Jay Z and Beyoncé Were Never Planning to Buy Confederate Flag Rights
Forget the rumors: Jay Z and Beyoncé are not buying the rights to the Confederate flag. Recent The Onion-like reports that the power couple planned to cop the emblem of the United States’ racist past for $280 has been dismissed. Gawker did the homework, noting: “Jay Z and Beyoncé couldn’t legally make it their flag even if they wanted to. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office prohibits trademarking a flag or simulation of a flag, and allows the use of flags that have been stylized, obscured or otherwise significantly changed. Even if someone could trademark the flag itself, it wouldn’t prevent variations from being used on ugly T-shirts.” Kanye West infamously appropriated the Confederate flag for his own ugly T-shirts—merch for his 2013 Yeezus tour.
Bill Cosby Dropped by His Talent Agency
It looks like disgraced icon Bill Cosby has fewer and fewer folks standing in his corner. Earlier this week, the content of a 2005 deposition surfaced, revealing from the comic’s own mouth that he’d purchased Quaaludes with the intent to have sex with a woman. Now, word has got out that CAA, one of Hollywood’s top talent agencies, was more proactive than, say, Jill Scott, and dumped Cos back in December. He’d been represented by CAA since 2012. Elsewhere in the great Cosby fallout, the 77-year-old comedian’s statue has been removed from a Disney theme park and his legendary namesake sitcom has been widely eliminated from syndication.
K. Michelle Recruits Diane Warren and Azealia Banks for Final LP
K. Michelle has said that her upcoming third album will be her final, yet it looks like she’s trying to go out with a bang. The curvaceous singer from the South has recruited Diane Warren for contributions to the as-yet-untitled LP. The legendary songwriter—who’s penned for everyone from Whitney Houston to Aretha Franklin to Toni Braxton—is part of a K. Michelle team that already includes Timbaland, Rico Love and Ester Dean. Plus, K. says Azealia Banks will make an appearance. Expect this dream team to deliver.
