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9/11 families slam Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament in New Jersey

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(NEW YORK) — Terry Strada, the chair of the organization 9/11 Families United, which advocates for families of victims and survivors of the 2001 attacks, was shocked when she heard that the LIV Golf Tournament would be playing at the Bedminster Golf Course in Bedminster, New Jersey.

“I couldn’t believe that it was actually going to be playing right there practically in my backyard,” she told ABC News’ podcast “Start Here.”

Strada used to live in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, a few miles from the course where the international golf tournament will play over the weekend. Her husband, Tom Strada, was working in one of the World Trade Center towers and died during the attack.

Strada said that 17 families in Basking Ridge lost a family member during the 9/11 attacks and told ABC News the fact that the LIV Golf Tournament, which is sponsored by the Saudi Arabian government, is playing nearby hits too close to home.

“We’re very disappointed in the players,” she said. “We’ve tried to point out to them, I wrote them a letter when this all began.”

For Strada, the connection between the Saudi Arabian government and the attacks on 9/11 is indisputable. “It is no longer alleged,” Strada said. “We are in the courtrooms with a lawsuit against the kingdom.”

“The kingdom actually provided the support network that was needed for the first arriving hijackers and most likely all of them to set up what they needed to plan, practice and carry out the attacks,” she told “Start Here,” citing President Joe Biden’s executive order in 2021 that led to documents being declassified.

“We know that 15 of the 19 of them [9/11 hijackers] were Saudi nationals, but now we know there was this anti-American pro-jihadist program that was set up in the Saudi Embassy, and it was running out of the consulate out in California, and it was filled with extremists,” Strada said.

The LIV Golf Tournament has raised eyebrows since it launched in London last month, with critics calling it the latest example of “sportswashing,” the process by which a group will launder its reputation with professional sporting events.

The golf tournament has managed to secure some of the biggest players in the game, and will travel across three countries in the following months.

The tournament first came under scrutiny because of the allegations of human rights violations against the kingdom, including the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Critics claimed that the kingdom is spending billions of dollars in order to improve its public image, and called on high-profile players such as Phil Mickelson to refuse to play.

The Bedminster golf course that is the site of the LIV Golf tournament is owned by former President Donald Trump, who “has been on record saying that he thinks this was a great move by the Saudis, that they’ve gotten great publicity,” “Start Here” host Brad Mielke said in his conversation with Strada.

“They haven’t done anything to make amends for the worst terrorist attack that ever happened on American soil,” Strada told ABC News.

“They put a lot of money into our economy for all the same reasons, they just try to buy respect. And you can’t buy respect. You have to earn it.”

Strada registered her “huge disappointment” with Biden, saying 9/11 families tried unsuccessfully to secure a meeting with the president prior to his recent visit to Saudi Arabia. Strada said it was important for the families whose loved ones died on Sept. 11, 2001, to “get the justice that we deserve.”

“The kingdom has not been held accountable for the pipeline of money that they used to funnel terrorism. The kingdom needs to be held responsible and accountable for that,” she said.

 

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

 

“I shook that sh*t off and went to work the next day”: Chris Rock addresses the Will Smith Oscars slap

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(NOTE LANGUAGE) Chris Rock didn’t hold back at a recent stand-up gig at New Jersey’s PNC Bank Arts Center, where he addressed the infamous slap at the hands of Will Smith during the Oscars in March.

“Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face,” the comic quipped onstage, according to US Weekly.

Later on, he apparently noted, “I’m not a victim. Yeah, that sh** hurt, motherf***er. But I shook that sh** off and went to work the next day.

“I don’t go to the hospital for a paper cut,” he added.

Rock has remained mum on he headline-grabbing incident, even as he undertook his Ego Death World Tour. Back in April, his only reference to “The Slap” on the road was telling a comedy show crowd, “I’m OK … I’m not talking about that until I get paid.”

He had added, “Life is good. I got my hearing back.”

Smith had taken offense to a jab Rock made during the Oscars telecast referencing Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her bald head due to alopecia. After Smith slapped Rock, he returned to his seat next and cursed out the comic.

For his part, Smith apologized. He was banned from Academy events for 10 years.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

 

Future hits rare RIAA milestone for gold and platinum-certified units

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Future just hit a rare milestone.

The rapper has been honored with an RIAA plaque commemorating 95 million units certified throughout the course of his career. This makes him one of the top-achieving gold and platinum-certified rappers of all time.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate that Future now has 95 million RIAA certified units spanning 9 albums and 68 separate singles!” COO of RIAA Michele Ballantyne says in a statement.

She adds, “He’s in an elite group – very few artists have achieved this level of success in the history of our nearly 65 year old program. Congratulations to Future and his incredible Epic Records and Freebandz teams!”

Future was also presented with a plaque for his latest album, I Never Liked You, reaching gold status.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

 

Migos announces performance without Offset

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Migos has announced an upcoming performance – without Offset.

The trio will be performing as a duo, with just Quavo and Takeoff taking the stage at next month’s National Battle of the Bands, an annual competition showcasing HBCU marching bands.

“The addition of world-famous hip hop act, Migos, to the 2022 National Battle of the Bands lineup is a gigantic milestone, merging popular hip hop with the spirit and soul of music produced by our nation’s finest HBCU marching bands,” Derek Webber, Executive Producer, National Battle of the Bands, says in a statement. “We’re thrilled that spectators will get to see the iconic band showcase and a premier hip hop performance with the same ticket.”

This marks the first time the Battle of the Bands has ever featured a major performing artist. The event takes place August 27 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

There have previously been rumors that Migos was breaking up. In May, fans noticed Offset unfollowed Quavo and Takeoff on Instagram, and in June, the group pulled out of a scheduled Governors Ball performance in New York City.

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