On Dec. 19, Sonya Eddy, who played Epiphany Johnson on General Hospital from 2006 to 2020, passed away at 55. She reportedly died of an infection after a nonemergency surgery. Eddy’s film and television credits date back to 1995 and include Barbershop, Daddy Daycare, Matchstick Men, Bad News Bears, The Perfect Game, and Will Smith’s Seven Pounds.

Bishop Lamor Whitehead is back in the news. Earlier this year, he went viral when three masked bandits stormed into the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministry church in Brooklyn, N.Y., with handguns. The men stole $1 million worth of jewelry from him and his wife and were arrested. On Dec. 19, according to The New York Times, Whitehead, 45, was arrested and charged with fraud, extortion, and lying to federal authorities. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said Mr. Whitehead “solicited money from victims, including a retired parishioner, through threats or false promises of enriching them, then kept the money for himself.” He has denied all allegations.

On Dec. 20, Aaron Dean, the former Texas police officer who fatally shot 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson at her home in 2019, was sentenced to 11 years and 10 months in prison. On Oct. 12, 2019, Dean and another officer responded to a call around 2:30 a.m. to investigate a door left open to the house. He testified that he believed there was a burglary and while he was in the backyard, he saw a gun pointed at him, then shot and killed Jefferson in front of her eight-year-old nephew Zion Carr. Days earlier, he was found guilty of manslaughter after more than 13 hours of deliberation.

The world is still reeling from the tragic passing of Stephen “tWitch” Boss. His mother, Connie Boss Alexander, has broken her silence. According to E! News, Alexander posted an Instagram story video that read, "Family and friends, thank you for all the love, prayers and encouragement. Please know I see all the messages, texts, posts and the phone calls. I can't use words right now. Please know I will reach out when I can." The 40-year-old reportedly died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Rapper Tory Lanez is on trial due to accusations he shot Megan Thee Stallion in July 2020. Despite disparaging remarks from rappers like Joe Budden that have brought serious backlash, celebrities like Vivica Fox are rallying around Megan. After Budden’s negative comments about Meg, the actress said on Fox Soul’s Cocktails with Queens, “Joe Budden if you don’t button it up and sit yo b**** ass down hatin’ on that girl! Y’all made cuz the girls right now is ruling rap. It’s just driving y’all crazy that the sistas are just rulin’ and taking numbers and can tell y’all about y’all’s selves [and] look sexy with it. It’s a new day.” Budden has since apologized. As for Lanez, he has pleaded not guilty and is facing 20 years in prison.

In October 2021, Kenyan marathoner Diana Kipyokei won the Boston marathon. She has now been stripped of her title after accusations of doping. According to the Associated Press, a urine sample revealed traces of triamcinolone acetonide, an anti-inflammatory banned at races unless the athlete has permission. The AIU (Athletics Integrity Unit) accused the 28-year-old of “misleading information” to explain using triamcinolone acetonide, “including fake documentation which she alleged came from a hospital." Kiprokei chose not to challenge the charges, according to the AIU. Edna Kiplagat, 41 and also from Kenya, lost to Kiproki by 24 seconds and has been declared the winner. Kiplagat is now a two-time Boston winner, having also won in 2017.

Soccer legend, Pelé, 82, is still hospitalized due to a bout with COVID. Sadly, he is also fighting colon cancer and his condition has worsened, according to Reuters. He will spend Christmas at Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. His daughter Kely Nascimento-DeLuca wrote on Instagram, “Our Christmas at home has been suspended. We decided with the doctors that, for various reasons, it would be better for us to stay here with all the care that this new family at Einstein gives us.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s docu-series has outraged supporters of the Royal Family. The Netflix series dived into the history of racism in the U.K. and the disturbing control the British press has over Prince Harry’s family. According to Us Weekly, an exclusive source said, “Meghan and Harry don’t have any major regrets about doing the docuseries, and we’ll be seeing Harry elaborate about his relationship with his family in Spare. While the couple were prepared for the backlash, they’re pleased to have gotten their story out there.” Spare is Prince Harry's upcoming memoir, scheduled to be released next month.

On Dec. 21, Ronnie Hillman, an NFL running back with the Denver Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, died from cancer at 31 years old. The family said he was diagnosed with renal medullary carcinoma (RMC), a rare form of kidney cancer that primarily affects Black men with the sickle cell trait, according to the National Institutes of Health. Hillman played for the Broncos from 2012 to 2015. The team said in a statement, “A bright soul gone far too soon. We extend our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the Hillman family during this difficult time.”

Thom Bell, one of the architects of the Philly Sound, has passed away at 79, Deadline reports. He passed away in Bellingham, Washington; his cause of death is unknown at this time. Bell was the producer and songwriter behind R&B classics like The Stylistics' “Betcha By Golly Wow,” The Spinners' “Rubberband Man,” and The O'Jays' “Backstabbers.” Legendary producer Nile Rodgers wrote on Twitter, “He is one of the greatest writers and producers of all time.”