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This is just the latest jab at the former president after Trump’s administration announced plans to investigate Obama for treason.
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Former U.S. President Barack Obama condemned the increasing starvation of Palestinians in Gaza amid concerns of famine, as Israel continues to decimate the Middle Eastern territory as part of its nearly two-year military operation.
“Aid must be permitted to reach people in Gaza. There is no justification for keeping food and water away from civilian families,” wrote America’s first Black president in a post on X.
Obama shared news articles about the growing starvation in Gaza, adding that they “underscore the immediate need for action to be taken to prevent the travesty of innocent people dying of preventable starvation.”
The former U.S. president also called for a “lasting resolution” to the “crisis” in Gaza that includes the return of all hostages and a “cessation” of Israel’s military operations.
Obama’s public statement comes after the United Nations’ World Food Program said last week that the hunger crisis in Gaza reached “new and astonishing levels of desperation.” A third of Gaza’s two million population is not eating for “multiple days in a row,” the international organization said.
“Only a massive scale-up in food aid can stabilize the hunger catastrophe engulfing Gaza,” said the World Food Program.
The starvation in Gaza is especially impacting Gaza’s most vulnerable: the young, old and sick. Videos and images of emaciated infants and children have permeated TV news and the internet.
It’s not famine. It’s forced starvation.
Mass starvation stalks Gaza as deaths from hunger rise. pic.twitter.com/zllQd0cxo8
— Mohamad Safa (@mhdksafa) July 27, 2025
However, when it comes to addressing the obvious crisis, Israel has placed blame on Hamas. According to The New York Times, Israel claims Hamas is “engineering a narrative of starvation” by looting aid trucks and “disrupting” the distribution of aid to Gazans.
The Times added, “It also accuses the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations of failing to collect hundreds of truckloads of aid that have piled up on the Gaza side of the border crossings.” But aid groups blame Israel for restricting supplies and failing to provide safe routes for them to distribute aid and food inside Gaza.
Video and reporting have shown the Israeli military firing at crowds of Gazans as they attempted to retrieve aid. CNN reported that at least 73 people were killed by gunfire.
The Gaza Ministry of Health reported more than 40 hunger-related deaths in July, including 16 children, and 111 people (81 of whom were children) since the start of Israel’s military campaign, reports the Times.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday disagreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who disputed that there was starvation occurring in Gaza. Trump said, based on what he’s seen on television, “Those children look very hungry.” Trump added, “There is real starvation in Gaza – you can’t fake that.”
Trump has repeatedly said he would like to see the violence in Gaza come to an end. The White House has been working with allied countries in the region to negotiate another ceasefire after a previous truce negotiated by former President Joe Biden ended in March. Trump pulled back from negotiations out of frustration and told Israel to “finish the job” against Hamas, whom the president said “want to die.”
However, on Monday, Trump called the crisis in Gaza “a mess” and stressed that civilians “have to get food and safety right now.”
Over the week, an international group of activists, including U.S. union activist Chris Smalls, traveled on the ship, Handala, to deliver aid, including baby food, toys, and medicine, to Gazans. However, the ship was intercepted by the Israeli military, which took the activists into custody. The group of activists argued they were in international waters and therefore had a legal right to travel by sea.
Israeli officials, who shared that the activists were safe upon taking them in custody, said, “Unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts.”
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35
The Billboard 200 just experienced a seismic shift, and Tyler, the Creator stands triumphant at the top.
The rap iconoclast debuts at #1 with his genre-swirling new album DON’T TAP THE GLASS, moving a staggering 197,000 equivalent album units in its first week. According to Billboard, the total includes 93.34 million on-demand streams and a blockbuster 128,000 in pure album sales, making it not just a streaming triumph but a physical sales monster. This marks Tyler’s fourth consecutive #1 album, following CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST (2021), IGOR (2019), and Flower Boy (2017).
Tyler’s artistic evolution has now translated into a new commercial high. DON’T TAP THE GLASS is not only his biggest first-week sales since IGOR but it’s also one of the highest debuts of the year across all genres.
Morgan Wallen remains a chart mainstay, climbing one spot to #2 this week with I’m The Problem, earning 142,000 units. The album, now in its 18th week on the chart, boasts a cumulative total of 2.21 million units. It previously spent eight weeks at #1, cementing Wallen’s grip as one of country’s most commercially dominant stars even in a week ruled by Tyler.
Climbing two spots to #3, Netflix’s original soundtrack Kpop Demon Hunters continues to dominate with a robust 89,000 units, for a total of 342,000 units since release. Peaking previously at #2, the project taps into the global appeal of K-pop with a cinematic twist, bolstered by a viral TikTok campaign and streaming playlist placements that have made it a crossover sensation.
After debuting at #1 earlier this month, Travis Scott and the JACKBOYS fall three places to #4 with JACKBOYS 2, earning 78,000 units in its third week. The album has amassed 310,000 units overall, showcasing solid staying power despite stiff competition.
In the biggest leap of the week, Alex Warren’s emotional pop album You’ll Be Alright, Kid soars from #19 to #5, notching 73,000 units. That marks a new peak for the social media star turned singer-songwriter and puts him within striking distance of platinum status at 975,000 total units. Warren’s streaming numbers continue to surge as Gen Z embraces his vulnerable lyricism and alternative pop production.
Justin Bieber’s SWAG slips four spots to #6 with 72,000 units this week. With 235,000 units moved since its debut, Bieber’s latest effort is being buoyed by a mix of playlist exposure and fan-led streaming campaigns. The album peaked at #2 earlier this month.
Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne receives a powerful tribute from fans, as his compilation The Essential Ozzy Osbournerockets to #7, up 309% in sales following his recent passing. The album sold 44,000 units, giving the metal icon his highest chart position in over a decade. Streaming and catalog sales skyrocketed after tributes poured in, reminding the world of Osbourne’s immortal legacy.
Rising star Jessie Murph debuts at #8 with her provocative, confessional new project Sex Hysteria, pulling in 44,000 units driven by 48.23 million streams and a modest but notable 9,000 pure album sales. It marks her first top 10 album, a major milestone for the Nashville-raised, alt-pop breakout who’s found success blending gritty storytelling with hypermodern production.
Rap duo Clipse (Pusha T & Malice) drop five spots to #9 with their long-awaited reunion album Let God Sort Em Out, selling 43,000 units this week for a total of 161,000. The potential rap album of the year peaked at #4 earlier this month and has been widely praised by critics for its bold production and unapologetic lyricism.
Global superstars BTS debut at #10 with PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE (LIVE), moving 43,000 units driven by a surprisingly strong 36,000 in pure sales and 6.58 million on-demand streams. This marks the K-pop group’s eighth top 10 album, officially breaking the Billboard 200 record for most top 10s by a Korean act, overtaking previous record-holders SEVENTEEN, TWICE, and ATEEZ.
The live album’s success, driven largely by die-hard ARMY collectors and deluxe CD packages, underscores BTS’ continuing grip on Western markets even during a group hiatus for military service.
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Based on these celeb couples, it’s looking more and more like love for Black women is taking centerstage and honestly, it’s about time!
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Ciara has deepened her connection to the African continent with a Beninese citizenship.
The artist visited the West African country of Benin this week and left with much more than a souvenir. On Saturday, she received a certificate of citizenship in a ceremony with Beninese government officials such as the Minister of Tourism, Jean Michele Abimbola, and the Minister of Justice and Legislation, Yvon Detchenou.
“I feel incredibly proud,” the 39-year-old “Level Up” singer said tearfully during the ceremony. “The significance of this moment is so special.”
The trip to Benin was supported by a collaboration with RollingStone Africa and the tour agency, Explore Benin, which has been documenting the artist’s travels to the country’s largest city, Cotonou, and to Ouidah, where the site of the historical Slave Route trail and Door of No Return is located. In a post welcoming Ciara to the country, Explore Benin wrote, “Ciara walks the land of her ancestors for the first time.”
Ciara joins a tradition of other Black American celebrities who are gaining citizenship on the African continent. In 2020, the rapper Ludacris became a citizen of his wife’s native country of Gabon. He and his children now all have Gabonese nationality.
In another post from Explore Benin capturing Ciara’s citizenship ceremony, the agency said, “This initiative translates the willingness of Benin to assume its historical responsibility, to reconnect with its children scattered around the world, and to make its territory a land of welcome, memory and future.”
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15
Sophie Cunningham may have just pulled off the most chaotic viral double play of the WNBA season: walk into a Barbie Night game wearing a “Hot Girls Eat Arby’s” tee, walk out with both an endorsement deal and a cameraman’s faceprint on her backside.
Let’s break this down.
Ahead of tonight’s matchup between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, Cunningham arrived at Wintrust Arena in full hot girl meets fast food glory, confidently rocking a white T-shirt that read: “Hot Girls Eat Arby’s.” The slogan was both absurd and iconic, a punchy nod to the viral food review she did back in April when she filmed herself trying Arby’s for the first time in what became an oddly charming and meme-worthy video.
Four months later, she brought the joke full circle in front of thousands of fans during a themed “Barbie Night” game.
“An unapologetic queen,” the official Arby’s account wrote in a quote tweet, sharing a picture of Sophie in the shirt. And just like that, the roast beef chain made it official: Sophie Cunningham is now an Arby’s girl. A real one.
Social media lost it immediately:
- “Greatest crossover ever.”
- “Imagine being so hungry you eat Arby’s.”
- “Arby’s loves our Sophie!”
- “I always knew y’a had bad taste from how bad your food is.”
- “Arby’s getting the Sophie Cunningham endorsement. Priceless.”
There’s always backlash when fast food meets femininity, but the larger reaction was one of gleeful disbelief. Cunningham managed to meme herself into a brand deal without losing an ounce of cool, a masterclass in modern athlete marketing.
But if that wasn’t enough Sophie content for one night, the real viral moment came in the second quarter when Cunningham got fouled by Chicago’s Rebecca Allen and, in a chaotic tumble, accidentally sat on a cameraman’s face. The moment, somehow both clumsy and cinematic, was caught on tape and posted by infamous basketball parody account NBACentel.
Within hours, the video soared past 2.7 million views, and reactions were exactly as unhinged as you’d expect.
- “4,271 camera man applications were submitted this afternoon. 4,270 from me.”
- “Why did she look back in disgust like he’s some perv that assaulted her?”
- “I’m going to go to film school now.”
“And they say God doesn’t have a favorite.”
- “Hate seeing people living my dream.”
The cameraman, who has not been identified, reportedly is fine, but no word yet on whether he’ll ever recover spiritually from being accidentally sat on by a viral internet queen in an Arby’s tee.
Between the shirt, the endorsement, and the perfectly timed pratfall, Cunningham’s night was a trifecta of memeable madness. In an era where WNBA players are increasingly becoming lifestyle and cultural icons, this was Cunningham’s defining moment, not just as a baller, but as a brand in her own right.
The Barbie-themed night may have been marketed around pink and sparkle, but Sophie gave it roast beef and chaos.
She played 21 minutes, added 9 points and 3 rebounds to the stat sheet, and somehow left more viral than anyone else on the court.
Back in April, no one, possibly not even Cunningham, expected that a quick Arby’s taste test would evolve into a marketing coup. But with her sense of humor, confidence, and now-memeified status as “that girl who sat on the cameraman,” she’s claimed a unique cultural space.
The WNBA season is still young, but Sophie Cunningham has already won Viral Moment of the Year, with a sandwich chain and an accidental facial sit-in as her co-stars.
God bless the internet.
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This summer marks a decade since Womack’s death, which is why we’re looking back at the life and career of a talented singer and musician with a troubled backstory.
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TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Authorities said Sunday they are seeking to file terrorism charges and 11 charges of assault with intent to murder against a 42-year-old man accused of carrying out a knife attack at a Walmart store in Michigan.
Chaos unfolded at the Walmart on Saturday after the suspect entered the store during a calm shopping afternoon and randomly stabbed the victims with a pocket knife, authorities say. Minutes after the attack, the suspect was in custody with the help of bystanders at the store.
Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said quick action by bystanders helped to save lives.
“I cannot commend everyone that was involved enough. When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute,” Shea said at a press conference. “That is remarkable. When you look at it in that mitigated Lord knows how many additional victims.”
Shea said the 11 victims were both men and women and they ranged in age from 21 to 84. One victim was a Walmart employee. Munson Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tom Schermerhorn said at a press conference Sunday that one patient was treated and released; two were in serious condition; and the rest are in fair condition.
Steven Carter was loading his truck in the Walmart parking lot when he saw a man cut a woman’s throat with a knife.
About five minutes later, the man was surrounded by shoppers in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun. The group of five or six people kept yelling to the man “drop the knife,” he said, and the man responded: “I don’t care, I don’t care.” He kept backing away from the crowd, before someone tackled and subdued him.
“At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack,” said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. “And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. And that was, it was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived.”
Emergency vehicles and uniformed first responders gathered in the parking lot of the shopping center that houses several other retail stores. Authorities also were seen interviewing employees, still wearing blue uniform vests and name tags, nearby as the response gave way to an investigation.
Tiffany DeFell, 36, who lives in Honor, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Traverse City, said she was in the store’s parking lot when she saw chaos erupt around her.
“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,” she said. “This is something you see out of the movies. It’s not what you expect to see where you’re living.”
Munson Healthcare said via social media that 11 people were being treated at the region’s largest hospital in northern Michigan. Spokesperson Megan Brown said all were stabbing victims. As of Sunday morning, Brown said, four of the victims were in serious condition, and seven were in fair condition.
“We’ve have seen encouraging signs of recovery among our patients,” Brown said.
Shea said the weapon involved appeared to be a folding-style knife, adding that the stabbing started near the checkout counter of the store and that his victims were “not predetermined.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”
Walmart said in a statement that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation. On Sunday, a spokesman said he didn’t have any details about the store reopening and had no updates beyond the statement released late Saturday.
“Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders,” the statement said.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that bureau officials were responding to “provide any necessary support.”
Traverse City is a popular vacation spot on the coast of Lake Michigan. It is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses and is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
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14
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan is taking a powerful, unapologetic stand against the genocide unfolding in Gaza and she’s putting her money where her mouth is.
The Irish actress has helped raise over $500,000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians, personally contributing over $10,000 to the cause and calling on others to take immediate action in the face of what she calls “a level of inhumanity… unlike anything I’ve witnessed in my life.”
Her rallying cry is as clear as it is defiant: “Please donate and share. I’ve never witnessed anything more horrific in my life.”
Coughlan posted an emotional video on Instagram, confronting the ongoing mass starvation and death in Gaza while directly criticizing the UK government and Labour leader Keir Starmer for their silence.
“Hello, so I, like many of you, am completely horrified by the images coming out of Gaza,” Coughlan begins in her now-viral video. “Watching children being starved to death, watching people being starved to death… the government here in the UK, Keir Starmer, doing nothing about it, ignoring it, acting like it’s not happening.”
“There’s just a level of inhumanity in the situation, which I have never witnessed the like in my life. We’re literally watching this happen. Yeah, the government seem to be aiding and abetting this.”
With that, she launched a donation match campaign, pledging to match up to $10,000 USD in donations to Medical Aid for Palestinians. The campaign quickly ballooned into a $500,000+ fundraising victory, driven by her platform and public solidarity.
Coughlan’s activism has not gone unnoticed and not all the attention has been supportive. In an interview with Teen Vogue, the 37-year-old actress revealed the cold, retaliatory whispers from Hollywood insiders about her stance on Palestine.
“I was told certain agencies and studios won’t want to work with me for my support of a permanent ceasefire to the genocide happening in Palestine.”
But the backlash has only strengthened her resolve.
“If you know that you’re coming from a place of ‘I don’t want any innocent people to suffer,’ then I’m not worried about people’s reactions,” she declared.
This level of clarity, integrity, and moral courage is rare in an industry often allergic to political discourse, especially when that discourse challenges Western military alliances or questions Israeli aggression.
At the Canneseries festival, Coughlan was awarded the Commitment Prize by French media company Konbini for being a “talent actively making a change well beyond television.” During her hour-long career masterclass, the Derry Girls and Bridgerton star addressed everything from acting on Doctor Who to fighting for trans rights, abortion access, and the liberation of Palestine.
“There is a factor of ‘it’s better if you say nothing’ because our job is to entertain you,” she said. “But we are talking about right or wrong, about children being bombed in their beds. I wouldn’t accept that anywhere in the world.”
Coughlan also pointed to her deeply personal connection to the region.
“My dad was in the Irish Army, which is a peacekeeping force. My family lived in Jerusalem and Syria in the 70s, so it’s something that is in my bones.”
And she did not hesitate to call out the hypocrisy of selective empathy.
“Any country in the world that was facing this, I would talk about it. It’s not difficult. For me, the killing of innocent people is never right.”
Coughlan, who hails from Galway, underscored the long-standing solidarity between Ireland and Palestine, two nations whose histories are marked by colonialism, resistance, and the fight for self-determination.
“There has always been a connection between Palestine and Ireland. The two countries have shared ideals and struggles.”
That historical alliance is reflected in Ireland’s increasingly outspoken support for Palestinian rights. Irish politicians have been some of the most vocal in Europe in condemning Israeli military actions, with members of the Irish Parliament describing Israel as an apartheid regime.
Coughlan’s stance is part of a growing wave of celebrities refusing to stay silent about what humanitarian organizations and United Nations experts have repeatedly called a genocide. More than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s military assault, with entire hospitals, refugee camps, and schools obliterated. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the UN Special Rapporteur have all condemned the Israeli military’s actions as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
But in Hollywood, calling out genocide comes with a cost.
Major actors like Susan Sarandon, Melissa Barrera, and Mahershala Ali have faced public condemnation and blacklisting threats over their support for Palestine. Barrera was dropped from the Scream franchise over her pro-ceasefire social media posts. And now Coughlan joins this growing cohort of performers who are not just risking brand deals but their entire careers for the sake of human dignity.
Coughlan has made it crystal clear: the silence must be broken, and the suffering must be met with action.
“My instinct always is to say, what can we do? And in this situation, I think it’s always money.”
She’s raised over half a million dollars to deliver urgent aid to the besieged people of Gaza money that will go toward emergency surgeries, clean water, fuel, and food.
But more than that, she’s modeling what it looks like to use your platform not just for self-promotion but for moral clarity in a time of unthinkable violence.
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Raven-Symoné speaks out following the unexpected passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner 🕊️
Another heartbreaking moment for Black Hollywood as one of TV’s most beloved families mourns the loss of one of their own.
Raven-Symoné is speaking out following the sudden passing of her longtime friend and Cosby Show co-star, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Earlier this afternoon, Raven took to Instagram to share her thoughts—not just with a post, but with a sound bite reflecting on their bond and the impact Malcolm had on her life.
In the emotional audio clip, Raven said:
“Words cannot describe the pain and sadness and surprise that I feel with the recent loss of MJW. He was a big brother, he was a beacon, he was one of the most multifaceted, talented men. So gentle.”
Raven joined The Cosby Show as young Olivia Kendall in the show’s final seasons—instantly forming an unforgettable on-screen bond with Malcolm’s character, Theo Huxtable. Off-screen, that connection evolved into a real friendship that lasted decades.
“He gave the best advice, he gave the best hugs,” Raven continued. “And his smile will always be a huge bright f–king white smile in my head forever. I love you and I know you’re watching over all of us now.”
Raven’s tribute joins a growing chorus of heartfelt messages from fellow actors, fans, and cultural figures still reeling from the loss. While the cause of Malcolm’s passing has not yet been publicly disclosed, the sorrow surrounding his death is deep and widespread.
As the tributes continue, this moment is a reminder to check on your people, give them their flowers, and protect your peace. Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s legacy is one of quiet strength, Black excellence, and creative brilliance.
Rest in power, Malcolm. You were deeply loved.
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