Day: November 20, 2025

Bryan Michael Cox addressed his involvement in a failed business venture tied to Usher and a $1.7 million lawsuit, making it clear he had no hand in the disputed transaction and warning others to be cautious about whom they do business with.

“I’ve learned a lot recently about being careful with who you choose to invest in a business with,” Cox wrote in a statement shared on social media. “No matter how small the investment.”

The Grammy-winning producer, known for crafting some of Usher’s biggest hits like “Burn” and “U Got It Bad,” is named in a lawsuit filed by the R&B star in Fulton County Superior Court. The suit stems from a loan Usher provided in January for a restaurant project in Atlanta that never materialized.

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Cox explained he had no operational role in the deal and emphasized that he was merely a minority shareholder in the company at the center of the dispute.

“I’m currently in the middle of a failed deal that I didn’t orchestrate, and while the situation has been disappointing, I know my name will be cleared by both sides,” he said. “It’s just unfortunate that this clarity didn’t come sooner.”

Usher’s complaint also names Keith Thomas, Charles Hughes and entertainment attorney Alcide Honoré.

The lawsuit claims the $1.7 million loan was intended to help secure a Buckhead property for a restaurant called Homage ATL. The location was the former Ocean Prime at 3102 Piedmont Road.

Though Usher declined to invest directly, he agreed to fund the deal through a loan. The money was placed in a trust account, with the understanding that the property would be purchased promptly. But after months with no progress, Usher asked for the money back.

While $1 million was returned in August, the remaining $700,000 remains unpaid. Court filings allege Honoré admitted the funds had been used for “other purposes,” making repayment “not that easy.”

Usher’s legal team is seeking $4.9 million in damages, citing seven separate claims in the lawsuit. As of Tuesday, none of the defendants had filed a response.

Cox made it a point to separate the legal matter from his personal relationship with Usher, which has spanned nearly three decades.

“My legal team has also advised me of a lawsuit involving a company where I am only a passive minority shareholder,” he continued. “I was not a participant in that business transaction and have no involvement in the ongoing legal process. While I’m unable to share more details right now, I want to make one thing absolutely clear: my 27-year friendship with @‌usher remains fully intact.”

He ended his statement by thanking those who have shown him support.

“I appreciate everyone who has reached out with concern. Thank you for the love, the patience, and the understanding.”

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Kim Kardashian is under fire after casting her 12-year-old daughter, North West, in a new SKIMS holiday campaign in collaboration with Cactus Plant Flea Market, prompting critics to question the decision to spotlight a child in a brand known for adult shapewear.

The campaign, set to launch November 20, showcases North modeling a teddy bear-themed hoodie and sweatpants set, part of the upcoming SKIMS x Cactus Plant Flea Market collection.

While the outfit itself is age-appropriate, many online commenters took issue with the overall context, pointing out the brand’s association with lingerie and adult loungewear.

@kimkardashian North West for Cactus Plant Flea Market × SKIMS, launching November 20 at 12PM ET. @SKIMS ♬ original sound – Kim Kardashian

Social media users didn’t hold back. Some questioned why North wasn’t in school, while others criticized the heavy makeup she wore in the shoot.

“Am I the only one who remembers when Kim Kardashian photoshopped then EIGHT YEAR OLD (8!!!) North West’s waist in an instagram post to give her an hourglass shape? They will never make me like this woman!” one user snarled. Another wrote: “This doesn’t look 13 years.”

Kardashian previously responded to all of the criticism during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, saying, “I think it’s just in her blood and who she is and what she loves to do. So, it’s a fine line as a parent to figure that out together.”

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This isn’t the first time Kardashian has been scrutinized for her parenting choices involving North.

In October, backlash erupted after the preteen appeared on TikTok sporting fake facial tattoos, colored contact lenses and faux piercings.

More recently, North showed off dermal piercings in her fingers, drawing concern from medical professionals who warned about the “high risk of complications” and questioned whether a child could handle the necessary aftercare.

Kim Kardashian previously addressed that criticism on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, explaining her approach to parenting in the public eye.

She emphasized her support for North’s creative expression despite the constant judgment, saying she tries to balance encouragement with responsibility.

The SKIMS holiday collection drops November 20, 2025.

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Max B returned to the spotlight with an announcement and a fresh mindset, revealing his upcoming mixtape Public Domain 7: The First Purge (Patient Zero) just days after walking free from a 16-year prison sentence.

The Harlem rapper was released in November 2025 after being convicted of felony murder, kidnapping and armed robbery in connection with a failed heist that ended in a man’s death.

Now, he’s channeling his energy back into music, setting November 28 as the release date for his first post-prison project.

The Public Domain series launched in 2006 and earned cult status in Hip-Hop during Max B’s incarceration, with Public Domain 3: Domain Pain often cited as a standout.

“This the new, grown and gorgeous Biggavel, this is the new and improved. This the new distinguished Biggavel. This ain’t the old Biggavel from before, so you gotta love it. This is what I think is attracting the people like, ‘Damn, we thought this n—a was gonna come out and do the same s—t. He’s a prime example of what you’re supposed to do when you come out. His reentry at its purest form. This man right here: Max Biggavel,” he told Billboard.

Max B didn’t waste time stepping back into public life either. He popped up at a New York Jets game shortly after his release and proposed to his longtime girlfriend, signaling a new direction both personally and professionally.

His music career began in 2006, but legal troubles quickly derailed his rise. Before his most recent prison term, he had already served seven years for armed robbery and drug charges as a teenager.

Public Domain 7, which features a whopping 24 tracks, marks his first significant release since regaining his freedom and is expected to reflect the growth and perspective he gained during his time away.

The mixtape is scheduled to drop on November 28.

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Mystikal was denied bond on Tuesday in Ascension Parish, where a Louisiana judge ruled the rapper will remain in custody until his trial on rape and other felony charges begins in 2026.

The 55-year-old performer appeared in court as Judge Steven Tureau rejected his request for release, despite emotional offers from his mother and business manager to monitor him if granted bond, according to Louisiana First.

Tyler has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a 2022 incident, including first-degree rape, domestic abuse battery by strangulation and false imprisonment.

The trial is set to begin March 30, 2026, and is expected to last about a week. Tyler’s next court date is scheduled for January 21, 2026.

The decision marks yet another legal setback in a long history of criminal allegations against the Grammy-nominated artist, best known for early 2000s hits like “Shake Ya Ass” and “Danger (Been So Long).”

Tyler’s criminal record includes a 2003 conviction for sexual battery and extortion involving his hairstylist.

He served six years at Louisiana’s Elayn Hunt Correctional Center after pleading guilty to coercing the woman into oral sex while accusing her of stealing $80,000 in checks. A videotape of the incident was later found in his home, leading to a prison sentence despite expectations of probation.

After his release in 2010, Tyler registered as a sex offender but continued to face legal trouble. In 2012, he was arrested for domestic abuse battery, which landed him back in jail for violating probation.

In 2017, Tyler was charged with rape in Caddo Parish and held on a $3 million bond until 2019. Those charges were eventually dismissed, but his time out of custody didn’t last.

If convicted of first-degree rape in the current case, Tyler faces a mandatory life sentence under Louisiana law.

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Khloé Kardashian took the blame for igniting Kim Kardashian‘s belief that the 1969 moon landing was a hoax during a recent interview, admitting she helped fuel the conspiracy theory that has stirred headlines and online debate.

The confession followed Kim’s viral remarks during an October episode of The Kardashians, in which the SKIMS mogul claimed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin never made it to the lunar surface.

In a confessional, Kim said, “I don’t think we did. I think it was fake. I’ve seen a few videos (of) Buzz Aldrin talking about how it didn’t happen. He says it all the time now, in interviews. Why does Buzz Aldrin say it didn’t happen?”

“I don’t believe in the moon landing (either),” Khloé told People. “That’s very controversial. And I feel bad because I think I riled Kim up about it, and I’ve gotten her into a lot of trouble!”

Khloé, 40, said she and her brother, Rob Kardashian, played a role in shaping Kim’s view. “I don’t think it happened. I think me and my brother (Rob Kardashian), we’ve fed her a lot of information. I don’t know, I feel bad about that, but I’m going to die on this hill!”

NASA didn’t let the claim slide. The agency responded on social media, writing, “Yes, @kimkardashian, we’ve been to the Moon before… 6 times!”

The Apollo program, which ran from 1961 to 1972, included six successful crewed landings. The first, Apollo 11, took place on July 20, 1969, when Armstrong and Aldrin famously walked on the moon while Michael Collins orbited above.

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, moon landing denial has persisted for decades.

A 2019 YouGov poll found that 10% of Americans either didn’t believe or weren’t sure the moon landing happened. Common claims include suspicions over the waving flag, lack of stars in photos and alleged inconsistencies in shadows, arguments long debunked by experts and NASA.

Khloé added that she doesn’t expect any official acknowledgment from the government.

“Because then if they admit that didn’t happen… I mean, there’s a long list of things you can look into, and some are too scary to talk about publicly because you don’t want anyone getting mad at you,” she said.

In the episode, Kim attempted to convince All’s Fair co-star Sarah Paulson of her theory.

Buzz Aldrin, now 95, has occasionally made ambiguous remarks in interviews that conspiracy theorists have seized on, though he has consistently affirmed that the moon landing was real.

Aldrin’s comments have often been taken out of context or misinterpreted.

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Drake is scrapping traditional album rollouts for his “Iceman” live stream series.

The Grammy-winning rapper ditched the usual album cycle, no teasers, no cover art countdowns, no lead singles, instead opting for cinematic live streams on YouTube that blend unreleased tracks with surreal storytelling.

The first episode, which aired July 4 from an ice warehouse in Toronto, ran nearly an hour and featured Drake dancing through the facility and measuring ice blocks before premiering “What Did I Miss?”

Drake told Complex that the idea for the live-stream format came from his dissatisfaction with the repetitive nature of modern album releases.

“I was asked by a creative partner what I love and hate about rolling out an album,” he said. “I expressed that I love the opportunity for a clean slate of thoughts and excitement and messaging when it comes to the music. What I hate is the redundancy of this formulaic approach that’s engrained in our brains from early label days. Single, video, single, video, album cover post, etc.”

His desire to stretch his creative limits played a significant role in the decision.

“I have been dying to act and have been dying for a challenge,” he said. “The game is extremely calm seas right now. Nobody is rocking any boat on the water and so once we discussed a live stream rollout, it just sounded like the perfect mix of risk and reward for me.”

The streams are ambitious in both scope and production. According to Matte Babel, chief brand officer at DreamCrew and part of Drake’s management team, Episode 3 in Milan required “20 cameras, over 100 crew, over 10 locations.”

Babel also revealed that tight timelines and international travel made it difficult to secure permits, leading to issues mid-shoot.

“We lost a couple cameras mid-shoot because the police were like you can’t shoot here,” he said.

Each episode weaves together narrative threads, including mysterious characters like a Pinocchio-inspired figure, and features cameos from artists like Central Cee and Yeat. The format also allows for real-time audience feedback on unreleased songs.

“It wasn’t something we spoke about, but it’s inherently a byproduct of this idea,” Drake said. “Being outside and getting a chance to interact with fans, and initiate audience participation as well as feedback has been amazing.”

Drake confirmed more episodes are on the way and teased a major finale.

“The finale will be our best work,” he said.

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