Ina Garten has published a brand new memoir detailing all that she has been through over the years. In particular, Ina goes into her union with her husband Jeffrey Garten and how they couldn’t stay together for a long time.
People Magazine reported that her book “Be Ready When the Luck Happens” describes their separation in full. Ina explains just how close her marriage came to falling apart and why. Here’s her story.
Ina Wanted a Divorce
Ina has been especially candid regarding her complicated relationship with her husband Jeffrey in her latest memoir. She revealed that she had actually contemplated asking him for a divorce outright, but hesitated and chose to ask for a separation instead.
According to People, Ina specifically chose to ask for a separation because she still loved Jeffrey and never intended to hurt him. She admitted that she knew she would need to be on her own for a while, but she never specified how long their separation would need to last. Ina wasn’t sure if it would last forever.
Jeffrey was surprisingly understanding and left Ina to herself while he returned to Washington to work. Now, Ina is glad she did what she did at the time.
People reported her saying of the matter, “Thank god I did. I think how crazy that was and how dangerous it was, but we wouldn’t have the relationship we have now if I hadn’t done it.”
Ina Was Obsessed With Her Work
Ina explained in her memoir that the traditional family roles she and Jeffrey had lived by were shattered when she purchased Barefoot Contessa. According to People, Ina perceived all of her daily actions as those of a businesswoman from that moment onward. She no longer had time to think about being a wife.
As far as Ina was concerned, every single moment of her life was about her work. She considered her husband little more than a distraction when he came to visit on the weekends.
People quoted her, mentioning, “Jeffrey was fully formed and living the life he wanted to live. I wasn’t, and I wouldn’t be able to figure out who I was or what I wanted unless I was on my own.”
Ina Told Jeffrey to Get Therapy
Apparently, Ina didn’t stop with wanting Jeffrey to disappear. According to People, she told him he needed therapy and would have to commit to seeing a therapist to have her back in his life.
Amazingly, Jeffrey took her challenge and went to a therapist for an hour. Ina said that he understood everything after that. That was also enough to convince her that he was serious about making their relationship work, no matter what.
Her words on the matter were, “Jeffrey’s willingness to see the therapist was as significant as anything that might happen during their session. He was that determined to convince me he was serious about making our marriage work.”
Anyone who’s lost a loved one tragically knows that the pain might lessen with time, but it never really goes away.
Nobody knows that pain more than Growing Up Hip Hop star Angela Simmons. The real truth is Angela is still facing her pain today, six years after her former fiancé, Sutton Tennyson, was fatally injured with a weapon outside his garage in southwest Atlanta.
Billboard reported what happened, and shockingly, Angela was forced to apologize for one of her designer accessories this year.
According to Billboard, Angela posed with a purse shaped like a firearm on the BET Awards red carpet.” Distractify offered a more specific description of how Angela “arrived on the red carpet carrying a crystal-encrusted [firearm-shaped] purse.” They also wrote about a ton of shade that Angela received from social media critics.
Someone commented online that Angela “could have [done] without that damn clutch.” Another person complained, “Really, girl?! Wasn’t your baby daddy… never mind.” However, other people defended Angela.
A supporter wrote, “[Firearms] are not always used for violence.” They added, “It’s for protection. Women keep [firearms] on them to feel safe. You guys are reaching.”
Angela Said ‘… I’m Not Violent’
Angela didn’t back away from setting the record straight. Billboard wrote that she “posted a video explaining her wardrobe accessory choice.” Here’s what Angela had to say.
She explained in her video that she’d seen “a lot of conversation around the purse.” While she claimed that she doesn’t usually address “rumors and stuff,” Angela revealed, “I’m not like that. I’ve never been like that. I’m not violent.”
Angela reminded people that she’s “obviously been through a lot in my personal life when it comes to [firearm] violence,” and she confessed, “It’s very personal to me.” Then, Angela gave her honest side of the story.
She confessed that she “just liked the bag” and thought “it was cool and a fashion moment.” Angela finished with, “That was it. I didn’t have any intentions of ruffling anyone’s feathers… I’m sorry if it bothered anyone.”
Angela Simmons Was ‘Satisfied With The Ruling’ Of Man, Michael, Who Took Her Baby Father’s Life
In April 2022, People.com reported that the man who took Sutton’s life had received “life in prison.” It was obviously another reminder for Angela, who “reportedly gave emotional testimony before the court on the Friday” before the man got sentenced. He won’t be eligible for parole for more than 30 years.
People.com revealed how the news was bittersweet for Angela. They wrote that she was “satisfied with the ruling,” and Angela was able to celebrate the news on Instagram with “sentimental photos” of her with Sutton and their son and “a sweet throwback picture” of Sutton “holding their son on his shoulders.”
Angela triumphantly captioned the images with “Justice served today! We got you!” Along with a red heart emoji.
The man who took Sutton’s life on November 3, 2018, is Michael Williams. People.com wrote that they had “an alleged argument” before Michael pointed a weapon at Sutton and fired it “over a dozen” times. Sutton was only 37 when he passed away.
Following her tragedy, Angela posted “touching tributes” to Sutton on social media. People.com also described how Angela “captioned a series of family shots” with a “thank you” to Sutton “for leaving behind my greatest gift.”
Angela Simmons Speaks About Tragedy On The Tamron Hall Show
Angela was a special guest on the Tamron Hall Show two years ago. Tamron revealed that Angela had “inspired” the episode with her “body positivity,” and Tamron also revealed to Angela and the audience why she wanted to “get [Angela] on this show.”
Tamron took Angela back to that “devastating tragedy” in her life, but Tamron said, “I didn’t want to talk about the tragedy.” She praised Angela for her “resilience” after losing the father of her child when Sutton Jr. was “only two years old.” Then, Angela revealed her real truth.
Angela said that when she “first heard the news,” she “couldn’t accept… or understand it.” She confessed, “Then, all of a sudden, I was numb.”
She further revealed that she’d never understood “what it was like to physically feel [that] numb.” Angela added that she couldn’t feel her body, and that feeling was so distressing to her that she knew she had to “immediately go to therapy… the next day.”
Angela told Tamron that therapy “is an ongoing thing,” and she bravely confessed, “Without therapy, I don’t think I’d be standing here.”
The Heartbreaking Moment Angela Told Her Son About Death Of His Father, Sutton
In January 2020, People.com reported on Angela’s most painful conversation with her son about their shared tragedy. As People.com wrote, Angela was “still mourning the loss of her ex-fiancé,” and the conversation that she revealed is shocking.
The moment took place on a Growing Up Hip Hop episode. Angela “broke down in tears recalling the day she had to explain” to Sutton Jr. that his father had passed away.
During the episode, Angela was talking to her life coach. Her son was three then, and Angela said he’d started “mentioning his dad,” so she asked Sutton Jr. if he “wanted to see photos.”
After she showed her son “videos and pictures and stuff,” Angela said Sutton Jr. just “stopped.” Then, her son asked her a devastating question, and People.com wrote that it “stopped her in her tracks.”
How Angela’s Son Handled The Devastating News About His Father’s Death
The question that Angela was not expecting from her son was if his dad was still “alive.” Imagine the emotion that overwhelmed Angela when she had to explain to Sutton Jr., “No.”
It’s heartbreaking to hear Angela tell her life coach how she “struggled” with “gently” explaining the tragedy to Sutton Jr. “in a way he would understand.”
She admitted that she approached this difficult conversation in her “own way,” explaining to her son that his dad was “in heaven… with God… all the great things.” After she revealed this to her life coach, it became too much for Angela.
People.com wrote that she broke into tears as she described how her son laid his head on her chest and told her he “was sad.” Angela further explained that she’d never seen her son so “emotional.” She added, “He’s a happy kid, and that whole day, he was just kind of mopey and sad.”
Angela’s Emotional Tribute About Sutton
Distractify quoted a 2018 report from Boston25News.com that Sutton was “shot 13 times with a .45 caliber” weapon “at around 5 pm” the day he passed. Shockingly, the “perpetrator,” Michael, left Sutton deceased “inside an open garage.”
Distractify also confirmed that Angela deleted her social media post from November 4, 2018. That post included Angela’s emotional tribute and her thanks to Sutton for leaving her with Sutton Jr., her “greatest gift.”
Angela also thanked her fans and followers “for the outpouring of love” in that post. Then, she revealed her shock at having to say, “Rest In Peace, Sutton.” Angela bravely promised him twice that she would “hold SJ down in every way.”
Why Angela Simmons And Sutton Weren’t On Best Of Terms Before He Died
People.com reported that Michael turned himself in to the police on November 7, 2018. Unfortunately, Sutton and Angela had not been in the best place before he passed away.
Distractify quoted a report by the Daily Mail that mentioned a “court date on October 30, 2018.” Sutton and Angela were trying to settle a monthly custody payment for their son. Sutton was also fighting for joint custody after Angela was awarded “temporary custody over Sutton Jr. in July 2018.”
Allegedly, Sutton may have been mistreating Angela when they were together, and rumors about this grew in December 2017 when “Angela reportedly filed for an order of protection” against Sutton.
Angela’s court filing seemed to coincide with her calling off her engagement to Sutton. She’s kept the details of this unfortunate situation private, but Distractify reported that Angela did drop a bombshell on a Growing Up Hip Hop episode several years ago.
Distractify took the information from a report by Entertainment Tonight. While they confirmed that Angela “didn’t name” the person who’d mistreated her, some rumors claim she was “referring to” Sutton.
Sadly, Angela confessed, “I never thought this would be me.” She explained that she’d suffered “years” of verbal and emotional mistreatment by a former partner. She added how she “felt so stuck because I thought it would get better, and it didn’t.”
It was heartbreaking when Angela admitted to feeling “like used goods.” Shockingly, she thought, “Who wants me after I’ve been through this?” Angela revealed, “It’s not easy.”
In 2019, the world changed for the Royal Family. Prince Andrew went on Newsnight with Emily Maitlis to talk about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. That turned into a PR nightmare for the Royal Family, and eyes turned on how the more important members of the family would react.
King Charles is now in charge, and according to News Week, Maitlis shares that “somebody close” to King Charles said that he was “not unhappy” with the way the interview went. However, he has remained silent on the subject when it comes to the public.
What Did King Charles Mean By ‘Not Unhappy’?
Maitlis doesn’t quite understand what the phrasing “not unhappy” really meant. It’s possible that he simply meant that it wouldn’t be viewed as being treasonous or that there wouldn’t be any backlash. At the same time, Maitlis wonders whether it could mean that King Charles believes that the interview served its purpose.
The interview came at a time as the world was losing Queen Elizabeth II. Her son stepped up into the role of King, and this offered a restart for the relationship between the new monarch and the people of Great Britain. It’s possible that the interview with Prince Andrew opened the door for that new relationship, as the dirty laundry was out and the focus could be on not keeping secrets from the people.
King Charles Is Distancing Himself from Prince Andrew
It is clear that the relationship between Charles and Andrew has taken on a different turn of events. In recent weeks, King Charles has cut the funding for the private security on the Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew’s home and was formerly the home of the late Queen Mother. The King is attempting to get Prince Andrew to move to Frogmore Cottage, which was the home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, but the Prince is choosing not to right now.
King Charles is reportedly “beyond frustrated” with his brother for refusing to leave the home, According toFox News. He does want to solve what has been labeled as “the Prince Andrew problem,” according to The Times, but it is proving more difficult that he would like. Prince Andrew continues to dig his heels in despite knowing the public is against him.
King Charles also originally removed all Royal duties from Andrew’s list of tasks. There were even signs that he was no longer invited to some family functions, although that is starting to change. He is now allowed back for family activities, but he remains out of Royal duties for the time being.
As of now, Prince Andrew still holds the title Duke of York, but there is a Parliamentary bill aimed at removing that. Prince William has also avoided being seen in public with his uncle, although he does attend private family events that he is in attendance at.
The Royal Family continues to remain unable to cut all ties to Prince Andrew despite the scandal. There are questions why, and it doesn’t help that King Charles is battling cancer right now. He is frustrated and looking to solve the problem, though.
When Romeo Miller began 2024, he raised up a New Year’s resolution to God, not realizing that he was going to receive exactly what he wanted in the worst way possible.
Romeo revealed in a post on Instagram that he started the new year wanting to be in the best shape of his life.
It was a total switch from the weeks leading up to the accident.
Initially, the new year started off great for Romeo.
He was hitting the gym, meeting his fitness goals, and having a great time.
Then, his car was hit on the freeway.
Romeo Miller And Relative Sustained Severe Injuries
The high-impact collision didn’t kill anyone, but he was left with serious injuries.
His cousin, who was in the car with him, also suffered from extreme injuries.
All Romeo could think about was being able to play in the backyard with his children.
Reaching his fitness goals no longer mattered.
He just wanted to be able to play with his kids.
For the next few months, his life was basically put on hold.
He had to cancel shows, projects, and other important events in his life.
Romeo Miller’s Road To Recovery And Healing
His friends and some of his family members weren’t even able to reach him for several months.
Romeo revealed that it was because he was healing from severe head injuries.
In particular, he had injured his neck and spine during the accident.
The injuries were so bad that he couldn’t do much but just lay in bed.
He needed privacy and peace in order to focus on his healing, so he couldn’t communicate with friends and family, let alone the public, as much as he wanted to.
Instead, he was focusing on physical therapy.
Besides getting regular MRI exams, he also spent time rebuilding his strength and coordination by riding an exercise bike and swimming.
Romeo Realized His Selfish Prayer
Romeo said that his recovery experience made him realize that he had been praying for the wrong thing when he asked God to help him become his strongest self.
The kind of strength he had prayed for had been a selfish kind of strength.
He wanted it to be so he could look good rather than just for his health and wellness.
It was a selfish prayer.
Since his rehab often required him to be still, which wasn’t easy for an active person like himself, he learned what it meant to really lean on God.
He discovered that it wasn’t his body that needed transformation.
It was his mind and spirit.
He revealed that movement didn’t always mean a person was moving forward.
Romeo’s New Life Focus And Journey
Even though he was so focused on his goals, he wasn’t really moving in the direction that was best for him.
He had lost his way.
Romeo realized that when he had asked God to help him become his strongest, he was doing just that.
He was becoming stronger, but in a way that mattered.
It wasn’t just physical strength that he needed to focus on but his mental and spiritual strength, too.
Romeo said that he was able to see things a lot more clearly now, adding that there were signs everywhere.
He then added that he kept his post private for some time because he wanted to make sure he was healthy before sending it.
So, if his family and friends were wondering why he wasn’t reaching out to them, then they understood now.
He said he was on a journey.
He then said that the best was yet to come.
The Instagram video ended with Romeo walking near a pond with his two daughters, holding a journal that read, “Be strong and courageous.”
Romeo Miller’s Multiple Neck and Spinal Procedures
Walking wasn’t something that was guaranteed in his journey, though.
According to People Magazine, Romeo shared an Instagram Story in May, which showed him lying on his stomach with a number of bandages on the back of his neck.
He’d had a spinal procedure done earlier, but when he was able to go home, things worsened.
He realized that he was losing the ability to walk.
So, he went back to the hospital for a few more neck and spinal procedures.
Romeo shared that he thought he was done with the procedures, but the doctors basically told him that these types of injuries were more like marathons.
It wasn’t like he just needed one surgery, and then he’d be all better.
Since neck and spinal injuries are so dangerous and serious, they often require several procedures before things start going back to normal.
Family, Fans And Friends Offered Romeo Prayers, Praises And Support
Romeo asked his friends and family to have patience with him because he didn’t have time to reply to everyone that weekend.
That said, he assured everyone that he was good and back home to rest.
Despite the setback, he said that he was up for the challenge and ready to keep getting stronger.
Fans have filled his comments with prayers and praises.
Many expressed their gratitude that he and his cousin made it out of the accident safely and were starting to heal.
Others praised Romeo for his faith before sending their prayers along, too.
Romeo Miller’s 2013 Car Crash
Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first serious car crash that Romeo has been part of.
Back in 2013, TMZ reported that Romeo was lucky to be alive following a car crash.
The accident also occurred on the freeway with the car driving at 70 miles per hour.
Romeo was a passenger in the car and was actually asleep when the accident happened.
He woke up when he felt a car collide with his own.
Even worse, the other car hit his side of the car.
Both of the airbags deployed at the front of the car, which helped save his life and the driver’s.
It was a fatal crash, however, as people in the other car didn’t make it out.
Romeo described himself as walking out of the car like Moses once he was able to get out.
He went to the hospital to get checked out but didn’t have any serious injuries.
He was able to leave the next day.
Romeo may be tempting fate, having been in two life-threatening car crashes.
Romeo Miller’s Daughter, River, Suffers From Type 1 Diabetes
Now, while he’s had a few times where he’s had to focus on his health, his primary concern has always been for his daughter, River.
Back in November 2023, Romeo posted on Instagram, revealing that his daughter suffered from Type 1 diabetes.
He said behind her beautiful smile, she was a fighter.
He said he had never met a stronger human than her.
He also added that he was glad that God had assigned him to be her father.
Although they kept her condition private for some time, he wanted to raise awareness about it.
He revealed that River had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, which is a chronic autoimmune disease that prevents her pancreas from making insulin.
It’s a disease that requires daily management with injections, shots, and blood sugar monitoring.
Those were all necessary just to survive.
Because she was so young, her case was especially dangerous.
Romeo Miller Forever By His Daughter’s Side
Romeo said there were many challenges, and they often had to go to the hospital for sleepovers unexpectedly.
Despite those challenges, his faith has never wavered.
He also said that River’s sister, Winter, and their mother have always been at her side throughout the problems.
There’s a silver lining, though.
Romeo said that because of her condition, he has to spend a lot of time with her, and that’s only made their bond grow stronger and stronger.
He also gave credit to her doctor, who he said was the best doctor for this type of disease.
Romeo Is Devoted To Finding A Cure For Type 1 Diabetes
While the drugs his daughter takes have helped save her life, he’s devoted his efforts to finding a cure for Type 1 diabetes.
Romeo started a charity organization in River’s name that’s devoted to funding research for a cure.
With some time and support, he hoped that one day there would be a cure and his daughter would no longer have to take shots just to survive.
Romeo Miller’s Dating Show: Finding Romeo
Professionally, Romeo has also produced his own dating show, Finding Romeo.
During an interview with Get Up! Mornings, Romeo revealed that he was a big fan of watching dating shows.
It’s what he preferred to do instead of going out to the club.
He wanted to do his own version of a dating show, however, that focused on a smaller group of people and challenges that would help bring out the true core of a person.
He wanted to help people find real love.
Fans will have to keep an eye out for the show, which Romeo says has plans for at least 50 seasons.
You might think that as the son of hip hop legend Rev Run, Jojo Simmons has been living life on easy street.
But over the years he’s managed to find himself in some sticky and sometimes tragic situations.
Here are some of the most shocking stories and rumors that show even the Simmons kids have had their struggles.
Jojo Simmons’ Beef With Juelz Santana
Rev’s third child and eldest son, Joseph Jr., better known as Jojo Simmons, is now in his mid-30s.
Jojo spent his early years trying to follow in his dad’s footsteps by becoming a rapper.
But that lifestyle got him into a crazy situation in 2013.
At the time, Jojo was involved in a feud with rival rapper Juelz Santana.
He released songs aiming shots at Juelz, and the whole thing escalated pretty quickly.
Juelz had connections with several Skull Gang members.
One of these was a gangster called Hynief.
And apparently, one day that year, Hynief came upon Jojo and cornered him.
Jojo Simmons Was Threatened By Gang Member
After threatening him, Hynief posted a photo on Instagram of Jojo calling Juelz to apologize to him.
The photo showed the gang member holding Jojo up by his shirt.
Which must have been a terrifying experience for Jojo.
He was then widely mocked for being forced to apologize.
But he actually maintained that responding with violence would’ve been a mistake.
Although that nearly happened anyway.
After the ordeal was over, Jojo got some support from some alleged members of rival Crips gangs.
It was claimed that they threatened retaliation to any further violence from Juelz’s friends.
The Birth Of Jojo Simmons’ Daughter
Luckily, things have calmed down for Jojo in the years since.
The main reason he gives for this was the birth of his daughter Mia in 2016.
He shares Mia with his now wife Tanice Amira, who he married in 2019.
His newfound domestic life made him look at things a little differently.
In an interview with Hollywood Life in 2018, Jojo stated that his daughter had forced him to mature.
And that he’d become more focused since her birth.
Jojo Follows His Uncle’s, Russell Simmons, Footsteps
He has also retired from rap, choosing instead to follow his uncle, legendary Def Jam founder, Russell Simmons.
He started the recording label Who’s House Entertainment with his friend Femi Iloyi.
Jojo and Femi had worked together on music for TV networks and shows before taking this huge step.
And it looks like it’s paid off.
His business ventures have combined with a regular spot on Growing Up Hip Hop from Season 5 onward, and seen him secure a net worth of $2 million.
Jojo Simmons’ Altercation With Father-In-Law, Buck
But even now that he’s settled down and wifed up, Jojo’s life is not totally free of scandal.
And what’s wild is that some of the most shocking recent incidents to befall him are connected to his marriage.
A couple of years ago, it was reported that Jojo was assaulted by his own father-in-law.
Tanice’s father Buck Johnson grabbed some headlines after he made his feelings about his daughter’s man very clear in an episode of Growing Up Hip Hop.
For several episodes leading up to the crazy altercation, it had been obvious that tensions were rising between Jojo and Buck.
Why Buck Johnson Dislikes Jojo Simmons
Buck had openly expressed that he didn’t like Jojo, which Tanice believed was stopping him from spending enough time with his grandkids.
In one episode of the reality series, the two men finally sat down to hash things out in a recording studio.
But this ultimately made things worse instead of better.
They tried to have a civil discussion but it quickly turned into a shouting match, with Buck claiming that he had always been there to bail the young couple out financially, which Jojo disputed.
When Jojo asked what the root of Buck’s dislike for him was, Buck revealed that he was hurt over not walking Tanice down the aisle at the couple’s wedding.
However, Jojo revealed to Buck that this had actually been Tanice’s idea.
Why Buck Threw A Bucket Of Ice On Jojo Simmons
Tempers flared, and Buck eventually told his son-in-law that he was “done” with their conversation.
He wanted Jojo to leave, but neither wanted to be the one to back down.
After Jojo remained seated, Buck snapped.
He grabbed a bucket of his from their table and threw it over Jojo in a moment that shocked everyone on set as well as the viewers at home.
Jojo decided not to retaliate and left the scene with his entourage, but not before throwing Buck a parting shot.
He shouted at his father in law as he left, “You threw ice, that’s what girls do on Love & Hip Hop.”
Jojo Simmons’ Wife, Tanice, Asked Father To Apologize To Her Husband
Obviously, this was a pretty uncomfortable situation for everyone involved including Jojo.
But it had to be most tragic for Tanice to be caught in the middle of her loved ones quarreling.
She later confronted her dad about the attack, telling him that she thought he should apologize to Jojo.
However, when she asked Buck to call her husband, Buck clearly wasn’t interested.
He told her, “I’m not apologizing. I thought about that.”
He explained that he acted after feeling that he had been disrespected by Jojo.
Buck said, “If I feel disrespected, I’m gonna disrespect whoever, whenever, whoever. I don’t care.”
Viewers Speak Out On Jojo Simmons And Buck’s Beef
Most viewers who watched the ordeal seemed to side with Jojo.
In a clip of the fight that’s appeared on YouTube, one commenter wrote that “Jojo sat there way too long arguing with a fool.”
Another suggested that Buck resented Jojo because of his famous family.
As well as having Rev Run as a father, Jojo’s uncle is legendary music mogul Russell Simmons.
What’s more, the only reason he and Buck were sitting down together in the first place was that Jojo’s mom Valerie Vaughn had pushed for them to sort things out.
Luckily, Jojo managed to keep the peace of his family in mind when Buck attacked him, and didn’t fight back.
Why Was Jojo Simmons Arrested?
While this may have been a sign of Jojo’s growing maturity, his checkered past proves this wasn’t always the case.
A few years previously, Jojo let his impulses get the better of him when he was arrested for possession of illegal substances.
He also faced charges of resisting arrest and attempted reckless endangerment.
And the way he tried to evade arrest was pretty dramatic.
Jojo was caught by police officers handling the illegal substance in his BMW.
When they approached, he tried to escape by throwing the car into reverse, but ended up hitting another parked vehicle.
The scandal proved to be pretty embarrassing for the then-19-year-old Jojo.
Vanessa Simmons Supported Her Brother, Jojo
However, even then, his tight family unit was determined to protect him from the public.
Shortly after his arrest, his big sister Vanessa showed her support on Twitter.
She wrote, “As humans we all make mistakes. They make up your life lessons and experiences.”
She went on to add, “Jojo is ok, he just made an oops.”
Jojo Simmons Avoided Serious Punishment
In the end, Jojo was able to avoid any serious punishment after pleading guilty to one count of disorderly conduct, and was sentenced to one day of community service.
He and his dad would go on to address the situation on their show Run’s House.
So although wealthy kids like Jojo can get into difficult situations like the rest of us, quite often they’re able to get away with it without doing too much damage.
With his crazy days behind him, Jojo is now focused on raising his own family and keeping the Simmons name going with pride.
More drama is in the air in the “Sister Wives” universe. On September 13, one of the show’s stars announced yet another split in the infamously deteriorating polygamist family. However, we’re not talking about a breakup with Kody Brown.
Another Split in the Brown Family
One of the few adult children who was still connected to Robyn and Kody Brown was “Sister Wives” star Mykelti Brown. She has said that she is no longer connected to Robyn.
Before, Mykelti and her husband Tony Padron tried to keep Kody and Robyn active in their lives and the lives of their children, since many of her siblings had grown apart from her controversial father.
But in a Patreon video (paid content/no link) from August, Tony learned that Kody and Robyn had put their house in Flagstaff, Arizona, on the market. Fans began to think something was up because Tony and Mykelti were the last two people to know.
In the Patreon video, where Mykelti was taking questions from fans, one fan asked what the dynamic is like between Kody, Robyn, and Mykelti. Her response was surprising, to say the least.
“It’s true we have always been super supportive of Robyn,” she said in the Patreon video. “Of lately it may seem as that has changed.”
Mykelti, who is the daughter of Kody and his ex-wife Christine, said that something happened during a recent funeral for her half-brother Garrison Brown that made her decide to distance herself from her father and stepmother.
She did not reveal in detail what happened. All she really said that it was the first time in “years” that she saw most of her huge family together. We can imagine whatever was said must have been significant, as Mykelti has notably not taken sides when it comes to her father’s marriage and separations.
Is There A History of Familiar Problems Among The Browns?
To say this family is full of drama is an understatement. Mykelti has tried to stay neutral in her family’s affairs for years, despite her mother Christine quite famously chewing out Kody for playing favorites among his wives. Specifically, she said on “Sister Wives” that Kody “favored” Robyn over his other wives.
“I think he has a favorite wife and that’s why all of this is like it is,” Christine famously said in an episode from September 2022. Christine announced her separation from Kody in November of 2021, after a substantial 25 years and six children together. Christine also just announced that she is suing Kody for custody of their daughter Truely.
Mykelti publicly supported Kody and Robyn despite her mother’s comments about his treatment of his other wives. The dynamic between everyone in the family appears to be strained. Unfortunately, it’s not clear if we’ll ever know what was said and who said it at Garrison’s tragic funeral to make Mykelti and her husband distance themselves from her father and stepmother.
Currently, the newest season of “Sister Wives” is currently airing on TLC and Sling.
Janelle’s son Garrison took his own life on March 5, 2024 and was discovered by his younger brother, according to People.
Now, his mother has come forth with more information about what he may have been going through and how she was dealing with his loss. Here’s her story:
He Struggled With Substance Abuse
Janelle has broken her silence on the tragedy of her son’s passing by suicide and shared her thoughts regarding what may have led him to leave her family far too soon.
When Garrison passed, he was only 25. His death left a major rift in the family and opened the door for a lot of questions regarding the way he was raised. Janelle explained to People that she truly doesn’t know what her family could have done differently to save his life.
She speculated a bit about his issues with substance abuse and pointed out that it was one of the more compelling explanations for his sudden loss. She went so far as to say it was likely the single most important factor in deciding his fate.
Janelle stressed that the tragedy definitely didn’t come from a lack of love as they were fairly close. She mentioned to People that she was always speaking with him and doing all she could to help guide him in the right direction.
That being said, she admitted that she often fell into spells of grief and wondered whether she could have done anything else to help him out of the dark place he was in. Her words to People were:
“I think that’s a grief trap because I think ultimately everybody is responsible for their own actions and their own decisions. […] We really did everything that we could have done.”
She’s More Aware of Mental Health
Janelle emphasized to People that she and the rest of her family were all completely blindsided by Garrison’s sudden death. In fact, they had been fairly certain that he was getting better before he passed.
As Janelle pointed out, Garrison had started interacting with the family more often and had even adopted a new cat. She said that he was also very excited about his career and where things were heading in his life.
Since Garrison’s passing the entire family has shifted dramatically for a variety of reasons, but Janelle claims one of the main changes his passing brought up was a new focus on mental health. She told People that checking in with each other and discussing their mental health has become their main focus.
As for Garrison’s memory, Janelle has made it very clear that she will continue to care about her son for the rest of her life. She has posted publicly on his birthday to keep his memory alive, according to People.
Garrison and Kody Weren’t Close
Garrison’s relationship with his father Kody was allegedly strained for some time, according to People. Kody shares 18 children with his ex-wives and current wife, but has admitted that his involvement with Garrison could have been improved.
Could a better relationship with his father have helped Garrison at his lowest points? No one knows for sure. Kody admitted that he thought they would have plenty of time to reconnect. According to People, he stated:
“It was kind of like, we’ve got forever. It was more like it was a convenience of time that I felt like I had.”
After more than 30 years of being together, Sister Wives stars Meri Brown and Kody Brown called it quits in a joint statement posted to social media on January 10th 2023. In the post, the pair said that after years of working on their relationship, they’ve decided to terminate their marriage relationship.
While the statement said the pair was committed to healing relationships and showing respect towards one another, there’s been a lot of drama between the two recently. Most notably, Meri has opened up about her struggles with Kody throughout the relationship.
For those unfamiliar, Kody, Meri, and Kody’s other wives (Janelle, Christine, and Robyn) were the stars of the show Sister Wives. It follows the polygamist family and documents their lives, and has been running for 19 seasons, with well over 200 episodes so far.
While Meri was his legal wife throughout most of the relationship, as the USA doesn’t allow polygamous marriages, this changed in 2014 when Robyn became his official and legal wife.
In a recent premiere clip of the first episode of the new season, Meri can be seen having a conversation with her friend, and went into detail about the relationship, and what went wrong. She said that things started to get bad once the family moved from Las Vegas to Flagstaff, Arizona.
During the clip, she also mentioned that she believes he says certain things to push her out. She adds that “if he can push me out and I leave, he’s not the bad guy because he didn’t walk away”.
One thing in particular that Kody has said is that he was only in love with Robyn, his most recent wife that he got with in 2010. He said that it was the idea of a plural marriage that motivated him to be with his first three wives, not so much how compatible he was with them.
Meri also explained that she wanted to televise the breakup for the world to see, but that Kody preferred to keep it in private and off the TV. During the chat, Meri and her friend also said that Kody had changed, and that he seems to be going through some type of “mid-life crisis”.
While Meri was his first wife that he married way back in 1990, she wasn’t the first to leave him. First, Christine left Kody and the family back in late-2021 after being with him since 1994. The following year, Janelle also left Kody, who she had been with since 1993.
As a result, while he had 4 partners a few short years ago, Kody now only has one wife remaining. Since leaving Kody, Meri has moved on and briefly dated a man named Amos for a few months in late 2023 and early 2024, before splitting from him in February. She said she wants to take time to prioritize herself and her wellbeing, but also mentioned she is more than willing to explore dating someone again in the future.
Danity Kane became a huge hit after Diddy’s show Making The Band 3 on MTV. Now one of the band members is adding her name to those against the music producer.
Dawn Richard is suing Diddy, as well as Bad Boy Records and other defendants, for SA, forced labor, and more. The lawsuit came days before Diddy was arrested and refused bail for various charges.
Why Is Dawn Richard Suing Diddy?
Dawn claims that she witnessed Diddy attacking Cassie Ventura, his girlfriend at the time. Cassie had originally gone to court against Diddy for the attack, but the two settled out of court. Daen says that she tried to intervene and offered Cassie support and encouragement to leave the music producer. Whenever Diddy learned of Dawn’s actions, he would threaten her life.
In Touch got the court documents and saw there were other alleged offenses. Dawn claims that she had to endure forced labor and that Diddy was in “violation of New York services for victims of human trafficking and sex trafficking.”
There are also claims of withholding Dawn’s rightful earnings. Among the accusations are claims that Diddy stole her copyrighted works. She also claims false imprisonment, SA against herself, and more. Why would she continue working with him? She claims that he would regularly claim that being submissive to him was the only way to make a career in the industry.
It was only when Cassie stepped forward with her own allegations that Dawn looked back at everything she faced. She realized it was time to speak out.
Diddy’s lawyer, Erica Wolff, says that Diddy is shocked by the claims. He denies all the allegations, claiming that Dawn is rewriting history. Erica notes that the timing of the allegations coincides with the release of her new album and her press tour.
The Connection Between Diddy and Dawn Richard
Dawn met Diddy during the 2005 to 2006 season of Making The Band on MTV. Diddy held auditions for a girl group, leading to the creation of Danity Kane. It was during this that some of the inhumane treatment had been alleged. Dawn says that Diddy would prevent them from sleeping and wouldn’t provide food when they asked. They would allegedly have to record for 36 to 48 hours without sleep because Diddy was awake all the time due to the things that he took.
Dawn also worked with him on other occasions. She was in the band Dirty Money, which Diddy was a member of.
The allegations came just before Diddy was arrested by federal authorities for a range of SA and ST claims. While he has pled “not guilty,” he has been denied bail. According to The Associated Press, U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky shared that she was concerned about “what appears to be anger issues.” Diddy claims that he is not a flight risk, even handing over his passport and the passports of his family members to prove this, but it was not enough to grant him bail.
It is unclear what this will mean for Dawn’s lawsuit at this time, as there will be more focus on the federal case at first.
The massive Sean “Diddy” Combs scandal is finally reaching an explosive point, as media outlets, including The New York Post, reported breaking news in the early morning hours of September 17th that Diddy had been arrested.
Shockingly, the Post is now offering “live” updates of Diddy’s arrest after updating their first report at 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday.
When the news broke overnight on the East Coast, sources confirmed that Diddy was taken into custody by Homeland Security agents “at a New York City hotel [on] Monday.”
This comes after a months-long federal investigation into Diddy’s allegedly perverse habits in the bedroom and with intimate partners, most notably, his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, whose high-profile lawsuits against Diddy played a huge role in bringing this investigation forward.
The Post keeps publishing “new entries” online that tell many different sides of this disturbing story. Be forewarned some of these reports are triggering and disgusting, and we’re toning down the most offensive details here.
Allegations Against Diddy
One of the first “new entries” alleges that Diddy “forced victims” into ‘Freak Off’ sessions with male escorts, according to federal prosecutors. The Post confirmed that “Feds” believe Diddy forced women into performing elaborate, perverse acts with male escorts, and Diddy allegedly arranged, directed, and recorded many of these sessions while indulging in self-pleasure.
One bombshell claim in the court indictment is that these ‘Freak Off’ sessions happened “regularly,” and the Post wrote that they “sometimes lasted for days.” Another disturbing allegation is that Diddy allegedly gave substances to his victims to keep them “obedient and compliant.”
Allegedly, Diddy kept these perverse videos, and the Post reported that he did this “without his victims’ knowledge.” Prosecutors are also claiming that Diddy’s victims received “IV fluids” after he called a halt to these sessions, and allegedly, Diddy did that to make his victims “recover from the physical exertion and [substance] use” more quickly.
The Post added some unsavory details to the previous report about 20 minutes later on September 17th.
Allegedly, Diddy used DV, verbal and physical threats, and endless substances to “force women” into participating in his “orchestrated” performances. Federal authorities also made another shocking allegation.
They’re accusing Diddy of tracking his victims’ “whereabouts” and monitoring “their medical records.”
If you’re wondering how bad the alleged “trafficking” really is in this situation, the Post explained how court documents claim that Diddy “would dictate his victims’ appearances, control their housing, and supply them with ‘controlled substances’ in order to maintain control over them.”
Sadly, Diddy’s victims were allegedly promised “career opportunities.” Still, it appears that Diddy didn’t keep his word. Instead of “granting” financial support as he promised, Diddy allegedly threatened to “withhold financial support” from the women, physically and verbally.
Discoveries In Diddy’s Home
The next update from the Post almost sounds like a crazy joke. They alleged that federal agents made these discoveries during their raids of Diddy’s lavish homes in Miami and Los Angeles.
Federal agents alleged that they found “1,000 bottles of baby oil and lube,” and they accused Diddy of using these products during his illegal “Freak Off” sessions. But that’s not the only crazy thing about this update because Diddy’s “staff” allegedly helped “to arrange for [the] elaborate ‘Freak Offs.’”
It sounds revolting, but Diddy allegedly forced his security team, “household workers and personal assistants,” to help him prepare for these illegal and inhumane sessions.
However, those who worked far beneath Diddy weren’t the only alleged participants. Shockingly, the Post reported that “high-ranking supervisors” on Diddy’s team were allegedly involved in this mess, too.
According to the Post, federal prosecutors allege that Diddy made his “employees” book hotel rooms and arrange “for transportation of victims” and the male escorts.
Allegedly, employees also “stocked ‘Freak Off’ products in the hotel rooms,” which meant baby oil, substances, and even “extra linens and lighting.” After the disgusting sessions ended, prosecutors allege that Diddy really put his “staff” to work.
Shocking Finds
Shockingly, prosecutors accuse Diddy of making his staff “mitigate” any damage to the hotel rooms after his “days-long ‘Freak Offs’” ended. After they finished that disgusting task, Diddy’s staff allegedly had to “schedule IV delivery to help the victims.”
The Post then reported a NewsNation exclusive, including a screenshot of a video showing Diddy laughing and enjoying the day in Central Park last Friday before his arrest.
TMZ reported just after 5:30 am PT on September 17th that Diddy was “yucking it up with fans in Manhattan” about a half-hour “before federal agents arrested him at the Park Hyatt Hotel” on Monday night.
TMZ confirmed that Diddy was staying at the Park Hyatt, and as crazy as this sounds, they added that “Diddy never seemed happier than on the streets of his hometown of New York” on the evening of September 16th.
Diddy Appears Calm
According to TMZ video footage, Diddy had “a very friendly chat with four dudes,” and everyone had “bright smiles on their faces.” TMZ then threw shade at Diddy, writing that he got “hauled away to the federal building in lower Manhattan” following his “little street gathering.”
The Post reported that Diddy also met up with “his lawyer on a Central Park bench” on September 13th. Shockingly, it does appear that Diddy knew something ominous was about to happen.
According to the Post, Diddy’s lawyer was identified as “Marc Agnifilo” in the NewsNation exclusive. The Post described how Diddy, “the music mogul,” was “spotted sitting on a park bench next to a suited-up man.”
The guy in the suit was Marc, and Diddy’s lawyer dropped a bombshell that proves Diddy was aware of what would happen to him on September 16th.
The Post wrote that Marc made a statement about Diddy “voluntarily” making “his way to the Big Apple… last week” because he knew he was facing an “arrest on federal charges.” If Diddy wanted to enjoy his last weekend as a free man for a while, he seemed hell-bent on proving that last Sunday in Harlem.
A Diddy fan named Xavier Jones captured a video of Diddy smiling and posing with fans in Harlem on September 15th. The Post reported that Xavier told Storyful he was “just leaving the African American Day parade” when he saw “[Diddy] and his family close by.” Xavier claimed that Diddy “seemed in pretty great spirits.”
The Post confirmed that the federal indictment against Diddy was “unsealed Tuesday,” and court documents allege that Diddy’s crimes went on for “over a decade” and that he presided over “an empire” of deviant crimes against women.
Diddy’s Lawyer’s Statement
The Post mentioned Marc’s statement “immediately following [Diddy’s] arrest.” Marc claimed, “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” You need to hear the excuse Marc gave on his client’s behalf.
According to Marc, Diddy is “an imperfect person but is not a criminal.” Whether or not that’s even a shred of the real truth, Marc also said that Diddy should be credited for being “nothing but cooperative with this investigation” and how he “relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.”
On Tuesday morning, Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams informed the public during a press conference that his office would ask the judge to keep Diddy “behind bars” after his arraignment on September 17th.
Shockingly, Damian confirmed, “We are going to be seeking detention” because he believes “the alleged crimes are serious enough for such a request.” Another update by the Post is further proof that Diddy’s alleged crimes are as serious as the US Attorney claimed.
The Post reported that witnesses observed Diddy carrying dangerous weapons “to intimidate and threaten” his victims or anyone who watched the horrors he allegedly committed.
Allegedly, Diddy’s “security staff” also carried lethal weapons, and “when the feds raided his homes in Miami and Los Angeles,” agents allegedly found “three AR-15s” that shockingly had the serial numbers rubbed off.
That’s why it makes more sense for Damian to reveal that the US Attorney’s office is leaving the door open “for more arrests” in the federal case against Diddy.
Damian also revealed that he “can’t take anything off the table” when asked if “others would be indicted in the sweeping case.”
