Rapper Tory Lanez, who was convicted over the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion, was hospitalised after getting attacked in a California prison, authorities said Monday.
Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was rushed to the hospital following the early morning assault by another prisoner at the institution in Tehachapi, 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Los Angeles.
There was no official comment on the severity of his injuries, but entertainment outlet TMZ, citing sources, reported he was expected to survive what it said was a stabbing.
“At approximately 7:20am today, Daystar Peterson was attacked by another inmate at a housing unit in the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi,” said a statement from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
“Staff immediately responded, activated 911 and began medical aid. Peterson was subsequently transported to an outside medical facility for further treatment.”
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Tory Lanez, Megan Thee Stallion (Getty Images)
Prison authorities have begun an investigation into the attack, working alongside the district attorney’s office in Kern County, they said.
In 2023 Lanez was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a closely followed trial in Los Angeles in which he denied shooting at Megan Thee Stallion.
A jury had heard how the Canadian rapper had ordered the “Savage” star to dance as he shot repeatedly at her feet.
Megan Thee Stallion — whose real name is Megan Pete — had been in a car with Lanez, his bodyguard and her friend Kelsey Harris after a party at Kylie Jenner’s luxury home in July 2020.
She and Lanez had developed an intimate relationship in the months before the incident.
Harris, who only learned of the sexual relationship that night, had a crush on Lanez, she had told the court, and an argument then erupted in the car, with Megan Thee Stallion demanding to be let out of the vehicle.
The “Hot Girl Summer” singer said she suffered injuries to her feet that affected her ability to walk after the attack.
EXCLUSIVE: Former TOWIE star Jessica Wright spoke to the Mirror about her brother Mark Wright becoming a parent with Michelle Keegan whilst on the BAFTA red carpet
Jessica Wright praised her brother Mark Wright at the BAFTAs over the weekend
Reality TV star Jessica Wright has opened up about her brother Mark Wright becoming a parent. Jess praised her younger sibling and teased why she isn’t yet offering to babysit her newborn niece, Palma, for the presenter.
Mark, 38, and his wife Michelle Keegan, 37, announced the birth of their “little girl” Palma, who is now two months old, in March. Jess, 39 – who is a parent herself to son Presley, two – later described the couple as “incredible parents”.
The Mirror caught up with Jess at the BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises. She was among the guests on the red carpet at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London yesterday ahead of the TV awards ceremony.
Asked what it’s been like seeing her brother Mark take on his new role as a parent, Jess told us: “It’s been amazing.” The former the Only Way is Essex star went on to gush over him and her newborn niece Palma in our interview.
Whilst talking about her sibling, she said on the red carpet: “He’s taken to it like a duck to water. He’s brilliant. He’s amazing. He’s really a great dad already.” Jess shared that she wasn’t surprised though, adding: “I had no doubt.”
Mark Wright welcomed his daughter Palma with his wife Michelle Keegan earlier this year(Image: Instagram/wrighty_)
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Speaking about Mark’s daughter, she said: “She’s amazing! The best little girl.” Jess – who has two nephews through her youngest brother Josh Wright, 35 – then added about the new arrival of the family: “I’m so happy I have a niece.”
When asked if she’s offering to babysit Palma, Jess laughed. She then teased: “Not quite!” She went on to share that her son – who turns three later this month – keeps her busy enough. She said: “Presley keeps me on my toes enough.”
Her brother Mark previously teased that he enjoyed his “first night out” with his wife Michelle since Palma’s arrival at Jess’ Have A Heart Gala last month. Jess also spoke to us about the recent fundraising event on the BAFTAS red carpet.
His sister Jessica Wright spoke to the Mirror about Mark becoming a parent at the BAFTA TV Awards yesterday(Image: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
The gala was held at the Savoy on April 24 in support of the Brompton Fountain, which supports the care of seriously ill children. It was shared prior that Jess was collaborating with the charity to raise awareness and funds to provide support for children with severe heart and lung conditions.
Jess previously announced that her own son, Presley, had been diagnosed with congenital heart disease, Bicuspid Aortic Valve. She shared the news last year and has since spoken about the condition, including having revealed that Presley will need open-heart surgery at some point.
Jess, who also spoke to us about her recent charity gala, teased that she isn’t offering to babysit her niece Palma yet as she has her hands full with her son Presley(Image: Instagram)
Reflecting on the gala, she told us on the weekend: “It was absolutely incredible. The build up to it was pretty intense but I’m so pleased we did it because we raised a quarter of a million pounds, which is pretty epic for a small charity like the Brompton Fountain – so [I’m] absolutely over the moon!”
Asked what it means to be involved with an event like the Have A Heart Gala and raise so much money, given her personal connection to the cause, Jess shared her pride. She also expressed hope over its potential impact.
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She said: “I’m just really proud that I can use my platform to make some good out of some really awful, tragic stuff which is basically, essentially, open-heart surgery on children and other complications within the heart. So yeah, I’m just really, really happy that I can make a change, hopefully in a positive way with the platform that I have so gratefully been given.”
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Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Muyiwa Ademola, has called on the Federal Government to offer more financial and structural support to the movie industry.
He said a lack of funding was holding the industry back, despite its creative strength.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Rubin Minds, Ademola said Nollywood’s strength lies in its originality — a quality that continues to define its identity across generations.
“We still have that spark — our stories are original, and that’s our strength. That’s what made the industry what it is today. I always tell my peers, ‘Let’s stick to our authentic, original storytelling style,’” he said.
Speaking on the challenges filmmakers face, Ademola decried the lack of accessible funding and the bureaucratic stress involved in producing films in Nigeria.
“It’s a very big industry, and the government needs to do better. Movies here are personal projects. Abroad, you put your concept together, present it, and get funding.
“But here, it’s so stressful. You need to know someone who will take you to someone else, and so on. And in the process, your work of art can get doctored. That pressure shouldn’t exist,” he said.
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The 54-year-old actor argued that government intervention could revolutionise the filmmaking process and attract investors to the sector.
“We need funding, grants, and more cinemas. Especially community cinemas — places that can encourage people to invest in filmmaking because they’re confident about returns. Right now, it’s a whole lot of stress.
“We need systems and policies that make the process easier. Investors should be able to come in, and the government should create an enabling environment for that,” the filmmaker stated.
Asked whether Nollywood has reached its full potential, especially compared to countries like South Korea, the actor admitted that more work needed to be done.
“Nollywood has come a long way, but we’re still growing. Look at South Korea — they’ve made a massive global impact. What we need is more government support. My ‘Ori Rebirth’ was purely a product of perseverance and personal sacrifice. That’s not how it should be.”
“In other countries, you present your concept and get funded. Here, you need referrals and face hurdles that dilute your original vision. The government must support the industry structurally,” he said.
Reflecting on the recent Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), Ademola praised the platform for uplifting standards in the industry.
“It was amazing. The AMVCA has raised the bar. Everyone wants their production to be showcased and rewarded there. It’s beautiful to see colleagues like Femi Adebayo, Lateef Adedimeji, and even Hakeem, who worked on my movie ‘Ori’ as the makeup artist, winning. He’s been winning for seven years straight. It motivates you as a filmmaker.”
On the evolution of Nollywood from Video Home System (VHS) tapes to streaming platforms, the actor highlighted YouTube’s rise among Gen Zs as a key platform and warned not to sacrifice quality for reach.
Opening statements started Monday in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, the music mogul accused of committing years of chilling abuse.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty on all counts, which include a racketeering charge alleging the hip-hop pioneer led a sex crime ring that included drug-fueled sex parties by use of force, threats and violence.
“He used his companies to manipulate women, forcing them with male escorts to have sex while he watched. He and his inner circle made sure he got everything he wanted,” said prosecutor Emily Johnson.
Quincy Brown (2nd L), stepson of Sean Combs, walks with other members of the Combs family as they arrive at federal court for the sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs in New York City on May 12, 2025. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)
The panel of 12 jurors — eight men and four women — and six alternates responsible for determining Combs’s fate was finalized Monday.
The process was pushed back after Judge Arun Subramanian voiced concern candidates might get “cold feet” over the weekend.
READ ALSO: Jury Selection Begins In Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sex Crimes Trial
Last week potential jurors were vetted including on their ability to fairly hear evidence from hip-hop artists, sex workers and people involved in the use and distribution of drugs.
The selected jurors will remain anonymous, but not sequestered — meaning they must individually ensure they stay away from media coverage and social media commentary about the high-profile case.
Janice Combs (R), mother of Sean Combs, arrives at federal court for the sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs in New York City on May 12, 2025. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) / ALTERNATE CROP
Prosecutors struck seven prospective jurors who were Black, prompting Combs’s defense team to allege bias.
“We believe (it) amounts to a pattern,” said Marc Agnifilo, although the judge said it was not purposeful discrimination and allowed the prospectives to be dismissed.
Combs, who was for decades one of music’s powerhouse figures, appears aged, his once jet-black hair now gray.
Combs was joined at the courthouse by his mother Janice and 17-year-old twin daughters, and wore a white dress shirt under a beige sweatshirt with khaki pants and black-rimmed glasses.
He appeared alert and interacted with his lawyers and some of those seated in the public gallery.
There was a scrum of journalists and curious members of the public braving tight security, eager to catch a glimpse of the fallen music mogul.
Quincy Brown (L), stepson of Sean Combs, and Justin Combs (3rd R) walk with other members of the Combs family as they arrive at federal court for the sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs in New York City on May 12, 2025. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)
If convicted, the one-time rap producer and global superstar, who is often credited for his role in bringing hip-hop into the mainstream, could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Prosecutors allege he held sex parties — also known as “freak-offs” — that were coercive and criminal.
But his defense lawyers say the events were in fact entirely consensual, and simply part of Combs’s “swinger” lifestyle.
‘Damning’ video evidence
Core to the case against Combs is his relationship with his former girlfriend, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who is expected to be a key trial witness.
A disturbing surveillance video from 2016 shows Combs physically assaulting Ventura at a hotel.
It is unclear how much of the CNN video will be shown to jurors as evidence — the footage quality has been a sticking point between the opposing legal teams — but Subramanian has ruled that at least some of it will be admissible.
But it has been widely broadcast both in media reports and across social media channels.
Some potentials for the jury told the court they had seen that video. One prospective panelist — who was dismissed — described the video as “damning.”
Another was sent home after saying that his wife, a former attorney, had told him about taking depositions related to a deadly crowd crush at an event organized by Combs in 1991.
“She found his behavior disturbing, she does not like him,” said the man.
But others said they believed they could still assess the evidence fairly despite already having seen the video.
The proceedings are expected to last eight to 10 weeks.
Brigitte Bardot has defended two French actors accused of sexual assault including fellow screen legend Gerard Depardieu, saying they should be allowed to “get on with their lives” in an interview with French channel BFM broadcast Monday.
The 90-year-old former French star spoke out as a Paris court prepares to rule on Tuesday in the first case to go to trial against Depardieu, who has been accused of assault or inappropriate behaviour by around 20 women.
She also defended French actor and director Nicolas Bedos, who was found guilty in October 2024 of sexually assaulting two women.
“Those who have talent and put their hands on a girl’s bottom are thrown in the gutter,” Bardot said during an interview from her home in southern France.
“We could at least let them get on with their lives. They can’t live anymore,” she said, adding that “feminism isn’t my thing”.
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French prosecutors requested a trial in Depardieu rape probe on August 22, 2024. (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP)
In March, lead prosecutor Laurent Guy recommended an 18-month suspended jail sentence for Depardieu, arguing that the assaults reported by the two women whose cases are being heard in this trial were “intentional”.
This is not the first time Bardot has been an outspoken critic of the #MeToo movement.
In 2018, she signed an open letter saying that the movement had become a puritanical “witch hunt” that threatened sexual freedom, and that actors who complained of sexual harassment were just looking for publicity.
Since the 1960s film star stepped away from the screen more than 50 years ago, she has become a champion for animal rights.
During Monday’s interview, Bardot urged the French government to abolish the “horrific” practice of hunting with packs of dogs to chase a smaller animal.
Brigitte Bardot has defended two French actors accused of sexual assault including fellow screen legend Gerard Depardieu, saying they should be allowed to “get on with their lives” in an interview with French channel BFM broadcast Monday.
The 90-year-old former French star spoke out as a Paris court prepares to rule on Tuesday in the first case to go to trial against Depardieu, who has been accused of assault or inappropriate behaviour by around 20 women.
She also defended French actor and director Nicolas Bedos, who was found guilty in October 2024 of sexually assaulting two women.
“Those who have talent and put their hands on a girl’s bottom are thrown in the gutter,” Bardot said during an interview from her home in southern France.
“We could at least let them get on with their lives. They can’t live anymore,” she said, adding that “feminism isn’t my thing”.
READ ALSO: Fashion Labels Deepen Links To Cannes Film Festival
French prosecutors requested a trial in Depardieu rape probe on August 22, 2024. (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP)
In March, lead prosecutor Laurent Guy recommended an 18-month suspended jail sentence for Depardieu, arguing that the assaults reported by the two women whose cases are being heard in this trial were “intentional”.
This is not the first time Bardot has been an outspoken critic of the #MeToo movement.
In 2018, she signed an open letter saying that the movement had become a puritanical “witch hunt” that threatened sexual freedom, and that actors who complained of sexual harassment were just looking for publicity.
Since the 1960s film star stepped away from the screen more than 50 years ago, she has become a champion for animal rights.
During Monday’s interview, Bardot urged the French government to abolish the “horrific” practice of hunting with packs of dogs to chase a smaller animal.
