NEWS YOU OUGHT TO KNOW
Winfrey says King not doing well after social media backlash
NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey says her friend Gayle King is facing death threats following a social media backlash caused by an interview with retired WNBA star Lisa Leslie that concerned the late Kobe Bryant.
On an appearance on “Hoda & Jenna & Friends” on Friday, Winfrey said King “is not doing well″ and has to travel with security because of threats. ”She feels very much attacked.”
CBS released an excerpt to promote King’s interview with Leslie. The clip, distributed online and on CBS News’ social media accounts, focused on a portion of the interview where Leslie addressed a Colorado sexual assault case that had been brought against Bryant and dismissed. In the clip, King asks Leslie whether the 2003 case made Bryant’s legacy complicated for her. Leslie said that it did not.
Critics lashed out at King on social media for bringing up the old allegations. Actor, rap artist and television executive 50 Cent told The Associated Press he thought it was unfair because Bryant wasn’t around to defend himself. Snoop Dogg posted a profane Twitter video that concluded with him urging King to back off “before we come get you.” The Twitter account belonging to imprisoned comedian Bill Cosby also was critical.
King said in a video response via Twitter on Thursday that the clip was shared out of context and expressed anger at her network. “I am mortified, I am embarrassed and I’m very angry,” King said. CBS later released a statement saying the clip “did not reflect the nature and tone” of the complete interview.
Winfrey criticized what she called “misogynist vitriol″ against King.
“I can see how people would obviously be very upset if you thought that Gayle was just trying to press to get an answer from Lisa Leslie,” Winfrey continued. “Obviously all things pass, she will be OK, but she hasn’t slept in two days.”
After the alleged victim decided not to pursue the case, she and Bryant reached a settlement in 2005. Bryant, who was 24 at the time of the Colorado incident, said he had not committed sexual assault.
Actor Jussie Smollett faces 6 new charges in Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) — Actor Jussie Smollett was indicted Tuesday for a second time on charges of lying to police about a racist and anti-gay attack he allegedly staged on himself in downtown Chicago, renewing a divisive criminal case that drew worldwide attention last year.
The indictment came from a special prosecutor who was appointed after Cook County prosecutors dropped the same charges last March.
The new charges were sure to reignite many of the tensions that surrounded Smollett a year ago. When his claims first emerged, he drew a groundswell of support from fans and celebrities and gave an emotional television interview about the attack.
Smollett, 37, has not had any notable film or television roles announced since his departure from the TV series was made public in April 2019. Producers have the option to bring him back during the sixth and final season but have said they have no plans to do so.
“Empire” has 10 episodes left. It is scheduled to return March 3.
Waitress tipped $5,000 while working a final table
SALISBURY, Mass. – A waitress was surprised when she realized her last customer of the night had left her a generous tip in the amount of $5,000 at a Massachusetts restaurant.
She thought the tip was $50. then quickly realized that the patron left a $5,000 tip on a $157 bill.
