Watch: New Beyoncé Levi’s Ad Pays Homage to ’80s Iconic Denim Spot

Beyoncé is once again rewriting the rules of style and sound — this time through a denim-clad remix of a Levi’s classic.

The global icon headlines a new commercial for the brand’s “Levii’s” campaign, a sleek, Americana infused homage to her country crossover era, “Cowboy Carter.” Directed by longtime collaborator Melina Matsoukas (“Queen & Slim”), the latest spot reimagines Levi’s iconic 1988 “Refrigerator” ad — but this time, Beyoncé is the center of gravity.

Clad in her custom “Levii’s” jean shorts, the superstar retrieves a denim shirt from the fridge while country artist Willie Jones — who also appears on “Cowboy Carter” — looks on. The spot’s soundtrack features her song “Levii’s Jeans,” a collaboration with Post Malone, weaving the campaign directly into the sound and style of Act II of her anticipated musical trilogy, which began with 2022’s “Renaissance.”

Filmed in late July at the chrome-plated Bendix Diner in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, the commercial marks Chapter 3 of Levi’s larger “Reiimagine” series. The spot is one of several Beyoncé-led reinterpretations of the brand’s most iconic ’80s and ’90s ads. Chapter 1, titled “Launderette,” was shot at a laundromat in Nutley, New Jersey, and flips the 1985 Nick Kamen Levi’s ad. Chapter 2, “Pool Hall,” features actor Timothy Olyphant and riffs on a 1991 favorite.

While Jersey locals might recognize the Bendix from its cameos in “The Many Saints of Newark” and other productions, the impact of Beyoncé’s “Levii’s” campaign is unmistakably global — rooted in legacy denim but refreshed with a distinctly Southern Black flair.

The campaign is one of several strategic moves tied to the launch of her “Cowboy Carter” era, which continues April 28 when her Rodeo Chitlin’ Circuit Tour kicks off with five dates in Los Angeles. Beyoncé will then bring the tour to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for five more shows later in May.

It’s the latest example of Beyoncé’s precision-crafted evolution — merging pop stardom, fashion innovation, and cultural storytelling in one sleek package.

The full “Reiimagine” campaign, including the new “Refrigerator” ad, is now streaming on Levi’s official channels.

Soulja Boy Ordered to Pay Millions After Jury Finds Him Liable for Assault, Harassment

Soulja Boy performs during the 2024 "BET Hip Hop Awards" on Oct. 8 in Las Vegas. A Los Angeles jury ordered him to pay $4.25 million in a civil abuse case on April 11. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

A Los Angeles jury has ordered rapper DeAndre Cortez Way, better known as Soulja Boy, to pay $4.25 million in damages to a woman who accused him of sustained sexual and physical abuse during the time she lived and worked with him.

The verdict, delivered Thursday, found Way liable on several civil counts, including sexual battery, assault, gender violence, sexual harassment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Jurors awarded $4 million in compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages to the plaintiff, who filed the lawsuit under the pseudonym Jane Doe.

"I got some justice," the woman told reporters after the verdict. "I’m happy that this is all over now."

Her attorney, Neama Rahmani of West Coast Trial Lawyers, called the decision a milestone. "Today is just the beginning of justice for Soulja Boy's victims," he said.

Soulja Boy is asked by reporter Meghann Cuniff if he prefers Indica or Sativa after walking into the courtroom smelling like weed 💀
pic.twitter.com/EJ5F07bnmW

— No Jumper (@nojumper) March 26, 2025

Way, 34, rose to fame in 2007 with the viral chart-topper "Crank That (Soulja Boy)," but has since been embroiled in multiple legal disputes. Speaking outside the courtroom, he expressed disappointment in the outcome and maintained his innocence.

"This case was never about justice. It was about money and personal gain," he said, reading from a statement. "I want to make it clear that I'm innocent. I am committed to filing an appeal and fighting for the truth to be revealed."

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2021, alleged that the woman was employed as Way’s assistant from early 2019 through mid-2020, during which time she was subjected to escalating abuse. She testified that she handled personal tasks for Way, including styling his hair, arranging travel, and ensuring a steady supply of fast food and marijuana. Text messages presented in court reflected these duties, along with a disturbing pattern of verbal abuse.

"Fuk u bitch. I hope u die slow," Way wrote in one message. In another, the woman replied, "You think you can keep hitting on me you are crazy."

She testified that the abuse left her physically and emotionally broken. "I didn’t even feel human anymore," she said. "I felt like an animal."

Despite denying that he employed the plaintiff, Way admitted under oath that he had referred to her as his assistant at least once in public. His legal team argued she received room and board in exchange for rolling marijuana blunts, which they claimed was common practice in the entertainment industry.

The jury was unconvinced, finding Way liable on seven of the nine claims brought against him. He was cleared of false imprisonment and constructive discharge.

During the punitive damages phase, Way testified about his financial situation, claiming that he could not pay the full amount. "As far as $4 million just to pull out and pay, I don’t have that," he said.

He cited mounting legal expenses, $25,000 in monthly rent, and the cost of caring for two young children. He also said he lost a performance slot at Coachella due to the allegations and that his music income had suffered. Despite claiming he had earned $15–20 million from "Crank That," he said he could not confirm royalty figures or his total 2024 earnings.

Way’s current income includes sporadic streaming revenue and modest earnings from TikTok appearances and entrepreneurial ventures like a cologne line and previously shuttered video game project. He testified that his bank account "fluctuates" and that the trial had financially drained him.

This is not the first time Way has been held liable for abuse. In 2023, he was ordered to pay nearly half a million dollars to another woman, Kayla Myers, who alleged domestic violence and unlawful imprisonment. He did not appeal that judgment. He also faces an ongoing lawsuit from ex-girlfriend Nia Riley, who appeared with him on the reality show "Love & Hip Hop."

Rahmani called the latest verdict a warning to the music industry. "The days of physically and sexually abusing your employees? Those days are over."

The plaintiff, 37, said she’s now focused on building a new life, one that includes a chicken farm—and a chick named Chicki Minaj.

"It’s not going to give me my life back," she said, "but it’s going to help. I don’t want to be anybody’s assistant for a while."

R&B Icon Toni Braxton Wed Birdman Last Summer, Quietly Called It Off — Then Undid It

The couple posing together in a previously deleted Instagram post. 

Toni Braxton and Birdman’s long-running romance took an unexpected turn last year — one they never publicly acknowledged until now.

According to court documents obtained by "TMZ" and confirmed through multiple sources, the R&B legend and Cash Money Records co-founder quietly tied the knot on Aug. 8, 2024. But just two days later, Braxton filed for divorce, citing that the marriage was “irretrievably broken.”

The singer, 57, listed Aug. 10 as their date of separation in legal filings. However, in a surprising twist, she dismissed the divorce petition in January 2025, and Birdman (born Bryan Christopher Williams) signed off on the decision — meaning the two remain legally married.

Still, the couple’s current relationship status is unclear. Braxton has not been seen wearing a wedding ring in recent Instagram posts, and both she and Birdman have reportedly scrubbed photos of each other from their social media accounts.

The news contradicts a statement Braxton made in December 2023, when she publicly denied rumors of a secret wedding and insisted, “My dear friend @birdman and I are not married…never been married. We are both single.” She ended the message with a sharp “#FAKENEWS.”

The pair’s relationship has been marked by years of stops and starts. After decades of friendship, they began dating in May 2016. Birdman proposed in early 2018 with a $1 million diamond ring, but the couple called off the engagement in 2019 before reconciling shortly afterward.

Throughout their on-again, off-again relationship, both have spoken publicly about their bond.

 

In a 2017 episode of "Braxton Family Values," Braxton gushed, “He likes to do things to show that he cares about me, like sending flowers… He’s an undercover gentleman and he makes me feel adored.” A year later, Birdman echoed the sentiment on "The Wendy Williams Show," calling her “my love, my soldier, my everything.”

Most recently, in an April 2024 interview with People, Braxton described herself as single and “looking forward to getting out there and dating.”

If their 2024 nuptials hold, this would be Braxton’s second marriage. She was previously married to musician Keri Lewis from 2001 to 2013, with whom she shares two sons, Denim and Diezel. Birdman has never been married but has two adult children — Bryan Jr. and Bria — from a previous relationship.

As of today, neither Braxton nor Birdman has commented publicly on their status — leaving fans to wonder whether their love story is officially over or simply paused.