Mother of 50 Cent’s Rumored 'Third Son' Suing New York City After Teen Was Bullied and Beaten at Charter School

A teenager once rumored to be the “third child” of 50 Cent has allegedly been bullied and beaten in school. Now, his mother is suing New York City for millions.

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Olympic athletes could be suspended if protesting occurs during Tokyo games

Black athletes taking a knee, or even holding up a fist in solidarity of their rights and injustices, won’t be seen at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics… without a fine or suspension attached to it.

On Thursday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) released a three-page guideline for athletes participating in the games that reiterates Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter. This rule explains just how athletes can protest in the 2020 Tokyo games, according to CBS News.

Athletes are banned from protesting of any sort while on the field of play. Protesting is also banned in the Olympic Village, as well as during medal or other official ceremonies. The only time athletes can protest freely is in meetings and on traditional or social media, outside the Olympic Village.

“We believe that the example we set by competing with the world’s best while living in harmony in the Olympic Village is a uniquely positive message to send to an increasingly divided world. This is why it is important, on both a personal and a global level, that we keep the venues, the Olympic Village and the podium neutral and free from any form of political, religious or ethnic demonstrations,” the IOC said in a statement.

READ MORE Colin Kaepernick is still not on a NFL team and that’s shameful

The consequences of disobeying these rules could get you suspended from participating for a year or more. Silent protests happened just last August at the Pan-American Games in Peru. Hammer thrower Gwen Berry and Fencer Race Imboden kneeled and raised fists in protest during medal ceremonies. Both now face 12-month probation, which has disqualified them from competing in the Tokyo games, CBS News reported.

But this isn’t the first time we’ve seen athletes take a stance on the Olympic stage and get chastised for it.  

In the 1968 Olympic games American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in protest of racial discrimination in the U.S. and were then suspended from the team only to become homeless and unemployed. However, 51 years later, the duo was recently inducted into the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame. In recent years, kneeling has become a means of protest that was brought into the mainstream by former NFL star Colin Kaepernick. 

READ MORE ‘My integrity means everything’: Michael Bennett to remain in locker room during anthem as New England Patriot

The IOC said this implementation of rules is so that the games remain unified. “The mission of the Olympic Games to bring the entire world together can facilitate the understanding of different views, but this can be accomplished only if everybody respects this diversity,” it said.

The Tokyo Games’ will kick off on July 24 with its opening ceremony.

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Kobe Bryant buys out Philly theater for ‘Just Mercy’ premiere weekend

NBA Legend Kobe Bryant bought out a Philadelphia movie theater this weekend so people in his hometown were able to see the new legal drama Just Mercy.

Just Mercy was released nationwide on Friday starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx. The film is based on a true story about attorney Bryan Stevenson, played by Jordan, who decides to take the appeal case of a Black man Walter McMillian, played by Jamie Foxx, that was wrongfully imprisoned in 1986 for the murder of a white woman.

The former NBA star shared with Twitter this week that he was buying out the Regal UA Riverview Plaza in South Philly for 1 p.m. screenings of the film on Saturday. Bryant made sure viewers had a guaranteed ticket by providing an RSVP link for tickets. The event quickly sold out and required some to join a waitlist, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

PHILLY! @JustMercyFilm is a powerful film starring my friends @michaelb4jordan, @iamjamiefoxx, @OsheaJacksonJr & @brielarson. Everyone should absorb its msg, so I bought out the @regalmovies UA Riverview Plaza on Sat. Jan 11 @ 1pm. Claim ur ticket here – https://t.co/3YrJjAbvS7 pic.twitter.com/udp8fzbnB2

— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 8, 2020

In 2014 Stevenson wrote about his lived experience as a novel with the same title.

READ MORE Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx talk ‘Just Mercy’ and taking action

“I felt really strongly the movie had to be curated in exactly the right way, that there wouldn’t be a Hollywood compromise, or a reversion to formula,” Stevenson said to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “But working with Michael and [director Destin Daniel Cretton] they have been responsive and thoughtful throughout.”

Just Mercy’s limited release on Christmas Day received lots of positive reviews and even scored an 82 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a “Certified Fresh” film among critics. Bryant’s comments about the movie aligned with its rating, he said “everyone should absorb” its message and that it is a “powerful film.”

READ MORE Inclusion in action: Michael B. Jordan mandated hiring diverse staff for new film ‘Just Mercy’

Bryant isn’t the only celebrity giving viewers a chance to see the film for free. Celebs such as Common, John Legend, Lena Waithe, and Kim Kardashian West bought out theaters for the film. The Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and San Francisco 49ers have also joined the ranks of theater buyouts for the film.

 

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Kevin Hart’s ‘Night School’ turns into a TV show

Kevin Hart is bringing Night School back to a screen near you, but this time directly into your home.

The Philadelphia native has signed on to be the executive producer of a new NBC comedy show that is based on the hit 2018 movie Night School that he wrote, produced, and starred in with actress Tiffany Haddish. The Universal Studios film Night School opened in September 2018. It opened at the box office with $27 million and grossed 103 million in total.

The pilot, hailing from Universal TV, will be very similar to the film. The series will follow a group of adults in night school prepping to take the GED. Although the group of students are very different, they find commonalities and similar life experiences in and out of the classroom that bring them together, Hollywood Reporter said.

READ MORE Kevin Hart gets deep about cheating scandal, other drama in trailer for new Netflix docu-series

Writer and Producer Chris Moynihan of NBC’s Marlon is writing for the comedy and will also will executive produce with Hart alongside Will Packer, Sheila Ducksworth and Malcolm D. Lee. Packer produced the 2018 film and Lee directed.

The Universal TV pilot project will also be produced by Hart’s Heartbeat Productions, Will Packer Media and Moynihan’s Bicycle Path Productions.

The writers, producers and directors of the pilot aren’t rookies in Hollywood. Packer and Hart have produced several projects prior to this. Packer, whose had a long working relationship with Universal has also produced Girls Trip and Little, in addition to Night School.

READ MORE Kevin Hart returns home after accident, ‘shocked’ to be alive

Hart recently produced and hosted FXX’s upcoming comedy Dave and CBS’ game show TKO: Total Knock Out and also his own Netflix docuseries Don’t F**k This Up. The new series will continue his hectic schedule and career that was temporarily in jeopardy.

In September, TheGrio reported Hart getting into an almost fatal car crash in his 1970 Plymouth Barracuda that steered off the road and down into an embankment in California. Hart suffered several spinal injuries during the crash but has recovered since this then.

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NBC boss pledges ‘new practices if necessary’ at ‘AGT’ after Gabrielle Union allegations

Gabrielle Union was fired from the hit talent show America’s Got Talent in November after allegations of racial insensitivity and now NBC has pledged change.

It was announced last fall that Union, alongside Julianne Hough, would not be returning for season 14 of the show. Union alleged a hostile work environment that included comments about her hair and racial bias against contestants. According to Yahoo News, NBC is now prepared to address those concerns.

During the network’s Television Critics Association press tour, on Saturday, the president of NBC Entertainment Paul Telegdy said the situation is, “in the middle of an investigation,” saying the matter is “really serious.”

READ MORE Gabrielle Union warns against being the ‘happy negro’ bowing to the status quo

“I can’t deny it, and that’s being handled by lawyers.”

“We certainly take anyone’s critique who comes to work here incredibly seriously, if we learn something, we’ll certainly put new practices in place, if necessary,” Telegdy said.

Variety reported in November that  Union and Hough said at times they were subjected to “excessive notes” on the way they looked physically. Furthermore, Union was also told her constant change in hairstyles were “too black” for AGT‘s audience.

READ MORE Gabrielle Union has ‘productive’ meeting with NBC execs over AGT toxic workplace complaints

On Dec. 4 Union disclosed she sat down with NBC and AGT production company to express how concerned she was over the racial insensitivity and a toxic culture at the show.

The show is produced by Fremantle and Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment.

In a joint statement, Syco Entertainment, Fremantle and NBC said, “We remain committed to ensuring a respectful workplace for all employees and take very seriously any questions about workplace culture. We are working with Ms. Union through her representatives to hear more about her concerns, following which we will take whatever next steps may be appropriate.”

Also taking to Twitter to explain more about the meeting, Union wrote, “We had a lengthy 5-hour, and what I thought to be, productive meeting yesterday. I was able to again, express my unfiltered truth. I led with transparency and my desire and hope for real change.”

 

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