Michael Ward appeared in a London courtroom on Friday, where his legal team announced plans to seek dismissal of multiple sexual assault charges stemming from an alleged 2023 incident.
The 27-year-old actor, known for his role as Jamie in the Netflix drama Top Boy, faces five charges, including two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault. The allegations involve one woman and date back to January 2023.
Ward’s attorney made the unexpected request during what was originally scheduled as a plea and trial preparation hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court. The court agreed to set a dismissal hearing for December 5.
The BAFTA-winning performer was first charged in July and granted bail after appearing at Thames Magistrates’ Court on August 28. He was released under the condition that he not contact the alleged victim.
Following the announcement of the charges, Ward issued a public statement maintaining his innocence.
“I deny the charges against me entirely. I have cooperated fully with the police throughout their investigation and will continue to cooperate,” he said. “I recognise that proceedings are now ongoing, and I have full faith that they will lead to my name being cleared. Given those proceedings, I am unable to comment further.”
Ward confirmed his identity during the brief August hearing, stating his full name, date of birth and address. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for December 5 at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Summer Walker dropped a surprise announcement with a polygraph twist to confirm the release date of her third studio album, Finally Over It, arriving November 14 via LVRN/Interscope Records.
The Atlanta singer revealed the news through a six-minute YouTube video, where she answered a string of yes-or-no questions while hooked up to a lie detector. The unconventional rollout not only confirmed the date but also closed the loop on her Over It trilogy, which began in 2019.
“Finally Over It” lands four years after her sophomore effort Still Over It, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in November 2021. That album moved 166,000 equivalent units in its first week, making it the first R&B album by a woman to top the chart in over five years, according to Billboard.
Her 2019 debut Over It also made waves, topping the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and helping cement her as a major voice in modern R&B. Critics praised her raw lyrics and vocal delivery, which resonated with listeners navigating love, heartbreak and healing.
The decision to announce the album through a lie detector test reflects Walker’s flair for nontraditional marketing. The video, which has already sparked conversation online, adds a layer of humor and honesty to a rollout that could have easily been a standard press release.
Walker has kept a relatively low profile in recent months, making this announcement a major moment for those who’ve been waiting for her next move. With Finally Over It marking the end of a trilogy, the project is expected to tie together the emotional threads she’s explored since her debut.
The album’s mid-November release date positions it in the thick of the fourth-quarter music rush, a period often reserved for high-stakes drops and Grammy hopefuls.
Snoop Dogg launched a colorful new chapter in his children’s series Doggyland by teaming up with GLAAD and former The Voice finalist Jeremy Beloate for Spirit Day, just two months after his remarks about Disney’s Lightyear stirred backlash.
The Hip-Hop icon joined forces with Beloate—an openly LGBTQ singer he mentored on NBC’s singing competition—to debut a new song titled “Love is Love,” which promotes acceptance and celebrates diverse families.
“I think that’s why we’re able to take our platforms and do the things that unite people, because by seeing us together, it just shows that beautiful people are beautiful people,” Snoop Dogg said about the project. “You don’t have to put us in a box and think that I’m only supposed to hang with these type of people and you’re only supposed to hang with those type of people. People are people, and one thing I love about music is the universal language of all people.”
The track is featured in a fresh Doggyland episode where Beloate voices a puppy named Zippy, who performs the inclusive anthem alongside Snoop’s character, Bow Wizzle.
The animated episode includes scenes of same-sex parents with their children, reinforcing the message of love and unity. The lyrics echo that theme: “Our parents are different. No two are the same, but the one thing that’s for certain is the love won’t change.”
During a conversation with Beloate, Snoop reflected on the purpose of the project.
“It’s teaching parenthood. It’s teaching situations that kids in the world is going through right now in a beautiful way through song, dance, melody, just trying to get more clarity on how we live and the way we live,” he said. “And I felt like this music is a beautiful bridge to bringing understanding.”
He added, “It’s a beautiful thing that kids can have parents of all walks and be able to be shown love, to be taught what love is, because hate is taught and so is love. And I think that being able to have parents of all walks of life, whether it’s two fathers, two mothers, whatever it is, love is the key. And I think these kids are being loved by these great parents that are, you know, showing them an example of what family is.”
The collaboration arrives after Snoop’s appearance on the It’s Giving podcast, where he recounted taking his grandchildren to see Lightyear, which includes a brief scene of a same-sex couple. His grandson’s questions about the characters’ family structure left him at a loss.
“They’re like, ‘She had a baby with another woman,’” Snoop recalled. “Well, my grandson, in the middle of the movie, is like, ‘Papa Snoop? How she have a baby with a woman? She’s a woman! He admitted, “It f##### me up. I’m like, scared to go to the movies now. Y’all throwing me in the middle of s### that I don’t have an answer for.”
Following the backlash, a statement circulated online that appeared to be from Snoop, reading, “All my gay friends [know] what’s up, they been calling me with love. My bad for not knowing the answers for a 6-year-old. Teach me how to learn. I’m not perfect.”
However, his team later said the post was not official.
Beloate, who recently signed with Snoop’s Death Row Records, also released his debut single “Show Me (How Fast You Can Break My Heart),” produced by Matias Mora. On Instagram, he credited Snoop for giving him the space to explore his artistry.
“With the support of Snoop Dogg and after signing to Death Row Records, I’ve had the space to really discover what feels honest and true to me,” he wrote.
Spirit Day, celebrated annually on October 16, encourages public figures and organizations to wear purple in solidarity with LGBTQ youth and to speak out against bullying.
Snoop participated by wearing purple and using his platform to promote understanding.
HoodTrophy Bino pulled the plug on his affair with Chrisean Rock after she refused to cover up that giant Blueface tat on her face—and he aired it all out on livestream like it was nothing.
The Los Angeles rapper, who started dating Rock back in August 2024, hopped on social media and made it real clear why he bounced: “If she can’t cover the s### up, then I’m gone. I don’t wanna look at a n####. I don’t wanna look at another n#### bro… It ain’t get covered up. The b#### don’t wanna cover it up, so I had to go.”
Yikes.
Bino didn’t hold back about how much he was into her, either, saying he loved Chrisean, but Blueface on her face just wasn’t working.
“I ain’t gonna lie, I was really in love,” he said. “I had to snap out of it because I was so f##### up, I was gonna crash out. If I ain’t snap out of it, she was gonna break my heart.”
Chrisean Rock and Bino first went public a few months ago, right around when Blueface started his four-year bid for violating probation on a 2021 assault case. She and Blue have had a chaotic back-and-forth for years and even have a kid together, born in 2023.
Now Blueface might be coming home soon.
His mom, Karlissa Saffold, said he’s “only days away from release.”
According to her, “He’s doing well, he’s doing his push-ups and sit-ups and preparing to come home. I get to talk to him couple times a week, he talks to the kids. He’s excited about coming home and getting to work and being a dad.”
That face tat has been a problem for a while. Earlier this year, Chrisean Rock hinted she might get it removed—maybe even move on from Blueface for good.
Clearly, that plan didn’t last long, and now she’s single again.
Angel Reese turned the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show into a moment for the record books Wednesday night (October 15) in Brooklyn as she became the first professional athlete to walk the brand’s iconic runway while Missy Elliott closed the night with a high-octane performance of her biggest hits.
The 23-year-old Chicago Sky forward strutted through Steiner Studios in two head-turning pink looks, marking a major crossover from hardwood to high fashion.
Her debut included a white lingerie set adorned with pink roses and a dramatic rose-covered shawl. For her second walk, she wore silver-and-white wings, a glittery pink cutout tee, and strappy heels.
“I literally could not stop smiling!” Reese said when she got the call for the show. “It’s such a surreal and full-circle moment — just last year I was in the audience manifesting being on that runway.”
Her confidence on the catwalk mirrored her dominance on the court. Drafted by Chicago in 2024, the LSU alum quickly made headlines as the fastest player in WNBA history to notch 500 points and 500 rebounds. She earned back-to-back All-Star nods and was named the Sky’s 2024 Player of the Year.
“I hope I can inspire women and girls everywhere,” Reese said. “We can dominate in our field but also chase our goals outside of it.”
Meanwhile, Missy Elliott capped off the night with a crowd-thumping set featuring “Minute Man,” “Get Ur Freak On,” “Work It” and “Lose Control.” Dressed in a sparkling outfit with platform boots and sculptural hair knots, the Hip-Hop legend brought her signature flair to the stage while models danced behind the scenes.
Booba was taken into custody on Wednesday in Paris after rival rapper Gims filed a police complaint accusing the outspoken rapper of harassment and online abuse.
The artist was detained and questioned by authorities over claims of psychological harassment and cyberbullying made by Gims and his wife, Demdem, over his song “Dolce Camara.”
The complaint is tied to their long-running public feud, which has played out across social media and in the press.
The arrest marks another legal hurdle for Booba, who has previously been indicted in a separate harassment case involving Magali Berdah, a well-known figure in French reality television.
His aggressive online persona and public clashes have made him a controversial figure in the French Hip-Hop scene.
Gims, a chart-topping artist with a massive following in the Francophone world, has largely avoided public spats but took legal action this time. The rivalry between the two rappers has simmered for years, fueled by insults, diss tracks and social media jabs.
According to French media outlet Le Parisien, legal proceedings are expected to move forward in the coming days.
Cam’ron addressed Dame Dash and the fallout from their tangled feud involving 50 Cent, saying the Roc-A-Fella co-founder dragged him into a mess that wasn’t his to begin with.
In a recent episode of his YouTube series “Talk With Flee,” the Harlem rapper responded to Dash’s public apology and explained why he’s not rushing to forgive.
Cam’ron said he felt manipulated by Dash during Dash’s issues with 50 Cent, which escalated after Cam’ron started working with 50 on a Paid In Full adaptation.
“This whole s### started with Dame and 50,” Cam’ron said. “And then used me, talking about Dame, as a pawn, how I felt about it, to combat with 50, and I’m catching strays. Then I catch a stray, I can’t spin off and shoot back or nothing.”
When asked whether he accepted Dash’s apology, Cam’ron replied, “You don’t know who to trust out here. You don’t know how a n#### feeling today and how they gonna feel tomorrow. Man, that’s all I can say.”
He added, “I know one thing, I spoke to 50. Me and 50 straight, and we on the same page.”
The tension between Cam’ron and Dash reignited after Dash mocked Cam’s collaboration with 50 Cent, calling the G-Unit mogul his “new boss.”
Cam’ron fired back with personal jabs at Dash’s finances and appearance. The situation worsened when Dash filed a $300 million lawsuit against Cam’ron, claiming defamation and emotional distress.
“I ain’t got nothing else to say about it,” Cam’ron continued. “I thought we were snapping. And it just got really, really deep. I ain’t know it was lawyer deep off snapping. I know it got a little personal for him. But you know he got personal, too.”
Damon Dash Extends Olive Brach To Cam’ron & 50 Cent
Back in September, Dash attempted to make peace with both Cam’ron and 50 Cent.
Initially, 50 appeared open to the idea, posting on Instagram, “I agree with Dame [100] percent it’s better to work together.” But that changed quickly.
“oh wait. CAM just said f### Dame and his fake chat GPT law suit. so it’s f### you Dame,” 50 Cent wrote in a follow-up post.
Yandy Smith-Harris spotlighted domestic violence awareness and survivor empowerment during a recent PIX11 News segment with fellow Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta castmate Karlie Redd, using their television platform to push for visibility and resources during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Appearing on PIX11’sNew York Living on October 16, 2025, the two reality stars spoke openly about their advocacy work and the importance of community support for survivors.
Smith-Harris, the founder of the Big Heart Foundation and Karlie Redd used the opportunity to promote their organization’s Courageous Awards, which honor individuals who have endured and overcome domestic abuse.
The Courageous Awards ceremony, hosted by the Big Heart Foundation, takes place at Atlanta City Hall on October 22, 2025, from 7 P.M. to 9 P.M. The event recognizes survivors and provides a platform for stories of resilience during a month dedicated to raising awareness about domestic abuse.
“A lot of times, people just don’t have the resources, and they just don’t know. So we felt like with our platforms, we can really spread the word. And we didn’t just want to spread the word. We also wanted to honor the people that are really out there doing the work, because they are really doing the work every day, all day. And with this award, we hope that we bring awareness to these organizations, and we honor the survivors that have used their platform and their stories to help other people,” Smith-Harris said.
Karlie Redd joined Smith-Harris on the PIX11 broadcast to help amplify the message, stressing the importance of connecting survivors with support systems and resources.
“My husband got arrested for domestic violence and it went viral,” Karlie Redd said. “A lot of people were reaching out to me in my DMs, and one particular situation that resonates with me, which made me think about the Courageous Awards and coming to Yandy about it.
“A young lady reached out to me and she was just so lonely and she was going through it and I said, go get a hotel, get away, you know, and she did. And then I just didn’t hear from her anymore. I mean, we were talking every day. And I said, okay, well, maybe she’s okay. Her family reached out and said her music killed her, and that they saw the DMs, and they were happy that she had someone to talk to. And from then on, I said, you know what? This is something personal for me.” Karlie Redd revealed.
Both women have used their visibility on VH1’s Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta to advocate for social issues beyond the screen.
With over 4 million Instagram followers, Smith-Harris has built an extensive digital following that she frequently mobilizes for causes tied to justice and community upliftment.
Karlie Redd, also a longtime cast member, has similarly leaned into advocacy work, using her platform to support initiatives that affect women and marginalized groups.
D’Angelo, the elusive R&B virtuoso behind Brown Sugar and Voodoo, died at 51 after a private and extended fight with cancer, his family confirmed Tuesday.
“Dear daddy, there are no words to describe this immeasurable loss,” she wrote.
“I’m in absolute disbelief and shock. you were my biggest hype man my protector my biggest musical inspiration the kindest and most selfless man and the best father anyone could’ve ever had.”
The 26-year-old described her father as a constant source of strength and comfort, especially in his final days.
“No one will EVER measure up to how brave and strong you are. Till the very end, you made sure to protect me from anything that would scare or hurt me. I love you so much, Daddy.”
D’Angelo kept his health battle out of the public eye, choosing to face the illness quietly. The news of his death came as a surprise to many, including those closest to him.
Imani reflected on the time she wished she still had with her father.
“For you to show me new music, play piano with me to our favorite songs, or to go back and forward about our favorite go to meals,” she wrote. “You’re a one of a kind soul, and I’m so grateful you chose me to be your daughter.”
She added, “I’m not sure how I’ll be able to live on without you, but I’ll never forget all of your advice and things you’ve told me on how to get through this life. Dad…I miss you more than life and this is breaking my heart into a million pieces.”
Imani ended her tribute with a promise to honor his legacy. “Everything I do will always be for you. I’m gonna miss you and hearing your voice every single day. I’ll always be your BabyGirl.”
D’Angelo is survived by his three children: Michael, Imani and Morocco.
Kim Kardashian revealed that her four children haven’t heard from Kanye West in months. She continues to raise them on her own while navigating a strained co-parenting dynamic.
During her conversation with Call Her Daddy podcast host Alex Cooper, the SKIMS founder opened up about the emotional toll of managing full-time parenting while still trying to maintain a connection between their kids — North, 11, Saint, 8, Chicago, 6, and Psalm, 5 — and their father.
“It’s not easy,” Kardashian said. “I mean, I raise the kids full-time. They live with me. I welcome a great, healthy relationship with my kids and their dad. He knows that. I push for it all the time, but I also protect them when it’s time for that and it goes in waves and phases.”
When asked how often West reaches out to the children, Kardashian didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Whenever he’ll call for them and ask. It’s probably been a couple months since we’ve heard from him,” she said.
Kardashian also addressed public speculation that she blocks West from seeing their children, pushing back on that narrative.
“There’s been so many times I just want to show all these texts, like what are you talking about?” she said. “I will always let them see their father… I send them to Saudi Arabia, Italy, Japan and I’ve never once denied it.”
She also reflected on her bond with her late father, Robert Kardashian, and how it shapes her approach to co-parenting.
“I have the best memories and the best relationship with my dad,” she said. “So I just welcome healthy relationships, but it’s not easy.”
The former couple finalized their divorce in 2022, with a custody agreement that includes joint legal and physical custody. West, however, is required to pay $200,000 per month in child support.
Earlier this year, West claimed on social media that he hadn’t seen their son Saint, which added to the ongoing tension between the two. However, Kardashian’s recent comments suggest she’s made repeated efforts to keep the lines of communication open.
