BREAKING: 'Empire' renewed at Fox, Jussie Smollett is unlikely to return!
LOS ANGELES — "Empire" has been renewed for a sixth season at Fox, though likely without Jussie Smollett.
"By mutual agreement, the studio has negotiated an extension to Jussie Smollett's option for season six, but at this time there are no plans for the character of Jamal to return to 'Empire,'" Fox Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television said in a statement.
During the fifth season, Smollett claimed that he was the victim of an assault which he said was racially and politically motivated, as well as homophobic. Later he was accused of hiring the men who attacked him and indicted for filing false statements. The criminal charges were dropped in March, and Smollett has maintained his innocence, but the city of Chicago also filed a lawsuit against the actor in order to recoup the cost of the police investigation.
A spokesperson for Smollett said in a statement, "We've been told that Jussie will not be on 'Empire' in the beginning of the season but he appreciates they have extended his contract to keep Jamal's future open. Most importantly he is grateful to Fox and 'Empire' leadership, cast, crew and fans for their unwavering support."
The fifth season of the show saw the Lyon family trying to reclaim their music company but challenged with even heavier personal struggles than before, such as the emergence of Lucious' secret first-born son who was hell-bent on destroying his father and eldest Lyon son Andre's cancer diagnosis. The series stars Taraji P. Henson, Terrence Howard, Trai Byers, Smollett and Bryshere Y. Gray as the Lyon family.
A frustrated Mueller told AG Barr his short summary of the special counsel report caused confusion
"'Empire' continues to break barriers with its emotionally powerful storytelling, and it remains a core part of the Fox legacy," said Fox Entertainment's president of entertainment Michael Thorn. "We want to thank everyone on the show — Taraji, Terrence and the entire cast, as well as Lee, Danny, Brett, Sanaa, Brian, Francie, Dennis and their teams — all of whom have done a tremendous job this season. We know there are so many more stories to tell, and we can't wait to see what they have in store for Season Six."
"Empire" was created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, who executive produce alongside Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo, Sanaa Hamri, Dennis Hammer, Matt Pyken and Diane Ademu-John. Brett Mahoney is executive producer and showrunner for the series. The show is produced by Imagine Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television.
(EW) The internet collectively bowed down when, in November 2017, Disney confirmed that Beyoncé Knowles-Carter had joined the cast of Jon Favreau’s photo-real virtual-production remake of The Lion King (read everything you want to know about it here). The music icon plays Nala, the childhood friend of Simba (Donald Glover) who re-encounters the exiled prince in adulthood, now as a fully-grown, powerful, unquestionably indomitable lioness.
So, how did Favreau convince a queen to get in formation with this King?
“I’ve got the Beyhive in my house,” chuckles the director, who wasn’t specifically aware that the singer was in play for the role until he reached out to her on a casting whim. “I’ve seen her live and she’s a unique talent, to say the least,” he says. “And when I finally spoke to her after reaching out, although her persona onstage is bigger than life, she’s very down to earth and is very much dedicated to her family and having a life that is human-scale.”
That, Favreau reasons, helps to explain why Knowles-Carter (as she’s being officially credited in the film) agreed to play Nala, which marks her first feature film role since 2013’s animated Epic (and prior to that, 2009’s Obsessed). “I think that part of it is that she’s got young kids, part of it is that it’s a story that feels good for this phase of her life and her career — it’s a very positive story, it’s a classic that a lot of people feel very emotionally invested in — and I think she just really likes the original very much,” says Favreau. “At the end of the day, she’s also an actor and it’s a great bunch of people to work with and a project that I think she felt was going to be special. And then of course, there are these wonderful musical numbers that she can be involved with, and my God… she really lives up to her reputation as far as the beauty of her voice and her talent.”
Both Beyoncé and Glover (a.k.a. Childish Gambino) worked with The Lion King’s reunited original music team in refreshing the film’s soundtrack for modern ears. You’ll no doubt hear the two of them passionately belt “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” the Oscar-winning ballad Nala shares with Simba when the two rekindle their childhood affections as grown adults; Beyoncé is also rumored (though EW cannot officially confirm this) to be working on a new song in addition to the five classics from the 1994 film which will be featured once more.
Of course, Favreau knew he’d brought a music superstar onto the savanna, but he may not have expected to get such an eager hands-on collaborator when it came to the film’s groundbreaking virtual-reality techniques. “Whenever she came by to work on it, she was incredibly curious about the technology, and as I showed her the techniques and materials, she rolled up her sleeves and got into the VR and started to mess around with all the tools,” the director recalls. “I think like most people who are at the pinnacle of their industry, she has a really good sense of how new things can inform other things she’s working on. Lemonade was happening around the time we were just beginning to work together, and you could see how art and filmmaking and fashion and music were all interweaving for her.” He even attempted to interweave the musician’s meticulous concert performances into the animated Nala. “When I would see her stage shows, it gave me ideas. As I’ve been directing the animation for the past couple of years, ideas have cropped up for me seeing what she was doing as a performer and how that could inform the character that she plays.” (Technically speaking, Nala does impel Simba to put a ring on it.)
And of course, Beyoncé’s influence isn’t just felt by the director. It’s safe to say that Us breakout Shahadi Wright-Joseph, who plays a young version of Nala, just couldn’t wait to be queen. “I don’t think that I can ever live up to [her], but this is as close as I’m ever gonna get,” the actress, 13, tells EW. “I think I screamed when I found out that she was going to be in the movie… and then when I found out that she was going to be playing older Nala, I really had to step my game up and think about what Beyoncé would want.”
2 Dead And 6 Injured In Shooting At University Of North Carolina Charlotte Campus. The suspected shooter is 22-year-old Trystan Terrell!
Two people are reported dead and another six are injured, three critically, after a shooting at the University of North Carolina's Charlotte campus on Tuesday.
WCNC reports the suspected shooter is 22-year-old Trystan Terrell, according to officials, who was a History major at UNC Charlotte.
"Scene secure. One in custody. No reason to believe anyone else involved. CMPD and UNCC going room by room on campus to identify any students, faculty or others who may be sheltering in place," the police said.
Campus Police Chief Jeff Baker said police were on the scene quickly enough to find and disarm the suspect in the same room where the shootings happened.
He said two people were found dead at the scene, and three other were hospitalized in critical condition, while the fourth person suffered less serious injuries.
It was not immediately known whether the victims are students, educators or staff.
The campus remained on lockdown for much of Tuesday afternoon and into the evening.
Earlier, tweets by the campus' Office of Emergency Management advised people to "Run, Hide, Fight. Secure yourself immediately" as "law enforcement is individually sweeping buildings on campus."
The shots were fired near the school's Kennedy building.
Student Laura Olmos told member station WFAE, "I got a call saying don't come back to campus because I was going to comeback to have dinner with my friends. I just went to the Target parking lot and started crying. ... Now we are one of those schools. It's so crazy."
Graduate student Ari Seal said he was in the gym when the alert came, and that lights were shut off, and students were told to huddle together in the center of the gym.
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss Shares New Video of 3-Year-Old Son Learning the Mandarin Language
Kandi Burruss is a high-achieving business woman so it makes sense that her youngest child would be doing the same in school.
Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker have enrolled 3-year-old Ace Wells Tucker into an international school and since last year, he’s been learning Mandarin. On Instagram Thursday, Burruss shared a new video with fans that revealed the progress the pre-schooler has made with his foreign language skills. The star’s followers were left feeling wowed by what they’re seeing.
The clip sees Ace reciting various numbers ranging from 1 to 10 in Mandarin, but he’s answering his Mandarin-speaking teacher in the Chinese language, too.
“My Ace is acing his mandarin school work!” “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star captioned the video. “@acewellstucker has been going to international school for one year & he’s doing great! He’s 3yrs old & Im so proud of him!”
Fans flooded Burruss’ comments section with thousands upon thousands of remarks, which ranged from expressing how impressed they were to lending and asking for advice.
“The most amazing part is how well he understands HER 😳 The mind of a child is so capable & brilliant! Great job @kandi & Todd.”
As for any other languages Ace will take on, Burruss said the toddler “will start Spanish when he’s in kindergarten.”
One of the first times the “RHOA” star shared a video of Ace’s Mandarin skills came in June 2018 when he was well on his way to getting his counting skills up.
“Check out my little Ace learning how to count in Mandarin,” Burruss wrote on Instagram of the video. “He goes to an international school & they start teaching the children at age 2. Half the school day is with his teacher that speaks to him in Mandarin & the other half of the day is in English. He loves the school! @acewellstucker.”
Burruss has since explained that her reasoning behind having Ace learn the language is because she sees him becoming a businessman and “a lot of business happens” in China.
#Empire: Season 5 Episode 16; Oh No Andre!
Thought it all, Andre’s been acting weird. He invited Kingsley to the bachelor party and told his brothers to simmer down and accept their oldest bonus brother. He told Kingsley to step into his role as the older brother. (Kingsley tries to offer Hakeem some brotherly advice about Tiana but it doesn’t quite work, even though Kingsley is correct.) The night before the wedding, he gifted Jamal his beloved cufflinks, gifted to him by his grandfather. And then when Cookie joked about Andre getting married and having kids with Teri (Meta Golden) the couple looked down and bashful; yet they didn’t embrace the verbiage.
Well, we found out why at the wedding. Turns out that Teri (holding a glass of champagne as she chats) is pregnant and doesn’t want Cookie to tell Andre. And separately we learn that Andre is cancer free but still dying. He didn’t want to tell his father this on Jamal’s wedding day, but his heart is failing as a result of the medicine that killed the cancer. He could live a month, a few days or a few months. No one knows.
Lucious doesn’t want to accept this fate and begins to cry.
Andre doesn’t want to accept this fate either. He tells Lucious he intends to take his own life and to die on his own terms.
And that’s how the episode ended. Helluva wedding and one helluva an announcement.
See y’all Wednesday!
#MusicNews: Fantasia Teases New Song with Brandy and Jazmine Sullivan
This Friday, Fantasia will premiere her new single “Enough” from her forthcoming album. To celebrate her upcoming single, she hopped on Instagram Live on Monday evening to have a chat with her fans.
During her conversation with Instagram user @Team_Fantasia, Tasia revealed that she has a collaboration with two amazing voices in music: Brandy and Jazmine Sullivan. She said she “had to” join forces with the two vocalists, especially now that she is independent.
“They are both my favorites. I turn into a little groupie when I see Jazmine. I love her and I love Bran,” said Fantasia.
Elaborating more on the soon-to-come triple threat, Fantasia said, “I wanted to kind of reach back and touch some different eras when it came to that girl group. I was like, ‘Wouldn’t it be dope if we had a girl group where it was Jazmine, Fantasia, and Brandy?’ Let’s just put it on an album.”
At this time, there is no release date on the collaboration but stay tuned and we will keep you posted!
#HipHopNews: Lil Wayne Teases ‘Funeral’ Album
Lil Wayne is making Funeral arrangements. Three years ago, the Young Money chief announced an album called Funeral to hold fans over while they awaited the release of Tha Carter V, which was still in limbo. Now it looks as though a release could be imminent.
On Tuesday (April 30), Weezy reignited Funeral talks with a post on Instagram Stories where he shared an emoji of a coffin, as HipHop-N-More discovered.
Wayne first announced Funeral during a 2016 interview with “The Nine Club” podcast. “Make sure they know that Funeral is coming soon,” he said. “That’s my music. Get your roses ready. I don’t have a release date, but I have a whole bunch of good news coming soon. If you’re a Wayne fan, I know we’ve been going through a lot of tough times right now, but if you are a Wayne fan, we about to hold our heads high soon.”
In 2017, he also teased the project, along with other releases. “CV. Funeral. D6. Young Money,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
It’s unclear when Funeral will drop, but it would mark Wayne’s first project since the long-awaited release of Tha Carter V in September.
Several Celebs Pay Tribute To Late Director John Singleton: ‘He was One Of The Greatest’!
Several celebrities from across all entertainment fields have paid tribute to late director John Singleton, who passed away at the young age of 51.
The Oscar-nominated director, best known for his 1991 film Boyz n the Hood, died “peacefully” surrounded by his family after he was removed from life support at a hospital in Los Angeles, as reported by the BBC. Singleton had been in intensive care at Cedars-Sinai hospital after suffering a stroke last week.
Stars from the movie and music industry lined up to pay homage to Singleton, with Janet Jackson leading the way by praising him for “all you have done for Black culture, women and young filmmakers.” The two had worked together in the 1993 movie Poetic Justice, which earned Jackson her first Oscar nomination.
“I will miss you John,” she added.
Rapper and actor Ice Cube, who had his first movie role in Singleton’s powerful debut film Boyz n the Hood, also took to Instagram to describe the director as not only his “brother, friend, & mentor,” but also as a “master filmmaker” who “loved [to] bring the black experience to the world.”
Fellow filmmakers Jordan Peele, known for his movies Get Out and Us, and Spike Lee, also reacted to the news of Singleton’s death by sharing touching messages on social media. Peele dubbed him a “brave artist and true inspiration,” while Lee recalled the moment he met his colleague when he was still a film student.
“From Day One, We Have Remained Close Over The Decades, Cheering Each Other On In This Industry That Is Not Set Up For Us To Win.”
Regina King, who just recently won a Best Actress Oscar, worked with Singleton in a series of movies. She took to Instagram to share several old photos of the two of them, expressing her sorrow and admitting to struggling in this moment of grief for her friend and collaborator.
Other A-listers who paid tribute to the late director included actor Samuel L. Jackson, rapper Busta Rhymes, who starred in his remake of the movie Shaft, musician Quincy Jones, and artist Chance the Rapper.
Singleton, who was born in Los Angeles, has often been described as a trailblazer for African-American filmmakers in the 1990s. In 1992, he became the first African-American director to be nominated in the Academy Awards’ Best Director category with his debut film Boyz n the Hood. Apart from that, he was also the youngest ever director to be nominated in that category, as he had just finished college. The movie also received another nod for Best Original Screenplay.
On Monday, the father of seven’s family announced that they had decided to remove him from life support, thanking all the doctors at Cedars-Sinai for their help, and offering thanks Singleton’s colleagues and coworkers, fans, and friends for their support and “outpour of love and prayers.” Later in the day, a spokesperson for the family confirmed that he had passed away surrounded by his loved ones.
Chris Brown and model Indyamarie are dating
Chris Brown has a new love in his life. She is model Indyamarie, 25, are dating. The couple, who were rumored to be an item in 2015 after Karrueche Tran broke up with him, recently rekindled their romance on the set of his music video for his and Eric Bellinger’s song, “Type a Way.”
“[Brown and Marie] were holding hands and laughing on set,” a spy told Page Six, “but they were also spotted at Chris’ after-party, coupled up looking very much an item.”
Brown also recently posted a photo on Instagram of Indyamarie wearing his letterman’s jacket.
“When you are beautiful and dope you get da limited edition ‘INDIGO’ LETTERMAN!” he captioned the photo.
The “Loyal” rapper shares one daughter, Royalty, with Nia Guzman.
Brown’s tumultuous personal life made headlines earlier this year when he sued a woman for defamation after she claimed he raped her in Paris. Brown denies he had “sexual relations of any sort” with the woman.
The Tony Awards Nominations 2019 are Here! 'Hadestown' And 'Ain't Too Proud' Has the Most Nominations!
The 2018-2019 Broadway season hurtled to a close, with 14 plays and musicals opening in March and April, before the Tony Award nominations were announced on Tuesday morning. And some of the late entries into the race were handsomely rewarded.
Hadestown, a retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, opened just two weeks ago and took 14 nominations, including one for best musical. Another recent entry, a reworking of the 1980s film comedy Tootsie, took 11 nominations, also including best musical.
Rounding out the best musical category were a jukebox musical, Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations, with 12 nominations; an adaptation of the film Beetlejuice, with eight; and an original musical, The Prom, with seven.
Santino Fontana (center) stars in Tootsie, one of the productions up for the Tony Award for best musical. Fontana is also nominated for best leading actor in a musical.
One of the biggest surprises of the season was the sheer number of new plays produced on Broadway: 14. Best play may be the hardest Tony category to predict.
The Ferryman, Jez Butterworth's family drama set in Northern Ireland during the "troubles," led the pack with nine nominations, followed closely by Taylor Mac's idiosyncratic Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus, with seven, and Ink, a British import about young Rupert Murdoch, with six.
Rounding out the category were two Broadway debuts: Choir Boy, by Tarell Alvin McCraney — winner of an Academy Award for Moonlight — and What the Constitution Means to Me, a personal memoir written and performed by Heidi Schreck.
Two popular plays also captured several nominations, but not for the top prize. Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, starring Jeff Daniels, received nine nominations, and an adaptation of Paddy Chayefsky's Network, starring Bryan Cranston, got five. Both of those lead actors were nominated in the best actor in a play category.
The best play revival field is particularly strong, with The Boys in the Band, The Waverly Gallery, All My Sons, Burn This and Torch Song all up for top honors. And only two musical revivals were eligible for best musical revival: an avant-garde staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, which received eight nominations in total, and a revised version of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate, which took four.
In addition to Daniels and Cranston, several big stars were nominated for top awards, including Adam Driver in Lanford Wilson's Burn This, Annette Bening in Arthur Miller's All My Sons, Elaine May in The Waverly Gallery and Kelli O'Hara in Kiss Me, Kate.
Some other stars were left out of their categories, including Glenda Jackson, who won a best actress Tony last year and starred in King Lear this season, and Nathan Lane, who leads Gary.
The Tony Awards will be presented on Sunday, June 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern time. The ceremony will be hosted by James Corden at Radio City Music Hall and broadcast on CBS.
#Condolences: Toni Braxton’s niece Lauren Braxton has DIED at 24!
Toni Braxton‘s niece Lauren Braxton has passed away at just 24 years old.
Lauren, who was the daughter of Toni’s brother Michael Braxton Jr., died from complications from her heart condition, her father told TMZ.
Paramedics arrived around noon Monday at the Braxtons’ Maryland household, where they found Lauren unresponsive. She was declared dead at the scene.
Michael and Toni are the older siblings of Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar. Michael also works as a singer-songwriter and has appeared on episodes of his sisters’ reality show, “Braxton Family Values.”
“We ask that you please respect the Braxton family’s privacy in this time of sadness and loss,” a rep for the Braxton family told us Tuesday.
Gay BYU student comes out in valedictorian speech
SALT LAKE CITY — A gay student who came out during a valedictorian speech at Mormon-owned Brigham Young University is earning applause and admiration from students and notable figures like actress Kristin Chenoweth.
Matt Easton said Monday he hopes the speech helps ease loneliness felt by other #LGBTQ students at the institution where an honor code forbids dating between members of the same sex.
Stuck on the sidelines: A transgender powerlifter fights for the right to compete
The speech was preapproved by the college.
The 24-year-old political science major says only a few people knew about his sexuality before Friday, when he spoke the words "I am proud to be a gay son of God."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a doctrinal opposition to same-sex marriage and intimacy, but has been trying to stake out a compassionate stance toward LGBTQ members.
Russell Wilson and Ciara Launch Joint Production Company for Film, TV and Digital Content
Ciara and Russell Wilson has just launched Why Not You Productions, a company that will focus on creating film, television and digital content projects — both scripted and unscripted.
The content will include, but not be limited to, “inspiring and aspiring narratives and human interest stories,” per the announcement.
via THR: “When people look at me, I hope they don’t just see a football player. I hope they see a person who is innovative and creative, someone who builds something from nothing,” he told The Hollywood Reporter on a break from making the rounds inside the Wheels Up tailgate event Feb. 2. “We want to be able to impact lives. That’s what we want to do at the end of the day — even from the kids space. We just want to tell stories that connect with the world and to the emotions.”
“While we work in different fields in our day-to-day, we are excited to come together to collaborate and create stories that we hope will touch people’s lives,” said Wilson and Ciara in a joint statement. “We are both storytellers at heart and we want to be able to share stories that uplift people and inspire others to create positive change. That’s ultimately what we want this company to represent.”
In doing so, Wilson and Ciara will expand upon the work they’ve been doing through their joint foundation, the youth empowerment-focused Why Not You Foundation. They will continue to operate that organization along with their respective side businesses. Ciara runs her own entertainment company and record label, Beauty Marks Entertainment (BME), while Wilson heads West2East Empire (W2E), a brand management, creative content and production company. The duo will no doubt get a boost from their reps, CAA, Untitled Entertainment’s Jason Weinberg and chief global brad officer Jordan Dinenberg of W2E. Wilson is additionally repped by sports agent and attorney Mark Rodgers.
Wilson has already been in the headlines this month. Close to two weeks ago, ESPN reported that Wilson had signed a massive four-year, $140 million extension that includes a $65 million signing bonus to make him the highest-paid player in the NFL. The deal will keep Wilson with the Seahawks through the 2023 season. As for Ciara, she continues to stay in the news and will likely do so even more when she takes the stage this week in Las Vegas at the Billboard Music Awards.
Even with their respective busy schedules, Wilson made it clear in Atlanta that their passion for this production company is a primary focus. “For us, we want to be able to create, create, create,” Wilson said. “For West2East, we always say, ‘A+ only.’ That’s our motto.”
Congrats to them!
Nipsey Hussle’s Sister Files for Guardianship of His Daughter
Nipsey Hussle's sister is stepping up to become the legal guardian of her young niece, Emani Asghedom. According to documents obtained by The Blast, Samantha Smith has filed a petition to become the legal guardian of Nipsey’s 7-year-old daughter, who currently lives with her mother, Tanisha.
In court documents, Smith says she has "always been a constant presence in Emani's life and along with the rest of Emani’s paternal family has assisted in her care."
Emani attended the Grammy Awards with her father in February, a month before his tragic murder outside his clothing store in the Hyde Park area of Los Angeles.
Samantha, pictured speaking at her brother's funeral, wants to be the girl's legal guardian to ensure that she can make legal custody decisions regarding Emani and "to ensure that she can continue to live with family members with whom she has always had close ties."
Emani's mother goes by the names Tanisha Asghedom and Chyna Hussle. It's unclear why Nipsey's sister wants to remove legal guardianship from Tanisha, who ruthlessly mocked Nipsey's fiancee, Lauren London, on social media.
Tanisha frequently wrote social media posts directed at Lauren, informing her that she still slept with Nipsey.
Kim Kardashian is “100 Percent” On Board With Kanye Starting a Church, But Says She Won’t Be A “Traditional ‘Pastor’s Wife’ Who Organizes Bake Sales”
Last week, Kanye West took to the desert to sing praises to the most high at his Sunday Service set at Coachella. Now, in the wake of the success of the services, West is considering a more permanent option to help promote healing for his family and friends.
In fact, upon West’s Easter morning fellowship, his wife, Kim Kardashian opened up about her husband’s longtime dream to start a church, in an attempt to share his faith on a permanent basis. Though the church will not adopt the traditional format, sources say the socialite is “100 percent on board with” her husband’s idea.
“She’s a Christian, too, and she understands the importance of being spiritual,” a source told PEOPLE, adding that the “Jesus Walks” rapper has been sitting with spiritual advisors and leaders to help him figure out the next steps.
While the details are not set in stone, the source also revealed that Kardashian is expected to have a role in whatever West decides to do. But, whatever it is, the source said her position as a First Lady would stop short of organizing fundraisers and bake sales.
“She wouldn’t be a traditional ‘pastor’s wife’ who organizes bake sales,” the sources said. “But she will support him if he ever starts [a] church. She’ll be there for it.”
West has been holding Sunday Service since the beginning of the year. Are you here for a Yeezy church?
Nia Long Defends Chris Rock 'Tasteless' Whitney Houston Joke
This week comedian Chris Rock was dragged by Whitney Houston fans after using her for the butt of a crack cocaine joke [click here if you missed that].
Actress Nia Long, who was spotted in the comment section laughing at the post, defends Chris Rock from his detractors...
After fans flooded a post on Nia's timeline calling her out she stood firm defending Chris' humor.
DUMB!
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES?
'Rocketman's Taron Egerton covers Attitude's June Issue
Taron Egerton is looking good on the cover of Attitude magazine’s June 2019 issue, available in print and online today.
Here’s what the 29-year-old Rocketman star had to share with the mag…
On playing Elton John in Rocketman and the anxiety that he has: “It’s not an impersonation, it’s my take on him, and in some respects I have some anxieties that people might not accept the performance because I do all the singing, they haven’t used Elton’s vocal. Of course, I have tried in some ways to emulate him but a lot of it sounds like me. I hope that is exciting and interesting for people, and they aren’t left wishing they could just hear Elton!”
On his on screen kiss with co-star Richard Madden: “The rawness of that experience, the fear of that experience, but also the joy of the experience of Elton’s first kiss… it’s electric, it’s exciting, your stomach is doing somersaults. I treat it with the same love, care and affection I would as if it was my first experience of falling for somebody.”
On filming sex scenes for the movie: “We shot a scene where we are both naked on a bed and we are rolling around. I don’t really know how much further we could have gone. In the script, this is the scene of Elton losing his virginity and we wanted to try to do that justice, and also at that point their relationship hasn’t broken down yet. They were falling in love and it’s beautiful because it should be. We didn’t want to play like they were a couple who were eventually going to fall apart, we wanted to play it like two guys in their early twenties who are falling in love and who are incredibly sexually attracted to each other.”
#RHOA: Due to the current shade between NeNe, Cynthia and Porsha Producers are Racing To Start Filming Season 12?
“[Real Housewives Of Atlanta] producers want to start filming Season 12 as soon as possible so they can capture the ongoing drama between Porsha [Williams] and NeNe [Leakes], as well as the drama between NeNe and Cynthia [Bailey]. Producers were supposed to start filming in June, but they are trying to get everything in place to begin earlier if possible according to HollywoodLife. As fans of the series should know, the final episode of Season 11 aired April 21, and it served as the third part of the reunion special, during which NeNe refused to forgive Cynthia for not telling her that Kenya Moore was coming to her party. NeNe felt as though Cynthia kept Kenya’s invitation a secret on purpose, so for her, it was an act of “betrayal”.
Meanwhile, NeNe and Porsha fought for a number of reasons. Not only did Porsha accuse NeNe of not being supportive — NeNe didn’t go to Porsha’s baby shower — but NeNe never really got over the fact that Porsha went into her closet during her “Bye Wig Party”, even though NeNe asked everyone to stay out of it. There was also a physical altercation that happened after Porsha and Kandi went into NeNe’s closet, leading to a then-pregnant Porsha getting her belt ripped off. So Porsha and NeNe also bickered during the reunion, but NeNe’s drama with her co-stars has now extended beyond production.
After Season 11 wrapped filming, NeNe and Porsha got into a heated back-and-forth on Instagram over a “fat-shaming” text that NeNe had sent to Porsha after the birth of her baby. NeNe also accused Cynthia of faking her upcoming engagement to secure a spot in the next season of the show. And that’s exactly why RHOA producers want to start filming the next season as soon as possible. They don’t want to miss out on capturing NeNe’s ongoing feuds with her co-stars. Especially because the more drama there is, the better the ratings will be.
#Empire: Season 5 Episode 6;The Feds Bearing Down
When Lucious was talking to the Feds, they almost made him miss his son’s funeral. And the agent continually taunted Lucious uncomfortability with his son’s relationship as she brought up Damon Cross’s Panamanian connections.
This bit of banter is delicious.
Lucious: I run a multinational company and I have no idea who the investors are.
FBI Agent: You’re gonna wish you played ball [with me]…. I hate to admit but I am a fan. “Snitch bitch” is my jam…. today is a new day. Me shutting down your tour for a week is just my warm up act.
Lucious: (Gives a short speech about the ridiculousness of her trying to ruin his son’s wedding day with this mess and then suggests that since she is such a fan and if she insists upon running up into the wedding to ask questions of everybody.. .) You should give a listen to “I Shot a Fed” a coupla times.
That FBI exchange very nearly cost Lucious his relationship with his son, but he recovered after explaining he was detained by the Feds. But the wedding went off without a hitch. Becky, dressed in a glamourous pink sequin dress, officiated the ceremony. Chaka Khan brought a beautiful song to the mix. The guys exchanged vows that they wrote and they kissed and ran down the aisle. Joss Stone sang “At Last” as the couple’s first dance and there were some almost-tense moments between Hakeem and Tiana (Serayah) becase Tiana was escorted to the wedding by Devon (Mario.)
Now what? Tune in Wednesdays on FOX
#NewMusicVideo from Syleena Johnson ‘Woman’
Veteran R&B singer Syleena Johnson has just released the visual for her female empowerment anthem “Woman”.
The song gives us a stirring perspective on the woman’s experience today. “Woman” was produced by Gilflo and Toxic for Toxic Production. The song was Engineered by Cayex Illah Complex Studio and Mixed by Michael “ICE” Flemons out of her hometown, Chicago, Illinois.
WATCH HERE
“Woman” is also the title track from Syleena Johnson’s upcoming album which is set to release this Summer. Her eleventh studio album overall, this will be her first project since the release of “Rebirth of Soul” in 2017.
#HipHopVideo from 21 Savage – ‘Ball W/O You’
21 Savage reflects on lost love in the video for “ball w/o you.”
The clip, directed by WALU, opens with his girl in the club drinking and taking selfies with her friends. She eventually gets drunk and stumbles to the bathroom, where she passes out before security drags her out kicking and screaming. Meanwhile, Savage sits in his plush pad overlooking the hills, reflecting on their relationship while a new girl sits by his side. His old chick is left out on the curb with her bags, still snapping selfies.
WATCH HERE
Following the J. Cole-assisted “a lot,” “ball w/o you” is the latest single off 21 Savage’s sophomore album i am > i was, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in December.
WOODSTOCK 50 Has Been Canceled!
The show won’t go on after all. After widespread rumors, Woodstock 50 has officially been canceled due to production concerns over the capacity of the festival, including site readiness and permitting issues.
Dentsu Aegis Network, the festival’s main investor, confirmed the cancelation in a statement to Billboard.
“It’s a dream for agencies to work with iconic brands and to be associated with meaningful movements. We have a strong history of producing experiences that bring people together around common interests and causes which is why we chose to be a part of the Woodstock 50th Anniversary Festival,” said the company. “But despite our tremendous investment of time, effort and commitment, we don’t believe the production of the festival can be executed as an event worthy of the Woodstock Brand name while also ensuring the health and safety of the artists, partners and attendees.”
The statement continues, “As a result and after careful consideration, Dentsu Aegis Network’s Amplifi Live, a partner of Woodstock 50, has decided to cancel the festival. As difficult as it is, we believe this is the most prudent decision for all parties involved.”
There had been whispers that the festival was encountering problems after tickets didn’t go on sale last week. Woodstock 50, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking festival, was set to take place Aug. 16-18 in Watkins Glen, New York, about 115 miles northwest of the original festival in 1969.
JAY-Z, Chance the Rapper, The Killers, Santana, and Dead & Company were among the performers, while the diverse lineup also included Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monáe, Halsey, Common, and Vince Staples.
Last week, a representative for the festival reportedly reached out to Live Nation and AEG to field a $20 million investment to save the fest, but the concert promoters passed on the opportunity.
Very alarming news concerning Peabo Bryson. The Grammy and Oscar Award-winning singer, suffered a mild heart attack at his home in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 27, 2019.
A representative tells us that he is currently listed in stable condition and is awake and responsive. Both his medical team and family are optimistic for a speedy recovery. The rep tells us,
At this time, privacy is requested; however, the thoughts and prayers of friends and fans are welcomed and appreciated.
Halle Berry Shows Off her Killer Legs In Gorgeous Wrap Dress For ‘John Wick’ Press
All hail a queen! Halle Berry looked like royalty when she stepped out for a press day on April 28, donning a cosmic inspired wrap dress.
Halle Berry, 52, was glowing from head to toe when she embarked on a whirlwind press day on April 28, and she shared a magical moment with her five million Instagram followers. The stunning actress hit the streets in an ethereal, galactic inspired dress, and she worked it to perfection. In a video from the day, Halle was seen strutting down the sidewalk while absolutely oozing confidence. Her sultry walk surely had everyone taking notice, and her long, lean legs poked out of her high-low silhouette number. “Out here walking on sunshine 🍎 @johnwickmovie,” she said, ahead of her press day for her new flick.
The star’s dress was chock full of stylish details. The navy number from Hellessy featured a wrap design and cinched at the waist in a large bow. It touted a starry, cosmic deign all-over, and a plunging, v-neck design. The actress paired her daring look with a simple beauty details, leaving her honey-colored locks down in loose waves and donning a clear gloss on her lips. Fans couldn’t get enough of her sultry look and her confident strut! “Sheer natural beauty
Halle is the leading lady in the forthcoming film, John Wick: Chapter 3, in which she co-stars with Keanu Reeves. He also joined Halle for the bustling day of press. Halle stars as Sofia in the film, which marks the third installment of the famed franchise
NFL rookie Corey Ballentine was shot just hours after he was drafted by the New York Giants
Corey Ballentine went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows over the weekend.
Despite playing football at a low-profile Division II school, Ballentine was drafted by the NFL’s New York Giants on Saturday night, the culmination of years of hard work on and off the field.
“I’ve been waiting on this opportunity for a lifetime really,” he told Giants coach Pat Shurmur after hearing the news.
According to reports, But in a tragic turn just hours later, Ballentine was injured in an off-campus shooting in Topeka, Kansas, that killed one of his Washburn University teammates.
Dwane Simmons, a 23-year-old defensive back, was killed in the shooting, said Washburn President Jerry Farley.
Farley said Ballentine, who was drafted in the sixth round by the Giants, is expected to make a full recovery.
“Both Dwane and Corey have been great examples and representatives of the football team and of Washburn University in general,” Farley said in a statement. “This was a terrible way to end a day which should have been a day of celebration and a day to look forward to Dwane’s upcoming year at Washburn and the beginning of Corey’s professional career.”
The Giants said they are aware of the situation and are gathering information.
The Queen Madonna's Upcoming Billboard Music Awards 2019 Performance Will reportedly Cost $5 Million!
Madonna is preparing for a massive performance at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.
The upcoming performance of “Medellin” with Maluma is set to cost $5 million, according to TMZ on Monday (April 29).
Madonna will reportedly pay for the performance herself, with no assistance from Billboard.
It’s being described as “one of the most ambitious performances ever attempted on live TV…a set that’ll include holograms and CGI,” which will last around 7 minutes.
“Medellin” is the lead single from Madonna‘s upcoming album, Madame X.
Taylor Swift's 'ME!' Just Broke Several YouTube Records
Taylor Swift shared her "ME!" video just after midnight EST on Friday (April 26), and unsurprisingly it's already broken several YouTube records. As Entertainment Tonight reports, the colorful clip has become the biggest female and solo 24-hour debut for any music video on the streaming service. The Brendon Urie collab also garnered more views in its first 24 hours than any other of the pop star's videos before it, and has more likes, too.
Swift is the only solo artist to have two videos in YouTube's top 24-hour debut list, the first being "Look What You Made Me Do." Earlier this week BTS broke the record for most-viewed video within 24 hours when they dropped "Boy With Luv," their collaboration with Halsey.
Watch Taylor Swift's record breaking "ME!" video below, and see if you can find all the easter eggs.
The 29-year-old introduced a new member of the family in the "ME!" video too — her third feline baby!
Just before premiering the song, Swift explained its uplifting meaning in a special interview with Good Morning America.
“It’s about embracing your individuality and celebrating it and owning it,” she said. “With a pop song, we have the ability to get a melody stuck in people’s heads. I just want it to be one that makes them feel better about themselves.”
Drake Says Meek Mill Should Be Allowed to Attend Sixers-Raptors Playoff Games in Toronto
Rapper Meek Mill, missed Game 1 of the much-anticipated Toronto Raptors vs Philadelphia 76ers NBA playoffs series in Toronto on Saturday. Toronto won the round 2 opening game 108-95 at Scotiabank Arena. But the Philly native wasn't in attendance because Judge Genece Brinkley, center, refused to give him permission to travel to Toronto.
Drake took to Instagram to express his disappointment, stating it was important to allow Meek to travel to Toronto for Game 1.
"They gotta let Meek into the city," wrote Drake, who is the Raptors' global ambassador. "It's only right... we got a classic series on our hands."
Judge Brinkley denied Meek's request to travel out of the country to attend the series in Toronto, Complex.com reports.
The judge tossed Meek in prison in 2017 for violating his parole stemming from a 2008 weapons possession conviction. Judge Brinkley revoked Meek's parole and sentenced him to serve 2-4 years.
But Meek's celebrity friends rallied public and private sector support for the troubled rapper who was released in 2018 by a Pennsylvania appeals court. Since his release, Meek has attended Sixers games at home and on the road.
Although Meek attended the Golden State Warriors vs L.A. Clippers series on the West Coast last week, he couldn't travel to Toronto to cheer on his favorite team.
Judge Brinkley previously authorized the rapper to travel out of the country to perform concerts in the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
Sixers owner Michael Rubin wrote a scathing rebuke of the judge on Instagram.com, accusing Brinkley of being "obsessed" with the rapper and "trying to control every aspect of his life."
OOOPS!
8 shot, one reported dead after gunfire erupts at 2 cookouts near Baltimore church
Seven people were shot and at least one of them died on Sunday afternoon near Perkins Square Baptist Church in West Baltimore.
Baltimore police were called just after 5 p.m. to the 2500 block of Edmonson Avenue, down the street from the church, where two cookouts were under way on opposite sides of the street, authorities told NBC affiliate WBAL.
A man “began firing indiscriminately into the crowd, striking a number of people,” Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison told WBAL. “There was a second shooter, perhaps firing back, but it’s still unknown, perhaps firing back at the perpetrator.”
One of the victims ran behind Perkins Square Baptist Church, about a block away, and collapsed, reported ABC affiliate WMAR.
The first gunman fled the scene and was still at large Sunday evening, the news outlet said. Six victims went to separate hospitals for treatment, WBAL said.
“That person was targeting one, if not more people in that crowd,” Harrison told WBAL. “There could be other individuals who were injured who may show up at the hospital.”
An eighth victim did later go to a hospital, WMAR reported.
Fox news affiliate WBFF said Baltimore police have confirmed that one of the victims has died.
A reporter for local CBS affiliate WJZ said the shooting, while near the church, was unconnected to the house of worship.
Harrison called for the public’s help in finding the suspect with “the same resilience and the same tenacity to go after him like he came after the people here today.”
Oprah drops $10K on student’s wedding dress
Oprah Winfrey is one of the world’s richest women and she’s sharing the wealth.
The TV mogul, 65, took three girls who graduated from her leadership academy in South Africa to Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills on Saturday and dropped $10,000 on a wedding dress for one of them, according to Daily Mail.
“I’ve known these girls since they were 12 and 13 coming to my school. Graduating from college. Grad school. Now our first wedding. Looking for the perfect dress,” Winfrey captioned a photo of herself with the girls holding up a long-sleeved beaded gown from Berta.
The store was shut down to the public at the time so that Oprah and her former students could browse in peace. Before hitting the dressing room, she also treated them to a meal at Spago, the Wolfgang Puck-owned restaurant.
Though it is not known if the pricey designer dress the four exuberantly held up is, in fact, the one that bride Glori chose for her big day, two of the women present — Morgan Mpungose and Mpumi Nobiva — shared equally exuberant posts about the shopping spree.
This is hardly the first time Winfrey has spoiled alumnae of her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. In 2015, she treated 20 women to a special performance of Broadway’s “The Color Purple” starring Jennifer Hudson, a dinner at New York’s iconic Rainbow Room restaurant and makeup classes with Clinique and MAC. She also regularly hosts them at her own home for dinners straight from her bountiful garden.
Hopefully, Oprah will officiate the upcoming wedding.
Trump Is Expected To Miss “The National Teacher Of The Year” Award Ceremony
Trump has reportedly passed on handing out this year’s National Teacher of the Year honors.
The award and its ceremony is a honored tradition that each U.S. President since Harry Truman.
This year’s honoree, an African American man named Rodney Robinson, is a social studies educator that’s detached at a juvenile detention center in Richmond, Va. Robinson will have to settle on receiving his awards from the Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos .
Last year, Trump recognized the significance of the award and honored Educational leaders and their efforts to reach students everyday.
“Every president since Harry Truman has honored the National Teacher of the Year, and I’m proud to continue this tradition with this year’s recipient: Mandy Manning, of the state of Washington,” Trump said in his speech last year.
At that ceremony, Manning who teaches English to refugees and immigrants handed Trump a letter from an immigrant student that politely urged Donald to clear up his controversial language regarding immigrants and refugees in this country. Perhaps, that experience left a lasting impression on him.
A White House spokesperson for the Council Of Chief State School Officers was quick to point out to Politco.com that there has been occasions in the past where someone other than the president has given out the award, but could not offer any explanation on why Trump will not be able to attend this year.
Meanwhile, Rodney Robinson has vowed to call attention to equitable funding on schools, showcase HBCU, and to continue to promote teaching as a profession.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
