Former tennis pro James Blake is demanding an apology from the NYPD after an officer slammed him to the ground outside of a New York City hotel yesterday afternoon. A plainclothes police officer approached Blake because he reportedly fit the description of a man wanted for credit card fraud. Blake said that he was cooperating when the officer suddenly tackled him to the ground and handcuffed him. The encounter was captured on video, and the officer involved is currently on desk duty. [The New York Times]
Earlier this year, supermodel Beverly Johnson came forward accusing Bill Cosby of assaulting her in the 1980s. Now, Johnson is speaking out and telling the actor-comedian that she forgives him. Johnson appeared on Good Morning America yesterday, where she said that she hopes that the accusations against Cosby can spark a nationwide conversation. “I just feel that he’s a lightning rod for a much bigger conversation, and that conversation would be the rape culture in America,” she said. [People]
Janet Jackson is one busy lady. The “No Sleeep” singer has extended the dates of the North American leg of her world tour, adding a whopping 23 dates to her already overflowing tour. Now, fans from Connecticut to Texas to California—and everywhere in between—has the chance to see Miss Jackson live. [Access Hollywood]
Nick Gordon, the boyfriend of the late Bobbi Kristina Brown, has filed a motion requesting that a judge dismiss the wrongful death charges that Brown’s estate filed against him. According to the lawsuit, Gordon was abusive toward Brown and had supplied her with a mixture of alcohol and drugs that led to her fatal January accident that left her brain dead. Gordon’s lawyers are denying the claims. [ABC News]
It looks like the Toronto Film Festival won’t be getting a taste of the Queen of Soul this year. Aretha Franklin’s documentary, Amazing Grace, was slated to be screened at the film festival, but Franklin and the film’s producers legally prohibited the screening, claiming that the director, who died in 2008, didn’t want the film to be used for commercial purposes. Gotta r-e-s-p-e-c-t that. [Variety]
Could this be the end of the line for Nicki Minaj’s wax figure? All signs seem to point to yes. Nicki’s wax figure, which was unveiled at the Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas last month, and its provocative “Anaconda” pose has been the cause of controversy (and controversial pictures) for weeks, and now, it looks like the museum might be removing the statue for good. But no worries: There’s a good chance that the museum will replace it with a more appropriate Nicki pose. [International Business Times]
The Wal-Mart driver responsible for the car crash that left Tracy Morgan seriously injured and comedian James McNair dead is filing to have all charges against him dropped. Investigators found that the driver, Kevin Roper, had been awake for 28 hours leading up to the crash. However, Roper is asking that a judge drop the assault by auto and death by auto charges, claiming that he won’t be entitled to a fair trial given the media attention surrounding the accident. [The Wrap]
Bruno Mars heated up the Superbowl halftime stage in 2014, and he could be heating it up once again. Superbowl officials have reportedly asked the “Uptown Funk” singer to “curate” the Super Bowl 50 halftime show. He’s sure to put on (another) hot show. Don’t believe him? Just watch! [Entertainment Weekly]
