They love the outdoors, but their gear might be dragging them down. Let them enjoy venturing outside again with these gift ideas.
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Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Three Baltimore men have been exonerated after serving 36 years
This Thanksgiving will be extra sweet for three Baltimore men released from prison on Monday after wrongly serving 36 years for a murder they didn’t commit. But will they be compensated for the state taking so many years from their lives?
Alfred Chestnut, Ransom Watkins and Andrew Stewart entered the prison system as 16 and 17-year-old teenagers. Yesterday, they received a writ of innocence in the death of 14-year-old middle school student, DeWitt Duckett. They have always maintained their innocence, according to CNN.
READ MORE: Louisiana man exonerated after serving 17 years for a robbery he didn’t commit
“That was hell,” Chestnut said to reporters upon release, CNN reported. “That was miserable.”
Last spring, Chestnut contacted Baltimore’s Conviction Integrity Unit after he found new evidence that could have helped exonerate him, Watkins and Stewart.
Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby later joined in on the fight, jointly filing a petition with the men for their release. Yesterday, she apologized to the men for the injustice and told them they were being freed.
“I don’t think that today is a victory, it’s a tragedy. And we need to own up to our responsibility for it,” Mosby said, according to CNN. “There’s no way we can repair the damage to these men, when 36 years of their life were stolen from them.”
“You were all arrested on Thanksgiving 1983. Now you are free to spend the holidays with your loved ones for the first time in 36 years,” Mosby added during a press conference.
On Thanksgiving morning, Chestnut, Watkins and Stewart were arrested for the shooting death of Duckett, who was murdered for his Georgetown University jacket.
The state convicted the three young men based on witness testimony and a Georgetown jacket found in Chestnut’s room – even though his mom produced a receipt and a store clerk testified that Chestnut’s mom had purchased it. Further, the jacket had no blood on it or bullet residue. And like the case of the Central Park Five, the teenage boys were questioned by police without a parent in the room.
READ MORE: Exonerated ‘Central Park Park’ men receive joyful praise and standing ovation at BET Awards
Now the released men are in their fifties – and the state of Maryland has no system in place to compensate the men for their wrongful convictions. Mosby said she plans to push for laws that would pay inmates who are wrongly convicted and that would require a parent to escort underage kids during police interrogations.
Shameful.
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Monday, November 25, 2019
The Black Woman Who Turned Around the Dallas Mavericks’ Notorious Toxic Culture
Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynthia Marshall changed the toxic culture lingering around the NBA team in less than two years after being named to that position, according to CNN.
Dallas Mavericks owner and Shark Tank personality Mark Cuban lured Marshall out of retirement to change the work environment after Sports Illustrated exposed a “corrosive workplace culture” at the organization. A number of instances of sexual harassment over more than 20 years were unearthed after an independent investigation launched by the Mavericks was publicly released.
“I walked into a bad culture,” says Marshall. “I walked into a place where the women were not valued and treated the way I would like to see them treated. Frankly, I think we had a problem with how we respected and treated people of color. It wasn’t a very diverse and inclusive environment when I got there. And so we needed to do some things.”
Prior to becoming the NBA’s first black woman CEO, the highly respected leader was senior vice president of Human Resources and the chief diversity officer at AT&T before she retired in 2017 to launch her own consulting firm. She was also the first African American cheerleader at UC Berkeley. In 2015, she was named as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America by BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“We are committed to running a business of excellence,” Marshall told BE in an exclusive interview shortly after joining the Mavericks. “Clearly we have work to do, and I walk in knowing that there’s a lot that I don’t know. But I do know how to lead, and how to effect necessary change in an organization.”
When Marshall was named CEO, there were no employees on the executive leadership team who were women or people of color. Under her leadership, she increased diversity by promoting from within and recruiting from outside of the organization. Today, 50% of the executive leadership team are women and 47% are people of color.
“She is driven, smart, compassionate and a realist,” Cuban wrote in an email to CNN. “But those don’t compare to her thirst to learn. She does whatever it takes.”
Marshall hopes her work with the Mavericks will set the standard for inclusion and diversity in all sports organizations. “You don’t get results if you don’t take care of people. And so, that’s why I come to work every day. Literally, that’s what gets me up in the morning,” she told CNN.
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82-Year-old bodybuilder beats up her home intruder: ‘He picked the wrong house’
A home intruder in Rochester, NY got the surprise of a lifetime when the house he chose to burglarize ended up being the residence of an 82-year-old female body builder who had no problem beating him into submission until the authorities arrived.
According to a local ABC affiliate, late Thursday, a man allegedly started pounding on the door of Willie Murphy in the hopes of pushing his way into her home.
READ MORE: How Jada Pinkett Smith schooled an ‘incredibly apologetic’ T.I. during a candid ‘Red Table Talk’
“He was outside and saying, ‘Please call an ambulance,’ saying, ‘I’m sick, I’m sick,’” recalled the award winning body builder. But when she didn’t give him access, the would be assailant became angry.
“I hear a loud noise,” she said. “I’m thinking, ‘What the heck was that? The young man is in my home. He broke the door.”
“He picked the wrong house to break into,” continued Murphy who works out at the YMCA almost every day.
Because it was dark at the time of the break in, Murphy was able to hide as the suspect walked through her house then grabbed the closest thing she could find, which just so happened to be a table.
“I picked up the table, and I went to work on him,” she explained, noting that, “the table broke,” by the time she was finished whooping him with it.
“And when he’s down,” she added, “I’m jumping on him.”
READ MORE: Clippers’ Patrick Patterson apologizes after ‘Bulldogs’ insinuation at Black women resurfaces
Once the suspect was subdued she ran to grab a bottle of shampoo and started pouring it on his eyes to further disorient him.
“I grabbed the shampoo,” she said. “Guess what? He’s still on the ground. In his face, all of it, the whole thing.”
“I got the broom,” she continued. “He’s pulling the broom. I’m hitting him with the broom.”
By the time the police arrived the man had to be taken to the hospital and the first responders were so impressed she states they, “wanted to go on my front porch and take selfies with me.”
Murphy, who can deadlift 225 pounds and received a hero’s welcome when she returned to the YMCA, hopes her story inspires people of all ages.
Ms. Murphy standing shoulder to shoulder with Genesee Section Officers after an intruder attempted to break into her home. Ms. Murphy is tough as nails & fended off the intruder. Ms. Murphy standing with some of the officers that responded to her home. pic.twitter.com/1gr8KfWZ4d
— Rochester NY Police (@RochesterNYPD) November 25, 2019
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Colin Kaepernick’s highly anticipated Nike sneaker comes out in December
Colin Kaepernick may not have an NFL team to play for, but his diehard fans are looking forward to next month’s release of his new Nike sneaker.
Just in time for the holidays, Kap’s highly anticipated sneaker will be released in December and is already creating buzz. The sneaker is part of the endorsement deal Kaepernick has with Nike and is slated for a nationwide release, according to Yahoo.
READ MORE: One week later… Colin Kaepernick still awaits call from an NFL team
Get your coins ready: If the new sneaker is anything like Kaepernick’s “Icon” jersey that came out in February, we can count on it selling out like hotcakes. The Icon jersey, which originally retailed for $150 but now sells from second-hand sources for more than $300, sold out online in just hours.
Eric Reid, the Carolina Panthers safety who posted the photo of the sneakers and a Kap jersey to IG, said no one should have any doubt who he’s repping “Game day fit You already know #ImwithKap y’all see the kicks,” Reid posted. Several people responded to the photo and caption with the Black power fist emoji.
The sneaker is reportedly low-top, black and white and features the letter “K” in the tongue and a headshot of Kap on the back. Kap himself first premiered the new kicks last week during his Atlanta football tryouts.
Yahoo sources say it’s unclear how many Kap sneakers Nike would release this go around, but the sneakers reportedly required Nike to increase production to meet anticipated demand.
Kaepernick signed an endorsement deal with Nike just over a year ago.
The move was controversial for Nike initially, with people boycotting the brand, but increased sales figures have shown that the move was the right one for the company. The amplified platform appears to also have been a good move for Kap.
So far, Kap has done a hit commercial for Nike where he utters: “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.”
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How the First Step Act helped one Black man go from an incarcerated, former drug dealer to thriving MBA candidate
Robert Wood knows that it’s possible to hope for something and to one day see it come true.
He was recently released from prison under the First Step Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump almost a year ago and introduced new reform measures and fair sentencing to our criminal justice system by reducing the chance that prisoners will recidivate upon their release.
Wood was sentenced to 25 years in prison for a gang-related drug and murder conspiracy. While incarcerated, he earned an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree and became a team leader for an at-risk youth outreach program. He just returned home last month and has already enrolled in an MBA program at San Diego State University.
With an opportunity to speak candidly about his experiences while incarcerated, Wood explains to theGrio about the powerful impact of criminal justice reforms, like the First Step Act and the next phase of the Second Step Act, which if passed, will continue to improve upon these efforts and help even more people change the direction of their lives forever.
My name is Robert Wood. In my teens, I was heavily involved in gangs, drug dealing, and everything negative in the streets of southeast San Diego. I was eventually arrested for a gang-related drug conspiracy and murder conspiracy under The RICO Act at the age of 36 and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.
Upon my sentencing, I was inspired by my family, my sentencing judge, and from within to seek change while doing my time in order to get out a better man.
Once I got into the system, I encountered many obstacles. I found out that grants and financial aid weren’t available to me while incarcerated and that there were far fewer vocational programs available. Eventually, I found out about some educational opportunities and took advantage of them. In the 17 years I spent in prison, I earned two associate of arts degrees in General Studies and Sociology.
READ MORE: The Central Park Five: 5 attorneys explain why the prosecution’s disgraceful case should be reviewed
I graduated from these programs with honors and was inducted into an invitation-only National Honor Society. I also earned a dual Bachelor’s of Science degree in Small Business Management and Marketing and graduated Magna Cum Laude. After that, I started my MBA degree in Business Leadership. During my time in federal prison, I taught courses and tutored other incarcerated men, and was the team leader for an at-risk youth outreach program called the START (Start Taking an Alternative Route Today.) Unfortunately, some of the things available to me were not accessible to all federal inmates.
Too many incarcerated people lack access to meaningful rehabilitation and are left hopeless by the broken promises of previous legislative remedies. Their lives have ticked away in federal warehouses. They walk out of prison without the tools that rehabilitation could offer, which could make returning to their communities and families a journey of success and joy rather than one of frustration and stagnation.
The First Step Act has changed a lot of that.
The First Step Act was bipartisan legislation passed by Congress last year to make sentences for federal offenses fairer and more equitable while also moving the federal prison system toward more rehabilitative treatment. The new law will help incarcerated people gain access to the tools necessary for success upon reentering society and it sets the tone for future sentencing reform legislation.
One of the greatest things about this reform is that it actually addresses the need for rehabilitative remedies, like incentives for prisoner education and vocational programs. As a society, it assures us, upon release, reentrants will have demonstrated skills that are conducive to success.
But it didn’t just tackle the inside of our prisons. It actually included reforms that would reduce the amount of time people serve — and it provided critical pathways to freedom for people who are locked up.
Prior to the passage of the First Step Act, many people had been grossly over-incarcerated, including and especially those doing time on charges associated with crack cocaine.
Time Inside
My primary sentence was a crack cocaine-related offense which meant 10 years running concurrent (or to be done at the same time) under the RICO Act. If that sentence had been powder cocaine, which is the same chemical makeup as crack cocaine, I would have received a 15-year controlling sentence.
However, the controversial 1994 Crime Bill erroneously determined that crack cocaine was 100 times worse than powder cocaine and set sentences for it accordingly, creating a 100 to 1 ratio. The ratio allowed crack cocaine offenders, mostly people of color, to receive the same sentence for one gram of crack cocaine as they would for 100 grams of powder cocaine. 10 grams of crack cocaine became the legal equivalent of an entire kilogram of powder cocaine.
READ MORE: Van Jones credits Kim Kardashian for prison reform bill’s landslide passage
The ratio was ridiculous but eventually, the Fair Sentencing Act was passed in 2010 to reduce that disparity. Unfortunately, the law was never made retroactive and left many crack offenders feeling hopeless. Hopeless people often see no end in sight because they see no possibility of reentering society in enough time to reclaim their lives.
The Light of Hope
The First Step Act changed that feeling for people like myself. Releasing those who had been over-incarcerated due to unjust laws was the only fair thing to do. Time was up and the legislation was long overdue.
Robert and Dr. Davis at graduation and national honors society ceremony for Coastline Community College. (Photo courtesy of Robert Wood.)Now, people who have benefitted from the law can become productive citizens, role models, and mentors in our communities.
For too many years, our country ignored unfair sentencing and treated incarcerated people with no empathy or dignity. The incarceration industry continued to grow without taking into account the incredibly high cost of losing out on so many years of human freedom and damaging so many lives.
The First Step Act has marked an important shift. It was historic — not just for the policies that were in the letter of the law but because of the people who came together to get it done: an incredible coalition of advocacy groups, lawmakers, and unlikely allies from across the political spectrum. That bipartisan coalition named it the First Step for a reason.
There are, however, many more steps to come and a Second Step Act is sorely needed.
Since my release, I’ve worked with #cut50 a program of the Dream Corps to tell my story. #cut50 was one of the leading organizations that worked on the First Step Act. I’m proud to turn my pain into power and to put a face to the story of criminal justice reform. If my story can change a law, help someone gain their freedom or encourage those behind bars to better themselves, then I’m proud to share my journey.
We need to heal our nation from the incredible damage wrought by mass incarceration and repair the harm it has caused to individuals, families, and communities. Only then can we be the best version of America possible. I urge people reading this to find ways to get involved — from their local city halls to their state capitals, to the halls of Congress — and support these important issues.
Robert Wood is currently in the MBA program at San Diego State University and a Senior Social Media Advisor for The Prison Scholar Fund.
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One week later… Colin Kaepernick still awaits call from an NFL team
So was the invitation just a stunt? One week after Colin Kaepernick showed prospective NFL teams what he’s working with, not a single team has called him.
Kaepernick is still waiting for a quarterback spot on a team – with his reps sending his combine footage to 25 franchises that didn’t make it out to his Riverdale, Georgia practice session on Nov. 16 at Charles R. Drew High School, according to Complex.
READ MORE: OPINION: Is this Colin Kaepernick ‘workout’ the real deal or just more NFL shenanigans?
Initially, sources told ESPN that some teams were interested in pursuing Kaepernick, 32, and that it may take weeks for a contract to materialize, but that it was coming. This hasn’t happened, and now sources speculate that it won’t. The quarterback has been out of work for three years, ever since he started taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem, in protest of police brutality and social justice inequities. Kaepernick’s last NFL job was as quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, which he took to the Super Bowl in 2013.
The NFL blames Kaepernick for switching up on his NFL scheduled workout in Atlanta and moving the session to Riverdale, which is roughly an hour away. Twenty-five NFL teams showed up at the Atlanta Falcons’ practice facility, but when Kaepernick moved it to Riverdale after potential problems with a liability waiver, only seven teams showed up.
The NFL issued a statement, essentially saying the league bent over backwards to accommodate Kaepernick’s tryouts, and was “disappointed” that he did not do the combine as planned. Sports analysts, players and NFL fans also entered the fray with Stephen A. Smith and Panthers’ Eric Reid, one of Kap’s diehards, going at each other’s throats on Instagram.
Reid essentially called Smith a sell-out for ridiculing Kap’s decision to switch up locations for his workout. “You, Malcolm Jenkins and JAY-Z prance around doing the NFL’s bidding to try 2 burry Colin,” Reid wrote. “You r mistaken by thinking that because you or anybody is black that you are spared from my criticism especially when you’ve been so blatantly on the NFL’s side in corrupting their own process to hinder Colin’s employment.”
READ MORE: Stephen A. Smith scores blockbuster new contract with ESPN
Smith fired back that Reid needs to grow up and look in the mirror.
“You …went through the same process Kap was suppose to be go through and you’re still playing on Sunday. But you didn’t bring that up! And unlike you, walking around and doing nothing but bitching at every turn, myself and many others in the media have religiously called out the NFL for blackballing Kap. We’ve religiously highlighted the unfairness of it all. And some of us have worked behind the scenes, trying to help JAY-Z and others in their quest to get Kap back in the league,” Smith wrote. “Meanwhile, what is Eric Reid doing? Complaining like he wants to be on @firsttake. Failing to stop the run on Sundays. Talking S$&@ about the NFL at every turn…….but asking for that check, no doubt!”
Ouch.
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JAY-Z and Iconix finally reach a settlement, ending several of their lawsuits
JAY-Z has finally reached settlement terms with Iconix Brand Group Inc., ending several disputes, the oldest of which dates back to 2007.
As a result of the agreement, Hov’s Roc Nation LLC will pay $15 million to Iconix to retain some intellectual property assets and some membership holdings in Marcy Media Holdings LLC, according to Financial Post. Further, neither Jay or Iconix will need to admit wrongdoing or unlawful conduct under the arrangement and both sides will drop any outstanding claims against each other.
READ MORE: Roc Nation sues licensing firm for fraud
This is an amicable end to a 2017 lawsuit filed by Iconix in Manhattan federal court. In that lawsuit, the company accused the rapper of breaching trademark agreements that Iconix acquired from JAY-Z in 2007, when the company purchased Rocawear clothing for $204 million.
Wednesday’s court agreement also ends a lawsuit filed by Hov last July. That lawsuit, as reported by theGrio.com, accused Iconix of being fraudulent in their dealings with Roc Nation and taking part in a “colossal accounting scandal,” reported Financial Post.
According to the Financial Post, Iconix has written off nearly the entire Rocawear clothing brand value. The newspaper’s attempted to reach lawyers for a comment from JAY-Z and Roc Nation, but were unsuccessful.
Prior to the resolution of the lawsuits, the Roc Nation head honcho had made a stink about the lack of Black arbitrators who were eligible to try and resolve the case. Once enough arbitrators were found, Jay dropped his dissent.
READ MORE: Jay-Z scores a win in his arbitration battle
Headquartered in New York, Iconix has brands that include Candie’s, Mossimo, Danskin, Joe Boxer, London Fog and Starter. JAY-Z has built an empire valued at more than $1 billion. The 49-year-old rapper, also known by his birth name Shawn Carter, accrued his wealth through his music, his streaming service Tidal and many other investments.
We’re happy that a spirit of cooperation won out in the end and that this is finally settled. Just in time for the holidays.
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CEO of $62 Million Company was Abandoned in a Dumpster as a Baby
Freddie Figgers is not just any CEO. His life began with a rough start because right after giving birth, his mother left him in a dumpster, abandoning him. Now, at just 29 years old, he is not only a CEO but a role model as well.
Nathan and Betty Figgers adopted Freddie two days after his birth. According to InspireMore, their love and support helped to shape his sharp intelligence. For example, when he was 9 and got his first computer, it didn’t work. However, he fixed it and went on to become a computer technician at the age of 12 and began developing his own computer services at age 15.
According to InspireMore, Figgers’ proudest invention was “the special shoe he created for his father,” who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Figgers created a GPS tracking device that also served as a two-way communicator that can be inserted into his father’s shoe.
As Figgers told the Los Angeles Sentinel, “I could pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey Dad, where are you at?’ and he doesn’t have to do anything, just lean down and talk into his shoe and I can track his location. That program was very successful and I had a company reach out to me out of Kansas and they bought the program from me for $2.2 million.”
Figgers used the $2.2 million to open a telecommunications firm called Figgers Communications that now values at over $62 million. Even better is that it’s the only company of its kind owned by a person of color in the U.S. As the founder and CEO of the company, Figgers has already caught the attention of the media due to the company’s anti-texting and driving software. In addition, he’s also created a cell phone with a built-in wireless blood glucose meter for people who have diabetes.
But what makes Figgers so inspiring is the fact that it’s not so much about his success as it is about cultivating a better world.
As he states, “I’m going to impact this world and change today for a better tomorrow because money is nothing but a tool, but with that tool, we can impact and change everyday people’s lives with opportunities.”
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Tyler Perry pays medical expenses for couple stranded in Mexico
Tyler Perry is doing the Lord’s work.
After hearing about an Atlanta couple who were stranded in Mexico after they couldn’t pay a $14,000 medical bill, a source told PEOPLE that Perry came to their rescue.
READ MORE: Tyler Perry opens up about disciplining his son for disrespecting the nanny
Tori Austin and fiancé Stephen Johnson were on a Carnival Dream cruise when Johnson, 31, became ill. Johnson was later diagnosed with pancreatitis and diabetes, according to WGCL. He was admitted and treated at a hospital in Progreso, Mexico and spent several days in intensive care.
His hospital visit would prove to be costly as the couple didn’t spring for traveler’s insurance while planning the cruise. Neither did the couple have medical insurance. To make matters worse, when Austin asked the hospital if she could work out a payment plan for the expense and return to the U.S., the hospital denied her request. The two were told that they could not leave until the bill was paid.
Austin told WGCL that hospital staff not only did not trust them to make those payments, but actually locked their windows to keep them from trying to escape the facility. If they still managed to do so, staffers warned that police would be called.
“It’s been a nightmare. We just want to come home,” Austin told WGCL. The station reported Johnson added: “[It’s] hell. I very much so am a hostage.”
Perry learned about their situation on Good Morning America and reached out to help. PEOPLE reported that Perry is going to help the couple out by springing for their travel and the medical expenses.
Seems like a perfect end to a horrible story… right?
Well, not exactly.
Over the weekend, a hospital official said no money had yet been received. The official did tell NBC News that international transfers routinely take a few days to arrive.
That still didn’t stop Austin for giving Perry social media props on Sunday.
“Today I am thankful for and will always be thankful for Tyler Perry,” she wrote on Facebook. “My mom was also a huge fan of his.”
Austin added in another post that hospital staff said they could leave on Monday. She also stressed that their ordeal would not prevent them from making a return trip to Mexico.
READ MORE: The next presidential debate to be held at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta
“I love MEXICO and the Culture,” Austin wrote. “I’ll be back again but will leave on my own terms. We have no ill feelings for the country or the people, just this hospital.”
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Sunday, November 24, 2019
REPORTS: Joycelyn Savage claims R. Kelly forced her to have a surgical abortion at home
Joycelyn Savage is finally breaking her silence about the alleged abuses she suffered at the hands of R. Kelly.
Although Savage spent years denying her family’s claims that she was one of the singer’s victims, she has recently changed her story and the details are pretty disturbing.
According to the Chicago-Sun Times, Joycelyn Savage revealed that she was forced to have a surgical abortion at R. Kelly’s home after he impregnated her.
R. Kelly’s live-in girlfriend speaks out against the singer:’He always hated the truth’
Friends of R. Kelly’s girlfriend, Joycelyn Savage, claim he assaulted her the first time they met
The about section of her page reads as follows:
My name is Joycelyn Savage, I am 24 years old, at 23 years old was really was a breaking point for me I was forced to do a lot of things. I am here to tell my story I will reveal information/secrets I’ve been sweared to not ever bring to light but I am willing to risk it all. This is my story on Mr. Kelly. Become a patron above and view my story, and see what I’ve been going through these past years.
Her first post, entitled “Where It All Started,” is available for purchase now. The Daily Beastaccessed the content and reports that Savage details how controlling R. Kelly became soon after first meeting her when she was 17 years old.
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Lizzo, Ciara, Toni Braxton and more hit the stage at the 2019 American Music Awards
The 2019 American Music Awards delivered a few big surprises on Sunday night with some unexpected performances marking major moments for the annual event.
PHOTOS: Lizzo, Ciara, Lil Nas X, Billy Porter and more SLAY at the American Music Awards
Ciara hosted the show this year and donned several enviable outfits throughout the night and managed to serve up a power-packed performance of her latest single, “Melanin.”
Lizzo took the stage to perform her latest single “Jerome” in a wine-colored gown that was simply stunning. She earned a standing ovation from the star-studded crowd when she ended the soulful song on her knees.
Toni Braxton made a triumphant return to the AMAs stage with a stirring rendition of her hit “Un-break My Heart.” She was accompanied by violinists, cellists and other string players as she belted out the iconic R&B hit. The singer who last hit the American Music Awards stage in 2001 wore a lacy white dress that showed off every curve and reminded everyone in the room that she’s still got it.
American Music Awards: The complete winners list (UPDATING)
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American Music Awards: The complete winners list (UPDATING)
The 2019 American Music Awards were full of big moments from music’s brightest stars and a few of our faves were nominated for the most coveted awards of the night.
PHOTOS: Lizzo, Ciara, Lil Nas X, Billy Porter and more SLAY at the American Music Awards
Check out the complete list of winners:
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Drake
Ariana Grande
Halsey
Post Malone
Taylor Swift
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Luke Combs
Billie Eilish
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Ella Mai
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper, “Shallow”
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, “Old Town Road”
Marshmello & Bastille, “Happier”
Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello, “Señorita”
Post Malone & Swae Lee, “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)”
TOUR OF THE YEAR
BTS
Ariana Grande
Elton John
P!nk
Ed Sheeran
FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
Billie Eilish, “bad guy”
Ariana Grande, “7 rings”
Halsey, “Without Me”
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, “Old Town Road”
Taylor Swift, “You Need to Calm Down”
FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST
BTS
Billie Eilish
EXO
Ariana Grande
Shawn Mendes
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Drake
Khalid
Post Malone
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Billie Eilish
Ariana Grande
Taylor Swift
FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
BTS
Jonas Brothers
Panic! At The Disco
FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Ariana Grande, thank u, next
Taylor Swift, Lover
FAVORITE SONG – POP/ROCK
Halsey, “Without Me”
Jonas Brothers, “Sucker”
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, “Old Town Road”
Panic! At The Disco, “High Hopes”
Post Malone & Swae Lee, “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Kelsea Ballerini
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
FAVORITE DUO or GROUP – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Old Dominion
FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
Kane Brown, “Experiment”
Dan + Shay, “Dan + Shay”
Carrie Underwood, “Cry Pretty”
FAVORITE SONG – COUNTRY
Luke Combs, “Beautiful Crazy”
Dan + Shay, “Speechless”
Blake Shelton, “God’s Country”
FAVORITE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B
Drake
Post Malone
FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
Meek Mill, Championships
Post Malone, Hollywood’s Bleeding
Travis Scott, Astroworld
FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
Lil Nas X ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, “Old Town Road”
Post Malone, “Wow.”
Travis Scott, “SICKO MODE”
FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown
Khalid
Bruno Mars
FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Beyoncé
Lizzo
Ella Mai
FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown, Indigo
Khalid, Free Spirit
Ella Mai, Ella Mai
FAVORITE SONG – SOUL/R&B
Khalid, “Talk”
Lizzo, “Juice”
Ella Mai, “Trip”
FAVORITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Billie Eilish
Imagine Dragons
Panic! At The Disco
FAVORITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Maroon 5
P!nk
Taylor Swift
FAVORITE ARTIST – LATIN
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Ozuna
FAVORITE ARTIST – CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Lauren Daigle
for KING & COUNTRY
MercyMe
FAVORITE ARTIST – ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
Avicii
Marshmello
The Chainsmokers
FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
A Star is Born by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
The post American Music Awards: The complete winners list (UPDATING) appeared first on theGrio.
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PHOTOS: Lizzo, Ciara, Lil Nas X, Billy Porter and more SLAY at the American Music Awards
The 2019 American Music Awards went down in Los Angeles on Sunday night and stars like Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Billy Porter, and Regina King served up some serious fashion when they hit the red carpet.
Check out a few looks from some of our faves:
Lizzo
The most-nominated artist of the night hit the red carpet in this short, one-shoulder dress and carried a tiny Valentino purse. On the carpet, she joked that she could fit tons of things inside like tampons, condoms, and a flask of tequila.
Regina King
The incomparable actress looked lovely in this gorgeous black gown with a sexy cutout.
Lil Nas X
The first-time nominee who’s up for Best New Artist made a major fashion statement in this neon green tuxedo and zebra-print shirt and gloves.
Billy Porter
The POSE star rocked this all-white ensemble with dark shades and had tons of heads turning when he hit the red carpet at the American Music Awards.
Ella Mai
This beautiful song bird rocked a long braid with this short, long-sleeved, turtleneck dress.
Ciara
The night’s hostess with the mostess shut down the carpet in her cobalt blue suit (minus a shirt) before heading inside to perform her latest single “Melanin.”
Big Freedia
Big Freedia chose comfortable sneakers to go with a colorful outfit and makeup on #FLEEK
Rich The Kid & Antoinette Willis
This couple showed off some major PDA when they hit the carpet, proving their rekindled romance is in full swing.
Jharrel Jerome
The When They See Us star was white-hot in this all-white ensemble and seemed to be enjoying himself among all the musical talent.
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Gabrielle Union leaving her post as judge on ‘America’s Got Talent’
Despite her popularity, Gabrielle Union will not to return to America’s Got Talent after just one season. Fellow judge, Julianne Hough will also not be returning.
Union and Hough made their debuts as AGT judges earlier this year replacing longtime judges Mel B and Heidi Klum. According to NBC New York, despite their unexpected exit, the pair have projects of their own to focus on with Union returning to the Bad Boys spin-off series L.A.’s Finest. The series debuted last summer with Union reprising her role as “Syd,” whom she played in the 2003 hit film Bad Boys II, alongside co-star Jessica Alba.
According to People, Union described her first season on AGT as “emotional.”
“It’s emotional for me to watch people come so close to their dreams coming true and being so close,” she admitted. “Seeing their faces contort and anguish in pain, I don’t like it. I don’t find that entertaining.”
READ MORE: Janelle Monáe stars in ‘Antebellum’ teaser from producers of ‘Us’ and ‘Get Out’
Union also described a moment during her time as judge where she was truly touched by a contestant; Kodi Lee, who is blind and has autism, gave a breath-taking performance during AGT‘s last season and went on to be crowned the season 14 winner. Union called Lee an inspiration and hoped his win would help others.
“Hopefully, it’s going to be a little easier for parents with special needs children to get the resources that they need,” she said. “All of them can get the chance for their dreams to come true and for them to reach their fullest potential.”
READ MORE: Gabrielle Union is bringing ‘Black Girl Magic’ to NBC
People reported that long-time judges Simon Cowell and Howie Mandel, as well as Terry Crews, who made his debut as AGT host last season, will be returning next season. As of Sunday, neither Union nor Hough have commented on their exit from the show and there is no word on who will be their replacements for the 15th season of the show.
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