I Was ‘In Crisis’ — Kehlani Reveals The Dark Spiral That Led To Her Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis

In a new interview with Vibe published April 22, Kehlani revealed that she finally has the “tools” to navigate challenges with her Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) diagnosis.
In a new interview with Vibe published April 22, Kehlani revealed that she finally has the “tools” to navigate challenges with her Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) diagnosis. The “Folded” singer revealed she had been diagnosed with the mental health condition in April 2025. 
“When you finally have the tools, you have the diagnosis. But along with the diagnosis comes the work,” Kehlani, who turned 31 on April 24, told Vibe. “So upon getting diagnosed, I got medicated and [did] different forms of therapy [like] somatic healing, but I also gained this tool belt of awareness. I’m starting to recognize my symptoms and triggers. I’m starting to learn what kind of life I have to lead as a person whose mind is different.”
RELATED CONTENT: Kehlani Turns The Crowd Out At Her ‘CRASH’ Album Release Party In London
According to the Mayo Clinic, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition that triggers intense and unstable emotions, including impulsive behaviors and a distorted self-image, among other challenges. It primarily affects emotional regulation and can involve fear of abandonment, self-harm, and persistent feelings of emptiness.

For the mother of one, being open about her struggles is essential when triggers begin to surface. She relies on a trusted circle for support, explaining to Vibe that she often tells them, “Hey, if you see these signs [of] I’m not sleeping, I’m not eating, I’m talking really fast. All of a sudden, I want to pick up 17 new hobbies, and I might dye my hair pink, maybe call me in and tell me I’m tripping. Call my psychiatrist. I’m in crisis.”
The “After Hours” singer said she sought professional help after reaching a point of “extreme paranoia,” which she connected to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“I [was] having a hard time going outside and being in my house,” she said. “I’m yelling at the phone every day, thinking that me shaming everybody and being so angry was going to teach everyone. It [was] making my paranoia and anger worse.”
She continued, “Watching babies get blown to bits should do something to you. All of that combined with me not knowing what to do with my position [and] the survivor’s guilt. You’re a thriving celebrity in a time when people are struggling to get their needs met and are being murdered for existing. All of that just made me snap. I wouldn’t say thank God for the snap, but I wouldn’t have gotten the diagnosis if I didn’t fly off the handles the way that I did.”
Navigating life in the public eye has added another layer of difficulty. When it comes to balancing her career with her mental health, Kehlani said she has come to accept that negativity is unavoidable, especially in today’s climate.
“I don’t have that hope anymore that people can just have fruitful careers without the bullsh-t. I see people who I deem perfect angels getting ripped to shreds [online] for nothing,” she said bluntly. “As soon as I [saw] ‘Olivia Dean discourse,’ [I was like] nobody knows what they want and all this sh*t isn’t real. For a really long time, I had a really hard problem with people misunderstanding me. It was the bane of my existence,” she explained, adding:
“At some point, no matter what you say or how you present, you can’t prevent any reaction that’s going to happen. So once the shackles of being understood freed me, I was like let me just make some damn music and live my life.”
Kehlani first publicly shared her BPD diagnosis in a social media post celebrating her 30th birthday in April 2025.
“I never saw myself making it to 30 growing up. 1 in 10 BPD diagnosed people die at their own hands,” she wrote on Facebook. “7 in 10 people make an attempt. I’ve had a crazy life… but the last year changed my world. Accountability, commitment, growth and change. Finally having a diagnosis (BPD & Bipolar disorder), medication, routine, discipline, sobriety, solitude, GOD and commitment to wholeness alone… changed my world.”
At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Kehlani earned her first two Grammys, Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song, for her hit song “Folded.” She released her self-titled debut album Kehlani on April 24. 
On Friday, she shared a photo of her younger self, thanking herself for seeing the project through. ​​
“I love you little one. I’m so proud you never gave up,” she penned. “I’m so honored to make this album for you. Because of you. You inspired this. You sang this. You wrote this. You are walking in this. 31. I don’t take a single thing for granted, and I wouldn’t change a single thing no matter how painful. I love you Kehlani Ashley. Don’t ever stop thanking God. It’s all above us. Amen.”
RELATED CONTENT: Kehlani Slams Cornell University After Their Show Is Canceled: ‘This Is A Played-Out Game’
The post I Was ‘In Crisis’ — Kehlani Reveals The Dark Spiral That Led To Her Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis appeared first on MadameNoire.
I Was ‘In Crisis’ — Kehlani Reveals The Dark Spiral That Led To Her Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis was originally published on madamenoire.com

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Biological parents identified in ongoing case involving Florida IVF embryo mix up

A Florida couple confirms the biological parents of their IVF baby have been identified as the embryo mix up case continues to raise legal and ethical questions.
A Florida couple at the center of an IVF embryo mix-up says the biological parents of their baby have now been identified, marking a significant development in a case that has raised serious questions about fertility clinic practices, according to NBC News.
Tiffany Score and Steven Mills filed a lawsuit in January against the Fertility Center of Orlando after discovering that the baby they conceived through in vitro fertilization was not genetically related to either of them. The couple had undergone IVF treatment at the Longwood-based clinic and later pursued genetic testing when their newborn, Shea, appeared to have a different racial background than expected.
According to their attorney, Mara Hatfield, DNA testing confirmed that the child is of South Asian descent. The clinic reportedly reviewed cases from around the same time as Score’s embryo transfer and narrowed potential matches to a group of patients. The couple has now confirmed that a match has been found, identifying Shea’s biological parents, though their identities remain confidential.
In a statement released through their legal team, Score and Mills said the discovery brings partial closure but also introduces new complexities. Despite the genetic findings, they emphasized their emotional bond with the child, stating that they will continue to raise Shea as their own.
Court filings indicate that the defendants have not disputed that the child is not genetically related to the couple and have cooperated in efforts to determine the baby’s biological origins. However, key questions remain unanswered, including what happened to the embryos that were meant to be implanted in Score.
The case has drawn attention to oversight and safety protocols in fertility clinics. It also comes amid broader changes at the facility involved, which recently announced it would close, with another IVF provider expected to take over its location.
While the identification of the biological parents resolves one part of the case, legal and ethical issues surrounding custody, accountability, and medical responsibility are still ongoing.
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Ludacris on New Heat, Pullover & Fast Fam

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Ludacris reflects on his musical evolution, passion for high-speed vehicles, and the making of his latest projects.
When a true legend speaks, the community listens. Grammy-winning rapper, actor, and entrepreneur Ludacris recently sat down with DJ Misses and Incognito on the hit show Posted on the Corner to drop major keys about his legacy. The Atlanta powerhouse opened up about his highly anticipated return to the mic, the changing landscape of hip-hop, and what keeps him grounded after decades of winning.
Luda is officially back, and he is bringing the heat. He discussed his fresh new single, “Pullover,” explaining why now was the perfect time to drop new music. He shared that he needed to take a step back from the studio to reignite his creative fire. While “Pullover” might sound like it is just about a woman at first listen, Ludacris urges fans to listen closely and decipher the hidden jewels. He wants the community to feel the deep passion he poured into every bar.

Teaming up with legendary Atlanta producer DJ Toomp, Ludacris emphasized the importance of returning to pure, analog sounds. He reflected on the evolution of music production, noting how today’s digital tracks can easily be made in five minutes. For “Pullover,” they used classic ASR equipment to capture that raw, electric feeling. He celebrated the beauty of taking time to perfect a single snare drum, a nostalgic nod to the meticulous craftsmanship he learned coming up around the Dungeon Family in Southwest Atlanta.
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Shifting gears to his massive acting career, Ludacris shared hilarious behind-the-scenes memories from the Fast and Furious movie sets. He admitted that he and co-star Tyrese Gibson are constantly clowning around, often ditching the script to improvise their lines. According to Luda, those genuine, off-the-cuff moments of brotherhood are usually the ones that make the final cut and resonate most with audiences worldwide.
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Despite the global fame and Hollywood success, Ludacris remains deeply connected to his roots. He still proudly drives his famous 1993 gold Acura Legend, which now boasts over 263,000 miles. He calls the iconic car his “anchor.” He wrote nearly 75% of his biggest hits inside that vehicle. For Luda, the car is a constant reminder of where he started, keeping him humble and tied to the local community that built him.
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Even with a packed schedule, Ludacris made it clear that being a father is his number one job. He discussed the heavy challenge of balancing family life with a demanding entertainment career. Inspired by his friend Vin Diesel, Ludacris has a strict two-week rule: he refuses to be away from his children for more than 14 days. Whether he adjusts his tour schedule or flies his family out to his location, he always makes sure to show up for his kids.

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Jada Pinkett-Smith’s Hair Journey Through The Years

Jada Pinkett-Smith recently shared her hair regrowth journey. To celebrate her growth, let’s explore her hair journey through the years.
UPDATE — Thursday, April 23, 2026, 4:30 p.m. EST:
Jada Pinkett-Smith recently shared her hair regrowth journey after 8 years since revealing her alopecia diagnosis. To celebrate her growth, let’s explore her beautiful hair journey through the years. From fabulous pixie cuts to classic 90s bangs, the actress has indulged in nearly every hairstyle.
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InStyle shared that the actress first revealed she had been dealing with alopecia in May 2018. The condition she has been experiencing has resulted in hair loss. After sporting a bald head for the past few years, she’s now sharing her hair regrowth. Jada recently posted a selfie and her hair appears healthier and longer than it has been in years.
Pinkett-Smith shared the photo on her Instagram Stories, where she sported a blonde pixie cut styled in tiny looping buns all over her head and two long, thin braids draped down on either side. Her most recent photo comes after she shared an update on her journey in 2023. At that time, Jada shared a selfie showing a bit of stubble on her head, along with a photo of longer hair she had bleached.
“This here hair is act’n like it’s try’n a make a come back,” she captioned the photo. “Still have some trouble spots but—we’ll see✨.”
Since Jada Pinkett Smith debuted on the scene in the very early 90s, she’s been giving us hair lewks. From blunt cuts, to blonde waves and long tendrils, braids in between, she keeps us on our feet with each new do. We dug in the crates to find her best hair moments. Happy scrolling.
Jada Pinkett-Smith’s Hair Journey Through The Years was originally published on hellobeautiful.com

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Trump slams Candace Owens as ‘Low IQ’ in post claiming conservative host ‘USES RICH WHITE MEN’

“Candace Owens’ stock, which was never very high, has fallen a long way,” President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
President Donald Trump unleashed his latest online tirade against conservative firebrand Candace Owens, calling the former MAGA darling “low IQ,” a frequent insult used against Black women.
In a Truth Social post Friday evening, Trump wrote, “Candace Owens’ stock, which was never very high, has fallen a long way.”
The U.S. president called out Owens’ personal attack on Brigitte Macron, the first lady of France, whom Owens has repeatedly accused of being a trans woman. Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, who sued Owens for defamation, are friends and allies.
“Her attack on the First Lady of France is despicable,” said Trump, who added, “I believe, in this case, without verification, she is an extremely Low IQ individual!”
The post also included a doctored TIME magazine cover with an unflattering image of Owens with blurbs that read, “Candace Owens Lies, Lies, Lies,” “Uses Rich Men,” “0% Fact Check Ratio On All Credible Fact Checking Sites” and “Protects Sex Offenders.”
“Trump is back doing one of his favorite things, taking cheap shots at Black women instead of showing an ounce of seriousness about the job he was elected to do,” Brandon Weathersby, a spokesperson for American Bridge 21st Century, said in reaction to the president’s post. He tells theGrio, “I may not share any of Owens’ values—and obviously disavow her attacks on Brigitte Macron—but I can see this is the same tired pattern Trump has shown for years.”
He added, “Meanwhile, the people who voted for him are getting squeezed on rent, groceries, and bills, and this is what he chooses to spend his time on. It’s petty, it’s small, and it says everything about his priorities.”
Trump’s personal attack on Owens comes after he railed against her and other conservative influencers who have denounced their support for the president and his MAGA movement over a series of actions, most notably Trump’s war in Iran.
Candace Owens also took Trump to task for his administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which have dogged Trump politically. She has also clashed with another Trump ally, Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative influencer and podcaster Charlie Kirk.
President Trump calling Owens “low IQ” comes just days after he used the term to describe U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a double Harvard graduate and the first Black woman on the court.
As theGrio previously reported, Trump has repeatedly used the “low IQ” term to attack his perceived political enemies, many of whom have been Black women, including U.S. Reps. Jasmine CrockettMaxine WatersIlhan Omar, and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Minutes after using the term against Owens, he used it again to attack U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Hakeem “High Tax” Jeffries is a Low IQ individual who is not smart enough to be “running” the Democrat Party, and certainly not smart enough to be involved in running the United States of America,” the president wrote.

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Vancouver Biennale names senior curator for 2027-29 edition

Marcelo Dantas, curator of the 2027-29 Vancouver Biennale, pictured at Sfer Ik in Mexico, where he serves as art director Courtesy Roth Productions
The Vancouver Biennale has selected Marcello Dantas to be the senior curator for its 2027-29 edition. According to the biennale’s founder and director, Barrie Mowatt, Dantas is “widely recognised as one of the world’s most distinguished and innovative curators, and we are honoured to welcome him to Vancouver”.
Mowatt says that Dantas’s most recent projects include co-curating the 2024 edition of the outdoor art exhibition Desert X AlUla in Saudi Arabia (with Maya El Khalil) and curating an Es Devlin exhibition in São Paulo. Dantas is also the art director at Sfer Ik, an art centre in Tulum, Mexico. And, with the Fifa World Cup coming to Vancouver in just eight weeks, Mowatt adds that Dantas has “World Cup experience”, having served as the artistic director of Pelé Station, a massive multimedia exhibition about the Brazilian soccer legend Pelé during the 2006 World Cup in Berlin.
In addition to curating exhibitions by artists including Shirin Neshat, Bill Viola, Tunga, Ai Weiwei and Laura Vinci, Dantas has produced operas by Peter Greenaway and La Fura dels Baus. He is also a film-maker who has made 12 documentaries about artists. This is not the São Paulo-curator’s first time working in Vancouver: he was involved in the Vancouver Biennale’s 2013-15 edition, curating a project by Vik Muniz that involved using local natural materials to create a portrait of a wolf that was so large it could only be fully viewed from an elevated platform. Dantas worked with local First Nations and community groups on that project, and says he hopes to continue those types of collaborations in the upcoming biennale.
“Vancouver is still a puzzle I’m trying to solve,” Dantas tells The Art Newspaper during his first trip back to the city since 2018. “The city has changed tremendously. It now has emergent design that is very much concentrated into corporate real estate development.” This requires, he says, a delineation between public and private space in relation to public art, leading to questions like: “What is community space? What is layered into them? Because there are sacred sites—the whole area has a First Nations history, as well as a colonial one.”
He adds that Vancouver and the surrounding region have impressed him while he has spent the past week driving through 800 miles of urban and rural landscapes looking at possible “stages” for public art.
“Vancouver is one of the rare cities in the world where landscape and urban life are in constant dialogue,” he says. “The proximity between ocean, forest and mountains creates a condition that is both humbling and inspiring—a place where nature is an active presence shaping perception, behaviour and imagination.”
It is also a city, Dantas adds, defined by its multiplicity of peoples, cultures and histories—some recent, others profoundly ancient. “At its core lies a millenary First Nations presence whose knowledge systems, cosmologies and relationship to land are not only foundational to this territory but essential to any meaningful cultural discourse moving forward.”
With a view to future projects, he says he is interested in exploring ideas of belonging and displacement, of what it means to be “native” in a world of constant movement. “I am drawn to forms of collaboration that transcend authorship—collective processes, shared structures and temporary architectures that invite encounter and participation,” Dantas says. He adds that Vancouver’s art scene reflects this sense of openness. “It is porous, engaged and increasingly attentive to questions of ecology, identity and coexistence. What excites me most is the possibility of expanding this sensibility into the public realm—through works that emerge from it.”
Rather than thinking of public art as permanent objects, he says his inspiration comes from “the potential of ephemeral, living and transformative works—projects that evolve, decay and return to the land. Works that are less about marking space and more about activating it.”
Opening dates and participating artists for the Vancouver Biennale’s 2027-29 edition will be announced at a future date.
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We Almost Forgot Chloe Bailey Had Locs Because Of This Look

Chloe Bailey and The Hair Poet keep pushing loc versatility—and we love it.
Chloe Bailey blessed our timelines on April 23, dropping Instagram visuals that made everybody stop scrolling, zoom in, and ask: Wait, are those locs? Between the sky-high hair, cartoon-glam makeup, and flirty Y2K styling, the whole look felt playful, sexy, and very Chloe.
This is what happens when loc versatility meets pure imagination. The hair sorcery that Chloe and her hairstylist, The Hair Poet (Fesa Nu) create is unmatched. Chloe took her signature locs and flipped them, making us all do a double-take.
For a second, you almost forget she even has locs.
The look gives off main cartoon-character energy. It feels Gen Z, playful, and a little anime-coded. It still lands in Chloe’s sexy lane.
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Her hair is styled into dramatic, high ponytails. The long lengths flow down her body and move with her. The shape is bold and exaggerated.
And her makeup by Painted By Esther (Ngozi Edeme)…just as fun.
Chloe plays with color in a fresh way. Her brows and liner do not match, and it works. The pink tones and glossy lips keep the look flirty.
Then there is the outfit.
Chloe steps out in low-rise, body-hugging skinny jeans. Yes, skinny jeans. The look feels like a quiet return we did not expect.
She pairs them with a barely-there top. Her silhouette is on full display. Flat stomach, soft curves, and just enough attitude.
The visuals feel gritty and dark, but still bright. The contrast works and pulls you in.
This look comes after another standout moment. Chloe wore a stunning style to the Cécred hair party with her mentor, Beyoncé.
That look proved it again. Locs can do nearly anything.
Chloe wore all white with an Asian-inspired updo. The style featured a twisted bun, short bangs, and long side pieces. It felt sleek and sculptural.
Chloe Bailey is that girl, and looks like these remind us why. She keeps giving us style, beauty, body, and loc creativity without missing a beat. That’s what we love about being Black women. Some people call it Black girl magic. We call it range. And Chloe keeps giving us more than enough of it.
We Almost Forgot Chloe Bailey Had Locs Because Of This Look was originally published on hellobeautiful.com

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‘Just listen’: Michael Beasley opens up about grief and the pain of being misunderstood

In an emotional conversation with Shannon Sharpe, Michael Beasley tears up as he remembers his late mother and his time in the NBA.
While many fans recognize Michael Beasley as an NBA star who played alongside LeBron James, Beasley admits there was a period in his life when he did not feel like the star athlete he was perceived to be. During an appearance with Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay,” the Washington D.C. native opened up about his season playing on the L.A. Lakers. 
“I wasn’t a basketball player then, my mom died,” Beasley said candidly. “I just couldn’t hold on. I just couldn’t play no more. I ain’t like that year.” 
That year was 2018. At the time, Beasley was playing for the New York Knicks, which allowed him to easily travel between New York and D.C. to visit his mother, Fatima Smith, who had been battling cancer. However,  in July 2018, the former Knicks player was signed to the Los Angeles NBA team, which took a significant toll on his ability to be there for his mother. 
“When I signed with the Lakers, that’s when we found out my mom had been lying to us about having stage two cancer, and it was stage four,” he said, recalling his brother being the one to unveil the news. “He showed me the side she wasn’t showing us. So we didn’t know, but every day she would get up and make sure she took her morphine so she could have that phone call.”
During the 2018-2019 season, Beasley missed 13 games caring for his mother who ultimately passed in December 2018. When he returned to the court in January 2019, he quickly became the subject of jokes and social media memes when he accidentally checked into a game wearing the wrong shorts. However, while sports commentators and social media users teased him for that moment, the former NBA star revealed that the mistake was a result of him grieving not only his mother, but also his cousin, who had passed recently. 
Explaining how grief took away his desire to even want to play basketball, Beasley recalls constantly feeling sad to the point he would cry without even realizing it. Despite the handful of teammates who got a glimpse of what he was going through, the athlete says no one else knew, not because he didn’t want them to know, but rather because he didn’t know how to vocalize it.  
“I didn’t know how [to tell anyone]. I couldn’t. My whole life. From day one, from the day I got drafted. I was going through it all,” he explained. “And it’s like if I say it, y’all [the public] just laugh at it. If I act out on it or if I just slip out because I’m going through reality outside of this game, y’all just laugh at it.” 
“I’ve never been able to have a good game without talking about my past. Y’all don’t know my mental. No…nobody asked me sh** y’all ain’t care,” he added. 
This is not the first time Beasley has opened up about how much the public narrative impacted him while in the league. While appearing on “The Pivot” podcast, the former Lakers players shared: “Everything I did was [under] a f—g microscope.” 
“Everything I did, wrong, right and different. And all I wanted to do was play basketball. Every time they said something f—ked up about me, I was in the f—ing gym playing basketball. Every time they said I got pulled over with a bag of f—ing weed, every time somebody f—ing lied on me about something.”
Through the years, he has taken ownership of his mistakes, from NBA fines to the stress-induced substance abuse that landed him in rehab. However, today, as he still carries the emotional weight of these experiences, Beasley’s one wish is that someone had just listened to him at the time, because if he had some support, he believes his story would have been different. 
“How many times I tried to reintroduce myself? Go back and look at it. How many times I tried to apologize for who y’all thought I was? Go back and look at it. Y’all laughed at it every single time…every single time,” he said. “Just listen. Stop telling me what I mean. Just hear me. Stop telling me who you think I am. I’ve been saying my whole life. Stop telling me who you think I am. We judge decisions without knowing the choices.” 
“So just listen, and not just to me,” he concluded. 
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Recently restored castle in Norwich among five institutions shortlisted for UK’s top museum prize

Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery
Photo: © David Levene; Art Fund 2026
A Norwich castle will compete with the National Gallery in London for the 2026 edition of the Art Fund Museum of the Year, the most prestigious UK prize in the sector. Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery in East England and the 202-year-old institution located in Trafalgar Square have been shortlisted along with The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, The Box in Plymouth and the V&A East Storehouse in London. The winning museum, to be announced 25 June at a ceremony at Cutty Sark in London, will receive £120,000, while the four other finalists will receive £20,000 each.
“Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery comprises a medieval Castle Keep, and a museum. Following a major £27.5m redevelopment, the Keep reopened in August 2025 and is now the most accessible castle in the UK,” says an Art Fund statement. As part of the Royal Palace Reborn project, the museum has also created a new Gallery of Medieval Life, developed in partnership with the British Museum. The new spaces are “filled with the types of furniture, textiles and painted decoration that could have greeted Henry I when he stayed in Norwich in 1121,” says the museum’s guidebook.
The National Gallery gets the nod for its wide-ranging bicentenary projects which included an £85m project to upgrade its Sainsbury Wing entrance, an ambitious public art piece in Trafalgar Square devised by the artist Jeremy Deller and a “once-in-a-lifetime” rehang called C C Land: The Wonder of Art. The gallery’s latest capital project involves building a £350m extension on the site of St. Vincent’s House to house modern and contemporary art.
Another London powerhouse museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, launched the V&A East Storehouse in Stratford last May, winning plaudits for offering a new museum experience based on breaking down “physical barriers and removing glass cases so visitors can get closer than ever before to national collections”. The venue has since drawn over 500,000 visitors; its sister institution, the V&A East Museum, launched 18 April.
Meanwhile the Fitzwilliam is “reimagining the role of a historic university museum: not as a neutral guardian of objects, but as an active participant in social dialogue, knowledge exchange and collective responsibility,” says Art Fund, which emphasises the innovative programming at the Cambridge museum founded in 1816. Highlights in 2024-25 included All Over the Place, the US artist Glenn Ligon’s first major solo exhibition in the UK, and Rise Up, which brought together historic objects and contemporary art to explore the lives of abolitionists.
The Box in Plymouth marked its fifth birthday in September last year and has drawn more than one million visitors (a 2025 report published by the gallery says that it has since boosted the city’s economy by £244m). “Striving to be ‘nationally known and locally loved’, The Box preserves the city’s cultural collections of more than two million artworks, objects, specimens, and archival materials,” says Art Fund. A Beryl Cook exhibition held at the venue this year was critically acclaimed.
The Art Fund Museum of the Year judges are Tony Butler, the executive director of Derby Museums; the artist Yinka Ilori MBE; the author Alice Loxton and the broadcaster June Sarpong. Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, an open-air museum in County Durham that brings 19th and 20th century history to life through “immersive exhibits”, won last year’s Art Fund Museum of the Year prize.
The eligibility criteria for the prize state that prospective galleries “must be based in the UK and be either a public museum, gallery, historic house, library or archive which has spaces for the public to visit and experience the visual arts or other object-based collections”.
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Days after Chi Osse’s arrest, Mamdani launches Deed Theft Prevention Office in continued outreach to Black communities

The new office, led by a homeowner assistance attorney, will target deed theft, a form of fraud that affects Black homeowners.
Two days after New York City Council Member Chi Ossé was arrested protesting the planned eviction of one of his constituents, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has taken action.
On Friday (Apr. 24), Mamdani established the Office of Deed Theft Prevention, headed by homeowner assistance lawyer Peter White, who has worked on deed theft litigation, foreclosures, bankruptcy and landlord-tenant disputes. He previously worked as a supervising attorney at the nonprofit organization Access Justice Brooklyn, providing pro bono legal services to low-income residents.
“The establishment of this office and the work going forward is an act of empathy for people,” White said during a news conference on Friday. “I see it as a direct correlation and an extension of the work that I’ve previously done. I’m excited to get this going.”
Scammers are stealing homes from New Yorkers — and Black and Brown homeowners are being targeted the most.

We’re launching the Mayor’s Office of Deed Theft Prevention, led by Director Peter White, to defend vulnerable homeowners.

And we are pausing the tax lien sale for the… pic.twitter.com/EZ3wV71Q6F
Ossé’s arrest on Wednesday was in protest of a tenant who had resided at the apartment for decades and became a victim of “deed theft,” which is a form of fraud affecting Black homeowners, as home ownership is transferred to a third-party illegally without consent. The practice often involves the use of forged documents, short sales and foreclosure rescue scams.
“The theft of a home is the theft of a family’s future,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Deed theft preys on the New Yorkers who can least afford it. Today, we are bringing the full force of city government to bear to stop it – to protect homeowners, defend generational wealth and make clear that this city will not tolerate the exploitation of our communities.”
The resident at the center of Ossé’s arrest on Wednesday has a complicated story, according to court records. Camella Charrington’s home is tied to an older relative through a Georgia conservatorship, with competing claims over the home’s sale. New York State Attorney General Letitia James’s office stated that the case was a property dispute, not a case of deed theft.
Ossé is hopeful that the new office will help provide clarity to cases such as Charrington’s.
“Having a dedicated office that is creating awareness and educating people will help them figure out if they’re dealing with deed theft or not, or point them in the right direction to seek help even if they’re not dealing with deed theft,” Ossé told THE CITY. He was on hand at the ceremony announcing the new position in his district, which includes neighborhoods such as Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, which are historically Black and have been the frequent target of deed thefts for residents.
In a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Ossé and others revealed that from 2014 to 2023, state officials received about 3,500 complaints of deed theft.
“New York will not allow homes to be stolen through paperwork or pressure, or turned into speculative chips in someone else’s portfolio,” Ossé said.
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Ex-North Carolina Cop Christopher Gillum Arrested For Alleged Plot To Kill Black People At New Orleans Jazz Festival

When you’re Black in America, there is always someone, somewhere plotting to take your life. You can bet on that.
Authorities say a potentially devastating racist mass shooting was narrowly prevented after a North Carolina man was arrested with weapons and ammunition before he could carry out the attack in New Orleans.
According to the CountOn2, the suspect of this foiled hate crime has been identified as Christopher Gillum of Chapel Hill, N.C. He was taken into custody Wednesday (April 22) night at a hotel in Destin, Fla., after law enforcement officials said he had been under investigation for making “terroristic threats.” It is believed that Gillum was traveling to Louisiana with the intent to carry out a mass shooting specifically targeting Black folks. When deputies located him, Gillum was arrested him without incident while in possession of a handgun along with roughly 200 rounds of ammunition.
While authorities did not officially name the event, details strongly suggest the intended target was the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, culturally known as JazzFest, which drew 460,000 attendees last year. The event was scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 23, and carry on until May 3, which is the same time as the alleged plot. significantly raising concerns about the potential scale of harm had the plan been carried out.
Gillum’s family reported him missing on Tuesday, April 21. He had a history of self-harm, according to Lt. Clint Lyons of the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina. Gillum’s family told law enforcement he had a gun and “expressed recent threats to harm ‘Black people,’” according to a bulletin from police in Burlington, N.C.
Investigators say the arrest came after federal authorities alerted local law enforcement in Florida that Gillum was in the area and possibly en route to commit the attack. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office then worked quickly to locate and apprehend Gillum. Officials noted that the coordination between agencies across multiple states was critical in stopping the suspected plot before it could unfold.
THIS is how efficient and effective police work should be. Not waiting on a tragedy only for it to be revealed that the alleged perpetrator had made threats and other disturbing statements that suggested a violent intent.
Gillum has a background in law enforcement, having previously worked as a police officer in North Carolina. At this time, authorities have not fully detailed how they became aware of his alleged plans, but the case is now being investigated by both state and federal agencies, including the FBI. Despite the alarming nature of the allegations, officials emphasized that there are currently no known active threats to any festivals or public events in Louisiana. The suspect is being held in Florida and is expected to be extradited to Louisiana, where he will face charges related to the alleged threats.
We hope that justice continues to prevail and that this man is removed from the public as he clearly poses a threat to Black Americans and potentially the rest of civil society.
Ex-North Carolina Cop Christopher Gillum Arrested For Alleged Plot To Kill Black People At New Orleans Jazz Festival was originally published on bossip.com

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Hollywood Baddies: 25 Actresses Who Stay Booked and Busy

“Hollywood Baddies” highlights 25 actresses who continue to stay booked and busy, making their mark across film, television, and beyond.
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Hollywood is full of stars, but only a few truly stay working.
These women are more than just beautiful faces on the screen. They are consistent, in-demand, and constantly leveling up their careers. From leading blockbuster films to dominating streaming platforms, these actresses prove that talent, presence, and star power go hand in hand.
“Hollywood Baddies” highlights 25 actresses who continue to stay booked and busy, making their mark across film, television, and beyond.
Their impact goes far beyond appearances.
It shows up in their versatility, their ability to take on diverse roles, and their influence both on and off the screen. Many of these women are not just actresses, but producers, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders shaping the direction of entertainment.
Their confidence, work ethic, and consistency are exactly why they continue to win.
When it comes to beauty, talent, and longevity, these actresses check every box.
Check out 25 actresses who stay booked and busy below.

Hollywood Baddies is more than just a list. It is a reminder that these women are shaping the culture in real time.
They are leading films, building brands, creating opportunities, and proving that staying booked and busy is about more than just talent. It is about consistency, presence, and knowing how to own every room they step into.
As Hollywood continues to evolve, these actresses remain at the forefront, setting the tone for what success looks like in today’s entertainment industry.
And one thing is clear. They are not slowing down anytime soon.
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Hollywood Baddies: 25 Actresses Who Stay Booked and Busy was originally published on hot1009.com

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Man Accused of Providing Weapon that Led to Killing Of 8 Children

April 23, 2026
Charles Ford faces federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and making false statements.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana has charged a 56-year-old man with illegally possessing and providing the firearm used in a weekend mass shooting that killed eight children
Charles Ford faces federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and making false statements to federal agents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced April 21. Investigators allege that Ford provided the assault-style pistol used by 31-year-old Shamar Elkins to carry out the murders.
If convicted, Ford faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, Ford initially denied having the weapon before admitting he possessed it. He later claimed to investigators that Elkins likely stole the gun from his truck in the weeks leading up to the shooting. 
“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) is engaged and committed to holding people accountable for illegal possession and use of firearms that harm our community,” said Alcohol, Tobacco, and Fireamrs Special Agent Joshua Jackson said in a statement. “Holding people accountable does not stop with the person who pulled the trigger but also includes those who give access to and proliferate firearms that are later used in violent crime.”
Shreveport Man Arrested for Allegedly Supplying Gun Used by Shamar Elkins in Mass Shooting That Killed 8 Children

Faces Federal Prison Time
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana has charged Charles Ford, 56, with felon in possession of a… pic.twitter.com/SmTzk3dVPN
The shooting, described by officials as “beyond comprehension,” resulted in the deaths of seven of Elkins’ children and one of their cousins. The victims ranged in age from 3 to 11. Two women, including Elkins’ wife, were also shot and remain hospitalized. A ninth child escaped the massacre by jumping from the roof of the home during the shooting.
Elkins died following a police pursuit and a shootout with officers.
Because Elkins cannot face trial, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller said federal prosecutors are committed to holding those who enabled the violence accountable. Keller noted that tracing the weapon led investigators to Ford after the original purchaser of the firearm informed law enforcement she had given the weapon to him.
RELATED CONTENT: Louisiana Man Kills 8 Children, 7 Of His Own, In Mass Shooting

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Justice Department Indicts Southern Poverty Law Center For Paying Informants Of White Supremacist Groups

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The DOJ charged SLPC with financial crimes accusing it of defrauding donors by using their money to pay informants inside groups such as the KKK.
Here’s a question: If the Trump administration isn’t a white supremacist organization, then how come President Donald Trump’s thoroughly subjugated Department of Justice is prosecuting one of the nation’s most well-known civil rights organizations for using paid informants to infiltrate white supremacist organizations?
According to the New York Times, on Tuesday, the Justice Department charged the Southern Poverty Law Center with financial crimes, accusing it of defrauding donors by using their money to secretly pay informants inside extremist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan. So far, no individual affiliated with SPLC has been charged in the indictment, but the organization itself is facing charges of wire fraud, false statements to a bank, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 
Now, for those of us who have been paying attention to how the DOJ has been moving since the start of Trump’s second term, we already know what this is, but before we get into how the Trump administration is more upset about white supremacist groups being infiltrated and reported on than it is about those groups existing in the first place, let’s take a look at exactly what the DOJ is alleging.
From the Times:
At a news conference announcing the charges, Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, said that from 2014 to 2023, the group made payments totaling more than $3 million to people who were affiliated with extremist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan and the National Socialist Party of America. The law center, he added, was “doing the exact opposite of what it told its donors it was doing — not dismantling extremism, but funding it.”
The indictment, however, offers little to support the notion that the group’s payments to informants was meant to aid the extremist groups they had infiltrated.
Prosecutors describe how one informant, which the law center refers to as a field source, “was a member of the online leadership chat group that planned the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ event in Charlottesville, Virginia, and attended the event at the direction of the S.P.L.C.”
That rally included torch-wielding marchers chanting antisemitic slogans, and violent clashes that culminated with one participant ramming his car into a group of counterprotesters, killing a woman and leaving at least 19 others injured.
The informant “made racist postings under the supervision of the S.P.L.C. and helped coordinate transportation to the event for several attendees,” the charging document said. Between 2015 and 2023, the informant received more than $270,000 from the group, the indictment said.
Another informant affiliated with a neo-Nazi group was paid more than $1 million over a period of about nine years, according to the indictment, and in 2014 that informant stole 25 boxes of documents from an unidentified violent extremist group. The Southern Poverty Law Center later used those documents to create a report about the group.
So, essentially, the DOJ is charging the SPLC because it doesn’t think activists under deep cover should be paid to upend their lives for the cause for years on end. Well, that tracks.
Here’s another question, though: How exactly do DOJ prosecutors think the process of infiltrating an extremist group works? Because they seem to think an informant making racist posts to impress and gain the trust of racists is proof that those informants were actually real racist members of the group the whole time. Of course, they also don’t seem to understand that if an informant is stealing 25 boxes of documents from an extremist group to create a report on said group, that’s a clear sign that the informant is, indeed, an informant, not a member.
But, again, this isn’t about the law; it’s about a DOJ that has been taken over by MAGA sycophants protecting conservatism by protecting white supremacist groups, and, by extension, white supremacy.
Last week, when DOJ prosecutors were firing other DOJ prosecutors for prosecuting anti-abortion protesters accused of violence during the Biden administration, I noted in our report on the firings that “shortly after Trump was sworn into office, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division saw a mass exodus of more than 100 attorneys, who resigned from the department due to its expressed agenda to steer away from (or outright gutting) cases involving civil rights protections for Black people, people of color and other marginalized groups in order to focus on white grievance and what it perceives as anti-conservative bias.”
Since January of last year, this DOJ has gone after universities it suspected of engaging in any DEI practices, taken legal action against Democratic leaders who wouldn’t let ICE agents terrorize their cities, sought to prevent trans people from owning guns, launched an investigation into Chicago’s Black mayor because it felt he was hiring too many Black people, and investigated anti-Turning Point USA protesters, who it claimed were members of the MAGA’s favorite boogey nan group, Antifa, which, as an organization, is about as real as the actual boogey man.
Last year, this same DOJ ended a settlement agreement regarding wastewater issues in a mostly Black rural Alabama county, citing the White House’s anti-DEI directive, all because environmental racism was addressed during the case. It also made the decision to end Biden-era police-accountability agreements with Minneapolis and Louisville, Ky., that came as a result of extensive investigations following the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, which it did one day after it announced the approval of a nearly $5 million settlement for the family of slain Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt.
So, yeah — the Trump administration is a white supremacist group, and the DOJ is its weaponized legal arm.
Anyway, the SPLC responded to the DOJ’s indictment in a statement denouncing it and the department.
 “We have recently received and are reviewing the charges; however, after today’s Department of Justice press conference we are outraged by the false allegations levied against SPLC – an organization that for 55 years has stood as a beacon of hope fighting white supremacy and various forms of injustice to create a multi-racial democracy where we can all live and thrive. Taking on violent hate and extremist groups is among the most dangerous work there is, and we believe it is also among the most important work we do. To be clear, this program saved lives,” the group’s statement read, according to CNN.
“The actions by the DOJ will not shake our resolve to fight for justice and ensure the promise of the Civil Rights movement becomes a reality for all. SPLC will vigorously defend ourselves, our staff and our work; we will continue to fight hate; and we will continue to envision and create a safer and more just world.”
SEE ALSO:
Trump Admin’s Attack On Civil Rights Groups Is A Call To Action 
Trump’s DOJ Accuses DOJ Prosecutors Under Biden Of ‘Weaponizing’ FACE Act

Justice Department Indicts Southern Poverty Law Center For Paying Informants Of White Supremacist Groups was originally published on newsone.com

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Chef’s Kiss: Draya Michele Reveals That She’s In Culinary School

April 23, 2026
The former reality star urges fans to embrace the pivot.
Former Basketball Wives star Draya Michele has stepped out from in front of the camera and into the kitchen as she embarks upon a new culinary career. 
The influencer revealed on social media that she had been quietly attending culinary school for months. In a series of Instagram photos and videos, Michele shared footage of herself in class, prepping ingredients and executing the French flambé technique, in which a chef adds high-proof alcohol to a hot pan and ignites it to create a burst of flames.
“Becoming a chef was never something on my mood board (until lately),” Michele wrote to over 9 million followers on Instagram. “I’ve enjoyed cooking for my loved ones for years, and now I’m just perfecting it.”

A post shared by Draya Michele (@drayamichele)
Michele described this new chapter in her life as her “Culinair era.” She encouraged her followers to pursue new interests, regardless of age or background. 
“You’re allowed to evolve. You’re allowed to pivot.” Her message said, “You’re allowed to discover new passions you never saw coming. It’s never too late to change your path or start something new. If you’ve been waiting for a sign… this is it.”
Michele has been incorporating cooking content into her social posts for several months, but she hasn’t positioned it as a pivot for her brand. 
Michele founded the swimwear line Mint Swim in 2011, using $12,000 to launch the brand, which offers high-quality swimwear for diverse body types. She also said she wanted to create a product that felt authentic to both herself and her fans.
“I wouldn’t start the company just to make a quick buck or to say I have a business. It’s something that I love, and I live, breathe, and eat it, and I think that my supporters that follow me, they can see that and they can tell. So, Mint Swim is just a genuine company altogether,” the entrepreneur told BLACK ENTERPRISE in 2016.
Also an actress, Michele has starred in nearly a dozen films. In 2022, she costarred with singer Ne-Yo in a BET+ film, The Sound of Christmas. 
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