The Breakfast Club – “Stay Out The Way”

Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)
Date: December 16, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Special Segment: Lauren LaRosa, Pop Culture Correspondent

Episode Overview

This episode centers on two major stories dominating pop culture and entertainment headlines: the release and impact of the intimate ‘Kanye West: In Whose Name’ documentary, and the recent arrest of singer Trey Songz following a nightclub altercation in New York. Lauren LaRosa provides personal insights and reporting, encouraging listeners to both “understand the humans behind the headlines” and consider the costs of celebrity life in today’s world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Behind-the-Scenes: Weekend Recap & Power Sessions Concert

[04:30] - [10:00]

• Lauren shares her experiences attending and covering the Power Sessions concert presented by Power 105.1 in NYC, detailing standout live performances:
  • “Lola Brooke… Don’t play with her! Zetty Will also took the stage—my first time seeing him perform in person.” ([06:00])
  • Highlights G Herbo’s set (missed on Twitch due to technical issues), and Mariah the Scientist, whom she introduced on stage alongside Angela Yee and Angie Martinez:
    • “Before we went on stage, I was like, I’m living a dream right now.” ([08:00])
    • “Mariah the Scientist owns that show…She’s literally the definition of a Southern belle. I love that for her.” ([08:20])
• Lauren reflects on Mariah’s authenticity and kindness, especially after having met her earlier that day during a Santa Claus toy giveaway in Patterson, NJ.

2. Deep Dive: “Kanye West: In Whose Name” Documentary

[12:30] - [28:30]

The Film’s Perspective

• Directed by a young filmmaker, the documentary captures Kanye’s struggles as an artist and father, focusing on mental health and its broader stigmas.
• “At 18 years old, with no real experience, [the director] was given the opportunity to shadow Kanye West for two years… Kanye wanted to do a documentary all about his mental health…” ([13:00])

Inside Kanye’s World:

Notable Scene – The White House Visit

• Lauren highlights a raw segment as Kanye heads to meet Trump in the MAGA era:
  • Kanye (phone call):
    “No, I need to go the exact way that a foreign dignitary would go. That’s the only way I’m gonna go in…I put my life in danger by wearing the hat…I have the hat on as we speak…If I get killed from wearing the hat in front of the White House, you’re not going to win any midterms.” ([15:10])

Emotional Turmoil at Home

• Kim Kardashian’s phone call to Kanye, distressed about his public actions affecting family:
  • Kim Kardashian:
    “I just—it’s like I can’t sleep. I’ve been crying all day. It’s just this bad dream that’s not ending. You’re losing everyone around you…” ([16:30])
• Kanye’s retorts: “I don’t care about the music business. I’m a slave to Universal. What are you talking about?”
  • "Just because you have a job and you work hard doesn’t mean you’re a slave. That’s demeaning." – Kim ([17:25])

Lauren’s Reflections

• The documentary portrays the invasiveness of fame and the toll of Kanye’s untreated or undertreated mental health on himself and loved ones:
  • “There were parts of the documentary that I was just like, 'Oh my God, I can’t even believe that something like this is being recorded.'" ([14:00])
  • “This documentary… is very hard to watch because it is very invasive. There’s arguments with Kim Kardashian, even some of his family members. You just kind of see the sporadic behavior…” ([18:00])
  • “For people in his life, it’s hard… you’re not dealing with him all the time. You’re dealing with the illness that he is dealing with.” ([20:10])
  • “It definitely made me think about the conversations I have about Kanye West and the things that he even…” ([22:00])
• Lauren emphasizes the nuanced view the doc provides:
  • “I don’t know how many people in 2025 honestly want to even care enough to humanize Kanye West because of some of the things that he’s done…but it did it for me.” ([26:35])
  • She references being present for the TMZ "slavery is a choice" incident, reinforcing the doc’s clarity on the struggle beyond sensational headlines.

3. Hot Topic: Trey Songz Arrest in NYC Nightclub

[29:15] - [39:15]

The Incident:

• Trey Songz was arrested for alleged assault after reportedly punching a nightclub employee on Dec 4th, triggered when told the club was closing ([29:30]).
• Lauren received clarification after speaking to sources & his attorney:
  • A Later Incident:
    • At nightclub Mirror, a fight involving Trey’s group and another erupted after a woman tried to join his party.
    • “There’s allegations of a gun being pulled at some point because there was a big fight that ensued… damages to this local lounge.” ([31:30])
    • Trey reportedly offered to pay for damages, but police were called, and he was arrested and later released pending trial.
• Possible Causes:
  • Disagreement over a woman joining Trey’s group escalated the situation.
  • “If I’m Trey Songz at this point… I probably would be staying my behind home. I just would.” ([34:40])
• Media Impact:
  • “Even if this is thrown out, the headline of him being arrested… is always going to be way bigger than the follow-up.” ([36:10])
• Attorney Statement:
  • “They believe that Trey Songz as a public figure is often treated as a target for instigation in pursuit of headlines or financial gain. His attorney says, ‘We are confident that the facts will speak for themselves.’” ([35:50])

Lauren’s Takeaway:

• “I honestly would [just stay home] at this point. Trey Songz, put out some new music, stay out the way, work…”
• “2025 is a different time, man. It is.” ([37:45])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Before we went on stage, I was like, ‘I’m living a dream right now.’” – Lauren LaRosa on introducing Mariah the Scientist ([08:00])
• “She is literally the definition of a Southern belle. I love that for her.” – Lauren on Mariah the Scientist ([08:20])
• “No, I need to go the exact way that a foreign dignitary would go…I put my life in danger by wearing the hat.” – Kanye West ([15:10])
• “It’s like I can’t sleep. I’ve been crying all day. It’s just this bad dream that’s not ending.” – Kim Kardashian ([16:30])
• “For people in his life… you’re not dealing with him all the time. You’re dealing with the illness that he is dealing with.” – Lauren on living with Kanye’s mental health ([20:10])
• “If it’s to that point where I’m having to say that multiple times after multiple allegations and I’m just staying home, I am, like, I really just am because nothing’s going to happen here…” – Lauren on public figures in legal trouble ([35:59])
• “Even if this is thrown out, the headline of him being arrested…is always going to be way bigger than the follow up.” – Lauren ([36:10])
• “2025 is a different time, man. It is.” – Lauren ([37:45])

Conclusion & Tone

Lauren closes the episode with gratitude for her audience, the “Lowriders,” and a candid reflection on how public scrutiny and repeated controversies affect both celebrities and those discussing them. Her approach is empathetic, direct, and provides a layer of humanity often missing from celebrity discourse.

Quick Guide to Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |---------------|------------------------------------------| | 04:30–10:00 | Power Sessions concert recap | | 12:30–28:30 | Kanye West documentary discussion | | 15:10 | Kanye’s White House call (clip) | | 16:30 | Kim Kardashian’s emotional call (clip) | | 29:15–39:15 | Trey Songz NYC arrest & commentary | | 35:50 | Trey Songz attorney statement | | 37:45 | Lauren’s personal reflection |

Summary prepared for those seeking in-depth understanding of today’s pop culture highlights, with context, quotes, and the original conversational style of The Breakfast Club.