Saweetie Strikes a Twitter Debate by Covering Her Spaghetti in Ranch Dressing

Saweetie certainly stirred the pot Monday (March 1) when a video of her meal — spaghetti covered in ranch dressing — got people curious and queasy.

The “Back to the Streets” rapper threw some tongue emojis out while responding to XXL magazine’s query if others put ranch on their spaghetti too. Erica Banks is with her on this, as the “Buss It” rapper affirmed, “Ranch goes on spaghetti.”

On the other hand, Questlove doesn’t seem to think so and thought people tapped into the sugar grits debate way more than the ranch spaghetti one. “Whoa whoa —yall fighting over Sugar Grits…..but letting @Saweetie live? aight……” he wrote.

Other Twitter users trashed her taste, likening her palate to that of a “drunk Nebraska frat boy” or ” a billy goat.” They also tossed around comments about her stomach, from joking that it’s made of vibranium — the indestructible element from Wakanda in Black Panther — to finding memes that show how it toys with her afterward.

Fans were already poking fun at her dietary habits over the weekend, when one person claimed she would most likely eat a plate with a banana, deli meats, peanut butter and cereal and someone responded that she was “the type to spread the peanut butter on the banana and pour the cereal on top.”

“That actually sounds delicious,” the “My Type” artist declared.

Here are some of the best reactions to Saweetie’s ranch spaghetti.

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Rihanna Is ‘Savage AF’ in Colorful New Savage X Fenty Collection

Spring is just around the corner, and Rihanna is making sure that her fans are dripping in florals (and Savage X Fenty) for the season.

The star took to social media on Sunday (Feb. 28) to share a smoldering photo lounging in a garden chair, fittingly dressed in a retro-tinged orange, turquoise and green set from her popular lingerie line’s spring collection.

“savage af. don’t trip,” Bad Gal RiRi simply captioned the snap.

The new collection, which features springtime florals, comfy mesh, cotton essentials, robes, gloves and even pasties are now available on Savage X Fenty’s website here.

Products featured are independently selected by our editorial team and we may earn a commission from purchases made from our links; the retailer may also receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

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Diane Warren, Laura Pausini Win Best Original Song at 2021 Golden Globes

The 2021 Golden Globes were an awards ceremony unlike any other Golden Globes… but also an award show very much like every award show from the past 12 months in that the COVID-19 pandemic forced a combination of social distancing and remote acceptance speeches.

After Tracy Morgan read off the nominees for best original song at the 2021 Golden Globes on Sunday (Feb. 28) night, he revealed that “Io Sì (Seen)” from the Sophia Loren-starring Netflix film The Life Ahead nabbed the honor. Performed by Italian pop legend Laura Pausini, “Io Sì (Seen)” was written by the inestimable Diane Warren, Pausini and Niccolò Agliardi.

“Thank you Edoardo [Ponti, director] for letting us be a part of your amazing movie,” Warren said in her remote acceptance speech. “It’s such a beautiful story about people who aren’t usually seen and who see each other through love, and that’s what inspired this song.”

“I’m so, so … I feel goosebumps everywhere,” Pausini said.

This is Diane Warren’s first Golden Globe win.

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Lawyer Seeks Criminal Investigation of T.I. and Tiny Amid Sexual Abuse and Assault Allegations

A lawyer is seeking an investigation of T.I. (real name Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.) and Tiny (Tameka Dianne Harris), who have been accused of sexual abuse and assault.

The New York Times reported on Sunday (Feb. 28) that the lawyer, Tyrone A. Blackburn, has approached law enforcement authorities in Georgia and California on behalf of 11 people claiming they were victimized by the couple or their entourage.

The alleged incidents span 2005 to 2018, and were described as instances of “sexual abuse, forced ingestion of illegal narcotics, kidnapping, terroristic threats and false imprisonment,” as well as nonsexual intimidation, assault and harassment, said Blackburn, who told the Times he sent letters to the offices of the U.S. Attorneys for the Northern District of Georgia and the Central District of California, the Los Angeles County District Attorney and the state attorneys general of California and Georgia.

Steve Sadow, counsel for T.I. and Tiny, provided the following statement to Billboard on their behalf: “Clifford (T.I.) and Tameka Harris deny in the strongest possible terms these unsubstantiated and baseless allegations. We are confident that if these claims are thoroughly and fairly investigated, no charges will be forthcoming. These allegations are nothing more than the continuation of a sordid shakedown campaign that began on social media. The Harrises implore everyone not to be taken in by these obvious attempts to manipulate the press and misuse the justice system.”

Most of the accusers have thus far remained anonymous “in fear for their lives and safety,” according to Blackburn, but include a military veteran, a former friend who became an assistant, an exotic dancer and a teenage intern at Grand Hustle, T.I.’s studio and record label.

In interviews with the Times, who spoke with five of the accusers, T.I. and Tiny were “portrayed as aggressors who deployed drugs, alcohol, money and their celebrity status to prey on and entrap women for sexual abuse, and then threatened violence against anyone who might speak out,” the publication said. (Read the Times’ full report here.)

Previously, on Jan. 26, Sabrina Peterson had accused T.I. on Instagram of putting a gun to her head, and also posted on Instagram Stories dozens of accusations from other women who claimed T.I. and Tiny force-fed them drugs and then had sex with them.

On Jan. 29, a spokesperson for T.I. and Tiny released a statement in response to the allegations posted by Peterson: “Mr. and Mrs. Harris want to be on record and more importantly want the public to know they emphatically deny in the strongest way possible the egregiously appalling allegations being made against them by Sabrina Peterson. The Harrises have had difficulty with this woman for well over a decade. They are taking this matter very seriously, and if these allegations don’t end, they will take appropriate legal action.”

In February, VH1’s T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle suspended production following the initial accusations against T.I. and Tiny.

“We are aware of the allegations, and while they are not connected to our show, we have reached out to T.I. and Tameka Harris, as well as local and state officials,” an MTV Entertainment spokesperson said in a statement to Billboard. “Given the serious nature of the allegations, we have decided to suspend production in order to gather more information.”

If you or anyone you know has experienced sexual assault, reach out to RAINN. The organization provides free, confidential support to sexual assault victims. Call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) or visit the anti-sexual violence organization’s website for more information.

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T.J. Osborne Reacts to the ‘Tsunami of Love’ He’s Seen After Coming Out as Gay

T.J. Osborne is feeling the love after coming out as gay earlier this month.

The country music artist, one half of the duo Brothers Osborne, opened up about recently coming out in a segment on CBS This Morning on Friday (Feb. 26).

“I would say just to encourage anyone else out there who’s dealing with the same thing … it’s a hard thing to describe, it’s a very difficult thing to go through. And I even had a lot of support around me. But once I finally came out … I didn’t really understand the magnitude of how much people cared about me, loved me and supported me,” he said.

Dozens of country peers took to social media to celebrate Osborne in early February, after he came out in an interview with Time.

“Honestly,” Osborne added on CBS This Morning, “Had I known that the whole time, I would have done it probably a long time ago and saved myself a lot of strife. Anyone out there, if you’re dealing with that, there’s people that love you and people that support you. Lots of them.”

“It has been a tsunami of love, almost to the point it was hard for me to even comprehend it for several days,” he said.

Despite the outpouring of support, Osborne — who’s part of a growing roster of queer artists in the country music industry — admitted that talking about coming out feels a bit strange.

“My close family and friends have known for a while. I really, at the same time, felt publicly I was always kind of in this stuck in second gear kind of phase. Honestly, for straight people out there, coming out is really awkward. It’s an awkward thing to talk about. It’s a really odd thing to bring up,” he explained, then joked, “Obviously, I work in the entertainment business, so I like lots of attention,” he joked.

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‘Soul’ Wins Best Score at 2021 Golden Globes

Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste won best score – motion picture at Sunday’s (Feb. 28) Golden Globe Awards for their collaborative work on Pixar’s Soul.

“We must follow our dreams because we only have one life to live and one soul,” Batiste said in his acceptance speech. “And this soul is happy today to be recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press for this masterpiece of a film.”

Nine Inch Nails frontman Reznor quipped in his speech: “I think this is the first piece of art I’ve ever made in my life that I can show my kids, so thanks, Pixar.” Ross wrapped up the speeches by simply thanking his wife and kids.

The odds were in Reznor and Ross’ favor on Sunday night, since they were also nominated for their work on Netflix’s Mank — making them the first composing team in Golden Globes history with two scores in that category in the same year. The duo earned their fourth and fifth Globes nominations, respectively, this year, while this was Batiste’s first. All three composers also share an entry on the Academy Awards’ list of eligible scores.

In addition to topping the Mank score, Soul was also up against The Midnight Sky (Alexandre Desplat), News of the World (James Newton Howard) and Tenet (Ludwig Göransson).

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Cardi B Wants Lizzo to Join Her on a Song

Cardi B and Lizzo, together at last? After gushing over some stunning portraits of Lizzo, the rapper implied that she’s ready to write a song that will feature her.

“These pics do it for me,” Cardi wrote on Twitter Sunday afternoon (Feb. 28), captioning a set of four photos of Lizzo in various poses. (Lizzo reacted to this tweet in an Instagram Story, writing, “Damn this might get me back on Twitter.”)

When a fan left the comment “now drop that collab with her” on Cardi’s post, she replied within two minutes.

“Can I do a song first thst I can put her on?” she quickly tweeted back.

The two already had a missed connection in 2020: Cardi wanted Lizzo to appear in her “WAP” video, but Lizzo was unfortunately out of town when it was filmed and missed out on making a cameo.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ because I had a whole vision about how I want to see Lizzo and everything,” she said in September.

See Cardi’s latest tweets (and Lizzo’s pics) on Twitter.

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‘Pokemon 25: The Album,’ Featuring Katy Perry, J Balvin & Post Malone, Set for Fall 2021

Pokémon 25: The Album will be coming in fall 2021, it was revealed following the Pokémon virtual concert Saturday night (Feb. 27).

The album will be comprised of a total of 14 songs by 11 Universal Music Group artists, including Katy Perry, J Balvin and Post Malone.

Post Malone’s version of Hootie and the Blowfish’s “Only Wanna Be With You” is on the Pokémon 25 album track list.

Katy Perry, J Balvin and another surprise artist will each release a song inspired by the Pokémon franchise, along with a music video and merchandise collection.

J Balvin commented on taking part in the project in a statement released on Saturday: “Pokémon is pulling out all the stops for P25 Music, and I’m thrilled to join the program as one of its premier collaborators,” he said. “I’m looking forward to adding my own unique flavor to this huge Pokémon party and adding more good vibes to the celebration.”

Pokémon 25: The Album, part of this year’s P25 Music program for Pokémon’s 25th anniversary, will be released by UMG’s Capitol Records.

Saturday night’s concert can be watched on-demand on the official Pokémon YouTube channel.

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German Radio Station Issues Statement After Host Compares BTS to COVID-19

Bayern 3, a radio station in Bavaria, Germany, has issued a statement after host Matthias Matuschik compared BTS to the coronavirus on-air.

After playing BTS’ cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You” on Wednesday (Feb. 24), Matuschik said their version of the song was “blasphemy” and likened the K-pop superstars to “some crappy virus that hopefully there will be a vaccine for soon as well,” the Associated Press reports.

“I have nothing against South Korea. You can’t accuse me of xenophobia only because this boy band is from South Korea … I have a car from South Korea. I have the coolest car around,” he said.

Matuschik then suggested BTS “will be vacationing in North Korea for the next 20 years” for their “Fix You” cover.

In a response obtained by the AP, the radio station said Matuschik was “presenting his opinion in an ironic, exaggerated way and with exaggerated excitement, his words went too far and hurt the feelings of BTS fans. But he — and he has assured us of this — in no way intended this. He just wanted to express his displeasure over the aforementioned cover version.”

“That does not change the fact that many of you found his statements to be hurtful or racist,” said Bayern 3. “We apologize for this in every way possible. We will work on the matter with Matthias and the team in detail again in the next few days.”

Besides outraging the BTS ARMY, Matuschik’s comments were denounced by several music industry peers on social media.

“I am horrified to read the comments made by Matthias Matuschik,” Halsey wrote in a note on her Instagram Stories Friday night (Feb. 26). “Racism and xenophobia cannot be thinly veiled as ‘on air humor.’ Irresponsible and disgusting statements in a time where hate speech and violent behavior towards Asian communities are skyrocketing. This is unacceptable. I hope a better apology to BTS, and the Asian communities across the world, is on its way.”

“Absolutely unacceptable the way radio host Matthias Matuschik speaks hate and racism in general let alone to my brothers,” Steve Aoki tweeted Saturday (Feb. 27). “I stand with @bts_BigHit to condemn hate of any kind and stop this kind of prejudice wherever we can. We must stand together. Spread love not hate.”

“Ewwww I just heard that clip of the radio presenter,” Zara Larsson said on Twitter. “First of all, you f—ed up the second you mentioned BTS. Army’s don’t play like that. And I hope you will never sleep peacefully again, knowing you ruined your career over being racist. I stand with my friends.”

She added, “And this is a bigger issue than one racist radio host speaking about BTS. This is about racism against Asians and xenophobia. we must all speak up, which is the bare minimum, to show people like him that his words have consequences.

“standing by my @bts_bighit brothers and everyone continuously effected by racist remarks as hurtful as what we heard on Bayern 3. no one should have to endure this and together we must stand up and stop it,” Lauv wrote on Twitter.

BTS recently unveiled their cover of “Fix You” in a performance for MTV Unplugged, which Coldplay called “beautiful.”

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Nashville’s National Museum of African American Music: An Inside Look

Nashville’s long-anticipated National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is now open to the public on a limited schedule.

NMAAM, which recently received a $1 million donation from Amazon and established a music education partnership with Sony Music Group, vividly tells the story of Black culture’s contributions and influences throughout the history of American music.

Once inside the 56,000 square-foot space, patrons can interact with six permanent exhibits that span several centuries and 50 musical genres. The first gallery that visitors will encounter is Rivers of Rhythm, described by NMAAM curator Steven Lewis as the “central space that connects the more genre-focused galleries.” The name of the exhibit, which features an interactive timeline of African-American music, was inspired by the Langston Hughes poem,“The Negro Speaks of Rivers.”

The Wade in the Water exhibit chronicles the history of African-American religious music, starting with indigenous African spirituals and musical traditions. The Crossroads and A Love Supreme exhibits (the latter borrows its name from jazz pioneer John Coltrane’s iconic album) focus on blues and jazz, respectively. One Nation Under a Groove (the title of the Funkadelic classic) recounts the history of R&B from WWII to its contemporary counterpart. Final exhibit The Message (Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five) traces the development of rap/hip-hop from its origins in the South Bronx to its global impact.

NMAAM also houses several mini-exhibits including The Business Behind the Music. Sponsored by Sony Music Group, the display spotlights trailblazing Black industry executives such as Logan H. Westbrooks (Capitol, Mercury, CBS and Source Records) in addition to record labels and publishers that have played important roles in music history.

Lewis joined NMAAM in 2018 after serving as a research assistant to the curator of music and performing arts at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History. In collaboration with NMAAM president H. Beecher Hicks III, the museum’s advisory committee and two additional curators, Lewis has spent the last three years collecting more than 1,400 artifacts to display. Once a framework was set for what the museum could include, says Lewis, “we looked for items to illustrate and interpret the history we were trying to convey.”

For instance, museum visitors will see a trombone donated by Helen Jones Woods, a trombonist with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm — the first interracial all-women’s band in the country. (Woods, the mother of Urban One founder/chairperson Cathy Hughes, died last August.) Other artifacts include a guitar on loan from the B.B. King Museum plus a cape and wig donated by Parliament-Funkadelic frontman George Clinton.

Of equal importance is the impact that African-American artists have had in NMAAM’s hometown. “The Nashville stories are woven throughout the space,” Lewis says. Among those prominently featured in those stories are Dr. Bobby Jones, host of BET’s longest-running series Bobby Jones Gospel and the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Lewis adds that a future temporary exhibit dedicated to the Fisk Jubilee Singers will further examine Nashville’s Black history.

NMAAM is currently open on Saturdays and Sundays; visitors must reserve tickets for appointed times. Visit nmaam.org for more information.

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