Issa Rae for Variety - March 2021!
Issa Rae has reached a new deal with HBO that will keep the tandem together for five more years.
Variety reports the new five-year overall deal will bring Issa Rae’s Hoorae media imprint in partnership with WarnerMedia, giving HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros. television exclusive right to Rae’s work in TV, along with a first-look film deal that will reach across WarnerMedia properties including Warner Bros. Pictures Group, New Line and HBO Max.
“It’s really exciting to have that flexibility and just deepen the relationship that we already have,” Rae tells Variety as part of the magazine’s March cover feature. “Hoorae already had at least 15 projects in various stages of development with them, so we’d been working with them on the drama side, the unscripted side, and the documentaries side for a couple years now.”
The deal is reportedly valued at $40 million over the next five years.
Rae added, “When people believe in you and build with you, I tend to want to further that relationship. That’s just been a staple of mine with so many of the people that I work with.”
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia just signed a Restrictive Voting Bill that attacks the Rights of Voters!
The Georgia legislature passed a sweeping measure on Thursday that will dramatically limit access to voting following continual and unfounded claims of fraud after the state voted Democrat in the 2020 presidential race.
Just hours later, Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who has made voter purges a cornerstone of his career, signed the bill critics have called “Jim Crow 2.0” into law.
The new measure will impose new identification requirements on those who vote by mail, imperiling the 200,000 voters who don’t have a driver’s license or state ID number. It will also limit the use of drop boxes for absentee ballots, criminalize voting groups from giving those standing in line to vote food and water and shorten the period for runoff races.
In a statement, Rep. Nikema Williams (D), chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, called the measure the “most flagrantly racist, partisan power grab of elections in modern Georgia history.”
“Though it’s unsurprising that Brian Kemp, the architect of voter suppression, is tying his legacy to this racist, anti-democratic bill, it’s no less shameful,” Williams said. “He and his fellow Republicans are insulting the memory of heroes like John Lewis who risked their lives for the right to vote, and disempowering the millions of Georgians who have exercised that sacred right as a result.”
The bill did weaken some controversial provisions in earlier drafts, including a potential ban on Sunday voting, which were largely seen as transparent attempts to rein in “Souls to the Polls” programs, which have traditionally been used by Black communities to get congregations to vote after church. Critics of the bill, however, argue it will still unduly target communities of color that propelled President Joe Biden to the White House and saw the state elect two Democratic senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
The bill passed with votes of 34-20 in the Senate and 100-75 in the House.
“Why do we rally, why do we protest voter suppression?” state Rep. Erica Thomas (D) said on the House floor Thursday, per The New York Times. “It is because our ancestors are looking down right now on this House floor, praying and believing that our fight, and that their fight, was not in vain.”
Black faith leaders also led a protest outside the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, saying the bill amounted to a new era of voter suppression.
Biden targeted a spate of Republican-led efforts to limit voting rights as “un-American” on Thursday during his first formal news conference as president, calling them “despicable” attacks against democracy. More than a dozen states, including many battleground regions that swung Democrat in 2020, are weighing similar laws.
“What I’m worried about is how un-American this whole initiative is,” the president said. “It’s sick.”
“This makes Jim Crow look like Jim Eagle,” Biden added.
Republicans have touted the bill as an effort to restore trust in elections following the 2020 race, which former President Donald Trump and his GOP surrogates have claimed was rife with voter fraud. Those allegations are untrue, and even the former president’s own officials said the election was the most secure in history. That didn’t stop Trump from attacking Georgia’s election officials while calling on them to “find” votes for him that would overturn the will of the people.
“Our goal is to ensure that voters in Georgia have confidence in the elections process,” state Sen. Max Burns (R) said Thursday, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “This is a solid step in the right direction to provide voter integrity in Georgia.”
In Georgia, hand and machine recounts confirmed that Biden won the state by about 12,000 ballots.
Voting rights groups slammed the new law shortly after it was signed.
″[This bill] is nothing less than an all-out attack on democracy in Georgia and gives Republicans a license to intimidate voters,” Lauren Groh-Wargo, the CEO of Fair Fight Action, said in a statement. “Anyone in Georgia claiming to support access to the ballot must stand up and speak out against this dangerous and fundamentally anti-democratic legislation that is nothing more than a Republican power grab to take control of our elections.”
#RHOA: Cynthia Bailey Reveals Her True Feelings About Marc Daly!
Cynthia Bailey has been successful at maintaining friendships with two of the most notorious women on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Along with once being close friends with NeNe Leakes, Cynthia has also built a bond with Kenya Moore over the years. There have always been cracks in Cynthia and Kenya's friendship, which stem from NeNe's influence on the professional model, but the two have maintained their playful titles as BFFs, via Bravo. "Happy Birthday To my BFF @cynthiabailey10 LOL inside joke," Kenya captioned a 2016 birthday shoutout to her co-star on Instagram. "I love you dearly and no BS in the world will make me see you any differently than I do. You are a kind, loving, honest and amazing woman. I'm proud to be your friend."
The two were by each other's sides during breakups, makeups, and short-lived flings. While Kenya watched Cynthia go through her divorce from Peter Thomas before getting remarried to Mike Hill, Cynthia returned the favor by supporting Kenya throughout her marital woes with restaurant owner Marc Daly, via Bravo. "I've seen all sides to Marc. I've seen Marc where he's just been amazing ... and then I've seen other sides where I don't get it. He's not that nice," Cynthia said during an episode recap (via YouTube). After season 13 showed Marc officially file for divorce from Kenya, Cynthia Bailey continued to express her support for her friend.
After being hit with the reality of Marc Daly's divorce filing, Kenya Moore allowed the cameras inside her therapy session where she opened up about her past like never before, via Bravo. Fans watched as she talked about feeling neglected by her mother and silenced by her family in ways that led to her engaging in toxic relationships with men. While watching the episode back in The Real Housewives of Atlanta After Show, Cynthia Bailey spoke of the "survivor" she sees in Kenya.
"Kenya is a survivor and it goes all the way to her childhood," Cynthia explained before noting how Kenya's past might still be affecting the choices she makes in the present, particularly when it came to her failed marriage to Marc Daly. "I feel like with Marc, people like you can't operate off of mixed signals," Cynthia said. "I think for Marc, even when I had conversations with him, all he does is tell me how great and amazing his wife is. What a great mother she is. She does everything. She's such an amazing mom. He basically brags about her to me." But, Cynthia revealed her surprise when watching the show and seeing how Marc treated his wife privately. "When I see how he treats her, I don't get it," Cynthia said. "It's confusing to watch." Kenya thanked Cynthia for sticking up for her like she's always done. That's what friends are for.
#MusicNews: IT’S HAPPENING SWV ‘Verzuz’ Against Xscape Has Been Confirmed!
HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SWV ‘VERZUZ’ AGAINST XSCAPE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED!
It’s happening!
Fans have been asking for a Verzuz between SWV and Xscape, and it looks like they’re wishes will be coming true. TMZ caught up with Xscape member LaTocha Scott and she revealed the big news.
She confirmed that on May 8th Xscape will go hit-for-hit against SWV which will be the first girl group battle.
Verzuz unveiled the list for the upcoming battles, including The Isley Brothers vs Earth, Wind & Fire on April 4th, and a ‘How High’ special on 4/20 featuring Redman and Method Man.
#HipHopNews: Trina Wants To Do Verzuz With Lil’ Kim!
Trina is down to do Verzuz with Lil’ Kim, she’s just waiting on the call.
While speaking with DJ Scream on 105.3 The Beat (via The Shade Room), the Diamond Princess gave props to the Queen Bee and explained why she would want to be paired up with her.
“Kim is that bitch. Let’s be very clear,” she said. “When I came into the industry, this is who I looked up to, this is the lyrics I recited. This is what made me know that it’s OK to talk that lethal shit and you ni**as not shit. Therefore I would feel like that’s equivalent ’cause Kim is legendary and she got mad records.”
Trina wouldn’t look at it as a battle, but more of a celebration of their careers. “I won’t even feel like a competition ’cause it’s a family thing. I’m probably gonna be so much more engaged in her records than anything ’cause it will go back to when I first heard her, so I’ll be in my vibe like fanned out.”
But despite her interest, she hasn’t heard from Verzuz founders Swizz Beatz or Timbaland. “But nobody reached out, nobody said that,” said Trina.
Back in May, Khia proposed a battle with Trina, who shot down the idea. “I’m not stepping off my throne to address no bum, no chicks that are beneath me, and nobody that has not worked as hard as I’ve worked for anything,” said Trina.
The next Verzuz on April 4 will feature The Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind & Fire, while other upcoming battles including Redman vs. Method Man and SWV vs. Xscape.
Atlanta Police Detain Man With 5 Guns, Body Armor in Local Publix!
Just two days after a man opened fire and killed 10 people in a Boulder, Colorado supermarket, Atlanta police have detained a 22-year-old man who walked into a local Publix armed with several guns.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, on Wednesday (March 24), police were called to the grocery store after a manager alerted them that man had walked into the building armed with a rifle. The man, who has been identified as Rico Marley, walked straight into the bathroom. “A witness observed the male and alerted store management, who then notified police,” Officer Anthony Grant, Atlanta police spokesman, told the outlet.
Officers quickly arrived at the scene and spotted the man exiting the bathroom. He was immediately detained and police found several weapons on him, including three pistols and two long guns.
Marley was interviewed by paramedics and given a psychiatric evaluation. Authorities are still working to find out why he brought so many weapons inside the grocery store. So far, he has been charged with reckless conduct.
Charles Russell, an Instacart delivery worker, says he saw Marley inside the restroom with the guns and immediately alerted the manager, who then called 911. “I seen an AR-15,” he told Channel 2 Action News. “[That] kind of startled me with the events that recently happened in the grocery store up in Colorado.”
A Publix spokeswoman released a statement saying that the safety of employees and customers is their main priority. “We are cooperating with local law enforcement on an incident that occurred earlier today in our Atlantic Station store,” Nicole Krauss wrote in a statement. “We are thankful that there were no injuries and all were able to exit the store safely. The store is currently closed.”
Police were also investigating a “suspicious package” at the same store, although it was not clear whether it was related to the Marley incident, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The paper also reported that multiple police cars were parked outside the supermarket following the incident, with customers being turned away from the store, while one of the main streets in front of the store was temporarily closed.
Chrissy Teigen: 'It's time to say goodbye to Twitter'!
One of Twitter's most popular users is breaking up with the platform. Model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen announced Wednesday evening she would leave the social network, issuing a heartfelt goodbye in a series of tweets that thanked her followers for 10 years of friendship but said the platform's environment had become overwhelmingly negative.
"Hey. For over 10 years, you guys have been my world, I honestly owe so much to this world we have created here. I truly consider so many of you my actual friends," Teigen tweeted to her 13.7 million followers.
"But it's time for me to say goodbye. This no longer serves me as positively as it serves me negatively, and I think that's the right time to call something."
Noting that it's her goal to spread happiness, she also lamented that she not as comfortable responding to public criticism as many might think.
"My life goal is to make people happy. The pain I feel when I don't is too much for me. I've always been portrayed as the strong clap back girl but I'm just not," she tweeted, before deleting the account and all her tweets.
Twitter didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Teigen's departure from the network.
Jay Leno apologizes for anti-Asian jokes over his career: 'A legitimate wrong'!
Amid the wave of escalating violence against Asian Americans, Jay Leno has apologized for his past anti-Asian jokes.
The former late night host expressed his remorse during a Zoom call with Guy Aoki, the leader of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans, according to Variety.
"At the time I did those jokes, I genuinely thought them to be harmless," Leno said. "I was making fun of our enemy North Korea, and like most jokes, there was a ring of truth to them."
"At the time," Leno explained, "there was a prevailing attitude that some group is always complaining about something, so don't worry about it. Whenever we received a complaint, there would be two sides to the discussion: Either 'We need to deal with this' or 'Screw 'em if they can't take a joke.' Too many times I sided with the latter even when in my heart I knew it was wrong."
Leno continued: "I am issuing this apology. I do not consider this particular case to be another example of cancel culture but a legitimate wrong that was done on my part. MANAA has been very gracious in accepting my apology. I hope that the Asian American community will be able to accept it as well, and I hope I can live up to their expectations in the future."
There was no immediate further comment from Leno on his remarks.
The 70-year-old comedian's lines often played on the stereotype that Asians eat dog meat. That was the case in April 2019, when Leno was a guest judge on America's Got Talent. Then-judge Gabrielle Union found it offensive when Leno commented that a painting of Simon Cowell's dogs looked like something "on the menu of a Korean restaurant." Union asked producers to report the incident to human resources, although it was never reported. Leno's comment was cut from the episode before it aired, but it became public in 2019, after Union was fired from the talent competition and reports emerged that, before parting ways with the show, she had spoken against an overall toxic workplace culture. (She later took legal action against the production companies behind the show and others.)
As for Leno, he first appeared on TV in a 1976 episode of Good Times. He became a fixture of the medium when he hosted NBC's The Tonight Show, first from 1992 to 2009 and again from 2010 to 2014. He currently hosts the series Jay Leno's Garage.
Janet Jackson and Kermit the Frog Added to National Recording Registry!
Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation 1814,” Kermit the Frog’s “The Rainbow Connection,” Marlo Thomas & Friends’ “Free to Be… You and Me,” Louis Armstrong’s 1938 rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In” and an 1878 Thomas Edison recording that may be the oldest playable recording of an American voice are among the 25 recordings just added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry.
The registry, created in 2000, designates recordings that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” and are at least 10 years old. Carla Hayden, the librarian of Congress, named this year’s inductees from around 900 nominations by the public.
Jackson’s 1989 album, which scored a record-breaking seven Top 5 singles, may have won the most votes in the public nominating process. But it was Kermit who sat for an interview with Hayden, featured in a video released by the library.
“It seems like only yesterday I was sitting in a swamp, playing the banjo and singing ‘Rainbow Connection,’” the celebrity amphibian said, recalling the opening scene of “The Muppet Movie” (whose aerial shot, he claimed, was captured by Sam the Eagle). “Time sure is fun if you’re having flies … or something like that.”
(The song’s composer, Paul Williams, also popped up for a brief cameo, elaborating on his favorite line of the song: “It’s a line about the immense power of faith — faith in someone or something, or a big idea,” he said. “Sometimes the questions are more beautiful than the answers.”)
The newly designated recordings cover a broad swath of American sound, sampling opera, jazz, country, radio broadcasts, folk (in several languages) and recent pop hits, including Patti LaBelle’s 1974 single “Lady Marmalade,” Jackson Browne’s 1974 album “Late for the Sky,” Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole’s 1993 single “Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” and Nas’s 1994 album “Illmatic.”
The oldest recording is by Edison, made in St. Louis in July 1878, a few months after he invented his tape recording machine. Recorded on a piece of tinfoil, and running 78 seconds, it is believed to be the oldest playable recording of an American voice, and the earliest surviving document capturing a musical performance. It went unheard until 2013, when scientists announced they had developed a way to recover the sound from the foil. (The library calls it “surprisingly listenable.”)
The most recent is “The Giant Pool of Money,” the radio show This American Life’s 2008 episode about the subprime mortgage crisis.
Other nonmusical recordings include Phil Rizzuto’s play-by-play of Roger Maris’s 61st home run on Oct. 1, 1961 (holy cow!), and a 1945 radio episode of the soap opera “The Guiding Light,” described as the longest-running scripted program in broadcast history, having run on radio and then television from 1937 to 2009.
The registry also includes lost pop hits like “Nikolina,” a 1917 song by Hjalmar Peterson, a Swedish immigrant who settled in Minnesota and became hugely popular among Swedish-Americans. Peterson recorded the song — described as recounting “his comical difficulties with his father-in-law” — three times, selling 100,000 copies total.
The registry so far includes 575 recordings in total. Some of the newly selected recordings are already preserved by the copyright holders, the artists or other archives. But where they are not, the Library of Congress, whose recorded sound collection includes nearly 3 million items, will work to ensure that they are preserved and available to future generations.
Houston Tumlin, child actor in 'Talladega Nights,' dies at 28!
Former child actor Houston Tumlin, who played the son of Will Ferrell's character in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," has died by suicide, authorities said Wednesday.
The 28-year-old died in his Pelham, Alabama, home on Tuesday afternoon, Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans told NBC News.
Tumlin's girlfriend was at home at the time and discovered his body, according to the coroner.
It did not appear the former actor left a note behind. He had served in the armed forces and suffered from PTSD and depression, Evans said.
"Talladega Nights," released in 2006, was Tumlin's only acting credit. He played Walker Bobby, the foul-mouthed 10-year-old son of Ferrell's lead character, Ricky Bobby.
He enjoyed one particularly memorable scene when he and his on-screen brother — Texas Ranger Bobby, played by Grayson Russell — shamelessly back-talked their grandfather, played by Ted Manson, at the dinner table.
Directed by Adam McKay, he movie's star-studded cast included Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jane Lynch, Leslie Bibb, Andy Richter, Molly Shannon, Michael Clarke Duncan, Greg Germann, Gary Cole and Amy Adams.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
Political Correspondent Abby Phillip Announces She’s Expecting A Baby Girl!
Political correspondent Abby Phillip just announced she is expecting a baby girl.
According to Blavity, Phillip announced during a recent interview with Gayle King for The Cut. King spoke to Phillip about her meteoric rise to the top and how she’s navigating it all. Phillip got her start at Politico before a stint as a fellow with ABC News. Eventually, she got hired at CNN, working as a political correspondent for The Washington Post. It was there she made a name for herself, covering former president 45. The 32-year-old has since risen through the ranks, recently presiding over the Democratic Presidential debate. She debuted the Kamala Harris: Making History documentary about the first Black woman VP and landed a new network show, Inside Politics Sunday with Abby Phillip.
The 32-year-old credits her ability to navigate the business to the support of her husband, Marcus Richardson, whom she has been with for nearly ten years. The two tying the knot back in May 2018.
“Look, if you’re in this business, you can’t do it without someone who is flexible because your life is just a mess. It’s unpredictable; it’s busy, it’s ever-changing. And he’s just always like, ‘What do you need? How can I help you?’ I remember one of our first dates - we were supposed to meet up, and I left my wallet at home, and I was an hour and a half late. He just waited and wasn’t pissed off. I swear to God, I knew then,” Abby told King.
Phillip then revealed to King that the two were expecting a baby girl, admitting that the pregnancy has helped her realize her strength.
“The experience of pregnancy has only made me become more in awe of what we as women are able to endure. It was tough, battling morning sickness while balancing a demanding job with long, unpredictable hours. But it has been a reminder of what I am capable of - and what so many women do every day,” she said.
The Maryland native took to social media to share the good news, captioning a picture of her on the cover of The Cut, saying, “[We] are having a baby girl this summer! I shot this cover when I was 4 months pregnant, and I can’t wait to be able to tell my baby girl that she was on the cover of a magazine...there are just no words.”
Congratulations Abby! We are so happy for you!
Sherri Shepherd thinks Sharon Osbourne 'was definitely crossing the line' with 'The Talk' drama!
Sherri Shepherd is weighing in on The Talk drama.
In an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, Shepherd — a veteran of rival talk show The View — says she thinks Sharon Osbourne "definitely was crossing a line" with co-host Sheryl Underwood during the The Talk's March 10 on-air debate about racism. The show saw "Mrs. O" lash out at Underwood for questioning her defense of Piers Morgan's controversial comments. The Talk was put on an extended hiatus amid CBS's investigation into the heated show — as well as subsequent allegations of racism against Osbourne, including by former co-host Leah Remini.
Having gone through seven seasons of "Hot Topics" on The View, Shepherd feels, "It crosses a line when you're a grownup and somebody tells you what you can and cannot do emotionally. When they tell you: You are not allowed to cry," which Osbourne told Underwood during the emotional exchange.
"Um, I'm grown," Shepherd says her reaction would be. "I'm raising children. This is a job for me, the way it is for you. So how dare you tell me how I can act? I think that was definitely crossing the line. I would expect an apology to be forthcoming because you're two grown women."
During Shepherd's time on The View, from 2007 to 2014, she says they "never had an implosion" to that degree "because we had a great deal of respect for each other," referring to then co-hosts including Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar. "That's a respect thing... If we would get into spats, an apology came right away because we cared about each other."
Osbourne has been defending herself since, giving interviews in which she denied she's racist. She claims she was set up by CBS, ambushed with the segment, and blames cancel culture for the fallout with the claims by former co-hosts Remini and Holly Robinson Peete a "pile on."
However, Shepherd says, "It's a little bit hard to say, 'I'm not racist' when you get other reports from credible people," which she called "pretty damning," and "people see you defending [Morgan], who has made comments that were racial in nature... That's a little bit hypocritical."
However, "I think every situation is different. I really do. And that's why they're having an investigation," she says.
Shepherd does wish there was more concern over Underwood though.
"I think this has been hard because nobody's talking about Sheryl," she adds. "I think everybody's been talking about Sharon, Sharon, Sharon. But what did Sheryl Underwood have to go through on The Talk when she had to speak in very slow and measured terms, and to talk to Sharon while Sharon was going off. When they tried to cut to commercial and you hear curse words coming out of Sharon's mouth. They've been together [10] seasons. What was that for her? I think that's a hard thing to have a woman talk to you in that kind of way. As well as a trigger for a lot of women who have to be in this situation of someone treating you like you're less than."
And if it had played out in the reverse, Shepherd thinks Underwood "wouldn't have a job."
The investigation into the The Talk has been extended twice since it was first announced. It's unclear when the show will resume — with this week being all re-reruns.
Osbourne has apologized "to anyone of color that I offended" with her comments on the show. She's called the subsequent allegations "crap." She has also said she tried to reach out to Underwood, but her co-host hasn't returned her calls. Osbourne also speculated that she'll be fired by CBS after the investigation, calling herself a "sacrificial lamb," though she added that she's not even sure she wants to return after how this played out. Osbourne has also received death threats over all of this.
A CBS spokesperson has said of the situation, “CBS is committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace across all of our productions. We’re also very mindful of the important concerns expressed and discussions taking place regarding events on The Talk. This includes a process where all voices are heard, claims are investigated and appropriate action is taken where necessary. The show will extend its production hiatus ... as we continue to review these issues.”
Kevin Hart Gives Daughter Extravagant Gift For 16th Birthday!
Kevin Hart surprised his daughter Heaven with a black Mercedes SUV on her 16th birthday.
The Night School star threw a lavish surprise bash for the teenager’s milestone birthday this month.
The party’s organizers, bDASHd, shared some footage from the celebration on their Instagram Story, including the moment Heaven set eyes on her shiny new ride covered in giant red bows.
Heaven — whose mother is Hart’s first wife Torrei — also had an outdoor cinema with “My Hero Academia” manga decorations and a three-tier cake.
The comedian also has Hendrix, 13, with Torrei — who he split from in 2011 — and Kenzo, 3, and Kaori, 5 months, with second wife Eniko.
Meanwhile, the 41-year-old star previously gushed about how “blessed” he was to be expanding his brood before welcoming his youngest child into the world in September.
He said at the time: “I’m excited. [I’m] about to be a family of six. Two girls, two boys, two dogs. I would’ve never imagined this in a thousand years. It’s a beautiful thing. I’m blessed beyond my years. [I’m] just holding my breath and getting ready for what’s to come. That’s what I’m doing.”
The Hollywood star also admitted that while the COVID-19 pandemic has been “catastrophic” for those who have lost loved ones, he’s loved every minute of being at home with his family.
He said: “You don’t wanna see anything happen where people are losing their lives, where it’s a catastrophic moment. The best thing is just continued time with my wife and my kids, actually sitting down, actually being home, being present. It’s been unreal.”
Jamie Foxx Lands Deal With ViacomCBS MTV Entertainment Group!
Jamie Foxx has inked a new deal with ViacomCBS MTV Entertainment Group.
The “Ray” star and his producing partner Datari Turner will executive produce original films with Blacks and other people of color. The MTV Entertainment Group consists of MTV, Pop TV, Paramount Network, Comedy Central, CMT, Smithsonian Channel, VH1, TV Land, Logo, and MTV Documentary Films.
Trevor Rose EVP, Head of Talent and Content Development for MTV Entertainment Group, confirmed the new partnership.
“Jamie Foxx and Datari Turner are creative forces whose talent is boundless. Together, we share a vision of cultivating emerging BIPOC filmmakers and telling multicultural stories that will make an impact.”
Foxx’s deal is just the latest in the string of MTVE executive producer deals with Black creators. Idris Elba, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, and Regina Hall are among the Black actors who have partnered with the company.
Elsewhere in his illustrious career, Foxx has landed a role as Mike Tyson in a new mini-series about the legendary boxer’s life and career. He has also been nominated for an NAACP Image Award and a SAG Award for his stellar performance in “Just Mercy.”
Rachel Levine Makes History As 1st Openly Trans Federal Official Confirmed By Senate!
The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Dr. Rachel Levine as assistant secretary for health in the Department of Health and Human Services. The vote is a history-making one: Levine is the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the Senate.
The vote was 52-48 in favor of her confirmation.
Levine was previously Pennsylvania's secretary of health, where she led the commonwealth's COVID-19 response.
Before the vote, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., urged her colleagues to support Levine's nomination, calling her a "trusted voice" for Pennsylvanians on matters, including opioid prescribing guidelines, health equity and LGBTQ health care.
Murray also noted the significance of the vote.
"I've always said the people in our government should reflect the people it serves, and today we will take a new historic step towards making that a reality. I'm proud to vote for Dr. Levine and incredibly proud of the progress this confirmation will represent, for our country and for transgender people all across it who are watching today," she said.
Levine began her medical career as a pediatrician at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, and she is a professor at the Penn State College of Medicine, where she teaches on topics such as adolescent medicine, eating disorders and transgender medicine. She is a graduate of Harvard College and the Tulane University School of Medicine.
In a statement in January about the nomination, President Biden said Levine "will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their ZIP code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability — and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond."
Last month's confirmation hearing for Levine included combative questioning by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., in which the lawmaker demanded to know if Levine believes minors are capable of making "such a life-changing decision as changing one's sex," comparing sex reassignment procedures to "genital mutilation."
Levine replied, "Transgender medicine is a very complex and nuanced field with robust research and standards of care that have been developed and, if I am fortunate enough to be confirmed as the assistant secretary of health, I will look forward to working with you and your office and coming to your office and discussing the particulars of the standards of care for transgender medicine."
In her role as Pennsylvania's health secretary, Levine faced "relentless comments and slurs" about her gender identity, Gov. Tom Wolf said in a statement last summer.
Levine was previously the state's physician general, a post for which she was unanimously confirmed.
"With very few exceptions my being transgender is not an issue," Levine told The Washington Post in 2016. She said then that it's her work for which she wants to be known.
"I'm very confident in who I am," she said.
Vanessa Bryant & Daughter Natalia Get New Tattoos To Honor Kobe & Gianna!
Vanessa Bryant has a new tattoo buddy — her 18-year-old daughter Natalia.
On Tuesday (March 24), the proud mom and her eldest daughter got new tattoos to honor their late loved ones, Kobe and Gianna. For the mother-daughter duo's tattoo session, they called up famed tattoo artist Nikko Hurtado to make a house call.
Vanessa shared multiple videos of her and Natalia's late-night tattoo session, captioning one post, "(All my tatts are single needle to keep the lines clean)...jokingly referred to as “vato style” in this video since I’m still using this older historical process." She added, "This style is not really called “vato style” (for you LITERAL headline writing folks).... It’s referred to as Single Needle🪡 🤦🏻♀️. First tatt of the night done.... 8 hours to decide on the font 🙃😁 @nikkohurtado #Mambacita ❤️🦋 Thank you @bjbetts for collaborating with Nikko on my font! Tatt took 5 mins. ❤️"
She later unveiled her new ink — "Mamabicita" written in cursive on her wrist. The tat is a tribute to her late 13-year-old daughter Gianna, who earned the nickname from her basketball legend father, who was known as the Black Mamba.
As for Natalia, she got two tattoos during the session. Her first being a tattoo on her finger that reads "Muse"— a clear nod to Kobe's 2015 documentary of the same name. Unfortunately, Vanessa, who was behind the camera, didn't put her phone close enough to Natalia's wrist for fans to see what she got for her second tattoo.
After their tattoo session was completed, Vanessa and Natalia gifted Nikko with a pair of Kobe 6 Protro sneakers.
Cannabis Legalization in NYC Could Be Near As Lawmakers Roll Up Deal!
Gov. Andrew Cuomo hopes the state's chances of legalizing cannabis don't go up in smoke — and it appears lawmakers are ready to roll up a deal.
Cuomo on Wednesday listed legal weed as his first priority for the state's upcoming budget, which has an April 1 deadline.
"Getting it done by the time the budget is passed is essential," he said.
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Within minutes of Cuomo's statement, State Sen. Liz Krueger that legislative leaders reached a deal to legalize recreational marijuana, Bloomberg Government reporter Keisha Clukey first reported.
Other outlets, such as the Wall Street Journal, reported afterward that New York is poised to become the 15th state to legalize cannabis. Lawmakers likely will vote next week on a measure that takes effect by next year, according to the Journal.
It's a long-sought goal by advocates, many lawmakers and Cuomo himself. He admitted Wednesday that three years of attempts to legalize hemp and recreational marijuana failed to spark up.
The inaction left the state's would-be cannabis industry high and dry as legal markets got set up in Massachusetts and across the river from New York City in New Jersey.
Legal pot in neighboring states effectively ends the debate, Cuomo said.
"We have passed the point of legalized cannabis," he said.
Cuomo's even-more-outspoken support for legalized cannabis came amid a news conference packed with announcements.
And for the first time in days, Cuomo also took questions from reporters. WABC's Dave Evans asked about increasing doubts about whether he can perform his job amid a sexual harassment scandal and potential impeachment inquiry.
"I say it's clearly not true," Cuomo said. "Because the reality is the exact opposite."
Not all politicians are so sure. Mayor Bill de Blasio just that morning again said Cuomo can no longer govern.
"I think he should resign so we can move forward in this state," de Blasio said.
Cuomo's vocal stance on legalizing cannabis — a popular issue in the state — belies that state lawmakers have been working on such a measure independently from the budget.
Krueger told the Wall Street Journal that a soon-to-be-finalized bill would create a new state regulator for cannabis products, decriminalize possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana and allow New Yorkers to cultivate marijuana for their personal use.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘MAD MAX’
Welp we did it, we’ve officially started the phase of quarantine where we’re all starting to transform into the Mad Max society.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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