Noir Nation, Olympian track star Sha’Carri Richardson ran into some legal troubles following a recent arrest at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after allegedly getting physical with her longtime boyfriend, fellow sprinter Christian Coleman!
According to Fox 4 an argument turned left fast as things began to get physical. Sources state Sha’Carri reportedly pushing Christian multiple times and even threw headphones at him, causing him to fall into a pole in front of witnesses.
👮🏽 “DOMESTIC VIOLENCE” CHARGE FILED… THEN DROPPED
The incident went down on July 27 around 6PM when a TSA checkpoint agent reported a woman assault a man while leaving security. Sha’Carri was later identified within the arrest affidavit and booked for fourth-degree assault—domestic violence.
Police officers were shown security footage of the alleged assault—that is described as Sha’Carri shoving the 29 year old into walls and columns withi the airport.
The 25 year old was locked up for nearly 19 hours before being released the next day. But here’s the twist:Christianrefused to cooperate and told police he didn’t want to be listed as a victim. No charges were filed.
“Mr. Coleman did not cooperate with officers, did not provide a statement and did not allow officers to photograph his injuries,” police confirmed. Authorities confirm that Christian revealed that the couple had gotten into a verbal argument that became, “heated,” however he refused to elaborate further.
🏁 BACK ON THE TRACK… KIND OF
Despite the drama, Sha’Carri still hit the track in Oregon for the U.S. Track & Field Championships, running an 11.07 in the heats. But fans noticed she later pulled out of the semis and the 200m race. Still, she remains automatically qualified for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
💬 NOIR NATION, SOUND OFF:
Noir Nation what are your thoughts on this?🗣️ Was the arrest necessary of both Sha’Carri and Christian declined accusations of assault? Let us know what you think in the comments
In the early 2000s, “Girlfriends” broke new ground for Black women on TV. But apparently, even the women in the groundbreaking show were scratching their heads at times. Tracee Ellis Ross recently opened up to “Self” magazine about how the onscreen friendship dynamics between Joan, Toni, Maya, and Lynn often left her and her castmates baffled.
“There was a lot of pushback from us as a cast all the time with Mara,” Ross said, referring to “Girlfriends” creator Mara Brock Akil. “[Because,] like, who treats their friends this way?”
You weren’t alone if you ever found yourself yelling at the screen because someone once again betrayed someone else over a man, a job, or a dream. Even Ellis Ross, who played the well-meaning but sometimes messy Joan Clayton, wasn’t always on board with certain storylines she felt were toxic.
“All four of us were always puzzled, because Joan, Toni, Maya, and Lynn treated each other in a way that none of us in our lives had experienced,” she explained. “In friendship, there was a lot of backstabbing, there was a lot of lying, there was a lot of secrets, there was a lot of taking advantage of, in a way that none of us in our lives could liken that to.”
The show’s creator, Mara Brock Akil has previously spoken to the realities she was facing in the TV industry when the show first came about.
“What was unique about Girlfriends that was different than Sex and the City, was Sex and the City was all about their dating relationships with a girl group to discuss it with. I wanted to shift it to the chosen family of sisterhood and use Joan and Toni as my Carrie and Mr. Big,” Brock Akil once told Harper’s Bazaar. “It was always about that—whether or not that relationship was ever going to make it, and then letting all the other ones wrap around it.”
“[Black women] did not have any seat at the table on Sex and the City. And although I still really enjoyed the show, I didn’t see that as a rejection, I saw it as an opportunity. So when this moment came, this [pitch] meeting came, when they said what they wanted, I said, ‘Well, I want to give you a very modern take on female friendships, similar to Sex and the City in tone and tonality.’ And that got their attention,” she explained.
While the show’s iconic theme song promised they were “through thick and thin,” Ross says those years on set felt more like navigating a minefield in stilettos. Still, it wasn’t all drama.
“I think for me those years, we were working in a very intense pressure cooker,” she noted that though the cast is close now, they weren’t close when they were filming. “Our dressing rooms were basically closets that had no windows. We all shared a bathroom, and this, like, common area, this like little, like couch area in the middle, and so we were just like on top of each other. There was no privacy. You couldn’t talk on the phone, so it’s like you’re slammed together as sisters, like these girl groups that don’t know each other.”
Still, in true “Girlfriends” fashion, their bond endured messy plotlines, backstage conditions, and all. And those friendships have outlasted the fictional fallout.
“It was just intense, but we made it out alive, and we are so proud of the work that we did, but it was after eight years, 173 episodes,” she concluded.
If you’ve been even remotely tapped into the pop zeitgeist over the past year, this moment felt inevitable. Chappell Roan’s new single “The Subway” has debuted at #1 on both the Global and US Spotify charts, pulling in a massive 8.351 million streams worldwide and 3.904 million in the U.S. alone in just 24 hours.
That’s not just impressive. It’s historic. “The Subway” is now the biggest debut for a female artist on the Global Spotify chart in 2025, surpassing Sabrina Carpenter’s fan-favorite “Manchild” (8.05M). For Roan, it’s her highest debut ever, and her first time hitting the top of the global chart. Yes, we’re screaming.
The Era of Chappell Roan Is Here
For longtime fans of Chappell, the kind who’ve been rinsing “Pink Pony Club” since 2021, this is the kind of payoff that feels like witnessing your favorite underground act finally get the mainstage slot they were always destined for. “The Subway” is everything we’ve come to expect from her and more: theatrical, devastating, queer, and completely uninterested in playing it safe.
Clocking in at #2 on the biggest overall Spotify debuts of the year, “The Subway” ties with Justin Bieber’s “DAISIES” and trails only Playboi Carti’s absurdly chaotic “EVIL J0RDAN” (9.52M). Not bad company, especially when you’re bringing maximalist queer heartbreak to the masses.
Noir Nation, Issa Rae is catching serious heat after three screenwriters slapped her with a copyright infringement lawsuit over her 2025 hit film ‘One of Them Days‘ starring Keke Palmer and SZA!
According to the trio—Joshua Isaacson, Shon Oku, and Tyrone Perry—claim that the powerhouse creatorrecent box office film One of Them Days is a direct copy of a screenplay they wrote back in 2020 titled One of Those Days.
“The entire premise, tone, and structure was copied… this wasn’t a coincidence,” the writers allege in the court docs.
In the lawsuit filed this week, the writers allege that their original work was shared with several people who now have connections to Rae’s production team. And when One of Them Days premiered with Keke Palmer and SZA leading the cast, they instantly saw red flags. The lawsuit claims that not only were the plot lines, themes, tone, and even some character arcs eerily similar, but the overall structure and story beats were “strikingly alike.”
“The similarities between the two scripts are too specific and too extensive to be coincidental,” the lawsuit reads.
🎥 It’s Bigger Than Issa: Sony, ColorCreative, and More Named in the Suit
It’s not just Issa Rae being called out. The legal docs also list her company ColorCreative, Sony Pictures, TriStar, and the credited screenwriter Syreeta Singleton. The plaintiffs claim that the companies knowingly moved forward with a project that was based on stolen work. In an effort to back up their claim, the writers even enlisted John Brancato, a veteran screenwriting consultant, to do a side-by-side comparison.
Brancato reportedly found the similarities to be alarming.
“There’s no way these two projects developed independently—the plots are nearly identical in structure, pacing, and message,” he stated in his analysis.
💰 $51 Million At The Box Office… But At What Cost?
One of Them Days pulled in a whopping $51 million at the box office, but now the original writers are looking to be compensated for what they say was an intellectual property heist. They’re demanding a jury trial, monetary damages, and for proper screenwriting credit to be acknowledged.
The film, which explores themes of identity, struggle, and sisterhood in a surreal, comedic tone, was originally praised for its “originality.” But with this lawsuit looming, fans and critics alike are starting to question how “original” it really was.
🗣️ Noir Nation, Drop Your Thoughts!
Do you think this is a case of creative theft—or just a wild coincidence? Should Issa Rae respond publicly or let the courts handle it? Weigh in below!
Shannon Sharpe is the center of yet another lawsuit. The former ESPN host and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson are being sued for comments they made about Jimalita Tillman, a Usher concertgoer, on their “Nightcap” podcast.
“On April 2, 2025, I participated in a fan engagement moment at a Usher Raymond concert where I interacted with the artist as a selected audience member,” the lawsuit reads, per the U.S. Sun. “Following this event, the defendants made and disseminated false and defamatory statements suggesting that I was married and that my husband was filing for divorce due to my participation in this audience experience. I am not married, nor am I currently going through a divorce.”
Despite Johnson and Sharpe’s claims, Tillman, who is a global director for the Harold Washington Cultural Center, stresses that she “was not married at the time of the fan participation moment during the Usher concert.” So much so that she did a news interview to combat the allegations.
“That is completely false. I am single,” Tillman told WGN News at the time. “I am a retired homeschool mom looking to expand the arts here and across the pond. I am single. You got a cherry, give me a jingle.”
In addition to publicly refuting the false claims, Tillman said she “made numerous efforts to contact the defendants to request the removal of this false narrative, but these requests were disregarded.”
She said these false narratives, which were “shared widely across their platforms, reaching millions of followers,” caused “significant harm” to her character and reputation.
“Their continued dissemination of these false statements after I publicly clarified my marital status demonstrates a reckless disregard for the truth,” reads the lawsuit. “The ongoing misinformation has resulted in emotional distress for the plaintiff, damaged her reputation and adversely affected her personal and professional relationships.”
Now, Tillman is seeking $20 million in damages in her lawsuit against Sharpe, Johnson and the show’s production company, Shay Shay Media. This lawsuit comes weeks after Sharpe settled a $50 million sexual assault lawsuit and days after ESPN severed ties with the NFL Hall of Famer.
The drama continues long after the villa gates have closed.
Love Island USA Season 6 alumni Leah Kateb and Miguel have publicly addressed growing speculation surrounding fellow islander Louis Russell’s relationship with influencer Huda Mustafa. What began as quiet social media unfollowings has now erupted into a wave of statements, clarifications, and thinly veiled shade.
Leah Breaks Her Silence
On TikTok, Leah addressed the ongoing discourse about Louis and Huda directly, responding to fans who questioned whether jealousy or personal conflict played a role in the recent unfollowings.
“I don’t know Huda. There is no ‘beef.’ I wish her well,” Leah wrote. “I am always happy to see a fellow Middle Eastern shine. I pray she protects her energy. From all kinds of people.”
Leah went on to explain that she, along with other islanders, had reasons for distancing themselves from Louis, and Huda was never one of them.
“There’s many reasons why WE all unfollowed Louis… Huda isn’t one of them and never was,” she stated. “They can try and spin it that way but they know that’s not the truth cuz I’ve said directly to [his] face why.”
She dismissed the idea that any of this was orchestrated for attention: “This live had 60 views. If u think any of this is for anything but clout… lollill it’s the month I’m telling u!”
Miguel Adds Context and Criticism
Not long after Leah’s comments surfaced, fellow islander Miguel weighed in, posting a lengthy statement that revealed deeper fractures in the post-show friendships.
Miguel expressed dismay over the public scrutiny of his relationship and Huda’s mental health, accusing former friends of speaking negatively “in such a public manner with no regard” for the impact it might have.
“People I called my friends feeling as though they have the right to talk on my relationship so negatively in such a public manner… is disgusting,” he wrote. “I’m beyond disappointed. I’m beyond upset. And I honestly want no part in any of it.”
Miguel clarified that the root of the unfollowings wasn’t the relationship itself, but rather what some of the women perceived as Louis’s motivation for dating Huda.
“To shed light on a certain topic,” he added, “Leah and the girls didn’t unfollow Louis because he was dating Huda. They did it because, as women, the reasoning behind why he was dating her didn’t sit right with them.”
He closed with a clear message: “Whether or not they are truly falling for each other at this point I couldn’t care less. I wish them nothing but peace, but my road is my own, and I would prefer if my name and my girl’s name no longer crossed into their world.”
Noir Nation; you’ve ever debated between reaching for a Reese’s or an Oreo, snack time just got a whole lot easier! In what might be one of the most mouthwatering collabs of the year, Reese’s and Oreo have teamed up for an exclusive, limited-edition cookie that’s already got dessert lovers in a frenzy!
According to CNN, highly anticipated treat features “a peanut butter creme layered sandwich between two classic Oreo cookies” with an extra drizzle of that signature Reese’s chocolate.
“Essentially, what consumers often start riffing on in social media is ‘What would go great in a Reese’s cup?’ The top brand that they consistently mention time and time again is Oreo,” said Dan Mohnshine, vice president of US Confection Marketing for Hershey in a statement to CNN.
🍬 Social Media Reacts: ‘This Is Dangerous!’ As expected, fans online wasted no time flooding comment sections with excitement. One user wrote, “This is not a want, it’s a NEED.” Another joked, “Big back season continues.”
⚠️ Limited-Time Only—So Act Fast! The Reese’s x Oreo cookies are rolling out to major retailers nationwide this month—but they won’t be here forever. Word is, once they’re gone, they’re gone.
💬 In the Words of One Twitter User: “This collab is proof the snack gods have heard our prayers.”
Whether you’re a sweet-tooth stan or a casual cookie craver, this drop is worth the hype.
When I was six years old, I learned I didn’t belong. Not because of anything I had done, but because of who I was.
It was the first day of school in Galveston, Texas in 1961. I was a little Black girl in a pretty new dress, clutching my school supplies and walking proudly beside my grandmother. I had no reason to expect anything but excitement. School was supposed to be the beginning of something magical.
Instead, it became the birthplace of my silence.
That day, we were met by angry people screaming racial slurs and telling me—without hesitation or shame—that I didn’t belong. I didn’t understand every word, but I felt every bit of it. By the end of the week, I was silent. By the end of the year, I had disappeared into myself.
My photo appeared in a local newspaper to prove the school had been integrated. I was visible. But I wasn’t seen.
What I experienced wasn’t just racism. It was erasure. And I carried it for years. My parents eventually moved me to Chicago, where I was placed in a Catholic school and met a gentle nun named Sister Christella who extended the first hand of healing. She created my first memory of the inside of a school building. Her calm voice and open heart helped me in ways I can’t find words for. Her belief in me helped me believe in myself. It took 5 years before I was able to speak in a school again. Selective mutism became the way I coped. Because of her, I became a teacher too.
For over four decades now, I’ve built classrooms, schools, and programs around one core commitment: no child or person in my care will ever feel the way I did during my experience in Galveston. I may not always have had the language for it back then, but I know now that the word is belonging. And it’s not a luxury. It’s not fluff. It’s not “extra.” It’s survival.
Which brings me to today.
There are credible efforts underway to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, and with it, the federal funding that sustains schools across this nation, particularly those serving our most vulnerable students. According to the Albert Shanker Institute (Baker, 2025), eliminating federal aid would cost students the equivalent of up to 46 days of learning each year. The greatest losses would fall squarely on the shoulders of our most vulnerable students.
For students already navigating trauma, poverty, or systemic barriers, school can either be a place of healing or another site of harm. For millions of children, the services funded by the Department of Education such as Title I reading specialists, mental health professionals, special education supports, afterschool programs, free meals are not optional. They are lifelines.
Gloria’s first day of school. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Gloria McDaniel-Hale.)
If federal funding disappears, children won’t simply lose textbooks or tutoring—they’ll lose connection. They’ll lose teachers who understand them. They’ll lose safe spaces where their voices can rise and their spirits can grow. And worst of all, some may lose the belief that they belong at all. I know what that feels like. I remember what it did to me.
In many ways, I’ve devoted my life to reversing that damage, for myself and for others. I’ve taught second grade and led schools. I’ve trained future principals and published research. My work has been grounded in the neuroscience of learning, the power of culturally responsive teaching, and the foundational truth that the brain cannot learn when the heart feels unsafe.
When a child feels seen, heard, and valued, they flourish. When they don’t, they fade. Some call this “soft stuff,” but the data say otherwise.
The Shanker Institute’s simulations show that every student in every state would lose learning under federal cuts, but the most devastating effects would hit the poorest districts. In Mississippi, for example, the highest-poverty districts receive up to 20% of their funding from the federal government. That means a cut isn’t just a financial subtraction but it’s also an erasure of opportunity.
In addition, when states are allowed to reallocate federal dollars through unregulated block grants, it’s a setup for widening the already enormous equity gap. Some students may see small gains, but those gains come at the expense of communities already struggling to stay afloat.
Dismantling the Department of Education and slashing funding to our public schools may not only hurt test scores, it could deepen cycles of exclusion and disconnection. It could tell another generation of children what I was told at age five: “You don’t belong.”
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 13: Tori holds her daughter, Naomi, 7, during a rally in front of the Department of Education to protest budget cuts on March 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. On Monday, the House passed a continuing resolution that would cut over $1 billion from D.C.’s budget, potentially leading to layoffs and reduced public safety, school, and transportation services. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Let’s talk about what we’ve learned since those “old” days.
We know that belonging fuels achievement. We also know that when teachers have the tools to support every learner, outcomes improve. We know that schools don’t exist in isolation, and they are the beating hearts of their communities.
Cutting funding could not only be detrimental to students, but all of us who are part of their village.
It’s time to invest more and not less in our children’s ability to learn, grow, and thrive. What makes schools succeed isn’t just a curriculum or set of test scores, but connection. It’s the knowing, deep down, that someone believes you matter. If we lose that, we lose everything.
So I offer this analysis not just as an educator, but as the little girl I once was—standing silent on a Texas sidewalk, wondering what I had done to be hated by strangers.
Let’s not send that message again. Not to another five-year-old. Not to any child or person.
We can choose differently. We should. Because when we fund belonging, we fund futures.
Dr. Gloria McDaniel-Hall is an educator with over 40 years of experience and currently serves as an associate professor of educational leadership in Chicago. She co-chairs her university’s Racial Justice Task Force and focuses her work on equity, belonging, and healing-centered practices in schools. Dr. McDaniel-Hall is also the author of children’s books on social-emotional learning and the forthcoming No Teacher Left Behind.
