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"I remember being so angry I cried": Yahya Abdul-Mateen II recalls racism at UC Berkeley

• No Comments • Entertainment News

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in “Watchmen” – Mark Hill/HBO(LOS ANGELES) — (NOTE LANGUAGE) In a new story in Men’s Health, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II recalled a painful experience dealing with racism while he was a freshman at the University of California Berkeley. 

The Aquaman baddie and Watchmen Emmy nominee contributed his story to the magazine’s report “Race, Racism, and Black Men’s Health.”

“I studied architecture, and … it was common to spend the whole night working in the studio,” Abdul-Mateen explained.  “One night, I left the studio around 1:00 a.m. to go to my dorm and get something to eat, and then I headed back … As I approached the building, there was a woman going inside, just a couple steps ahead of me.”

The woman reportedly told him, “’Stop, you don’t belong here'” the actor recalled. “I said, ‘What are you talking about? I’m going to the studio. I’m going to the same place as you.'”

He recalled reaching for his student ID when the woman told him, “‘I’m gonna call the police and tell them that you’re trying to rape me.'”

As Abdul-Mateen II tried to enter the building, “she began running and screaming at the top of her lungs.” He said campus security responded, but “apologized and left,” after speaking with him.

Abdul-Mateen writes, “I remember being so angry that I cried. It was frustrating. I deserved to be there. Period. That was my reminder that even if I did everything right … some things in life would be unavoidable. Because I was black. I was 18 years old. I did the only thing I knew to do. I cried, and I swallowed that s***.”

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Nick Cannon reportedly suing Viacom for $1.5B for 'Wild 'n Out'

• No Comments • Entertainment News

VH1(LOS ANGELES) — It’s been almost a month since ViacomCBS decided to cut ties with Nick Cannon but it hasn’t been the last they’ve heard of him because Cannon is reportedly suing the network for $1.5 billion for his improv comedy series Wild ‘n Out. 

In a statement to The Shade Room, the comedian’s team said, “It is just that simple, ‘Wild’N Out belongs to Nick!”

“The show was created by Nick Cannon with his idea and original thought. Wild’N Out has brought billions of dollars in revenue to Viacom since 2015. And Nick deserves and has earned everything it is worth,” the statement continued. “From the platforms he provides for other entertainers, the jobs he creates for black youth, the time he gives to mentoring incarcerated men and women, to the money he gives back and puts into communities, homelessness, and people less fortunate. He is constantly evolving both spiritually and mentally, as well as, taking action in learning, education and bridging the gap within the Jewish and African American communities, so that it will allow us to build relationships, work together and learn from each other in order to move forward in equality.”

“If Viacom believes in growth, equality, education, then Viacom will do what is right and pay Nick what they owe, and giving him his $1.5 brand,” the statement concluded. 

ViacomCBS parted ways with Cannon on July 14 after he received backlash for making comments that were deemed anti-Semitic during a June episode of his podcast and YouTube series Cannon’s Class. Following the outcry, the 39-year-old issued an apology.

Cannon remains the host of Fox’s The Masked Singer. However, he has taken a break from his LA-based morning radio show and his upcoming daytime talk show has been delayed a year. 

By Danielle Long
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Devin Dawson's "I've Got a Truck" is coming, and he's dropping clues about the new song on social media

• No Comments • Country Music News

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images for YouTubeIt’s been quite a while since Devin Dawson fans got new music, but the “All on Me” hitmaker is about to change that: He’s planning to drop a new song, “I’ve Got a Truck,” on Friday.

Devin teased his new tune on social media earlier this week, posting a snippet of his new song.

“Everybody needs to be believed in at least once in their lives / Everybody needs a ‘come to Jesus’ moment in time / I could think up a couple reasons why this should be mine…” he sings.

He also gave fans a glimpse into what might be the song’s music video: In the clip, Devin spray-paints “I’ve Got a Truck” onto a large structure. While it’s unclear exactly what that structure is or where the clip takes place, the singer’s social media once again provides some clues.

In late July, he shared a picture of himself smiling in front of a backdrop that looks awfully similar to the music video. It’s captioned “‘Cadillac Ranch’…313 miles from Pueblo, Colorado,” along with the hashtag #IGotaTruck.

Early that month, he also used the hashtag for a post of himself leaning up against his old truck, which he said was getting towed away.

“Been sitting idle for a couple of years in my driveway. Gonna get it up and running again and use it for something dope coming up!!!” Devin hinted.

While Devin hasn’t released much of his own music lately, he’s been busy as a songwriter and featured guest. He lends his voice to Hardy’s current single, “One Beer,” alongside Lauren Alaina. He also co-wrote “God’s Country,” which was a massive, chart-topping hit for Blake Shelton last year.

By Carena Liptak
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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Florida sheriff forbids staff, visitors from wearing masks

• No Comments • National News

eranicle/iStockBy ELLA TORRES, ABC News

(MARION COUNTY, Fla.) — A Florida sheriff has banned his employees and anyone visiting his offices from wearing a mask during the pandemic — a move that is sure to cause controversy as studies have shown masks reduce the risk of transmitting the novel coronavirus.

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods wrote in an email on Aug. 11 to employees that some exceptions will be made, including at courthouses, jails, schools and hospitals. But “masks will not be worn” by on-duty employees at any other time, he said.

Woods went on in the email, which was obtained by ABC News, to say that any person who walks into “any one of our lobbies (which includes the main office and all district offices) that is wearing a mask will be asked to remove it.”

“Now, I can already hear the whining and just so you know I did not make this decision easily and I have weighed it out for the past 2 weeks. … This is no longer a debate nor is it up for discussion,” he wrote.

Woods said for as many health professionals who would vouch for wearing a mask, he “can find the exact same amount of professionals that say why we shouldn’t.”

In the early stages of the pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with other government officials, advised against wearing masks. The evidence at the time indicated that masks would do little to stop the spread of COVID-19.

But experts, seven months into the pandemic, are now arguing that enough new evidence concludes that masks are critical in mitigating COVID-19 spread.

One study published in The Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal, found that wearing a mask may drop the risk of transmission from 17% to 3%.

Woods’ order comes as the City of Ocala, located in Marion County, is working on putting a mask mandate ordinance in place.

Ocala City Council passed an emergency ordinance last week requiring people to wear masks inside businesses; however, Mayor Kent Guinn vetoed it Monday, according to the Ocala Star Banner.

The city council will meet Wednesday to consider overriding the veto, the Star Banner reported.

Florida, including Marion County, set a single-day record on Tuesday for the most deaths related to COVID-19.

Mask-wearing among law enforcement has been less consistent than in the general public.

An ABC News analysis found that only three of the nation’s largest police departments require officers to wear masks and gloves while policing Black Lives Matter protests. The other six largest police departments ask, but do not mandate, that on-duty officers wear masks or gloves in public.

In Ocala, officers are advised not to wear masks while on duty so they can clearly communicate with people they encounter, according to the Star Banner.

Woods said as such in his email, telling employees that even if they are among the exceptions who can wear a mask, “the moment that enforcement action is to be taken … the mask will be immediately removed.”

Woods concluded his email by saying, “My orders will be followed or my actions will be swift to address.”

“Be Safe!” Woods wrote.

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Big 12 Conference moves forward with fall sports including football

• No Comments • Sports News

artisteer/iStockBy EMILY SHAPIRO, ABC News

(NEW YORK) — The Big 12 Conference will move forward with fall sports this year, officials announced Wednesday.

Athletes in high-contact sports including football will get three COVID-19 tests per week, officials said.

Schools not in the Big 12 Conference must follow those testing rules in the week leading up to games against Big 12 schools, officials said.

“We are comfortable in our institutions’ ability to provide a structured training environment, rigorous testing and surveillance, hospital quality sanitation and mitigation practices that optimize the health and safety of our student-athletes,” Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “We believe all of this combines to create an ideal learning and training situation during this time of COVID-19.”

“Ultimately, our student-athletes have indicated their desire to compete in the sports they love this season and it is up to all of us to deliver a safe, medically sound, and structured academic and athletic environment for accomplishing that outcome,” Bowlsby said.

Officials with the Pac-12 and Big Ten conferences said Tuesday they are postponing all sports including football.

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.