Latest news with #NBAYoungBoy
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trump Addresses Possible Sean Combs Pardon: ‘I Would Certainly Look at the Facts'
President Donald Trump said that he 'would certainly look at the facts' when asked if he would consider pardoning Sean Combs, who's currently on trial for federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Trump was asked about the possible pardon Friday, May 30, saying, 'Nobody's asked.' He added with a slight chuckle, 'I know people are thinking about it. People have been very close to asking.' More from Rolling Stone Trump at Musk's Farewell Press Conference: 'Elon's Not Really Leaving' The Supreme Court's Latest Gift to Trump Will Be 'Disastrous' for the Environment Sean Combs' Ex-Assistant Says He Terrorized Her With Threats Earlier this month, Rolling Stone reported that several longtime friends and allies of Combs were contacting Trump administration officials and others close to the president. Some contacts went as far back as the presidential transition period, with the speculative conversations continuing through the first couple months of Trump's second term. 'He's willing to do anything to get out of jail,' one source close to Combs said. 'He's always been this way. He's always going to do what he has to do to get out of a situation.' They added: 'He doesn't even like Donald Trump.' Trump and Combs were on somewhat friendly terms once before. Trump called Combs 'a good friend' during an old episode of The Apprentice, while Combs called Trump 'a friend of mine' in 2015, not long after Trump launched his first campaign. But to the extent that Combs' feelings about Trump had changed, the president did seem — unsurprisingly — aware of that. Trump said he hadn't been watching Combs' trial 'too closely,' adding, 'I haven't seen him, I haven't spoken to him in years. He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics that relationship busted up. From what I read. I don't know, he didn't tell me that. But I read some little bit nasty statements in the paper all of a sudden.' At the end of his answer, Trump said, 'I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody is mistreated, whether they like me or don't like me, it wouldn't have any impact on me.' Combs' federal trial began earlier this month and is expected to continue until around July 4. Prosecutors have accused the hip-hop mogul of using his massive empire as a criminal enterprise that allegedly facilitated the sex trafficking of two women — including his ex-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura' — between 2009 and 2024. Despite the efforts of Combs' allies, some Trump admin officials who were aware of the outreach told Rolling Stone they weren't taking the possibility of a Combs pardon that seriously. They said even with their pre-existing relationship, the nature of the crimes Combs is accused of would make any potential clemency a public relations nightmare for the White House. During his first term, and since returning to office, Trump has occasionally pardoned prominent hip-hop figures, including most recently NBA YoungBoy, who pleaded guilty to gun charges last year. 'I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father, and as an artist,' YoungBoy wrote on Instagram following the pardon. 'This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I've worked hard for and I am fully prepared to step into this.' Lil Wayne also received a pardon from Trump at the end of the president's first term, with the rapper making several candid comments about his interaction with Trump in a recent Rolling Stone cover story. Those comments, however, frustrated several former White House officials, who said that Wayne seemed ungrateful, and believed that the rapper had played Trump and his advisers, like son-in-law Jared Kushner, into helping him. Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Axios
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
Trump pardons rapper NBA YoungBoy who was involved in Utah drug ring
President Trump on Wednesday pardoned rapper NBA YoungBoy. Catch up quick: NBA YoungBoy, whose legal name is Kentrell Gaulden, was, in 2024, sentenced to 23 months in prison and five years of probation after settling federal gun charges, according to the AP. He also pleaded guilty last year for his involvement in a Utah pharmacy drug ring but avoided jail time. What they're saying: "I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon," the 25-year-old rapper said on Instagram Wednesday. "This moment means a lot."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rapper who was pardoned had this to say about president in 2017
The Louisiana rapper who was pardoned by President Donald Trump once said "F--- Donald Trump" in a 2017 song. NBA YoungBoy, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, has been thanking Trump for the reprieve, writing in a recent Instagram post that the president is "giving me the opportunity to keep building -- as a man, as a father, and as an artist." However, in his song "Red Rum," the 25-year-old Gaulden once rapped "And f--- Donald Trump b----, that NBA s---." Pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson was asked about the remark during an appearance on "Fox & Friends" earlier this morning. Rapper Thanks Trump For Pardon On Gun Conviction "So a couple of rappers have come out or let's say one in particular -- YoungBoy. One of his lyrics in 2017 that he put out is "F Donald Trump" and some more disparaging things to say. He had a violent past of assault and battery. Multiple cases of that, and firearm, drug and fraud charges. What sold you on him getting a second chance?" co-host Brian Kilmeade asked her. Read On The Fox News App "I looked at the age and how this young man grew up. He grew up in a very impoverished neighborhood. And the things that he had to face, NBA YoungBoy growing up. Most of those were gun charges without the guns being discharged," she said. "But I also looked at what happened to him on a set where he was filming a video and he had a prop in the set. That's really where this came from. He didn't come out of prison. He was given a pardon so he could have a new beginning. And the officers who in this particular case they came at him as though he was a terrorist and he was on a set, filming for a video. They gave him a gun charge for that... the officers who did this were all investigated and fired. So I look at the elements of what happened to this young man," Johnson added. Last year, Gaulden was sentenced by a federal judge in Utah after he acknowledged possessing weapons despite being a convicted felon. However, he reached an agreement that resolved Utah state charges against him and settled two sets of federal charges against him -- one carried a 23-month sentence and the other ordered five years of probation and a $200,000 fine. Trump Pardons Ex-connecticut Governor Rowland And Commutes Chicago Gang Leader Hoover's Sentence "I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and for giving me the opportunity to keep building -- as a man, as a father, and as an artist," Gaulden, whose stage moniker stands for "Never Broke Again," wrote on his Instagram. "This moment means a lot." "It opens the door to a future I've worked hard for and I am fully prepared to step into this," Gaulden added. Gaulden was released from federal prison in March and sent to home confinement after receiving credit for time served, his attorney Drew Findling told the Associated Press. With home confinement finished last month, the pardon means he won't have to follow the terms of his probation, including drug testing, he said. The rapper has acknowledged that he possessed a Glock 21 .45-caliber pistol and a Masterpiece Arms MPA30T 9mm handgun while filming a rap video in Baton Rouge. He has also said he had a Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic pistol at his home in Huntsville, Utah. He had agreed to give up the guns. Gaulden had previously been convicted in Louisiana of aggravated assault with a firearm. He had also pleaded guilty in November to his role in a prescription drug fraud ring that operated out of his home in Utah. He had to pay a $25,000 fine and was given no prison time. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Rapper who was pardoned had this to say about president in 2017
NBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Here are all of the celebrities Trump has pardoned so far
President Donald Trump added to his list of pardoned celebrities this week, including reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley and rapper NBA Young Boy. Trump's pardons and commutations over the course of his first and current terms in office feature a number of public figures, including several rappers and an actor who participated in the Jan. 6 riots. Here's a list of celebrity pardons granted by Trump so far. Todd and Julie Chrisley The stars of "Chrisley Knows Best," which ran for 10 seasons on the USA Network, were released from prison Wednesday after being granted their presidential pardons. The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of swindling $36 million out of banks in the Atlanta area and committing years of tax evasion. Todd and Julie Chrisley were sentenced to 12 and 7 years, respectively. The president claimed the pair were "prosecuted because they were celebrities.' NBA YoungBoy Rapper NBA YoungBoy, whose legal name is Kentrell Gaulden, was pardoned by Trump on Wednesday. Gaulden was sentenced to 2 years in prison in 2024 after acknowledging he possessed weapons despite being a convicted felon, according to the Associated Press. "I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father, and as an artist," the rapper said in a statement posted to social media on Wednesday. Rod Blagojevich The former Illinois Governor was pardoned on February 10 following convictions of wire fraud, lying to an FBI agent, extortion attempts and soliciting bribes more than a decade ago. Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office in 2009. But in between trials and before receiving his 14-year sentence, Blagojevich also appeared on Trump's reality TV show, "Celebrity Apprentice," as a contestant in 2010. Trump previously commuted Blagojevich's sentence in 2020. Jay Johnston The "Anchorman" and "Mr. Show" actor and comedian was one of the 1,500 pardons and commuted sentences Trump issued in January to those involved with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Johnston was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day for obstructing officers during a civil disorder, a felony offense, in October. Even before his sentencing, Johnston lost his role voicing a character on the animated show "Bob's Burgers." Lil Wayne Hip hop star Lil Wayne, whose legal name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was one of Trump's 143 last-minute pardons and commuted sentences of his first term. The "Lollipop" rapper pleaded guilty to a federal weapons charge in December 2020 after carrying a handgun on a private jet from California to Florida. Carter was previously convicted on felony weapon charges, making it illegal for him to possess firearms under federal law. Carter is also the founder and CEO of record label Young Money Entertainment. Kodak Black Rapper and singer Kodak Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, was pardoned alongside Lil Wayne at the end of Trump's first term. The "No Flockin" singer was sentenced to 46 months in prison on federal weapon charges after admitting he falsified information on federal forms to purchase firearms, obtaining two handguns and one semi-automatic weapon.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Rapper who was pardoned had this to say about president in 2017
The Louisiana rapper who was pardoned by President Donald Trump once said "F--- Donald Trump" in a 2017 song. NBA YoungBoy, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, has been thanking Trump for the reprieve, writing in a recent Instagram post that the president is "giving me the opportunity to keep building -- as a man, as a father, and as an artist." However, in his song "Red Rum," the 25-year-old Gaulden once rapped "And f--- Donald Trump b----, that NBA s---." Pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson was asked about the remark during an appearance on "Fox & Friends" earlier this morning. "So a couple of rappers have come out or let's say one in particular -- YoungBoy. One of his lyrics in 2017 that he put out is "F Donald Trump" and some more disparaging things to say. He had a violent past of assault and battery. Multiple cases of that, and firearm, drug and fraud charges. What sold you on him getting a second chance?" co-host Brian Kilmeade asked her. "I looked at the age and how this young man grew up. He grew up in a very impoverished neighborhood. And the things that he had to face, NBA YoungBoy growing up. Most of those were gun charges without the guns being discharged," she said. "But I also looked at what happened to him on a set where he was filming a video and he had a prop in the set. That's really where this came from. He didn't come out of prison. He was given a pardon so he could have a new beginning. And the officers who in this particular case they came at him as though he was a terrorist and he was on a set, filming for a video. They gave him a gun charge for that... the officers who did this were all investigated and fired. So I look at the elements of what happened to this young man," Johnson added. Last year, Gaulden was sentenced by a federal judge in Utah after he acknowledged possessing weapons despite being a convicted felon. However, he reached an agreement that resolved Utah state charges against him and settled two sets of federal charges against him -- one carried a 23-month sentence and the other ordered five years of probation and a $200,000 fine. "I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and for giving me the opportunity to keep building -- as a man, as a father, and as an artist," Gaulden, whose stage moniker stands for "Never Broke Again," wrote on his Instagram. "This moment means a lot." "It opens the door to a future I've worked hard for and I am fully prepared to step into this," Gaulden added. Gaulden was released from federal prison in March and sent to home confinement after receiving credit for time served, his attorney Drew Findling told the Associated Press. With home confinement finished last month, the pardon means he won't have to follow the terms of his probation, including drug testing, he said. The rapper has acknowledged that he possessed a Glock 21 .45-caliber pistol and a Masterpiece Arms MPA30T 9mm handgun while filming a rap video in Baton Rouge. He has also said he had a Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic pistol at his home in Huntsville, Utah. He had agreed to give up the guns. Gaulden had previously been convicted in Louisiana of aggravated assault with a firearm. He had also pleaded guilty in November to his role in a prescription drug fraud ring that operated out of his home in Utah. He had to pay a $25,000 fine and was given no prison time.
