Will You Be Watching? Nicki Minaj & Drake Neck-In-Neck For 2024 BET Award Nominations 

Drake, BET Awards 2024, Album of the year, Blue Ivy, Nicki Minaj

Source: John Shearer/BBMA2017 / Getty

 

The BET Awards 2024 are swiftly approaching, with Drake and Nicki Minaj currently dominating the nominations list. Drake leads the pack for the second year in a row, boasting seven nominations, closely followed by Minaj with six, as reported by Billboard.

The seasoned emcees and former collaborators are in competition for multiple prestigious awards, including Album of the Year, Video of the Year, and Best Collaboration. They are also vying for the titles of Best Male and Female Hip Hop Artist, respectively.

Other strong contenders are vying for Album of the Year and several top categories.

An official BET press release reports that in addition to Drake and Minaj, The Album of the Year category features notable nominees such as Victoria Monét’s Jaguar II, which won a Grammy earlier this year, and Killer Mike’s Michael,  alongside works by Chris Brown, Gunna, 21 Savage, Usher, Drake, and Nicki Minaj.

 

Outstanding contenders for the Viewers Choice Award, an accolade determined by fans, include Lil Durk and J. Cole’s “All My Life,” along with Tyla’s “Water.”

When it comes to Best New Artist, BET reports that the nominees are 41, 4Batz, Arya Starr, Bossman DLow, Fridayy, October London, Sexyy Red and Tyla.

J. Cole, Sexyy Red, SZA, and Victoria Monét each snagged five nominations, while 21 Savage, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla, and Usher are tied with four nominations apiece. The nominations were curated by the BET Voting Academy, consisting of distinguished figures from the realms of music, media, and digital marketing.

In a testament to their broad appeal, both Drake and Burna Boy secured nominations for both Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and Best Male Hip-Hop Artist. Similarly, Doja Cat earns nominations in equivalent categories for female artists, underscoring the widespread impact of their music.

 

Elsewhere, Blue Ivy Carter, at the tender age of 12, earned a nomination for the YoungStars Award, recognizing her burgeoning talents. In 2021, at 9 years old, Blue became the second youngest artist to win a Grammy Award. The talented youngster won her first Grammy after Beyoncé snagged a trophy for Best Music Video thanks to her song “Brown Skin Girl,” featured on the 2019 Lion King soundtrack. Blue has a songwriting credit for the hit smash.

The adorable kiddo joins her famous mother on the list who was nominated for the Viewer’s Choice Award this year thanks to her hit song, “Texas Hold ‘Em.” Additionally, Halle Bailey received a nomination for Best Actress, while Dr. Bobby Jones will compete for the Best Gospel/Inspirational Award. GloRilla, Victoria Monet, Latto, Monét, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, and Shaboozey are all slated to deliver captivating performances during the ceremony.

 

Don’t miss out on the excitement! Tune in to the BET Awards on June 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, to witness who will emerge victorious.

Will you be tuning in?

Bond, Jamie Bond: Secret Agent Foxx & Cameron Diaz Are ‘Back In Action’ In First Look At Netflix... 

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Source: Netflix

After suffering a serious health scare last April, Jamie Foxx has been the hardest-working man in Hollywood. Now he’s teamed up with Cameron Diaz to make the upcoming Netflix film Back In Action premiering Nov. 15.

The buzzy Spy Comedy was announced during Netflix’s Upfront presentation where Foxx and Diaz discussed their real-life friendship and reuniting to make this film.

“A lot of people don’t know this, but after Cameron and I did Any Given Sunday and Annie together, we became friends in real life—and I’ve been begging her to come play with me again,” said Foxx. “We all know there’s just something about her…”

Diaz, who hasn’t starred in a film in 10 years, returned the love to her co-star.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better partner, on-screen and off.”

In Back In Action, Foxx and Diaz play spies who leave the CIA to start a family but find themselves dragged back into the world of espionage when their cover is blown.

Check out the first-look photos below:

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Source: Netflix

Back In Action asset

Source: Netflix

Back In Action asset

Source: Netflix

The announcement comes after a Hollywood Reporter story detailing the Oscar-winner’s plan to return to Beat Shazam alongside his daughter, Corinne Foxx, after missing the previous season due to last year’s mysterious health crisis.

“Jamie and Corinne are the heart and soul of Beat Shazam,” Allison Wallach, President of Unscripted Entertainment at Fox Entertainment, told the Hollywood Reporter.

“As our undeniably dynamic father-daughter hosting team, they bring a relationship like no other to a show like no other, and it’s wonderful having them back on set this season.”

As far as his health, the multi-hyphenate star is doing well based on his Instagram posts, promo appearances, and comments from friend and actor Tyrin Turner (who you probably know as “Kane” from Menace II Society) during a recent interview with the Art of Dialogue.

“He’s in great shape. He’s cool. He had a little scare but he got over that fast. He went to his little rehab or whatever, and he came back,” Turner told the outlet.

 

Saweetie’s ‘SWEE-TEA’ Freestyle Slams Chris Brown Smithereens Speculation & ‘Trying To Figure Out... 

Saweetie addressed the drama about her icy entanglements in a new freestyle after Chris Brown name-dropped her “NANi” while beefing with Quavo.

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Source: Julian Dakdouk / Courtesy of Warner Records

Saweetie previously tapped in on social media when she got caught up in her ex battling Breezy and the “Richtivities” rapper hinted that she’d rewrite her new single “NANi,” which dropped on Friday, to respond. Instead of making fans wait that long, Saweetie shut down the speculation in a freestyle.

The perpetual pretty girl popped out with a message to her haters and seemingly her ex(es) set to Sexyy Red’s “SKEE-YEE.” On “SWEE-TEA,” she makes it clear she’s here get to the bag, not get caught up with messy men. Her flow hit as hard as the beat to call out all the conversation about her sex life.

“Why these broke n***as always trying to get some p*ssy they ain’t earned / They trying to figure out who I’m f**king. Girl, it’s none of your concern/B***h, you dirtier than dirty
Ain’t you thirty? Go to work,” she rapped, coming for internet instigators.

Saweetie also took aim at her ex and Chris using her name for punchlines and clout.

“F**king dork! F**k that back and forth, I need a Porsche for that/ Ain’t taggin’ you for free, I need a fee if I’m endorsin’ that,” she continued.

As BOSSIP previously reported, Chris kicked off his beef with Quavo with Karrueche-concerned bars. Then after dragging each other’s abuse allegations, Quavo called Chris a “crackhead.” Chris said the rapper “should have died” instead of late Migos member Takeoff and claimed that he hooked up with Saweetie while she was still with Quavo.

Saweetie Keeps That Same Energy For Summer With “NANi”

On “NANi,” the Saweetie continued to keep it cute for her high-energy bop. “We gon’ fkkk up the Summer,” she captioned the cover art on Instagram.

While “swingin’ that body” with some killer choreo, she also seemingly threw a little more shade.

“My name in her mouth I tell that h** to chew up/
Lambo match the louies pretty b***h and yeah my mood up/ Aint worried bout them h**s talkin’ down cause i’m too up/ I’m bougie moody tannin in my Louie/ It’s a privilege just to say you knew me /If I double back he over payin not to lose me,” Saweetie rapped.

Despite teasing that she might spill more tea about the mess, Saweetie kept the shine for herself. After all, “‘NANi’ is main character energy,” as she told Billboard at the 2024 Gold Gala last weekend. At the event, which recognizes the year’s 100 most influential Asian Pacific figures in culture and society, Saweetie became the inaugural recipient of the Billboard Gold Music Honor.

Check out the full video for Saweetie’s “NANi” below.

Deeply Disturbing: Diddy Seen In 2016 Surveillance Video Beating & Kicking Cassie 

CNN has obtained alarming surveillance footage of Diddy hitting, kicking, and dragging Cassie in 2016. The footage corroborates several of the former Bad Boy songstress’s claims in her now-settled federal lawsuit.

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Source: CHRIS DELMAS / Getty

As previously reported, Cassie accused the music mogul of physically abusing her, raping her, and forcing her to engage in sex acts with male sex workers during their relationship from 2007-2018 in “a cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking.”

Diddy’s team has been adamant that he’s innocent of the allegations, but newly released footage says otherwise.

 

Note: The story below mentions and describes acts of domestic violence. If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit https://www.thehotline.org/.

CNN Releases 2016 Footage Of Diddy Abusing Cassie

CNN has released a 2016 surveillance video showing Diddy grab, shove, drag, and kick Cassie at the now-defunct InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles.

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Source: CHRIS DELMAS / Getty

The outlet reports that the footage dated March 5, 2016, shows the rapper running down a hallway in a towel to Cassie after she heads toward a bank of elevators.

A seemingly irate Diddy grabs the singer and slams her to the floor before kicking her while she lies on the ground. After retrieving her things by the elevator, Diddy kicks her again and drags Cassie by her sweatshirt.

CNN’s footage also shows him seemingly shoving Cassie and throwing objects at her before stopping as someone appears to exit the elevator. Cassie noted the incident in her federal lawsuit and the footage clearly corroborates her story.

***Trigger warning, the following video may be disturbing to watch. Consider your mental health before pressing play.***

Ventura’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, released a statement to CNN about the surveillance footage saying;

“The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”

CNN reports that in her lawsuit Cassie claimed the altercation occurred “around March 2016” after an “extremely intoxicated” Combs allegedly punched her in the face, “giving her a black eye.”

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Benefit celebrating the opening of Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination, Arrivals, New York, USA - 07 May 2018

Source: WWD / Getty

 

Cassie stated in her suit that she tried to leave after Diddy fell asleep and that’s when he ran into the hallway to assault her before throwing vases at her.

“He grabbed at her, and then took glass vases in the hallway and threw them at her, causing glass to crash around them as she ran to the elevator to escape,” the complaint alleged per CNN.

“Upon realizing that her running away would cause Mr. Combs to be even angrier with her, and completely stuck in his vicious cycle of abuse, Ms. Ventura returned to the hotel with the intention of apologizing for running away from her abuser,” the complaint claims. “When she returned, hotel security staff urged her to get back into a cab and go to her apartment, suggesting that they had seen the security footage showing Mr. Combs beating Ms. Ventura and throwing glass at her in the hotel hallway.”

In her suit, Cassie alleged that Diddy paid the InterContinental Century City $50,000 for the hallway security footage.

Diddy has yet to release a statement on this latest update, but two days ago he posted on Instagram; “Time tells truth.”

Draya Michele Reveals She & Jalen Green Welcomed Their First Child Together On Mother’s Day 

Draya Michele is officially a mother of three!

GQ Men of the Year Party 2023

Source: Gilbert Flores / Getty

The model took to Instagram on Friday, May 17 to reveal that her first child with Houston Rockets star Jalen Green arrived almost a week ago on Mother’s Day.

Draya announced the news by posting a set of two photos on her Instagram page, the first being multiple bouquets of flowers filling her home. The next slide features the first public photo of her baby girl, but only features the newborns feet being held by Michele.

In her caption, she opened up about how Mother’s Day has been a tough day for her ever since her father passed away a few years ago. Now, welcoming her little girl on the same day has made new memories for Draya, expressing how thankful she is to now associate this date with something much more positive.

“In 2021 on Mother’s Day, my dad passed away,” she began in her caption. “Since then, it’s been extremely hard to celebrate that day without remembering the earth shattering phone call I received that morning. Well, this Mother’s Day was different.”

Michele continued, “My daughter was safely brought into this world and I’m forever grateful for the new memories we all get to experience moving forward. 🩶 Love + Light everyone.”

Draya Michele announced that she was pregnant with her third child back in March. While she didn’t name a father, it didn’t take long for NBA star Kyle Kuzma to confirm Green’s involvement, commenting on her announcement and congratulating both her and Jalen.

Though Green has yet to comment on his newborn, the pair was finally spotted together in April when they celebrated their baby shower with family and friends. According to reports from TMZ Sports, Green fathered another child in February, but the mother, Myah Iakopo, reportedly has no hard feelings for Draya.

Michele has two sons from previous relationships. She has a son, Kniko, 21, with Kniko Howard Sr.
and another son, Jru, 7, with Orlando Scandrick.

The Suite Life Of Druski & Rubi: Canoodling Couple Revs Up Romance At Star-Studded F1 Race Day In... 

Raising Cane's suite x F1 Miami Race Day asset

Source: Raising Cane’s

Raising Cane’s owner Todd Graves won this year’s Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix with his star-studded suite of celebrity guests that included Hulk Hogan, Joe Burrow, DeAndre Hopkins, French Montana, Jalen Ramsey, Desi Banks, Greg Tarzan Davis, Saquon Barkley, Myles Garrett, Tee Higgins, Alvin Kamara, Cam Jordan, Mark Ingram, and many more.

Raising Cane's suite x F1 Miami Race Day asset

Source: Raising Cane’s

Raising Cane's suite x F1 Miami Race Day asset

Source: Raising Cane’s / Raising Cane’s

Raising Cane's suite x F1 Miami Race Day asset

Source: Raising Cane’s

Raising Cane's suite x F1 Miami Race Day asset

Source: Raising Cane’s

Raising Cane's suite x F1 Miami Race Day asset

Source: Raising Cane’s

Check out the video recap below:

In their latest spotting since making things Instagram official (unless they’re trolling), Druski and Rubi Rose canoodled in videos and posed for pics while enjoying the suite life in Miami.

Raising Cane's suite x F1 Miami Race Day asset

Source: Raising Cane’s

Raising Cane's suite x F1 Miami Race Day asset

Source: Raising Cane’s

Raising Cane's suite x F1 Miami Race Day asset

Source: Raising Cane’s

For those out of the loop, the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix is a “one-of-a-kind event that showcases the incredible sport of F1 and reflects Miami’s unique position as a global curator of culture,” according to its site.

With invites to the biggest events and coveted baddie Rubi Rose on his arm, Druski is livin’ the life as one of Comedy’s hottest social media stars who recently wrapped up the first season of hit Youtube show Coulda Been House.

On the show, contestants take the stage to perform in front of Coulda Been Records CEO Druski to potentially win a $50,000 grand prize and custom Coulda Been Records chain.

Check out the finale with special guest Snoop Dogg below:

Coulda Been House originally debuted on February 28th and has amassed over 5 million views worldwide. Directed by David Janoff, this past season was packed with wild moments and surprise guest appearances from Chris Brown, Birdman, and more.

Fights and all sorts of chaos also erupted as the pressure of winning pushed a few contestants to their limits.

Rep. Sassy Pants: Marjorie Taylor Greene Attacks Black Rep. Jasmine Crockett With ‘Fake... 

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Source: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images/Win McNamee/Getty Images / Getty

The nerve, the audacity, the unmitigated gall of this dusty ******** to open her wrinkled mouth like this against not only a Black woman but a fellow congressional colleague.

Majorie Taylor Greene’s face should be in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary next to the word “bootlicker”. The Georgia state representative has embarrassed herself, her family, and America at-large with her attention-seeking antics and undignified obsequiousness toward Donald Trump. Her latest stunt has her looking like a hater of the highest order.

According to a Newsweek article, the House Oversight Committee was meeting to determine whether Merrick Garland should be held in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio recordings of President Biden’s interview special counsel Robert Hur. For no reason at all, Greene asked a totally irrelevant question about the employment status of Judge Juan Merchan’s daughter. Loren Merchan worked as digital director for Vice President Harris’ campaign in 2020 and Greene attempted to highjack the meeting to establish Judge Merchan’s “bias” against Donald Trump.

Hunter Biden Appears On Capitol Hill For Closed-Door Deposition With Republican Lawmakers

Source: Samuel Corum / Getty

Incredulously, Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett asked, “Do you know what we’re here for?” To which Greene replied, “I don’t think you know what you’re here for… I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading.”

See you next Tuesday.

At this point, AOC interjected, “That is absolutely unacceptable. How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person.” Greene was disciplined following a vote but refused to apologize to Crockett.

That’s when things got real spicy.

The day Marjorie Taylor Greene is booted from office will be a glorious one indeed.

 

Cardi B Seemingly Confirms Offset Reconciliation Following Recent Split: ‘How Do You Stop Talking... 

In back booed up news…

It looks like Cardi B and Offset have reconciled once again following Cardi telling the world she’s been “single for a minute now” back in December.

The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating

Source: Gotham / Getty

In the “WAP” rapper’s recent interview with Rolling Stone, she opened up about where her relationship with Offset stands, revealing the two of them are “all right now.”

After secretly tying the knot in 2017, the couple has been plagued with drama, breakups, and reconciliations throughout most of their marriage, but just like every other time, it seems like they’ve found a way to work through it.

When asked by the mag what she cherishes in her relationship, Cardi said, “The part I love is that we really like each other, like a support system.”

“We’re really both each other’s cheerleader,” she continued. “I don’t really like talking to people. I’m not as social. If I want something from somebody, he’ll be the one that will talk. Because I don’t like asking.”

The former reality star went on to admit that she’s guilty of putting other things–namely her career and her kids–before her marriage.

“Sometimes I cannot be … not that I cannot be a wife. It’s just like, my career takes my life. You know what I’m saying,” she asked. “My career comes first, then my kids come second. And then sometimes I don’t realize that I’m putting so many things before my relationship.”

Amid their marital issues, Cardi said that the next step is for her to “think it through…because we do love each other.”

Even despite all of that love, the rapper went on to explain that there’s a bigger reason it’s so hard to leave.

“It’s not even about love, we’re best friends,” she revealed. “And it’s like, ‘OK. Well, there was a time that I didn’t have a best friend, or I didn’t have a support system.’ It’s not even about ‘How do you leave a partner?’ How do you stop talking to your best friend?”

Still, Cardi admitted that, at the moment, putting her album out and taking care of her kids does come first.

“I sometimes feel like I do probably put my relationship last,” she said.

Marvel Studios Reveals ‘Agatha All Along’ Will Finally Hit Disney+ This September, ‘Ironheart’ To... 

Agatha -Disney+ FYC Drive In Screening of ‘Falcon and the Winter Solder’ and WandaVision - 12 June 2021

Agatha – Kathryn Hahn – Source: Penske Media / Getty

Marvel Studios is finding its way back to captivating audiences with compelling content.

If you’ve watched the past Marvel releases you know the franchise is quietly having trouble keeping the energy that captured consumers. Despite that, Disney is announcing new releases that hopefully garner everyone’s attention.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the next Disney+ release from Marvel will be the Kathryn Hahn-led series Agatha All Along. The show is a spinoff from WandaVision with fan favorite and worst neighbor of all time, Agatha Harkness. The show will premiere on September 18 with a two-episode premiere. Marvel teased several titles for the project including House of Harkness, Darkhold Diaries, and Coven of Chaos.

The final title, Agatha All Along, is the perfect choice as the song from WandaVision almost won Marvel a Grammy Award.

Another upcoming MCU project fans have been waiting for is Ironheart starring Dominique Thorne. Since the debut of the character RiRi Williams in Wakanda Forever, she and her Stark Industries technology have been mia. Now she’ll return when Iron Heart hits Disney+ in 2025 co-starring Good Girls fan-favorite Manny Montana. 

Not only that but despite IMDB reporting that The Marvels resulted in a net loss of $237 million, if you’re a fan of Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau character, you’re in luck as Rambeau’s return has been confirmed.

Watch the actress speak on Monica Rambeau continuing to appear in the Marvel cinematic universe below.

Rattler Ruckus: FAMU Foundation Exec Resigns Amid $237 Million Gregory Gerami Donation Debacle 

The more we learn—or don’t learn—about the massive $237,750,000 donation gifted to Florida A&M University by Gregory Gerami, the “CEO” of Isaac Batterson Seventh Family Trust, the more dubious the act of generosity sounds, which is why the act has turned into a Whole drama for every FAMU administrator and board member involved in the matter.  

Whew, where do we even start?

FAMU: Florida A&M

Source: Zack Wittman for The Washington Post via Getty Images / Getty

 

Shawnta Friday-Stroud, FAMU’s vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the FAMU Foundation, has just resigned from her position due to her role in “the decision that about half a dozen FAMU officials made to accept Batterson Farms Corp. CEO Gregory Gerami’s major gift without informing other key stakeholders of the university, including members of the FAMU Foundation Board of Directors and the Board of Trustees,” according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

The announcement that Friday-Stroud, who will remain dean of FAMU’s School of Business & Industry, resigned from the foundation was made by FAMU President Larry Robinson, who also announced during the virtual Board of Trustees special meeting that the gift transaction had been “ceased,” which he said days after he had already announced the donation had been put on hold.

From the Democrat:

It wasn’t clear, however, what exactly Robinson meant, including whether the gift was being declined; a university spokesperson reached later Wednesday said he was unable to explain Robinson’s remark.

Robinson made the announcements as he took responsibility for the poor vetting of the donor who was honored as the keynote speaker at a spring graduation ceremony and the crisis of confidence that has clouded what should have been a pinnacle moment.

“I wanted it to be real and ignored the warning signs along the way,” Robinson told the board. “The public announcement at commencement was premature at best, and I apologize to all who witnessed it and shared their joy and jubilation.”

“It is my belief that with the guidance of this board, we will arrive at a process much more transparent when it comes to such large gifts in the future,” he added.

Meanwhile, the process of vetting Gerami is also proving to be more of an eyebrow-raiser by the day.

According to AL.com, Gerami, until recently, had a woman named Kim Abbott, known publicly as Kim Rafferty, listed as co-CEO of Gerami’s hemp company, Batterson Farms, Corp. Abbot is a former two-term Birmingham City Councilor who served in the role between 2009 and 2017. She’s also the “caretaker of two children, two grandmothers, an ailing first husband (the grandmothers and husband have passed; Abbott has remarried), and ‘a chocolate lab puppy that’s eating me out of house and home,'” AL.com reported. However, what Kim Abbott isn’t and has, apparently, never been is the co-CEO of Batterson Farms, Corp.

“I’m a stay-at-home mom. I would have never been able to be a CEO of anything,” she said recently. “And those were my words to [Gerami].”

“I didn’t give him permission to put my picture on the website,” she ent on to say. “I didn’t give him permission to put my name on the website. [My name] was just a placeholder. I never conducted business. All he did was call me and ask for advice. That’s not a CEO.”

Asked about Abbott’s denial that she was ever a co-CEO of his company, Gerami implied that she was CEO at one point, but isn’t anymore. Actually, he was pretty vague and nondescript about what role, if any, she has played in his business as of late.

“Miss Rafferty is a great person, a very smart woman. And I hope you report this: She’s a very smart woman in a lot of ways — very good and thorough at a lot of things. So, when we created Batterson Farms we thought Kim would be a great fit to be our co-CEO because she had a governmental relations background and we’re dealing a lot in government and agriculture and products. We thought that she would be a great fit for those things.

“But she hasn’t been co-CEO for a while,” he continued. “Now I wouldn’t say she hasn’t been affiliated with the company, but she hasn’t been co-CEO for a while. We just forgot to take her off the page. She wasn’t [listed as co-CEO] on the board [of directors] page, but on that particular page, where her name was, we just forgot to take her off.”

Of course, one question Gerami said he “cannot” provide answers to is the 237 million dollar question: What is the status of the donation?

In fact, so far, that is not a question anyone has been able to answer. The Board of Trustees’ special meeting reportedly lasted nearly two hours and was scheduled in an effort to answer the myriad of questions board members had, but, apparently, that never happened, according to Vice Chair Deveron Gibbons.

“We are here today to do one thing, and that is to find out the facts related to this particular donation — what happened and when it happened,” Gibbons said during the meeting. “I’m sitting here with over 100 questions that are written down here right now.”

“This should not have happened and in light of that, we need to get the facts,” he added. “This is uncomfortable, and I’m upset that I have to sit here and be doing this right now when all it took was normal due diligence.”

According to the Democrat, what’s under internal investigation isn’t even whether or not the money is really there. Instead, it will determine what happened during the process that led to accepting the donation, and whether proper protocol was followed. Board members like Gibson were frustrated that discussion about the investigation consumed the meeting and questions about the donation itself went unanswered.

In fact, the handling of this donation has been so janky that Board of Trustees Chair Kristin Harper, who was seen emotionally celebrating the donation on video at the time it was announced, said that due to a non-disclosure agreement, she was not included in the inner circle that knew about the details of the gift, despite the fact that she signed the gift agreement.

“I fully support your decision to cease this transaction. I only wish the decision would have been made during the six months spent on developing the gift and before a public announcement would have been made that could tarnish the reputation of this university,” she told Robinson after blasting him for putting her “on the spot” and using her “for a convenient photo or video op for a gift that I knew nothing about.”

I mean, isn’t the more pressing question why, as the chair of the Board of Trustees, Harper didn’t know anything about the donation even after the “six months” she mentioned?

So, basically, everyone is left with more questions than answers, and that, apparently, includes everyone who should be in the know.

It’s just a mess.