A federal jury acquitted Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of the most serious charges in his high-profile trial, though he still faces sentencing on a lesser prostitution-related conviction. The verdict marked a turning point in a case that has riveted both the music industry and legal community. At the same time, the government’s lead prosecutor, Maurene Comey, is contesting her abrupt removal from the case—alleging her dismissal was unlawful and politically motivated. Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James B. Comey, ranks among the Justice Department’s most accomplished trial lawyers. Her attorneys contend that officials targeted her because of her father’s clashes with President Donald Trump. In a filing obtained by Billboard, her team wrote, “The politically motivated termination of Ms. Comey … upends bedrock principles of our democracy and justice system.” They maintained that federal prosecutors must be able to serve without partisan pressure. Her lawyers said Comey pressed Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for answers. However, his response offered little clarity. According to their account, Clayton told her the order “came from Washington” without further explanation. This remark has only intensified concerns about political interference in high-profile prosecutions, including that of Diddy. The Verdict The trial, which ran more than seven weeks, produced a mixed outcome. Diddy was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges but convicted on two counts involving the transportation of individuals for prostitution. He is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on October 3. Comey’s career includes leading roles in significant prosecutions. Among them is the 2021 conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges, which resulted in a 20-year sentence. Her removal from the Diddy case has stirred debate over whether political dynamics are shaping the Justice Department’s handling of prominent trials. As Diddy awaits sentencing, scrutiny now shifts toward the fallout from Comey’s firing. The controversy has widened the conversation beyond one defendant’s verdict. It raises sharper questions about prosecutorial independence and the resilience of the justice system under political strain, with Diddy’s case at the forefront.

Jermaine Dupri is pushing back against the narrative that he “fumbled” his relationship with Janet Jackson. During a recent appearance on Hot 97 with Nessa, the longtime producer said the phrase simply doesn’t apply. He also offered insight into why he believes people often mischaracterize their breakup. Jermaine Dupri Challenges the “Fumble” Label When asked to respond to claims he lost out on his relationship with Jackson, Dupri paused. Then he said, “I don’t know what a fumble is. I be trying to figure out why y’all don’t say she fumbled me.” He went on, “I’m not something that you just let roll down the street.” Dupri emphasized they were together for eight years, and he said he’s tired of being cast as the one who messed up. Jackson and Dupri dated roughly from 2001 to 2009. Over the years, they publicly addressed sources of strain. Distance and work commitments played a big role. For instance, Jackson reportedly felt Dupri was often absent. In Jackson’s 2022 documentary, she said she had wanted to start a family with Dupri but pulled back after hearing rumors of his infidelity. Dupri acknowledged the rumors, admitting in past interviews that he was “reckless.” “Girls wanted to talk to me more because I was dating her,” he said, “and I was a man.” Jackson also described feeling that Dupri’s work took precedence. She said she often felt like his world was his work, and that he didn’t make enough time for her or their relationship demands. Dupri seems intent on reframing the public’s understanding of their split. He asked why people never ask whether Jackson “fumbled” him. He said the narrative is lopsided. He also pointed out how fans and social media have pushed the idea that he dropped the ball. He says that idea fails to reflect the complexities of the relationship. As of now, Dupri insists: it’s unfair to reduce their years together to a single mishap. “If the word ‘fumble’ is gonna be used,” he warned, “fans better remember it can go both ways.” Janet Jackson, in her documentary, raised concerns about Dupri’s infidelity and lack of availability affording their partnership. Dupri in turn has said he didn’t mean to hurt her but acknowledges his behaviors caused pain. Their story reflects challenges common in long-term relationships with fame, distance, and conflicting priorities.

This past weekend, the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City set the stage for the REFORM Alliance Casino Night and Gala, a glittering fundraiser for criminal justice reform. Co-hosted by Michael Rubin and Meek Mill, the evening drew a roster of influential names, including Jay-Z, and brought in $20 million for the cause. But what might have been remembered purely as a philanthropic success soon became the subject of another kind of scrutiny. Much of the conversation shifted from the money raised to the seating chart after reports suggested that Beyoncé and Jay-Z were placed near Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. The possibility of the Carters sharing space with the Trump family quickly set off speculation and online debate. A seating chart sparks questions of politics and celebrity influence Posts on social media, particularly on X, circulated photos that seemed to show Beyoncé and Jay-Z apart from the main crowd. The lack of clarity only fueled more commentary. Some critics seized on the moment to question the couple’s political commitments, while others dismissed the uproar as exaggerated. “Guess the Kamala endorsement was just to get good PR,” one user wrote, capturing the skepticism running through parts of the conversation. Supporters, however, pointed to Beyoncé’s long track record of engagement. At a Kamala Harris rally in Houston last October, she appeared alongside Kelly Rowland and delivered a call to action: “It’s time for America to sing a new song. Are y’all ready to add your voice to the new American song?” For many, her presence at that rally, along with Jay-Z’s, signaled a commitment not easily undercut by a seating arrangement at a gala. The moment highlights the outsized weight celebrity appearances carry in political spaces. In an era when images are dissected in real time, even the placement of a table setting can be spun into a referendum on values and allegiances. Whether this controversy reveals anything lasting—or simply the churn of online discourse—remains an open question. Beyoncé, Jay-Z & Ivanka Trump last night in Atlantic City (Sept. 14th). pic.twitter.com/Zb3XbHD4x5 — ★ (@abenaissance) September 14, 2025

Cardi B and her daughter, Kulture, 7, shut down a NYFW event, rocking matching fur pieces, TMZ reports. On Saturday (Sept.13), the outlet spotted the mother-daughter duo with their matching ensembles as they made their way to view Alexander Wang’s Spring 2026 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show. Many other industry heavyweights were spotted at the show, like Martha Stewart, who shared a table with the pair. Cardi B has definitely cemented herself as one of rap’s top fashionistas, but judging by the comments on social media, Kulture almost stole the show. Kulture is the eldest daughter of the three children the “Bodak Yellow” rapper shares with her ex-husband, Offset. The former couple welcomed her into the world on July 10, 2018. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TMZ (@tmz_tv) Cardi B Defines Her Version Of Success According to Cardi B, winning a Grammy is the most “prestigious award” and that “nobody can take it” from her. In 2019, the Bronx native’s debut project, Invasion of Privacy, won Best Rap Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. However, in a recent interview with Billboard, while the rapper expressed her happiness about receiving one, she emphasized that her definition of success has evolved. For the mother of three, “success” isn’t about awards and praise from critics, but “putting out good music.” “Winning a Grammy, the most prestigious award, you can never take that from me. Everybody wants to downplay it, but everybody wants one. [But] times have changed,” Cardi B tells the outlet. “Success for me will be people saying, ‘She put out a great album.’ If [at] 3 a.m., people are talking about the album, that’s going to be success for me because people can’t wait to downplay it. I even want the people who don’t like me to be like, ‘Yo. That sht is fire.’ Yeah, eat your fcking fruits, n*gga.”

Lizzo has been very open about her health journey over the years; now she’s trying to help some of her peers, like BigXthaPlug, get on the same track. The pair linked up for a grocery shopping trip at Walmart while on a Twitch livestream—not long after they found themselves in a light-hearted debate about their soda preferences. In Lizzo’s opinion, when it comes to healthy soda options, she thinks Coke Zero is best. “We got to get some Coke Zeros,” she says as they walk down the soda aisle. However, the “Whip It” hitmaker didn’t see it that way. “Coke Zero is crazy. You might as well not even drink soda. It’s zero.” Lizzo went on stream with BigXThePlug to help put him on a diet and he got upset when she tried making him drink Coke ZERO pic.twitter.com/ndD6PEY9wn — ryan (@scubaryan_) September 12, 2025 Lizzo asked the rapper if he would prefer water, possibly thinking he wasn’t a fan of carbonated beverages, but that was not the case: “I mean, I drink soda,” BigXthaPlug clarified. It seems that he just doesn’t understand the point of drinking sugar-free soda products like Coke Zero. “So you’ll drink a full-fat Coke? Oh no no no,” the “Special” singer responded. As the hilarious debate slightly heated up, Lizzo shared that her favorite flavor of Coke Zero was vanilla. The rapper quipped back, saying, “You might as well drink a regular vanilla Coke,” bringing the soda showdown to an end. Lizzo also shared a clip of the two doing a fire dance routine to BigX’s 2024 hit “The Largest,” on Instagram, writing in the caption: “We the BIGGEST in the game! @bigxthaplug.” Funny debate aside, Lizzo’s soda choices shouldn’t be a surprise; the rapper-singer has shared her ever-evolving health journey since launching into the mainstream. In July, she sat down with Women’s Health to discuss her weight loss, body positivity, and her ongoing health journey. Lizzo revealed to the outlet that finding healthy eating patterns had always been a “challenge” for her. She shared that she suffered from disordered eating, specifically, binge eating. “There were times when I would eat so much that my stomach hurt. When I was done, I would be so uncomfortable, I couldn’t breathe and wouldn’t let anyone know,” she says. According to Lizzo, she had “so much food noise and connected so much emotion to food.”

The Shade Room recently shared a video of NBA player Jalen Green and his partner, reality star Draya Michele, who were spotted in a heated dispute. According to the outlet, the incident happened after the pair had left a New York Fashion Week party. In the video, Green can be overheard referring to Michele as a “b*tch,” before later screaming at the top of his lungs that he “hates her.” Michele can be seen running toward and attempting to lunge at Green several times before being stopped by someone from the pair’s crew. Another person was also spotted trying to hold the six-foot-four Phoenix Suns shooting guard back from the former Basketball Wives star. Being that there is no footage of what happened prior, it’s unclear what prompted the heated situation. The Shade Room reports the confrontation between the two would continue for several minutes as the group walked through the streets of New York. Jalen Green Shouts “I Hate You” At Draya Michele During Late-Night Confrontation In NY (: Shutterstock) : #TSRStaffLG pic.twitter.com/hp89oV4cna — TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) September 13, 2025 The pair went public with their relationship in 2023, despite heavy criticism for their 17-year age gap; Green, who was 23 at the time, and Michele, 40. A year later, in May, the two welcomed a daughter, Lyght. My daughter was safely brought into this world, and I’m forever grateful for the new memories we all get to experience moving forward. [Silver heart emoji] Love + Light everyone,” she wrote in an Instagram post around that time. Back in July, Draya clapped back at one critic, a TikToker named Boujeebrownskin, who stated that Green and she have more of a “mother/son” dynamic than a romantic one. The social media personality was reacting to an appearance the two made on Whistle’s “Home Team” relationship quiz. Michele caught wind of the video and shared her sentiments: “One more thing … this is AGEIST !! No different from being homophobic — you can’t be woke about one thing, babe, and not the other. Discrimination is discrimination. Imagine if somebody told you couldn’t love who you wanted to because they felt like it was ‘wrong.’”

Former MTV Teen Mom star Jenelle Evans is opening up about her brief fling with Lil Wayne, and their first encounter after the rapper flew her out to meet. Last week, Evans shared in a livestream that she and the New Orleans native DM’ed her on Instagram, which eventually led to the pair moving to text. However, the reality star didn’t really give any clear indication of when this took place. Later on in the live, she claimed that Wayne offered to fly her out personally, to which she agreed. However, it didn’t take long for the topic of hooking up to come up, over dinner, Evans alleges. The mother of three declined, saying, “I just said I wanted to go out to dinner and get to know each other first. He just wanted to jump into it, I guess you could say.” Shortly thereafter, the rapper flew Evans back home. She makes it clear she wasn’t “butt hurt” because she “knew what she was going there for.” @jenellelevans #stitch with @Reality TV & ADHD yes, it’s true ♬ original sound – Jenelle Evans She added, “I knew that eventually that conversation would come up with him. I’m just not that type of person to give in to anybody.” Evans’ story quickly started to circulate on social media, with some questioning the reality TV personality’s decision to even meet up with the “Lollipop” rapper in the first place. In response, Evans shared a video on TikTok offering clarification on the situation. “This seriously did happen. I’m not gonna say too much about the situation, because he didn’t have me sign an NDA, and at first, I didn’t believe it was him until he FaceTimed me.” She recalled Wayne being “really respectful,” but when it came to hitting the sheets, she’s “more of a person who wants to connect on a deeper level,” and states she wasn’t just looking for a hookup. Overall, Evans referred to the encounter as a “cool experience,” and she was happy to have met the rapper, despite having to leave her phone in the hotel during their hangout. That said, upon her return, her items had been “safe” and tucked away. “No hard feelings between me and him, and it was a crazy story,” she concluded.

In an interview with City & State New York, Jay-Z reveals why he and Roc Nation are making a $250,000 bid for a casino at 1515 Broadway — which would put the casino smack dab in the middle of New York City’s Times Square. Jay will also receive some assistance from developers SL Green and Caesars. The multi-hyphenate met with the Community Advisory Committee for a second hearing on Thursday (Sept.11). In Jay’s opinion, the decision “makes perfect sense,” because “New York City is the entertainment capital of the world.” In his opinion, this opportunity will “shift culture while uplifting communities.” He continued, “For me, it’s an extension of culture, an extension of the energy and action that makes New York the city it is.” Jay Z bets on Times Square! Roc Nation and Caesars plan to turn 1515 Broadway into a massive casino, pitching billions in tax revenue and thousands of jobs but the local population doesn’t think this will be a good move for the area, since the crime rate would increase. pic.twitter.com/zwxqPD40f5 — Diverse Mentality (@DverseMentality) September 12, 2025 The “Empire State of Mind” rapper said the project will bring “lasting benefits through meaningful partnerships and investments” for Black and working-class communities. Jay hopes this will “deliver real value to the communities that need it most.” Jay added: “Times Square is the heartbeat of New York – a place where millions of people come every year to see Broadway shows, shop, celebrate the new year, and experience the city’s unmatched energy. Our vision is to build a destination that not only attracts visitors but also gives New Yorkers a place they’re proud to enjoy. A casino here doesn’t compete with Times Square – it complements it. We’re creating a hub that draws even more people into the neighborhood, generating new energy, new business, and new opportunities for everyone.”

Pharrell Williams is set to co-direct a free concert, Grace For The World, in Vatican City, in Rome, Italy, which is also the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. World-renowned Maestro Andrea Bocelli and the Voices of Fire Gospel Choir. will assist Williams for a night of “a historic night of gospel, unity, and global music,” according to a press release from Disney. The event is a celebration to close out the third annual World Meeting on Human Fraternity — a two-day event meant to bring together “global leaders, innovators, and cultural change makers” to help “foster dialogue.” Per the press release, the event will specifically take place at St. Peter’s Square. “This is a rare cultural moment where the world stops and collectively tunes in. It is a message of unity and grace for all of humanity,” Pharrell Williams said. The event will also be live-streamed on Disney+, Hulu, and ABC News on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. Other notable performers expected to be in attendance include industry heavyweights like John Legend, Clipse, Teddy Swims, Jelly Roll, and Jennifer Hudson. VATICAN CITY, VATICAN – SEPTEMBER 12: (EDITOR NOTE: STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY – NO MERCHANDISING). Pope Leo XIV greets US singer Pharrell Williams during a meeting with participants of the third edition of the World Meeting on Human Fraternity in the Sala Clementina at the Apostolic Palace on September 12, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pharrell Williams will perform tomorrow during the concert ‘Grace For The World’ in St Peter’s Square. (Photo by Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images) In other news, Pharrell Williams is taking Joopiter’s auction experience to the next level with a fresh sale called “The Art of Time: Rare & Coveted Watches.” Launching on July 16, this event features nearly 30 exceptional watches spanning almost 100 years, offering collectors something truly unique beyond the usual auction staples. Pharrell Williams is taking Joopiter’s auction experience to the next level with a fresh sale called “The Art of Time: Rare & Coveted Watches.” Launching on July 16, this event features nearly 30 exceptional watches spanning almost 100 years, offering collectors something truly unique beyond the usual auction staples.

A string of leaked jailhouse phone calls has thrust Young Thug back into the spotlight, revealing disparaging remarks about other artists, infidelities, and private struggles. What might have remained personal has instead spilled into public view, intensifying scrutiny of the Atlanta rapper at an already precarious moment. Young Thug moved quickly to respond. He released a seven-minute track titled Man I Miss My Dogs, a blend of apology and self-reflection that reaches across both personal and professional lines. The song suggests contrition while doubling as a bid to steady relationships unsettled by the leaks. In one of its most pointed verses, he addresses Drake directly: “Drizzy, you my brother/ You know I ain’t going against you/ I got manners/ Everything you did for the rap community can’t ban you.” The lines underscore the depth of their bond, presenting a friendship resilient enough to withstand the turbulence of his incarceration. Loyalty Within His Circle Even as public criticism swelled, Young Thug found support among those closest to him. YSL Woody recently shared a photo with Yak Gotti, both wearing “I love Young Thug” shirts—a visible gesture of loyalty. He captioned the post: “While everyone dissing bra, we in the cut like ,” Days earlier, Woody was more candid about the emotional strain, writing in a separate post: “The truth no I’m not okay after everything a n**** been through. My intentions have never been flaw even I knew sh*t. I held my composure and carried it around like it was nothing.” His words point to the quieter, often overlooked toll such controversies inflict on those standing closest to the storm. Where Young Thug’s peers land in the aftermath remains uncertain. His latest track and public contrition suggest an attempt to repair frayed connections. But in hip-hop’s unforgiving spotlight, the balance between accountability and loyalty is rarely simple—and it is a tension the rapper will continue to navigate. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kenneth Copeland (@woody_selfmade)