Author: Opastaff
Haitian musicians and performers are among the many nationals now barred from entering the United States following a newly reinstated travel ban issued by former President Donald Trump. While the order does not directly target artist visas, the broad immigration restriction signed under Presidential Proclamation 10949 has effectively stopped all new visa applications from Haitian nationals, including those needed for musical and cultural work. The proclamation, which took effect on June 9, 2025, lists Haiti as one of 12 countries completely blocked from both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa access. This includes essential artist visa categories such as O-1 for individuals…
Thirteen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and eight deportees remain stranded at Camp Lemonnier, a U.S. military base in Djibouti, after their deportation flight was halted mid-air by a federal judge in Boston. The court order in May 2025 required detainees to receive humanitarian screenings, something immigration attorneys argue should have been offered far earlier. Since then, both ICE agents and deportees have been trapped in grim conditions. They are crammed into a converted shipping container with only six beds, no meaningful ventilation, and temperatures exceeding 100°F. Toxic smoke from nearby burn pits has worsened the situation. Within…
Montreal, QC – As part of OpaMusic’s ongoing commitment to spotlight emerging Haitian talent around the world, we’re proud to introduce BAZ KONPA, a dynamic Haitian-Canadian band based in Montreal that’s quickly capturing attention across the Afro-Caribbean music scene. 2025 is shaping up to be a defining year for this fast-rising group. Known for their modern and energetic interpretation of konpa, BAZ KONPA is set to release a brand-new single this summer that’s already being described as one of the potential anthems of the season. With infectious hooks and vibrant rhythms, the track reflects their bold approach to blending traditional…
A pivotal moment in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s federal trial unfolded this week as Jane, the second woman to testify under a pseudonym, gave emotional and disturbing testimony detailing her experiences with the music mogul. Speaking over four days, Jane described a relationship marked by coercion, manipulation, and emotional dependency. https://youtu.be/8K4PqXsNUIA Jane testified that she dated Combs from 2021 until his arrest in September 2024. She admitted she was emotionally hooked from the beginning, noting how his wealth and status created a dynamic where she felt completely absorbed and dependent on him. One of the most troubling parts of her testimony…
A $260 million lawsuit has been filed against film mogul Tyler Perry by actor Derek Dixon, who alleges years of sexual harassment, coercion, and retaliation while working under Perry’s direction. The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, paints a deeply troubling picture of abuse of power, psychological manipulation, and the dark side of the entertainment industry’s inner workings. Who Is Tyler Perry? Tyler Perry is one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood. He rose to fame with his iconic character Madea, launching a franchise of stage plays and films that built his entertainment empire. He is the founder…
In the colorful world of Cuban music, Los Tres de la Habana were once best known for their infectious rhythms, blending salsa, timba, and traditional Cuban beats into a sound that resonated across the Caribbean and Latin American diaspora. But over the last few years, the band’s name has taken on a far more controversial tone, not for their music, but for their unapologetic alliance with President Donald Trump and their role in creating what many have labeled the unofficial anthem for Latino deportation. “We did it because we wanted to. We didn’t get a penny for it, nobody commissioned…
As social media continues to blur the lines between public and private, tragedy has found a stage in livestreams. The following nine cases are real stories of people murdered while livestreaming or during an active broadcast. These moments, once meant to connect, became digital crime scenes. A lot of people tend to be reckless on social media and rarely stop to consider the repercussions of their actions. While no one should ever lose their life over something so senseless, we must all be mindful that exposing others online is not something everyone is okay with. If someone has gone to…
R. Kelly, the disgraced R&B singer currently serving a 30-year federal sentence at FCI Butner in North Carolina, was reportedly rushed to Duke University Hospital on June 13 following what his legal team describes as a near-fatal overdose administered by prison staff. According to court filings by his attorney, Kelly, who was placed in solitary confinement on June 10, was given additional doses of his anxiety and sleep medications on June 12, allegedly on direct instruction from confinement staff. The next morning, Kelly awoke feeling faint, dizzy, and experiencing blacked-out vision, prompting him to crawl to his cell door before…
In what many are calling a shocking betrayal of trust, a Haitian caregiver in Palm Beach County, Mathieu Gustave, was arrested on June 12, 2025, for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from a vulnerable elderly man suffering from dementia. Gustave, a Certified Nursing Assistant who had been working in senior care, is now facing serious charges of exploitation of an elderly person and fraudulent use of identification. The case is disturbing not only because of the amount of money involved, more than $17,000 in unauthorized withdrawals and purchases, but also because it highlights how deeply elder financial abuse can be…
Hervé Laplante, a well-known figure in Haitian media and social platforms, is officially being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on charges of immigration fraud. Previously speculated but unconfirmed, ICE has now issued a formal statement identifying Laplante, widely known as “Laplanta,” as an illegally present Haitian national who allegedly obtained U.S. immigration status through fraudulent means. Laplante, who once worked in Port-au-Prince radio before relocating to Montreal in 2008 and eventually settling in Jacksonville, Florida, is currently being held at the Baker County Detention Center. According to ICE, Laplante “gained status in the United States fraudulently, as…