GRUNGECAKE

Category: Television

  • Former ‘American Idol’ contestant Benjamin Glaze sentenced to 25 years on child porn charges

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    Benjamin Glaze, who once drew viral attention on American Idol when judge Katy Perry kissed him during his audition, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in connection with child pornography charges.

    Glaze pleaded guilty on September 15, 2025, to one count of aggravated possession of child pornography. Under the terms of his sentence, he will serve fifteen years behind bars, whilst 10 years are suspended. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender.

    The case originated in 2024, when Tulsa’s Sexual Predator/Digital Evidence Recovery Unit received a tip leading to a search warrant. Law enforcement found more than seven hundred images and videos of minors in Glaze’s possession on his smartphone. He was arrested and booked in Tulsa County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

    Glaze first entered the national spotlight during Season 16 of American Idol, when he revealed he had never kissed a girl, and judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie voted not to send him to Hollywood.

    However, his moment of fame exploded after Perry kissed him on stage, which generated controversy and online debates. Initially, Glaze said the kiss made him uncomfortable; later, he said he did not consider it a sexual assault.

    The sentencing marks a dramatic fall from public fascination to public disgrace. His case also underscores the broader challenges that law enforcement faces in identifying and prosecuting digital sexual exploitation crimes, especially as investigators increasingly rely on tips, digital forensics, and cross-jurisdictional cooperation.

  • TV station owners reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s show after ban

    [/media-credit] Jimmy Kimmel

    In a dramatic reversal, two of the country’s largest television station owners—Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group—have reinstated Jimmy Kimmel Live! on their ABC-affiliated stations after earlier banning the show. The dispute traces back to provocative remarks Kimmel made in a recent monologue about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The comments drew sharp backlash from political figures and prompted ABC and its parent company Disney to suspend the show.

    Although ABC lifted the suspension and restored the show network‑wide, Sinclair and Nexstar initially held out, citing concerns over content and community expectations. But mounting pressure from viewers, advertisers, community leaders—and perhaps the specter of regulatory and financial implications—appeared to shift the calculus. On September 26, both broadcasting groups announced they would end their boycott and return the show to air.

    Sinclair, which had previously demanded an apology from Kimmel or a donation to the Kirk family, emphasised that its decision was made independently, asserting that “free speech provides broadcasters with the right to exercise judgment as to the content on their local stations.”

    Even so, the episode raises broader tensions between editorial autonomy, broadcast accountability, political pressure, and the public interest. With station groups capable of pulling major network programming, the balance of power in US media is once again under scrutiny. It remains to be seen whether this reinstatement is the end of the road—or merely a truce in a larger cultural standoff.

  • BET suspends Hip‑Hop Awards and Soul Train Awards indefinitely

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    In a major shift, Black Entertainment Television (BET) has indefinitely suspended its two key award shows—the BET Hip‑Hop Awards and the Soul Train Awards—on its linear television platform. The announcement was made in an interview with Billboard, where BET CEO Scott Mills confirmed that, whilst these shows won’t appear on BET’s cable channel for now, they are not permanently cancelled.

    Mills emphasised that the decision reflects broader trends in media consumption, noting that the network is exploring digital-first formats for these franchises. “It’s less about them being gone forever and more about reimagining them for today’s changing media landscape”, he said. BET still plans to invest in cultural celebrations: It continues to air events such as the BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Stellar Awards.

    The move follows a steep decline in live television audiences across award shows. Nielsen data shows ratings for televised award ceremonies have fallen by more than thirty per cent since 2015, whilst the 2025 BET Awards saw a fifty per cent drop in viewership compared to the previous year. The BET Hip‑Hop Awards in 2024 had already scaled back significantly, staging a much smaller event at a Vegas nightclub with limited reach. Meanwhile, the Soul Train Awards failed to appear on the 2024 schedule, quietly disappearing without explanation.

    For years, the BET Hip‑Hop Awards stood as a rare televised platform celebrating Hip‑Hop artists—from heavyweight producers to underground lyricists—whilst the Soul Train Awards honoured the legacy of Soul, R&B, Jazz, Gospel, and Hip-Hop culture dating back to 1987 under the influence of Don Cornelius.

    Fans and industry observers are now left wondering how these storied ceremonies will take shape in the streaming era. As one Reddit commentator noted:

    “Award shows seem to be falling off these days … I’m sure having the BET Awards is enough regardless”.

    Ultimately, whilst the shows have gone dark on linear television for now, BET indicates that their legacy may yet live on—just in a different form.

  • South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron, 24, has passed away at home in Seongdong-gu, Seoul

    Because of the negative public sentiment around the actress’s name linked to a DUI, Kim Sae-ron couldn’t land new roles, and this seems to be the reason why some news outlets are pointing towards a possible suicide.

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    Kim Sae-ron, an award-winning South Korean actress (24), has died in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, at home. The police say they found no signs of forced entry or criminal activity in a statement to AFP. The authorities have launched an investigation into the unfortunate death. Kim Sae-ron was known for her roles in ‘A Brand New Life’ in 2019 (marking her debut), ‘The Man from Nowhere’, ‘The Neighbor’ and her most recent role in the Netflix original series ‘Bloodhounds’ (2023). According to a report on AllKPop, she planned to return to acting through a theatrical play called ‘Dongchimi’ in 2024 after facing the consequences of a DUI (a 20 million fine won for causing an accident, which converts to $13,800), but she dropped out. At the time, Kim Sae-ron cited health concerns for her departure. Based on a statement from a reported close source, the actress shared that she filmed for a music film called ‘Guitar Man’ in November 2024.

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  • Nelly and Ashanti filming new docu-series, following their marriage and first child together

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    According to a report that aired on Fox 2 St Louis, American superstar entertainer Nelly and famous R&B singer-songwriter Ashanti are allegedly shooting a new one-season docu-series with Peacock after reuniting, marrying and having a baby boy named Kareem Kenkaide Hayes, who was born on July 18, 2024. The show promises to give insight into their lives during their first year of marriage and the birth of their first child. There’s no word yet on when the alleged documentary gets an airdate. The Missouri-bred superstar plans to open a bowling alley in Florissant, also, called, “Dirty Bowling”.

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    The couple dated in 2003, and called it quits in 2013. The 2000s couple reunited in 2023.

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  • Watch Sexyy Red speak to Jennifer Hudson about motherhood, her music career, and working with Bruno Mars

    Recently, Jennifer Hudson sat down with the illustrative and entertaining American superstar rapper Sexyy Red to discuss the “Spirit Tunnel”, how she started rapping, her relationship with her children, and her recent explosive collaboration with global superstar Bruno Mars! Watch the short video clip to see the lovely women converse and how one of today’s hottest rappers interacts with the live studio audience on The Jennifer Hudson Show.

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  • Wendy Williams vehemently denies being cognitively impaired

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    In a recent interview on “The Breakfast Club”, former talk show host Wendy Williams, 60, vehemently denied being cognitively impaired, despite her 2023 diagnoses of frontotemporal dementia and aphasia. She described her court-ordered guardianship as feeling like imprisonment, stating, “I am not cognitively impaired, but I feel like I am in prison.” Williams detailed her isolation in a New York care facility, surrounded by elderly patients, with restricted access to communication devices and limited contact with family. Her niece, Alex Finnie, supported her claims, highlighting the emotional toll of her confinement. Williams’ son, Kevin Hunter Jr, also emphasised her desire to return home, suggesting that isolation is more detrimental than her actual ailments.

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  • The 67th Annual New York Emmy Awards nominations announced

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    The 67th Annual New York Emmy Award nominations were announced on July 26, 2024, at the LIVE with Kelly and Mark studio at WABC-TV. Hosting the announcement was NY Emmy Awards Chair and PIX 11 Senior Correspondent Mavin Scott. Presenting the nominations were NJ Burkett – WABC-TV, Virginia Huie – Newsday, Jonathan Inoa – WXTV Univision 41, Errol Louis – Spectrum News NY 1, Monica Morales – PIX 11, Jessica Moore – WCBS-TV, Fernando Cardenas Pena – HITN, Lisa Salvadorini – News 12, Marvin Scott PIX 11, Allan Villafana – WNJU Telemundo 41, Sarah Wallace – WNBC-TV and MaryAlice Williams – NJ PBS.

    The 2nd Annual NY Emmy Sports Awards Ceremony will take place on October 8 at the Hard Rock Hotel and the 67th Annual Emmy Awards will be presented on October 26 at the New York Marriott Marquis at 1535 Broadway New York, New York 10036. The 67th Gala is divided into two ceremonies, The Creative Arts Ceremony and the 67th Annual NY Emmy Awards Gala.

    The lists of nominated entries for all three ceremonies are attached via this link.