Daily News 19

Tag: Atlanta

  • ‘Love & Hip Hop’ Star D. Smith Detransitions After 12 Years Living as a Woman

    ‘Love & Hip Hop’ Star D. Smith Detransitions After 12 Years Living as a Woman

    Key Highlights

    • “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” alum and Grammy-nominated producer D. Smith announced he is detransitioning after living publicly as a transgender woman for 12 years.
    • Smith stated he will now present as a man and use he/him pronouns moving forward.
    • The announcement was made Thursday, marking a significant personal shift for the reality television personality and music producer.

    D. Smith Announces Detransition After Twelve Years

    “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” alumnus and Grammy-nominated music producer D. Smith has publicly announced he is detransitioning. The revelation comes after Smith lived publicly as a transgender woman for over a decade. In a statement made Thursday, the reality television personality and songwriter confirmed the decision to transition back to presenting as a man and to adopt he/him pronouns. The news represents a profound personal milestone for Smith, whose visibility on the VH1 franchise brought transgender representation to a mainstream hip-hop audience.

    From Reality Television to Music Industry Recognition

    D. Smith first gained widespread recognition through appearances on “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” where his storyline as a transgender woman in the Atlanta music scene garnered significant attention. Beyond reality television, Smith has built a credible career as a songwriter and producer, earning a Grammy nomination for his production work. His dual presence in both the entertainment and music industries positioned him as a notable figure in discussions surrounding gender identity within Black culture and the hip-hop community. The announcement of detransition adds a new chapter to a public narrative that has spanned more than twelve years.

    Public Statement Confirms Pronoun and Presentation Change

    According to the Thursday announcement, Smith explicitly stated the intention to present as a man and requested the use of he/him pronouns going forward. The decision to detransition is described as a personal evolution after more than a decade of living publicly in a gender identity that no longer aligns with Smith’s current understanding of self. While the specific motivations behind the decision were not detailed in the initial report, the move underscores the complexity of gender identity journeys and the visibility that public figures navigate when sharing such transitions with a global audience.

    Why This Matters

    D. Smith’s announcement carries weight beyond a single celebrity narrative. As one of the few openly transgender figures in the “Love & Hip Hop” franchise and the broader hip-hop media landscape, Smith’s visibility has contributed to representation for transgender individuals in communities where such conversations remain stigmatized. The decision to detransition publicly invites broader dialogue about the fluidity of gender identity, the pressures of public labeling, and the autonomy individuals hold over their own transitions—whether forward or backward. For fans and industry observers, the development highlights the ongoing evolution of gender discourse within entertainment and the importance of respecting self-identification at every stage.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is D. Smith?

    D. Smith is a Grammy-nominated music producer, songwriter, and former cast member of VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.” He gained public recognition through the reality series and his work in the Atlanta music industry.

    What does detransitioning mean in this context?

    Detransitioning refers to the process by which a person who previously transitioned to a different gender identity returns to living in alignment with their sex assigned at birth or adopts a different gender expression. In Smith’s case, he will now present as a man and use he/him pronouns after living publicly as a transgender woman for 12 years.

    When was the announcement made?

    The announcement was made on Thursday, though a specific calendar date was not provided in the initial report.

  • Frontier Flight Diverted to Knoxville, Passengers Stranded Overnight Friday, Officials Say

    Frontier Flight Diverted to Knoxville, Passengers Stranded Overnight Friday, Officials Say

    Passengers aboard a Frontier Airlines flight from Detroit to Atlanta found themselves stranded overnight in Knoxville, Tennessee, after weather forced a diversion that ultimately led to a cancellation.

    Flight Diverted Due to Atlanta Weather

    Frontier Airlines flight 3409, traveling from Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), was diverted to McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville on Friday evening because of severe weather in the Atlanta area, according to officials and passenger accounts.

    Nathan Hill, a passenger on the flight, contacted local news outlet 10News around 9 p.m. Friday. He said the aircraft landed in Knoxville and refueled, but the pilots and crew had reached their maximum allowable duty time — known as “timing out” — and departed, leaving passengers on the plane.

    Passengers Left Without Options

    Hill reported that Frontier issued vouchers for food and rental cars, but by the time passengers could use them, local shops had closed and no rental vehicles were available for the entire planeload of travelers. Passengers also hesitated to leave the secure terminal area because re-entry would require new boarding passes, and all checked luggage remained on the aircraft.

    “Frontier has given us a series of excuses and vouchers, $10, $15 and $150 for us to rent a car and drive to Atlanta,” Hill said. “But there are none left for an entire flight of people who are stranded here overnight and we’re hung out to dry.”

    Hill eventually reached Atlanta using a rideshare service.

    “So what was supposed to be a 2 and a half hour flight turned into a 12+ hour ordeal, but I’m safe and sound and Frontier is reaching out after the fact, apologizing and offering vouchers for various reasons and future opportunities,” Hill said.

    Another passenger who contacted 10News overnight Friday claimed the plane had run out of fuel and said Frontier offered small vouchers for food and rental cars, but none were available to them.

    Frontier Airlines Responds

    A Frontier spokesperson provided the following statement on Saturday:

    “Yesterday, flight 3409 from Detroit (DTW) to Atlanta (ATL) was forced to divert to Knoxville due to weather in Atlanta, and was subsequently forced to cancel due to legal time constraints. Passengers are receiving $150 vouchers for ground transportation to their final destination, and were offered hotel vouchers upon request. We regret the inconvenience this has caused and, as a customer service gesture, are also issuing each passenger $100 Frontier vouchers for future travel.”