Rhode Island
Scooter Braun Jokes About Taylor Swift's Rhode Island Guest List
Scooter Braun, Taylor Swift Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for This Is About Humanity;Neil Mockford/GC Images/Getty Images
Scooter Braun is inserting himself in this narrative, one Taylor Swift likely never asked him to be a part of.
Braun, 43, took to his Instagram Story on Tuesday, August 27, to reshare TMZ’s upload of pics from Swift’s trip to Rhode Island with her friends. “How was I not invited to this?!?” Braun wrote, adding the hashtag, “#laughalittle.”
Days after finishing the European leg of her Eras Tour, Swift, 34, celebrated by spending the weekend with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, at her Rhode Island mansion. The twosome were also surrounded by several pals, including his teammate Patrick Mahomes and family, Travis’ brother, Jason Kelce, and sister-in-law Kylie Kelce. Swift’s longtime friends Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, and Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper were also in attendance.
Around the same time on Tuesday, Braun also shared that he had “finally watched” the Discovery+ docuseries Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Bad Blood, which explored his feud with the popstar.
Braun and Swift’s bad blood dates back years and came to a head in 2019 when the music manager received heat for purchasing the back catalog of her music from Big Machine Records’ Scott Borchetta. At the time, Swift claimed she was offered a contract to “earn” the rights to her music “one [album] for every new one I turned in.”
“All I could think about was the incessant, manipulative bullying I’ve received at his hands for years,” Swift wrote in a 2019 Tumblr post. “Now Scooter has stripped me of my life’s work, that I wasn’t given an opportunity to buy.”
Swift alleged that she learned about the deal after it had been completed, whereas Borchetta claimed in a 2019 post on the label’s website that he texted Swift the night before it went public.
In response, Swift began re-recording her old albums and releasing them as “Taylor’s Version.” She has since dropped a new version of Fearless, Red, Speak Now and 1989. She has yet to re-release Reputation and her self-titled debut.
Braun went on to share his side of the story in 2021. “I regret and it makes me sad that Taylor had that reaction to the deal,” he told Variety at the time, alleging that the details Swift shared about the events were “not based on anything factual.” He added, “I don’t know what story she was told. I asked for her to sit down with me several times, but she refused.”
Braun noted that he was most upset by Swift painting him as a bully. “I’m firmly against anyone ever being bullied. I always try to lead with appreciation and understanding,” he said. “The one thing I’m proudest of in that moment was that my artists and team stood by me. They know my character and my truth. That meant a lot to me.”
News broke in 2023 that several of Braun’s clients, including Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, reportedly severed ties with him.
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Rhode Island
Throwback: USS Rhode Island commissioned in Newport
(WJAR) — Thirty-two years ago was the commissioning of a Navy submarine named after the Ocean State.
Maria Stephanos was on board the USS Rhode Island on July 9, 1994.
Rhode Island was the Navy’s 15th Trident class ballistic submarine.
It was commissioned in Newport and was the first to be christened in its namesake state.
Rhode Island
Handshake Initiative instills confidence, motivation in students
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — They come from all walks of life, including many professionals in the community, taking time out of their busy days to welcome students to school with enthusiasm and handshakes.
“We learn a lot of new handshakes, too,” Kobi Dennis said. “High-fives. Pounds with an explosion. We get a little bit of everything.”
It’s the Handshake Initiative, the brainchild of now Central Falls Police Chief Anthony Roberson.
Everybody can use some encouragement, and students in Rhode Island get that the minute they head toward the school building.
Initially, the students and parents didn’t know what to think.
“I was confused because I thought it was going to be a normal day,” said one student.
“Their parents were getting out of their cars trying to see what’s going on,” Reservoir Avenue School Principal Cynthia Torres said.
But now, they crave it.
“It makes me feel motivated,” another student said.
Dennis adds in an etiquette component.
“Teaching the kids how to shake hands, look one another in the eyes with a firm grip — girl or guy — firm grip and say ‘hello’ and introduce yourself, that’s part of the initiative as well,” Dennis said.
Providence school superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez said it sends a strong message.
“We hear you, we see you, and we’re here for you,” Montañez said.
Torres strategically uses them on standardized test days.
“They say, ‘I’m going to do really good today,’” she said.
“It makes me feel encouraged to do better in school,” a student said.
They’ve connected with thousands of students across Rhode Island.
“It’s about shaking hands and building relationships, but it’s also about letting young people know that there are professionals in the community cheering for them every single day,” Dennis said.
Do you know of a nonprofit organization or volunteers doing great work in your community? Fill out a short nomination form for “Community Treasures.”
Rhode Island
Man critically hurt in Providence stabbing
A man was critically hurt in a stabbing in Providence on Tuesday, NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports.
Police were first called to Smith Street around 7 p.m. for the reported stabbing. They found the victim on Chalkstone Avenue.
He was taken to the hospital where he remains in critical condition.
The case remains under investigation and no arrests were announced.
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