Loretta Devine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Larenz Tate and Lynn Whitfield for The Hollywood Reporter
When you survey the landscape of the world’s most recognizable faces, you’ll find the likes of Beyoncé, Oprah, Will Smith, Michael Jordan, Rihanna, Denzel Washington and more.
Black. Famous. Blackfamous, however, has come to represent something different: an example of how the perspective of celebrity shifts depending on which world you inhabit.
It can mean starring in films that have reached iconic status in the Black world (Love Jones, Eve’s Bayou, Waiting to Exhale) yet are rarely mentioned as classics in a mainstream world. It can mean starring in series that can alight Black Twitter each week (like Power Book II: Ghost) but aren’t enveloped in wider conversations. And it can mean having to go incognito in your own community because you’re that famous — while going unnoticed in another realm. “It’s always either one extreme or the other,” muses Loretta Devine on the duality that has come to define fame for many in Black Hollywood.
Devine may be the epitome of a Blackfamous actor: an Emmy winner whose credits stretch from P-Valley to A Different World, who was part of an Oscar-winning cast in Crash, a scene-stealer in films like Exhale and This Christmas and is still, in some ways, operating under the radar.
Yet when The Hollywood Reporter gathered Devine, Lynn Whitfield, Larenz Tate, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Wendy Raquel Robinson for a roundtable to talk about the paradox, the conversation was not marked by feelings of frustration, but of celebration. To be sure, a large part of it was the sense of a reunion among its participants: All had worked together or known each other for years in some fashion, and before the discussion got underway, Ralph (who is perhaps enjoying some of her biggest success in years with the hit ABC comedy Abbott Elementary) and Tate (also in Crash) reminisced about how the pair worked together on a sitcom called New Attitude back when he was just a kid.
The virtual panel discussed the hurdles and challenges Black actors face that can limit opportunities, but in the fun, freewheeling conversation, they relished the celebration of their work in Black spaces, progress that has made it possible for others to leap over hurdles, and how being Blackfamous has given them perhaps their dream careers.
What does the concept of “Blackfamous” or “Black fame” mean to you?
SHERYL LEE RALPH Well, it’s so interesting that you bring that up, because about two, maybe three years ago, I did a series called Fam for CBS. And one of the executive producers came up to me, because the network and somebody else had said, “No, this is the person.” So he walked right up to me on that first day, and he said, “So tell me, what have you done?”
Wow. Wow. Wow.
RALPH And I was like, “Well.” And then, I was quiet and he said, “Do you sing?” And I said, “Whoa.” So then I just said, “Excuse me for a minute. But maybe you should ask somebody, because you might be very embarrassed that you asked me that question, and I want us to get off on the right foot together.” So even in unsuspecting places, that can be very much a thing where there are certain people who have no idea who you are and what you’ve done after all these years.
LORETTA DEVINE Listen, I was in Serving Spoon [a Southern food restaurant in Inglewood, California] yesterday with the Rams and the 49ers [game], and Channel 5 was there, with my picture on the wall. And they were clueless. After we finished eating, all the younger [people] came on and said, “Ms. Devine, can I have a picture with you?” And they were like, “Who the …? Why?” And we got up and left. They were clueless. They didn’t put us on film. They filmed the people behind. It was so funny.
WENDY RAQUEL ROBINSON Wow.
DEVINE But if you are lucky enough to be in something that’s a mixed [race project] — I was in Grey’s Anatomy and I had to get used to having fans from other races after that started. So everything is changing and life is so different now. I mean, I don’t know what to do about the changes, but you do kind of laugh at it, you know?
ROBINSON Yeah. You have to laugh. I mean, for me, even within our community: I have fans that know me from The Steve Harvey Show that haven’t even seen The Game, and that’s been about 18 years of my life, you know? So it’s really interesting. The roles that you get noticed for, and then the ones that are just like — just going back to what Sheryl Lee was saying — it’s like, “Now, how long have you been in [the industry]?” And it’s like “Hmm?” So I guess that’s what keeps us so humble.
Get more of this great story at The Hollywood Reporter!
#RHOA: Andy Cohen Says He Is Most Excited to See Sheree Whitfield For Season 14
Sheree Whitfield is back on The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Bravo honcho Andy Cohen couldn't be happier. The She by Sheree athletic wear owner is making her third return to the reality series. She was a full-time cast member on the show from Seasons 1-4 and came back for Seasons 8-10. This time around, Whitfield is expected to bring the drama and funny confessionals she's known for.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Cohen said that he's most excited for fans to see what Whitfield brings to the table in the forthcoming season. "I'm so excited, I love Sherée — I'm a huge Sherée fan from the beginning," Andy gushes. "She's amazing and we're about to wind down that season — and I don't wanna give anything away — but I'm very excited about the finale that's coming up."
Whitfield has come a long way since starting out in the inaugural season. When fans met her, she was newly divorced from NFL great Bob Whitfield and fighting for a seven-figure alimony settlement. Since then, she's gained her independence and now owns one of the largest mansions in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, which she famously coined Chateau Sheree.
In season 14, Whitfield reportedly goes toe to toe with newcomer, Drew Sidora. Her previous feud with Kenya Moore is said to have been put to rest with the two now forming a truce and battling some of their other co-stars.
Fans will also see Whitfield's relationship with longtime beau, Tyrone Gilliams. Their dynamic is interesting, considering Gilliams has spent time in prison for fraud and was released just last year on home confinement. He refused to film the majority of this season, even sending Bravo a cease and desist to not use his name or likeness on the show. Now, TMZ reports Gilliams has filmed multiple scenes with Whitfield now that his confinement is expired.
The show is expected to air later this year. Whitfield's line of athletic wear will be featured in a fashion show during the show's finale episode..
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#NewMusic from Robert Glasper Releases New Album “Black Radio III”
Robert Glasper has just released his new album “Black Radio III” and you can stream it now on all platforms.
As he’s been known to do, the musician brings out an all star cast to support him on the album. Features include the likes of H.E.R., Lalah Hathaway, Common, Musiq Soulchild, Q-Tip, Ledisi, Jennifer Hudson, PJ Morton, India Arie, and many more.
LISTEN HERE
This is the first project Glasper has released since “Dinner Party” in 2020 with Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, 9th Wonder.
Of course his “Black Radio” series has been especially notable over the past decade. He’s consistently linked up with some of the greats and brought out the best of them, and “Black Radio III” is no different.
#HipHopNews: Big Sean Responds To Alleged Nude Photo Leak
Big Sean became a trending topic after his dick pic allegedly leaked over the weekend. The explicit image, which showed a penis alongside a Nintendo Switch, was reportedly uploaded to his close friends on Instagram before circulating online.
Social media was quick to weigh in on the size of his anatomy, which apparently lived up to his name.
However, it appears that Sean was the victim of an internet hoax. After The Shade Room shared the post, the “Beware” rapper denied that the nude photo was of him.
“This is not me,” he commented.
Earlier this month, Nelly was also the subject of a nude photo scandal after a video of him receiving oral sex was posted to his Instagram Story. He later apologized for the leak and said the footage was never intended to be shared publicly.
“I sincerely apologize to the young lady and her family, this is unwanted publicity for her/them,” Nelly said. “This was an old video that was private and never meant to go public.”
The 2022 SAG Awards: The Complete Winners List
The 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards, which honor some of the year’s best television and film performances by actors, aired Sunday.
The casts of “Ted Lasso” and “Succession” won for their ensemble work in the best television comedy and drama categories, while the cast of “CODA” celebrated their win for best motion picture ensemble.
“Squid Game” actors bested their “Succession” competition in the drama acting categories, and both Will Smith and Michael Keaton offered emotional acceptance speeches for their wins in the lead male acting in a motion picture and male actor in a TV movie or miniseries, respectively.
Helen Mirren was honored with the SAG Life Achievement Award.
The full list of winners follows below
Television Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Murray Bartlett, “The White Lotus”
Oscar Isaac, “Scenes From a Marriage”
Michael Keaton, “Dopesick” *WINNER
Ewan McGregor, “Halston”
Evan Peters, “Mare of Easttown”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Jennifer Coolidge, “The White Lotus”
Cynthia Erivo, “Genius: Aretha”
Margaret Qualley, “Maid”
Jean Smart, “Mare of Easttown”
Kate Winslet, “Mare of Easttown” *WINNER
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Brian Cox, “Succession”
Billy Crudup, “The Morning Show”
Kieran Culkin, “Succession”
Lee Jung-jae, “Squid Game” *WINNER
Jeremy Strong, “Succession”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Jennifer Aniston, “The Morning Show”
Jung Ho-yeon, “Squid Game” *WINNER
Elisabeth Moss, “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Sarah Snook, “Succession”
Reese Witherspoon, “The Morning Show”
Outsanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Michael Douglas, “The Kominsky Method”
Brett Goldstein, “Ted Lasso”
Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”
Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”
Jason Sudeikis, “Ted Lasso” *WINNER
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Elle Fanning, “The Great”
Sandra Oh, “The Chair”
Jean Smart, “Hacks” *WINNER
Juno Temple, “Ted Lasso”
Hannah Waddingham, “Ted Lasso”
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
“The Handmaid’s Tale”
“The Morning Show”
“Squid Game”
“Succession” *WINNER
“Yellowstone”
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
“The Great”
“Hacks”
“The Kominsky Method”
“Only Murders in the Building”
“Ted Lasso” *WINNER
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
“Cobra Kai”
“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”
“Loki”
“Mare of Easttown”
“Squid Game” *WINNER
Motion Picture Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem, “Being the Ricardos”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “The Power of the Dog”
Andrew Garfield, “Tick, Tick… Boom”
Will Smith, “King Richard” *WINNER
Denzel Washington, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Jessica Chastain, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” *WINNER
Olivia Colman, “The Lost Daughter”
Lady Gaga, “House of Gucci”
Jennifer Hudson, “Respect”
Nicole Kidman, “Being the Ricardos”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Ben Affleck, “The Tender Bar”
Bradley Cooper, “Licorice Pizza”
Troy Kotsur, “CODA” *WINNER
Jared Leto, “House of Gucci”
Kodi Smit-McPhee, “The Power of the Dog”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Caitríona Balfe, “Belfast”
Cate Blanchett, “Nightmare Alley”
Ariana DeBose, “West Side Story” *WINNER
Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog”
Ruth Negga, “Passing”
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
“Belfast”
“CODA” *WINNER
“Don’t Look Up”
“House of Gucci”
“King Richard”
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
“Black Widow”
“Dune”
“The Matrix Resurrections”
“No Time to Die” *WINNER
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”
Congrats to all the Winners!
Young Thug wants to help African immigrants stranded in Ukraine
Young Thug is looking to help African immigrants who are stranded in Ukraine. The Georgia native reacted to several disturbing videos of men, women and children stuck at the country’s Polish border over the weekend.
“If some of my rap brothers are in, I’m willing to help Africans get out of Ukraine,” he wrote on his Instagram Story. “However, I can sense they not letting us pass.”
“Whoever holds the info for these movements please contact me ASAP. I’m ready,” he added in a follow-up post.
Thugger also shared a widely spread video of an African woman stranded at the border with her infant child in reportedly frigid temperatures.
After Young Thug’s call for action, several celebrities also volunteered to help.
“I’m wit you my brother,” entrepreneur Kelvin “PJ Kev” Mensa posted on his Story. “Anything I can do. Reach out ASAP.”
As reported, the hashtag #AfricansInUkraine brought light to discriminatory border tactics in the European country this weekend.
As thousands attempt to flee Ukraine amidst Russia’s invasion, one Nigerian man trying to cross the border into Poland told BBC, “We’ve been chased back. We’ve been hit with police armed with sticks.”
The man also said border patrol told him they were “not tending to Africans.”
South African foreign office official Clayson Monyela also said Africans were being “badly treated” at the border and there have been several reports of Ukrainian security stopping them from boarding buses and trains.
One Nigerian woman also told BBC she walked for 11 hours overnight to reach the Medyka crossing with Poland, where she saw “Black people sleeping on the street.” The woman said armed guards told her to wait while Ukrainians were allowed to cross the border first. Buses leaving the country also carried primarily white passengers with only a few Africans allowed to board, she said.
According to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari; there are about 4,000 Nigerians currently in Ukraine and many of them are students enrolled in the country’s medical and technical universities.
“All who flee a conflict situation have the same right to safe passage under the UN Convention and the colour of their passport or their skin should make no difference,” the president tweeted.
As of Monday (Feb. 28); a reported 350,000 Ukrainians have been able to escape the country.
2022 NAACP Image Awards: See the Complete List of Televised Winners
The 53rd NAACP Image Awards crowned Jennifer Hudson with its top honor Entertainment of the Year during its telecast on Saturday evening.
The show recognized the achievements and performances of people of color across numerous categories including outstanding motion picture, which went to Netflix’s The Harder They Fall.
See below for the list of televised winners. (For the full list of winners, both televised and previously announced, visit naacpimageawards.net or @naacpimageawards on Instagram.)
Outstanding Comedy Series
Black-ish
Harlem
Insecure (HBO) (WINNER)
Run the World
The Upshaws
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson – Black-ish (ABC) (WINNER)
Cedric the Entertainer, The Neighborhood
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Elisha “EJ” Williams, The Wonder Years
Jay Ellis, Insecure
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Issa Rae – Insecure (HBO) (WINNER)
Loretta Devine, Family Reunion
Regina Hall, Black Monday
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish
Yvonne Orji, Insecure
Outstanding Drama Series
9-1-1
All American
Godfather of Harlem
Pose
Queen Sugar
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Billy Porter, Pose
Damson Idris, Snowfall
Forest Whitaker, Godfather of Harlem
Kofi Siriboe, Queen Sugar
Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us (NBC) (WINNER)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 (FOX) (WINNER)
Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Queen Sugar
Octavia Spencer, Truth Be Told
Queen Latifah, The Equalizer
Rutina Wesley, Queen Sugar
Outstanding Motion Picture
Judas and the Black Messiah
King Richard
Respect
The Harder They Fall (Netflix) (WINNER)
The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth
Jonathan Majors, The Harder They Fall
LaKeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah
Mahershala Ali, Swan Song
Will Smith – King Richard (Warner Bros. Pictures) (WINNER)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Halle Berry, Bruised
Jennifer Hudson – Respect (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures/United Artists Releasing) (WINNER)
Tessa Thompson, Passing
Zendaya, Malcolm & Marie
Entertainer of the Year
Jennifer Hudson (WINNER)
Lil Nas X
Megan Thee Stallion
Regina King
Tiffany Haddish
Social Justice Impact
Nikole Hannah-Jones
Chairman’s Award
Samuel L. Jackson
Social Media Personality of the Year
@Laronhinesofficial – Laron Hines (WINNER)
@Euniquejg – Eunique Jones GIbson
@KevOnStage – Kevin Fredericks
@_Lyneezy – Lanae Vanee
@Terrellgrice – Terrell Grice
Congrats to all the winners!
Henry Louis Gates Jr. Suggests Putting Frederick Douglass On Dollar Bills
Esteemed historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is calling for Frederick Douglass to be placed on one of the United State’s dollars.
In a recent interview with Axios, Gates said that Douglas remains “essential to the nation” long after the historical moment he lived through.
“Frederick Douglass has assumed his place not only as one of America’s great orators but also as one of the writers of the nineteenth century,” Gated said.
“Was Douglass sometimes conservative, by today’s political standards Absolutely! Was he sometimes radical? Of course, that goes without saying.”
According to the outlet, Gates’ request is feasible however it would take several years for it to actually happen. A Federal commision would have to study it, design it and create new anti-counterfeit measures for banks, Axios reported.
The site noted how a commision approved Harriet Tubman to be placed on the $20 in 2013 while Barack Obama was president. They set a date of 2030, back then, for when the official Tubman bill would be printed and officially introduced.
Gates served as the executive producer and a narrator of the recently released “Frederick Douglass: In Five Speeches,” documentary, which is streaming on HBO Max.
The documentary is inspired by David Blight’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography “Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom.”
Gates suggested adding Douglass to U.S. currency during the launch of the latest season of his PBS show “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.”
This season the show takes a look at the backgrounds of Broadway stars Leslie Odom, Jr., Nathan Lane, and more, according to Axios.
In 2017, the legendary abolitionist was placed on a U.S. quarter.
The coin showed Douglass writing in front of his Southeast Washington, D.C., home where he lived until his death in 1895.
About 400 million Frederick Douglass quarters went into circulation, according to The United States Mint.
“Ozark” Final Seven Episodes Get April Premiere Date
Netflix has announced a premiere date for the final episodes of its hit show, Ozark.
The fourth and final season of the Emmy Award-nominated crime drama consists of 14 episodes that have been split across two parts, with each volume consisting of seven episodes.
The drama series’ final seven episodes will premiere on April 29th.
The first part of season four debuted at number one on the streaming platform with 77-million hours viewed in just three days.
Season Four Part One of Ozark followed Marty and Wendy Byrde, played by Jason Bateman and Laura Linney, working toward ending their family’s association with the Mexican cartel.
An ominous trailer on what’s to come was released by Netflix.
Legendary Songwriter Neil Diamond Sells Song Rights to Universal Music
Seems Neil Diamond is a believer…in cashing in his song rights. The legendary singer-songwriter has signed a deal to hand over rights to his entire song catalog, as well as all recordings, to Universal Music Group (UMG) for an undisclosed sum.
The deal, announced by Diamond and UMG on Monday, includes master and recording rights for all of Diamond’s hits, such as Sweet Caroline, Red Red Wine, Solitary Man, Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon, and You Don’t Bring Me Flowers, many of which are best known in their cover versions by other artists.
The agreement includes 110 unreleased tracks, an unreleased album and archival long form videos. UMG has also secured the rights to record and release any of Diamond’s future music, should he decide to return to the studio.
Universal and Diamond have been in business for decades. The singer’s early Bang recordings and post-1972 recordings were with UMG’s MCA Records, a period that included chart-toppers Sweet Caroline, Cracklin’ Rosie and Song Sung Blue. Since 2013, UMG and Diamond have produced three albums for the non-MCA recordings through UMG’s Capitol Music Group division and Universal Music Enterprises. Universal has been Diamond’s publishing administrator since 2014.
“Neil Diamond is, by definition, a truly universal songwriter. His immense songbook and recordings encompass some of the most cherished and enduring songs in music history,” said UMG chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge in a statement. “Through our existing partnership, we are honored to have earned his trust to become the permanent custodians of his monumental musical legacy.”
Diamond’s all-rights deal with UMG follows similar catalog licensing agreements between the label and superstar artists including Bob Dylan and Sting.
Earlier this year, the estate of the late British popster David Bowie sold global publishing rights to his entire song catalog to Warner Chappell Music.
Singer-songwriter Neil Young, former Fleetwood Mac artists Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks has also signed similar deals.
Music publishing companies are betting there is major value in song catalogs, which can be licensed to TV, movie, streaming and video games worldwide.
Box Office: Tom Holland’s ‘Uncharted’ Wins Weekend as ‘Spider-Man’ Inches Closer to $800 Million in North America
It’s (still) good to be Tom Holland. The 25-year-old actor has been all-but-singlehandedly propelling ticket sales at North American movie theaters, leading two films in the top three spots on domestic box office charts. Over the weekend, his action-adventure “Uncharted” repeated No. 1 as his comic book epic “Spider-Man: No Way Home” followed closely behind in third place.
“Uncharted,” Sony’s long-in-the-works video game adaptation, brought in $23.2 million from 4,275 domestic venues in its second weekend of release, representing a 46% decline in revenues from its $44 million debut. That brings its domestic total to $83.3 million. For big-budget tentpoles, which tend to be front-loaded in terms of box office grosses, a 50% drop is standard. But making the hold for “Uncharted” a little more impressive, the film did not enjoy the rapturous reviews that greeted “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” meaning Holland’s star-power likely had a hand in selling movie stubs. It helps that “Uncharted” is based on an extremely popular video game series and caters to younger males, a demographic that has been reliably going to multiplexes during COVID-19.
Directed by Ruben Fleischer, “Uncharted” carries a $120 million price tag, so international ticket sales are key to getting out of the red. It’s already been a big draw overseas, delivering another $35 million from 64 foreign territories over the weekend. So far, “Uncharted” has generated $143 million at the international box office and $226.4 million globally — and that’s before it opens on March 14 in China, the biggest moviegoing market.
Meanwhile, another Sony blockbuster “Spider-Man: No Way Home” took the No. 3 spot with $5.7 million from 3,002 North American theaters, sliding only 23% in its 11th weekend in theaters. Since launching in December, the Spidey threequel has managed to stay within the top three on domestic box office charts every weekend– a rare feat with or without an industry-altering pandemic. Through Sunday, “No Way Home” has collected an enormous $779.8 million in total. Given the movie’s stellar week-to-week holds, “Spider-Man” could soon become the third movie ever to cross $800 million at the domestic box office. Globally, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” has passed $1.85 billion.
In second place, Channing Tatum’s PG-13 canine adventure “Dog” continued to draw solid attendance in its sophomore outing. The road-trip buddy comedy, from MGM, earned $10.1 million from 3,827 screens over the weekend, pushing its North American tally to $30.8 million. It’s a strong result for a film that carries a $15 million production budget. The movie, which was smartly marketed with the tagline “Don’t worry, the dog doesn’t die” in an attempt to win over anyone still reeling from the 2008 tear-jerker “Marley and Me,” continues to surpass expectations in America’s heartland. Midwestern and smaller cities have been leading ticket sales for “Dog” over west and east coast cities and other major domestic markets, which usually have the edge in the country’s box office receipts.
In an otherwise quiet weekend at the movies, two new releases, “Studio 666” and “Cyrano,” failed to make a notable dent on box office charts.
“Studio 666,” a gonzo-horror-comedy-musical-fantasy about Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and his bandmates attempting to record their 10th studio album, landed in eighth place with $1.5 million from 2,306 North American theaters. The R-rated film got mixed reviews, though several film critics admitted “Studio 666” is at least fun to watch. Associated Press critic Jake Coyle likened the film to “a decent SNL sketch stretched to nearly two hours” and the New York Times critic at large Wesley Morris aptly described the movie as exuding “real ‘Scooby-Doo’-meets-‘The Shining’ vibes.”
David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, called “Studio 666” an “original oddity,” one that was built around Dave Grohl’s and the Foo Fighters band’s popularity. “This is a weak opening, he said, noting “there aren’t many horror comedies in general” at the box office. Open Road Films and Briarcliff Entertainment released “Studio 666.”
“Cyrano,” a romantic musical drama directed by Joe Wright and starring “Game of Thrones” actor Peter Dinklage, nabbed the No. 9 spot. The well-reviewed film, based on the 2018 stage musical and Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play “Cyrano de Bergerac” about a tragic love triangle, opened in just 797 locations and grossed $1.4 million. Nearly 60% of opening weekend audience members were female, according to exit polls. MGM will continue to expand the movie’s theatrical footprint in the coming weeks, but given its $30 million production budget, the profit margins for “Cyrano” could be more brutal than heartbreaking.
Holdovers “Death on the Nile” and “Jackass Forever” took spots four and five on domestic box office rankings.
Disney and 20th Century’s murder mystery “Death on the Nile” grossed $4.5 million from 3,420 screens. After three weekends in theaters, the movie has earned a so-so $32.8 million in North America. On a better note, “Death on the Nile” has been more popular among overseas audiences. It has generated $68 million at the international box office, taking its worldwide haul to $101 million. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, who stars in the movie alongside Armie Hammer, Gal Gadot and Letitia Wright, “Death on the Nile” cost a hefty $90 million to produce.
“Jackass Forever,” from Paramount Pictures, pulled in $3.1 million from 2,913 locations in its fourth weekend of release. The $10 million-budgeted slapstick comedy has been a surprise winner at the box office, grossing $52 million to date.
Rapper (Snootie Wild) Has Been Shot and Killed
After reports of him being in critical condition after being shot in the neck in Houston, it’s being confirmed by family and friends that Memphis rapper Snootie Wild has sadly passed.
Yesterday, ABC13 reported that the rapper was left in critical condition after authorities found him in a ditch, next to an SUV, with a gunshot wound to his neck. After receiving CPR at the scene, Snootie was rushed to the hospital with a 50/50 chance of surviving. Taking to social media to update on his critical condition, family shared that the rapper was fighting for his life on a breathing machine. Several hours later into Saturday (Feb. 26), family and close friends began updating that the rapper had sadly passed from his injuries.
Meanwhile, police are still searching for the suspects, who they believe are a man and woman, possibly still in the Houston area. They say a neighbor in the area caught the entire incident on camera. Officer R. Willkens says, “It looks like he backed in there (the ditch) accidentally. Then the other vehicle pulled up, and folks got out of the car. They were talking for a little bit, and then all of a sudden, gunfire went off. Only one shot, actually.”
Atlanta’s Midtown Iconic Rainbow Crosswalk Damaged Again
This makes the second weekend in a row that street racers have damaged the iconic rainbow crosswalks in midtown Atlanta.
The racers left tire burn marks after doing doughnuts at the popular intersection overnight Saturday.
Video surveillance posted to social media shows two black cars doing doughnuts and burning out in the center of the intersection crossing 10th Street and Piedmont Avenue.
Traffic was held up, and a crowd surrounded the intersection as several bystanders filmed the incident with their cellphones, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Atlanta police were called but arrived a little too late. The racers were gone, police said.
“The rainbow crosswalks have once again been left with rubber skid marks from drag racers,” the Midtown Neighbors’ Association wrote in an Instagram story. “This is dangerous and the damage is hurtful to our community. A flagrant act of selfishness in a space so important to us all.”
The association asked followers not to share any videos depicting the street racers as “we understand they do it for the viral notoriety.”
“We are committed to ensuring it is cleaned up every time,” the association added.
Last Sunday, street racers left the same marks on the crosswalks, and Atlanta Department of Transportation workers were called out to remove the marks.
Atlanta police have since offered a $2,000 reward for information on the street racers who damaged the rainbow crosswalks.
Joe Budden Insists Megan Thee Stallion Is NOT A ‘Superstar’ — ‘She Ain’t Sold Sh*t’
Yikes! During a recent episode of his podcast, Joe Budden insists that Megan Thee Stallion is NOT a “superstar,” adding that, “She ain’t sold sh*t!”
While Meg’s made some notable strides since entering the game — like earning two No. 1 Hot 100 Billboard singles for 2020’s “WAP,” ft. Cardi B, and 2020’s “Savage (Remix) ft. Beyonce;’ plus her endorsement deals with Revlon, Popeye’s Chicken and CashApp — Joe feels like Meg hasn’t hit “superstar” status.
With her debut album ‘Good News‘ becoming certified platinum eight months after its release, Joe says, “You’re not a superstar if you can’t sell an album, what the f**k are we talking about right now? What stops her from being a superstar if we’re taking out sales? She ain’t sold sh*t. Got every brand deal in the world, but also has all the backing from different people. She’s got a lot going on. That’s the game today.” Comparing Meg to Adele, Joe adds, “Y’all are just making rules up. You still got to know how to sell a f***ing album. When Adele come out, you gotta move. When n***as come out, you gotta move. When a superstar comes out, you mortal, mere minion n***as have to move. Nobody does that for Lil Nas X, nobody does that for the seven Meg Thee Stallion releases that dropped over the past two years. What are we saying?”
The CPAC’s 2024 Straw Poll: Trump 59%, DeSantis 28%
NBC News reports: Former President Donald Trump overwhelmingly won a straw poll at the nation’s top conservative conference Sunday, another sign of his continued dominance in the GOP. Trump received 59 percent of the vote in the Conservative Political Action Conference’s non-scientific straw poll, long considered an early measure of popularity of Republican presidential hopefuls.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who consistently trails Trump in national GOP presidential surveys, came in second to Trump in the CPAC straw poll, earning 28 percent support, about 7 points higher than last year. The conference was held in DeSantis’ home state, where he remains popular within his party. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came in a distant third, at 2 percent.
.@CPAC straw poll results:
– Trump 59%
– Desantis 28%
– Pompeo 2%
– Noem 1%
– Paul 1%
– Pence 1%
– Haley 1%
– Youngkin 1%
– Scott 1%
Absolutely zero surprises from the CPAC issues straw poll but it is interesting to see the primary candidate straw poll results are worse for Trump and better for DeSantis relative to how it was at CPAC Dallas, where Trump won by a landslide. pic.twitter.com/FJHCghiGN2
Gwen Stefani Launches A New Beauty Line
It looks like Gwen Stefani is taking her talents over to the makeup industry!
The “Hollaback Girl” announced that she was launching her own beauty line called GXVE. Gwen posted a video to her Instagram showcasing a glamorous clip of her doing her own makeup in 1997. Gwen paired the video with the caption, “GXVE BY GWEN STEFANI, the next chapter starts March 3rd.”
Gwen’s beauty line will be available for purchase online on March 3rd and expand to Sephora on March 10th. GXVE will begin the launch with eight products ranging from $28-$48. The line will feature an eye shadow palette, pencil eyeliner, primer, and Gwen’s infamous red lipstick.
Gwen says creating GXVE has been in the works for a while and is one of the reasons why she kept her signature red lipstick a secret.
“People have asked me my entire life, ‘What color lipstick are you wearing?’ That was the number one question I’ve had in my entire career … and I would never tell people what color I was wearing, ever. I don’t know why, but I guess it was probably meant to be that I was going to do this one day,” Gwen says.
According to the 52-year-old singer, her beauty obsession started when she became a makeup artist inside of a mall.
“There’s nobody else who could come close to being more authentic about makeup than I am when it comes to doing a line because it’s what I’ve been doing my entire life.”
If you have ever spent hours trying to perfect Gwen’s iconic red lipstick pout, don’t worry, she has you covered now.
James Harden Admits to Hanging Out With Meek Mill, Lil Baby, and Lil Durk All Night Before Morning Practice
James Harden’s love for music trumped his need for a good night’s sleep.
In a recent interview clip shared by Sports Center, the Sixers guard recalled a time when he was invited to hang out with his good friend Meek Mill as well as Lil Baby and Lil Durk. The rappers told Harden they had landed in Houston and wanted him to join their late-night studio session so he could hear their new material. This posed a dilemma for the then-Rockets star, as he had a scheduled practice for the following morning. But Harden was immediately overcome with FOMO, and decided to sacrifice his rest to hear what the trio was cooking up.
“They all called me like, ‘Yo, we about to pull up to Houston.’ Baby, Durk, Meek,” Harden said. “They all come to the house [from] Atlanta, like 2 in the morning. I gotta go to practice in the morning! They come in the studio and I’m up with them the whole time.”
He continued: “And I go right from the studio at 7:30 a.m. right to practice. I can’t miss this opportunity. They in the studio, I gotta see what these dudes about to talk about.”
Harden is among the NBA stars who have stepped into the rap game. Not only has he recorded his own material, he also served as the executive producer of Baby and Durk’s collaborative project The Voice of the Heroes.
“From the beginning, I’ve had a passion for basketball, and music has always went hand and hand with it,” he said ahead of the album’s release. “It drives me on the daily to continue to be the best at what I do, to always strive for more. I see that same passion in Lil Baby and Lil Durk and can honestly I say I’m a true fan.”
First In-Depth Look At The Yellow ‘Friends & Family’ Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1 Colorway
The “Friends & Family” Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1s, conceptualized by the late Virgil Abloh, consists of eight colorways, including black, orange, and red. English Sole is providing us with the first in-depth look at the yellow colorway.
Each pair bears a solid-colored upper debossed with the classic LV monogram print. The Nike swoosh and the shoe’s linings come in a contrasting white. The soles feature the word “Air” in the famous Off-White-style lettering.
Each pair comes in an LV monogram box, two dust bags for proper storage, and a postcard with the words “Virgil Was Here.”
It’s not clear how many yellow pairs are in circulation. Several celebrities posted the pairs they received to social media earlier this year. Both LeBron James and Eminem showed off the black colorway, while DJ Khaled was sporting the red colorway. Nelly, “Mr. 2 Pairs,” posted up a purple pair.
Earlier this month, Sotheby’s auctioned off 200 limited edition pairs of the Louis Vuitton Air Force 1s for a record-breaking $25.3 million. The proceeds went to Abloh’s “Post-Modern” scholarship. The scholarship was founded by the late fashion mogul to benefit Black fashion students.
Former Miss Grand Ukraine Joins Military Fight Against Russian Invasion
Former Miss Grand Ukraine and beauty queen has joined the Ukrainian military to fight against Russia’s invasion.
Anastasia Lenna, who was crowned Miss Grand Ukraine in 2015, posted to her Instagram account that she is one of the many Ukrainians to pick up a gun to defend their country.
“Everyone who crosses the Ukrainian border with the intent to invade will be killed!” she said in a post of a photo of armed soldiers blocking the roadway, the New York Post reported.
Lenna has posted several photos showing her holding guns in between pictures of her decked out in full glam.
Lenna has also appealed to her 173 followers by posting several Instagram Stories asking for support accompanying a link for donations.
TMZ reports that the model speaks an impressive five languages and has previously worked as a translator and PR manager.
On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear forces on high alert as tensions rose between the countries.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘Smelly Smelly’
I can smell it from a distance
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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