Entertainment
I’d be an idiot to rip off Marvin Gaye’s song, Ed Sheeran tells court
Ed Sheeran, the Grammy-winning British singer, has denied copying Marvin Gaye’s song when he appeared in a New York City court.
The music star is being sued by the heirs of Ed Townsend, co-writer of ‘Let’s Get It On’, a 1973 song by the late Gaye.
The lawsuit, which was initially filed in 2017, alleged “striking similarities” and “overt common elements” between Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and the 1973 soul classic.
When Sheeran took the stand to testify at the Manhattan federal courtroom on Tuesday, he said he would have to be an “idiot” to rip off Gaye’s song and then perform it for thousands of fans.
“If I had done what you are accusing me of doing, I would be quite an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people and do that,” Sheeran told the court.
His comment came after Keisha Rice, Ed Townsend’s counsel, called Sheeran’s use of lyrics from Gaye’s song at his concerts a “smoking gun”.
Earlier, during court proceedings, Ben Crump, another lawyer for the family, argued Sheeran made a “confession” when he combined both hit songs during a live performance in Zurich, Switzerland.
A video was also played in the courtroom of Sheeran bouncing back and forth between his ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and ‘Let’s Get it On’ — with Crump describing the footage as the case’s “smoking gun.”
Reacting, Sheeran attempted to downplay the supposed significance of the performance by saying “I mash up songs at a lot of gigs”.
The 32-year-old singer, however, appeared to be furious when asked if he took classes on musical plagiarism.
“I did not take a degree in plagiarism,” Sheeran fired back.
The trial is expected to last for a week.
But if the seven-member jury finds the singer guilty of the allegation, the trial will enter a second phase to determine how much he owes.
Entertainment
Rapper NBA YoungBoy pleads guilty in drug fraud case
NBA YoungBoy, the US rapper, has pleaded guilty to charges connected to a prescription drug fraud scheme.
The Louisiana rapper appeared in a courtroom in Logan, Utah on Monday, where he admitted to two counts of third-degree felony identity fraud, two counts of third-degree felony forgery, and six counts of misdemeanor unlawful pharmacy conduct.
YoungBoy, who is still serving 27 months on federal charges, also entered a “no contest” plea for 36 additional charges. He initially faced 46 state charges.
The plea deal reduced the felony charges to Class A misdemeanors.
Spencer Walsh, the judge, suspended a prison sentence, instead imposing a $25,000 fine.
The judge acknowledged YoungBoy’s prior agreement to serve over two years in prison and five years of probation for a related federal case resolved in September.
Authorities revealed that YoungBoy orchestrated the scheme from his home in Huntsville, Utah, where he posed as a doctor, using stolen identities to call in fraudulent prescriptions.
His associates allegedly collected the drugs from area pharmacies.
During sentencing, Walsh offered words of encouragement for the 25-year-old artiste.
“I’m sure that in your future, once you’re done with your federal prison time, you can be really successful on federal probation and have a really bright future where you can reach your full potential in every aspect of your life,” he said.
YoungBoy, known for his 2018 debut studio album ‘Until Death Call My Name’ and projects like ‘AI YoungBoy 2’ (2019) and ‘Sincerely, Kentrell’ (2021), is also facing an unresolved federal gun case in Louisiana.
The rapper, born Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, recently announced plans to release his new album, ‘I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders’, on December 6.
Entertainment
Nancy Umeh welcomes third child via surrogacy after secondary infertility battle
Nancy Umeh, the Nigerian chef and public health scientist, and her husband have welcomed their third child via surrogacy.
Surrogacy is when a woman carries and delivers a child for a couple or individual. This is done by fertilizing eggs from the surrogate or an egg donor with sperm from a donor to create an embryo.
In an Instagram post, Umeh shared a video capturing the process of childbirth. She said she opted for surrogacy because she battled “secondary infertility” for seven years after the birth of her last child.
Secondary infertility is the inability to conceive or carry a baby after previously giving birth without any assistance or trouble.
Umeh expressed her excitement while appreciating her surrogacy agency for the support. She also thanked the surrogate who she described as “an angel”.
“Our princess is here. Talia Tobechukwu Umeh,” she wrote.
“Too stunned to speak right now. I can’t believe we are parents again. Our last son is 8 years old and we have tried for 7 whole years.
“An angel carried our child for us. An angel sent from God through Meet Surrogate Mothers. I can’t believe we are holding our child.”
In an accompanying caption, she wrote: “Somebody pinch me. 7 years later. God bless you indeed Meet surrogate mothers. #parents again #secondary surrogate”.
The chef tied the knot with her husband in 2015. They now have three children.
Umeh is the older sister of popular Nigerian dancer Korra Obidi.
Entertainment
‘It hurts’ — Don Jazzy laments not having partner
Michael Ajereh, the Nigerian music executive better known as Don Jazzy, has lamented his relationship status.
In an Instagram post on Monday, the founder of Mavin Records expressed his desire to participate in a trend ‘suspect challenge’.
The ‘suspect challenge’ is a new social media trend in which couples take turns to playfully tease each other.
The 41-year-old entrepreneur said he would like to join the trend but has no partner.
“Suspect wants to do suspect challenge but no suspect partner,” he wrote. In the accompanying caption, the music executive lamented that “it hurts”.
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