Zazie Beetz Covers ELLE’s May ‘Rising Stars’ Issue!
In ELLE’s May 2021 Rising Stars issue, on newsstands May 4, Zazie opens up about dealing with impostor syndrome, feeling uncomfortable on set and using her platform to help people to understand the significance of community and why people of color will be hit the hardest by climate change—and to extend an open hand to anyone who is interested in engaging with the movement: “The climate movement can feel very white,” Beetz says. “I wanted people to see that there are so many people who look like me already doing the work.”
On finding it difficult to feel comfortable on set and why she’s so excited to go back to shooting Atlanta: “I’m inherently an introverted person, so going on set can be hard for me,” she says. “It takes me months to really feel comfortable. And by the time I do, it’s over.” Which is why she’s so happy to soon be back with her Atlanta castmates, after wrapping the second season three years ago. “I’m really excited to be going back to shooting Atlanta because “I’m just like, I’ll be with a family,” she says.
As the daughter of a white German cabinetmaker and a Black American who works at a nonprofit, Beetz has been exploring her relation to race and identity since childhood. She was born in the Mitte district of Berlin, its centermost borough, about two years after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The year before she was born, her father, whom she describes as “very much a German man,” visited the United States for the first time and fell in love with Beetz’s mother. Once her mom became pregnant, they moved to Germany and got married. But they didn’t stay long—Beetz’s mother had a difficult time because she couldn’t find many others who looked like her, so they moved back to America, settling in New York City. When Beetz visited her German grandparents every summer, “I wouldn’t see another person of color for weeks, at all, no one…not any other color,” she says. “And if you did, you would wave at each other and be like, ‘Hi. I see you.’ ” Nevertheless, Beetz identifies very strongly as both Black and German, and constantly assesses the differences in her experiences in Europe and the U.S. She observes how much Berlin is changing after a century of political turmoil and upheaval. Even her mother, who didn’t return to the country until 2019, is finding new ways to process the transformation. “She was like, ‘Wow! I could live here now,’ ” Beetz says.
On wanting to play characters who are complicated, because they feel the most truthful: “I find characters who are really grappling with what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong—I feel like that’s such a reflection of life to me, always reevaluating based on context and on your experience.”
Beetz’s choice of roles has brought her much success—and also a touch of impostor syndrome. Her rise was fast. In 2014, just one year out of college, she booked her first gig. The following year, she booked Atlanta. “I think initially I just really felt like, Have I paid my dues? Do I deserve this?” she says. Throughout her career, Beetz has been vocal about her struggles with success, including a fear of failure and of being unable to meet the expectations of her audience, casting directors, and coworkers. But her Atlanta costar Brian Tyree Henry says her talent was apparent from the jump. “Zazie has such a power and presence about herself that is so undeniable,” he says. “She has this fantastic gift of being completely rooted, but light as air at the same time. Not many can give characters the grace and willingness that she does…. There is a simplicity to her pain, her joy, her struggle that makes it so seamless to follow any journey she is on.”
Beetz wants to use her platform to help people to understand the significance of community and why people of color will be hit the hardest by climate change—and to extend an open hand to anyone who is interested in engaging with the movement. “The climate movement can feel very white,” Beetz says. “I wanted people to see that there are so many people who look like me already doing the work.”
#RHOA: Reunion: Drew Sidora's Husband Ralph Pittman Is Confronted About His 3-Day Trip to Tampa!
Drew Sidora's husband is coming clean about his three-day trip to Tampa.
During part one of the Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion on Sunday, Ralph Pittman joined his wife Drew, host Andy Cohen and the peach-holding Housewives to discuss season 13 — specifically his last-minute, unannounced solo trip to Florida.
Reading a question from a fan, Andy asked Drew if when Ralph "took off, did it occur to you that he was with another woman? If so, did you address that with him?"
"Of course that went through my mind, but Ralph has never given me a reason to think he's been unfaithful," Drew, 35, told Andy.
As a recap, during the couple's six-year anniversary dinner, which was televised, Drew confronted Ralph about his time in Tampa — a last-minute getaway that he took without consulting her. During the meal, Drew accused Ralph of spying on their family while he was away.
But Drew wasn't the only one who wanted answers from Ralph. According to the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen host, 52, the network "received a tremendous amount of questions about" his trip down south, "so obviously everyone wants to know ... who or what was in Tampa for three days?"
Taking the hot seat at the reunion, Ralph said, "I needed to get away, you know, the beach is like, my place of refuge."
When Andy pointed out to Drew that Ralph "wouldn't even tell you what hotel he was in," the Step Up actress confirmed that couple's therapy gave her more insight about his time away from home.
"We went to counseling and he actually printed off the hotel receipts, so I did see the dates of the hotel. He actually showed me restaurant receipts where it said number of guests and it said one," explained Drew.
Ralph continued, "I went for a run," as Drew chimed in, "He went for a run, so I was able to see where he was."
Though Andy said that Tampa is "like, the stripper capitol of the country," Ralph denied visiting any exotic dancer businesses.
"I didn't go to any strip clubs. I spent the entire time by myself, no other women," said Ralph.
Not believing his story? Kandi Burruss, who "personally felt like you should have been more forthcoming with information sooner," she told him.
Ralph acknowledged, "You're absolutely right. Something I apologized to my wife, correct?" he asked Drew, who confirmed his apology.
He also made a promise to never take a trip like that again. "I apologize to everybody that I actually struck a nerve and I can promise you this ... I will never leave again without Drew knowing where I'm going," he told the women.
While the couple has faced their share of trials, they are committed to making their marriage work.
"Listen, we've almost been divorced a few times. And I think for us, counseling has just been the key for us," said the mother of three, who shared that they attend couple's counseling weekly.
She later added about their marriage, "it's perfect for me and it's perfect in God's eyes."
Part two of the three-part Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion airs Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
#NewMusic from BJ the Chicago Kid, PJ Morton & Kenyon Dixon Tribute Sam Cooke on “Bring It On Home To Me”!
Standout vocalists PJ Morton, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Kenyon Dixon come together with guitarist Charlie Bereal to a beautiful tribute to Sam Cooke on “Bring It On Home To Me”.
The tribute was additionally inspired by Cooke’s character in the recently released movie “One Night in Miami”. The quartet take that inspiration to the visual for the song which you can watch here as well.
WATCH AND LISTEN HERE
The song was originally recorded as a duet between frequent collaborators PJ Morton & BJ the Chicago Kid, before they eventually added Dixon and Bereal.
#HipHopNews: Walmart Starts Beef With Kanye West Over Yeezy Logo!
Kanye West has inadvertently entered into a trademark war with Walmart over logo similarities.
Walmart filed a complaint with the US Patent and Trademark Office on April 21 after Kanye West's Yeezy brand submitted a logo design the retail corporation deemed too similar to their own. Yeezy LLC entered a filing for a new design on Jan. 3, 2020, which resembles the sun and is made up of eight three-dotted black spokes. The design does look close to the Walmart logo, which depicts six solid lines with rounded ends that looks like a sun also. Walmart's logo is also yellow and is referred to by the retail company as their "spark design."
According to a separate portion of the retail giant's legal filing, which was obtained on Wednesday (April 28), along with their concerns of confusion for shoppers, the retail store is worried about "a false affiliation" that could "injure and damage" Walmart's relationship with other brands they work with.
Walmart did not offer a statement, but the company did share a letter issued to Yeezy brand's lawyers, Timothy Yoo and Robert Rose, on April 19. Rose appears to have filed the trademark for the logo.
The statement reads in part: "As expressed in Walmart’s previous correspondence, Walmart believes the logo design depicted in the Yeezy Application is confusingly similar to Walmart’s well-known spark logo design pictured below ("Walmart Spark Design"). Because of Walmart’s concerns, Walmart filed for an extension of time to oppose registration of the Yeezy Application in the hope that Yeezy and Walmart could reach an agreement about the manner in which the Walmart Spark Design and Yeezy Application could co-exist without consumer confusion. As we have previously mentioned, with the little information provided in the intent to use application, it is difficult for Walmart to determine, without more information from Yeezy, how the parties could work together to eliminate confusion."
The email continues: "As we referenced in our correspondence in July and August of 2020, January and February of 2021 and our telephone conference in March of 2021, Walmart has repeatedly sought to understand Yeezy’s planned use of the Yeezy Application, with the goal of finding ways in which the Walmart Spark Design and the Yeezy Application can co-exist with one another. However, to date, we have not received any conclusive information from Yeezy regarding the planned use or any cooperation from Yeezy in order to find common ground."
Walmart added that they haven't received "any substantive feedback, in order for Walmart to preserve its rights and protect the Walmart Spark Design, Walmart must move forward in filing a Notice of Opposition against the Yeezy Application."
After acquiring deals with the Gap, Inc. and Adidas, the Yeezy clothing and sneaker brand has reportedly been valued between $3.2 billion and $4.7 billion by UBS Group AG. ’Ye launched Yeezy with Adidas back in 2015 after parting ways with Nike in 2013.
Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Lands On 'Time100 Most Influential Companies' List!
Rihanna's Savage X Fenty company is not only a billion-dollar business, it's one of the 100 most influential companies in the world!
On Wednesday (April 28), TIME magazine released its first-ever "TIME100 Most Influential Companies" list — an expansion of their TIME100 franchise— that "highlights businesses making an extraordinary impact around the world."
The diverse list features various businesses across sectors, including health care, entertainment, transportation, technology, fashion and more. According to TIME, they evaluated each company on key factors, including "relevance, impact, innovation, leadership, ambition, and success," and came up with a list of influential 100 businesses that are "helping to chart an essential path forward."
Rihanna's global lingerie brand, which launched in May 2018, earned a spot on the exclusive list for more reasons than one. However, TIME cited its resonating ethos, which centers on size-inclusivity and body positivity, as one of the main reasons for the online brand's incredible growth by more than 200% in 2020, despite the pandemic. TIME also noted Savage X Fenty's recent investment round that will expand Savage X Fenty into the world of physical retail.
In February, Forbes reported that Savage X Fenty was worth a whopping $1 billion after raising its $115 million Series B funding round at a $1 billion valuation for its upcoming retail expansion and its plan to expand into a line of athletic wear. The investment reportedly put the brand "in a position to be the global lingerie market leader by 2025."
See the complete list of TIME100 Most Influential Companies HERE!
Willow Smith Says She’s Polyamorous And Why The Concept Of Marriage 'Irks' Her!
Willow Smith opened up about being polyamorous on the latest episode of "Red Table Talk."
Smith said she was partly interested because she "was introduced to it through a nonsexual lens."
The 20-year-old star also said the problematic history of marriage "really irks" her.
Willow Smith opened about how she became polyamorous and why the problematic history of marriage frustrated her.
"With polyamory, I feel like the main foundation is the freedom to be able to create a relationship style that works for you and not just stepping into monogamy because that's what everyone around you says is the right thing to do," Smith said on the latest episode of "Red Table Talk" on Facebook Watch, which was released on Wednesday.
She added: "So I was like, 'How can I structure the way that I approach relationships with that in mind?' Also, doing research into polyamory, the main reason why divorces happen is infidelity."
Smith was joined at the table by her cohosts Jada Pinkett Smith (her mother) and Adrienne Banfield-Norris (her maternal grandmother). On the episode, the three family members had a candid discussion about polyamory, which is defined as openly engaging in more than one romantic relationship at the same time.
Polyamory falls under the umbrella of ethical nonmonogamy, a dating practice in which partners can openly date multiple people without deceit or infidelity. There is no single way to engage in nonmonogamy, as relationship structures can include from throuples (composed of three people dating each other) and polycules (which involve four or more people dating each other).
Smith, who's the daughter of Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, said one of the reasons she was interested in ethical nonmonogamy was that she "was introduced to it through a nonsexual lens."
"In my friend group, I'm the only polyamorous person, and I have the least sex out of all my friends," the 20-year-old star said in response to Banfield-Norris suggesting that people are gravitating toward polyamory because of sex.
According to Hailey Gill, a nonbinary fursuit designer who has been practicing polyamory for over 10 years, nonmonogamous dating can give people the freedom to love more than one person at once in an ethical way.
While common stereotypes about polyamorous relationships include being greedy or just wanting to have a lot of sex, poly people told Insider the relationships could go much deeper.
"I wish people knew that polyamory is more than just for sex," Gill previously told Insider. "It's a way to bond and share your love with more than one person and to show everyone a caring partner."
Pinkett Smith said she was supportive of her daughter's decision to be polyamorous
"I was like, 'I totally get it,'" the 49-year-old actress said. "Wanting to set up your life in a way that you can have what it is that you want, I think that anything goes as long as the intentions are clear to everyone, more to yourself than anything."
The cohosts were also in agreement that whether a person practices monogamy or polyamory, it has to be a decision that they make for themselves.
"That's the only part about marriage today and monogamy today that I think is antiquated, that monogamy has to be your choice," Pinkett Smith said. "It can't be because I'm told I'm supposed to do it this way. That, my dear, is deeply antiquated and no longer works."
Research suggests more people are considering different dating styles.
A study published by the Kinsey Institute in 2019 found 81% of survey respondents said they had fantasized about open relationships at least once in their lives.
Pinkett Smith discussing polyamory on "Red Table Talk." Red Table Talk/Facebook
When asked to share her thoughts on marriage, Smith said she was primarily against it
Smith said she would consider the union only if there was a common purpose.
"The history of marriage really irks me, just the history of marriage as a whole and what it has represented over the years for women in particular," she said.
Smith added: "I feel like the only way that I would get married is, let's say me and my partner or partners wants to help people and we need to put our finances together to make that vision happen. That's the only way I could see myself getting married."
"There has to be a purpose beyond, 'I think you're cute,'" she added.
After speaking with guests on "Red Table Talk" who practice polyamory, Smith said: "I feel so excited and seen because I've been studying polyamory for a really long time, and I just want to show that there is so much here to be mined and to be uncovered."
Former Actor Tommy 'Tiny' Lister Died Of Heart Disease!
Actor Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister died as a result of heart disease.
Los Angeles coroners have ruled hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease was the cause of the Friday star’s passing in December, although he did also test positive for COVID-19.
His manager, Cindy Cowan, had previously revealed the former wrestler had been struggling with shortness of breath in the days before he was found unconscious in his Marina Del Rey home.
According to documents obtained by TMZ, coroners also found the 62-year-old had fluid in his chest at the time of his passing, while he also had an enlarged heart with high blood pressure, poor circulation in his legs, and coronary artery disease.
2021 Billboard Music Awards Nominations Revealed - See Full List of Nominees!
The 2021 Billboard Music Awards are set to take place in just a few weeks and the nominees have finally been revealed!
The nominees were unveiled on Thursday (April 29) by the official chart company.
The Weeknd leads with the most nominations as he’s nominated 16 times! He’s up for top artist, top male artist, top Hot 100 artist, top streaming songs artist and top song sales artist, among other categories.
The 2021 Billboard Music Awards are set to air on NBC and will broadcast in across the country at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Sunday, May 23, from the Microsoft Theater.
ARTIST AWARDS
Top Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top New Artist
Gabby Barrett
Doja Cat
Jack Harlow
Pop Smoke
Rod Wave
Top Male Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd
Top Female Artist
Billie Eilish
Ariana Grande
Dua Lipa
Megan Thee Stallion
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group
AC/DC
AJR
BTS
Dan + Shay
Maroon 5
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Drake
Juice WRLD
Pop Smoke
Post Malone
Taylor Swift
Top Hot 100 Artist
DaBaby
Drake
Dua Lipa
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd
Top Streaming Songs Artist
DaBaby
Drake
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist
Justin Bieber
BTS
Megan Thee Stallion
Morgan Wallen
The Weeknd
Top Radio Songs Artist
Justin Bieber
Lewis Capaldi
Dua Lipa
Harry Styles
The Weeknd
Top Social Artist (Fan Voted)
BLACKPINK
BTS
Ariana Grande
SB19
Seventeen
Top R&B Artist
Jhené Aiko
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
Doja Cat
The Weeknd
Top R&B Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Chris Brown
The Weeknd
Top R&B Female Artist
Jhené Aiko
Doja Cat
SZA
Top Rap Artist
DaBaby
Drake
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
Top Rap Male Artist
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby
Pop Smoke
Top Rap Female Artist
Cardi B
Megan Thee Stallion
Saweetie
Top Country Artist
Gabby Barrett
Kane Brown
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Male Artist
Luke Combs
Chris Stapleton
Morgan Wallen
Top Country Female Artist
Gabby Barrett
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
Top Country Duo/Group
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
Maddie & Tae
Top Rock Artist
AC/DC
AJR
Five Finger Death Punch
Machine Gun Kelly
twenty one pilots
Top Latin Artist
Anuel AA
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Maluma
Ozuna
Top Latin Male Artist
Bad Bunny
J Balvin
Ozuna
Top Latin Female Artist
Becky G
Karol G
Rosalía
Top Latin Duo/Group
Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Eslabón Armado
Los Dos Carnales
Top Dance/Electronic Artist
The Chainsmokers
Kygo
Lady Gaga
Marshmello
Surf Mesa
Top Christian Artist
Casting Crowns
Elevation Worship
for KING & COUNTRY
Carrie Underwood
Zach Williams
Top Gospel Artist
Kirk Franklin
Koryn Hawthorne
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Maverick City Music
Kanye West
ALBUM AWARDS
Top Billboard 200 Album
Juice WRLD Legends Never Die
Lil Baby My Turn
Pop Smoke Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon
Taylor Swift folklore
The Weeknd After Hours
Top R&B Album
Jhené Aiko Chilombo
Chris Brown & Young Thug Slime & B
Doja Cat Hot Pink
Kehlani It Was Good Until It Wasn’t
The Weeknd After Hours
Top Rap Album
DaBaby Blame It On the Baby
Juice WRLD Legends Never Die
Lil Baby My Turn
Lil Uzi Vert Eternal Atake
Pop Smoke Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon
Top Country Album
Gabby Barrett Goldmine
Sam Hunt Southside
Chris Stapleton Starting Over
Carrie Underwood My Gift
Morgan Wallen Dangerous: The Double Album
Top Rock Album
AC/DC Power Up
Miley Cyrus Plastic Hearts
Glass Animals Dreamland
Machine Gun Kelly Tickets to My Downfall
Bruce Springsteen Letter to You
Top Latin Album
Anuel AA Emmanuel
Bad Bunny El Último Tour Del Mundo
Bad Bunny Las que no iban a salir
Bad Bunny YHLQMDLG
J Balvin Colores
Top Dance/Electronic Album
DJ Snake Carte Blanche
Gryffin Gravity
Kygo Golden Hour
Lady Gaga Chromatica
Kylie Minogue Disco
Top Christian Album
Bethel Music Peace
Elevation Worship Grave Into Gardens
Carrie Underwood My Gift
We The Kingdom Holy Water
Zach Williams Rescue Story
Top Gospel Album
Koryn Hawthorne I AM
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Royalty: Live at the Ryman
Maverick City Music Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1
Maverick City Music Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2
Kierra Sheard Kierra
SONG AWARDS
Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar
24kGoldn ft. iann dior “Mood”
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Streaming Song
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR”
Future ft. Drake “Life Is Good”
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne “WHATS POPPIN”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Selling Song
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope”
BTS “Dynamite”
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
Megan Thee Stallion “Savage”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Radio Song
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
Dua Lipa “Don’t Start Now”
Harry Styles “Adore You”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Collaboration (Fan Voted)
24kGoldn ft. iann dior “Mood”
Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth “I Hope”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR”
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne “WHATS POPPIN”
Top R&B Song
Jhené Aiko ft. H.E.R. “B.S.”
Justin Bieber ft. Quavo “Intentions”
Chris Brown & Young Thug “Go Crazy”
Doja Cat “Say So”
The Weeknd “Blinding Lights”
Top Rap Song
24kGoldn ft. iann dior “Mood”
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion “WAP”
DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch “ROCKSTAR”
Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne “WHATS POPPIN”
Megan Thee Stallion “Savage”
Top Country Song
Jason Aldean “Got What I Got”
Gabby Barrett “I Hope”
Lee Brice “One of Them Girls”
Morgan Wallen “Chasin’ You”
Morgan Wallen “More Than My Hometown”
Top Rock Song
AJR “Bang!”
All Time Low ft. blackbear “Monsters”
Glass Animals “Heat Waves”
Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear “my ex’s best friend”
twenty one pilots “Level of Concern”
Top Latin Song
Bad Bunny “Yo Perreo Sola”
Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez “Dákiti”
Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)”
Maluma & The Weeknd “Hawái”
Ozuna x Karol G x Myke Towers “Caramelo”
Top Dance/Electronic Song
Lady Gaga “Stupid Love”
Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande “Rain on Me”
SAINt JHN “Roses (Imanbek Remix)”
Surf Mesa ft. Emilee “ily (i love you baby)”
Topic & A7S “Breaking Me”
Top Christian Song
Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake “Graves Into Gardens”
for KING & COUNTRY, Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly “TOGETHER”
Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, & Elevation Worship “The Blessing (Live)”
Tauren Wells ft. Jenn Johnson “Famous For (I Believe)”
Zach Williams & Dolly Parton “There Was Jesus”
Top Gospel Song
Koryn Hawthorne “Speak To Me”
Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music “Movin’ On”
Marvin Sapp “Thank You For It All”
Tye Tribbett “We Gon’ Be Alright”
Kanye West ft. Travis Scott “Wash Us In The Blood”
Good Luck to All!
Black Rob's Funeral Will Be Live-Streamed By Diddy's REVOLT TV Network!
Black Rob's Homegoing Celebration will be live-streamed on Diddy's REVOLT TV network on April 30.
As Jim Jones recently stated, the back-to-back losses of DMX and Robert "Black Rob" Ross were like a "double hurt," and with Shock G's untimely passing less than a full week after Black Rob's, the past month has been an emotionally challenging period of time for the Hip-Hop community.
DMX was recently laid to rest over the weekend with a huge production that featured heartfelt performances from DMX's daughter and Kanye West, and now it's Black Rob's turn to have his life publicly honored. According to HipHopDX, Bad Boy Records labelmate Mark Curry has revealed that Black Rob will be honored with his own Homegoing Celebration on Friday, April 30, and the event will officially be live-streamed on Diddy’s REVOLT TV network.
After the former Bad Boy rapper passed away at the age of 52 on Saturday, April 17, several Hip-Hop fans and select music industry figures criticized Diddy for "dragging his feet" and offering to help Black Rob too late. According to Curry, the rap mogul had already reached out to the late artist to offer assistance before his death, and now, it looks like Diddy is standing on his word and taking care of Black Rob's funeral.
For those who are interested in tuning into Black Rob's funeral ceremony, the Homegoing Celebration for Black Rob will be live-streamed on Friday, April 30 at 9 a.m. EST on REVOLT TV's YouTube channel.
Floyd Mayweather agrees to fight YouTube star Logan Paul!
Former world welterweight king Floyd Mayweather said Tuesday he will face off against YouTube personality Logan Paul in an exhibition bout at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on June 6.
“Logan Paul and I are going to fight at Hard Rock Stadium. Mayweather Promotions, Fanmio and Showtime will team up to give you an epic event,” Mayweather wrote on Instagram.
A separate post from Mayweather Promotions billed the contest as a “historic crossover event” dubbed “Bragging Rights.”
The announcement gave no further information about specifics of the fight such as number of rounds or what size gloves would be used.
Logan Paul, 26, first ventured into white-collar boxing in a bout with British YouTuber KSI in 2018 that reportedly generated 1.3 million pay per view buys worldwide, before a rematch in 2019 in Los Angeles.
Logan Paul (0-1 0 KOs) is the older brother of Jake Paul, who recently defeated Ben Askren by first-round knockout.
The 44-year-old Mayweather meanwhile has not fought since beating mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor by technical knockout in a money-spinning cross-combat superfight in Las Vegas in 2017.
Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) came out of retirement for that contest after hanging up his gloves two years earlier after an unbeaten career spanning three decades.
Vice President Kamala Harris to be immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds!
Vice President Kamala Harris just keeps on breaking barriers — some more important than others.
Madame Tussauds announced Wednesday that Harris will be the first vice president to be immortalized in wax. Harris's likeness will stand in the "Oval Office" section of the attraction's New York location, alongside a figure of President Joe Biden and other political leaders, starting sometime later this year.
The clay heads for the Harris and Biden figures have taken about six weeks, and it'll be another four to six months before their entire wax figures are complete, according to the company.
In a video, sculptor Vicky Grant said Harris's "lovely, warm, welcoming smile" and her eyes were elements that the artist knew she had to get exactly right. "I feel like she is so engaging when she smiles," Grant said.
Harris's wax figure will be clad in a purple blazer and dress accessorized with pearls, just like Harris was on Inauguration Day. In fact, the designer of her real-life ensemble, Christopher John Rogers, created a replica of what the incoming veep wore.
Harris's previous firsts include being the nation's first woman, the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent to be elected to the office of vice president.
"While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last," Harris said the night that the election was called for Biden. "Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities."
In the hours after the news about the wax version of Harris was announced, the internet was preparing to see two women — Harris and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi — sitting behind the president during a joint session of Congress for the very first time.
Leslie Jones to Host 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards!
Actress and comedian Leslie Jones has been named the host of the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards.
In addition to hosting the star-studded night, Jones is also nominated for best comedic performance for her role in Eddie Murphy’s “Coming 2 America.” Jones brings a plethora of hosting experience to the show, making its return since being postponed last year due to the coronavirus outbreak. Jones is the host and executive producer of ABC’s “Supermarket Sweep” reboot. She previously hosted the 2017 BET Awards and is a Saturday Night Live alum.
To welcome back the Movie & TV Awards, MTV will run a two-night event. The awards ceremony will air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, May 16th at 9 p.m. “Movie & TV Awards: Unscripted,” which showcases and celebrates reality TV, will air the following day.
Last week, nominees for the 2021 MTV Movie & TV Awards were announced. “WandaVision” and “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” were among the most nominated. Fans can vote for such categories as best show, best kiss, and breakthrough performance through April 30th.
Spike Lee Reacts To Glenn Close’s ‘Da Butt’ Dance: ‘You Were Getting Down!’
One of the standout moments at this year’s uneven Academy Awards ceremony was, without question, Glenn Close’s “Da Butt” dance.
As Close informed the crowd Sunday, “Da Butt” was performed by go-go band Experience Unlimited for Spike Lee’s 1988 movie, “School Daze,” but did not receive an Oscar nomination.
No doubt the actor’s meme-able boogie brought renewed interest in the song and the film, and a day after the Oscars, Lee took the opportunity to thank her.
“I’ve got to give a shout-out to my sister Glenn Close, who I heard gave me love [for] ‘School Daze,’” the director said in a short video posted to his social media accounts. “Glenn Close was doing ‘Da Butt’ ― I saw it on video. You were getting down!”
Close’s moves also received praise from Experience Unlimited bassist Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliot, who said he was “blown away” by the gesture.
“It was like a lottery ticket,” he told Billboard in a Monday interview. “I had butterflies all throughout my body. I was overwhelmed. ... You can’t ask for nothing better than that. That was a gift from God.”
Lee received his first competitive Academy Award two years ago, winning Best Adapted Screenplay for “BlacKkKlansman,” which he also directed.
Though Close is widely seen as one of the best actors of her generation, she has yet to receive an Oscar despite eight nominations. This year she was nominated in the Supporting Actress category for “Hillbilly Elegy” but lost to “Minari” star Youn Yuh-jung.
Fans are hoping she’ll break her losing streak when she stars in the long-gestating film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “Sunset Boulevard.”
She played the role of Norma Desmond on Broadway in 1994 and 2017 and, earlier this month, told the Los Angeles Times she hopes to begin filming the movie version this summer.]
Lil' Kim Writes 'Candid' Memoir The Queen Bee and Opens Up About the 'Hidden Moments of Her Reign'!
On Wednesday, the rapper announced exclusively with PEOPLE that her book, The Queen Bee, with Kathy Iandoli, will be published by Hachette Books on Nov. 2.
"I'm excited to finally get to tell my story after all this time," Lil' Kim tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. "Many people have thought they knew the story of Lil' Kim, but they have no idea."
Born Kimberly Denise Jones, Lil' Kim grew up in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and spent her teenage years rapping with the Notorious B.I.G., who later became her lover. She was the only woman in the iconic artist's rap collective, Junior M.A.F.I.A., before she made a name for herself as a solo rapper. Her double-platinum album Hard Core dropped in 1996. Since then, the Grammy-award winner has sold millions of records and continues to be a cultural force.
The Queen Bee details Lil' Kim's nearly 30-year career — and the challenges she's met head on. Now, she's finally opening up about it all.
"Lil' Kim not only blazed trails for women in hip-hop, but also inspired the careers of those who followed," reads the book's press release. "However, life at the top hasn't been easy, either. Lil' Kim also talks about the hiddden moments of her reign: her complicated high-profile relationships, the misogynistic industry she fought to change through sex positivity, the challenging double standards of self-image and beauty in the spotlight, and the momentous act of loyalty that ultimately landed her in prison."
In July 2006, Lil' Kim was released from prison after nearly 10 months behind bars. The artist had lied to a jury about what she witnessed when a shootout occurred between her entourage and rival rap group Capone-N-Noreaga. (One man was injured.)
"I wanted to show them that y'all cannot hold a good woman down; you could send me to the gutter and I'm going to ride it out," the rapper said of her time in prison in 2006, according to the New York Times.
Not only does Lil' Kim get "candid" in her memoir, she also delves into her work as a "feminist icon," according to the press release.
"A true page-turner from start to finish, The Queen Bee is every bit as fierce, empowering, and badass as the woman at the heart of this story — and firmly cements her legacy as a true feminist icon."
The Queen Bee is set to be released on Nov. 2.
DOJ Files Hate Crime Charges In Ahmaud Arbery Killing!
The three men involved in the death of Ahmaud Arbery are now facing federal hate crime charges, separate from the murder charges they each face at the state level.
On Wednesday afternoon, a federal grand jury indicted Gregory McMichael, 65; his son, Travis McMichael, 35; and William “Roddie” Bryan, 51, with a hate crime charge and a charge of attempted kidnapping. The McMichaels are also charged with using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
The federal grand jury alleged that the McMichaels, “did willfully, by force and threat of force, injure, intimidate, and interfere with Ahmaud Arbery, an African American man, because of Arbery’s race and color.” The indictment also alleges that Bryan got into a truck and then chased Arbery, using the vehicle to block his path.
Arbery, 25, was killed on Feb. 23, 2020, by three close-range shotgun blasts after the McMichaels chased him in a pickup truck as he was running through a suburban neighborhood of Brunswick, Ga. A video that captured the incident leaked in May 2020, sparking national outcry.
Kodak Black Pleads Guilty, Gets Probation in Teen's Assault Case!
Kodak Black performs onstage during the 'Dying to Live' tour at Hollywood Palladium on March 20, 2019 in Los Angeles.
Rapper Kodak Black was sentenced to probation Wednesday (April 28) for assaulting a teenage girl in a South Carolina hotel room.
Black was originally charged with rape but accepted a deal and pleaded guilty to first-degree assault at the Florence County courthouse.
Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, faces a 10-year suspended prison sentence. He won’t have to go to prison on the charge as long as he completes 18 months of probation, media outlets reported.
Kodak Black Toasts to Freedom in New Single 'Easter in Miami': Watch the Video
The victim in the case watched the plea online, and Black spoke to her. “I apologize this happened, and I’m hopeful we can all move forward,” he said.
Later on his Twitter feed, Black posted that the victim just wanted to get the case over with, and “I ain’t have to come off no money.”
5 yrs later ... both us just wanted to get this shit over wit AND I ain’t have to come off no money https://t.co/1JK7x3br6K
— Kodak Black (@KodakBlack1k) April 28, 2021
The assault happened in 2016 when Black was in Florence for a performance. The girl said the rapper attacked her at a hotel room after the show, biting her on the neck and breast and continuing even after she told him to stop, authorities said.
The girl reported the attack to a school nurse who called police, investigators said.
Black had a three-year federal prison sentence for falsifying documents used to buy weapons at a Miami gun store commuted by President Donald Trump on his last day in office. He had served about half his sentence.
Black’s lawyer, Bradford Cohen, was once a contestant on Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice show. The pardon notes that Kodak Black paid for schoolchildren’s notebooks, supplies to daycare centers and food for the hungry, and donated $50,000 for restaurants in his hometown of Pompano Beach, Florida.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
HIGH TIMES
He gets a little High at Walmart!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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