Drake is preparing for another round in his legal fight with Universal Music Group. This sets the stage for a case that continues to draw wide industry attention. After his defamation lawsuit was dismissed in early October, the Toronto rapper moved quickly to appeal. This signals that the battle is far from over. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has now placed both sides on the calendar for a mediation session. It is scheduled on December 19 at 10:30 a.m. ET. Chief Circuit Mediator Kathleen M. Scanlon will lead the discussion by phone, according to reports. The session is expected to give both Drake and UMG a chance to lay out their positions. They will gauge the strength of their competing claims and determine if there is room for a negotiated resolution. Drake’s legal push dates back to a lawsuit he filed in January. It quickly attracted headlines because of the explosive allegations at its center. The case rested on what Judge Jeannette Vargas called a “hefty” accusation against the rapper. However, she ultimately concluded the claim could not reasonably be taken as fact. “Although the accusation is serious,” she wrote, “the nature of a rap battle—often characterized by incendiary remarks—means that audiences do not expect to receive factual assertions.” UMG Shifts Focus Ahead of Drake Mediation UMG welcomed the dismissal and framed Drake’s original filing as an unnecessary attack on creative expression. The company has said it is eager to move past the dispute. It wants to return its attention to Drake’s music and ongoing projects. What happens on December 19 could shape the trajectory of this conflict for months, if not years. A mediation that breaks in UMG’s favor may place added pressure on Drake. He continues to defend his position publicly and legally. With both sides preparing for a pivotal discussion, the outcome is likely to echo far beyond the courtroom.

During a recent X Spaces, Cardi B made startling allegations against her estranged husband, Offset. “I can’t take it anymore,” she said. Cardi claims Offset’s continued harassment of her has become more “concerning.” While she didn’t call him out by name, it’s very apparent she is taking shots at the “Bodies” rapper. “Sometimes I sleep and I wonder— yo, this is not normal,” Cardi said. “You see crime documentaries, you see sh*t on f*cking social media about women getting killed every other day.” The rapper said that while she might be a “tough b*tch,” there’s not much you can do when someone has an “unhealthy obsession” with you. “I’m really starting to be concerned, and I’m so tired because I wanna detach myself from sh*t, and it’s like it just doesn’t stop…when does it f*cking stop?” Cardi B goes OFF on her ex-husband Offset for constantly HARASSING HER and explains that things can get “REAL BAD” for him after he tried saying her newborn son with Stefon Diggs is his “I’ve moved on with my life… I’m TIRED” pic.twitter.com/gPZ36bkMig — Slime (@ItsKingSlime) November 16, 2025 “It’s literally a f*cking nightmare,” Cardi B Says Just prior to the Spaces, it had been announced that Stefon Diggs and Cardi had welcomed their first child together. Not long after the news broke, Offset made an interesting “joke” that he might, in fact, be the father of Diggs and her child, writing “My kid lol,” in a now-deleted Instagram Story post. While some folks might find the situation amusing, Cardi makes it clear she is not among that crowd. Cardi said she’s tried to be amicable with the rapper, but claims she cannot escape this “nightmare.” She also alleges that substance abuse could be influencing Offset’s behavior. “It’s not funny, it’s concerning dealing with somebody that f*cking does substance and starts harassing me.” She added, “If I was to show these f*cking texts I been getting, y’all wouldn’t be laughing, because it wouldn’t be funny if it was your f*cking sister…or your f*cking cousin…or your f*cking momma?”

According to Pharrell Williams, politics is nothing more than a “magic trick” that incentivizes division. “As we look at what’s going on in the current political climate — I’m just saying, and I don’t wanna turn anybody off — but I hate politics, like despise them,” he told a crowd in Miami-Dade County. The famed producer had stopped by the city’s fifth annual Black Ambition Demo Day, where he was honored with a key to the city. While there, he spoke to the crowd about the current political landscape. In his opinion, politics are “not real” and he doesn’t “believe in any side.” He continued,” I think when you pick a side, you are inadvertently supporting division.” “Do you want the job because you’re Black or because you’re the best?” Pharrell explains why he hates politics and says supporting a business shouldn’t be based on someone’s skin color, but because it’s the best. ( there nicky goes/TikTok) pic.twitter.com/VVCC57eg6S — The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) November 16, 2025 “When you pick a side, you are inadvertently supporting division,” Pharrell Says “Now that diversity is off the table, now that equity is off the table, now inclusion is off the table…that makes me ask myself, so how do we survive?” In Pharrell’s opinion, it’s not about supporting a certain political affiliation or racial group. Instead, it’s about supporting who’s “best.” Williams continued, “If diversity, equity, and inclusion never come back in style, cool. But in the meantime, I’m going to focus on being the best because I can bank on that.” This wouldn’t be the first time Pharrell shared his contempt for politics. Last September, only months ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election, he told the Hollywood Reporter that he doesn’t “really do politics.” He added, “In fact, I get annoyed sometimes when I see celebrities trying to tell you [who to vote for]. There are celebrities that I respect that have an opinion, but not all of them. I’m one of them people [who says], “What the heck? Shut up. Nobody asked you.” Williams continued: “I would rather stay out of the way, and obviously, I’m going to vote how I’m going to vote. I care about my people and I care about the country, but I feel there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and I’m really about the action.”

Stefon Diggs is heading to court once again, this time to fight back against claims he sexually assaulted a former friend and social media personality. According to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports, Diggs claims “would-be social media influencer” Christopher Blake Griffith concocted a wild story about him solely to gain attention. The alleged incident took place in May 2023 at Stefon’s home in Rockville, Maryland. On the day of the supposed incident, he, Griffith, and a few other influencers attended a charity basketball game together in Washington, D.C., before hitting up a local club. Upon their return to Diggs’ residence, he claims he went to bed, and his assistant asked Griffith to leave. However, Griffith said things had taken a dark turn that night. During a September interview with Tasha K, Griffith accused Diggs of not only drugging him but also sexually assaulting him and threatening his life after he turned down his advances. MALIBU, CALIFORNIA – JULY 04: Stefon Diggs and Chris Blake attend the “Red, White & Bootsy July 4th Party” presented by Revolve & The h.wood Group at Nobu Malibu on July 04, 2022 in Malibu, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for The h.wood Group) “It wasn’t the sexual pass that frustrated me, what frustrated me the most was [that] he tried to unalive me after it…” Griffith Claims “He attempted to have me unalive because of him making a sexual pass at me. It wasn’t the sexual pass that frustrated me, what frustrated me the most was [that] he tried to unalive me after it…” he told Tasha K. Per the suit, Diggs pointed out that Griffith not only shared these allegations with his followers but also tagged the NFL and Patriots social media accounts. Griffith also tagged Uggs, with whom Diggs recently brokered a sponsorship deal with. The ball player accused the social media personality of “intentionally and knowingly lying for online clout.” Stefon is currently seeking damages and lawyer fees; however, no specific amount has been revealed. TMZ spoke with Griffith’s attorney, Jake Lebowitz, who said, “Mr. Griffith is looking forward to showing the world in Court that regardless of the fairy tale fabricated by Mr. Diggs’ high-priced New York Lawyers, he is the victim of Mr. Diggs’ unwanted sexual advances and his brother’s violent attacks.”

Reports of Rev. Jesse Jackson being on life support are, in fact, not true. This is according to a recent statement from the civil rights leader’s family. “Contrary to specific reports, he is not on life support,” the family said in a statement to Newsweek via Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC) on Sunday (Nov.16). While the activist was hospitalized earlier this week—stemming from a long-standing neurological condition—multiple outlets had recently claimed he was clinging to life in a Chicago hospital. Luckily, that is not the case. “Reverend Jackson is in stable condition and is breathing without the assistance of machines,” the family said in RPC’s statement. “He remains under the care of physicians as he manages progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) — a neurological disorder with which he was diagnosed in April.” American civil rights activist Jesse Jackson is interviewed by a man wearing headphones and holding a microphone at the 1972 Democratic National Convention, held at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida, United States, July 1972. (Photo by Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images) “Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurological disorder,” according to the National Institute of Health According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), “Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurological disorder that affects body movements, walking and balance, and eye movements. PSP is caused by damage to nerve cells in areas of the brain that control thinking and body movements.” Following Jackson’s hospitalization on Wednesday, a family spokesperson said in a statement that Jackson remains steadfast despite his health challenges. “Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. was admitted to the hospital today and is currently under observation for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. He has been managing this neurodegenerative condition for more than a decade. He was originally diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease; however, last April, his PSP condition was confirmed. The family appreciates all prayers at this time.”

On Friday (Nov.14), Michelle Obama hosted a live conference, with Tracee Ellis Ross as its host, to discuss her book, The Look, and explore “Beauty, Culture & Confidence.” Throughout the hour-long discussion, the former First Lady didn’t hold back her thoughts about harmful beauty standards—specifically, how straight hair is pedestalized and “traps” Black women. “Let me explain something to White people,” Michelle said to the crowd. “Our hair comes out of our heads naturally, in a curly pattern. So when we’re straightening it to follow your beauty standards, we are trapped by the straightness.” Michelle continued: “That’s why so many of us can’t swim, and we run away from the water. [I] [mean] people won’t even go to the gym because we tryna to keep our hair straight for y’all.” The IMO Podcast host calls the process of maintaining straight hair “exhausting” and time-consuming. She also pointed out why legislative efforts, such as the C.R.O.W.N. Act, had to be enacted to prohibit discrimination against Black people, especially Black women and girls, for how they wear their hair. “Why do we need an act—an act of law—to tell White folks out of our hair? Don’t tell me how to wear my hair, don’t wonder about it, [and] don’t touch it,” Michelle added. Michelle Obama: Whites are “trapping black people” in “hair standards” that harm their capability to do work pic.twitter.com/F5S9RLugSt — End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 14, 2025 Michelle Obama Reflects On Style Journey With New Book, ‘The Look’ Back in June, Michelle Obama shared the cover of her now-released book, The Look, which chronicles her journey with fashion, hair, and beauty.”During our family’s time in the White House, the way I looked was constantly being dissected — what I wore, how my hair was styled,” Michelle wrote in an Instagram post. “For a while now, I’ve been wanting to reclaim more of that story, to share it in my way. I’m thankful to be at a stage in life where I feel comfortable expressing myself freely — wearing what I love and doing what feels true to me. And I’m excited to share some of what I’ve learned along the way.” She continued, “It’s a reflection on my lifelong journey with fashion, hair, and beauty. Inside, you’ll find some of the outfits that have meant the most to me, but more importantly, the moments that I lived through in them — big and small, personal and political, historic and ordinary — that were as memorable as the clothes themselves.”

Rory Farrell of the Rory & Mal podcast has deleted his X account after receiving an onslaught of criticism following dozens of resurfaced anti-Black posts that he made. Several of the posts took shots at Black women, including prominent celebrities like Rihanna and Beyoncé. Amid rising tensions on the timeline, he hopped on X Spaces to clear things up; however, that’s when things took a turn for the worse. The conversation—which included many hip-hop fans, journalists, and tastemakers—didn’t take long to heat up, especially after Rory met their criticism with a sarcastic tone. Many questioned his authenticity and connection to not only Black culture. The popular producer and podcast host was joined by his co-hosts Mal and Demarius, who did their best to defend their comrade, but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. Rory has deleted his account to stop more tweets from being unearthed. So far over 100 anti black tweets have been uncovered. pic.twitter.com/GTmvrDgYMC — Whooping feet (@WhoopingFeet) November 14, 2025 Rory’s Lackluster Response Labeled As ‘Violent’ Things boiled over after a woman in the space referred to Rory’s dismissive attitude as “violent.” To which he responded, “I couldn’t agree more with everything that you said. My point the entire time has been saying I’m not apologizing for anyone that has said that I’ve called Black women ugly or roaches. That’s all I’ve said—I apologize for everything else. Don’t ever say I have called Black woman ugly or roaches or anything that y’all have been trying to put on me because I never said that.” The timing hasn’t helped him either. Earlier this week, he made headlines for his comments about Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” earning Grammy nominations. Now, with the resurfacing of his past tweets, the conversation around Rory has shifted from music debates to accountability. He is not alone in facing that scrutiny, though, as Kayla Nicole is also experiencing a similar wave of old content being brought back to the surface.

Former Cosby star and father of Bronny James’ girlfriend, Dondré Whitfield, has found himself on the wrong side of Megan Thee Stallion fans. The onslaught of criticism began after the actor hopped into the comment section on a post from the Hoopin’ N Hollerin’ podcast’s Instagram. The now-viral post features former NBA players and hosts, Jason Williams and Pat Beverley, discussing Klay Thompson’s poor performance on the court as of late. Williams theorized that Klay’s relationship with Megan could be what’s affecting his performance. “It only takes one p**** to drag a battleship across the desert. That’s how powerful it is.” He added, “I ain’t sayin’ that’s what it is … but that might be what it is.” Whitfield was one of the few commenters who seemed amused by the Williams’ remarks. “J Will…., Dats wild!!!” he wrote. “Shame on you,” one person said in response to the actor’s comment Not long after, his comment was met with dozens of responses, some calling the actor’s reaction “disgusting.” One person replied, “Why are you laughing? [I] thought you were better than this. Bet you’ll like this being said about your beautiful black woman @sallirichwhit for your failed career. Shame on you.” Whereas another person wrote, “@alldondre, surprise you thought this was funny.” Klay Thompson eventually entered the chat and shared his thoughts on Williams’ take and anyone who agreed with him. “Referring to my GF as a ‘p****’ is so disgusting and disturbing. Especially from someone who played in the NBA. How would y’all feel if I referred to your wives in such a way? @patbev21” Thompson wrote, tagging both Beverley and Williams directly. “Do better, fellas. Very disappointing.” Earlier this year, Thompson and Megan became Instagram official and would make their red-carpet debut at the rapper’s annual Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala.

Drake is clearing the air once and for all about a rumor that has followed him for years. After a podcast revisited the old claim that T.I.’s late friend, Cap, allegedly urinated on the rapper during an incident at a movie theater, Drake decided to jump into the comment section and put the whole thing to rest. The story first gained traction after T.I. referenced it in a track, and Meek Mill echoed the claim during their feud. But according to Drake, the entire situation was fabricated. View this post on Instagram In the podcast clip posted online, the hosts brought up the rumor as if it were fact, pointing back to the moment it first surfaced in hip hop conversations. That’s when Drake appeared in the comments and firmly denied it ever happened, saying the tale was nothing but an exaggerated piece of rap folklore. While the moment has been mentioned in records and debated across social media for years, Drake’s response leaves no question about where he stands. Fans quickly filled the comment section reacting to his clarification, with many expressing surprise that he chose to address it publicly after so long. Others noted that his decision to respond directly shows how far these narratives can spiral once they become embedded in hip hop culture. Despite the rumor being repeated in songs by both Tip and Meek Mill, Drake made it clear he wanted to shut it down at the source. The conversation sparked renewed interest in the origin of the claim, but Drake’s correction underscores that not every lyric or industry story should be taken at face value. As he put it plainly, the story was “made up,” reinforcing that some long-standing rumors were built on nothing more than hearsay.

Fans are speculating if Mariah The Scientist is pregnant after Young Thug’s most comments go viral. A group of fans caught Thug outside and asked him about the status of the relationship with the singer. He says the two are still going strong, and in fact he just…”put a baby” in her. View this post on Instagram As previously reported, Young Thug recently publicly apologized to Mariah for his acts of infidelity. The Atlanta rapper issued a heartfelt statement on X (formerly Twitter) after leaked audio from 2022 surfaced, in which he admitted to cheating on Mariah just days before his arrest. In his message, Young Thug directly addressed Mariah, writing: “My baby I was wrong and I’m sorry for what I put u through. U deserved better from me… I hope I haven’t lost u forever… everybody leave her out of this please she’s an innocent girl and feels bad about all of this. Please give her peace.” While Mariah did not directly spoken on the apology, she took to Instagram Stories with what many fans believe was a telling response. The singer posted lyrics from her song “Rainy Days,” featured on her 2025 album Hearts Sold Separately: “I was naive, not ignorant. … I put forth an open heart and I’ve been hurt. Looking back in retrospect, that ain’t what I deserve. Want it back in blood, and blood I’m going to get. And still I pray for love instead of common sense.”