A taxi driver seen in a widely shared video from the Knicks’ championship celebrations has been identified. Moreover, a GoFundMe campaign has been created to support him. The fundraiser names him as 59-year-old Noureddine Bitat and says his cab was “severely damaged” during the aftermath of the Knicks’ Game 4 win. It also states he was “reportedly assaulted and dragged from his vehicle by a crowd.” This occurred as celebrations in Manhattan grew increasingly chaotic. The video prompted a response that quickly moved beyond social media. Rapper French Montana brought the situation to Zachery “MDMotivator” Dereniowski, a content creator who often focuses on mental health initiatives. Additionally, working alongside the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, they helped launch a GoFundMe intended to “[get] Noureddine back on his feet and back to work.” The effort, organizers said, is aimed at helping him recover both financially and professionally after the incident. The celebrations followed the Knicks’ NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs on June 13. This win secured the franchise’s first championship since 1973. In the hours after the final buzzer, fans poured out of Madison Square Garden and surrounding watch parties. Then, they filled nearby streets. Amid the noise and movement, a taxi became a focal point of attention. This happened when people climbed onto it during the festivities. As a result, the driver was left unable to continue his shift. somebody find him for me so we can help him get back on his feet https://t.co/t1RzyYXpIT — French Montana (@FrencHMonTanA) June 15, 2026 Viral clip spreads as French Montana calls for help amid Knicks celebration chaos A video of the scene circulated quickly online, with the Out of Context Humans account describing the vehicle as “destroyed.” However, the clip does not fully show the extent of the damage or provide a complete view of what unfolded around it. After seeing the footage, French Montana posted a message calling for help locating the driver. He wrote, “Somebody find him for me so we can help him get back on his feet,” in an effort to direct support his way. The broader celebrations across New York also included reports of disorder. According to CNN, 63 people were arrested. Incidents included damaged police vehicles and fires involving school buses in Times Square. Ten NYPD officers were injured, and a 17-year-old was shot in the foot during the unrest, officials said. The Knicks’ victory marked the end of a 53-year championship drought. This drought dated back to their 1973 title against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ice Cube continues to make major moves in the basketball world. According to the LA Times, the BIG3, the professional three-on-three basketball league co-founded by Cube and  Jeff Kwatinetz, is planning to go public this year. The league has announced plans to go public in a $290 million merger with Graf Global Corp. In the historic move, the league will be the first publicly traded professional sports league in the U.S. By shifting from a private entity to a public one, BIG3 is allowing fans to move from the sidelines to the boardroom. ​Per the terms of the agreement with Graf, “100 percent of Big3’s existing equity and equity-linked interests will convert into common stock of the combined company.” Cube, Kwatinetz, and NBA Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, league commissioner, will continue to serve in their roles. Cube released a statement expressing his excitement about the forthcoming deal. “We are excited for BIG3 to be the first publicly traded professional sports league in the US,” said Ice Cube. “Leading a new generation of emerging sports, BIG3 connects basketball to culture, fans, and our team communities. Going public is our next step. This lifts us to a bigger stage and accelerates our international potential. It gives our fans a way to grow with us, support us and participate in our success.” “Cube and I are proud of what BIG3 has done over the last eight seasons. And [we are] excited to begin our ninth season on June 20 in Los Angeles. Everything is coming together this year,” Kwatinetz added. “Now located in eight cities, worldwide distribution of our games, including on Migu (the go-to streaming platform for sports in China). And recognized as the premier 3-on-3 league in the world, we are at an inflection point. The public listing will provide capital and acquisition currency to take the best advantage of our highly scalable platform, dominant brand, experience, leadership, and opportunities in 3-on-3 basketball and the emerging sports market generally.” The ninth season of the BIG 3 tips off on June 20.

Bobbi Althoff adds rapper to her career as the podcaster makes her rap debut on the new Sukihana track “Bills Paid,” released on Tuesday, June 16. A bold collaboration for Bobbi Althoff and Sukihana that blends hip-hop, comedy, and internet culture. Produced by Juicy J, the track transforms the duo’s viral chemistry into a full-fledged music release, giving Althoff her first major moment as a rap collaborator. Known for her awkward interview style and deadpan humor on “The Really Good Podcast,” Althoff built a massive following through unconventional conversations with some of entertainment’s biggest names. Now, she’s bringing that same energy to music. The release follows the success of “That’s BS with Bobbi & Suki,” the podcast she co-hosts with Sukihana. Their unlikely friendship became one of social media’s favorite pairings, generating millions of views and countless viral clips. Bobbi Althoff Becomes A Rapper With Her Rap Debut On Sukihana’s New Visual “Bills Paid” For Althoff, the appeal of “Bills Paid” comes from how unexpected the entire journey has been. “For me, the funniest part is that nobody expected any of this,” Althoff said. “Nobody expected us to become friends. Nobody expected us to create a show together. And they definitely didn’t expect me to end up in a music video.” She added, “That’s what makes it fun. The entire thing is ridiculous in the best possible way.” The song arrives at a time when creators continue crossing traditional entertainment boundaries. Influencers are launching music careers, artists are building podcasts, and internet personalities are becoming mainstream celebrities. Althoff’s appearance on “Bills Paid” reflects that shift. The Blue Visionz-directed video leans into the duo’s offbeat chemistry. Inspired by their viral musician-magician parody, the visual features luxury settings, illusion-themed scenes, and plenty of self-aware humor. While Sukihana drives the record with her signature confidence, Althoff provides the unpredictable personality that helped make the collaboration a talking point online. Whether fans saw it coming or not, “Bills Paid” marks another milestone in Althoff’s evolution from podcast host to multi-platform entertainer. The internet personality is proving that her influence extends far beyond the interview chair.

Rap star Cardi B secured an early procedural victory in Nevada state court after a Clark County judge declined to dismiss her contribution claim in litigation stemming from the July 2023 microphone-throwing incident at Drai’s Beachclub in Las Vegas. During a May 6 hearing, the court denied a motion by plaintiff Jane Doe, also identified as Paxton Fedell, seeking dismissal of Cardi B’s contribution counterclaim. Judge Bita Yeager concluded that the parties had not yet developed a sufficient factual record to determine whether the rapper’s alleged conduct constituted an intentional tort that would bar contribution under Nevada law. COURT UPDATECardi B has SCORED an early procedural WIN in the Nevada lawsuit brought by Jane Doe / Paxton Fedell over the July 29, 2023 Drai’s Beachclub incident. According to a May 6, 2026 hearing transcript, the Clark County District Court DENIED the plaintiffs’ motion to… pic.twitter.com/swxBTzvVeB — Document Tingz (@DocumentTingz) June 16, 2026 The dispute centers on Cardi B’s contention. If she’s found liable for damages, responsibility should be shared. Jane Doe allegedly threw ice and a drink at the performer before the incident. Cardi B has maintained that her response was reflexive and driven by self-defense concerns. “The court is not making factual determinations regarding intent at this stage,” Judge Yeager stated during the hearing, noting that discovery remains ongoing and material facts have yet to be found. Rap Star Cardi B Secures Small Victory Early In Jane Doe’s Continued Drai’s Beachclub Mic-Throwing Incident Although the court saw that battery generally involves general intent rather than specific intent, Judge Yeager emphasized that questions concerning intent, provocation, reflexive conduct, and self-defense are better directed after discovery, potentially through summary judgment proceedings. In a written order, the court noted that Cardi B alleged she “reflexively” threw the mic in self-defense. The incident occurred after being struck by ice and a drink during her performance. The order further recognized affirmative defenses asserted by the rapper, including self-defense, adequate provocation, and comparative fault. The court found that dismissing the contribution claim before discovery would early eliminate a statutory remedy. Nevada law permits litigants to pursue alternative and inconsistent theories of liability and defense. Meanwhile, Jane Doe has filed an answer denying Cardi B’s allegations of battery, assault, and contribution. She raised several affirmative defenses. This includes consent, comparative fault, assumption of risk, and self-defense. It is argued that the contribution is not found if Cardi B engaged in intentional misconduct. The case now proceeds into discovery. Cardi B’s contribution claim remains intact while both sides preserve their competing factual and legal defenses.

Boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s business empire is facing fresh legal challenges after Clark County prosecutors filed felony charges tied to the alleged purchase of a $200,000 luxury watch. Floyd Mayweather is facing two felony charges of theft and intent to defraud after allegedly using a bad check to purchase a $200,000 watch in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/4GSSoIzDJN — My Mixtapez (@mymixtapez) June 16, 2026 According to Clark County court records, the undefeated boxing superstar faces one count of theft involving property valued at more than $100,000 and one count of passing a check with intent to defraud. The charges stem from a transaction with Las Vegas luxury retailer Gold and Beyond involving an Audemars Piguet watch purchased in December 2024. Prosecutors allege Mayweather issued a $200,000 check from a Wells Fargo account that lacked sufficient funds to cover the purchase. Court filings claim the former world champion obtained the watch while knowing the payment would not be honored. Mayweather did not appear during a recent court hearing. An attorney represented him instead. The case highlights another legal hurdle for one of combat sports’ most successful earners. Throughout his career, Mayweather built a reputation as boxing’s premier pay-per-view attraction, generating hundreds of millions of dollars through blockbuster fights and business ventures. Boxing Superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr Faces Multiple Felony Charges In Clark County For Bad Checks Marc Cook, an attorney representing Gold and Beyond, said the retailer initially hoped to resolve the dispute privately. “The reason for the delay is that my guy trusted Mayweather and was trying to give him every opportunity to make good on that,” Cook told ESPN. According to Cook, the retailer spent more than a year seeking payment before pursuing criminal action. “It got to the point where he wasn’t getting responses and wasn’t getting money for a watch that Mayweather had for well over a year,” Cook said. Cook added that efforts to settle the matter outside the courtroom proved unsuccessful. “My client attempted to go through every avenue possible but got ignored,” he said. If convicted, Mayweather could face significant penalties. Nevada law allows prison sentences ranging from one to four years for passing a fraudulent check. The felony theft charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years. Despite the pending case, Mayweather remains active in the fight business. The undefeated boxer is scheduled to face kickboxing veteran Mike Zambidis in an exhibition bout June 27 in Athens, Greece. For Mayweather, the case represents the latest legal challenge confronting him.

The New York Knicks didn’t just end a 53-year championship drought. They also walked away with a hefty postseason payday after their 2026 NBA Finals win over the San Antonio Spurs. The franchise is expected to collect more than $11 million from the NBA’s playoff bonus pool, the largest share of the league’s postseason incentive fund. View this post on Instagram Based on league estimates, the payout could average about $770,000 per player if split evenly across the roster, though final distribution depends on team decisions and NBA rules. The bonus pool comes from a league-wide fund that reportedly topped $35 million this season, with deeper playoff runs earning larger shares and the champion taking the biggest cut. Each Player On The New York Knicks gets a $770K bonus for winning the 2026 NBA Finals For the Knicks, the windfall underscores how quickly a title reshapes both reputation and revenue, adding a financial bonus to an already historic run. Led by Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, New York beat San Antonio in five games to secure its first championship since 1973, sparking celebrations across the city. Players will also receive championship rings and the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The bonus payout adds another layer to one of the most valuable postseason runs in franchise history. In New York, the banner will last forever. The money makes it clear: winning at the highest level pays in more ways than one. The NBA’s postseason pool is designed to reward both performance and endurance, with payouts rising the deeper a team advances. This year’s total reportedly exceeded $35 million, distributed across playoff teams based on results. For New York, the run turned into a full-scale payoff. It blends on-court dominance with off-court financial gains that few seasons in franchise history can match. Even with superstar salaries already on the books. The bonus highlights how championships still deliver meaningful financial rewards across the entire roster in today’s NBA landscape league.

Akon has recently spoken about offering informal guidance to Ne-Yo on how the singer manages relationships involving multiple partners, a topic both artists have addressed publicly while touring together on the Nights Like This Tour. In a recent interview with Complex, he reflected on their conversations during the road stretch. Akon, who has discussed practicing polygamy, has kept details of his personal family life largely private, even as reports last year noted that one of his wives, Tomeka Thiam, filed for divorce after nearly three decades together. During the 28-minute mark of the interview, Akon was direct about his role in Ne-Yo’s thinking, saying, “I consult Ne-Yo.” The comment came as the two artists were appearing together professionally, though their exchange extended beyond music into personal philosophy. The remark framed their dynamic less as instruction and more as conversation between collaborators who have known each other for years. Ne-Yo, who was previously married to Crystal Renay from 2016 to 2023 and is the father of seven children, has spoken openly about moving toward polyamory after struggles with monogamy. Akon described his perspective in blunt terms, offering advice that emphasized honesty over structure. “I just tell him to be a man,” he said, adding, “Look at him. He’s living his best life. Why? Because he’s staying down to what it is he wants. And you’ve just got to be honest. It’s literally that simple.” Akon Advises Ne-Yo on Honesty, Discipline, and Boundaries He added that their conversations often return to themes of autonomy and clarity, summarizing his view with a blunt directive and a longer reflection on Ne-Yo’s approach to life and work. “I just tell him to be a man” “Look at him. He’s living his best life. Why? Because he’s staying down to what it is he wants. And you’ve just got to be honest. It’s literally that simple.” Akon has also spoken in past interviews about how he organizes his household, describing a structure built around clear expectations and internal boundaries. “Nobody violates wife No. 1. The moment they violate, [they’re] out the door,”

Among longtime followers of hip-hop leaks, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) and Ty Dolla $ign’s “New Body” has remained a lingering point of curiosity since it first surfaced in 2018. The record includes Nicki Minaj, though it has never arrived in official form, largely because her clearance for release has not been granted. Over the years, anticipation around the track has gradually softened into resignation, as listeners have watched it drift further from any clear release plan. During a recent Ty Dolla $ign livestream, that quiet stalemate briefly shifted again. He played a portion of the song before stopping suddenly when a different vocal section appeared. The voice heard is not Nicki Minaj and instead resembles Ice Spice, sparking speculation online widely. The moment quickly circulated, though it offered little clarity about the song’s final structure or direction. View this post on Instagram Unfinished, Unreleased, Still in the Conversation Whether this change reflects a replacement, an experiment, or simply an unfinished edit remains unresolved. Neither Ye nor Ty Dolla $ign has offered details about a formal release strategy. The uncertainty has only deepened the track’s unusual life cycle, where partial versions circulate almost as widely as fully finished records in online spaces. No release timeline has been announced publicly yet. Despite the lack of clarity, interest in the collaboration has persisted, sustained largely by periodic resurfacing across digital platforms and fan discussion threads. It reflects a broader pattern in contemporary music, where unreleased material can maintain visibility long after its initial recording. Even without clarity, the track continues to occupy space in conversations about both artists involved. Each fragment renews attention when it reappears online among listeners and discussions continue growing. It ultimately highlights how unfinished collaborations can sustain cultural interest over extended periods of time.

Dawn Richard’s legal battle against Sean “Diddy” Combs reached a significant turning point Monday after a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit she filed last year. The judge removed all 18 claims from federal court while leaving one potential path forward. In a 35-page opinion, Judge Katherine Polk Failla ruled that Richard’s allegations could not proceed under federal jurisdiction as currently filed. The former Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money singer may still pursue her claim under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Act in state court. Importantly, the court did not evaluate whether Richard’s allegations were true or false. Judge Failla wrote that the claims, “if true, [they] are execrable,” but concluded that procedural and legal barriers prevented the case from moving ahead. Fifteen claims were dismissed because they fell outside the applicable statute of limitations. In addition, two others tied to the song “Deliver Me” were rejected on copyright-related grounds. The remaining gender-motivated violence claim was dismissed from federal court because it belongs in state jurisdiction. Richard had argued that several legal doctrines should allow the claims to survive despite the timing issues. The court was ultimately unpersuaded, finding that those arguments did not overcome the filing deadlines established by law. As a result, the allegations themselves were not tested in court. Richard Vows to Keep Fighting After Court Ruling The lawsuit, filed in September 2024, accused Combs of years of abuse, intimidation, and mistreatment. Richard also alleged that she witnessed repeated abuse involving Cassie Ventura. She described gatherings where “busloads” of women, including some who “appeared to be underage,” were allegedly supplied with drugs and alcohol. The women were “sexually violated” by Combs and others. Combs denied the allegations, previously describing the case as a “manufactured series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a payday” and saying he was “shocked and disappointed” by the lawsuit. Following the ruling, Richard’s attorney, Arick Fudali of The Bloom Firm, signaled that the fight is not necessarily over. “We’re certainly disappointed in the dismissals,” he said. “However, we’re very encouraged that the judge chose not to dismiss with prejudice, and basically just refer the Gender Motivated Violence Act claim to state court.” “We feel very confident in the Gender Motivated Violence Act claims,” he added. “We believe those are our primary claims anyway. We’re encouraged with the ability to pursue our Gender Motivated Violence Act claims in state court.”

The music world was met with heartbreaking news Sunday after reports emerged that singer-songwriter Oliver Tree had died at the age of 32 in a helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian aviation authorities confirmed to CNN Brasil that Tree was among six people killed when two helicopters collided in midair before crashing in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, a coastal neighborhood in the city’s southwest zone. Furthermore, the accident has prompted an ongoing investigation as officials work to determine what caused the aircraft to collide. According to authorities, five victims were aboard one helicopter, while the second aircraft was occupied solely by its pilot. Officials identified the others who died as Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim, Lucas Brito Chaves, Alexandre Souza, and Charles Marsillac. Among them was Prim, a 23-year-old Argentine YouTuber known to millions online as Gaspi. His videos helped him build a following approaching three million subscribers. The crash also left a trail of destruction on the ground. Investigators said one of the helicopters struck an area used to store electric vehicles. This triggered fires that damaged roughly 20 cars. Images and reports from the scene described emergency crews moving quickly to contain the flames. At the same time, authorities secured the area for examination. As Investigators Search for Answers, Fans Mourn a One-of-a-Kind Artist In a statement provided to CNN Brasil, Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency, known as ANAC, said the circumstances surrounding the collision remain under review. The agency also extended condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives. However, officials have not publicly announced what may have contributed to the crash. For many listeners, Tree was a singular figure in modern music, blending humor, vulnerability, and unconventional visuals into a career that defied easy categorization. The artist attracted more than 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify and found global success with songs including “Miss You” and “Life Goes On.” Before the reported accident, he had recently performed in São Paulo. He was preparing to launch a European tour in Lisbon on July 1. This was to be followed by several U.S. dates, including an Aug. 4 headlining appearance at New York’s Terminal 5.