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VICTORIA’S SECRET DITCHES ANGELS WINGS, HIRES PRIYANKA CHOPRA AND MEGAN RAPINOE AS NEW SPOKESWOMEN
The company announced on Wednesday that it has rebranded by launching two new initiatives: The VS Collective and The Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers. The lingerie retailer’s VS Collective features Priyanka Chopra, Megan Rapinoe and many other “accomplished women who share a common passion to drive positive change,” Victoria’s Secret announced in a press release. The latest initiatives come nearly two years after the end of the Victoria’s Secret Angel title and the subsequent cancellation of the show in Nov. 2019 due to criticism that the brand didn’t embrace models of all sizes and backgrounds on its runway. The Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancer will donate “at least $5 million annually to examine and address racial and gender inequities and unlock new innovations that improve cancer outcomes for all women,” per the press release. Meanwhile the VS Collective promises to work with their new brand ambassadors to “create new associate programs, revolutionary product collections, compelling and inspiring content, and rally support for causes vital to women.” The inaugural VS Collective women include actress Chopra, 38, United States Women’s National Soccer Team player Rapinoe, 35, South Sudanese-Australian model Adut Akech, Los Angeles journalist and photographer Amanda de Cadenet, Chinese skier and women’s sports advocate Eileen Gu, British model and activist Paloma Elsesser, and Brazilian model Valentina Sampaio who became Victoria Secret’s first transgender model in 2019. “With The VS Collective, we are creating a platform that will build new, deeper relationships with all women. Through a series of collaborations, business partnerships and cause-related initiatives, we’re bringing new dimensions to our brand experience. In marrying our new partners’ energy, creativity and perspectives with our network and scale, we can transform how we connect with and show up for women,” Victoria’s Secret’s Chief Marketing Officer Martha Pease saidin a statement. The company’s CEO Martin Waters added, “At Victoria’s Secret, we are on an incredible journey to become the world’s leading advocate for women. This is a dramatic shift for our brand, and it’s a shift that we embrace from our core. These new initiatives are just the beginning. We are energized and humbled by the work ahead of us.”
[SOURCE: people.com / ENGAGEMENT: 18.68%]
CITY OF SAN JOSE MANDATES VIDEOTAPING OF ALL GUN PURCHASES
San Jose officials have passed a new gun law that requires retailers to video-record all firearm purchases. That makes it the largest city in California with such a rule. The City Council unanimously approved the new law on Tuesday and less than a month after a disgruntled employee fatally shot nine of his co-workers and then himself at a San Jose rail yard. The Mercury News reports that the new ordinance is aimed at deterring an illegal practice known as straw purchasing. That happens when someone buys a gun for another person such as a felon or minor who is prohibited from owning firearms.
[SOURCE: actionnewsnow.com / ENGAGEMENT: 10.74%]
NICK CANNON AND ABBY DE LA ROSA WELCOME TWIN BOYS, ZION AND ZILLION
On Wednesday, De La Rosa announced the birth of her twin boys, Zion and Zillion, who arrived earlier this week. “JUNE 14, 2021,” the new mom gushed on Instagram. “Welcome to the world Zion Mixolydian Cannon & ZIllion Heir Cannon #Myworld #twinboys.” In a video shared on social media, De La Rosa is seen in her hospital bed cradling her newborns. She also posted an image of the babies’ hands to her Instagram story, writing: “Zion & Zilly.” De La Rosa revealed in April that she was expecting twin boys with Cannon, 40. At the time, she shared footage from her maternity shoot with the host of “The Masked Singer.” Abby De La Rosa shared a sweet images of her newborn sons, twins Zion and Zillion, Wednesday on Instagram. “Thank you for choosing me to be your Mommy. I know the Lord has destined me and prepared me for the gift of not one but two little angel,” De La Rosa wrote at the time. “I pray that God give you both the strength to walk brave and boldly in your individual truth just like your Daddy,” she continued. “That God bless you and your brother and guide you into living out your full purpose. Your Dad & I will always be here for you both; in complete unison and support.” In addition to sons Zion and Zillion, Cannon is also a father of 10-year-old twins, daughter Monroe and son Moroccan, whom he shares with ex-wife Mariah Carey. Cannon and ex Brittany Bell are also parents to a 6-month-old daughter, Powerful Queen Cannon, and 4-year-old son Golden Cannon.
[SOURCE: pagesix.com / ENGAGEMENT: 8.38%]
BIDEN SIGNS BILL MAKING JUNETEENTH A FEDERAL HOLIDAY
President Biden on Thursday signed legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, the day after the House voted overwhelmingly to enshrine June 19 as the national day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. The Senate rushed the measure through with no debate earlier this week after clearing away a longstanding Republican objection, and the House approved it on Wednesday by a vote of 415 to 14, with 14 Republicans opposed. Mr. Biden said he counted signing the legislation into law as one of the greatest honors he will have as president. Ms. Harris also signed the legislation in her capacity as President of the Senate, an administration official said. “Throughout history, Juneteenth has been known by many names, and today, a national holiday,” Ms. Harris said at a White House ceremonial bill signing. National holidays, Ms. Harris said, “are days when we as a nation have decided to stop and take stock, and often to acknowledge our history.” Mr. Biden called it “a day of, in my view, profound weight and profound power,” noting it was the first new national holiday established since Martin Luther King Day in 1983. By making it a federal holiday, Mr. Biden said, “all Americans can feel the power of this day, and learn from our history, and celebrate progress and grapple with the distance we’ve come but the distance we have to travel.” The law goes into effect immediately, making Friday the first federal Juneteenth holiday in American history. The federal Office of Personnel Management announced on Thursday that most federal employees would observe it on Friday, since June 19 falls on a Saturday this year. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery and is also known as Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day and Juneteenth Independence Day. Its name stems from June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas, issued General Order No. 3, which announced that in accordance with the Emancipation Proclamation, “all slaves are free.” Months later, the 13th Amendment was ratified, abolishing slavery in the final three border states that had not been subjected to President Abraham Lincoln’s order.
[SOURCE: msn.com / ENGAGEMENT: 6.91%]
COUNTRY MUSIC FANS REACT TO CARRIE UNDERWOOD’S UPCOMING LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY
The Before He Cheats singer announced on Instagram in mid-May that she will be starting a Las Vegas residency called REFLECTION. The production will begin on December 1, 2021 at The Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas. And most recently, Carrie dropped a new video plug for her residency, which had fans going wild as many were hearing about it for the first time and/or wanted to share that they’d be attending. When chatting with TODAY, the Grammy Award winner revealed how she came up with the name of her residency. “It’s called’Reflection’ because I’ve been blessed to be a part of an incredible musical journey and lots of incredible moments onstage and we kind of just want to bring all the best of the best to Vegas and have some fun,” Carrie said. She also confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that her husband Mike Fisher and their two kids Isaiah and Jacob will be joining her for the ride. As for what the audience can expect from the show? Well, it sounds like it’ll all be true to the Carrie we know and love. “It’s gonna be all about the rhinestones, all about the fringe,” she said. “I do change wardrobe throughout shows and whatnot anyway, so I feel like this is just gonna be a great opportunity to be able to do that. And we just want to have fun, we want the audience to have fun.” While it’s unclear how long Carrie’s residency will last, she’s definitely in good company with other celebrities who have done similar shows in Vegas, including Celine Dion, Britney Spears, and Shania Twain.
[SOURCE: msn.com / ENGAGEMENT: 6.91%]
SPORTS MEDIA WORLD REACTS TO REPORTED ESPN/FOX ‘BIDDING WAR’ FORMER NFL QUARTERBACK ROBERT GRIFFIN III
According to a report from Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, the veteran NFL quarterback had “all-time” auditions with ESPN and FOX. The former top NFL Draft pick reportedly has ESPN and FOX in a bidding war for his services. ESPN has upped its offer after Fox showed heavy interest in Griffin as an NFL and college football analyst. Now both networks are waiting to see whether Griffin will try to play again or retires from the NFL to move into TV. Even if Griffin does decide to play, TV will be waiting for him when he ultimately retires. (Outkick first reported ESPN’s and Fox’s interest in Griffin.) It remains to be seen if Griffin, 31, will retire and go into broadcasting, or continue his playing career. However, it seems clear that RG3 is a future star in the sports media world. Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo retired early to take the lead game analyst job with CBS. Perhaps Griffin will consider a similar route, especially if FOX or ESPN is offering him a lead role in NFL coverage. Griffin shined during the 2021 NFL Draft, when he was part of Bleacher Report’s coverage.
[SOURCE: msn.com / ENGAGEMENT: 6.62%]
IN SECRET RECORDING, FLORIDA REPUBLICAN THREATENS TO SEND RUSSIA-UKRAINE ‘HIT SQUAD’ AFTER PRIMARY RIVAL
A little-known GOP candidate in one of Florida’s most competitive congressional seats was secretly recorded threatening to send “a Russian and Ukrainian hit squad” to a fellow Republican opponent to make her “disappear.” During a 30-minute call with a conservative activist that was recorded before he became a candidate, William Braddock repeatedly warned the activist to not support GOP candidate Anna Paulina Luna in the Republican primary for a Tampa Bay-area congressional seat because he had access to assassins. The seat is being vacated by Representative Charlie Crist (Democrat-Florida), who is running for governor. “I really don’t want to have to end anybody’s life for the good of the people of the United States of America,” Braddock said at one point in the conversation last week, according to the recording exclusively obtained by POLITICO. “That will break my heart. But if it needs to be done, it needs to be done. Luna is a f—ing speed bump in the road. She’s a dead squirrel you run over every day when you leave the neighborhood.” Reached by text message, Braddock refused to say whether he made any threats about Luna to the person who recorded him, Erin Olszewski. Asked repeatedly via text if he mentioned Russian-Ukrainian hit squads, Braddock wouldn’t give a yes or no answer, saying he had not heard the recording and that it’s “allegedly me … there is no proof of that.” He also suggested the recording “may even be altered and edited. This is a dirty political tactic that has caused a lot of people a lot of stress and is completely unnecessary,” he said. Olszewski denied editing or altering the recording. She said she made it because she was concerned about Braddock’s “unhinged” dislike of Luna that he had previously expressed. After she made the recording just after midnight last Wednesday, she promptly turned it over to St. Petersburg, Fla., police and gave a heads-up to her friend Luna, who filed a petition for an injunction against Braddock. Luna received a temporary restraining order against him last Friday. Braddock filed to run Monday. In the recording, Braddock early in the call brought up the alleged assassins. He also made rambling statements about getting financial help from fellow Freemasons or by somehow importing millions of dollars from Malta and Gibraltar. Braddock went on to explain that he didn’t think Luna could win in the general election. Luna, an Air Force veteran and former model who went on to become a conservative activist, won a crowded GOP primary in the state’s 13th Congressional District last year but lost the general election to Crist. It’s unclear exactly why Braddock has such dislike toward Luna. The two do not appear to have any previous connection to one another, and Braddock is a lower-tier candidate in an increasingly crowded race for Crist’s seat. Already, two state lawmakers and a former Obama administration official have entered the race, with others expected to jump in.
[SOURCE: msn.com / ENGAGEMENT: 4.85%]
ENTIRE PORTLAND POLICE CROWD CONTROL UNIT RESIGNS AFTER OFFICER INDICTED
Members of a specialized Portland, Oregon, police unit that deals with crowd control have resigned from the assignment en masse a day after a fellow officer was indicted on an assault charge stemming from alleged illegal use of force during a protest last year. The Portland Police Bureau’s Rapid Response Team, which is primarily responsible for providing public safety at crowd events, consisted of approximately 50 officers, all of whom resigned Wednesday, the bureau announced. The assignment is voluntary and the officers will remain on the force and continue their regular assignments, the bureau said. The mass resignation comes a day after a grand jury indicted Portland Police Bureau Officer Corey Budworth on one count of fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, for what prosecutors allege was an “excessive and unlawful use of force” during a protest in August 2020. Budworth, who at the time was on the bureau’s Rapid Response Team, is accused of striking a woman in the head with a baton during an Aug. 18, 2020, demonstration outside the Multnomah Building. The indictment marks the first time a Portland police officer has faced prosecution for striking or firing at someone during a protest, according to the Oregonian. The Portland Police Bureau placed Budworth on administrative leave Tuesday, officials said. The officers, detectives and sergeants on the Rapid Response Team voted to offer their resignation from the assignment at a meeting Wednesday night, Acting Chief Chris Davis said during a press briefing. Two law enforcement sources close to the team told ABC News the officers decided the assault charge reflected too much hostility towards their police work, and they did not see a way forward in being members of the team facing sometimes violent protests in downtown Portland. Davis said the bureau, including the members of the Rapid Response Team, has been under a “tremendous amount of stress” due to the coronavirus pandemic and in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, during which he said Portland saw over 150 nights of “sustained civil unrest.”
[SOURCE: abcnews.go.com / ENGAGEMENT: 3.53%]
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