NBA YoungBoy has received a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday (March 28), YoungBoy, along with eight others, including real estate entrepreneurs Todd and Julie Chrisley and Michael Grimm, a former GOP Congressman, were granted clemency.

In a statement, YoungBoy expressed his gratitude for being pardoned.

“I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building – as a man, as a father, and as an artist,” YoungBoy said in a statement shared to social media. “This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I’ve worked hard for and I am fully prepared to step into this.”

“Big thanks to the Pardon Czar, Ms. Alice Marie Johnson, for fighting for second chances for so many people, and to my lawyer, Brittany K. Barnett, for being in my corner and all your hard work to make this possible,” his statement continued. “And thank you to everyone who believed in me.”

Throughout his career, YoungBoy has faced constant legal troubles, including firearms charges and house arrest. Even while dealing with legal issues, the Baton Rouge rapper has dropped several albums and mixtapes while serving time in prison.

Youngboy’s pardon comes in just as his upcoming 27-city concert run, which begins on September 2 in Dallas, is called the Make America Smile Again (MASA) .

Trump first took aim at Springsteen, referencing the musician’s recent criticism of him during the “Land of Hope & Dreams” tour. In his post, Trump wrote, “HOW MUCH DID KAMALA HARRIS PAY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN FOR HIS POOR PERFORMANCE DURING HER CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT? WHY DID HE ACCEPT THAT MONEY IF HE IS SUCH A FAN OF HERS? ISN’T THAT A MAJOR AND ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION?” He then questioned payments to other celebrities, adding, “WHAT ABOUT BEYONCÉ? …AND HOW MUCH WENT TO OPRAH, AND BONO???”

He alleged that Harris used entertainment contracts as a cover for political endorsements. He called it a violation of campaign finance law. “Candidates aren’t allowed to pay for ENDORSEMENTS, which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment,” he said. “IT’S NOT LEGAL!”

Trump then focused on Beyoncé, claiming she was booed after making a brief appearance without performing. “According to news reports, Beyoncé was paid $11,000,000 to walk onto a stage, quickly ENDORSE KAMALA, and walk off to loud booing for never having performed, NOT EVEN ONE SONG!” He called the situation “AN ILLEGAL ELECTION SCAM AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.”

He ended his posts by naming Oprah, Bono, and others, suggesting they were also involved. Despite the fiery accusations, Trump shifted to a more serious tone when addressing President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis. “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis,” he wrote. “We wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”

The backlash began when Nelly performed at Trump’s inauguration. The St. Louis rapper defended his choice, saying, “He’s the president — he won,” and framed it as respect for the office, not an endorsement.

At the Stagecoach Festival, he doubled down. “I’m always looking at the glass half full,” he told Fox News. “I believe in bringing people together and making sure we all get what we need.”

Not everyone was convinced. During a Grammy afterparty hosted by Anderson .Paak, Janelle Monáe freestyled over “Hot In Herre,” condemning Nelly’s appearance at the inauguration. In a clip that went viral, she called him a sellout and voiced support for marginalized communities.

In a later interview with Geto Boys legend Willie D, Nelly insisted his appearance wasn’t about money. “I’m not campaigning,” he said. “I respect the office, no matter who’s in it.”

He likened his performance to the duty of U.S. soldiers, saying, “If our men and women can risk their lives for the office, I can perform for it.”

Nelly also attempted to defend Trump from accusations of white supremacy, citing old lawsuits and mistakenly referencing the 1994 Crime Bill, which had no connection to Trump. His arguments showed some confusion, but he remained steadfast.

“I’m not saying he doesn’t have messed up ways,” Nelly admitted. “But he’s the President. I’m not telling you who to vote for—I’m just saying, he won.”

As debate continues around artists performing for divisive figures, Nelly stands by his actions, insisting it’s about honoring the role, not the man.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Philadelphia Eagles addressed those who had an issue with the company he was keeping just before the team was scheduled appearance at the White House.

“lol some people are really upset cause I played golf and flew to the White House with the PRESIDENT,” he wrote.

“Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago…and look forward to finishing my round with Trump! Now ya get out my mentions with all this politics and have an amazing day,” his post continued.

Over the weekend, Barkley visited the president at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He also rode with the president to Washington on Air Force One and then to the White House on Marine One.

Trump described Barkley as a “nice guy.”

After the Eagles’ dominating victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, speculation began to swirl that they would not accept an invitation to visit the White House. But when the White House extended an invitation, the Eagles accepted.

Jeffrey Lurie, the Eagles’ chairman and CEO, said visiting the White House was an “obvious choice, “adding the visit would be optional for players.

Unlike Barkley and Laurie, quarterback Jalen Hurts reportedly decided to skip the presidential visit.

When asked about the upcoming visit during the TIME100 Gala, Hurts responded to the question.

 “Umm…” and remained silent, 

“Got it. Thank you so much,” the reporter said.

During the latest episode of her IMO With Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson podcast, which she co-hosts with her brother, the Former First Lady detailed why she chose not to be a part of the festivities in conversation with Taraji P. Henson.

“My decision to skip the inauguration — or my decision to make choices at the beginning of this year that suited me — were met with such ridicule and criticism,” Obama explained. “People couldn’t believe that I was saying no for any other reason. They had to assume that my marriage was falling apart.”

“I’m here really trying to own my life and intentionally practice making the choice that was right for me, and it took everything in my power to not do the thing that ‘was right,’ or was perceived as right, but do the things that was right for me,” she added.

Although she’s known as a fashionista, Obama said she couldn’t decide on the right outfit.

“It started with not having anything to wear,” she said. “I was like, ‘If I’m not going to do this thing, I got to tell my team, I don’t even want to have a dress ready,’ right? Because it’s so easy to just say ‘let me do the right thing.'”

Obama also revealed that going to therapy allowed her to make decisions to put herself first.

We made it through. We got out alive. I hope we made the country proud. My girls, thank God, are whole,” Obama said.”But what happened to me? And going through therapy is getting me to look at the fact that maybe, finally, I’m good enough.

During the session with producer Digital Nas, the mogul recounted Ocean’s visit to his home, emphasizing that the R&B star tried to persuade him against backing Trump. Ye’s recollection was peppered with pointed remarks directed at Ocean, highlighting the tension between the two artists. “Frank Ocean came over to my house, going on about Trump and why I shouldn’t support him. What does he even know about politics?” Ye exclaimed, asserting his seniority in the industry. “Just because you read a couple of books doesn’t mean you can lecture me.”

In a bold statement, he declared, “None of these artists can match my talent. I am the greatest artist to ever exist. They might excel in a specific area, but that’s all they do.”

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ye Criticizes Frank Ocean, Industry Icons, and Family in Explosive Interview

This revelation is the latest in a series of criticisms directed at Ocean by the rapper. In a controversial interview with Akademiks, where he made headlines for his provocative attire, Ye claimed responsibility for Ocean’s extended hiatus following the release of Blonde in 2016. “After I released ‘Moon,’ it essentially ended Frank’s career,” he asserted, referring to his collaboration with Kid Cudi and Don Toliver. “He hasn’t put out new music since! I heard his recent work and thought, ‘He’s never going to be able to make another album again.’”

To date, Ocean has not publicly addressed Ye’s remarks. In the same interview, Yeezy did not shy away from criticizing other prominent figures in the music industry, including JAY-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole. He expressed feelings of betrayal regarding his relationships, particularly with JAY-Z and Beyoncé, stating, “You could have used your influence to help me during personal struggles, but your focus seems to lie elsewhere.”

Furthermore, Ye made a startling admission concerning his family life, expressing regret about having children with his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. “I had doubts about having kids with her just a couple of months into our relationship, but that wasn’t God’s plan.”

In his ruling, Judge Dale E. Ho claimed that the Justice Department posited a “troubling” rationale for attempting to throw out the case, claiming that the mayor would help President Donald Trump with his immigration policies in New York.

Ho also will not allow prosecutors to refile the charges following the mayoral election but dismissed the case “with prejudice” which “spares Adams from having to govern in a way that pleases Trump or potentially risk having the Republican’s Justice Department revive the charges.”

“Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions,” Ho wrote.

“Dismissing the case without prejudice would create the unavoidable perception that the mayor’s freedom depends on his ability to carry out the immigration enforcement priorities of the administration and that he might be more beholden to the demands of the federal government than to the wishes of his own constituents,” the judge wrote.

After the ruling, Adams praised the judge’s decision as he gave remarks outside the mayoral residence.

“As I said all along, this case never should have been brought, and I did nothing wrong,” he said.

“I have always been solely beholden to the people of this city,” the mayor continued. “No special interests, no political opponents, but just everyday New Yorkers, just you.”

When asked about his odds for reelection, Adams said bluntly: “I’m gonna win.”

Adams was also seen holding up a copy of FBI Director Kash Patel’s 2023 book “Government Gangsters.”  He encouraged people to read the book which alleged a “sinister cabal” at the heart of government.

In a statement, the DOJ said that Adams’ case had been “an example of political weaponization and a waste of resources.”

The directive instructs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to collaborate with Attorney General Pam Bondi to enforce competition laws and promote price transparency throughout the ticket-buying process.

Musician Kid Rock, a vocal Trump supporter who appeared at the Republican National Convention in July, was present at the signing in the Oval Office. Trump acknowledged that ticket scalping had not been on his radar until recently.

“I checked it out, and it is a big problem,” he admitted. He noted that Kid Rock had long voiced concerns about skyrocketing resale prices.

“It bothers him,” Trump said. “It bothers a lot of artists. They set ticket prices at $100, and the next night, they’re selling for $2,000.”

Kid Rock, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, reinforced the urgency of the issue. “Fans deserve fair ticket prices. I want to make my tickets more affordable, but if I set them low, bots buy them up instantly and resell for hundreds more. That only enriches these bad actors.”

The executive order intensifies enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, a 2016 law empowering the FTC to take legal action against individuals and companies using automated software to hoard tickets and drive up resale prices. The issue reached a boiling point in 2022 during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, when ticket resale prices soared into the tens of thousands, sparking public outrage and congressional scrutiny.

Lawmakers accused Ticketmaster, the dominant force in the ticketing industry, of operating as a monopoly. In response, the Justice Department, alongside 30 state and district attorneys general, filed an antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster’s parent company, Live Nation, alleging widespread market abuse that harmed concertgoers nationwide.

Live Nation responded to the executive order in a statement to CNN, supporting increased regulation of ticket resales.

“Scalpers and bots prevent fans from getting tickets at the prices artists set, and we thank President Trump for taking action. We support any meaningful reforms, including stronger enforcement of the BOTS Act, resale price caps, and stricter regulations.”

Trump’s order builds upon earlier efforts by the Biden administration to eliminate hidden fees in ticket sales. In December, then-President Joe Biden’s FTC finalized a rule banning deceptive “convenience” or “service” fees that inflate costs at checkout.

According to 2019 data from Oxford Economics, the live entertainment industry remains a powerful economic force in the U.S., generating a total nationwide impact of $132.6 billion and supporting 913,000 jobs.

With ticket prices continuing to climb, the debate over consumer protection in the industry shows no signs of slowing.

During his set, two white actors dressed as police officers forcefully detained two Black actors, portraying the harsh reality of police brutality many face. As the scene unfolded, another Black actor delivered a powerful speech about how police abuse fuels cycles of violence in vulnerable Black communities.

YG didn’t stop there. Before performing his 2016 protest anthem “FDT,” he brought out a Donald Trump impersonator to mock the former president. The impersonator mimicked a speech, reinforcing the song’s relevance amid Trump’s 2024 reelection bid. While the track originally dropped during Trump’s first campaign, its message remains timely in today’s political climate.

Outside of Rolling Loud, YG has had his own encounters with law enforcement. In the fall of 2024, he was arrested for a misdemeanor DUI after allegedly parking his car on a curb. However, the charges were later dropped due to a lack of evidence. Though unrelated to the issues he addressed in his performance, the situation marked a small legal victory for the rapper.

As for what’s next, YG’s fans are eager for new music. His last project, Just Re’d Up 3, released in 2024, struggled commercially but was still embraced by his loyal supporters. While there’s no confirmation on a new album in 2025, his Rolling Loud performance suggests he’s still fully engaged with his artistry. Whether it’s through music or powerful stage moments, YG continues to make his voice heard.

He believes he and Trump share a common enemy—the Justice Department from the previous administration, which prosecuted them both. With Trump back in office, Pras and his legal team are actively pursuing clemency. He sees a potential ally in Alice Marie Johnson, recently appointed as Trump’s “Pardon Czar,” and hopes she can help his case.

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Pras on a rare rainy day in Los Angeles, where he expressed confidence in the process. He acknowledges that Trump’s second term is still in its early days and wants to give him time to address his priorities.

Beyond his own legal troubles, Pras is also advocating for another high-profile case. He hopes California Governor Gavin Newsom will grant clemency to Tory Lanez, who has been making the most of his time behind bars.

As he awaits his fate, Pras remains optimistic, banking on political connections and legal maneuvers to secure his freedom.

Tory Lanez is actively seeking a pardon after being convicted in 2023 for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. The Canadian rapper and singer was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but his legal team is working to secure clemency.

Lanez’s supporters, including high-profile figures in the hip-hop community, have called for his release, arguing that his sentence is excessive. His legal team has explored multiple avenues, including appeals and potential intervention from California Governor Gavin Newsom. However, with Donald Trump back in office, speculation has grown about whether Lanez might seek a presidential pardon.

Trump, who previously granted clemency to rappers like Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, has been seen as a potential ally for Lanez. Some believe Lanez’s team could attempt to leverage political connections to make a case for clemency.

Despite these efforts, Lanez remains incarcerated, and legal experts say securing a pardon—especially for a violent crime—would be difficult. While his legal team continues to fight for his release, it remains uncertain whether a pardon from either Newsom or Trump is realistic.