Photo Credits: Chip Gaines/Instagram and Joanna Gaines/Instagram
Chip and Joanna Gaines were the stars of “Fixer Upper,” a popular HGTV home renovation show in Waco, Texas. The show ran for five seasons from 2013 to 2018. Chip Gaines became a household name in the industry, but what happened to him after the show ended?
Despite the show being incredibly popular, “Fixer Upper” only aired for a few seasons. In late September 2017, Vox reported that Chip and Joanna announced that the fifth season would be their last. The couple listed their reasons for ending the show, including needing to rest and pay more attention to their family.
However, Yahoo Entertainment reported that they weren’t off of TV for long at all. Instead of appearing on HGTV again, the duo announced that they would be returning to TV on their own channel. Magnolia Network officially launched in 2022, with Chip and Joanna starring in several shows in the last few years, including “Fixer Upper: The Hotel” and “Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse.”
Destination Waco serves as a reference for tourists visiting Waco, Texas. They shared that the couple also have several businesses in the area, including a coffee shop, a seed and supply store, a baking company, a shopping center, and others.
Chip and Joanna Were Fined by the EPA
Off the television and outside of their business, Chip Gaines has experienced some troubling times throughout his long career. US Weekly reported that Chip has been through a number of scandals that many fans may not know even happened.
First of all, he was sued by two former business partners. They alleged that he persuaded them to sell their interest in his company (Magnolia Realty) just before “Fixer Upper” premiered for only $2,500 each.
According to them, he didn’t say that the show would be broadcast on HGTV across the USA. He also failed to mention that the Magnolia brand would be frequently talked about and featured in the show. Many years later, Chip settled with the former partners out of court.
Chip and his wife also landed in hot water with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a few years ago. According to the EPA, they broke the Renovating, Remodeling, and Painting Rule (RRP Rule) on the show, when they didn’t take the proper steps to minimize lead exposure when working on older homes.
They were forced to pay a $40,000 fine for the infraction. In addition to that, they also donated funds to help decrease lead paint hazards in Waco homes and created content to educate others about the dangers of lead exposure.
Since “Fixer Upper” became a major success, it’s had a noticeable impact on the real estate and tourist markets in Waco. Home prices in the city have gotten more expensive, property taxes have risen, and there is much more tourism and a greater desire for short-term rentals there as well. All of this has pushed some people out of Waco, as they can no longer afford to live there.
People have been freaking out over Rachael’s rumored health problems, ever since she posted a video talking about her late friend Tony Bennett. Is she having a health crisis? Here’s the scoop.
When Rachael posted a video on Instagram about spending time with her friend Tony and preparing a meal for him, she probably wasn’t prepared to face an avalanche of concerned comments. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what ended up happening.
TMZ reported that Rachael noticeably slurred her words a bit in the video as she described an incident at dinner with Tony where he slipped and almost hurt himself due to her floor being over-polished. This prompted loads of worried fans to chime in on what they thought might be happening with her health.
People speculated about things that could be going on with her, including a mini-stroke or early Bell’s Palsy symptoms. Delish quoted one commenter’s post.
“Part of her mouth seems sinking. When was this???? I haven’t seen her this makes me so sad.”
Comments alleged to be coming from professionals in the medical industry claimed her appearance and speech patterns were giving strong stroke vibes and that she should get to the ER ASAP. However, no one’s really sure if anything is actually going on with Rachael’s health right now.
Fans Speculated About Rachael’s Health
According to TMZ, the only public comment on the matter that has been issued by Rachael’s team was a quick statement that they had no comment on it at all. Obviously, that hasn’t been particularly reassuring for any of her fans though.
Commenters let loose a torrent of wildly speculative takes on Rachael’s potential issues as they attempted to explain why she was slurring her words.
According to TV Insider, one commenter argued against the suggestion that Rachael could be an alcoholic. Instead, they posited that she could be dealing with some kind of condition that requires steroids to treat. They added that steroids would explain why she looks somewhat “puffy” in the video.
TV Insider also reported one commenter’s post being, “Oh my goodness, I love @rachaelray, but she looks like she has Cushing’s Disease. I am a survivor of Cushing’s Syndrome and the disease is brutal.”
According to Delish, Rachael has actually dealt with these kinds of comments and crazy conclusions before. Back some 15 or so years ago, fans were convinced she had throat cancer. The truth ended up being far less serious and she was simply having a minor surgery done instead.
Her rep released a statement clarifying that she definitely did not have throat cancer at the time. Unfortunately, given her team’s relative silence this time, people have piled rumors on top of guesses. Everyone is a bit more worried about Rachael’s current health status.
What happened with Tony?
Rachael’s story about her dinner party with Tony sounded like a slapstick scene in a comedy. In reality, it was understandably a stressful moment for her as it happened in real life.
According to TV Insider, she stated that Tony’s chair had slid out from under him when she had tried to help him sit down. This led to Tony hitting his head on the counter and falling on the floor.
TV Insider quoted Rachael saying, “I thought I killed Tony Bennett. I thought I killed him, literally.”
Rachael also pointed out that Tony’s wife reassured her of the fact that he’d be alright and that she hadn’t, in fact, killed him by accident. Apparently, he did manage to get back up and enjoy the entire meal.
Everyone thought that things were perfect in the relationship between Yo Gotti and Angela Simmons. Unfortunately, the truth about their situation will be sad news for Angela and her fans.
A couple of months ago, media outlet Baller Alert reported on some statements Angela made during an appearance on the Breakfast Club. She was there to promote her Angela’s Cake vegan line, but the conversation soon moved on to her love life.
Angela made it clear just how seriously she was taking her relationship with Gotti. At one point, the hosts asked her if she thought that Gotti was the one. She didn’t hesitate in saying, “Yeah, for sure.”
Charlemagne tha God seized on the opportunity to find out more. The radio host asked her if she wanted to marry the Memphis rapper. Again, Angela knew her answer straight away.
She said she definitely thought that they would get married, adding that she was too old to be playing games. However, so far, her boo has given no sign that he feels the same way, and many fans doubt he ever will.
Angela and Yo Gotti’s Relationship Garnered a Lot of Attention
While Angela and Gotti have always gushed about their relationship, their followers have expressed their concerns for a while. Last year, Atlanta Black Star shared some of the comments fans have left on social media after seeing the couple out together. They were spotted in Philadelphia attending a performance by Glorilla.
After pictures were circulated online, a lot of people thought the pair looked “awkward” together. Footage showed Gotti and Angela failing to sing along when fans started chanting Gotti’s famous Down in the DM hit.
What makes this even more peculiar is how important that song is to the story of their romance. One fan wrote online,” They always seem so awkward together like it’s the facial expressions for me.” Others agreed, saying that the couple never seemed comfortable and just didn’t seem “into each other” at all.
It’s normal for fans to over-analyze relationships between celebrities, but the crazy story of how Gotti first wooed Angela makes it so surprising for fans to see them looking less than besotted with each other. The beginnings of their relationship were the subject of a lot of media attention.
In November last year, Hot News Hip Hop took a look back at the unusual approach the rapper took to getting Angela’s attention. The first hint at a potential romance between the pair came in 2015.
When Gotti released Down in the DM, he publicly declared his affection for Rev Run’s daughter. He rapped the lyrics: “And I just followed Angela. Boy I got a crush on Angela Simmons.”
This honest statement of interest received plenty of attention, but Angela was not interested in responding to Gotti’s rap about her. It would be years before the two of them became a couple.
The Couple Have Openly Displayed Their Love
In the intervening years, Angela would experience tragedy, after the loss of her one-time fiance, Sutton Tennyson, with whom she shared a son, in 2018. It would be another five years before Gotti and Angela’s names were linked again.
Gotti rapped about her again on the song Save It For Me. Last year, he finally took his chance with her.
Angela and Gotti decided to start the year 2023 with the announcement that they were in a relationship. They both took to Instagram to share pictures of each other along with captions declaring what Hot News Hip Hop described as “a declaration of love and mutual admiration.”
Angela shared a series of shots from an elegant photoshoot with Gotti. In the caption, she wrote: “You are all I need and more,” followed by a love heart emoji. She later posted another photo from inside a luxury car, showing her being poured a glass of champagne by her new partner.
Since going official on social media, the couple have continued to share public displays of their feelings for each other. Gotti has repeatedly been reported to express his love for Angela in other dramatic ways.
For her 36th birthday, he reportedly arranged a collection of expensive and stylish gifts for his partner. These included bouquets of flowers, black Chanel boxes, and white candles.
There was even a saxophone player performing for Angela. The scene also included tribal dancers on the beach.
The footage, shared on Instagram, showed Angela getting emotional as Gotti revealed what he’d done for her. Angela then took to Instagram herself, writing in her Stories that she had been touched by the gesture and calling Gotti her “best gift.”
Their Relationship May Be Coming to an End
A few months later, Gotti used his music again to celebrate his relationship with Angela. People Magazine reported that the video for his new song, The One, showcased moments from the couple’s new life together.
The 42-year-old rapped about his girlfriend in the “PDA-filled music video” starring both the rapper and Angela. The video was filmed during a trip to Greece and Dubai, and it featured clips of the couple kissing and driving around in a Rolls Royce.
Gotti’s lyrics matched the video. He rapped things like, “You give me butterflies in your stomach, like we still in middle school.”
Gotti even admitted on the track that he got “nervous vibes” when he missed Angela. Angela went on to appear in another of his videos, No Fake Love, which again mused on the pair’s loving relationship.
After getting so spoiled for her own birthday, Angela decided to treat her partner. Hot News Hip Hop reported that she gifted Gotti a Tesla for his birthday.
Although the couple were showing nothing but generosity and affection for each other online, their relationship also came into question following some rumors. Distractify reported in October of last year that a gossip site had alleged that Gotti had started seeing someone else.
Distractify then reported that neither Angela nor Gotti had responded to the rumors that their relationship was over. Although they ultimately stayed together, fans have continued to have their doubts about them ever since. Angela’s recent statement about marriage hasn’t made anyone more confident that a wedding is really on the cards.
Angela Has Been Compared to Ashanti
The complicated relationship has drawn comparisons from some fans to the dynamic between recent newlyweds Nelly and Ashanti. Just like Angela, Ashanti has been known for years to have been desperate to finally get married.
Even when news finally emerged that she had indeed tied the knot with Nelly, many fans questioned if this was really what they both wanted. Some thought that only Ashanti had been pushing for marriage, with Nelly long having a reputation for not being husband material. For many, this was only confirmed by his recent arrest shortly after the birth of the couple’s child.
Others, however, have started thinking that the marriage was actually Nelly’s idea. Their theory was that it wasn’t for romantic reasons. Instead, they believed Nelly finally agreed to marry Ashanti to distract the public from the many scandals that had rocked the rapper’s image in recent years.
This is what has led to some making a connection between Nelly and Gotti. When Gotti first expressed his feelings for Angela in his songs, it had a big impact on his exposure to the public.
Could it be that he has only continued a relationship with her for a bigger spotlight? Given Angela’s recent statements, her fans will be desperate for this not to be the case. Only time will tell whether or not Angela gets her wish and marries Gotti.
Catelynn and Tyler Baltierra might be in some financial trouble. Earlier this year, in July, the U.S. Sun revealed that the couple’s old house was at risk of foreclosure.
Now, it looks like there’s been some recent development. But is it good news for Catelynn and Tyler?
It all started when Catelynn and Tyler decided to move to a different house. This meant that they had to sell their old house.
They may have thought this wouldn’t be a big deal. However, it has caused quite a few problems for the couple.
In September of last year, the pair listed their house for $454,900. They moved to their new house just a couple of months later, in January 2024.
By that point, they still hadn’t managed to sell their old house. In fact, the house still hasn’t been sold to this day. This is despite the fact that Catelynn and Tyler have clearly tried their hardest to attract potential buyers.
They even lowered the price in December of last year. Instead of $454,900, they now wanted $449,900. However, that still didn’t help sell the house.
The Couple Recently Faced Legal Trouble
Soon after that, the couple got into some potentially serious trouble. In March 2024, a Certificate of Forfeiture of Real Property was filed.
Basically, the Michigan Register of Deeds told the couple that their house was at risk of foreclosure. But why was that?
Well, it turns out that Catelynn and Tyler actually had some debt that needed to be paid off. According to the U.S. Sun, the couple owed a little over $5,000 in taxes.
They were told that they had until the end of March 2025 to pay this debt off. If they didn’t, they could face serious consequences.
The taxes that Catelynn and Tyler owed were reportedly for the year 2022. The official documents were obtained by the U.S. Sun.
The paperwork stated, in part: “If the 2022 taxes are not paid by March 31, 2025, absolute title to the property and any equity associated with an interest in the property will vest in the foreclosing governmental unit.”
The Historical Integrity of Their House May Be Damaged
It really didn’t look great for Catelynn and Tyler. They had this hanging over their head, while they were also having trouble selling their old house.
It’s clear that they didn’t expect to have this many issues attracting buyers. After all, there is a lot to like about their old property.
The house is located on 15 acres of land. It’s also a historic building with an interesting octagon shape.
Catelynn and Tyler bought this house over seven years ago, in May 2017. Back then, they spent a lot less money on it than the house is worth now. They paid $220,000 for it.
However, after they purchased it, they actually decided to do some renovations on the house. They made it more to their taste and liking.
This led to some concerns about the historical integrity of the house. After all, the house was built way back in 1869.
Great Lakes Sea Captain George W. Smith had it built. So, the house has historical importance.
But does it still have that, now that Catelynn and Tyler have done renovations to it? Is this why they can’t seem to find a buyer?
It doesn’t seem like that’s fully the case. In the realtor listing for the property, it said that the historical integrity of it had been preserved.
Catelynn and Tyler Paid Off Their Recent Debt
Even though Catelynn and Tyler definitely modernized the house a little bit, it should still count as historical property. So, why are they having trouble selling it?
One reason could be that the house is simply too expensive for the area they live in. Most people looking to buy property there might not be willing or even able to pay that much.
At the same time, Catelynn and Tyler can’t lower their price much more without losing a lot of money. It’s a very difficult situation.
But recently, there has been some more development. The U.S. Sun revealed that Catelynn and Tyler have successfully paid off their $5,000 debt.
They paid it off in early August. So, things seem to be looking up for the couple.
There has also been some less happy news for them recently. Just a month after they paid off their debt, Catelynn and Tyler took their house off the market. They seemingly gave up on selling it on September 1, 2024.
In a way, this makes a lot of sense. The couple first listed the house a year ago.
In that year, they weren’t able to find a buyer. Maybe they figured out that it was time to reevaluate their selling strategy.
It’s also possible that they could be in talks with someone. However, after all this time, it does seem a little unlikely that they were able to find a buyer, especially since they haven’t changed their asking price since December of last year.
In the following 9 months, no one was seemingly interested in buying the house from them. So maybe that’s why they took it off the market.
But what are their plans next? Do they still hope to sell it?
Catelynn and Tyler Are No Strangers to Financial Trouble
Only time will tell what they’re going to do next. In the meantime, the couple and their kids are enjoying life in their new house.
This house cost them $435,000. It sits on six acres of land and is 4,296 square feet.
The house has four bedrooms and four bathrooms, which is perfect for their family. There are some other exciting features, too. For example, Catelynn and Tyler now have a cabin, a pond, and a barn on their property.
Hopefully, they’re happy in this new house. But can they actually afford to live there?
They paid off their most recent debt not too long ago. However, the couple has had financial issues before, which could mean that they might not be the best at handling their finances.
In 2019, they faced a tax lien for $321,789.06. They were able to pay this huge debt off by early 2023.
This actually wasn’t their first massive debt. They also owed $535,010.97 in taxes for 2016 and 2017. They paid this off in 2021.
At least it seems like Catelynn and Tyler always manage to pay off their debt eventually. Their most recent debt was only $5,000, too, which is a lot less compared to their previous debts.
The Couple Just Celebrated Their 9th Anniversary
It’s possible that they now have a better handle on their finances. But at the same time, it does seem like they still have the huge issue of having to sell their old house to deal with. It’s impossible to say how they’re going to resolve that.
Luckily, in the meantime, they don’t seem to be doing too bad. Not too long ago, the couple actually celebrated their 9-year wedding anniversary.
Catelynn opened up about this on her Instagram. She said that the two of them took their kids camping. She also wrote a very sweet message dedicated to her husband.
Catelynn said: “Thank you for choosing me day after day and loving me for everything I am! I’m truly blessed to have found you at such a young age and look forward to all the years to come!”
She finished her post by saying that the camping trip was so good that she wanted to do it every year.
It seems that the family is doing really well and enjoying the time they get to spend together as one happy unit. Hopefully, all their other issues will get resolved soon, too, without any additional hiccups or problems.
Ashanti has shared some details about her new baby boy and it’s honestly heartwarming. The singer and her husband Nelly welcomed Kareem Kenkaide Haynes back in July.
Their bundle of joy was kept quiet for a while, but a few days ago, Ashanti opened up in an interview on Entertainment Tonight. She explained the inspiration behind her son’s unique name, saying that it was really all down to Nelly. Ashanti told the outlet, “His dad named him with a lot of pride.”
She went on to say that the couple had been going back and forth on a name for a long time, but Nelly was adamant he knew what it had to be. Ashanti said that Nelly told her, “This is what I want, I love this.”
There was a special significance to the name they chose, for Ashanti as well, especially with Nelly being so keen on it. This is because, as Ashanti told ET, Kenkaide is actually her dad’s name.
Ashanti explained, “Obviously, my dad has only girls, so Nelly was just like, ‘I think that would be really dope.” She said that it was all her husband’s idea to name their child after her father.
The singer also went on to reveal the meaning behind her son’s first name. She said Kareem means generous, kind, noble, bountiful, and dignified. The proud new parents have some big expectations for their baby boy!
It was the expectations of the couple’s fans that were thrown into chaos when the news finally broke that Ashanti had already had her baby. While fans were fully expecting Kareem to be born this summer, they had no idea that Ashanti and Nelly had welcomed him into the world weeks before making the news public.
Ashanti Thanked Her Postpartum Body
Ashanti did this in a post on Instagram that shocked her followers. The post included a picture of her in Frida Mom underwear.
In the caption, she wrote that this was what postpartum looked like. She thanked her body for giving her her baby. Fans quickly realized the post was actually her baby announcement, and it soon racked up over 700,000 likes.
In fact, Kareem arrived so early that even Nelly was caught by surprise. In her interview, Ashanti said that Kareem was born earlier than they had expected, meaning Nelly had to rush back to be by her side in time.
She said that he had to get a last-minute flight back so he didn’t miss his son’s birth. According to Ashanti, he made it in plenty of time. She said, “He made it well before time, which was incredible.”
Ashanti went on to talk about how emotional the scene of Kareem’s birth was. She said that having her husband in the room as they looked at Kareem’s face for the first time made her cry.
Ashanti described the moment as emotional and spiritual. This was partly because, for Ashanti, it felt like she had been envisioning this moment for so long.
She said in her ET interview that she has always wanted to get married and have kids, which fans have known for years. But she never knew that she was going to “spin the block” and get back with Nelly after so many years apart.
Ashanti also opened up about all of the emotions she felt at the same time when she and Nelly held their baby.
She said that she realized that this was her purpose. It was what her life was supposed to be, and she described it as an electrifying feeling.
Nelly Was Arrested Just Weeks After His Son Was Born
After waiting so long to finally get the life she wanted, fans could only be happy for her, or could they? In recent weeks, some concerned fans have shared their fear that Ashanti’s happiness with Nelly might not last.
There have long been rumors that Nelly isn’t exactly husband or family material. Many suspect that the only reason he got back with Ashanti was for the sake of his reputation. However, there have been stories about him returning to his partying ways since reuniting with Ashanti.
In fact, he has even managed to get in trouble in the weeks following the birth of their son. Last month, fans were shocked to discover that Nelly had been arrested in the early hours of the morning after an all-nighter in a St. Louis casino. The main thing that made people angry was the fact that the rapper got into trouble while his wife Ashanti was back home looking after their child.
Fans were keen to find out how Nelly’s wife had reacted to the shocking news. It was pretty cryptic.
The singer shared a post the very same day that Nelly was arrested which got fans talking. She was celebrating a special night with her mom, for which she shared a series of pictures on Instagram.
In the caption, she wrote, “Recap Mom’s bday! This was such a special night. Happy Birthday again mom, I love you more than anything.”
The weird thing about the post was that it came several weeks after her mom’s birthday, so fans were curious about the timing. Was Ashanti trying to create some distance between her family and the news of Nelly’s arrest?
Nelly Lawyer Feels His Was Wronged
According to The Shade Room, the rapper was taken into custody just before 5 am on August 7. He was reportedly charged with possession of illegal substances after being pulled over by police. He was also alleged to be facing trouble for having no insurance.
In a statement, the police said that they had arrested him for Failure to Appear on an old traffic charge. He has since been released, and a representative for the 49-year-old has made a statement in his defense.
His attorney, Scott Rosenblum, denied the charge against his client. He said that the rapper had not actually been charged with anything to do with substance possession, but instead for having no proof of insurance. He added that Nelly had been targeted by “an overzealous, out-of-line officer.”
Despite his lawyer’s statement, many are still convinced that illegal substances were involved in Nelly’s recent brush with the law. The Sun reported that the rapper appeared to be glassy-eyed in his police mug shot, during which he was also slightly smiling, suggesting he was in some way intoxicated.
Nelly Has a History of Legal Trouble
This is far from the first time Nelly has faced legal trouble. Every time the rapper has landed himself in trouble, he has had to face public backlash.
His first arrest came when he was taken in on felony charges following a police search of his tour bus. What’s interesting about his first arrest was what it seemed to say about that time in Nelly’s life.
He was first arrested in April 2015, a couple of years after he and Ashanti first split up after a decade together. This was the start of a string of public humiliations for the rapper. It was believed by many that he had gone off the rails after parting with Ashati.
When they got back together, most hoped that she would help him create a better life for both himself and his new family. But now, it’s hard to know if this will be possible.
For the sake of Ashanti and their son, fans will continue to hope Nelly gets back on track.
R&B star Mary J. Blige’s ex-husband, Kendu Issacs, has been under a lot of hot water in recent years following comments Mary made about his “obsession” with her fortune. Mary went as far as to call him a “con artist”.
Mary has been doing quite well in recent years. But back in 2017, things weren’t nearly as peaceful for the “Family Affair” hitmaker. The year before she divorced her then-husband in 2018, Mary came out with some concerning accusations against Kendu.
Who is Kendu Issacs?
Kendu Issacs is an American record producer and manager. He entered the music-management space in 2001 for the German company K.I. Management. In just a few years he made a name for himself and even appeared on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show”. He jumped from company to company for some time. Kendu also produced films, such as “Betty And Coretta” and “Tamar And Vince”.
He was married and divorced before he began dating Mary J. Blige in 2000. The pair were married in 2003. Mary filed for divorce in 2016, and the divorce battle went on for a whopping two years. Mary alleged that Kendu had an affair with an artist he was managing professional, which launched the arduous divorce process.
Why Did Mary and Kendu Divorce?
In a 2017 interview with Variety, Mary was promoting the film “Dessie, Pariah” and had the opportunity to speak about the end of her 12-year marriage to Kendu. In the interview, she said she was “doing OK” but also said that she was not happy about how things turned out.
“I thought someone loved me, right?” Mary said in the interview. “Turns out, he was a con artist and he didn’t, and now he’s coming after me for all my money.”
Back when Mary was going through the process of releasing the album “Strenght Of A Woman”, the divorce proceedings were notoriously tough. A judge ordered her to give $30,000 per month to Kendu for alimony. Mary went on to say that she realized that she was never the one and Kendu was always after her money. Initially, Kendu asked for upwards of $100,000 each month to keep up his personal and “charitable” lifestyle.
“When you come out of something like that, you realize you were never the one,” Mary told Variety. “There was someone else who was his queen. I got played. I got suckered. I have to keep smiling and keep my spirits up because this is designed to kill me.”
Her divorce was highly publicized. Though “Strenght Of A Woman” was released right in the middle of the battle, the album reached the Top 3 of the Billboard 200 and other charts. Their divorce was completely finalized in June of 2018. It’s not clear if Mary is still paying spousal support to Kendu.
Since the divorce, Mary seems to be doing quite well. She lent her voice to a number of animated films in 2018. In 2019, she took on a few different acting roles in “Scream” and “The Umbrella Academy”. She maintains her sobriety and has said she enjoys being child-free.
As discoveries go, finding out your father isn’t your father is just about as big as it gets. This is exactly what happened to Tyler Perry. Perry, a filmmaker, writer and actor, has long been open about his traumatic childhood, particularly the abuse he suffered at the hands of the man he believed was his father, one Emmitt Perry Sr, a carpenter.
A Childhood Marked by Abuse
Perry grew up in New Orleans, one of four children. His name back then was Emmitt Jr. It was a life typified by hardship and abuse where their father’s word was law and physical punishment the norm. The environment was toxic and the answer to everything was a beating. At 16, Perry ditched his father’s name to distance himself and became known as Tyler.
As many abused children do, Perry retreated into himself and his imagination became his coping mechanism. He’d create vivid mental landscapes developing his ability to create alternative realities later as a filmmaker and writer.
The Revelation of a Family Secret
Perry’s mother, Willie Maxine Perry, passed away before the truth about Perry Sr came out. She had always insisted Emmitt Sr was Tyler’s father but as Perry revealed in an interview at the Women’s Empowerment event in 2014, he had grown up with suspicions about his real father.
With his mother gone, Perry finally took a DNA test along with one of his brothers. The results confirmed his doubts. However, the knowledge that Perry Sr couldn’t be his biological father still came as a shock, but after so much time, it was also a relief.
Although the test couldn’t help Perry identify his true father, it helped him appreciate his role as a family man. It also helped him understand who he was now and how his past had shaped him.
The Impact of the Discovery
The discovery also had an impact on Perry’s work, motivating him into exploring complex themes associated with family dysfunction and the search for a familial identity. His plays and films took on a more family orientated dynamic and focused more on overcoming adversity.
One film, a documentary titled ‘Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story’, explored Perry’s life and career in detail. The film includes one telling scene where Perry’s cousin attempts to interview Perry Sr, who refuses to participate. It suggested that there were still unresolved issues and tensions between the pair at that time. Even so, Perry has let his abusive past go and since forgiven Emmitt.
The Search for Identity
Perry’s work often reflects his real life intention to continue his search for his real father, portraying troubled characters struggling to understand their place in the world without knowing their roots. It’s Tyler Perry’s story and it shaped his personal life and informed his work.
As it is, Tyler Perry’s story is one of superb inner strength, faith and resilience, highlighting the importance of forgiving and moving on, as well as the many complexities of family life. Despite the challenges of his childhood, Perry went on to build an entertainment empire, creating a legacy that will resonate with audiences worldwide for generations to come.
Recent reports suggest that not all is hunky-dory in the relationship between Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres. It seems they are at a crossroads while turning a new chapter in their lives, which is quite a shock for the fans, especially after seeing them together for 16 long years.
Ellen and her wife are reported to have a rough patch. It all started after Ellen was forced into retirement, which was an obvious reaction from Hollywood after allegations of a toxic work environment. These circumstances have made the comedian spend more time at home, which isn’t something Portia appreciates a lot, as she feels like her talk show hostwife is getting on her “nerves.”
An insider revealed to InTouch Weekly, ” “Ellen being home all the time has taken a toll on their marriage. And Portia isn’t working much either. They’re always in each other’s face, and frankly, they’re getting on each other’s nerves.”
In fact, many think that a crack in their once rock-solid union was quite evident as they celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary this August. For most people, there was nothing celebratory about their anniversary, with the Arrested Development actress feeling the heat, which is surprising to many since she was the one who convinced Ellen to retire in the first place.
Amidst all the chaos, Ellen’s Last Stand… Up tour isn’t going as planned, which has further exacerbated the situation.
Fishy Real Estate Moves
Adding fuel to the speculation fire is the couple’s recent real estate moves. Ellen has always been flipping homes, but this time, it is different. The couple purchased a lavish $70 million mansion in Carpinteria, CA in 2022. They called it their “dream home.” However, they sold the property for a whopping $96 million just after two years. While both of them come with an impressive real estate portfolio, including lavish properties in Montecito, Bel Air, and Coldwater Canyon, the quick sale of their “dream home” has raised many questions about their relationship.
Ellen’s Comeback Struggles
Ellen has been in tough situations before and always managed to come back strong, but this time, it seems things are going against her. She attempted a comeback to stand-up comedy after ending her talk show, but the tour wasn’t nearly as successful as she hoped for, with many being canceled.
Ellen’s struggle to regain her footing in the entertainment world while grappling with her evolving career trajectory and public image is believed to be the major source of tensions at home. Portia and Ellen entered a relationship in 2004, and they’ve weathered storms before. They married in 2008 when same-sex marriage was legalized in California.
Together, they have dealt with many controversies, but always managed to find a way to survive. In an interview with People, Portia reflected on their deep connection, saying, “I remember thinking that she was the coolest, most fascinating, beautiful, funniest person I’d ever met”.
Though things look gloomy, keeping their past in mind, it seems the couple will bounce back and find a way to go through this tough patch together.
Dancing with the Stars dancer Artem Chigvintsev was recently in the news due to his arrest. Many are now speaking out about the situation, shocked to hear about the charges.
The former DWTS pro was arrested on Friday, August 29 for alleged corporal injury to a spouse. It’s a felony charge, and it was issued after the police responded to a call about DV. He was later released after being held on a $25,000 bail.
The alleged attack was presumably on his wife, Nikki Garcia, who immediately questioned privacy while she and her family dealt with the private matter. The two share a four-year-old son Matteo, who is currently living with Nikki and her family.
What Has Artem Chigvintsev Been Arrested For?
Artem was booked under California Penal Code Section 273.5(a) PC. This “makes it illegal to injure a spouse, cohabitant or fellow parent in an act of domestic violence.” It is classed as DA or DV or corporal injury to a spouse.
Due to California law, the victim is not named. However, due to the nature of the booking, it’s easy to assume that it was Nikki who was at the receiving end of the violence. The investigation is ongoing.
Are Artem Chigvintsev and Nikki Garcia Still Together?
Nikki remained quiet after making the initial statement. However, she was spotted on September 2, 2024 without her wedding ring.
While TMZstates that she is seeking a divorce lawyer, fans spotted that Nikki wasn’t wearing her wedding ring before the incident with Artem. In an Instagram post on August 23, 2024 posting about a hot dog-eating competition, she wasn’t wearing her ring. It could suggest that the couple were heading for divorce before this incident.
The incident comes just days after the couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary. Nikki posted a photo on Instagram with a caption that included the lyrics to I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You by Elvis Presley.
Cheryl Burke Is Shocked About the Arrest
While Artem has not spoken out about the situation, Varietydid confirm that he wouldn’t be part of Dancing with the Stars Season 33. It looks like producers had already decided on this, as the decision was made prior to Artem’s arrest. Artem has been a regular pro dancer on the series since 2014, only missing two seasons until now.
Cheryl Burke talked about the arrest on her podcast, Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans, sharing her shock at the situation. The episode was recorded just hours after she heard of the arrest, so it was fresh on her mind.
Cheryl and Artem used to live with each other before their DWTS days, as Artem came to San Francisco to live with Cheryl and her family. They are like siblings, and this is a side to Artem that Cheryl never saw. She doesn’t deny that it happened, although she continued to use the word “alleged” in her podcast, and doesn’t take Artem’s side. She does say that it was shocking for her to hear about this. Cheryl added at the end that she hopes Nikki and her son with Artem, Matteo, are okay.
His fans might think differently, but T-Pain’s reason for leaving music behind is pretty awesome. He claimed that he has made more money from gaming than his music in recent years.
The singer and rapper explained how his net worth has benefited hugely from spending time as a Twitch streamer, as reported by Revolt. Although he admitted that he’s not the world’s best gamer, T-Pain has still managed to find insane financial success through gaming.
During his recent appearance on Wild Ride with Steve-O, the singer shared how his side gig has overtaken his music career over the past few years. He told Steve-O, “I’m making more money off of video games than I have made in the last four years.”
Even though he might not be as skilled as other gamers, T-Pain believed that his entertainment background helped him to stand out in the gaming world. He explained, “I think the entertainment that comes from somebody like me being trash at it, that’s more valuable and more entertaining.”
T-Pain’s First Contract Was Incredibly Unfair
T-Pain also opened up about his financial struggles while first trying to make it in show business. For example, he admitted that he wished he had learned more about the business side of the industry earlier in his career.
Although he quickly became a success, T-Pain’s early career was still challenging. According to All Hip Hop, his first record deal came with super harsh terms.
Looking back on the deal, T-Pain recalled the unfair revenue split. He also thought that the excitement of a large advance made him blind to what was really going on.
He told fellow rapper La Russell in an interview that the deal was 85-15 in his label’s favor. But they gave him such a large advance, he didn’t even think about the split.
Later on, he eventually understood the full impact of the deal terms. After he reviewed his contract, he was forced to face the reality of his financial situation.
He said, “Have you gotten a royalty check before? Oh yeah, a lot. I still get a lot of royalty. I’m probably never going to not get royalty checks.”
However, he added that after expecting to get huge payouts from royalties, he realized that the terms of his deal made this impossible. At one point, T-Pain faced severe financial troubles, even allegedly going broke.
But he was able to take the positives from his experience. He told La Russell that this allowed him to learn what the high end is and what the low end is.
He explained, “I’ve been mega-rich, I’ve been super broke, right in the middle of thinking I was mega-rich, and then got rich again.” His past had taught him the hard way how much he really cared about money.
T-Pain Hasn’t Entirely Quit Music
Despite the tough lessons learned from his first deal, T-Pain has achieved crazy success. His debut album, Rappa Ternt Sanga, released in 2005, included huge hits like I’m Sprung and I’m N Luv. The album was soon certified gold, solidifying his place in the music industry.
Despite his position in music, he was always on the lookout for new opportunities while reflecting on his past. Now, fortunately, thinking about the business side of music doesn’t look like it’s a problem for T-Pain anymore.
He hasn’t turned his back on music completely, though. Recently, the Buy U A Drank star surprised his fans with his inaugural Wiscansin Fest.
The festival featured performances from other artists like Lil Jon, Juvenile and Erica Banks. T-Pain had also received a special honor when he was celebrated with his own day in the state.
While on stage, he said that there was nothing that could describe what he felt in his heart other than pure, unmitigated gratitude. After so many plaudits and honors, it looks like the chance he took nearly three years ago by deciding to go independent has paid off.
T-Pain Makes More Gaming than Performing
According to the artist himself, it’s not paid off as much as his foray into gaming. His gaming income has now apparently outpaced what he earned from his music career.
It all started with his interest in streaming. His love for gaming was soon combined with his love for music, leading to a crazy partnership with Twitch. Now that he had learned from early mistakes in business, T-Pain wasn’t about to get exploited in his deal.
So, how much is T-Pain making from gaming? The answer might shock you.
He revealed the insane figure during an interview with music executive Jerry Clark on his podcast, Storytime With Legendary Jerry. T-Pain told Jerry that he earns $50,000 to $60,000 per hour playing video games.
But no one could’ve expected the impact streaming had on T-Pain’s interest in performing. He revealed that when people asked him to do shows, he had to tell them the truth.
The fact was that to get him out of the house he needed to be paid more than he was playing video games. T-Pain explained, “When you’re making $50 grand, $60 grand an hour playing video games in your drawers, it’s kind of hard to get me to go out of the country.”
T-Pain Remained Close with His Fans
But as well as being profitable and practical, gaming simply seems to be a passion for T-Pain. This is why he’s actually been doing it for a lot longer than people realize.
T-Pain has been gaming and streaming since 2014, eventually collaborating with State Farm on Gamerhood. Despite his retreat from music, T-Pain has maintained a close connection with his fans.
He has also opened up about how his iconic career remains important to him. His hit song Buy U A Drank remains popular more than a decade after its release.
This led T-Pain to compare the music of his era to today’s music. According to the singer, music today doesn’t have the same staying power of music from his era.
He explained, “I always compare it like gourmet food to fast food. Right now, it’s just fast food.”
He continued, “You get satisfied for a minute. You’re hungry again in an hour. Your favorite artist of today, you can’t name a song of theirs from two months ago.”
T-Pain Is the Same Person on and off-camera
According to T-Pain, his plan was always to try to make classics that would last longer than two months.
Maybe moving on to streaming was always the smart thing to do anyway. Now that we know the ridiculous amount of money he’s been earning from video games, it’s even more of a no-brainer.
For T-Pain, hustling and working has always had to be in balance with more important things, like his family life. He talked about the importance of being consistent both on and off camera.
T-Pain said that there was no real separation between his work and family. For him, this meant being the same person on and off camera. He stressed that his family plays a central role in his life and career.
His wife, Amber Najm, and their children, Lyriq, Muziq, and Kaydnz, are a constant presence for him. Now that he has less need than ever to go out on the road to do shows, keeping his family close has never been easier.
So although fans might want to see more from T-Pain musically, there just looks like for him, streaming has literally no downside.
