Journalists are expected to ask tough questions, but Stephanie Mills believes there's a difference between reporting the news and knowing when to show compassion. During her appearance on The Jason Lee Show, Stephanie criticized Gayle King over two controversial interviews involving R. Kelly and Kobe Bryant. Stephanie questioned why Gayle continued filming when R. Kelly became emotional during their explosive 2019 interview. She also took issue with Gayle asking Lisa Leslie about Kobe Bryant's past sexual assault allegation shortly after his death. The Kobe interview sparked backlash, although Gayle later explained that CBS had released a clip that didn't reflect the full conversation.

A life sentence without the possibility of parole doesn't necessarily mean a convicted murderer can never ask a court to reconsider their punishment—and the man who took Bill Cosby's only son's life recently tried to do exactly that. In January 1997, Ennis Cosby was just 27 years old when he stopped along Los Angeles' 405 Freeway to change a flat tire. While working on his vehicle, he was approached by Mikhail Markhasev, who fatally shot him during an attempted robbery. Markhasev was eventually convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But nearly 30 years later, Markhasev sought to have his sentence reconsidered. In his 2024 request, he pointed to his rehabilitation, educational accomplishments behind bars, letters of support and plans for returning to society. From a criminal-law standpoint, rehabilitation can sometimes become relevant in resentencing proceedings, but demonstrating personal improvement doesn't automatically entitle someone to a reduced sentence. Courts must have legal authority to reconsider the punishment. In March 2025, a Los Angeles judge declined to act on Markhasev's request, explaining that the law didn't require the court to consider it. His subsequent appeal was dismissed in March 2026.

MC Sha-Rock helped break ground for women on the mic as a member of the Funky 4 + 1. MC Lyte was 17 when she released Lyte as a Rock, the first full-length album by a solo female rapper. DJ Spinderella joined Salt-N-Pepa at 16, taking her talent on the turntables from Brooklyn to stages around the world. They were learning the music business while helping shape the music itself. Their records, performances and confidence opened doors for generations.