Names and faces
The party’s over for some Willie Nelson fans. After the Texas music icon announced that he’ll headline a Sept.
29 rally in Austin, Texas, for Democrat
Beto O’Rourke — who is challenging incumbent Republican Ted Cruz for a seat in the U.S. Senate — fans began speaking out about the 85-year-old musician. Some were quick to throw their support behind Nelson, who said O’Rourke “embodies what is special about Texas.” Others wanted the Red-Headed Stranger to know they’ve had enough. “Goodbye Willie,” David R. Williams wrote on Facebook. “I don’t support socialist commies! You’re not going to advertise on my FB page either. Like we say in Texas, Now Git.” This fierce battle in Texas for the U.S. Senate has become one of the costliest — and most watched — races across the country as many wonder if O’Rourke can manage to do what no other Democrat has done for more than two decades in the Lone Star State: win a statewide office. The close fight for the Senate seat, represented by Republicans since 1993, is dominating headlines and TV commercials. The star power in the race increased after President Donald Trump announced he would hold a rally for Cruz at the “biggest stadium in Texas” he could find. But one tweeter said Willie beats Trump. “Here you go TrumpCruzalooza, get the biggest stadium you can find, it won’t matter,” Muckmaker tweeted. “Willie Nelson has agreed to do a rally for Beto O’Rourke. The end of September event will be the first time Willie has directly performed on behalf of a political candidate. Willie is Texas folks!”
Rihanna’s Diamond Ball shined in its fourth year and continued to make a name as one of the industry’s whitehot and must-attend parties — all while raising money for charity. The pop star, fashionista and makeup mogul held the black-tie gala for her Clara Lionel Foundation on Thursday in New York, where Childish Gambino performed and Tiffany Haddish bid $75,000 on earrings. The Girls Trip superstar, per usual, was in an electrifying mood at Cipriani Wall Street. When the Chopard earrings were being auctioned, the recent Emmy winner told her competition: “Let me have something in this world.” Rihanna, 30, started the foundation in 2012, which promotes education and arts globally and assists emergency response programs and named it after her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. Rihanna said she meant for the foundation to have a broad reach. “Everybody needs help, you don’t even know what that means, it could be school supplies, it could be something as light as that,” she said. “But we would always, always reach out and support, so this going to be an ever-growing charity.”