Nick Gordon, Bobbi Kristina’s Ex, Overdoses
Nick Gordon, the ex-fiance of Bobbi Kristina Brown, has died of a drug overdose.
Gordon, 30, suffered a series of heart attacks on New Year’s Day and was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit at Altamonte Springs Hospital in Florida, where he eventually died.
Gordon’s brother, Jack Walker Jr., confirmed his death to PEOPLE Magazine. “We are devastated by the loss of my beautiful brother,” Walker Jr. told PEOPLE. “He leaves a void in the hearts of my family and his friends. Nick’s battle in life was not an easy one. I will be forever grateful that my God afforded a small moment at the very end of Nick’s life, and I was able to hold his hand as he journeyed on.”
In January of 2015, Nick’s girlfriend, Bobbi Kristina Brown, 22, was found unconscious in the bathtub of her Georgia home after a suspected drug overdose. Gordon was in the home at the time. Brown, the daughter of Whitney Houston, was placed in a medically induced coma and died six months later. An autopsy declared that drug intoxication and immersion in water were the cause of the pneumonia and brain damage that ultimately led to her death.
As a result of the case decision, a judge ordered Gordon to pay $36 million to Brown’s estate.
Meet America’s Most Admired!
The current and former presidents and their first ladies are the most admired people in the United States.Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama tied as the most admired men of 2019. This year marked Obama’s 12th time as the most admired man in the U.S.
Tied for third place were former President Jimmy Carter and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The former and current first ladies of the U.S. nabbed the top two spots for most admired women. Former First Lady Michelle Obama was recognized for the second year in a row, trumping First Lady Melania Trump. Oprah Winfrey came in third, with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and climate activist, 16-year-old Greta Thunberg following in the Gallup Polls.
Mariah Makes History!
During the holiday season, Mariah Carey became the first artist in history to top the Billboard charts in four decades, and it’s all thanks to her Christmas classic All I Want For Christmas.
The elusive chanteuse scored a No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1990s, the 2000s, the 2010s and now, the 2020s.She also released a new music video for the 25-year-old song, which gave it some fresh views and kept it at the top of the streaming charts for four weeks in a row.
A few other artists have topped the chart in three different decades, including Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Madonna and Usher.
Cats Declawed at the Box Office
The big holiday movie Cats based on the Andrew Lloyd hit musical, starring Judi Dench, Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba and Taylor Swift, bombed at the box office and Comcast Corp.’s Universal Pictures suffered a loss as well.
The adaptation of the Broadway musical was dead on arrival despite the superstars that were cast, with an anemic $6.6 million Christmas Day debut, $17.8 million domestic (as of December 29), $38 million worldwide, $95 million budget.
Cats is now projected to lose up to $100 million for the studio, which also spent over $100 million marketing it. It was one of the 20 worst opening weekends of all time. Due to its failure, Universal has dropped its Oscar campaign for the movie.
The Pope Loses His Cool!
Pope Francis 83, lost his patience and slapped a woman on the hand after she grabbed him while he greeted gatherers at the Vatican in St. Peter’s Square.
A video from New Year’s Eve showed the incident. The woman crosses herself as the pope approached her, and when he begins to turn away, she grabs his hand and pulls him sharply toward her.
Francis shouts something, swats her hand to break free, and turns away frowning as his security moves to intervene. The woman has not been identified, and it’s unclear what she said to Francis in the video.
Francis later apologized for losing his patience. “So many times we lose patience. Me, too,” he said. “I say ‘excuse me’ for the bad example.”
Watch the video of the incident here.
Loni Love’s New Memoir!
Loni Love has written a memoir entitled I Tried To Change So You Don’t Have To.
Standup comedian and talk show host Love, 48, explained why she chose the title while taping The Real. “The thing is, is that I wanted to, to really express,” she paused. “I’ve been through a lot in my life.” Loni became emotional and attempted to hold back tears. “And I want people to know that you can come from nothing, and you can turn around your life and you can be something.”
She said daily she encourages the audience members to write about their lives, so that they can reflect on their journey.
Chicago’s New Burger Joints!
Now that the holiday season is over and you’ve eaten the last of your turkey salad, you’re probably feigning for a delicious burger.
Two new burger-centric joints have opened in and near the Loop recently. Wahlburgers and Dead Lawyer’s Pub are worth adding to your list for good burgers.
Wahlburgers is a multi-city chain owned by entertainers Mark and Donnie Wahlberg. One of the burgers served is BBQ Bacon ($9.45) with white cheddar, raw jalapeno slices, housemade barbecue sauce and avocado spread. The french fries are thick with the skin on, flaunting a hot, smooth interior and a firm exterior.
Dead Lawyer’s Pub serves burgers with legally punny or merely legal names, such as the Law Clerk’s Dream ($14), with goat cheese and roasted, marinated bell peppers on a soft, buttery bun and the usual fixins of lettuce, tomato and onion. Their fries boast a burly flavor from the fry oil.
Both offer full-service lunches as well as streamlined takeout, and both merit a casual escape-the-desk break.
Wahlburgers
2 East Ontario Street 312/291-8997
Dead Lawyer’s Pub
186 North Wells Street 312/269-0300
