President Biden Cringe HBCU Comment During Howard Commencement
President Biden's heart might be in the right place, but his mouth is often somewhere else -- which was seen again Saturday ... this while addressing Howard University graduates.
POTUS was tapped as the key commencement speaker during the college's graduation ceremony this weekend, and there's one remark he made during his speech that's getting a little side-eye ... both due to his delivery and perhaps even his not-so-veiled intention.
Joe was talking about white supremacy, which he says is the most dangerous terroristic threat to America ... and encouraged everyone to stand up against it. Nothing wrong there in and of itself; however ... what he said afterward got some double takes, especially online.
You can tell he went off script a bit when he added ... "And I'm not just saying that because I'm at a Black HBCU. I say (it) wherever I go." There were some chuckles in the crowd.
Of course, HBCU stands for Historically Black College and University ... so there's no need for an extra descriptor to emphasize that it's a Black institution -- it's already in the acronym. On its face, this just a typical and innocent Biden gaffe ... not the end of the world, really.
The bigger issue, it would seem, is the fact that he felt the need to specifically mention he wasn't just saying this because he was at an HBCU, with a predominantly Black student body and faculty. Of course, you could argue that's (probably) exactly why he's mentioning it in this setting ... and that this whole thing comes across as pandering and kinda empty.
BTW, this isn't the first time Biden's put his foot in his mouth when it comes to talking to or about Black people -- there've been several instances over the past few years where he's made some eyebrow-raising remarks... which have all gotten backlash to varying degrees.
The one that comes to mind for many is when he said during a 'Breakfast Club' interview that any Black person who had trouble deciding between him or Donald Trump in the 2020 election ... wasn't Black. Charlamagne tha God pushed back on that and said it had nothing to do with Trump, arguing JB wasn't guaranteed a vote just because he wasn't Trump.
Another one bites the dust.
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Donald Trump Posts Fake Anderson Clip ... Trump Ripped CNN a 'New Ass****!!!'
Donald Trump's piling on CNN in the wake of his town hall by posting a doctored clip of Anderson Cooper saying Trump owned CNN during the event ... but with far more colorful language.
Trump is clearly relishing the fact CNN is getting tons of blowback from the left for giving him a platform -- and he spiked the football with this fake video of Anderson reacting to the end of the town hall. As the crowd roars for Trump, you see Anderson say "That was President Donald J. Trump ripping us a new ass****."
Put politics aside, for just a moment, and the clip is pretty hilarious. However, it's also a stark reminder of just how petty and self-congratulatory Trump can be.
Trump didn't produce the spoof -- it was uploaded by YouTube user, "Borg Clone" -- but the ex-prez clearly endorses the message ... which is that Trump's getting the last laugh on the network that hosted him.
As we reported ... Anderson Cooper, the real one, addressed the backlash against CNN by saying viewers shouldn't wall themselves off from Trump, or any politician, just because they hate their policies or personality.
We're sure Anderson still stands by that, but Trump's sophomoric showboating has gotta make it a little harder.
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Ice Cream Lickers Faked the Whole Thing for Clout Cops Say They Bought The Tub They Licked
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12:20 PM PT -- Tequan Hines took to Instagram and confirmed that both he and Asia did, in fact, buy the ice cream. He showed off the almost empty container to his followers and stated it was all one big prank.
The couple responsible for the ire of millions of people on the internet after they licked a tub of ice cream and seemingly left it on a grocery store shelf faked it all for clout ... TMZ has learned.
A spokesperson for the Virginia State Police tells us they've determined Tequan Hines and his girlfriend, Asia, did in fact purchase the tub of ice cream after they filmed themselves licking it at a local grocery store before placing it back in a freezer.
Of course, this means Tequan only posted the video for views ... and he got just that, after it went viral earlier this week.
The clip, which was first posted to Tequan's Instagram and then deleted, shows Tequan Hines and his gf grab the Blue Bunny ice cream, take a lick and then put it back.
TMZ broke the story, cops in Virginia were made aware of the video by a ton of pissed-off people -- and opened up an investigation into the incident.
As it turns out, no crime was committed ... though we better hope the video didn't serve as some inspiration for any copycats.
Originally Published -- 10:22 AM PT
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Licking Ice Cream Cops Investigating Nasty Couple ... As Lick & Dash Vid Goes Viral
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Important warning for all Internet pranksters -- licking ice cream and putting it back in a grocery store freezer can have serious consequences, as cops are now investigating a recent viral clip showing just that.
A spokesperson for the Portsmouth Police Department in Virginia tells us a ton of pissed-off people recently made them aware of the video of Tequan Hines and his gf, Asia, grabbing a quart of Blue Bunny ice cream and licking it.
The rep says cops are currently investigating the video to figure out which store the incident might have occurred at, adding, "Thus far no business has come forward as a victim in our jurisdiction."
However, the consensus online is Hines and Asia live in the Portsmouth area ... as indicated in their social media profiles.
As we reported, the video -- first posted and then deleted by Tequan -- blew up on social media, with many calling for the pair to be arrested and charged for the disgusting act.
It's still unclear as to whether or not Tequan and Asia eventually paid for the ice cream, but they clearly felt the heat online ... deleting their original posting.
BTW ... if the couple ends up getting in trouble, they wouldn't be the first.
Back in 2020, D’Adrien L’Quinn Anderson pled guilty to criminal mischief for licking some Blue Bell ice cream and was sentenced to 30 days behind bars.
Do dumb s***, win dumb prizes.
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Phoenix Mercury Wyclef Performing At Griner's First Home Game Since Release From Russia
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Brittney Griner's just days away from returning to the WNBA court -- and anticipation is at an all-time high for Mercury fans -- but the pot is about to get a little sweeter ... 3x Grammy winner Wyclef Jean will be performing a special halftime show in honor of BG's homecoming!
TMZ Sports has learned the Phoenix Mercury have teamed up with The Sum, a new music platform from Anagram Studios, to bring in Jean to perform during their May 21 game against the Chicago Sky at the Footprint Center to celebrate Griner's return on what will be her first home game since the Russia ordeal.
We're told one of the songs Wyclef will sing is Bob Marley’s iconic hit, “One Love” ... where Jean will be joined by 200 fans who will be selected to perform live with the 53-year-old musician.
He will also put on a postgame concert.
Of course, it'll be a party when the star center hits the hardwood in front of hometown Mercury fans this season ... after missing all of last season while she was detained.
The 32-year-old endured nine months in a Russian jail cell/prison camp, before coming home in December thanks to a prisoner swap. There was initially doubt Griner would ever hoop again, but she quickly put that sentiment to bed ... announcing she was coming back.
The WNBA champ ultimately signed a 1-year deal with the Mercury in February ... and said she can't wait to play this upcoming season.
"Look forward to all those moments. Just waking in on the first home game, the grind, the sweat, the blood," Griner said during last month's press conference. "Just taking all that in. I missed it."
And, it's not just BG who's pumped ... Mercury president Vince Kozar can't wait for their home opener!
“May 21 is going to be an unforgettable experience for our fans and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to have an award-winning artist the caliber of Wyclef Jean join us in celebrating BG’s return and a new Mercury season,” Kozar told us.
“We’re so grateful for the partnership with The Sum and excited for how their show will elevate our in-arena experience.”
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Licking Ice Cream Couple Dragged For In-Store Shenanigans ... Keep That Trend Dead!!!
Two ice-cold lovebirds are currently getting dragged through the mud after bringing back an infamous and dangerous social media trend that left a bad taste in people's mouths.
Here's the deal -- content creator Tequan Hines recently uploaded a clip of himself and his boo, Asia, sticking their tongues deep in a carton of ice cream in a grocery store before putting it back and fleeing.
They've since taken the video down, but you know how the Internet works ... it's been recirculating online, including on Reddit, where folks are laying into the couple.
Angry commenters are all singing the same tune, more or less -- "A**holes like this should go to jail," and "Looks like they are also pretty proud of their act. F***ing idiots" ... were just a few expressing outrage.
One even wrote, "I'm so glad these people had the intelligence to film and upload themselves to the internet for the benefit of law enforcement."
If it rings a bell, that's because the same thing was going down in the summer of 2019 -- when people were seeking social media clout by licking ice cream out of containers and putting them back on the shelves.
Those looking for quick fame didn't get a happy ending at the time, BTW -- some got arrested and charged, like D’Adrien L’Quinn Anderson ... who pled guilty in 2020 to criminal mischief for licking some Blue Bell ice cream and was forced to do 30 days behind bars.
He also had to cough up more than $2,500 with more than half going to Blue Bell for restitutions. Needless to say, in the wake of the covid pandemic, this is one trend that should've stayed frozen.
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Ryan Reynolds 'Jury Duty' Star in New Mint Mobile Ad ... You Can Trust Me, Ron!!!
Ryan Reynolds is back with another timely ad for his cell phone company -- this time, he's recruited a guy who's recently famous for getting duped ... only now, he's in on the joke.
Of course, we're talking about Ronald Gladden, who's the star and main subject on the hit Amazon Freevee show "Jury Duty" -- which is basically the modern-day 'Joe Schmo Show' ... where one person thinks they're part of something real, and everyone else is an actor.
Ron has become an internet sensation since the series premiered last month, and now his new gig is starring in Ryan's latest Mint Mobile commercial -- which is awesome.
Watch ... RR starts by plugging all of Mint's services and features -- like the fact it's still $15/month -- which then prompts him to ask Ron if he can believe it. The guy walks into frame and responds, "No, this doesn't seem real" ... referring to the big "Jury Duty" reveal.
The 2 guys banter back and forth for a bit, before Ron says he has trust issues since he's been "through some s***" -- again, he's talking about his 'Truman Show'-esque time on the show. Ryan comes over and hugs him, saying he can trust him ... 'cause he's an actor. 😅
It's pretty funny, and just a testament to Reynolds having his finger on the pulse of pop culture. You might recall his Peloton ad, which also came out on the heels of big news.
Anyway, more good news for Ron ... the guy's been signed to a talent agency in the wake of his 'Jury' fame. Artists First -- which also reps Awkwafina, Minka Kelly and others -- snatched him up, and is now looking to get him more work.
As it turns out, nice guys do finish first!
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Mark Zuckerberg Kicks Ass In Jiu JItsu Tournament Wins Gold, Silver Medals!!
Mark Zuckerberg's putting his martial arts training to good use -- the Facebook founder won gold and silver medals at a local jiu-jitsu tourney in Northern California ... his first time competing!
38-year-old Zuckerberg kicked ass at a tourney on Saturday in Redwood City, CA -- about 10 miles from Palo Alto -- where he put his new skills on display, competing in both Gi (jacket) and no Gi.
It's super impressive for a guy who has only been training for a short amount of time. In fact, Zuckerberg told Joe Rogan last year that he began practicing martial arts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite Mark winning most of his matches, the day wasn't without controversy. During one fight, Zuckerberg became visibly upset with a ref. It's unclear why Zuck was upset, but after a short, but rather heated convo with the official and his opponent, everyone shook hands.
But, all in all ... Zuck was awesome.
And, some of the biggest stars in MMA congratulated him on the medals ... with guys like Israel Adesanya, Brandon Moreno, and Alex Volkanovski heaping praise on the billionaire.
"Wow congrats 👏👏," Moreno, the UFC flyweight champ wrote.
Volk, the UFC featherweight champ commented ... "Legend! Love the shorts mate"
"When the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world gives you shorts, you wear them" ... Zuckerberg responded to Alex.
Somebody call Dana White ... let's get this guy a contract!
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Detroit Metro Airport TSA Worker Suspended ... After Yanking Dog Around, Caught on Video
A Detroit TSA worker has been benched after a video of him yanking his dog around went viral ... and yeah, it's as bad as it sounds.
The unidentified canine handler can be seen walking back and forth at Detroit Metro Airport as people shuffle past him and his dog ... which he has on a tight leash, quite literally. This dude is doing what a lot of TSA people do in this situation with dogs on the job -- attempting to sniff out and detect drugs, explosives or anything else that shouldn't be at a federal facility.
Of course, the problem here is that the guy is jerking his partner around to the point it feels jarring and aggressive -- and you feel for the pup.
People saw this clip and were outraged -- demanding the guy be taken to task and removed from his gig. Well, that's exactly what's happened ... however, he's not been fired, at least not yet. The airport's TSA brass says they're suspending him for now.
The agency gave its take ... "The behavior displayed by this handler is unacceptable and not within the high standards we hold our officers to." They add, "TSA officials at DTW have removed the employee from handling duties pending completion of an investigation, and directed that the canine be taken immediately to a veterinarian for a wellness exam."
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Ginuwine At 'Lovers & Friends' Slips & Trips Offstage ... Nearly Takes Sign Interpreter Down With Him
Ginuwine can't hop on the pony like he used to ... the R&B vet took a pretty nasty tumble while performing at 'Lovers & Friends' this past weekend!!!
It appears Ginuwine was attempting to get closer to his adoring fans while performing his classic love ballad "In Those Jeans."
Ginuwine attempted to jump between the stage and a platform but completely underestimated the distance and completely flopped off the stage ... and almost pulled the sign language interpreter down in the process.
The scene is pretty comical, all things considered. As the stage personnel and the cameraman rushed to G's side, the song kept playing across the speakers and the interpreter kept doing his job.
They say the show must go on -- which is exactly what Ginuwine told his fans following the show ... as he poked fun at himself by singing Donnie McClurkin's "We Fall Down."
He didn't miss a beat but there's only so long your body can take a beating like this, G!!!
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'Jerry Springer' Popularity Explodes On Streamers ... After Surprising Death
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Jerry Springer's sudden and surprising death resulted in a renewed interest in his iconic daytime talk show ... and a tribute marathon did huge numbers.
Honchos at Pluto TV tell TMZ ... Nosey, a Pluto TV channel where folks can watch Jerry's show, ran a bunch of episodes after his death and there was so much interest, viewership across the streaming platform doubled.
Pluto TV says tens of thousands of folks tuned in to watch the drama unfold on reruns of "The Jerry Springer Show" ... with folks spending 33% percent more time on the app than usual.
As you know ... Jerry's syndicated talk show aired for 27 seasons, racking up nearly 5,000 episodes from 1991 to 2018 and making him one of daytime TV's most recognizable figures.
Jerry died April 27 as a result of pancreatic cancer ... a diagnosis many of his closest friends in Hollywood didn't even know he was struggling with.
In the wake of his death, the internet came alive with posts from fans sharing their favorite Jerry Springer moments, many of whom said they were planning to rewatch their favorite episodes ... and it seems lots of folks found their fix on Pluto TV.
"Jerry, Jerry, Jerry."
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Allen, Texas Active Shooter at Outlet Mall ... Gunfire Heard on Video
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4:29 PM PT -- New dashcam footage appears to show the moment the gunman started firing off shots at shoppers -- and it looks like he just pulled up, hopped out and started in on a rampage.
🚨#BREAKING: New Dash Cam Footage Captures the Start of Active Shooter's Deadly Rampage killing multiple bystanders
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 6, 2023 @rawsalerts
📌#Allen | #Texas
Newly obtained, dash cam footage captures the moment when an active shooter emerged from their vehicle outside the H&M store in the Allen… pic.twitter.com/CyltHimn4N
The video is chilling. You also seem to see another car pull up right next to it -- although it's unclear if that someone trying to intervene, or another bad actor in this tagedy.
In any case, authorities are now saying the shooter is dead. An official body count hasn't been released.
An active shooter has been reported at an outdoor mall in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX area -- and videos are starting to surface showing the fear and chaos as people run for their lives.
Police said Saturday that they're responding to reports of someone opening fire at the Allen Premium Outlets, and are warning to public to steer clear of this area ... as the situation is fluid. First responders could be seen rushing to the scene and evacuating patrons.
🚨BREAKING: Active shooter currently at Allen Premium Outlet Mall in Allen, Texas. Several injuries being reported.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 6, 2023 @MarioNawfal
Unconfirmed reports suggest at least 5 people are down; no word on gunman.
This is an evolving story. Will update below. pic.twitter.com/xLVvvdQXoD
Clips have made the rounds on Twitter, which show tons of bystanders booking it toward the parking lot and out of buildings -- this while multiple gunshots are heard being fired off.
As of now, there've been no confirmed reports about injuries and/or fatalities from the authorities -- but some preliminary info that's starting to circulate suggests there may be as many as five victims so far. The Allen Premium Outlets is currently on lockdown.
#Breaking Allen, Texas Allen Premium Outlets shopping center pic.twitter.com/COdo43NKlw
— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) May 6, 2023 @jdmiles11
Other video shows swarms of shoppers -- including families and children, all of whom are panicked -- forming lines as they trickle into the open area away from the shops.
One video in particular -- which is incredibly graphic -- is making the rounds and appears to show footage taken from a news helicopter that's on the scene -- which seems to show a string of bodies covered in tarps on the ground ... with blood seeping out.
GRAPHIC VIDEO: A Fox news chopper captured images from the scene of the mall shooting in Allen, Texas. #activeshooter Follow @Mighty990KWAM for breaking news updates. pic.twitter.com/6Mb3fEyOW6
— KWAM NewsTalk Memphis (@Mighty990KWAM) May 6, 2023 @Mighty990KWAM
It's unclear if the shooter is still at large, or if the scene is still active at this point. All Allen PD has said thus far is that they're there and dealing with it.
Originally Published -- 3:35 PM PT
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Travis Barker's Daughter Drags Critics Over Her Makeup ... I Look Better Than You!!!
Alabama Barker has no problem giving social media trolls a piece of her mind ... firing back at folks, especially older ones, who have something to say about her wearing a ton of makeup.
The 17-year-old daughter of Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler clapped back at her haters via TikTok ... after some people online shamed her for looking too grown for her age, specifically calling out her wardrobe and makeup.
Alabama posted a video with a full-beat face, lip-synching to the viral audio clip ... "I'd tell you what you look like but you won’t like it." Her caption read, "When Kathryn with 3 kids only waterline liner, 4 different colored blonde & Tom shoes, talk about my makeup or my age."
Of course, her TikTok only fueled more criticism in the comments ... things like, "I think people are just concerned about the over sexualization of youth in Hollywood/LA culture."
Alabama's response ... "Well I'm doing great thank u."
As you know, The Blink-182 drummer got married to Kourtney Kardashian last year and they've always publicly supported Alabama. Perhaps her stepmom's advising her on tuning out any negativity from critics.
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Jimmy Fallon & Seth Meyers Extend Pay for Late Night Staff ... Amid Writers' Strike
Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers' late night talk employees won't be left high and dry during the writers' strike -- as one of Jimmy's staffers claimed -- as the network will cover their pay ... for the time being, at least.
NBC will now be paying staffers through the end of next week -- 1 more than originally reported. Both talk show hosts will be footing the bill one week further, too.
Employees for both shows will also reportedly have their healthcare benefits extended through September ... and the additional payout from Seth and Jimmy is similar to what they did for their workers during the pandemic. Deadline first reported the big development at NBC.
As we reported, Jimmy caught some flak Tuesday after tweets from 'Tonight Show' staffer Sarah Kobos went viral ... as she claimed Jimmy "wasn't even at the meeting this morning to tell us we won't get paid after this week."
Last night a lot of A-list celebs were asked if they support the writers' strike.
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) May 2, 2023 @MorePerfectUS
Jimmy Fallon said, "I wouldn't have a show if it wasn't for my writers, I support them all the way."
Who else supports the strike? Thread. pic.twitter.com/EjlRWiRXd3
Sarah said she was irked by a Met Gala interview where Jimmy said he fully supported his striking writers.
While NBC's move to extend pay will quiet some of the anger, for now ... but expect more tension the longer the strike continues, especially because it's not only writers impacted by the work stoppage.
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Oh, Canada Penis-Shaped Iceberg Spotted Off the Coast of Dildo!!!
A Canadian photog saw something that was, quite literally, rock hard out in the wild -- which had no problem standing up to the cold, frigid weather ... despite conventional wisdom.
Of course, we're talking about icebergs -- specifically, one a dude named Ken Pretty recently spotted with his drone off the coast of Harbour Grace in Newfoundland ... which was undoubtedly shaped like an erect penis. Indeed, the pics speak for themselves here, folks.
Take a look for yourself ... you can see the giant phallic formation hanging out, seemingly broken off from an even larger glacier that's floating in the ice water right next to it.
BTW, it's not just the upright part catching people's eye -- there's spare parts at the bottom that bring this scene into clearer view -- the whole package, if you will. The strangest part, though, is that Pretty hails from an even more telling place ... the town of Dildo!
It's almost as if he was destined to find this thing and tell the others about it, which he did.
KP told the Guardian, "Looking from the land, it wasn’t quite clear. But, once I got the drone out there, it was unreal how much it looked like – well, you know…" He went on to say people who saw it online afterward thought it was fake -- but he insists it's the real McCoy.
Unfortunately for Mother Nature's penile work of art ... its head reportedly fell off after the photos were taken. So, in other words -- it appears to have lost its tip to frostbite. Bummer.
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The Kazoo Kid 'Memba Him?!
Child actor Brett Ambler, aka The Kazoo Kid, was only 5 years old when he starred in the kazoo sing-along/play-along video -- which featured a young boy (Brett) playing the kazoo to his audience, later giving him the confidence to play, sing and dance with the other kids -- back in 1989.
After being uploaded to YouTube in 2011 ... the classic video resurfaced and several techno remixes were shared to SoundCloud, increasing Brett's popularity. The sing-along also brought in a couple million views on Facebook, and The Kazoo Kid's meme went viral!
"And you too can kazoo!"