Hip hop icon DMX passes away, CDC declares racism a ‘serious’ threat to public health, Nike settles lawsuit over ‘Satan shoes,’ and more in The Daily Rundown.
Hip Hop Legend DMX Dead At 50
Just one week after suffering a heart attack, beloved rapper DMX, birth name Earl Simmons, has died. In a statement issued to People, relatives of Simmons confirmed that the "How's It Going Down" rapper transitioned at White Plains Hospital Friday. He was surrounded by family at his time of passing.
"Earl was a warrior who fought till the very end. He loved his family with all of his heart and we cherish the times we spent with him," the statement reads. "Earl's music inspired countless fans across the world and his iconic legacy will live on forever. We appreciate all of the love and support during this incredibly difficult time. Please respect our privacy as we grieve the loss of our brother, father, uncle, and the man the world knew as DMX. We will share information about his memorial service once details are finalized."
Pulmonary Expert Testifies George Floyd's Death Was Caused By Low Oxygen
Dr. Martin Tobin, a prosecution witness testified Thursday that George Floyd died due to low oxygen resulting from Derek Chauvin's knee being pinned to his neck, the Associated Press reports. Dr. Tobin's assessment directly contradicts the defense's argument that Floyd's death was caused by underlying health conditions and drug use.
“A healthy person subjected to what Mr. Floyd was subjected to would have died,” said Dr. Martin Tobin, who is a lung and critical care specialist at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and Loyola University’s medical school in Illinois.
Nike And MSCHF Settle Lawsuit Over Lil Nas X 'Satan Shoes'
Nike and MSCHF have agreed to settle the lawsuit over Lil Nas X's so-called "Satan shoes," Yahoo Finance reports. As part of the agreement, MSCHF has agreed to remove the Satan shoes as well as the previously released Jesus shoes, which also used a pair of Nikes as the base, from circulation by offering to buy back the shoes for full retail price.
CDC Declares Racism A 'Serious' Threat To Public Health
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared racism a "serious public health threat." In a statement released Thursday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky referenced the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color reflected in case numbers and deaths.
"Yet, the disparities seen over the past year were not a result of COVID-19," Dr. Walensky said. "Instead, the pandemic illuminated inequities that have existed for generations and revealed for all of America a known, but often unaddressed, epidemic impacting public health: racism."
Walensky reiterated the CDC's commitment to studying racism's impact on health and implementing solutions.
Prince Phillip Dead At 99
Prince Phillip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has died, People reports. "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh," Buckingham Palace said in a statement released Friday. According to a spokesperson for the Royal Family, Prince Phillip transitioned peacefully at Windsor Castle Friday morning.
