Songs, Movies & Moments: December 2022

Amy Robach and TJ Holmes taken off the air after public disclosure of romantic relationship.

TJ Holmes and Amy Robach
TJ Holmes and Amy Robach

A Look at Entertainment

by T.J. Moore –

Anchors Amy Robach and TJ Holmes have been temporarily sidelined at Good Morning America amid scrutiny over their relationship. The cohosts of the third hour of the popular daytime talk show haven’t appeared as of the Dec. 5 episode, which was anchored by Gil Benitez and Stephanie Ramos.

ABC News President Kim Godwin told employees during a recent editorial meeting that while Robach and Holmes’ relationship is not a violation of company policy,” the network is trying to work through this situation in the interest of the best direction for the network. The status for Robach and Holmes is considered to be a “day-to-day” situation.

Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving

Nike has terminated its sponsorship relationship with Brooklyn Nets All-Star Guard Kyrie Irving. The iconic shoe company recently issued a statement explaining the decision to sever its relationship with Irving. The company has canceled a forthcoming shoe after Irving promoted an antisemitic documentary on Instagram.

“Kyrie Irving is no longer a Nike athlete,” Nike said. The sides have parted ways one month after Nike suspended its relationship with the Nets star. Irving has one of the most popular signature shoes in the NBA and is now a sneaker free agent.

Previously, on Nov. 3, the Brooklyn Nets announced that Irving was suspended from the team without pay after he did not take a stance to condemn antisemitism. According to NBC News, in a since-deleted tweet, Irving posted a link to a 2018 movie, Hebrews To Negros: Wake Up Black America, that contained rhetoric against Jewish people.

Nia Long
Nia Long

In other NBA-related news, actress Nia Long is reportedly upset with how the Boston Celtics have been handling the suspension of her fiancé, embattled head coach Ime Udoka, following his controversial cheating scandal.

Long shared in a Hollywood Reporter interview about the difficulties of the scandal. She noted that her ‘heart jumped out of her body,’ when Udoka was suspended from the team following his alleged affair with a female staffer. Long said that she was upset about how the team brought their private matter into the spotlight.

The actress also said that the news has been tough on her and Judoka’s 11-year-old son Kez. “I think the most heartbreaking thing about all of this was seeing my son’s face when the Boston Celtics organization decided to make a very private situation public,” she said. “It was devastating, and it still is. He still has moments where it’s not easy for him. If you’re in the business of protecting women—I’m sorry no one from the Celtics organization has ever called to see if I’m okay, to see if my children are okay. It’s very disappointing.”

Rihanna
Rihanna

Savage X Fenty, Rihanna’s lingerie company, has reached a $1.2 million settlement in a customer protection lawsuit brought against it in August.

The lawsuit claimed that the company defrauded customers by using deceptive marketing tactics and automatically enrolling them in the brand’s VIP membership without knowledge or consent. Santa Clara County Court also highlighted that the brand “falsely advertised the ability to use store credit and misled the public over the prices of its products.”

The brand will pay $1 million in civil penalties, $50,000 toward investigative costs, and $150,000 in restitution. The affected customers will be notified by a third-party representative.