Welcome to Starting5, your daily rundown of five ATL news items that should be on your radar or in your group chat. Our morning primer covering culture, politics, sports, and more, is your cheat sheet on what’s buzzing in the A.
Diddy Trial: Male Exotic Dancer Testifies
Today marks the eighth day of Sean “Diddy” Combs sex trafficking trial, and horrific allegations have dominated entertainment news cycles from the start. Last week, singer and fashion model Cassie Ventura testified against her ex-boyfriend Combs, accusing him of physical, emotional, and financial abuse. CNN reports that a male exotic dancer nicknamed “The Punisher” testified Tuesday that Combs regularly paid him to have sex with Ventura as he watched and directed. Rapper Kid Cudi is expected to take the stand this week and perhaps corroborate Ventura’s testimony about Combs allegedly threatening to blow up Cudi’s car after learning they were romantically involved, according to Rolling Stone.
Target Boycott: Pastor Calls for Store Protest to Honor George Floyd
Pastor Jamal Bryant is turning up the heat on his call to boycott Target. The Atlanta-born movement that has been imploring consumers to avoid the retailer since March 5 is now bringing the nationwide protest to the front doors of their stores on May 25, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. The boycott is blowback for Target’s withdrawal from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives pledged to the Black community after Floyd was murdered in 2020. And it could be making an impact: The Associated Press reported that the corporation fell short of projected 2025 first quarter net sales by $380 million. Bryant, pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, said in a video posted to Facebook that his congregation will assemble outside a Target store in Conyers on Sunday at noon for nine minutes and 40 seconds — to symbolize the length of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin fatally kneeled on Floyd’s neck.
Keisha Lance Bottoms Wants to be Georgia’s Next Governor
Keisha Lance Bottoms is back like she left something behind. The former Atlanta mayor announced Tuesday she is officially running for governor next year, seeking to replace Gov. Brian Kemp, who is term-limited. Bottoms, who joins Democratic state Sen. Jason Esteves and Republican Attorney General Chris Carr in the gubernatorial race, told Capital B Atlanta that her reason for returning to local politics after deciding not to run for mayoral reelection in 2022 is, in part, “fighting back” against President Donald Trump. “I’ll work with Trump where I can work with Trump,” she said of her intentions if she’s elected. “I won’t hesitate to push back on policies that are harmful to people across Georgia. I’ve been in battle with him before, so I’m not afraid to do it again.” Check back with Capital B Atlanta to read more about Bottoms’ stance on issues most important to Black Atlanta voters.
For the Culture: Essence Fest 2025 Announces New Performers
The 2025 performance lineup that Essence Festival of Culture announced last month was stacked, but with Tuesday’s reveal of additional entertainers, the star power is even more luminous. Erykah Badu, Babyface, SWV, Dru Hill, Ari Lennox, Jill Scott, Jazmine Sullivan, Patti LaBelle, and many others will be gracing the stage July 3-6 at New Orleans’ Caesar Superdome. They’re joining a slate that already includes Atlanta’s own Summer Walker, Nas, Maxwell, The Isley Brothers, Davido, Buju Banton, Boyz II Men, and N’awlins native Master P, who will be joined by his group No Limit Soldiers for what is being billed as his final performance.
Atlanta Dream Turns Nightmare for Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever
The new-look Atlanta Dream clocked its first win of the young 2025 WNBA season Tuesday night, cooling off the Indiana Fever in a 91-90 heater at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis that went down to the wire. New Dream recruit Brittney Griner put up 21 points to lead her team in scoring, paired with 20 from Rhyne Howard — just enough to withstand a fourth-quarter flurry by Caitlin Clark, who notched 27 points and 11 assists. Both teams have a 1-1 record following last night’s contest, so Thursday’s rematch at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park will be a hot ticket!
