Latest news with #GeraldGriggs
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
R. Kelly's Fiancée Breaks Silence After Parents' Sex Slave Claims
R. Kelly's fiancée and her family are not on the same page about the embattled singer. The singer's fiancée has come forward to dispel all the rumors her family had spread about her whereabouts in connection with their relationship. Joycelyn Savage's family shared earlier that her relationship with R. Kelly was haunting her. Their relationship has allegedly led her to sever ties with everyone in her life. Savage publicly re-emerged last weekend to clarify her mental, physical, and psychological well-being to the concerned public since her family's revelation. According to her, she is neither a victim nor a sex slave, as her family had earlier stated. However, she claims her relationship with R. Kelly has grown stronger, as they have been engaged for three years and have been together for a decade. She shared that they also plan to get married and start a family together. In her words: "I am not held against my will. I am not a sex slave. I am not brainwashed or any of those crazy lies that were told on me." She urged fans to take her family's story with a pinch of salt and continue to keep the singer in their prayers. TMZ confirmed that Savage was beyond hopeful that her partner would also get released as soon as possible. Last week, the Savage family lawyer, Gerald Griggs, explained on the family's behalf that Savage was still under Kelly's thumb. This declaration, as previously reported by The Blast, came as agitations from the singer's camp towards his freedom grew stronger. Griggs noted that the last time the family heard from Savage was six years ago, during a brief phone call in 2019. The family added that since that phone call six years ago, they have only been able to communicate with her via various representatives. The identities of these reps or their capacity for her remain undisclosed to her family. Despite their ongoing dilemma, her family expressed satisfaction at the pace at which R. Kelly's case was going, including his sentencing. In 2021, the disgraced performer was found guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering by a federal court in New York. While the Savage family's claim got the attention of Kelly's legal team, the response from Kelly's camp painted a different picture. Beau B. Brindley, representing Kelly, maintained that her issue was insignificant in the scheme of things. Brindley added that he would not react to the claims by trying to deny or confirm them. Instead, he would focus on ensuring his clients get freedom through a federal pardon from President Donald Trump. Alongside his 2021 conviction, the singer was also found guilty of child pornography and luring children to engage in illicit acts in Chicago in 2022. Kelly's team has emphasized the importance of their client regaining his freedom, as his life may depend on it. The singer has reportedly been facing some threats on his life in federal custody, and any delay in setting him free may lead to loss of life. Last week, The Blast shared that the singer was hurriedly rushed to the hospital after he reportedly overdosed on medications. The convicted felon was seemingly on sleep and anxiety medication, which prison officials allegedly wanted to use as a weapon to eliminate him. Brindley, in his filing on June 17, claimed the incident happened on June 12, causing Kelly to be hospitalized on June 13. The attorney also insisted that his client's poisoning occurred in forced solitary confinement. That is not all; upon receiving treatment, Kelly's lawyer claimed prison officials prevailed upon hospital personnel to discharge him back into custody as against medical advice. Brindley accused not one but three prison officials of hatching the deadly plan with another inmate familiar with Kelly's territory and to make the execution seamless. Before he was rushed to Duke University Hospital for medical attention, the singer reportedly struggled in his holding cell. Right after the drugs kicked in, Kelly allegedly woke up with a wave of fatigue and dizziness early on June 13. The singer began experiencing black spots and blurry vision, causing his stability to be compromised, ultimately resulting in a fatal fall. He eventually mustered the rest of his strength and crawled to the door, hoping to get the official's attention. Kelly reportedly lost consciousness right in the middle of his final attempt. After the on-site medical personnel's futile attempt, an ambulance was eventually contacted to provide help. Brindley had suggested to the court in his furlough motion that the singer should be allowed to spend the rest of his term at home if pardoning him was not a feasible plan. He noted that Kelly's initial solitary confinement was a direct consequence of their attempt at obtaining a furlough. The prison officials were reportedly unimpressed by this move and decided to punish him. How will R. Kelly's fiancée's family react to her declaration?
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Juneteenth Atlanta Festival returns this weekend with parade, music and more
ATLANTA - As the nation reflects on more than 160 years since enslaved African Americans first celebrated Juneteenth, Atlanta is preparing to host one of the Southeast's largest and most vibrant tributes to the historic holiday. The 2025 Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival kicks off Friday, June 13, at Piedmont Park with an opening press conference at 11 a.m., featuring leaders and advocates speaking on themes of freedom, empowerment, and social justice. Scheduled speakers include Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs and festival co-founders Bob Johnson and Brad Lewis, among other prominent voices in the community. RELATED: Juneteenth events in metro Atlanta, North Georgia | 2025 Now in its second decade, Juneteenth Atlanta has grown into a major family-friendly cultural event, blending education with celebration. It was officially recognized in 2023 as the City of Atlanta's designated Juneteenth event. The festival will continue Saturday at 10 a.m., with live performances, local vendors, community booths, and the widely anticipated Juneteenth Black History Parade at noon. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms will serve as Grand Marshal of the parade, which starts at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center and concludes in Piedmont Park. Spectators can expect floats, youth groups, car clubs, marching bands, and celebrity appearances—all honoring the history and legacy of June 19, 1865, the date when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom. The celebration wraps up Sunday with a Father's Day-themed slate of events and the annual Freedom 5K Walk/Run. All events are free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to use MARTA for easy access to Piedmont Park. For full event details, visit
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia NAACP calls on KSU to not eliminate Black studies major
The Brief The Georgia NAACP is calling on Kennesaw State University to reverse its decision to eliminate its Black studies major. The school announced this week that it was removing three majors due to low enrollment. The NAACP called the program's elimination a "regressive and damaging decision." COBB COUNTY, Ga. - Kennesaw State University is facing criticism from the Georgia NAACP after the college eliminated its Black studies major. The school announced this week that it was removing the major along with two others - philosophy and technical communication - due to low enrollment. What we know According to KSU's website, the Black studies major "fosters an understanding of the global experiences of African, African American, and African-descended peoples with a range of intellectual tools and practical strategies for engaging race, gender, class, and culture." Students examine the Black experience and cultural and historical relations between Africans and people in the Diaspora. The program has been at the university for 20 years. In a statement to FOX 5, a spokesperson for Kennesaw State University said the university made the decision to remove the majors "in accordance with the University System of Georgia's established thresholds." "While the Black Studies, Philosophy and Technical Communication programs have all consistently fallen short in enrollment and degree output over at least the past 10 years, a two-year teach-out plan will still allow current students to complete their degrees," the statement read. "Faculty will also continue offering courses in these areas for minors, electives and general education." The Atlanta Voice reports that existing students in the majors will be able to complete their programs. What they're saying In a statement, the Georgia NAACP called the move "deeply troubling," saying it "raises urgent concerns about the institution's commitment to equity, academic integrity, and inclusive education." The group described the major as "a cornerstone of truth-telling, cultural affirmation, and intellectual exploration that serves all students" and said eliminating the program would be "a regressive and damaging decision." "This is more than a curriculum issue—this is a moral issue," said Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs. "We will not stand by while educational spaces critical to Black identity, history, and scholarship are threatened." What's next The NAACP is calling for a meeting with KSU President Kathy Schwaig and university leadership to discuss the program's elimination. It is not clear whether the university has responded to the NAACP's demands for action. The Source Information for this story came from a release by the Georgia NAACP, KSU's website, and a report by th Atlanta Voice.
