, the second-floor apartment, built in 2005, looked like a middle-class dream with its granite countertops, crown molding and polished wood floors. But up close, the apartment looked abused and held secrets McNair was only beginning to uncover.
The first sign something was wrong came early. When she first toured the apartment, it felt rushed, like the agent didn’t want her to look too closely. Then, even as they told her she was accepted, the landlord and real estate agent wouldn’t send her a “welcome letter” laying out the agreement, the rent and deposit she would pay. It seemed like they didn’t want to put anything in writing.
When the lease came, it was full of errors. She signed it anyway. “We’re back in the neighborhood!” she said. Elias could return to Midtown High School.
But even in their triumph, no one in the family could relax. Too many things were uncertain. And it fell to McNair — and only McNair — to figure it out.
The first day back
Midtown is a high school so coveted that school administrators investigate student residency throughout the year to keep out kids from other parts of Atlanta and beyond. For McNair, the day Elias returned to the high school was a momentous one.
“Freedom!” McNair declared after Elias disappeared into the building. Without child care over the summer, McNair had struggled to find time to work enough to make ends meet. Now that the kids were back in class, McNair could spend school hours making money and resolving some of the unsettled issues with her new apartment.
McNair, the first person in her family to attend college, studied theater management. Her job rigging stage sets was lucrative until the writers’ and actors’ strike and other changes paralyzed the film industry in 2023. The scarcity of work on movie sets, combined with her tendency to take in family and non-family alike, wrecked her home economy.
The family was evicted last fall when McNair fell behind on rent because of funeral expenses for her foster daughter. The teen girl died from an epileptic seizure while McNair and everyone else slept. Elias found her body.
McNair attributes some of Elias’s lack of motivation at school to personal trauma. His father died after a heart attack in 2023, on the sidelines of Elias’s basketball practice.
Elias Washington talks to a friend on the phone as he walks to Midtown High School in Atlanta. Credit: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
On his first day back at school this August, Elias appeared excited but tentative. He watched as the seniors swanned into school wearing gold cardboard crowns, a Midtown back-to-school tradition, and scanned the sidewalk for anyone familiar.
If Elias had his way, his mom would homeschool him. She’s done it before. But now that he’s a teenager, it’s harder to get Elias to follow her instructions. As the only breadwinner supporting three kids and her disabled uncle, she has to work.
Elias hid from the crowds and called up a friend: “Where you at?” The friend, another sophomore, was still en route. Over the phone, they compared outfits, traded gossip about who got a new hairdo or transferred. When Elias’s friend declared this would be the year he’d get a girlfriend, Elias laughed.
When it was time to go in, Elias drifted toward the door with his head down as other students flooded past.
The after-school pickup
Hours later, he emerged. Despite everything McNair had done to help it go well — securing the apartment, even spending hundreds of dollars on new clothes for him — Elias slumped into the backseat when she picked him up after class.
“School was so boring,” he said.
“What happened?” McNair asked.
“Nothing, bro. That was the problem,” Elias said. “I thought I was going to be happy when school started, since summer was so horrible.”
Of all of the classes he was taking — geometry, gym, French, world history, environmental science — only gym interested him. He wished he could take art classes, he said. Elias has acted in some commercials and television programs, but chose a science and math concentration, hoping to study finance someday.
After dinner at Chick-fil-A, the family visited the city library one block from their new apartment. While McNair spoke to the librarian, the boys explored the children’s section. Malachi, 6, watched a YouTube video on a library computer while Derrick, 7, flipped through a book. Elias sat in a corner, sharing video gaming tips with a stranger he met online.
“Those people are learning Japanese,” said McNair, pointing to a group of adults sitting around a cluster of tables. “And this library lets you check out museum passes. This is why we have to be back in the city. Resources!”
McNair wants her children to go to well-resourced schools. Atlanta spends nearly $20,000 per student a year, $7,000 more than the district they moved to after the eviction. More money in schools means smaller classrooms and more psychologists, guidance counselors and other support.
But McNair, who grew up in New Jersey near New York City, also sees opportunities in the wider city of Atlanta. She wants to use its libraries, e-scooters, bike paths, hospitals, rental assistance agencies, Buy Nothing groups and food pantries.
“These are all resources that make it possible to raise a family when you don’t have support,” she said. “Wouldn’t anyone want that?”
Support is hard to come by
On the way home, the little boys fall asleep in the back seat. Elias asks, “So, is homeschooling off the table?”
McNair doesn’t hesitate. “Heck yeah. I’m not homeschooling you,” she says lightly. “Do you see how much of a financial bind I’m in?”’
McNair pulls into the driveway in Jonesboro, the suburb where the family landed after their eviction. Even though the family wants to live in Atlanta, their stuff is still here. It’s a neighborhood of brick colonials and manicured lawns. She realizes it’s the dream for some families, but not hers. “It’s a support desert.”
As they get out of the car, Elias takes over as parent-in-charge. “Get all of your things,” he directs Malachi and Derrick, who scowl as Elias seems to relish bossing them around. “Pick up your car seats, your food, those markers. I don’t want to see anything left behind.” Elias would be responsible for making the boys burritos, showering them and putting them to sleep.
McNair heads out to drive for Uber. That’s what is necessary to pay $450 a week to rent the car and earn enough to pay her rent and bills.
But while McNair is out, she can’t monitor Elias. And a few days after he starts school, Elias’s all-night gaming habit has already drawn teachers’ attention.
“I wanted to check in regarding Elias,” his geometry teacher writes during the first week of school. “He fell asleep multiple times during Geometry class this morning.”
Elias had told the teacher he went to bed around 4 a.m. the night before. “I understand that there may be various reasons for this, and I’d love to work together to support Elias so he can stay focused and successful in class.”
A few days later, McNair gets a similar email from his French teacher.
That night, McNair drives around Atlanta, trying to pick up enough Uber trips to keep her account active. But she can’t stop thinking about the emails. “I should be home making sure Elias gets to bed on time,” she says, crying. “But I have to work. I’m the only one paying the bills.”
Obstacles keep popping up
Ever since McNair rented the Atlanta apartment, her bills had doubled. She wasn’t sure when she’d feel safe giving up the house she’d been renting in Clayton County, given the problems with the Atlanta apartment. For starters, she was not even sure it was safe to spend the night there.
A week after school started in August, McNair dropped by the apartment to check whether the landlords had made repairs. At the very least, she wanted more smoke detectors.
She also wanted them to replace the door, which looked like someone had forced it open with a crowbar. She wanted a working fridge and oven. She wanted them to secure the back door to the adjoining empty apartment, which appeared to be open and made her wonder if there were pests or even people squatting there.
But on this day, her keys didn’t work.
She called 911. Had her new landlords deliberately locked her out?
When the police showed up outside the olive-green, Craftsman-style fourplex, McNair scrolled through her phone to find a copy of her lease. Then McNair and the officer eyed a man walking up to the property. “The building was sold in a short sale two weeks ago,” he told McNair. The police officer directed the man to give the new keys to McNair.
The next day, McNair started getting emails from an agent specializing in foreclosures, suggesting the new owners wanted McNair to leave. “The bank owns the property and now you are no longer a tenant of the previous owner,” she wrote. The new owner “might” offer relocation assistance if McNair agreed to leave.
McNair consulted attorneys, who reassured her: It might be uncomfortable, but she could stay. She needed to try to pay rent, even if the new owner didn’t accept it.
So McNair messaged the agent, asking where she should send the rent, and requested the company make necessary repairs. Eventually, the real estate agent stopped responding.
Some problems go away, but others emerge
Finally, McNair moved her kids and a few items from the Jonesboro house to the Atlanta apartment. She didn’t allow Elias to bring his video game console to Atlanta. He started going to bed around 11 p.m. most nights. But even as she solved that problem, others emerged.
It was at Midtown’s back-to-school night in September that McNair learned Elias was behind in most of his classes. Some teachers said maybe Midtown wasn’t the right school for Elias.
Perhaps they were right, McNair thought. She’d heard similar things before.
Elias also didn’t want to go to school. He skipped one day, then another. McNair panicked. In Georgia, parents can be sent to jail for truancy when their kids miss five unexcused days.
McNair started looking into a homeschooling program run by a mother she follows on Facebook. In the meantime, she emailed and called some Midtown staff for advice. She says she didn’t get a response. Finally, seven weeks after the family’s triumphant return to Midtown, McNair filed papers declaring her intention to homeschool Elias.
It quickly proved challenging. Elias wouldn’t do any schoolwork when he was home alone. And when the homeschooling group met twice a week, she discovered, they required parents to pick up their children afterward instead of allowing them to take public transit or e-scooters. That was untenable.
Elias wanted to stay at home and offered to take care of McNair’s uncle, who has dementia. “That was literally killing my soul the most,” said McNair. “That’s not a child’s job.”
Hell, no, she told him — you only get one chance at high school.
Elias Washington watches a video on his phone as he rests on a bed left by a previous tenant in his family’s new apartment in Atlanta. Credit: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
Then, one day, while she was loading the boys’ clothes into the washing machine at the Atlanta apartment, she received a call from an unknown Atlanta number. It was the woman who heads Atlanta Public Schools’ virtual program, telling her the roster was full.
McNair asked the woman for her opinion on Elias’s situation. Maybe she should abandon the Atlanta apartment and enroll him in the Jonesboro high school.
Let me stop you right there, the woman said. Is your son an athlete? If he transfers too many times, it can affect his ability to play basketball. And he’d probably lose credits and take longer to graduate. He needs to be in school — preferably Midtown — studying for midterms, she said. You need to put on your “big mama drawers” and take him back, she told McNair.
The next day, Elias and his mother pulled up to Midtown. Outside the school, Elias asked if he had to go inside. Yes, she told him. This is your fault as much as it’s mine.
Now, with Elias back in school every day, McNair can deliver food through Uber Eats without worrying about a police officer asking why her kid isn’t in school. If only she had pushed harder, sooner, for help with Elias, she thought. “I should have just gone down to the school and sat in their offices until they talked to me.”
But it was easy for her to explain why she hadn’t. “I was running around doing so many other things just so we have a place to live, or taking care of my uncle, that I didn’t put enough of my energy there.”
She wishes she could pay more attention to Elias. But so many things are pulling at her. And as fall marches toward winter, her struggle continues. After failing to keep up with the Jonesboro rent, she’s preparing to leave that house before the landlord sends people to haul her possessions to the curb.
As an Uber driver, she has picked up a few traumatized mothers with their children after they got evicted. She helped them load the few things they could fit into her van. As they drove off, onlookers scavenged the leftovers.
She has promised herself she’d never let that happen to her kids.
Bianca Vázquez Toness is an Associated Press reporter who writes about the continuing impact of the pandemic on young people and their education.
The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
The Hechinger Report provides in-depth, fact-based, unbiased reporting on education that is free to all readers. But that doesn’t mean it’s free to produce. Our work keeps educators and the public informed about pressing issues at schools and on campuses throughout the country. We tell the whole story, even when the details are inconvenient. Help us keep doing that.
You may not be too familiar with LA County Assessor Jeffrey Prang. You’ve probably never heard of the office of the LA County Assessor, or you might only have a vague notion of what it does.
But with a career in city politics spanning nearly thirty years, he’s among the longest-serving openly gay elected officials in the United States, and for his work serving the people of Los Angeles and championing the rights of the city’s LGBTQ people, the Stonewall Democratic Club is honoring him at their 50th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Night Nov 15 at Beaches Tropicana in West Hollywood.
Prang moved to Los Angeles from his native Michigan after college in 1991, specifically seeking an opportunity to serve in politics as an openly gay man. In 1997, he was elected to the West Hollywood City Council, where he served for 18 years, including four stints as mayor.
“I was active in politics, but in Michigan at the time I left, you couldn’t really be out and involved in politics… My life was so compartmentalized. I had my straight friends, my gay friends, my political friends, and I couldn’t really mix and match those things,” he says.
“One of the things that was really impactful was as you drove down Santa Monica Boulevard and saw those rainbow flags placed there by the government in the median island. That really said, this is a place where you can be yourself. You don’t have to be afraid.”
One thing that’s changed over Prang’s time in office is West Hollywood’s uniqueness as a place of safety for the queer community.
“It used to be, you could only be out and gay and politically involved if you were from Silver Lake or from West Hollywood. The thought of being able to do that in Downey or Monterey Park or Pomona was foreign. But now we have LGBTQ centers, gay pride celebrations, and LGBT elected officials in all those jurisdictions, something that we wouldn’t have thought possible 40 years ago,” he says.
Prang’s jump to county politics is emblematic of that shift. In 2014, amid a scandal that brought down the previous county assessor, Prang threw his name in contention for the job, having worked in the assessor’s office already for the previous two years. He beat out eleven contenders in the election, won reelection in 2018 and 2022, and is seeking a fourth term next year.
To put those victories in perspective, at the time of his first election, Prang represented more people than any other openly gay elected official in the world.
Beyond his office, Prang has lent his experience with ballot box success to helping get more LGBT people elected through his work with the Stonewall Democrats and with a new organization he co-founded last year called the LA County LGBTQ Elected Officials Association (LACLEO).
LACLEO counts more than fifty members, including officials from all parts of the county, municipal and state legislators, and members of school boards, water boards, and city clerks.
“I assembled this group to collectively use our elected strength and influence to help impact policy in Sacramento and in Washington, DC, to take advantage of these elected leaders who have a bigger voice in government than the average person, and to train them and educate them to be better advocates on behalf of the issues that are important for us,” Prang says.
“I do believe as a senior high-level official I need to play a role and have an important voice in supporting our community,” he says.
Ok, but what is the LA County assessor, anyway?
“Nobody knows what the assessor is. 99% of people think I’m the guy who collects taxes,” Prang says.
The assessor makes sure that all properties in the county are properly recorded and fairly assessed so that taxes can be levied correctly. It’s a wonky job, but one that has a big impact on how the city raises money for programs.
And that wonkiness suits Prang just fine. While the job may seem unglamorous, he gleefully boasts about his work overhauling the office’s technology to improve customer service and efficiency, which he says is proving to be a role model for other county offices.
“I inherited this 1970s-era mainframe green screen DOS-based legacy system. And believe it or not, that’s the standard technology for most large government agencies. That’s why the DMV sucks. That’s why the tax collection system sucks. But I spent $130 million over almost 10 years to rebuild our system to a digitized cloud-based system,” Prang says.
“I think the fact that my program was so successful did give some impetus to the board funding the tax collector and the auditor-controller to update their system, which is 40 years behind where they need to be.”
More tangible impacts for everyday Angelenos include his outreach to promote tax savings programs for homeowners, seniors, and nonprofits, and a new college training program that gives students a pipeline to good jobs in the county.
As attacks on the queer community intensify from the federal government, Prang says the Stonewall Democrats are an important locus of organization and resistance, and he encourages anyone to get involved.
“It is still an important and relevant organization that provides opportunities for LGBTQ people to get involved, to have an impact on our government and our civic life. If you just wanna come and volunteer and donate your time, it provides that, if you really want to do more and have a bigger voice and move into areas of leadership, it provides an opportunity for that as well,” he says.
The teaching profession is one of the most female-dominated in the United States. Among elementary school teachers, 89 percent are women, and in kindergarten, that number is almost 97 percent.
Many sociologists, writers and parents have questioned whether this imbalance hinders young boys at the start of their education. Are female teachers less understanding of boys’ need to horse around? Or would male role models inspire boys to learn their letters and times tables? Some advocates point to research that lays out why boys ought to do better with male teachers.
But a new national analysis finds no evidence that boys perform or behave better with male teachers in elementary school. This challenges a widespread belief that boys thrive more when taught by men, and it raises questions about efforts, such as one in New York City, to spend extra to recruit them.
“I was surprised,” said Paul Morgan, a professor at the University at Albany and a co-author of the study. “I’ve raised two boys, and my assumption would be that having male teachers is beneficial because boys tend to be more rambunctious, more active, a little less easy to direct in academic tasks.”
Related: Our free weekly newsletter alerts you to what research says about schools and classrooms.
“We’re not saying gender matching doesn’t work,” Morgan added. “We’re saying we’re not observing it in K through fifth grade.”
Middle and high school students might see more benefits. Earlier research is mixed and inconclusive. A 2007 analysis by Stanford professor Thomas Dee found academic benefits for eighth-grade boys and girls when taught by teachers of their same gender.And studies where researchers observe and interview a small number of students often show how students feel more supported by same-gender teachers. Yet many quantitative studies, like this newest one, have failed to detect measurable benefits for boys. At least 10 since 2014 have found zero or minimal effects. Benefits for girls are more consistent.
Morgan and Hu analyzed a U.S. Education Department dataset that followed a nationally representative group of 8,000 students from kindergarten in 2010 through fifth grade in 2017. Half were boys and half were girls.
More than two-thirds — 68 percent — of the 4,000 boys never had a male teacher in those years while 32 percent had at least one. (The study focused only on main classroom teachers, not extras like gym or music.)
Among the 1,300 boys who had both male and female teachers, the researchers compared each boy’s performance and behavior across those years. For instance, if Jacob had female teachers in kindergarten, first, second and fifth grades, but male teachers in third and fourth, his average scores and behavior were compared between the teachers of different genders.
The researchers found no differences in reading, math or science achievement — or in behavioral and social measures. Teachers rated students on traits like impulsiveness, cooperation, anxiety, empathy and self-control. The children also took annual executive function tests. The results did not vary by the teacher’s gender.
Most studies on male teachers focus on older students. The authors noted one other elementary-level study, in Florida, that also found no academic benefit for boys. This new research confirms that finding and adds that there seems to be no behavioral or social benefits either.
For students at these young ages, 11 and under, the researchers also didn’t find academic benefits for girls with female teachers. But there were two non-academic ones: Girls taught by women showed stronger interpersonal skills (getting along, helping others, caring about feelings) and a greater eagerness to learn (represented by skills such as keeping organized and following rules).
When the researchers combined race and gender, the results grew more complex. Black girls taught by women scored higher on an executive function test but lower in science. Asian boys taught by men scored higher on executive function but had lower ratings on interpersonal skills. Black boys showed no measurable differences when taught by male teachers. (Previous research has sometimes found benefits for Black students taught by Black teachers and sometimes hasn’t.)**
Even if data show no academic or behavioral benefits for students, there may still be compelling reasons to diversify the teaching workforce, just as in other professions. But we shouldn’t expect these efforts to move the needle on student outcomes.
“If you had scarce resources and were trying to place your bets,” Morgan said, “then based on this study, maybe elementary school isn’t where you should focus your recruitment efforts” to hire more men.
To paraphrase Boyz II Men, it’s so hard to say goodbye — to the idea that young boys need male teachers.
*Clarification: The article has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal but has undergone some peer review.
**Correction: An earlier version incorrectly characterized how researchers analyzed what happened to students of different races. The researchers focused only on the gender of the teachers, but drilled down to see how students of different races responded to teachers of different genders.
Since you made it to the bottom of this article, we have a small favor to ask.
We’re in the midst of our end-of-year campaign, our most important fundraising effort of the year. Thanks to NewsMatch, every dollar you give will be doubled through December 31.
If you believe stories like the one you just finished matter, please consider pitching in what you can. This effort helps ensure our reporting and resources stay free and accessible to everyone—teachers, parents, policymakers—invested in the future of education.
Thank you. Liz Willen Editor in chief
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
Claressa Shields is making moves again, and the TL is taking notes! The undisputed heavyweight champ, five-division titleholder, and two-time Olympic gold medalist just inked a historic deal that lets her keep her foot on necks. And apparently, home isn’t just where the heart is—it’s where the bag stays! Sis is also entering her rapper era with her man, Papoose, at her side!
This month, news broke that Shields signed a guaranteed $8 million multi-fight partnership with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records, the music agency that houses her boyfriend, Papoose. The 30-year-old pound-for-pound queen of women’s boxing toyed with free agency, but ultimately decided to stay loyal to Dmitriy Salita, her first—and only—promoter. And now, she’s making history as the first athlete signed to Wynn Records, bridging the worlds of music and boxing in a major flex.
Fans had expected Shields to chase bigger payday fights, but she recently had social media buzzing after clips from her latest freestyle surfaced online. The undisputed champ brought her bars to BET’s new ‘106 & Sports’ series, and baby, she didn’t come to play. Hopping straight into her GWOAT bag, Claressa proved she brings the same heat to her raps as she does to the ring—flexing with lines like, “I be on that Master P, my credit card ain’t got no limit!” Additionally, Shields’ camp hasn’t revealed how many fights the deal includes or who she’ll face next, but she’s officially set to return to the ring in early 2026. And let’s just say, the boxing—and music—world are bracing for impact.
Wynn Gets Candid About Claressa Shields Signing (EXCLUSIVE)
In an exclusive conversation, the agency shared that they want to highlight Claressa Shields’ impact both inside and outside the ring, showing that her influence extends beyond boxing. An executive at Wynn Records, Lefty, shared the intention behind partnering with the champ for such a monumental deal and Papoose’s role in her journey:
“Wynn signed Claressa Shields because we strongly support uplifting women and she’s [considered] the most decorated female fighter of all time.” He shared that even while being a “2x Olympic gold medalist,” she is “strongly considering going for a 3rd.”
When asked how the partnership came to be, Lefty told The Shade Room, “Papoose is an executive at Wynn and it started off [with] our team showing support, attending Claressa’s fights,” adding, “our owner Ruben saw a vision for her.”
When asked how Claressa’s partner Papoose supports her endeavors, Lefty added, “Papoose lends stability, encouragement and emotional support.”
Additionally, fans are wondering why Claressa has ventured into music, with some linking it to the rumored Remy Ma feud. However, Lefty shut down any speculation saying, “The champ has a strong passion for music [even though] boxing is her first priority. She’s currently working on an album simply [to] create the music she loves and show love to her hometown.”
Remy Ma Shakes The Table With Cryptic Comments
It looks like Claressa Shields may be leaving a few people shook. In a clip shared by Live Bitez, Remy Ma recently went live in a grey shirt and cute bangs, saying she’s been “chilling” and not going off on folks even though people have been asking her to. Remy Ma claims to be behaving and keeping her cool, even though “they be asking for it,” leaving fans speculating that Claressa could be the one in the mix.
And, as previously reported, Laila Ali went live on YouTube with a 26-minute video dropping “receipts and documented evidence,” insisting Shields’ claim about a $15 million fight offer was false and taken out of context. Furthermore, Ali made it crystal clear whether Shields had made her “mad enough” to step out of retirement. “Absolutely not,” she said. On top of that, Shields seemingly caught wind of the video and called Ali “scared, old & bitter.”
A Christian missionary father and his daughter were killed when a small plane crashed in a South Florida neighborhood. The flight was headed to Jamaica for a hurricane relief mission. Ministry organization Ignite the Fire identified the two victims of the Monday morning crash as the group’s founder, Alexander Wurm, 53, and his daughter Serena Wurm, 22.
The Wrums were bringing humanitarian aid to Jamaica, according to the organization. All of a sudden, the Beechcraft King Air plane they were flying in crashed. It landed in a pond in a residential area of the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Coral Springs. The plane narrowly missed homes. As of Tuesday morning, investigators had not reported any other victims.
The turboprop plane went down shortly after taking off from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport at approximately 10:14 a.m. on Monday, authorities said. Police and fire rescue responded to the crash site just five minutes later. The flight tracking website FlightAware shows the plane made four other trips to or from Jamaica in the past week. It traveled between George Town in the Cayman Islands and Montego Bay and Negril in Jamaica, before landing in Fort Lauderdale on Friday.
According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the plane was manufactured in 1976. Its registered owner is listed as International Air Services.
Alex Wrum Posted About Missionary Trips
In recent weeks, Alexander Wurm had helped deliver medical supplies, water filters and StarLink satellite internet equipment to Jamaica. He was working with the relief organization Crisis Response International, according to a video statement the group posted online.
“What I can tell you about Alex is that he had a huge vision for the people of the Caribbean nations. And when this hurricane happened, he didn’t hesitate. He sprung into action and did what he could,” Crisis Response International founder Sean Malone said.
Malone added, “He really made a difference in the lives of the people on the ground by getting the resources in that he did. He saved lives and he gave his life.”
Posts by Alexander Wurm in recent days suggested the evangelist had recently acquired the plane to further his missionary work across the Caribbean. He described the aircraft as “an older King Air with brand new engines. He also called it “perfect” to ferry deliveries of generators, batteries and building materials to Jamaica.
“I’ve been a pilot since 2005 and I felt that the Ignite ministry should have a missions airplane if it wanted to effectively bless the Caribbean!” Wurm wrote in a social media post on Nov. 2. “Perfect for the mission to bring relief goods into Montego Bay and the plane is ready just in time!” he added.
Photos and videos on social media show Wurm posing for a picture in the plane’s cockpit and unloading boxes of supplies from the packed aircraft with teams of volunteers.
Crash Under Investigation
The Coral Springs Police Department said Tuesday that a significant police presence would be at the crash site as investigators collect evidence. Also, the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.
Broward County, where the plane took off from and where the crash occurred, is home to a vibrant Caribbean American community. It sprang into action to collect relief supplies following Hurricane Melissa, which left a path of destruction in the Caribbean.
A statement on Ignite the Fire’s social media described the Wurm family as passionate about humanitarian work and their Christian faith.
“Together, their final journey embodied selflessness and courage, reminding us of the power of service and love,” the statement reads, adding, “Rest in peace, Alexander and Serena — your light endures in all whose lives you changed.”
“It came out of left field. It was very surprising. Shocking,” Dorit admitted of her spat with Erika in a clip shared by Us Weekly.
“I love Dorit. I lost it on Dorit. That’s the way it happened,” Erika explained.
As for Kyle, she told Us Weekly that her and Dorit’s tension was “sad,” since they “love and care about each other,” and admitted to feeling that their respective splits from Mauricio Umansky, 55, and PK added strain to their relationship.
“We both went through a very difficult time, which I think made it difficult to move forward,” she shared. “And then coming into this season, we were able to make progress, which was great, and then we made three steps forward and maybe four steps back.”
“Would you agree with that assessment?” she then asked Dorit.
“I don’t know that I would agree with going through a difficult time and making it difficult to move forward. I thought we were moving forward. In fact, I thought at the reunion that we had moved forward,” she replied.
According to Kyle, she felt that they were in a “good place” at a certain point.
“Definitely. I would agree with that. But it didn’t really turn out to be that way,” Dorit noted.
As she navigated her drama with her RHOBH castmates, Dorit was also faced with drama from her ex.
“It’s challenging,” she told Us Weekly of co-parenting her two kids, Jagger, 11, and Phoenix, 9, with PK. “I’m hoping that things will sort of straighten out because I think that that’s really important. We need to be able to prioritize our children, and I’m hoping that at some point things will become a little bit less challenging.”
During another interview, with Chanel Ayan, 47, for Bravo, Dorit said she and PK were “still going through a divorce” and noted that while she and Kyle “were” doing better during season 15, they’re currently “working through [their] issues” in hopes of getting to a “better place.
As for who she was close with amid production, Dorit named newbieRachel Zoe, 54.
“I love Rachel Zoe. Absolutely love her. In fact, I say this and I stand by it, two of the greatest casting choices in Beverly Hills ever, ever, in the history of Beverly Hills? Boz and Rachel,” she declared.
“Boz and I have a very close relationship. I love her with my heart and soul,” she added.
Also speaking to Ayan, Dorit confirmed she’s still smoking.
“Yes, I am. In fact, probably now more than ever,” she stated.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsseason 15 premieres on Thursday, December 4, at 8/7c on Bravo.
While attending Bravocon, the Summer House star addressed his and Amanda’s marital status.
“We’re very much still together. I think we’ve always made an effort to put it all out there. Our apartment still has Amanda’s stuff all over it, which is a big storyline in season 10,” said Kyle during an interview with Housewives Nightcap. “It’s kinda unfortunate that whatever rumor comes out right before all of this. It’s a little bit of a cloud, but we are not perfect.”
Kyle once again then reiterated that he and Amanda are not perfect.
“We’ve never tried to portray a perfect couple. We wear it all on our sleeve,” he shared. “Yeah, 10 years in and 4 years into marriage, all on camera, it hasn’t been easy particularly when you have people offering up some trolling.”
Despite Kyle’s attempt to sound somewhat optimistic about his relationship, a TikToker pointed out that they had noticed Amanda not wearing her wedidng ring on one particular occasion.
“Finally the rumors are coming out that Amanda Batula and Kyle Cooke are apparently no longer living together and are on the brink of separation. I’ve been noticing this. I was shocked that no one else was talking about this,” said Tiktok user Sociallykels as she shared a screenshot of Amanda without her ring on.
She added, “Jesse Solomon posted this video weeks ago of him and Amanda, and she’s not wearing a ring. I clocked it immediately and was like are we not going to talk about it? But I guess now we’re talking about it.”
