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Teenager Alabama Barker, daughter of musician Travis Barker and stepdaughter to reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian has ignited a conversation about body image and the impact of social media scrutiny. In a recent TikTok video, Alabama revealed her struggles with negative self-perception and the surprising decision to use weight loss medication.

Thrust into the limelight at a young age due to her family ties, Alabama has long been subject to public opinion. The influence of the Kardashian-Jenners, renowned for their curated appearances, has arguably placed unrealistic beauty standards upon her. Throughout the years, Alabama has been targeted with accusations of plastic surgery and body-shaming remarks. While previously dismissing these claims, the relentless negativity appears to have chipped away at her self-esteem.

Alabama’s TikTok video offered a glimpse into her insecurities. She expressed frustration with online comments that focus heavily on her appearance, stating, “I have this thing where I photograph so ugly, and people are like, ‘Oh my God, you’re so fat, and you’re so ugly.’” Further highlighting the disconnect between online personas and reality, she emphasized, “I see what you guys are seeing, but just meet me in person. I feel like I don’t look like that.”

Despite her efforts to maintain a positive self-image, Alabama’s video revealed a sense of succumbing to the pressure to conform. In a candid confession, she stated, “I’m on weight-loss medication because I’m tired of being fat and photographing like a damn ogre.” While the specific medication remains undisclosed, her decision raises questions about healthy weight management practices.

@tiktokroom_

#alabamabarker #foryoupage #fyp

♬ original sound – Instagram: @tiktokro

Alabama’s use of weight loss medication invites comparisons to her mother, Shanna Moakler. Just last month, Moakler publicly discussed using Mounjaro, a prescription weight loss drug, to deal with the grief of losing both parents in 2023. Similarly, Moakler attributed her weight gain to emotional distress and a lack of motivation for diet and exercise.

Do you think Alabama Barker made the right decision by using weight loss medication?

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Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

In fear of a prowler near her home, Sonya Massey called 911 for help, according to officials. 

She ended up dying after being shot in the face by a police officer — over a pot of hot water. 

The details of the 36-year-old’s death are rage-inducing. 

When Sangamon County deputies arrived at Massey’s home in Springfield, Illinois, around 12:50 a.m. on July 6, prosecutors say one of those officers, Deputy Sean Grayson, “aggressively yelled” at Massey to put a pot of boiling water down. She did, and then once she put her hands in the air, she said “I’m sorry” as she ducked for cover before being shot in the face. 

According to court documents, when the officers encountered Massey, she “appeared to be calm, perhaps unwell, not aggressive.” After entering her home, Grayson “noticed a pot on the stove, and approved of Massey removing the pot to prevent any accidental fires” as  the pot “apparently contained heated water.”

What happened next is unclear, but after Massey set the pot down on a counter in the kitchen, Grayson, who was in Massey’s living room, then “drew his 9mm firearm and threatened to shoot Ms. Massey in the face.”

Upon seeing the gun, Massey put her hands in the air and said “I’m sorry” while ducking for cover behind the counter that separated her and Grayson. 

“With his firearm still drawn, Grayson went closer to Massey and aggressively yelled at her to put the pot down,” and then shot her in the face according to CNN, citing court documents. 

If Grayson’s level of depravity was not made clear enough by this breakdown, consider that even after he shot Massey, a woman who called the police for help from a prowler, he went on to discourage the other deputy from getting his medical kit.

“The other deputy still rendered aid and stayed with Ms. Massey until medical help arrived,” First Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Rodgers wrote in court documents. Grayson “at no time attempted to render aid to Ms. Massey.”

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After an investigation determined Grayson had no justified use of force, he was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct.

Additionally, Sheriff Jack Campbell said Grayson has been fired.

“It is clear that the deputy did not act as trained or in accordance with our standards. … With our badge, we accept enormous responsibility, and if that responsibility is abused, there should be consequences,” Campbell said on Wednesday.

That same day, the Massey family, supported by 200 people outside, reportedly visited the Springfield NAACP to view body camera footage of the shooting. 

Ben Crump, an attorney for Massey’s family, in a statement on Thursday, called the indictment “an important milestone in the pursuit of justice.”

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker also weighed in on the charges. 

“I am enraged that another innocent Black woman had her life taken from her at the hands of a police officer,” Pritzker said. “I’m grateful to the Springfield State’s Attorney’s office for bringing the appropriate charges in this case. May Sonya Massey’s memory be a blessing, and may it fuel our work to build a system of justice in this country that truly protects all of its citizens.”

The body cam video will be released Monday morning, and the footage will be unredacted besides “certain images” out of respect for Massey’s family.

“The actions taken by Deputy Grayson do not reflect the values and training of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office or law enforcement as a whole,” the statement reads, in part. “Good law enforcement officers stand with our community in condemning actions that undermine the trust and safety we strive to uphold. In times like these, it is crucial for leadership across all sides and spectrums to come together to heal our community.”

I will never become numb to the number of unarmed Black people who needlessly die at the hands of the state, but I am bored of hearing the same statements from the same set of people. 

The law enforcement officials who swear that, in spite of statistical evidence of police discrimination, shooting unarmed Black people is not the norm.

The politicians who condemn racism and police brutality but offer no plan of action to address it.

Even the lawyers, who are just doing their jobs, calling an indictment a significant win after so many years of so many other indictments and convictions leaving us in the same predicament. 

Carson said: “It is extremely hard to imagine how a woman who calls the police out of fear of an intruder ends up shot in the head by police at her own home.”

It is shocking, to be sure, but totally surprising? Unfortunately, no. When don’t we hear of a white officer shooting a Black person? 

Sonya Massey’s death is a travesty, and for Black people, a frightening reminder of what we already know: We can’t call the police for help without the possibility of not surviving.

Sonya Massey’s killer should face consequences for what he did and how he did it, but she should still be here. 

She was only 36. She had a whole life ahead of her, but she called the police for help and lost her life for it.

Her life deserved a better ending and we deserve the right to fear it could happen to us, too. 

Michael Arceneaux is the New York Times bestselling author of “I Can’t Date Jesus, I Don’t Want To Die Poor,” and his latest essay collection, “I Finally Bought Some Jordans.”

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Kim Kardashian revealed a vulnerability in a recent episode of “The Kardashians,” discussing the lasting impact of her 2016 Paris robbery. Kardashian, speaking with her sister Khloe, described how the harrowing experience has left her grappling with emotional detachment.

In a candid moment, Kardashian shared, “Imagine being held at gunpoint, tied up, dragged across a room. I remember him [the robber] saying, ‘Stay calm and you’ll live.’ And I did that. It absolutely saved my life then.”

However, Kardashian worries the coping mechanism she developed may be coming at a cost. “I think I’ve gotten too calm,” she reflected. “To the point where people might take advantage, or worse, I’m just turning into a robot with no emotions.”

The reality star isn’t alone in experiencing emotional struggles after a traumatic event. Many trauma survivors report difficulty processing emotions, sometimes resorting to emotional numbing as a way to cope.

Kardashian’s openness about her mental health struggles could help normalize conversations about trauma and its aftereffects.

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Former probate judge Christina Peterson is not backing down after she claims she was falsely arrested for assaulting an officer while at a nightclub last month. Peterson was set to appear for a hearing related to the June incident, but according to Fox News, the hearing was canceled and there’s no word of when it will be rescheduled.

Nevertheless, Peterson is maintaining her innocence, and she is using her platform to not only share her truth but also to expose an alleged plot to remove her and several other Black officials in Douglas, County Georgia.

In a recent Instagram post, Peterson shared a clip from her interview with Atlanta rapper Young Joc stating “currently 4 Black electeds have pending felonies with 3 awaiting trial in August 2024, 1 was removed from office, 2 were suspended, and 1 was investigated by special grand jury.”

Peterson went on to write “These are not bad elected officials; these are bad actors in the community who are not happy with the duly elected black leadership.” Apparently, the judge believes there is an ongoing plot to rid her county of Black officials, and this “attack” includes framing her for assaulting a police officer.

Peterson was arrested on June 20 and charged with willful obstruction of law enforcement officers by use of threats or violence and simple battery against a police officer.

According to the original police report obtained by Fox 5, the Douglas County judge allegedly hit an officer on the head early Thursday morning at Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge. The report claimed the judge appeared to be under the influence and refused to identify herself to officials.

Following her release from jail, Peterson called her arrest a “setup” and insisted she was “trying to help a woman who was being attacked by men” when she accidentally hit the officer. Peterson alleges she has “bruises, [a] black eye, [and a] swollen knee” from the incident. Two witnesses have come forward in Peterson’s defense, speaking at a press conference.

Peterson also posted footage which shows a different angle from the night of the alleged incident. In the video, you can see a man and woman get into a physical altercation followed by multiple women trying to break up the fight.

“The idea that a good Samaritan, who was helping a woman that was being viciously attacked [Alexandria Love], could be arrested and the man, who was viciously attacking the woman did not get arrested speaks to other issues that will be addressed at a later time,” Marvin Arrington Jr., the lawyer representing Peterson, said.

According to Arrington, Peterson and Love are both victims and should have been treated a such. He called out the Atlanta Police Department (APD) saying there are “inconsistencies in the officer’s statements.”

A growing list of more than 2,600 Black women signed a letter to Democratic Party leadership, demanding that they not abandon President Joe Biden amid political pressure to suspend his reelection campaign. Organizers of the letter tell theGrio that ousting the 81-year-old president would be a “betrayal” to Black women across the country. 

“We fought hard for this administration to win. Fought hard to make sure that it was a Black woman on that ticket. Fought hard and worked hard to push for the gains we have made,” said Melanie L. Campbell, chair of the Power of the Ballot Action Fund.

“It would have a devastating effect on how Black women see the Democratic Party as the most viable option for us,” the civil rights leader told theGrio. The longtime activist added, “We’re under attack in so many ways. It would be a betrayal that would have negative consequences.”

Campbell led thousands of Black women, including voters, delegates and political leaders like former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and Donna Brazile, former chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Black women are taking it personally

As Democratic leaders in Congress increasingly call for Biden to step down as the party’s presumptive nominee, the collective of Black women argue in the letter that it would  “circumvent the will of millions of voters” to push the president aside over a “bad 90-minute debate performance against a serial liar who wants to destroy our democracy and be a dictator-in-chief.

“The suggestion that any candidate who won their primary should simply step aside because victory appears difficult at the moment is disrespectful to the voters, unjust and undemocratic,” said the letter.

LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, told theGrio she doesn’t trust news headlines and “unsourced” stories about Democratic conversations regarding Biden’s political future.

“I believe there’s an underground effort to throw [things] on the wall and see what will stick,” said Brown, who famously helped mobilize Black voters in Georgia and beyond, leading to historic gains for the Democratic Party in the 2020 race.    

“I don’t put my life on the line every day for a small group of elite Democrats to make a decision when we worked our asses off really engaging people … Not only is it not acceptable, it’s really anti-democratic,” she added.

The Black women leaders say part of the letter is to reclaim their electoral power, as they’ve done in previous election cycles.

“We believe that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will win this race. We believe that there’s a path to victory, and we all know that the path to victory will entail the active participation and dedication of Black women,” Brazile told theGrio. “We know that this is going to be a major battle to win back the White House as well as keep control of the United States Senate and take back the House.”

The longtime political strategist added, “But as Black women, we take our civic participation very seriously, and we intend to make our voices heard.”

Brazile said hundreds of people have reached out to join in on the letter backing Biden and Harris. “These are the same activists that got out, knocked on doors, registered new voters and really made a huge difference for Joe Biden after his selection of Kamala Harris in 2020,” she shared.

Backing Kamala Harris

The Black women voters expressed concerns about what the chatter about Biden’s future could mean for Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Though some Democrats think Harris is the most viable candidate for the nomination as Biden’s running mate and constitutional successor if Biden were to drop out, others have suggested a first-of-its-kind open primary in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention in August, just three months ahead of Election Day. 

“They can f–k around and find out if they want to without her on the ticket,” said Brown, who added, “Our spidey senses are up.”

Brown recalled when Black women and Black men “saved the day” and then were sidelined by white Americans during historical periods like the women’s suffrage movement and the U.S. Civil War.

“It was literally 50 years later before our right to vote was secured,” she said of the women’s suffrage movement that led to white women gaining the right to vote. “Here we are leading suffrage, and white women left us there,” Brown declared.

After the U.S. Civil War, when “white folks got what they needed out of us, they put us to the side and our interests to the side,” she said. Brown continued, “That will not happen again this year. We literally want to make sure that our voice is not marginalized, and we’re not accepting anything less.”

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The Black women leaders also say they are prepared to fight on behalf of Harris, who is already facing political and personal attacks as a Black woman.

“There’s a proven playbook for attacking Black women in America, which has been fine-tuned over decades,” said Rachel Noerdlinger, another organizer of the letter and equity partner at the political strategy firm, Actum.

“It was imperative we got ahead of the inevitable narratives, the time-tested attacks, and efforts to discredit the highest-ranking Black woman in American history,” Noerdlinger told theGrio. 

“This is a statement that we stand with her, and President Biden, in numbers because this administration has delivered for Black Americans, especially our sisters, over the last three and a half years.”

Noerdlinger, a longtime Democratic operative and communications adviser, said it’s been “open season for discrediting, discriminating, and diminishing Black women” since the U.S. Supreme Court gutted affirmative action last summer.

“You saw that last summer when the Fearless Fund was attacked for helping women of color, then when Bill Ackman pressured Claudine Gay to resign as president of America’s oldest university,” she maintained. “Those attacks will pale in comparison to what’s awaiting Vice President Harris — especially if she indeed becomes the nominee.” 

Don’t trust the polls

Though Democratic leaders like U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., have cited polling for why Biden should no longer seek reelection, the Black women organizers say they’re not buying it.

They have been on the ground in battleground states like Georgia, North Carolina and Nevada, talking to Black women voters, who expressed concerns about Biden’s June 27 debate performance but were left confident after subsequent campaign events.

“[They] say that wasn’t enough for somebody to have to step down,” shared Campbell. “I don’t think they’re talking to the voters.”

The activist said polls also showed former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would handily win against Trump in 2016, and yet “she didn’t make it across that finish line.” 

She added, “It’s one thing to listen to the outside polls but … have you polled your delegates? I know some delegates, and they haven’t been called.”

Brown of Black Voters Matter Fund appeared offended that Democratic leaders never reached out to her and other organizers to obtain their opinions.

“They depend on us for mobilizing hundreds and thousands of voters … I have not gotten a single call from party leadership asking me about … the thoughts of the people that I work with and I represent in all the states we work in,” said Brown. “So where are you getting your information from?”

Sticking with Biden

Ultimately, the letter’s supporters said President Biden kept his promises to Black women and Black voters more broadly. 

“He said he would put a woman on the ticket. He chose a Black, South Asian woman in Kamala Harris. He said he would nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court. We now have Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson,” said Campbell. 

“He has put more Black women in positions in his administration, and Black people and brown people. He has made his administration one of the most diverse that I’ve ever seen.”

Campbell said Black voters are more concerned about the threat of a second Trump administration than Biden’s age.

“Is he supporting voting rights? Is he supporting reproductive rights and a right for us to control our bodies? Is he supporting Black-owned businesses? No,” she told theGrio. “They’re weaponizing diversity equity inclusion as un-American.”

Campbell also decried calls from conservatives like Project 2025’s proclamation to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. “Where do you get a Pell Grant from? Where do you get a no-interest loan from? How does that help support public schools where most Black children go?” she asked rhetorically.

She also expressed concern about what Trump would do with the power to appoint more judges to the federal bench, particularly the Supreme Court.

“We know what he would do if he had the ability to take on and appoint more judges to roll back the clock,” said Campbell. “His three appointees got rid of affirmative action in higher education that has now rolled into corporations getting rid of diversity and equity.”

Given what’s at stake, Brown said Black voters understand that “this really ain’t no popularity contest,” but that it is about what is “pragmatic and practical.”

“We’ve been in this country long enough. We have not had the luxury to vote for the last 60 years for folks that we were excited about,” she explained. “When democracy ain’t in place. Black people don’t do well. And so we understand that in ways that other communities may not.”

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Latto throws cold water on the idea of a heated rap battle with Ice Spice, despite some underlying friction between the two rappers. In a recent Billboard interview, Latto addressed the possibility of a lyrical showdown similar to the Drake-Kendrick Lamar beef.

While acknowledging her enjoyment of the Drake-Kendrick back-and-forth, Latto politely declined the prospect of battling Ice Spice. She clarified, “If I was to do [a battle], it would have to be with somebody I feel like I’ma go tit for tat with,” emphasizing it wasn’t meant as a diss towards Ice Spice. The implication is that Latto seeks a worthy opponent for a full-fledged lyrical exchange.

Latto went on to suggest a fundamental difference in styles between her and Ice Spice. “I feel like she’s doing her in her lane,” she explained, implying their approaches to rap are distinct. She further hinted that Ice Spice might not be interested in an all-out rap beef either, stating, “I don’t even think she gives me like, ‘Oh, she wants to engage in an actual rap beef.’”

While playful lyrical jabs are part of the rap game according to Latto, she downplayed the seriousness of any tension with Ice Spice. “Everybody gon’ take their lil jabs in the music, and it’s not even that serious to me,” she said. Latto seems content to let any minor friction play out subtly in their music, rather than escalating it into a full-blown rap battle.

This leaves the question open: Will Ice Spice rise to the (unofficial) challenge and ignite a lyrical feud? Or will she follow Latto’s lead and keep things lighthearted, avoiding a potential battle altogether? Only time will tell if these two rappers decide to keep things friendly or engage in a more heated exchange.

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Updated as of 7/19/2024 at 5:34 p.m. ET:

Despite everyone in the hip-hop community questioning his relationship with Ye, Sean quickly put those claims to bed while on Instagram Live Thursday. He also added that Kanye did not order to have his album leaked, as a crazed fan initially claimed.

He stated, “I know he ain’t do that s**t. I love Ye. Without him, there would be no me.”

Sean has also officially announced the album that was rumored to have been leaked earlier this week. “Better Than You” is set to release on August 9th.

Original story below:

Big Sean had social media buzzing on Tuesday over his freestyle for “On the Radar,” mainly because of lyrics that seem aimed at his former boss, Kanye West. Sean rapped, “I had to switch the home team ’cause they committed treason/N****s looking for engagement like they got their knee bent/I got better things to do than to find someone to beef with.”

One day later, on the same day Sean teased what sounds like some fire new music, his upcoming 14-track album was also leaked on the internet in retaliation to the perceived shots at West.

Although this got everyone on social media protecting their favorite artist, whether it was Big Sean or Ye, one fan took it to another level. A person who claims to be a huge fan of the Chicago artist leaked a version of Sean’s upcoming album on a site known for music leaks.

Along with the leaked project, the fan wrote: “Since he wanna disrespect Ye so much, here’s the album, f**k him and his whole team. Precision is on the album, just not in these files. This was the album as of couple months ago. Features Nas, Dream, Jhene, and some other people.”

They later added, “Ye told me to leak it.”

This person also clarified that the alternative title for the record is “Better Me Than You.”

In response to the leak, Sean officially teased new music with legendary producer The Alchemist. In the post, he wrote, “Might as well start droppin, before they leak it all, got damn.”

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British R&B sensation Mabel is back with a brand new anthem for trusting your gut, “Female Intuition.”

The track, released via Capitol Records, finds Mabel embracing her instincts and inner strength. With its infectious production and Mabel’s signature vocals, “Female Intuition” marks a confident new chapter for the award-winning artist. You can hear the new single here.

The visual, co-directed by Mabel herself and Simone Beyene, is an homage to the classic James Bond scene in “Goldfinger.” Powerful lyrics and performances by Mabel’s mother, Neneh Cherry, and other influential women in her life are projected onto her body throughout.

“Female Intuition is about how I learned to trust my instincts,” Mabel said. “In every aspect of my life. My female intuition is my compass and I’m so grateful for that. This track is also a celebration of all the amazing women in my life who have taught me to be strong. I dedicate this one to all the mothers, the aunties, and sisters that guide and protect.”

The single follows recent efforts from Mabel to dip back into her R&B roots with “Vitamins” and the critically acclaimed “Look At My Body Pt. II” featuring Shygirl. It’s turning out that 2024 is a year of exciting reinvention for this BRIT winner.

Back at the top of the year, Mabel teamed up with Ghanaian artist Black Sherif for the uplifting “Zero”, and has since hit the stage at festivals including BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend and Primavera Sound.

Stay tuned for more from Mabel.

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While the world watched as former President Donald Trump spoke for the first time since his brush with death at a rally last week, Black folks were ready to clock his lies and call the GOP nominee out on his racially divisive language.

On Thursday — the fourth day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) — Trump accepted the GOP nomination and made history by delivering the longest speech in RNC history— breaking a record he set back in 2020.

Many hoped the attempt on Trump’s life would bring the nation together against political violence. But the 90-minute speech proved nothing was new except the bandage on his ear, which he fashionably sported throughout the days of the convention.

The GOP nominee began his speech by pledging to be the “president for all of America, not half of America” if elected. His sentiments about unity were a change from the usual tone set by the former president, but it didn’t last long.

Not even 20 minutes into his speech, Trump went on to falsely claim Democrats used COVID-19 to cheat him out of the 2020 election, compared migrants to Hannibal Lecter and verbally attacked too many of his rivals to count.

Although supporters of Trump gave his speech outstanding ratings, social media painted a different picture, and Black folks specifically had much to say about what this means for the future of America.

X user @NicoleCiara__ called Trump “delusional” after he detailed the events leading up to and following the attempt on his life. Immediately following the shooting, many Black people were skeptical saying the attempt was staged or fabricated to garner support.

Other users took the time to compare Trump’s speech performance to growing concerns about President Joe Biden’s health. Many from the Democratic party are calling their nominee drop out of the race citing his old age. Trump poked fun at Biden during his speech, saying the president has done more damage to the nation than the top 10 worst ranked presidents in American history.

Folks were quick to call out Trump for all of the tangents he went on during the speech. Seemingly going completely off script at times, Trump’s call for national unity quickly turned into the politically incorrect, divisive speech the former president is known for.

With Biden out with COVID-19, as reported by AP News, Trump took full advantage of the opportunity to fire up his supporters and prove to them that he is not only alive but ready to head into the November election. On the other side, Biden’s fate is still up in the air as support for his candidacy continues to waver within his own party.

If Biden decides to drop out of the race with less than four months until Nov. 4, it will leave an empty seat for the Democratic party with questions about who will take the throne.