Cowboys great Walt Garrison dead at 79

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

Walt Garrison, a former NFL fullback who played nine seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and won a Super Bowl with them in 1971, has died. He was 79.

Garrison was a star at Oklahoma State before the Cowboys selected him in the fifth round of the 1966 NFL Draft. 

He was also drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, who were in the American Football League at the time.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

He was with the Cowboys from 1966 to 1974, retiring as the team’s No. 3 rusher and No. 4 receiver. He gained 3,886 rushing yards.

The team announced Garrison’s death on its website but did not reveal a cause.

Garrison was a cowboy off the field too. The team said he would go out after team meetings and compete in local rodeos as a steer wrestler. He would return to the team hotel before an 11 p.m. curfew.

ROB GRONKOWSKI DISCUSSES NEW CHARITY VENTURE WITH LONGTIME GIRLFRIEND, HOW THEY BOTH HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY ALS

“I wasn’t starting,” Garrison once said. “I was returning punts and kicks and covering on the kamikaze squad, that’s all I was doing. And, hell, you could get hurt worse on them than you can rodeoing. I didn’t think much about it, but the Cowboys did.”

Legendary Cowboys head coach Tom Landry prevented Garrison from moonlighting as a regular cowboy during the season, but he continued in the offseason.

“Coach Landry pointed out that there was a clause in my contract that if I got hurt doing another sport, that my contract would be null and void,” he was quoted as saying. “And I said, ‘OK.’ I didn’t think rodeo was that dangerous.”

Garrison was injured in 1975 while steer wrestling and called it a career in football.

At the height of his fame with the Cowboys, Garrison was also a national spokesman for Skoal.

He finished his NFL career with 39 touchdowns and was a Pro Bowler during the 1972 season. He had 74 rushing yards on 14 carries in the team’s 14-3 win over the Miami Dolphins in the 1972 Super Bowl.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

Read More 

 

Olympian Mary Lou Retton to receive aid from USOPC amid battle with rare pneumonia: report

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

Five-time Olympic medalist Mary Lou Retton has received a significant amount of financial support after her daughter revealed on social media this week that the athletic icon is “fighting for her life” as she deals with a rare form of pneumonia.

Now, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has stepped in to offer aid after it was revealed that the 55-year-old former Olympian does not have medical insurance.

A spokesperson for the USOPC told USA Today on Thursday that the committee is working to get Retton approved to receive aid through the United States Olympians & Paralympians Relief Fund.

MARY LOU RETTON RECEIVES HUGE DONATION AS SHE BATTLES SERIOUS ILLNESS

“The USOPC supports the United States Olympians & Paralympians Relief Fund to offer aid to U.S. Olympians and Paralympians facing significant hardships due to illness, death or extenuating circumstances,” USOPC spokesperson Kate Hartman told the outlet.

“Upon learning of Mary Lou’s condition, we immediately took action to expedite the application process for her family to receive assistance. We are currently working through the necessary details in real-time and have reached out to Mary Lou’s family to offer our assistance.”

McKenna Kelley, Retton’s daughter, created a donation page where she revealed her mother’s condition.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life. She is not able to breathe on her own. She’s been in the ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details. However, I will disclose that she [is] not insured.”

As of Thursday evening, the page had raised nearly $380,000 from more than 6,800 donors, surpassing its original goal of $50,000.

Retton’s daughter thanked everyone for the “outpouring of love” for her mother on social media Wednesday. She said Retton was still in the ICU but was getting “incredible medical care.”

Retton was nicknamed “America’s sweetheart” during her gold medal-winning performance at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. She was just 16 when she scored perfect 10s in the floor exercise and vault in the final two rotations to become the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around title.

She would earn five medals that year, two silver and two bronze in addition to gold.

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

Read More 

 

Arizona man pleads guilty to attempted murder of federal officer, sentenced to 30 years

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

An Arizona man who pleaded guilty in March to charges connected to the shooting of a New Mexico State Police officer in September 2020, was sentenced to 30 years in prison Wednesday.

Alexander Uballez, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that 31-year-old Robert Benjamin Nelson was sentenced to prison for the attempted murder of a federal task force officer and discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence.

Nelson pleaded guilty to the charges March 22 after a mistrial Jan. 17.

US JUDGE UPHOLDS NEW MEXICO GOV. GRISHAM’S SUSPENSION ON GUN-CARRY RIGHTS IN PUBLIC PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS

“Today, bravery prevailed over cowardice and truth over irrational hate,” Uballez said. “Federal law enforcement officers work every day to make our lives safer. When their lives are put at risk by someone who trained himself to fear police through fantastical internet videos, we will serve decisive justice to protect our protectors.”

The Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a release that on Sept. 12, 2020, New Mexico State Police Sgt. Sharron Duran, who was working as a U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Task Force Officer, pulled a pickup truck over being operated by Nelson, after he was seen following another vehicle too closely.

When Duran approached Nelson’s truck from the passenger side, he raised a .22-caliber pistol and shot at the officer three times through the window, the DOJ said.

NEW MEXICO POLICE OFFICER CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER IN FATAL SHOOTING OF BLACK MAN AT GAS STATION

The first shot caused the passenger window to shatter, and shards of glass struck the officer in the face and eyes.

In an effort to shield her face, Duran raised her hands, and the other two bullets hit her in the hands, causing permanent injury to one of her eyes and both hands.

She fell to the ground but immediately got back up to return fire as Nelson sped off.

CORRECTIONS OFFICER ACCUSED OF SMUGGLING DRUGS INTO NEW MEXICO JAIL

Duran then got back into her vehicle and chased after Nelson, who was traveling west on Interstate 40, before pulling him over again.

Nelson then attempted to grab a rifle from the floor of his vehicle, and Duran waited for backup officers to arrive.

He was then apprehended without further incident.

“These types of shootings are brazened, violent acts, absolutely without justification and a threat to our entire community,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda said. “An attack on a federal Task Force Officer is a federal crime with serious consequences. Today’s sentencing reflects the FBI’s unwavering commitment to ensure that all those responsible for violence crimes against law enforcement officers are brought to justice.”

 

Read More 

 

Dylan Mulvaney awarded ‘Woman of the Year’ by UK magazine: ‘Means so much more to me’

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

A British LGBTQ magazine and Virgin Atlantic recently named trans woman Dylan Mulvaney “Woman of The Year.”

Mulvaney received the recognition at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards in the United Kingdom Wednesday, an award show put on by LGBTQ “Attitude” magazine and sponsored by the British airline company.

At the podium, Mulvaney marveled at receiving the award, noting it had been only “560 days” since the biological male influencer came out as trans. 

BUD LIGHT’S PACT WITH TRANS ACTIVIST DYLAN MULVANEY SPARKS OUTRAGE, PRAISE

“I am so honored to be with you all tonight, and you know, some see me as the woman of the year, some see me as a woman of a year and some change, as I only publicly came out online 560 days ago, and some people don’t see me as a woman at all,” Mulvaney said. 

The influencer noted how grateful she was to receive the “honor from a queer publication like Attitude” saying it “means so much more to me.”

In an Attitude mag piece recounting the winners from the evening, the outlet profiled Mulvaney, stating, “Through her ‘Days of Girlhood’ series, Dylan Mulvaney shared the everyday highs and lows of her transitioning experience with the world and gained 12 million followers in the process. Fame, advertising campaigns — and controversy — followed.”

While speaking, Mulvaney said “hateful” people had made things a struggle.

“No matter how hard I try, or what I wear, or what I say, or what surgeries I get, I will never reach an acceptable version of womanhood by those hateful people’s standards, but as long as I have the queer community that sees me for my truth, I’m gonna be okay,” Mulvaney told the crowd. 

Mulvaney also noted she was glad to receive the award in the U.K. as it helped her feel that she didn’t have “that baggage that I was carrying back in the U.S.” 

DYLAN MULVANEY MOCKS BUD LIGHT CONTROVERSY WHILE CRITICIZING ‘TRANSPHOBIA AND HATE’ AT AWARDS SPEECH

“And I didn’t feel like the trans beer girl,” she said, adding, “You know, I didn’t walk into rooms and wonder, ‘Oh does that person hate me?’ I was just another gal walking around in a Burberry trench on her way to a West End musical.”

Mulvaney was referencing the backlask Bud Light received after the beer brand partnered with Mulvaney for an Instagram ad that featured customized beers cans with Mulvaney’s face. 

In response, Bud Light saw a boycott that resulted in billions lost in its revenue and market value. Months after the boycott, the influencer also slammed Bud Light for a lack of support throughout the backlash as it brought “more transphobia than I could’ve ever imagined.”

Mulvaney told investors and business magnates at the recent 2023 Forbes CMO Summit in Miami to be better supporters of any progressive or LGBTQ activists and staff they partner with and/or employ.

“If you’re going to ask us to capitalize on our vulnerabilities and our traumas, at least have our backs when the going gets tough,” Mulvaney said. 

Mulvaney didn’t immediately responded to a request for comment. 

For more Culture, Media, Education, Opinion and channel coverage, visit foxnews.com/media

 

Read More 

 

McMorris Rodgers calls for briefing from Big Tech companies on policy for ‘illegal’ Hamas content

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

EXCLUSIVE: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers is calling for a briefing from social media companies on content moderation policies regarding the spread of “illegal content” posted by Hamas amid the deadly terror attacks in Israel.

McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., sent requests to government affairs representatives for Alphabet, Meta, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok to brief committee staff by Oct. 20. 

“I’m calling on Big Tech companies to brief the Energy and Commerce Committee on how they are enforcing their moderation policies and community standards surrounding the war in Israel,” McMorris Rogers told Fox News Digital. 

“Big Tech must take its responsibility seriously to expose the world to the pure evil of Hamas terrorists and to make sure their platforms aren’t breeding grounds for more terrorist activity.”

NETANYAHU SAYS HAMAS IS ‘ISIS’ AS ISRAEL PREPARES FOR GROUND INVASION OF GAZA

McMorris Rodgers also told Fox News Digital a company “must provide transparency and answers for how it is monitoring and removing illegal content posted by Hamas for recruitment, to spread propaganda, to livestream murders and torture of hostages and to organize more terrorist activities.

‘PEOPLE OF ISRAEL NEED OUR PRAYERFUL SUPPORT,’ SAY US FAITH LEADERS FROM COAST TO COAST AS WAR CONTINUES

“This is an urgent matter, and we expect full transparency from Big Tech,” she said. “We continue to pray for peace, protection and justice for Israel.” 

The committee expects the companies would send representatives from their trust and safety or content moderation teams for the requested briefings. 

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act states “no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”

HAMAS TERRORIST SENT MOTHER VIDEO OF SON, GIRLFRIEND’S GRUESOME MURDER: ISRAELI REALITY TV STAR

The section has been pivotal in the rise of today’s social media giants by allowing not only Internet service providers, but also Google, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and others, to be shielded from liability from content posted on their platforms by third parties in most cases. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel was “at war” Saturday after Hamas conducted deadly attacks across the country. Netanyahu promised that the attackers would pay “an unprecedented price.”

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The death toll continues to climb in the harrowing days since war broke out Saturday. More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed. 

At least 27 Americans have been killed in the terror attacks. An unknown number of Americans are being held hostage by Hamas, U.S. officials say.

 

Read More 

 

Senior Hamas official admits Israel attacks had been planned for years under guise of governing Gaza

A senior Hamas official stated during a Russian television interview that the Israel attacks had been planned for years under the guise of governing Gaza. 

“In the past couple of years, Hamas has adopted a ‘rational’ approach. It did not go into any war and did not join the Islamic Jihad in its recent battle,” senior Hamas official Ali Baraka said in an interview that aired on Russia Today TV on Oct. 8. 

The interviewer interjected, “But all this was part of Hamas’s strategy in preparing for this attack.”

“Of course,” Baraka said, according to the translation by the Middle East Media Research Institute, a nonprofit press monitoring and analysis organization co-founded by a former Israeli military intelligence officer and an Israeli American political scientist. “We made them think that Hamas was busy with governing Gaza, and that it wanted to focus on the 2.5 million Palestinians [in Gaza], and has abandoned the resistance altogether.”

“All the while, under the table, Hamas was preparing for this big attack,” Baraka continued. “The rockets of the resistance cover all of Palestine. Where would [Netanyahu] take [the Israelis who were attacked]? To Tel Aviv? We bombed Tel Aviv on the very first day of the attack. Does he want to take them to the Galilee? The northern front – with Lebanon – has opened today. The Galilee is no longer safe for the Zionist enemy. We can bomb the Galilee from inside occupied Palestine.” 

“The Israelis are known to love life. We, on the other hand, sacrifice ourselves. We consider our dead to be martyrs. The thing any Palestinian desires the most is to be martyred for the sake of Allah, defending his land,” he continued. “We have been preparing for this for two years. We have local factories for everything. We have rockets with ranges of 250 kilometers, 160 kilometers, 80 kilometers, 45 kilometers and 10 kilometers.” 

BLINKEN, IN ISRAEL, SAYS MORE AMERICANS KILLED, VOWS SOLIDARITY ‘ALWAYS’

Israeli intelligence has come under fire after Hamas launched what came as a surprise attack Saturday. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since declared war, launching airstrikes pulverizing Gaza and preparing for a ground operation yet to come. During the interview, Baraka said the timing and specific details were kept top secret among a handful of Hamas officials. 

“The zero hour was kept completely secret,” he said. “A limited number of Hamas leaders knew it. The number of people who knew about the attack and its timing could be counted on one hand.” 

Hamas officials in Lebanon

Ali Baraka, middle right, told a Russia Today TV interviewer the attack on Israel was planned for years. (Ratib Al Safadi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN BLAMES US FOR CREATING CONDITIONS LEADING TO ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

“In order to keep the attack secret and successful, the different factions and our allies did not know the zero hour,” Baraka explained. “But after half an hour, all the Palestinian resistance factions were contacted as were our allies in Hezbollah and Iran. The Turks were also notified, and a meeting was held with them three hours later, at 9 am. We updated anyone who contacted us. Even the Russians sent a message and inquired, and they were updated about the situation and about the goals of the war.”

As of Thursday, authorities in Gaza say more than 1,400 people have died there, and Israel says hundreds of the dead inside Gaza are Hamas members. The Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 222 soldiers, have been killed in Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has been dispatched by President Biden to Israel, said Thursday said at least 25 Americans are among the dead. Hamas militants are said to have kidnapped more than 150 people being held hostage.  

During the Oct. 8 interview, Baraka also spoke of a potential prisoner swap deal. 

“There are also Palestinian prisoners outside of Israel, in European countries,” the Russia Today interviewer posed. “There are also prisoners in the U.S. We want them. Of course. There are Hamas members sentenced for life in the U.S.,” Baraka responded. “We want them too. Of course. We demand that the U.S. free our sons from prisons. The U.S. conducts prisoner swaps. Only recently, it did one with Iran. Why wouldn’t it conduct a prisoner swap with us? After all, it is participating in this war. Biden, the highest authority in the U.S., declared that he stands with Israel against Hamas and the Palestinian people. Therefore, he is a partner to this aggression, he must pay the price.” 

Israel military near Gaza Strip

An Israeli mobile artillery unit fired a shell from southern Israel towards the Gaza Strip, in a position a near the Israel Gaza border on Wednesday. (AP/Erik Marmor)

The Biden administration brokered a $6 billion prisoner swap deal with Iran last month, but since Hamas’ attacks in Israel, even some Democrats have joined Republicans in demanding the White House rescind those funds. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Wednesday no current evidence directly linked Iran to the attacks in Israel, though admitted Tehran held “broad complicity” in bolstering Hamas, Hezbollah in bordering Lebanon, and other terrorist groups. 

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Baraka applauded Iran during the TV interview for their financial and arms support for Hamas.  

“Our allies are those that support us with weapons and money. First and foremost it is Iran that is giving us money and weapons,” Baraka said. “There is also Hezbollah, and the Arab and Islamic people who are standing by us. There are countries that support us politically. Even Russia sympathizes with us. Even the Russians sent us messages yesterday morning. They sympathize with us. Russia is happy that America is getting embroiled in Palestine. It alleviates the pressure on the Russians in Ukraine. One war eases the pressure in another war. So we are not alone on the battlefield.”

source

Fox News politics: Mad House

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail

Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox.

The House has been in limbo for 10 days without a speaker. The GOP nominee with the most support from his party — Rep. Steve Scalise — doesn’t have enough to support to win the top job in the House …Read more

LOW ODDS: Why Scalise’s speaker math may never work …Read more

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: In private meetings with GOP members, Scalise does not appear to have made headway in convincing his colleagues to support him. Some hardliners are calling to have the fight out in the open …Read more

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: Suspended Biden Iran envoy once pushed engagement with terror groups …Read more

‘HELP IS ON THE WAY’: DeSantis moves to help Americans stranded in Israel …Read more

FAILING UP: Top Biden adviser’s blunders come back to haunt him after recent claim about Middle East …Read more

‘NONSENSE’: Israeli Minister of Communications characterizes Trump’s recent comments on Netanyahu as ‘shameful,’ says ex-president cannot be relied on …Read more

‘ABSURD’: DeSantis slams Trump for ‘attack’ on Netanyahu, calling terror group ‘smart’ …Read more

SHOW OF SUPPORT: Senators set to introduce bipartisan resolution supporting Israel as fighting continues with Hamas …Read more

CAMPUS PROTECTION: Lawmakers call on Biden admin to do something to help Jewish college students in the face of pro-Hamas demonstrations …Read more

POT MET KETTLE’: Fetterman roasted for comment on quality of D.C. politicians …Read more

‘FAILURE TO COMPLY’: Rubio calls on Biden to crack down on Iran amid Israel-Hamas war …Read more

‘NO REASON TO DOUBT’: White House official shuts down reporter questioning ‘authenticity’ of dead Israeli children photos …Read more

‘BOTTLENECKING’: Fossil fuel permitting plummets to two-decade low amid Biden’s war on oil drilling …Read more

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

 

Read More 

 

Arkansas high court sides with Gov. Sanders, state lawmakers in education overhaul case

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the procedural vote that allowed Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ education overhaul to take effect immediately, rejecting a judge’s ruling that threw into question the way state laws have been fast-tracked into enforcement over the years.

The state Supreme Court’s 6-1 decision has no effect on the education law that the Republican governor signed in March and is already in effect. The law created a new school voucher program, raised minimum teacher salaries and placed restrictions on classroom instruction pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity before the fifth grade.

But the ruling rejects the argument that the Legislature violated the state constitution with its votes for the measure to take effect immediately. Opponents of the law argued that the emergency clause for the law, which requires a two-thirds vote, should have been taken up separately from the legislation. Lawmakers commonly vote on a bill and its emergency clause at the same time.

OVER 400K ARKANSANS DROPPED FROM MEDICAID IN LAST 6 MONTHS

Justices ruled that this approach for the education law was constitutional, noting that the votes are recorded separately in House and Senate journals.

“The House Journal indicates a separate roll call and vote for the emergency clause. Likewise, the Senate Journal indicates a separate roll call and vote for the emergency clause,” Justice Barbara Webb wrote in the ruling. “Thus, according to the official record, the emergency clause was passed in compliance with article 5, section 1 of the Arkansas Constitution.”

GOV. SANDERS NAMES NEW ARKANSAS FINANCE SECRETARY

Sanders, who took office in January, hailed the ruling.

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling in favor of the LEARNS Act is a historic victory for Arkansas parents, teachers, and students,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter, calling the ruling a “crushing defeat” for opponents of the law.

Ali Noland, an attorney for the plaintiffs who challenged the law, criticized the court’s decision and said the lawsuit was moot for two months since the overhaul was already in effect.

“Today’s Arkansas Supreme Court ruling makes it much harder for Arkansans to hold their government accountable for willfully violating the Arkansas Constitution,” Noland said in a statement.

Justices in June lifted the Pulaski County judge’s order that blocked enforcement of the law. Without the emergency clause, the law wouldn’t have taken effect until August.

 

Read More 

 

Jada Pinkett Smith says Chris Rock asked her out during previous Will Smith divorce rumors

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

Jada Pinkett Smith shared another surprise revelation about her relationships with husband and fellow actor Will Smith and comedian Chris Rock.

In an interview with People, Pinkett Smith spoke about previous divorce rumors about her and Smith over the years, sharing that at one point, Rock asked her out.

“I think every summer all the reports would come out that me and Will were getting a divorce,” Pinkett Smith said.

“And this particular summer, Chris, he thought that we were getting a divorce. So, he called me, and basically he was like, ‘I’d love to take you out.’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He was like, ‘Well, aren’t you and Will getting a divorce?’ I was like, ‘No. Chris, those are just rumors.’ He was appalled. And he profusely apologized and that was that.”

JADA PINKETT SMITH REVEALS SHE, WILL SMITH HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FOR OVER 7 YEARS BUT REFUSE TO DIVORCE

Representatives for Rock did not return Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

On Wednesday, Pinkett Smith dropped a bombshell revelation about her marriage with Smith while promoting her new book, “Worthy.”

During her appearance on “Today” with Hoda Kotb, the “Girls Trip” star said she and Smith “live separately” and have been separated since 2016.

“I made a promise that there will never be a reason for us to get a divorce. We will work through whatever. And I just haven’t been able to break that promise,” she said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

She continued by saying that they “were just exhausted with trying” to stay together as a couple: “I think we were both kind of just still stuck in our fantasy of what we thought the other person should be.”

The news comes almost two years after the infamous incident at the 2022 Oscars where Smith walked onstage and slapped Rock, who was a presenter during the awards ceremony, after he made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s bald head. 

After he returned to his seat, he yelled at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—ing mouth.”

In her interview with People, Pinkett Smith revealed she hasn’t talked to Rock since the incident.

CHRIS ROCK TAKES AIM AT JADA PINKETT’S AFFAIR, UNUSUAL MARRIAGE TO WILL SMITH: ‘SHE HURT HIM WAY MORE’

“[Do I have] any desire to talk to Chris? Here’s my desire: I just hope that all the misunderstanding around this can be cleared up and that there can be peace,” she said.

Pinkett Smith said she wrote in her book and speculates that “there might be some misunderstanding between Chris and I as far as the 2016 Oscars. I think that he might’ve taken offense, which I meant no harm in offending. That wasn’t my intention. But I do think that there’s a big misunderstanding there.”

In 2016, Pinkett Smith supported the #OscarsSoWhite movement after no actors of color were recognized in that year’s nominations, including Smith, who had starred in the film “Concussion.”

She was among many who called for a boycott of the show, which Rock happened to be hosting that year. In his Netflix comedy special, Rock said she told him to quit out of solidarity.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

The 52-year-old Pinkett Smith admitted to “not really recognizing the level of pressure [Chris] might’ve been under.”

Sometime after the show, Pinkett Smith said Rock called her, and she thought they’d moved on.

“He apologized, and I apologized to him as well,” she said. “So, I actually thought that we were good, that the hatchet was buried between us. And we hadn’t talked since then, until 2022 came.”

The “Set It Off” star said Rock came to speak to her during a pause in the show after the slap last year.

“Chris came down to the end of the stage and tried to apologize to me. He said, ‘I didn’t mean you any harm.’ I said, ‘I can’t talk about this now, Chris. This is some old s—.’ I thought this was [about] the [Oscars in] 2016 and … their stuff that they had before I even came into the picture in the late ‘80s. I’ve got to leave that to Will and Chris to talk about, but they got their stuff for sure,” she said.

 

Read More 

 

Former WV House Democratic leader switches parties, preps run for secretary of state

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

A former Democratic leader in the West Virginia House of Delegates plans to run for secretary of state next year as a Republican.

Doug Skaff registered as a pre-candidate for the office Thursday.

“In today’s ever-changing world I will bring a deep understanding of our laws, demonstrate strong leadership abilities, and uphold and promote fairness, transparency, and integrity in all aspects of the office,” Skaff said on his campaign website.

HOLLIS T. LEWIS APPOINTED TO WEST VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES FOR 57TH DISTRICT

Filing pre-candidacy papers allows campaigns to start fundraising and requires them to file campaign finance reports. A candidate isn’t officially in the race until they file a separate certificate of announcement and pay a filing fee. The official filing period for the 2024 election is in January.

Skaff resigned his House seat from Kanawha County last month after stepping down as the chamber’s Democratic leader in August.

West Virginia Republican Party chairwoman Elgine McArdle seemed skeptical about Skaff’s announcement.

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY APPROVES ACADEMIC PROGRAM AND FACULTY CUTS AMID BUDGET SHORTFALL

“The West Virginia Republican Party recognizes the philosophical nuances that can exist within the Party and welcomes those who genuinely believe in our cause; however, Republican voters are sometimes tasked with differentiating between ‘philosophical nuances’ and ‘diametric ideological opposition,’” McCardle said in a statement. “Now that Skaff is labeling himself as a ‘Republican,’ despite his storied liberal record in the House, the upcoming primary is one of those times.”

Skaff served in the House from 2009 to 2014 and was elected to the chamber again in 2018. He is president of HD Media, which owns the Charleston Gazette-Mail and several other state newspapers.

“I know Doug has long been intoxicated by the idea of winning a statewide office,” West Virginia Democratic Party chairman Mike Pushkin said in a statement. “Still, his candidacy could leave Republican primary voters with a hangover when they find out about his actual voting record. Nevertheless, we wish him well in all his affairs.”

 

Read More