Damn! Big Freedia Charged w/ Theft of Federal Funds

It was all good a few weeks ago for Big Freedia, the New Orleans Queen of Bounce, now has been charged with a felony count of theft of federal funds. Freedia, identified in court documents by her legal name of Freddie Ross, Jr., is accused of stealing more than $1,000 from the Department of Housing and Urban Development between 2010 and 2014.

If convicted she will be facing a maximum prison term of 10 years and fine of $250,000.

Freedia's attorney, Tim Kappel, said he is negotiating a plea deal with the government for Freedia to pay restitution of $34,000. He said he does not expect Freedia to serve any jail time.

In a statement, Freedia said she received federal housing vouchers for "many years" prior to rapidly gaining fame and "a new economic structure." Freedia said she "knew little about how to handle my money."

"It wasn't until recently (after I had stopped receiving housing vouchers) that it became very clear I had received assistance to which I wasn't entitled," Freedia said in the statement. "It was an oversight – but one that I take full responsibility for."

Kappel said Freedia previously offered to pay restitution, and to contribute to nonprofit organizations focused on tax preparation for low-income citizens and advocacy for LGBT youth, in a pre-trial diversion program.

"We made an offer that included restitution plus community service as part of a pre-trial diversion program," Kappel said, but the offer was "rejected by the government in favor of a felony count."

(source)

ForeverMeah says...come on now, Big Freedia

 you know the Feds watching. 

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No-Twerkin' in Mississippi: Big Freedia's Performance Get Cancelled

Big Freedia, aka “Queen of Bounce,” and fresh off of her biggest mainstream exposure to date—That’s Freedia you hear talking about cornbread and collard greens on Beyoncé’s ”Formation" song"— well now she’s fighting with authorities in Mississippi over the freedom to drop down low and hit the floor with it. 

The Guardian reported Freedia’s brush with local authorities in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, who shut down one of her shows earlier this month on the pretense that it violated a decades-old law prohibiting the intersection of lascivious shaking and hard liquor. (Her entourage of scantily-clad professional twerkers is a big part of Big Freedia’s act.)

According to Mississippi’s head of beverage control, “You can’t wear a thong ... And you cannot simulate a sex act“ at a venue that sells liquor in the so-called “Hospitality State,” although that doesn’t sound very hospitable at all. (The word “gyrating” was specifically invoked.) 

And while Freedia’s performed in Hattiesburg before, the authorities were notified of this particular potential fun-code violation after watching videos of her on YouTube, having presumably only recently heard of her.

Following the cancellation of the show, Big Freedia posted on her Facebook page:

I would just like to apologize to all my fans in Mississippi for my show being cancelled tonight due to the state alcohol beverage control saying that my show violates some law out there when I have came numerous time to perform this is some twerkloose bulllshit and my team will be taking the necessary legal actions !! Once again I Love y'all Mtown stay strong fight for the Diva !! ‪#‎bigfreedia‬ ‪#‎mississippinonsense‬ ‪#‎twerkloose‬

Outraged fans along with other media outlets wanted to know why twerking is acceptable everywhere except the great state of Mississippi. Freedia’s manager also got in touch, and discovered that the burden of any fines levied for the performance would be borne by the venue, which also could lose its liquor license.

(source)

ForeverMeah says... Twerk at your own risk. 

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Big Freedia Talks “Formation” Collabo With Beyonce

Let's get this clear...I've always been a fan of Big Freedia - YOU ALREADDDYY KNNOOWW! 

It gave me so much life hearing her on the opening of Beyonce's Formation video. With her very distinctive voice, the Queen of Bounce opens up about the recent collaboration.

The NOLA native received a call from Beyonce’s camp who explained the message behind the song.

This week with Fader, Big Freedia said,

“She gave me a little history of the song and I just lost it,” she said. “I dropped dead in my own skin when she called. I was just literally at home losing it, not knowing exactly what I’m going to do when I got to the studio. I was just excited for the call and I was very gracious and appreciative that the queen called the other queen to come do something on her track. It was just a blessing and I was just overwhelmed and still am.”

Freedia also paid a visit to CNN where she echoed her statements on working with the artist. She also touched on themes of self-confidence and Black pride. 

“It makes me feel good that she gets to get her message delivered and just be free and do what she wants to do on her track,” she said. “[Beyonce] is so phenomenal in anything that she does so when she puts out a song, you get the message and you feel it.”

ForeverMeah says... I see you, Freedia. 

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