Archives: Episodes

(NEW YORK) — Novak Djokovic, one of the world’s top tennis players, confirmed Thursday that he won’t be competing at the upcoming U.S. Open.

The Serbian athlete will miss this year’s tournament in New York City due to his COVID-19 vaccination status.

“Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open,” Djokovic, 35, said on Twitter Thursday. “Good luck to my fellow players! I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. See you soon tennis world!”

Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open. Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. Good luck to my fellow players! I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. See you soon tennis world!

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 25, 2022

The U.S. government does not allow international travelers to come into the U.S. without proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Djokovic is not vaccinated, telling the BBC earlier this year that “based on all the information that I got, I decided not to take the vaccine.”

The U.S. Tennis Association said Djokovic withdrew from the U.S. Open prior to the draw to determine the tournament’s official seeding list. His withdrawal paved the way for a “lucky loser” to be included in the draw, the association said.

“Novak is a great champion and it is very unfortunate that he will be unable to compete at the 2022 U.S. Open, as he is unable to enter the country due to the federal government’s vaccination policy for non-U.S.citizens. We look forward to welcoming Novak back at the 2023 U.S. Open,” U.S. Open tournament director Stacey Allaster said in a statement.

The athlete was deported from Australia in January over his vaccination status after arriving to compete in the Australian Open. His visa was revoked at the Melbourne airport, restored, then ultimately canceled.

Djokovic won Wimbledon in the U.K. last month — his 21st grand slam title. The U.K. allows travelers into the country without requiring proof of vaccination. France relaxed its COVID-19 requirements in time to allow Djokovic to play in the French Open in May.

After his Wimbledon win, Djokovic told reporters that an exemption to play in the U.S. Open didn’t seem “realistically possible.”

The U.S. Open and New York City allow visitors without proof of vaccination.

“Though the U.S. Open does not have a vaccination mandate in place for players, we respect the U.S. government’s position regarding travel into the country for non-U.S. citizens,” a spokesperson for the U.S. Open told ABC News last month.

ABC News’ Michela Moscufo contributed to this report.

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If you’re a Brandy fan who loves psychological thrillers, you’re in for some good news: The singer/actress has secured a role in a horror film directed by Max and Sam Eggers.

A24’s The Front Room — based on Susan Hill‘s novel of the same name — tells the story of a newly pregnant couple who takes in an ailing stepmother who’s been distanced from the family. Brandy will star in the film alongside Kathryn Hunter, Andrew Burnap and Neal Huff.

“God you’re Awesome!!!! I trust you with my entire life,” Brandy wrote while announcing the news on Instagram. “Thank you for this amazing opportunity to work with this unbelievable cast, crew, and the studio everyone wants to work with and of course my Eggers fam.”

The Front Room will be produced by Lucan Toh; Two & Two Pictures’ Babak Anvari and Bryan Sonderman; 2AM’s Julia Oh and David Hinojosa; and A24, which will also finance the film and handle its global rollout.

“Can’t wait for y’all to see this,” Brandy wrote.

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A mother’s love never dies, but Metro Boomin still misses his mom’s physical presence. In a series of heartfelt posts shared on his Instagram Stories, the producer opened up about life after his mother’s tragic passing.

“This don’t even feel like real life no more it’s like a nightmare that never ends and starts over every time I wake up,” he wrote, reflecting on his relationship with his mother, Leslie Wayne. “My mom was and still is my best friend in the universe and anybody who really know me know I’ve always been a momma’s boy my whole life. This gotta be what hell feel like cause it’s like my soul just burning and everything around me constantly burning.”

Wayne was killed in June as part of a murder-suicide committed by her former spouse. She reportedly played a vital role in getting Boomin into his current career, gifting him a laptop and taking him to work with other producers.

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Eminem and Snoop Dogg have been added to the lineup of stars who will be taking the stage at the 2022 VMAs. According to MTV, the two will come together Sunday to perform their recent collaboration, “From the D 2 The LBC.”

The performance will mark the first time both artists hit the VMAs stage in over a decade; Em last performed in 2010 and Snoop in 2005. It will also be the first show inspired by the Otherworld metaverse. The rappers reportedly teamed up with NFT company Yuga Labs to make it all happen.

The 2022 VMAs take place on Sunday, August 28, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. LL Cool J, Jack Harlow and Video Vanguard Award recipient Nicki Minaj are set to anchor the show.

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(NOTE LANGUAGE) Chingy is back, and he has a mission. In his newly released song “Can’t Blame Me,” the rapper opens up about the peaks and valleys of his music career.

“Wanna blame me? / It’s cool, ’cause you ain’t said s*** / You can’t blame me / When rich n****** don’t want you to get rich,” Chingy raps. “Wanna blame me? / I’m good, just stay up out my mitts / You can’t blame me / For holdin’ it down, keepin’ s*** lit.”

Chingy rose to mainstream fame in 2003 when he released his summer track “Right Thurr.” He delivered another club record with “Holidae Inn,” and rapped for the ladies on “Pullin Me Back” and “One Call Away.” This time around, however, the St. Louis native wants to let fans into some of the hardships he’s faced while in the music industry.

“The fans all know my party records and how I can make music for them to have a good time, but I also want them to know about the trials and tribulations I’ve been through,” Chingy told People of his new song. “This single is giving listeners insight to the sabotaging people did to me in this industry.”

“They get to see how I overcame the false rumors and false narratives people exploited about me,” he continued of his fans. “I’m telling the real truth of what happened in my career through this track.”

“Can’t Blame Me,” the lead single off his upcoming sixth full-length studio album, Chinglish, is now available on streaming services. 

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(NEW YORK) — Two of golf’s biggest names — Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy — are stepping up to lead a new virtual golf tournament.

Called the TGL, the new virtual golf league, launched in partnership with the PGA, will have pros compete in a series of primetime stadium-style team showdowns.

The announcement comes amid the ongoing battle between the PGA and LIV, the Saudi-backed golf league.

ABC News’ Will Reeve appeared on Good Morning America Thursday to explain more about the new virtual league:

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Following his infamous Oscar-night slap of Chris Rock, Will Smith has said he’s been seeking advice from others in an effort to work on the issues that led to the incident.

However, one piece of counsel appeared to befuddle the star so much that he posted it to Instagram, along with his respectfully confused reaction.

Smith was apparently FaceTiming with an unidentified older woman, who advised, “I’m trying to tell y’all, don’t worry what people say about you.”

At this, Smith nodded thoughtfully. But he cocked his head in confusion as the conversation continued.

“They’re gonna try to belift [sic] you,” the woman said.

“They’re gonna try to satalize [sic] your name. They’re gonna try to satisvize [sic] your name. They’re gonna just do anything to sestroy you. To sestroy you.”

Whatever she meant, Will apparently took the advice to heart, captioning the video with, “Nobody likes having their name salvestized!”

The post has gone viral, bringing some much-needed levity to Will’s situation.

His pal, famed Philly music promoter Charlie Mack, was quick to chime in in agreement, with a comment that was followed by a collection of crying laughing emoji:

“Will I’ve been telling you this for some time now!!!!!!!!! You’ll listen to me one of this day. Until then, they’ll keep Salvestizing your name!!!!”

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