Meek Mill's Artist Lil Snupe Reportedly Shot Dead

Maybach Music Group rapper Meek Mill has reportedly lost an artist and friend in teenage emcee Lil Snupe as reports claim he died from fatal gunfire early Thursday (June 20).

 

According to reports, Snupe's manager confirmed the unexpected and tragic news.

Meek Mill's Dreamchasers artist, 17-year-old Lil Snupe, was reportedly found dead. Lil Snupe signed to Meek Mill's Dreamchasers imprint earlier this year, and now we have sad news to report about the rising young rapper. Lil Snupe, 17 years old, was reportedly shot dead, news which has been confirmed by his manager, Leem7st, on Twitter. Meek Mill also tweeted about Snupe early this morning, obviously in disbelief. There are very few details available at the moment, but we'll keep you informed once more news on Snupe's death surfaces. (Hot New Hip Hop)

Early Thursday, Meek hopped onto his Twitter page telling followers to have Snupe contact him immediately.

"tell lil snupe hit me up right now!!!," he tweeted June 20th. (Meek Mill's Twitter)

The late rapper reportedly won Meek's attention from a demo tape and ultimately joined Mill's camp shortly after.

COMING SOON

Snupe impressed Meek Mill by passing off his demo to him during a tour stop in Louisiana. In less than an hour, Meek gave him a call and signed the young upstart to his Dream Chasers roster. "He was in a van, they was finna pull off. And I went and knocked on the van, on the window. They let the window down, grabbed the mixtape and it was like 10 minutes later, 20 minutes later they called me," Snupe told MTV News in April. Lil Snupe joined Lee Mazin, Louie V Gutta, Goldie, Jahlil Beats as a flagship artist for Meek's record label. His recently released mixtape was R.N.I.C. (Real Ni**a in Charge). (XXL Mag)

Story developing...

John Legend, 'Gossip Girl' EP Developing Music Manager Comedy at Showtime

Showtime is going into the music business.

The premium cable network is teaming with John Legend and his Get Lifted banner to develop a half-hour comedy vehicle about music managers, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The untitled single-camera vehicle takes place in the world of high-profile music managers.

Austin Winsberg ("Gossip Girl," "Jake in Progress" and Broadway's "First Date") will pen the script and executive produce alongside Legend and his Get Lifted Film Co. producing partners Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius via their pod deal with Universal Cable Productions.

Legend's manager Troy Carter, the founder/chairman/CEO of entertainment management company Atom Factory, will also executive produce. Carter, who also manages Lady Gaga and is an influential digital and social media entrepreneur, and Legend will bring their experience in the music business to the project.

Winsberg (whose "First Date" opens on Broadway in August) is repped by CAA, Trevor Engelson at Underground and Sloane Offer. Get Lifted is repped by CAA and Del Shaw.

For Legend, this marks his latest project under his UCP deal. The Grammy winner is also developing an FBI business drama at USA Network, a South Beach-set drama at HBO and a semi-autobiographical comedy at Fox. For UCP, the sale marks a key sale beyond its NBC corporate siblings.

At Showtime, the project -- should it go to series -- would join comedies including "Californication," "House of Lies," "Episodes," "Web Therapy" and "Nurse Jackie."

Men's Wearhouse Founder And 'You're Going To Like The Way You Look' Guy, Fired

George Zimmer, Men's Wearhouse Founder, Said He Was 'Inappropriately' Silenced

 

NEW YORK -- Apparently, Men's Wearhouse Inc. doesn't like the way its founder looks anymore.

In terse release issued Wednesday, Men's Wearhouse said it has fired the face of the company and its executive chairman, George Zimmer, who appeared in many of its TV commercials with the slogan "You're going to like the way you look. I guarantee it."

The timing was even odd _the announcement happened the morning the company's annual shareholder meeting had been set to take place. The company delayed the meeting but didn't give a new date.

Men's Wearhouse gave no reason for the abrupt firing of Zimmer, who built Men's Wearhouse from one small Texas store using a cigar box as a cash register to one of the North America's largest specialty men's clothiers with 1,143 locations. The company generated revenue of $2.48 billion in its latest fiscal year ended Feb. 2.

The company said the purpose of postponing the annual meeting is to re-nominate the existing board of directors without Zimmer. It said the board expects to discuss with Zimmer the extent, if any, and terms of "his ongoing relationship" with the company. Zimmer expressed his frustrations Wednesday to CNBC. 

"Over the last 40 years, I have built MW into a multi-billion dollar company with amazing employees and loyal customers who value the products and service they receive at MW," Zimmer told CNBC. "Over the past several months I have expressed my concerns to the Board about the direction the company is currently heading. Instead of fostering the kind of dialogue in the Boardroom that has in part contributed to our success, the Board has inappropriately chosen to silence my concerns through termination as an executive officer."

The news shocked analysts and corporate governance experts, who tried to speculate what happened.

"This is very rare to fire a founder. Founders are generally entrenched in the company," said Eleanor Bloxham, CEO of The Value Alliance, a board advisory firm.

Zimmer, who handed over his CEO title to Douglas Ewert in 2011, was the company's personable, down-to-earth face.

Zimmer is also known for his activism in favor of legalizing marijuana. He donated thousands of dollars in support of a 2010 California ballot initiative that would have legalized the drug, according to LA Weekly.

As of late morning, the company's website still prominently spotlighted Zimmer, calling him "The Man Behind The Brand" and linking to YouTube videos of "the man in action."

The abrupt departure comes a week after Men's Wearhouse reported that its fiscal first-quarter profit increased 23 percent, helped by stronger margins and an earlier prom season.

In 1971, fresh out of college, Zimmer made his first foray into the clothing industry, working in Hong Kong for six months as a salesman for his father's coat manufacturing business, according to the company website.

In 1973, he and his college roommate opened the first Men's Wearhouse store, which sold $10 slacks and $25 polyester sport coats, in Houston. His personal car was a van with the company logo on the side and clothing racks in the back.

The company launched its first TV commercial in the 1970s when commercials for clothing were rare. Zimmer starred in his first TV commercial in 1986, with the line "I guarantee it."

Men's Wearhouse kept expanding, focusing on large markets where business was sluggish to take advantage of lower real estate costs. It also expanded beyond sports coats and trousers to casual sportswear in the 1980s and then went into the tuxedo rental business in 2000.

Zimmer owned 1.8 million shares of Men's Wearhouse as of the company's May 9 proxy filing, a 3.5 percent stake in the company.

Shares of Men's Wearhouse fell more than 2 percent, or 80 cents, to $36.67 in morning trading. The stock has traded between $25.97 and $38.59 in the past 52 weeks, and ended Tuesday up about 20 percent since the start of the year.

The company, based in Fremont, Calif., also runs the Moores and K&G retail chains. It also sells uniform and work wear in the U.S. and U.K.

James Gandolfini's Death: New Details Emerge

UPDATE: The late actor's assistant tells THR "something happened" when the "Sopranos" star went to the bathroom after an activity-packed day in the Italian capital.

TAORMINA, Sicily – The Taormina Film Festival was in mourning Thursday after the death of 51-year-old actor James Gandolfini, who was scheduled to travel to the event to receive a special prize and participate in a round table discussion about Italian-American views on cinema.

 

Getty Images

James Gandolfini

Gandolfini had been traveling in Italy to, as Taormina artistic director Mario Sesti said in an interview, reconnect with his Italian roots, ahead his anticipated arrival at the festival Thursday. Sesti said he spoke to the actor just a few hours before his death.

PHOTOS: James Gandolfini's Life and Career in Pictures

"He was so happy to be in Italy, to reconnect with his Italian roots, and he was very excited to come to Taormina and receive this award," Sesti said.

Tom Richardson, Gandolfini’s assistant, agreed: "The family had a marvelous day together, and when he returned to the hotel Jimmy [Gandolfini] went to the bathroom and that is when something happened," Richardson said, adding the actor was still alive when the ambulance arrived.

Indeed, family friend MIchael Kobold told The Associated Press that Gandolfini has a "medical emergency" in his room.

Gandolfini's teenage son, Michael, found his father collapsed in the bathroom, after he suffered a suspected heart attack, NBC News reports. Michael then called for help and hotel staff rushed to the room, according to NBC.

Workers reportedly tried to resuscitate him before the ambulance arrived.

STORY: 'Sopranos' Star James Gandolfini Dies at 51

The head of the emergency room at Rome’s Policlinic Umberto I told THR the hospital received the emergency call at 9 p.m. local time Wednesday and that the first of two ambulances arrived within 8 minutes. They again tried to revive Gandolfini and when they were unable to do so they transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:40 p.m.

Modini told the AP that an autopsy would be performed 24 hours after his death, which is required by law. Preliminary autopsy results are likely to be due on Friday, according to NBC News.

The U.S. Embassy will help prepare Gandolfini's body for return to the United States.

Taormina festival officials said they found out about Gandolfini’s death after midnight and immediately began discussing how to honor the actor best known for his role as the star of The Sopranos. 

“Gandolfini is probably less well known in Italy than in the United States, but he was an important figure in Italy,” Sesti said. “He was a big strong man, but also delicate and refined. And his weaknesses -- women, emotion, family, a flirtation with taboo -- these are things that we see in ourselves.”

The round table, which will feature Pursuit of Happyness director Gabriele Muccino and actress Marisa Tomei, will still take place. But Sesti said Saturday will be transformed into a special tribute to Gandolfini, including a Master Class Sesti will co host with The Hollywood Reporter’s Eric J. Lyman. Saturday night, in the festival’s signature Teatro Antico venue, officials will screen a special video montage of several of Gandolfini’s best-known roles ahead of the international launch of Gore Verbinski’s The Lone Ranger, the festival’s closing film.

It is the second time in four years the 59-year-old Taormina event had been connected to a tragic death as the result of a heart attack: in 2010, Hollywood Reporter film critic Peter Brunette died while on assignment at the festival. 

Twitter: @EricJLyman

Bloody Evelyn Lozada Pic Leaks: Chad Johnson Released From Jail

NFL player Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson is reportedly a free man after serving a week behind bars following a court appearance related to a probation violation.

According to reports, Johnson appeared in court Monday (June 17) and apologized for actions that ended up costing him.

After seven days in jail and one visit from Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson is being set free. The Associated Press reported Monday that Johnson would be released from jail after he apologized Monday to Broward County Circuit Judge Kathleen McHugh for his behavior in her courtroom last week. "I just wanted to apologize for disrespecting the court last time," said Johnson, wearing a tan jail jumpsuit with his hands shackled at the waist, The AP reported. "I apologize. I did have time to reflect on the mistakes I made in this courtroom." McHugh accepted the apology. Johnson was released Monday afternoon. (NFL)

Instead of putting the judge on blast, Chad thanked her for helping him learn a valuable lesson.

Johnson walked out of jail shortly after 4 p.m. and was met by his attorney, Adam Swickle, and sports agent Drew Rosenhaus. Johnson told reporters he was thankful to McHugh because she was the first person to get him to slow down and think about the path his life was taking. "No one has been able to do it, not even my parents," he said. "I thank her. Everything she did was justified." Asked if he hoped to latch on with an NFL team, Johnson said, "I just have to say my next move, my best move." (ABC News)

Coincidentally, shortly after his release a photo of ex-wife Evelyn Lozada's August 2012 domestic violence injury surfaced.

Chad Johnson headbutted ex-wife Evelyn Lozada so hard during their infamous domestic dispute last year, she was left with a massive bloody gash on her forehead -- and TMZ has obtained photographic evidence. The photos were taken by Davie Police in the Florida emergency room where Evelyn was transported following Chad's attack on August 11th, 2012. According to police, the forehead laceration measured 3 inches. TMZ broke the story ... Johnson was arrested for domestic violence shortly after the explosive argument at his Jupiter, FL mansion. Evelyn filed for divorce three days later. (TMZ)

Last week's butt-slapping incident initially had Johnson set to serve a full month behind bars.

Former NFL star Chad Johnson was sentenced Monday to 30 days in jail for a probation violation in a domestic violence case by a judge who angrily rejected a no-jail plea deal after Johnson playfully slapped his attorney on the backside in court. Johnson, known as Chad Ochocinco for his jersey number in Spanish during his playing days, had reached a deal with prosecutors calling for community service and counseling instead of jail. Broward County Circuit Judge Kathleen McHugh said she would tack on an additional three months' probation because Johnson had failed to meet with his probation officer during three previous months. (ESPN)

Bruce Lee Statue Unveiled in L.A.'s Chinatown

The seven-foot statue is the first of its kind in the U.S. to honor the late actor and martial arts expert.

Bruce Lee has been memorialized with a seven-foot bronze statue in L.A.'s Chinatown.

U.K. Asian Awards to Honor Bruce Lee

Documentary Producer Claims Spike TV Stole Film Footage for 'I Am Bruce Lee'

Auction of Bruce Lee Items Exceeds Expectations

 

The statue of the late actor and martial arts expert was unveiled Saturday to a crowd of several hundred people in historic Central Plaza, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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Lee's daughter, Shannon, said the statue, which was created by an artist in Guangzhou, China, is the first of its kind to honor her father in the U.S. Its unveiling comes on the 40th anniversary of Lee's death -- as well as the 75th anniversary of Chinatown -- and was part of the annual celebration Chinatown Summer Nights.
The statue was donated by the Bruce Lee Foundation, a nonprofit group that was formed to honor Lee's legacy. It isn't yet permanently installed; business leaders are aiming to raise $150,000 for seating and a concrete base.

San Francisco-born Lee moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s and landed a role playing Kato on TV's The Green Hornet. During that time, he opened his third martial arts academy in Chinatown and worked out at the Alpine Recreation Center in the area.

STORY: Bruce Lee Origin Story Heading to Big Screen

He went on enjoy a brief film career that included such movies as Enter the Dragon before dying at age 32 in 1973. According to his widow, Linda, Lee died from cerebral edema caused by hypersensitivity to an ingredient in a prescription medication called Equagesic.

Liberace’s Ex-Lover: I Had 6 Year Affair with Michael Jackson

If you look further behind the candelabra, past Liberace and his ex-lover Scott Thorson, and like, over to the far, far right you’ll find Michael Jackson. That's the part where your eyes will grow large like "whoa" because WHOA.

Liberace’s former partner Scott wrote a memoir about his relationship with the famously guady diamond-loving pianist, which recently inspired the HBO movie directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Now, with a spotlight pushed back on Scott, he’s dishing even more details, this time about his alleged affair with Michael that went on for years—“six or seven” to be exactly inexact about it.

“Liberace introduced me and Michael in the late 1970s,” Scott told The Sun. “It was right around the time Thriller was coming out and Michael and I became lovers.”

This isn’t the first time Scott has told this anecdote (which Michael’s attorney Steve Cochran dismissed entirely as “false trash”). In 2004, he first told it to The National Enquirer, detailing their first sexual encounter.

“I was standing only a few feet away from Michael when he motioned with his hand to come over to him and join him in bed,” Scott relayed to the tabloid. “I climbed onto the bed. Our lovemaking session lasted about an hour.”

Scott, who’s now 54, has been in legal trouble recently. He's also claiming he wasn't paid appropriately for his contributions to the film and that he still feels hostile that the cast and crew of the film didn't financially support him while he was behind bars. Last Sunday he had to be bailed out of jail while awaiting a burglary charge sentence, so take that into consideration when you decide whether or not to believe his MJ affair story.