Entertainment
Diddy withdraws racism suit against drinks firm Diageo
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, the US rapper, has withdrawn his lawsuit against Diageo as part of a settlement with the London-based spirits giant.
In June 2023, the drinks giant ended its partnership with Diddy after the music mogul — in a lawsuit –accused the firm of neglecting his tequila brand due to his race.
Combs sued Diageo in May, claiming the firm did not make promised investments in Ciroc and DeLeon and treated them as inferior “urban” products.
In court filings, Combs alleged Diageo leadership told him race was one of the reasons it limited distribution to “urban” neighborhoods.
Diageo, which owns more than 200 brands including Guinness beer and Tanqueray gin and Johnnie Walker, however, denied the claims.
It said their relationship had been on the rocks since Diddy allegedly failed to meet his promises to fund DeLeon Tequila, which they bought together in 2013.
Diageo said it had invested more than $100 million in DeLeon Tequila and “tried for years to salvage the broken relationship with Mr Combs”.
“Despite having made nearly a billion dollars over the course of our 15-year relationship, Mr Combs contributed a total of $1,000 and refused to honor his commitments,” the company said.
But in a joint statement on Tuesday, Combs and Diageo agreed to resolve all disputes between them.
Consequently, Diageo is now the sole owner of Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila, two brands Combs had part-owned and promoted in the past.
“Sean Combs and Diageo have now agreed to resolve all disputes between them. Mr. Combs has withdrawn all of his allegations about Diageo and will voluntarily dismiss his lawsuits against Diageo with prejudice,” the statement reads in part.
“Diageo and Mr. Combs have no ongoing business relationship, either with respect to Cîroc vodka or DeLeón tequila, which Diageo now solely owns.”
Last December, Empower Global, a company founded by the singer, was dropped by 18 companies following several sexual assault allegations against him.
Entertainment
Harrods reacts as multiple women accuse former owner Mohamed Al Fayed of rape
Multiple female ex-employees have accused Mohamed Al Fayed, the late billionaire and former chairman of Harrods, a luxury United Kingdom (UK) department store, of rape.
Fayed died last year at the age of 94.
The BBC said a documentary and podcast — Al-Fayed: Predator at Harrods — gathered evidence that during Fayed’s ownership, Harrods not only failed to intervene but helped cover up abuse allegations.
One woman said Fayed raped her at his Park Lane apartment, while another, who said the late billionaire assaulted her when she was a teenager, described him as a “monster”.
“A sexual predator with no moral compass whatsoever,” she added, saying all the staff at Harrods were his “playthings”.
“We were all so scared. He actively cultivated fear. If he said ‘jump’ employees would ask ‘how high’.”
Fayed owned Harrods for 26 years and later owned Fulham Football Club and the Paris Ritz.
Former staff told the BBC that the businessman would regularly tour the department store’s vast sales floors and identify young female assistants he found attractive, who would then be promoted to work in his offices upstairs.
The assaults would be carried out in Harrods’ offices, his London apartment, or on foreign trips—often in Paris at the Ritz hotel, which he also owned, or his nearby Villa Windsor property.
On Friday, lawyers representing the assaulted employees said many of them were aged between 19 and 24 when they started working for Fayed.
Some were as young as 15 and 16, the lawyers added.
Fayed sold Harrods to the Qatar royal family in a deal reported to be worth around 1.5 billion pounds in 2010.
The new owners issued a statement saying they were “utterly appalled” by the allegations of abuse perpetrated by Fayed.
“These were the actions of an individual who was intent on abusing his power wherever he operated, and we condemn them in the strongest terms,” the statement said.
“The Harrods of today is a very different organisation to the one owned and controlled by Al Fayed between 1985 and 2010, it is one that seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do.”
The store offered its sincere apologises, saying it was prioritising settling claims in the quickest way possible to avoid “lengthy legal proceedings for the women involved”.
Forbes said Fayed’s net worth was around $2 billion when he died.
Entertainment
Governor Umo Eno renovates house of makeup artist who died with Junior Pope (Photos)
Umo Eno, the governor of Akwa Ibom, has handed over a “remodeled fully-furnished six-bedroom bungalow” to the family of Abigael Frederick, the makeup artiste who died in a boat mishap in Delta.
Abigael died alongside actor Junior Pope and some other crew members in April after their boat capsized inside River Niger in Asaba. They were on their way to a movie location.
Her body was recovered from the water days after the fatal incident.
Eno had promised to “remodel” her family’s house and sponsor her siblings’ education during his condolence visit in April.
In a Facebook post on Friday, the governor revealed he has renovated the house to a six-bedroom bungalow “which is fully furnished”.
Eno said he also donated a business support grant of N1 million to the family and an additional N1 million as an educational grant to her siblings
The governor said he was committed to the promise “for humanity, not political reasons”. He urged people to be empathetic to each other.
“Today, I fulfilled a commitment made to the family of the late Nollywood makeup artist Abigail Edith Frederick by handing over a newly remodeled and fully furnished six-bedroom bungalow in Ikot Udoma, Eket,” he wrote.
“In addition to the home, I also provided the family with a business support grant of one million naira and another one million naira as an educational grant to her younger sisters.
“Back in February, during my personal visit to the family, I promised not only to renovate their home but also to offer automatic employment to Abigail’s elder sister and extend educational support.
“Today marks the completion of that promise. I believe in standing by our people during their most challenging moments, and my administration remains committed to the well-being of every Akwa Ibomite, not for political reasons but for humanity.
“Let’s continue to work together to lift each other up and show that true leadership is about empathy, action, and the collective good.”
Entertainment
Davido gifts Lexus SUV to personal driver
Davido, the Grammy-nominated Afrobeats star, has purchased a new Lexus SUV for Tunde Yussuf, his personal driver.
On Thursday, Yussuf, who is also a tour assistant to the singer, shared a photo of the Lexus RX with his 18000 followers on Instagram.
The driver, who is also referred to as Doro DMW, expressed his appreciation for the gift. He also showered prayers on Davido.
“Congratulations to me🙏🙏🙏🙏 God bless you 001 my boss @davido You no go ever fall my oga. OBO DAN DO AM AGAIN,” he wrote.
-
Education4 days ago
Lagos state government justifies boarding fee hike for student welfare
-
Education1 week ago
Lagos state government increases boarding fees from N35,000 to N100,000 per term
-
Business3 days ago
CBN constitutes new Keystone Bank board, names Ada Chukwudozie chair
-
World1 week ago
Australia to ban children from using social media
-
Celebrities1 week ago
Gospel singer Dele Gold is dead
-
Politics1 week ago
I never said I’ll settle for VP in 2027 — fifth columnists distorted my remarks, says Obi
-
Celebrities1 week ago
Dammy Krane petitions police over rift with Davido, demands $500k payment
-
World1 week ago
Comoros president wounded in knife attack