Bring That Week Back: Diamond From ‘Diamond and Silk’ Cause Of Death Revealed, Deiondra Sanders Apologizes And Amy Robach ‘Blindsided’ By T.J. Holmes
The final week of January 2023 closes with the Sunshine State banning an AP African American Studies course, COVID conspiracy theories, and demands for justice for another Black man who died after a police encounter. See the best and worst of the past seven days in this week’s Bring That Week Back.
George Santos Being Investigated
There are many unanswered questions about how New York Congressman George Santos went from making $55,000 a year in 2020 to between $3.5 million and $11.5 million in 2021 and 2022. Now, as of this week, he is being investigated by the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics for his campaign finances. A Santos spokesperson told NBC News they do "not comment on campaign or personal matters."
Charges In The Death Of Tyre Nichols
Five former Memphis police officers have been charged in the beating of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols, who died three days after a Jan. 7 traffic stop. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith are charged with the following: one count of second-degree murder, aggravated assault-acting in concert, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of official misconduct and one count of official oppression, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. The body cam footage is scheduled to be released today (Jan. 27), and Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis has warned: "You're going to see acts that defy humanity."
DeSantis Has A Problem With African American Studies
Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis banned an optional AP African American Studies in the state’s high schools because, according to him, there was a mention of “queer theory” and abolishing prisons. Out of the 79-page course description, obtained by NBC News, “queer” is mentioned twice, and “prison” is referenced once. Additionally, other courses like AP U.S. History and AP French History and Culture teach sexuality and the courses were not banned. Nonetheless, the College Board, a nonprofit which oversees Advanced Placement courses, announced on Jan. 24 that it would revise its African American Studies curriculum. High schoolers have threatened to sue Gov. DeSantis.
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Amy Robach “Blindsided” By T.J. Holmes
The drama for T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach continues. Due to an ongoing investigation into the pair’s romantic relationship, their future at GMA3: What You Need To Know is unknown. Additionally, there have been reports that Robach was “blindsided” by alleged affairs Holmes had with other women, according to Page Six. Holmes and his wife, Marilee Fiebig, have filed for divorce. Robach and her husband, Andrew Shue, have not yet filed for divorce, but it was previously announced that they separated in August.
Oscar Snubs
The Oscar nominations were announced this week and there were some serious snubs, including the Emmett Till biopic Till and Viola Davis’ The Woman King. Writer-director of Till, Chinonye Chukwu, slammed the Academy Awards on Instagram, writing, "We live in a world and work in industries that are so aggressively committed to upholding whiteness and perpetuating an unabashed misogyny towards Black women.”
Dion Sanders’ Daughter Apologizes
Deiondra Sanders, daughter of former Jackson State football head coach Deion Sanders, has apologized for comments she made about crime on the HBCU campus in Jackson, Miss. While on The Baller Alert Show, Deiondra said, there are “killings on the campus every few months. People are breaking into the locker rooms and stealing from the students.” However, in a Jan. 22 Twitter video, she apologized: “I do feel that I exaggerated due to the fact that every time I did come to town I was made aware of shootings, murders and robberies on campus, around the campus, and in the city. But I really do apologize.”
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Damar Hamlin Let’s Us Know He Didn’t Die From The COVID Vaccine
Conspiracy theorists are ranting on social media that Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin died from the COVID vaccine and that there is a body double posing as him. In reality, he is recovering nearly from a tackle that resulted in cardiac arrest. The 24-year-old responded to the foolishness on Twitter with one word and a photo of himself, see above.
Diamond From ‘Diamond and Silk’ Cause Of Death Revealed
Lynette Hardaway of conservative duo Diamond and Silk, died on Jan. 8. After speculation about her death, the Associated Press, reports the cause of death as heart disease due to chronic high blood pressure. It’s a strange twist, considering her sister Lynette Hardaway, also known as Silk, appeared to imply at her Jan. 21 memorial service that she died from the vaccine. It’s unclear when or if Lynette Hardaway received a coronavirus vaccine.