Cynthia Erivo is stunning for Essence Magazine!
“Sometimes I think I am literally the smallest, most unimportant thing in the room…But Harriet was small, like me, and was able to do so much. Playing her taught me that my actions can change the world. I want young women to feel like they, too, have earned a place in this world, and they should use it well…” — “Harriet” star Cynthia Erivo, ESSENCE.com
ON SHOWING HARRIET’S HUMANITY: “…I desperately wanted to show her as a woman. I don’t think we know enough about that. She was a fully realized woman who had love in her life and heartbreak and family she cared for and desperately wanted to be with. That was what drove her…”
ON FIGHTING LIKE HARRIET: “We’re in a dangerous place right now when people who have nothing to do with us are making decisions about our lives and our bodies…We’re watching changes that were made for our freedom getting rolled back. Having done this movie, I feel more impassioned than ever about making sure that we as women are able to preserve our rights…”
LEANING ON FAITH WHILE PLAYING THIS ROLE: “Sometimes showing your faith brings embarrassment because of where we are in the world now. But Harriet’s faith is what kept her alive. I don’t believe I could have been here without something much larger than me giving me health and strength and putting wonderful opportunities in my life, especially when I look back at the last four or five years…”
Get more at Essence Magazine!
#RHOA: Here's Why NeNe Leakes Wasn't In the 'RHOA' Season Premiere!
The "Real Housewives of Atlanta" returned to Bravo on Sunday night, but one of them was completely MIA.
NeNe Leakes missed the season premiere and will reportedly sit out Episode 2 as well -- and now, she's explaining why. Speaking with PEOPLE, the reality TV star says she was still "trying to work my contract out" when they started filming Season 12.
"There were a lot of rumors around the time and I was really skeptical about what I was going to do," she explained. "I really didn't know what I was going to do, I really didn't. I had one foot in and one foot out."
On "The Wendy Williams Show" Monday morning, the talk show host revealed she had been texting with Leakes while watching the new episode last night. NeNe told her she wouldn't appear in the premiere and, when asked if she had any statement she'd like to share with Williams' "cohosts," this is what Leakes sent over:
"No matter how hard they try, when people think about Atlanta 'Housewives' they think about NeNe Leakes and all the comments on social media last night prove that. That is not to say the other girls don't bring it, because they do, it's just factssssss."
Season 11 was a volatile one for Leakes, who was dealing with husband Gregg's cancer diagnosis at the same time as the fallout with her former BFF Cynthia Bailey and a physical altercation with one of the show's cameramen. The reunion was explosive as well, with NeNe telling PEOPLE she was "very hurt" by how her costars treated her at the taping.
"I don't regret anything that happened," she said. "I'm not one of those people who actually express how I feel a lot. I keep that inside, and a lot of [my costars] know that. But I do believe that because somebody is louder or moves more boldly, a lot of time those are the people who always get the finger pointed at them. And honestly, that's always the case with me."
Leakes will make her Season 12 debut in the third episode, airing November 17.
#Empire: Jussie Smollett case might soon blow up on Kim Foxx again!
Hmmmm. Check out this dinner dish with a dash of Smollett sauce.
Pull up a dining chair. Former Obama White House BFF Valerie Jarrett and communications and political consultant Hilary Rosen are hosting a private D.C. dinner Monday to honor their close friend Tina Tchen as the new president and CEO of Hollywood’s Time’s UP, an advocacy organization fighting gender discrimination and sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.
So?
Um, dinner host Tchen, former chief of staff to first lady Michelle Obama and whose top adviser was Jarrett, is the one who weighed in via phone to Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx acting on behalf of the “concerned” family of “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett.
Backshot: Smollett’s incendiary story of racial assault took a dramatic turn when the cops began eyeballing him as the probable puppet master of his own publicity stunt.
Buckshot: Foxx then reached out to Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson to inform him of the Smollett family’s concerns and eventually recused herself from the case because of the contact she had via the Smollett family. The case was then turned over to the Feds.
So?
Um, dinner host Rosen was a top press/publicity adviser during the height of the Smollett scandal.
“I have not worked with Jussie since last spring,” Rosen told Sneed on Friday.
“It was short term and there was nothing more for me to do,” she added. “Tina is not involved and has not been involved since beyond that one phone call (to Foxx about Smollett.)
“We are just a bunch of Washington women who know Tina from when she was at the White House; who are involved in women’s equality and sexual harassment issues; and getting together at the private dinner to honor her.
“This is not a fundraiser.” So? Is there a whiff of something out of whack here? Former Smollett press adviser Rosen co-hosting a dinner for Tchen, whose involvement in the Smollett case raised heavy eyebrows?
“All roads do not lead to Chicago, Jussie Smollett has nothing to do with friends getting together or with Smollett conspiracy theories,” said Rosen. “It is silly to make that connection.”
Former White House insiders tell Sneed Tchen and Jarrett are not only this/close and chummy on the Tinseltown scene, but they got to know Foxx as a frequent visitor at Hollywood fundraising events.
A phone call to Foxx’s office netted this response: “The state’s attorney will be in Chicago Monday night discussing marijuana legalization at the 47th Ward Democratic Organization. Not sure if she was invited anywhere else.”
Smollett’s Chicago case, which still sparks of outrage in Chicago, is now in the hands of special prosecutor/mega legal eagle Dan K. Webb.
Will Webb discover a few former White House spoons were used to simmer down the boiling Smollett stew?
Stay tuned.
#NewMusic from Ariana Grande & Chaka Khan ‘Nobody’ For The ‘Charlie’s Angels’ Soundtrack!
When Ariana Grande shared the tracklist for the Charlie’s Angels Soundtrack a few weeks ago, we knew it would be stacked with her usual collaborators like Nicki Minaj and Victoria Monét. But, one name we couldn’t have ever guessed, and are still pinching ourselves about, is Chaka Khan. Mother Chaka's appearance wouldn't be on a suspicious remake or suspect sample of one of her old songs either but a full-on collaboration with Ariana. For a movie about women's empowerment, it’s only right that the O.G. who sang “I'm Every Woman” makes an appearance on the soundtrack.
Now, how well did the divas of past and present work together? We think Chaka, summed it up best when asked about the track at Variety's Power of Women luncheon, calling it a "cute song" but "not going to change the world." She also let us know she’s just finished a project with Disney, but that’s all she can say about that for now.
LISTEN HERE
Over bustling production of guitar, bass and drums courtesy of Max Martin and ILYA, the ladies let potential suitors know what the business is. Age comes before beauty, with Chaka opening the track by letting the man interested in her affections know that she’s, “Got a job, got a crib, got a mind of my own, honey / But it sure shouldn't mean that you can’t take me home.” Meanwhile, Ariana lays down the rules of engagement. “Ain't got no time for your ego, don’t like it like that, yeah / I could give you sweet lovin’, I'm tellin’ you that,” Grande sings.
The 2019 version of Charlie's Angels hits theatres on November 15th, and the Ariana Grande-co-produced Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is newly released
The 2019 version of Charlie's Angels hits theatres on November 15th, and the Ariana Grande-co-produced Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is newly released
#HipHopNews: Kanye West’s ‘Jesus Is King’ Debuts At No. 1!
Kanye West returns to the top of the Billboard 200 with his record-tying ninth album Jesus Is King, which earned 264,000 equivalent album units in its first week. Of that sum, 109,000 were in album sales.
The gospel-rap album, which features Clipse, Kenny G, and Ty Dolla $ign, becomes West’s ninth consecutive No. 1 debut, tying Eminem for the longest streak in the chart’s history. All of West’s albums between 2005 to 2019 have opened at No. 1 besides his debut album, 2004’s The College Dropout, which peaked at No. 2.
Jesus Is King has the fifth-largest streaming week for any album in 2019, with 196.9 million on-demand audio streams, as well as the second-biggest sales week of the year for a hip-hop/R&B album behind Post Malone’s Hollywood’s Bleeding, which slides to No. 2 this week with 81,000 equivalent album units.
Elsewhere, YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s former chart-topper AI YoungBoy 2 falls 2-4 (64,000), Summer Walker’s Over It drops 3-5 (60,000), and DaBaby’s KIRK slips 4-6 (40,000). Young Thug’s former leader So Much Fun rounds out the top 10 (28,000).
Chris Brown Reunites With Model Indyamarie!
According to Page Six, the “Heat” singer and model Indyamarie reunited over the weekend. They were spotted on a date at West Hollywood hotspot Delilah on Saturday before hitting up Poppy nightclub later in the evening.
“They’re seeing how things go, but she doesn’t want to jump into anything with the baby on the way,” says a source. “They were making out at a house party afterward.”
Brown, 30, and Indyamarie, 25, began dating in April but broke up following reports that Brown is expecting a child with ex Ammika Harris. The baby boy is reportedly due this fall. This will be Brown’s second child. He is also father to daughter Royalty, whom he shares with ex Nia Guzman.
On Tuesday, Chris is hosting a yard sale at his L.A. area home featuring high-end designer items, some of which he has worn in music videos and at red carpet events. The items will be available at discounted prices to his fans, with a portion of the proceeds going towards non-profit organizations that Chris supports.
Following the release of his Indigo: Extended edition last month, he has also been back in the studio.
New Charges for Cuba Gooding Jr. as More Accusers Come Forward!
Last month additional charges were added to actor Cuba Gooding Jr's sealed indictment after a third accuser came forward corroborating the first two accusers accounts of sexual misconduct
Now new charges have been added after more accusers came forward...
According to reports a total of 17 women have accused Cuba Gooding Jr of vulgar and unwanted sexual attention and the courts are trying to decide how many of them will be allowed to take the stand against Cuba during his trial.
Also, with the new accusers more charges have been added to his sealed indictment.
Cuba maintains his innocence.
#LizzoIsOverParty Starts Trending As Fans Accuse Singer Of Not Crediting Ariana Grande For Success Of ‘Good As Hell’!
Another day, another moment where Lizzo is being called out on social media.
This time around, #LizzoIsOverParty has started trending on Twitter as fans blast the singer for not giving props to Ariana Grande.
It started after Lizzo shared that she has two songs that are top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 right now: “Truth Hurts” and “Good As Hell”.
It looks like the issue fans had with Lizzo is that she didn’t acknowledge Ariana, who was featured on the “Good As Hell” remix that was released last month.
Interestingly enough, Lizzo’s original was released three years ago. And that appears to be the one that made it to the top 10. Still, #LizzoPartyIsOver has been trending on Twitter as fans share their thoughts.
Lizzo and Ariana haven’t responded, but Lizzo did remind fans that her original isn’t necessarily a new song.
How do you feel about #LizzoIsOverParty trending?
Maryland Man Stabbed to Death at Popeyes During Fight Over Chicken Sandwich!
A Maryland man is dead after he was fatally stabbed at a Popeyes restaurant in an altercation over the chain’s popular chicken sandwich, which just made a huge comeback this week following a brief hiatus.
According to Baltimore’s WJLA News, the stabbing happened Monday evening (Nov. 4) around 7 p.m. at a Popeyes located on Livingston Road near I-495 in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Police in Prince George’s County said an argument between two men started in the restaurant then spilled into the parking lot, where a 28-year-old man was found suffering from multiple stab wounds.
The stabbing victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died about an hour later.
A spokeswoman for the Prince George County Police Dept. released the following statement:
“Our homicide detectives are hard at work on this one, but we have been able to determine preliminarily that this is related to the release of the sandwich here at this restaurant.”
PGPD officials believe the argument between the gentleman may have started over someone in cutting in line.
Police said the suspect was still at large and they were unable to provide a description of him in a press conference Monday night.
Authorities are asking any witnesses to come forward so that the suspect can be identified and arrested.
A Popeyes employee said the restaurant would be closed (for now) while the investigation continues.
Popeyes just brought their chicken sandwich—the chain’s most popular menu item—back Sunday (Nov. 3) after being sold out since September.
Jason Mitchell Disputes Misconduct Claims That Led To ‘The Chi’ Exit, Says There Was “No Situation”!
Jason Mitchell has broken his silence about being dropped from Showtime series The Chi and the Netflix film Desperados, saying he’s “not 100% sure” what sparked the misconduct claims that led to his career crisis earlier this year.
In a sit-down interview Monday with New York radio program, The Breakfast Club, the actor gave his side of the story.
“To be honest, I’m not 100% sure what the allegations themselves were, but I can tell you what happened,” Mitchell said about being dropped from Desperados this past spring, as production got underway in Mexico.
“We were in pre-production and I went out with a co-worker of mine and she got drunk. Being the person that I am, I felt responsible to make sure she got home,” he said. “We’re in Mexico City and we’re in a foreign land and we should stick together. So I was like, OK, this isn’t where I leave her. I made sure she got home.”
Mitchell said the team behind the film insisted they meet with him and rehearsals were canceled.
“They came to me and they were like, ‘Jason, we need to talk to you about this activity that went on,’” he continued. “They weren’t exactly specific with me about anything, you know? And I was a little baffled about that. But they did pay me in full, you know, before I left.”
He added, “If I did do anything, say anything, to make anybody feel any kind of way, you have my deepest apologies.”
As reported in May, in addition to losing the lead roles in Desperados and the Lena Waithe-created, The Chi, Mitchell was dropped by talent agency UTA, and management company, Authentic Talent & Literary Management, amid allegations of inappropriate behavior.
During the radio interview today, host Charlamagne Tha God asked Mitchell if the allegations at The Chi involved actress Tiffany Boone, who played his on-screen girlfriend.
Mitchell insisted “there actually was no situation” with the actress, adding that season two showrunner Ayanna Floyd Davis “made a statement for Tiffany Boone and also I guess said some things about Desperados and she had a lot to say, but she was the only person that ever made a statement at all.”
He went on to say he supports the #MeToo movement, and accused Floyd Davis of using increased awareness about harassment in Hollywood against him.
“I’m all for the #MeToo movement,” he stated. “But I think, in this situation, Ayanna tried to use it as a really, really ugly weapon.”
Mitchell also insisted that Boone left The Chi for another opportunity.
“Tiffany Boone left the show because she got a better job. She put in two seasons with us and she went on to get a better job. Anybody who knows Tiffany Boone knows that she is the epitome of a Black woman,” he said. “If you try her, she will get you together, right then and there. I encourage people to be more like that. Had me and Tiffany ever had a situation in which she felt sexually harassed, she would have told me about myself in that moment.”
WATCH IT! Will Smith & Martin Lawrence Are Back in 'Bad Boys for Life' Trailer!
The trailer for Bad Boys for Life is here! In the new film, the Bad Boys Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are back together for one last ride together.
Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, and Charles Melton also star in the film, set to hit theaters on January 17, 2020. Be sure to check it out!
WATCH HERE
The original Bad Boys movie first came out in 1995 and we had to wait all this time for a sequel!
Rihanna, Gigi Hadid & More Urge For Death Row Inmate Rodney Reed's Release!
Entertainers, political activists, reality stars, and more have all taken to social media to urge the state of Texas to halt the planned execution of death row inmate Rodney Reed.
Reed, who has spent more than 21 years on death row for the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites in Bastrop, Texas, is accused of assaulting, raping and strangling Stites, but has always maintained his innocence.
Despite the fact that a recently filed affidavit allegedly proves that Reed was not the murderer, he is set to be executed on November 20, CNN reports. However, political commentator and activist Shaun King has made it his mission to get the now 51-year-old Reed released, spearheading a social media campaign, which includes an online petition, over the weekend, calling for Texas Governor Greg Abbott to stop Reed's execution.
Citing reasonable doubt, ignored evidence — which included recanted testimonies, ignored requests for the murder weapon to be tested for DNA, and multiple forensic experts saying "Reed’s guilt is medically and scientifically impossible" — and even an alleged confession from Stites' fiance Jimmy Fennel Jr. as proof of Reed's innocence, Shaun has called upon his famous friends and their fans to help in the freeing of a "free man."
Shaun hasn't been alone in his efforts to free Reed. Last month, Kim Kardashian asked Governor Abbott to intervene in the case and "do the right thing" for Reed. She additionally shared that a new witness has come forward on the record, stating that Reed "was NOT the murderer!!!!"
According to TMZ, "Kim spoke with Reed from death row just last week to discuss his scheduled killing on November 20." Sources told the outlet, "Kim's been working tirelessly behind the scenes to provide legal resources to Reed as he tries to get a stay of execution."
Tyler Perry Studios To Host the 2019 Miss Universe Pageant!
You just don’t build a brand new 330 acre film studio without hosting all kinds of shows and projects.
That’s something that Tyler Perry knows, because the 2019 Miss Universe pageant will be shot at his new Tyler Perry Studios that officially opened last month.
Tyler Perry’s new Atlanta film studio will host the 2019 Miss Universe pageant!
Steve Harvey will host the pageant for the fifth time in a row, and it’ll air live on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 7:00 p.m. EST. on Fox. It’ll also be simulcast live in Spanish on the cable network Telemundo.
And the three-hour show will end with the reigning Miss Universe, Catriona Gray of the Philippines, handing the crown to the new winner.
As for Perry, last month was clearly one for the books as far as his career is concerned. Because on Oct. 1 he received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where he was praised by Idris Elba, Kerry Washington and Crystal Fox, who’ve all worked with him.
And on Oct. 5, the director welcomed a huge array of stars to celebrate the opening of his studio, including people like Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, as well as Viola Davis.
The studio itself has 12 sound stages, each named after important black entertainers. Even Spike Lee, who Perry had a public spat with, has a sound stage named after him.
Perry also recently launched his new shows on BET, which are part of the huge deal he signed with Viacom in 2017.
One of them is “Sistas” that follows the story of four black female friends who find closeness through being single, while “The Oval” follows the lives of the First Couple in The White House.
Both shows premiered on Oct. 23, and Perry is also expected to create a Holiday special for BET, as well as two comedy series.
Dr. Dre’s Music Legacy to be Honored by 2020 Grammys!
Congratulations are in order for award-winning producer Dr. Dre, who will be honored ahead of the 2020 Grammys for his production legacy in hip-hop.
The President and CEO of the Recording Academy, Deborah Dugan, announced on Friday, Nov. 1, that Dr. Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, will be paid homage to by the Producers & Engineers Wing during 2020 Grammys Week.
“Dr. Dre is an influential force in music,” Dugan said in a press release. “Dre breaks boundaries and inspires music creators across every genre. His evolution as a producer solidifies him as a leader of the pack within our industry, and we watch in amazement as he continues to shape the future of music.”
Known as the official kickoff to GRAMMY Week, the signature event will pay tribute to the artistic achievements and innovations of Dre—one of the music industry's most groundbreaking producers of all...
The Producers & Engineers Wing’s celebration of Dr. Dre will take place on Jan. 22 at the Village studios in West Los Angeles and will kick off Grammys Week. The 62nd annual Grammy Awards will take place on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 and will air live on CBS at 8 p.m.
Dr. Dre, 54, who’s a six-time Grammy-winning producer, has worked with some of hip-hop’s most talented artists, including Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Xzibit, Kendrick Lamar, and many more.
The 2018 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee began his music career in the 1980s as a DJ and eventually became a member of the iconic West Coast rap group N.W.A aka “Niggaz wit Attitudes.” He also co-founded Death Row Records with Suge Knight in 1991, but decided to part ways with the label in 1996 due to their apparent disagreement over the creative direction of the company.
In 2008, Dr. Dre partnered with Monster Audio to launch his own line of headphones, Beats by Dre. Beats Electronic was acquired by Apple for $2.6 billion in 2014, a deal that some thought at the time had made the pioneering music producer hip-hop’s first billionaire ahead of Jay-Z.
Dre’s most recent album “Compton,” was released in 2015. Last year, he revealed to the Guardian, he was working on new material for his long-awaited third solo “LP Detox.” He has yet to release any music since.
#CONDOLENCES Nicole Murphy Reveals Her Mother Has Died!
Our hearts go out to Nicole Murphy, who recently revealed her mother, Ellen Mitchell, has died.
Murphy announced the news Monday on Instagram in a heartbreaking caption that read, “Today I lost the most beautiful person in the world to me; my mom. I love you so much. Thank you for all the beautiful times we had together.”
She ended the caption by writing, “Now you can rest in peace with Dad,” referencing her late father, Eddie T. Mitchell.
In a separate post, the mother of five wrote, “Words can’t express how much I miss my best friend. I love you mommy.”
Murphy is the ex-wife of Eddie Murphy. The two, who split in 2006, are the parents of five children ranging from ages 17 to 29.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Murphy and Mitchell families during this difficult time.
Pharrell Says “Blurred Lines” Lawsuit “Hurt” His Feelings: “I Would Never Take Anything From Anyone”!
Rick Rubin and Pharrell sat down for an interview with GQ and opened about the controversial “Blurred Lines” copyright lawsuit.
“Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke was immediately a smash hit upon its release in 2013. The track featured T.I. and Pharrell and reportedly included melodies from #MarvinGaye’s “Got to Give It Up,” which prompted the late singer’s estate to sue the three musicians for copyright infringement. Thicke personally revealed that Gaye’s sound greatly influenced the song, and in 2015, Thicke and Williams were found liable for copyright infringement.
But now, four years later, Pharrell still disagrees with the verdict and says the entire ordeal “hurt” his feelings. “I would never take anything from anyone,” he told Rubin at the 28:00 point of the interview. “It really sent me back.” He added that there was definitely a similar “feeling” between the two songs, but he maintains his belief that copyright was not breached on the record. “A feeling is not something you can copyright,” Rubin responded, as he agreed with Pharrell, saying, “It’s bad for music,” referring to the end result of the case.
“We’ve had an understanding of what a song is, and now, based on that one case, there’s a question of what a song is. It’s not what it used to be. In the past, it would be the chords, the melody, and the words. Your chords your melody and your words; none of them had anything do with [Marvin Gaye’s ‘Got to Give It Up’].”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘GETTING A ‘MOON’ ON’
I guess he was hauling ass to get his shopping done…
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Dace The Muscle Beast🐻💪🏼
Meet Dace! You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
Enjoy!
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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