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Crossword Blog & Answers for March 12, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further! Page-turner (Freestyle)
Constructor: Dena R. Verkuil
Editor: Jared Goudsmit
What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
- CLAM (1A: Jogaetang mollusk) Jogaetang is a CLAM soup or CLAM stew in Korean cuisine.
- APRICOT (19A: National fruit of Armenia) The scientific name of the APRICOT tree is Prunus armeniaca. It is so named because APRICOTs have been cultivated in Armenia for many years. It was originally thought the trees originated in Armenia, but genetic studies have shown that domestication of APRICOT trees occurred in Central Asia and China, before making its way to Armenia in West Asia. Nonetheless, as the clue informs us, the APRICOT is the national fruit of Armenia, and images of APRICOTs are often depicted on Armenian souvenirs.
- CELLO (38D: Sol Gabetta’s instrument) Sol Gabetta has been playing the CELLO since she was four years old. She has performed with orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the U.S. In addition to performing, Sol Gabetta teaches at the Basel Music Academy in Basel, Switzerland.
- NBA (59D: Org. in which Brittni Donaldson coaches) Brittni Donaldson is an Assistant Coach for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. She is the team’s first female coach. In learning about Brittni Donaldson, I discovered she was born in Iowa, and attended the University of Northern Iowa.
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
- IMAN (15A: One-named model with a Global Chic line) IMAN is a model and actress. She founded IMAN Cosmetics in 1994, focusing on difficult-to-find shades for women. Global Chic is IMAN’s line of handbags, jewelry, clothing, and fashion accessories, which have been available exclusively through the Home Shopping Network (HSN).
- HALEY (17A: “Queen” author Alex) Queen: The Story of an American Family was published in 1993, a year after Alex HALEY’s death. Before he died, the author asked screenwriter David Stevens to finish the historical novel about his ancestors. Queen is based on the life of Alex HALEY’s grandmother, Queen Jackson HALEY, who was the daughter of an enslaved woman and a plantation owner. The book was adapted into a TV miniseries, Alex HALEY’s Queen, that originally aired in 1993. Halle Berry starred in the miniseries as the title character.
- UTERUS (25A: “Mind Your Own ___” (reproductive rights slogan)) On Etsy, one can find a number of products – shirts, mugs, stickers – with the reproductive rights slogan, “Mind Your Own UTERUS.”
- APU (36A: Hari Kondabolu’s “The Problem with ___”) The Problem with APU is Hari Kondabolu’s documentary focusing on The Simpsons‘ character APU Nahasapeemapetilon. The film explores negative stereotypes of people of Indian and South Asian heritage.
- STEPDAD (39A: Jay Pritchett, to Manny, on “Modern Family) and SON (34D: Homer Simpson, to Abe) Today’s puzzle is testing my knowledge of fictional family relationships. Modern Family (2009-2020) is a mockumentary TV series that follows the lives of three families. One of the families is that of Jay and Gloria. Manny is Gloria’s son from a previous marriage, making Jay his STEPDAD. On the sitcom The Simpsons, Abe is Homer Simpson’s father, meaning Homer is Abe’s SON, of course.
- LIU (41A: Simu who played a Ken) The “a Ken” in this clue, rather than “Ken” made me chuckle. Simu LIU portrays “Tourist Ken,” one of eight characters named Ken in the 2023 movie Barbie.
- MAHALO (49A: Hawaiian “Thank you”) The Hawaiian word, “MAHALO,” means thanks, gratitude, admiration, and praise. We frequently see the Hawaiian word, “aloha,” in the puzzle, which is used as a greeting, and whose meaning also encompasses love, affection, peace, compassion, and mercy. I enjoyed seeing an additional Hawaiian word today.
- BAIL (64A: Target of Illinois’ Pretrial Fairness Act) The Pretrial Fairness Act is a section of a 2021 Illinois law known as the SAFE-T Act (Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act). The Pretrial Fairness Act took effect in 2023. One of the aspects of the law was elimination of cash BAIL. Pretrial release decisions are instead focused on safety and flight considerations.
- ANDY (67A: Buzz Lightyear’s owner in “Toy Story”) I’m going to (quietly) admit that I have never seen the animated 1995 movie Toy Story (or any of its sequels). Side note: Has it really been almost 30 years since Toy Story was originally released?! Anyway, because I haven’t seen Toy Story, I had to reach deep to come up with the name of ANDY, the young boy who owns the toys in the movie. I’m not going to lie, I was pretty proud of myself for coming up with ANDY without any help from crossing answers.
- AVID READER (10D: Bookworm) Are you an AVID READER? What are you reading? A couple of months ago when I asked this question, I shared that I was reading the first book in a cozy mystery series, The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian. I am currently on the seventh book in the series, The Alchemist of Monsters and Mayhem. There are eight books in the series, and I will be sad when I am done with them. I am really enjoying the quirky characters in these books, a 300-year-old alchemist named Zoe, and a stone gargoyle named Dorian who has come to life and is an accomplished French chef.
- STATE (22D: Iowa or Idaho) Hello from Iowa! Nice alliteration in the choice of STATEs here. There are two other U.S. STATEs that start with the letter I, Illinois and Indiana.
- PURINA (28D: Fancy Feast brand) and CAMO (9A: Pattern you don’t want to be seen in) Fancy Feast is a brand of wet cat food by PURINA. My cat, Willow, has never tried Fancy Feast, but I’m sure she would be a fan. I’ve paired this clue with the clue for CAMO, because it reminded me of a cat-patterned fleece blanket that we have, which works as CAMO for Willow.
- GAS (43D: Krypton or oxygen) Krypton is a chemically inert, colorless, odorless noble GAS. It is used in lighting (similar to the noble gases neon and argon) and in photography. Oxygen, on the other hand, is a highly reactive element. Oxygen is the second-most abundant GAS in the atmosphere, after nitrogen.
- EATALY (46D: Market chain founded in Turin) The first EATALY opened in Turin, Italy in 2007. The chain, whose name is a portmanteau of “eat” and “Italy,” now has stores worldwide.
- DUA (48D: “Illusion” singer Lipa) “Illusion” is a 2024 song by DUA Lipa. It is from her album Radical Optimism.
- IBEX (56D: Mountain-climbing goat) The IBEX is a species of wild goat found in Eurasia, North Africa, and East Africa. Both male and female IBEX have large horns that curve backwards and have knobby ridges. IBEX are well-suited for living in mountainous terrain, as their hooves have sharp edges and concave undersides that act similar to suction cups. Here’s a fun fact: IBEX can jump more than six feet straight up without a running start.
- CAN (60D: “We ___ Do It!” (1943 poster phrase)) “We CAN Do It!” motivational posters were originally used in the 1940s by the Westinghouse Company. The posters show a woman wearing a red-and-white, polka dot bandana. Since the 1980s, she has been known as Rosie the Riveter.
- TEA (62D: Sencha or rooibos) Sencha is a type of Japanese green TEA made by infusing processed whole tea leaves in hot water.Rooibos is a red TEA made from the leaves of the rooibos plant, which is naturally caffeine-free.
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
PAGE-TURNER (Freestyle): There’s no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless, puzzle. The title is a nod to AVID READER (10D: Bookworm). We have a book referenced in the grid as well, Queen by Alex HALEY at 17-Across.
Some venues don’t give titles to their themeless puzzles, opting to simply use “Themeless” or “Freestyle” as a title. USA TODAY has chosen to label themeless puzzles as “Freestyle” but also give them titles that refer to one or more answers in the grid. I like this choice. Using the word Freestyle lets solvers know not to spend time looking for a theme. Using a title as well is a way for the constructor to highlight a favorite answer or two in the grid. Thank you, Dena, for this enjoyable puzzle.
For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles
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Raphael Saadiq talks about explosive year on heels of ‘Cowboy Carter’
Darius Rucker talks Beyoncé’s impact with Chris Wallace
In a new episode of “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?” country star Darius Rucker talks about Beyoncé, “Cowboy Carter” and its impact on country music.
- Musician Raphael Saadiq is launching a one-man show called “No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits” starting May 31 in New York.
- Saadiq rose to fame as a vocalist in the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! and is known for his work with artists like Beyoncé and Lucy Pearl, earning him three Grammys and numerous other accolades.
- The “No Bandwidth” show will feature Saadiq performing music, sharing stories and connecting with the audience in a personal setting.
- Saadiq also recently celebrated success with Beyoncé’s album “Cowboy Carter,” for which he co-wrote and produced several songs.
Raphael Saadiq, who has cemented his mark in the music industry over the past three decades, has a special year planned for his fans with the release of exclusive content and a new one-man show.
“No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits” will run for only four nights, kicking off May 31 in New York before heading to Los Angeles on June 6 and his hometown of Oakland, California, on June 7 and June 8.
“It’ll be me singing sometimes, me playing some instruments, me talking, telling stories, talking about the past and talking about the present,” Saadiq says. “We’re just going to be in one place all together. It’s going to be no phones. We’re really going to be close and personal.”
Saadiq rose to fame in the ’80s and ’90s as the lead vocalist for the R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! Founding member and Saadiq’s brother D’Wayne Wiggins died after a battle with bladder cancer this month.
In 1999, Saadiq also formed another R&B group, Lucy Pearl, and released music with its members before eventually releasing five solo albums. The versatile music mogul has earned three Grammy Awards, received 20 additional nominations, and had his work recognized by both the Oscars and Golden Globes.
This year he won a Grammy for album of the year for his work on Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter,” on which he helped produce and write a number of songs. He also kicked off the year by performing at the NBA All-Star Game in Oakland and announcing the launch of his vinyl club.
“The (past) year has been really successful. I have worked with some amazing people,” Saadiq says. “Though maybe different than some, I’ve had a lot of years like this.”
‘No Bandwidth’ shows significant in more ways than one
As a producer, instrumentalist, composer and songwriter, he has written and produced for music legends while becoming one himself. Some of those artists include Beyoncé, the Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Erykah Badu, Solange Knowles, D’Angelo and John Legend.
His first one-man show will be held at the Apollo Theater in Harlem — an intentional choice.
“There’s so much seasoning left on the floor at the Apollo. When you walk on that floor, you have to understand the people who worked so hard — blood, sweat and tears — and the ancestors that touched that stage,” Saadiq says. “I wanted to take some of that energy and then just bring it out. Every time I go to the Apollo, I feel that way. But to go back by myself, and as a one-man show, is monumental for me.”
Fans can expect his performance include his work from throughout the years.
“It’s not about the talent that I have and have been blessed with,” Saadiq says. “I’ve been blessed to work with so many good people. So I’m taking little pieces of everybody as I can remember, and then sort of bring it to to the stage.”
Through his vinyl club, Saadiq is offering fans a rare glimpse into his back catalog. Those with a membership receive exclusive quarterly releases, including his most celebrated albums, new releases and more.
“It’s really giving me that outlet to talk to people who really love and enjoy music,” he says.
‘Cowboy Carter’ and Saadiq’s continuous collaboration with Beyoncé
While he’s no stranger to collaborative and solo success, Saadiq recognizes the uniqueness of his recent endeavors, including his collaboration with Beyoncé.
In addition to being a songwriter on Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning hit “Cuff It” from her 2022 album “Renaissance,” he co-wrote and produced a number of songs from her eighth studio album, including “Texas Hold ‘Em,” “16 Carriages,” “Bodyguard” and “Ameriican Requiem.” He also played the instruments for multiple songs, including “Ya Ya” and “Just For Fun.”
“I think ‘Cowboy Carter’ just brought the perspective that Black people sang country music first. And (Beyoncé) brought a lot of people from the past and (present)… like Shaboozey, who’s been already singing country music,” Saadiq says. “It sort of gave them an outlet to get out to a bigger audience.”
Tickets are now available for Saadiq’s upcoming shows on raphaelsaadiqmusic.com.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network’s Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
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Nicolas Cage dismissed from lawsuit brought by ex-girlfriend
‘Longlegs’: Maika Monroe investigates a serial-killing Nicolas Cage
Maika Monroe plays an FBI agent in Oregon investigating a bedeviling serial killer (Nicolas Cage) in Osgood Perkins’ horror film “Longlegs.”
Nicolas Cage is out of legal hot water.
The actor, who was sued alongside his son last month by ex-partner Christina Fulton, was dropped from the claim Monday.
Fulton dropped the charges against the Oscar-winning actor without prejudice, but maintained her claims against their son, Weston Cage.
In now dismissed claims, she alleged Cage, 61, knew that his son was violent with a history of mental instability and substance abuse and chose not to act, amounting to negligence. Fulton’s accusation – that Nicolas Cage bailed their son out of jail, supported him financially and supplied him with alcohol – cannot be refiled in court.
“Ms. Fulton and Mr. Cage have reached an amicable and confidential resolution,” her lawyer, Joseph Farzan told USA TODAY in a statement Wednesday.
“It appears Ms. Fulton and her personal injury lawyers saw the writing on the wall.” Michael A. Goldstein, a lawyer for Weston Cage, said in a separate statement. “Ms. Fulton’s continuing lawsuit and objectives are suspect given earlier claims of concern for his well-being. Perhaps she will reconsider and send positive energy instead.”
USA TODAY has reached out to reps for Nicola Cage for comment.
In a February lawsuit, Fulton accused the younger Cage of assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Police arrested the 34-year-old in July for assault with a deadly weapon, after allegedly punching and causing injury to two people. Fulton, 57, says she was one of those alleged victims.
The arrest followed an April incident in which Cage, an actor himself, allegedly punched two people repeatedly at a downtown Los Angeles apartment complex. The Los Angeles Police Department ultimately charged him with two felony counts of assault, to which he pleaded not guilty and was released on bond.
In a statement shared with USA TODAY at the time, Fulton said she was contacted by Weston Cage’s friends urging her to help him, but when she arrived to console him, “he was already in the midst of a manic rage.”
“Within minutes, I was brutally assaulted and sustained serious injuries,” she said in her statement. “As a mother, I am deeply saddened and concerned about Weston’s on-going mental health crisis. It is imperative that he receives the help he desperately needs.”
Fulton has requested a jury trial and financial damages after the attack allegedly left her with a brain concussion, neck and throat injuries, “disfiguring eye injury,” dental and abdominal trauma and PTSD.
She also claims the assault “devastated” her modeling and acting career, forcing her to miss filming for a Netflix show and jeopardizing her business ventures, including an unspecified “multimillion-dollar opportunity.”
In response to Fulton’s original filing, Goldstein called the suit a “money grab” and “call for attention.”
“Ms. Fulton’s decision to file a lawsuit against her own son is not surprising given her past history of litigation against family members,” he wrote in a statement to USA TODAY at the time. “Ms. Fulton correctly advised the responding LAPD officers that her son was in the midst of a mental health crisis at the time of this incident. We will deal with this appropriately, and in a courtroom.”
Contributing: Naledi Ushe, KiMi Robinson, Taijuan Moorman
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Millie Bobby Brown talks starting a family with Jake Bongiovi
Jake Bongiovi married Millie Bobby Brown in ‘small family wedding’
Jon Bon Jovi has confirmed his son Jake Bongiovi married actress Millie Bobby Brown in a “small family wedding” and revealed the bride “looked gorgeous.”
Bang Showbiz
Millie Bobby Brown wants some little Elevens of her own.
The “Stranger Things” star, 21, opened up on the “SmartLess” podcast Monday about her desire to start a family with her husband, Jake Bongiovi.
“Jake knows how important it is to me (to have children),” she said. “Of course, I want to focus on really establishing myself as an actor and as a producer, but I also find it’s so important to start a family for me, personally. It’s a huge thing.”
She added, “Jake was like, ‘We cannot do that until we get married.’ So that was his thing, and my thing was, I really want a family. I really want a big family. I’m one of four. He’s one of four. So it is definitely in our future.”
Brown and Bongiovi, who is the son of Jon Bon Jovi, tied the knot in 2024 in a ceremony officiated by the actress’ “Stranger Things” co-star Matthew Modine. They met through a mutual friend and confirmed their relationship in 2021.
Brown told the “SmartLess” hosts that it has been “so great” having Jon Bon Jovi as a father-in-law.
“When I need him, he is very much there for me in the best ways, always making sure I’m OK,” she said. “If there’s anything that’s ever going on, I’m always like, ‘Can you help me out in this situation?’ And he’s so informative. His wisdom is ridiculous.”
Brown rose to fame as a child actor starring as Eleven on “Stranger Things,” which debuted on Netflix in 2016. After five seasons, the show will conclude with its final season later this year.
After wrapping filming the Netflix series, Brown delivered an emotional speech on the show’s set.
“Isn’t graduation supposed to bring relief, like you’re glad to leave behind the teachers and classmates? Not me,” she said in a video shared on Instagram. “I am nowhere near ready to leave you guys.”
Millie Bobby Brown on ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast
Brown discussed her marriage further on Tuesday’s “Call Her Daddy” podcast. She recalled that she started to realize she saw a future with Bongiovi when they began talking about “bigger things that I had never spoken about” with anyone else, including how they wanted to raise their children.
The “Electric State” star went on to look back at her wedding and her elaborate first dance, which was a “six-minute, choreographed routine” to a medley of songs from “Grease.”
“We dressed as Sandy and Danny,” she said. “It was epic. It was unbelievable. People could not believe what they were hearing. … We had been practicing for a year and a half. We went to dance lessons.”
While reflecting on shaving her head to play Eleven on “Stranger Things,” Brown also told host Alex Cooper that she plans to do so again when she has her first child.
“Maybe like right before I’m about to give birth,” she said. “Hair is such an ordeal anyway to deal with. I’m going to nurture my child. Why deal with my hair?”
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Chanel’s star-studded Paris Fashion Week show crashed by pigeon
Anrealage unveils ‘SCREEN’ collection at Paris Fashion Week
Fashion designer Kunihiko Morinaga unveiled his “SCREEN” collection for Anrealage at the American Cathedral in Paris.
When it comes to tastes in fashion, birds of a feather really do flock together.
In an unexpected appearance, a rogue pigeon stole the show during the conclusion of Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday. As seen in footage shared on social media, the lone bird scurried along the runway ahead of Chanel’s fall-winter presentation at the weeklong fashion extravaganza.
“COO IS THIS DIVA? 💜🐦” InStyle magazine captioned its video of the incident.
The Chanel show also saw star-studded appearances from the likes of Jessica Alba, Dakota Fanning and Camila Cabello. But despite the high celebrity wattage, the fierce fowl appeared to capture fans’ attention online.
“The design, the texture of the feathers, the sheen, the dimensions. As if god created it, pure genius,” @carolecushions wrote.
“Vogue’s newest top runway model! 🤣,” @kerikropp commented.
“Oh she got the walk down! ❤️,” @wretch.st.james wrote.
“Model of the year,” YouTube influencer and actress Eva Gutowski declared.
Jessica Alba, Dakota Fanning, more stars attend Chanel’s Paris Fashion Week show
Several stars were in attendance at Chanel’s Tuesday PFW show, including actresses Alba and Fanning; pop stars Cabello, Tyla and Raye; Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour; and supermodel Naomi Campbell.
Alba rocked preppy chic in a gray, floral-embroidered skirt suit. Meanwhile, Fanning popped in a metallic gold suit.
Cabello kept things chic in a black pinstripe number, and Tyla was pretty in pink in a bubblegum tube dress and matching blazer. Raye looked elegant in a crisp, all-black skirt suit.
Fashion mavens Campbell and Wintour rounded out the celeb audience with regal glamour.
Campbell radiated in a long-sleeved lavender dress, while Wintour looked sharp in a pearl-studded blazer and matching skirt.
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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs accuser might lose her legal team again
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to remain in jail until May 2025 trial
In a press conference, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York revealed shocking allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs.
One of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ accusers might lose her legal representation again in her July 2024 sexual assault and trafficking lawsuit against the hip-hop mogul.
In documents filed Monday in New York federal court, attorneys for Adria English submitted a motion to withdraw as her legal counsel. In a memorandum of law explaining the circumstances, lawyers for law firms Andrews & Thornton AAL, the Watts Firm and Kagen Caspersen & Bogart claimed there had been “a breakdown of the attorney-client relationship” as well as “irreconcilable differences” between English and her legal team.
“(English’s) conduct has made it unreasonably difficult for Attorneys to represent her. Therefore, it is impossible for Attorneys to serve as Plaintiff’s counsel on this case,” the memorandum read.
The filing later added that English “is not receptive to Attorneys’ legal advice and instructions.” Additionally, she has “not been receptive to communication” with attorneys and “not answering calls and requests to communicate,” per the filing.
“The case has not progressed far” since the firms started working with English in December 2024, the attorneys said, alleging their client “was warned several times of her self-destructive conduct and conduct that was impacting Attorneys’ ability to represent her.”
“Attorneys attempted to work with Plaintiff to mitigate the damage to her case and prevent her from undermining Attorneys’ advice and efforts on her case,” the filing states. “Against legal advice Plaintiff has continued that conduct. This continued conduct has made it unreasonably difficult for Attorneys to continue to represent her.”
One of the attorneys with Andrews & Thornton said in a declaration that “an irrevocable breach has developed,” summarizing the situation as: “Plaintiff wishes to pursue an approach we believe to be imprudent and with which we disagree.”
The filing claimed English “has been made aware of our intent to withdraw and is actively seeking out alternative counsel.”
The attorneys asked the judge to grant their motion to withdraw and pause the case for 60 days to allow English to obtain new representation. Also on Monday, Combs’ defense team filed a letter to the judge objecting to the 60-day pause and notifying her that they would be submitting a motion to dismiss her complaint “in its entirety and with prejudice.”
USA TODAY has reached out to English and her attorneys for comment.
English’s lawsuit, which was amended and re-submitted in January, claims she was sex trafficked by Combs and his associates between 2004 and 2009 in New York and Florida. Combs, who is in jail awaiting trial in his criminal sex crimes case, has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual abuse, assault and trafficking dating back to the 1990s from English and dozens of other alleged victims.
Accuser’s previous lawyers withdrew from her case 5 months ago
This is the second time in five months that attorneys working with English in this case have asked to withdraw. In October, Ariel Mitchell-Kidd and Steven A. Metcalf requested to withdraw as her legal counsel, citing “a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship” and “irreconcilable differences” as the basis for parting ways with their client.
“As a result of a fundamental disagreement between” the attorneys and English “regarding almost every aspect of the litigation, including settlement demands, causes of actions in the pleadings,” as well as English’s alleged “undermining behavior and questionable antics,” the attorneys said “an irreconcilable conflict and tension has developed.”
The withdrawal was a result of English allegedly breaching a Sept. 24 agreement they entered into due to her “tone and lack of respect” and “continued behavior and self-destructive activities,” the attorneys claimed.
Mitchell-Kidd told The New York Times she’d “never lost faith in her case, just in (English),” adding, “Her case is great. My issue was with her undermining my work and going behind my back doing things incongruent to advancing her case.”
In a statement at the time, English told USA TODAY she was “happy with the decision to withdraw,” adding that her ex-attorneys’ withdrawal from the case “made it easier” for her “to secure new, professional, non-clout chasing counsel.”
Judge casts doubt on whether Adria English consented to attorneys’ withdrawal
On Tuesday, the judge issued an order that expressed the attorneys’ filing was insufficient.
Their memorandum of law “is conclusory and contains factual assertions unsupported by the declarations filed in conjunction with the motion,” Judge Analisa Torres wrote in her order. She added, “Counsel’s declarations and the memorandum of law are also ambiguous as to whether Plaintiff consents to the motion to withdraw.”
She ordered the lawyers to “confer” with English by March 18 “to determine whether they have a mutual understanding as to the appropriate next steps.”
Combs’ legal team issued a statement Tuesday in response to the motion to withdraw, saying, “In a transparent effort to gain publicity and promote herself, Adria English has been making baseless and defamatory claims against Mr. Combs for months.”
His team noted that this is the second time English’s counsel has sought dismissal from her case.
The statement continued, “Adria English’s claims were fabricated from the outset — a clear example of how anyone can file a lawsuit without a shred of evidence. No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone.”
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TV host says she’s ‘not incapacitated’
Wendy Williams, Bruce Willis dementia diagnoses spotlight disease
Dr. Daniel Amen spoke with USA TODAY about frontotemporal dementia and what a diagnosis of the incurable disease might look like.
Wendy aced the test.
Wendy Williams scored “10 out of 10” on a mental capacity test at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City after being removed from a memory care unit of an assisted living facility by police officers, Williams revealed during a Tuesday interview on “The Breakfast Club.”
The former talk-show host, who called in to the radio program with Ginalisa Monterroso of the Connect Care Advisory Group, also said she did not drop a “help me” note out the window of the facility. She and Monterroso called police to plead her case.
“I told them I am not incapacitated as I’ve been accused, and the floor that I live on is the memory unit,” Williams said. “The people who live there don’t remember anything, unlike me. Why am I here? What is going on? It’s a cry for help.”
Williams has been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, but she’s disputed the diagnoses in recent interviews.
Williams and Monterroso will call into the ABC show “The View” on Friday.
Wendy Williams’ cognitive test results to be used in guardianship case
Once at the hospital, where Williams remained overnight, she reportedly scored a perfect score on a cognitive test, which included questions that asked her to identify her date of birth and the current president of the United States.
“A friend of mine who was on the show and beyond,” said Williams about President Donald Trump, who appeared multiple times on “The Wendy Williams Show,” which aired from 2008 to 2022.
Monterroso said the results of the exam will be forwarded to a judge in Williams’ ongoing guardianship case. All aspects of Williams’ life, including financial and living arrangements, are currently decided by court-appointed guardian Sabrina Morrissey.
In 2022, Williams’ bank Wells Fargo claimed she was “the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation,” which triggered events that’s led to her current situation. Part of the legal equation was the alleged expenditure of more than $100,000 on Uber Eats by her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., as stated in the 2024 Lifetime documentary “Where’s Wendy Williams.”
Another $100,000 expenditure by Hunter Jr., related to a boat rental for a birthday party, was discussed in the recent Tubi TMZ documentary “Saving Wendy.”
Williams traveled to Miami last month to attend a birthday party for her 94-year-old father, Thomas Williams.
“Here at the hospital, believe it or not, I’ve met so many beautiful people,” Williams said on Tuesday. “We talk about this, and we talk about that, and yes they know who I am. It’s really kind of amazing.”
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‘Support caregivers’ amid Gene Hackman death
Bruce Willis diagnosed with aphasia, ‘stepping away’ from acting
Bruce Willis’ aphasia has impacted “his cognitive abilities,” which led him to step away from acting.
Scott L. Hall, USA TODAY
Bruce Willis’ wife Emma Heming Willis is advocating for caretakers after the death of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa.
The actress and co-founder of Make Time Wellness, 46, took to Instagram on Monday to speak out about the “tragic passing” of Hackman and Arakawa, captioning the post “Caregivers need care too. Period. Full stop. #supportcaregivers.”
“It’s just made me think of this broader story, and that is that caregivers need care too and that they are vital, and that it is so important that we show up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person,” Heming Willis said.
Hackman and Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home late last month and investigators announced Friday that they believe Hackman was alive in their residence for around a week after his wife died.
Arakawa, 65, died from Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease that is contracted by contact with mouse droppings. According to the CDC, Hantaviruses “are spread mainly by rodents and are not spread from person-to-person.”
Hackman, 95, had heart disease and complications caused by Alzheimer’s disease and died from natural causes.
“I think that there’s this common misconception that like caregivers, they got it figured out,” Heming Willis added. “They got it covered. They’re good. I don’t subscribe to that. I think that we need to be showing up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person.”
Heming and Willis share daughters Mabel Ray and Evelyn Penn. Willis also has three daughters − Rumer, Scout and Tallulah with ex-wife Demi Moore.
Emma Heming Willis is a Hollywood advocate for caretakers
Since her husband’s 2023 dementia diagnosis, Heming has emerged as an outspoken advocate for caretakers despite her reserved nature.
In August of that year, Heming used an Instagram video as a “care partner PSA” to find solace with other caretakers going through similar struggles.
“I’m asking care partners to send me photos because I just think it’s so important for us to sort of break up our thinking, which can feel, for me, very much like doom and gloom,” Heming said in the video. “So, I know it looks like I’m out living my best life. I have to make a conscious effort every single day to live the best life that I can.”
“I don’t want it to be misconstrued that like, I’m good, ’cause I’m not. I’m not good,” Heming continued.
“But I have to put my best foot forward for the sake of myself and my family because again, when we are not looking after ourselves, we cannot look after anyone that we love.”
Contributing: Edward Segarra
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‘Beauty in Black’ Season 2? Tyler Perry teases more episodes
Editors note: This post contains spoilers about Season 1 of “Beauty in Black”
In Tyler Perry’s “Beauty in Black,” what happens when the underdog climbs to the top?
Fans may find out more in the second season of the hit Netflix drama, which Perry teased on Instagram Sunday. His post included a photo of now ex-exotic dancer Kimmie (Taylor Polidore Williams) dressed in business attire before her former boss, Jules (Charles Malik Whitfield).
“YALL AINT READY FOR SEASON 2 of #BeautyInBlack !!” he wrote. “Thanks for making season one HUGE!”
Netflix released the show in two parts, dropping the first installment in October and the remaining episodes earlier this month. The series follows Kimmie as her life becomes deeply intersected with a wealthy but chaotic family that runs a successful hair care business in Chicago.
In the jaw-dropping final episode, Kimmie − a survivor of human trafficking and abuse − makes a major play by agreeing to marry the head of the household, Horace, who is hospitalized, and makes a quick decision to spite his family.
“I don’t think anybody’s going to be able to figure out where it’s going and how that rise of power happens with Kimmie,” Perry told Netflix before the release of Part 2.
Is ‘Beauty in Black’ returning for Season 2?
“Beauty in Black” has not officially been renewed for Season 2 by Netflix, though Perry’s post indicates he has plans for additional episodes.
USA TODAY has reached out to Netflix for comment.
Season 1 episode list
All episodes of “Beauty in Black” Season 1 are available to stream on Netflix.
- Episode 1: “Make it Rain”
- Episode 2: “A Dance with Daddy”
- Episode 3: “The Aftermath
- Episode 4: “A Family Affair”
- Episode 5: “Unraveling Threads”
- Episode 6: “Bang Bang”
- Episode 7: “Even Playing Field”
- Episode 8: “Killing Karma”
- Episode 9: “Blind Rage”
- Episode 10: “Power Struggle
- Episode 11: “Up Against the Wall”
- Episode 12: “Hot Seat”
- Episode 13: “By Any Means”
- Episode 14: “Wild Ride”
- Episode 15: “The Lion’s Den”
- Episode 16: “Now Make It Thunder”
‘Beauty in Black’ Season 1, Part 2 Trailer
Main cast
- Taylor Polidore Williams: Kimmie
- Crystle Stewart: Mallory
- Ricco Ross: Horace
- Amber Reign Smith: Rain
- Charles Malik Whitfield: Jules
- Tamera “Tee” Kissen: Body
- Ursula O. Robinson: Delinda
- Xavier Smalls: Angel
- Julian Horton: Roy
- Richard Lawson: Norman
- Debbi Morgan: Olivia
- Steven G. Norfleet: Charles
- Terrell Carter: Varney
- Shannon Wallace: Calvin
- Joy Rovaris: Gillian
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at [email protected].