#MAGFAB: Queen Latifah for Variety - Power Of Women Issue 2022
Queen Latifah has thrived in the entertainment business — from music to movies and television into the beauty industry and beyond — for more than 30 years. But the Grammy and Emmy winner and Oscar nominee doesn’t take time to reflect on her successes.
“I’m always looking forward to the next thing,” Latifah says. “I don’t really rest on my laurels. I rarely stop to say, ‘Oh, damn, you did this; you were the first to get that.’ I only realize that when people introduce me for something. And I’m like, ‘Gosh, how long is this intro?’”
On this afternoon, though, it’s not about accolades; instead, she’s driving around town running errands. She’s just wrapped Season 2 of “The Equalizer,” the CBS reboot in which she stars as vigilante Robyn McCall. But as an executive producer on the series (under her Flavor Unit Entertainment banner), she has plenty of work to do before setting off on her annual vacation to an undisclosed beach. The entertainer has been known to take a month off in the summer to recharge and live some of that life a superstar salary can pay for, but her busy schedule doesn’t often afford.
“You have to keep your eye on the prize, but I do definitely try to take that month off, and more if I can have it,” Latifah explains. “I have to fight for it, because everyone wants me to work and they’re always trying to book things. I’m very fortunate to be in that position, but, at the same time, I know that it will take a toll on me.”
The to-do list is almost as overwhelming as those “20-minute introductions” that often prelude her public appearances.
The night before this interview, she was up late streamlining her studio, paring down the equipment so it can travel with her. Making music or listening to it is her favorite way to unwind. “I can work 14 hours in a day, and I can go in the studio afterwards, and that will be my peace,” she says. “I have to just make it so that I can do the things that bring me peace while I’m doing all this work.”
In the studio, Latifah likes to experiment with different styles of music, voices and characters. Some songs are about love; others about the state of the world.
“I am such an interesting brain,” she laughs, describing her songwriting process. “I’m more of a ‘persona.’ You see Queen Latifah the way you see Queen Latifah, but in my mind, I can be anybody I want to be.” Asked to define her current persona: “Winning!“ she exclaims.
“I must say I’m just very, very blessed,” she continues, pausing to take stock of all that’s come and is to come. “I’m in a blessed place. Family’s okay. I’m okay. Work is going fine. I don’t have anything to complain about.”
Thus, Latifah has learned to be truly deliberate about what she says “Yes” to. “There’s always something cooking, but I’m still really working on my ‘No’s,’” she notes, with a knowing laugh. Even this Variety interview required careful consideration, but she ultimately embraced the attention because it aligns with one of her most important values: celebrating women.
“This is important. We’re not often celebrated and affirmed in the way we should be,” she explains. “We need to not only be affirmed, but to support one another, and to show that we support one another.”
Empowering others — especially women — has been a hallmark of Latifah’s career since she burst onto the scene in the late 1980s with her debut album, “All Hail the Queen.” Revered as the first lady of hip-hop, she quickly established herself as a lasting force and the coming year is highlighted by a few hallmark moments.
Latifah’s hit TV series “Living Single” will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2023. Latifah played urban-lifestyle magazine entrepreneur Khadijah James for five seasons, in a storyline that mirrored her and business partner Shakim Compere launching Flavor Unit in their mid-20s. The show has found a new audience via cable and streaming – further solidifying its legacy as one of the most influential shows of the 90s.
“’Living Single’ spoke to our generation. It showed the hustle that we had, the desire to achieve, and entrepreneurship,” she says. “It showed hip-hop being validated, as not this passing fad, but an actual culture that involve many facets.”
Likewise, this December marks 20 years since her Oscar-nominated performance as Mama Morton in “Chicago.” As she sat in the Dolby Theatre as a supporting actress nominee, she cemented her movie-star status, thanks to opening the No. 1 movie in the country that weekend with “Bringing Down the House.”
“What was exciting was the power that comes from being nominated for an Oscar,” Latifah says. “The power wasn’t to become an actor to go do more movies. It was to produce movies. It was now to be able to control movies. So that’s why you saw ‘Just Wright,’ ‘Beauty Shop’ and all the movies that we were able to do.”
Now, Latifah’s focused on a potential third season of “The Equalizer.” “[We’re] digesting what worked and what didn’t work, because we’ve got some serious fans who love the show,” she says. “We want to make sure that we keep them and build on that audience.”
Her top priority is satisfying one of the show’s most avid viewers, her grandmother, NaNa: “I’m still at work making sure she will be right in front of that television watching every Sunday.”
Another “Equalizer” super fan is her “Joyful Noise” co-star Dolly Parton. “Dolly literally wrote me a letter like, ‘You are a badass on that show!’” Latifah says. “I may have to call and ask if she wants to be on.”
Latifah continues to make an impact with “The Equalizer,” which doesn’t shy away from difficult subject matter, such as racism, sexual harassment and police use of excessive force.
“We’re representing people who really need to see some justice met,” she says. “They need to see their stories told, and they need to see the good guys win — and in this case, the good gal.”
Following “The Equalizer,” Latifah has two movies launching on Netflix — “Hustle” with Adam Sandler and her first thriller, “End of the Road.” Latifah says that signing onto “Hustle,” which follows a basketball scout (Sandler) who takes a chance on a streetball player, was a “no-brainer” — and not just because she’s had a crush on her leading man forever. (“Come on, who doesn’t?” she asks.) Latifah and Sandler have known each other for years, and when she filmed her eponymous talk show from 2013-2015, his Happy Madison production company also made its home on the Sony lot, where Sandler and Latifah’s longtime business partner Shakim Compere would play basketball together.
“He is the nicest person in the world. He’s such a sweetheart,” she says of Sandler. “His family’s cool. He rolls with his crew, which I love, which is like me. You roll with the same people, and you’re able to do really cool stuff over and over again with your friends.”
In “End of the Road,” she plays Brenda, a woman who has lost her husband and her job and decides to start over in her hometown of Houston. But as she sets off with her two children and her brother (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges), the family road trip that goes horrifically awry. Also in the works is the animated movie “The 13 1/2 lives of Captain Bluebear,” which is based on a children’s book that Latifah brought to the streamer. She partnered with Lisa Henson of the Henson Company for the project, which will be directed by David P. Smith (“Trolls 2: World Tour”).
As much as Latifah has enjoyed diversifying her filmography into new genres, she’d also be open to revisit her rom-com career. There’ve long been discussions about making a sequel to 2010’s “Just Wright” with Common, though the two multi-hyphenates will “probably be 80 when we make the movie again” thanks to their busy schedules.
“I love doing rom-coms; They’re fun and sweet and I’ve enjoyed them,” she says, adding that “’Last Holiday’ is one of my favorite movies out of all the movies I’ve made for many reasons. It reminded me to just live life to the fullest.”
The one movie that’s yet to be made, though, is the Dana Owens story, and Latifah has some interest in crafting that personal project sometime soon.
“I actually have some things I’m cooking up,” she says slyly. “But when you get back to that introduction again, that 20-minute introduction of Queen Latifah, I’ve got to break some of that up [into different projects]. There’s so many stories to tell.”
Behind the scenes, Latifah is leading the fourth installment of her Queen Collective filmmaking program with P&G and Tribeca Studios; and plans to narrate the Audible series “Unity in the Community” as part of Flavor Unit’s deal with the company, which is also based in her hometown of Newark, N.J., where she broke ground on a multimillion-dollar housing development project last week.
She’s also been supporting the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy, a tuition-free, open-enrollment, public charter high school in Northwest Detroit. Of her desire to give back to the community, Latifah says, “I’m just very inspired by people, by kids and their innocence and their eyes on the world, that they can conquer and they can do anything.”
#RHOA: Where Drew Sidora stands with husband Ralph after assistant drama
Drew Sidora is massaging out the kinks in her marriage with Ralph Pittman.
The “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star reveals where the two stand now — after her husband was caught in a text exchange with a former female assistant who offered him a massage.
“I thought we were in a better place. Then, last summer, there were some things that happened,” Sidora exclusively tells Page Six in a new interview.
“I went to Chicago with the kids for a while. And he ended up showing up in Chicago to say, ‘OK, I need my family back, stop playing.’”
The Illinois native, 37, recalls being “on this journey” of “getting through this particular issue of this assistant” for quite some time.
Sidora, who shared her relationship struggles with Kandi Burruss and Sanya Richards-Ross on the “RHOA” Season 14 premiere, is grateful that her castmates were there to validate her concerns over Pittman’s behavior.
“Talking to Kandi and Sanya, I felt in a safe place at that time because they’re wives and I felt like they could relate and call me out if I’m tripping. But they [agreed with] how I was feeling and what was going on,” she says.
“I was just happy that they stepped up for me, that they stood their ground, because they feel like he needs to hear that this is not cool,” Sidora continues. “It just put me in a situation that I hated. I didn’t want it to be on this season, but it is just where we were in our life at that point.”
Sidora tells us she certainly appreciated Burruss for holding Pittman’s feet to the fire, when she pressed him to reveal his response to the assistant: “Kandi held no punches!”
Despite Burruss’ efforts, Pittman, 39, didn’t provide a clear answer — and the mystery of his communication with the assistant will linger throughout the latest installment of “Atlanta,” according to Sidora.
“Honestly, I was waiting for her to pop up!” the “Step Up” actress says with a laugh. “It was a whole thing of trying to get to the bottom of it and I’m still trying to [figure out], like, ‘OK, is it resolved? Are we good now? Is she gone forever?’ I don’t know, because I don’t know this woman.”
What Sidora is sure of, however, is that marriage counseling is helping her and Pittman avoid the dreaded reality TV curse that so many “Real Housewives” couples have succumbed to over the years.
“We literally just stay in counseling because I always think I’m right and he always thinks he’s right,” she acknowledges. “We are pushing through and we’re really showing what a relationship can look like when you choose to stay together and really be vulnerable and work through your various issues.”
Sidora — who shares son Machai, 6, and daughter Aniya, 4, with Pittman and parents son Josiah, 11, from a previous relationship — tells Page Six that she is using her mother and father’s 56-year marriage as a blueprint for her own.
“I grew up seeing marriage. I saw them fight, I saw them make up. Marriage is not perfect, relationships aren’t easy. But if we both make a commitment, then that’s what it is,” she says.
“It’s just the journey of trying to get through life and trauma and triggers. And you have to be patient on both ends because I’m not always perfect. He’s not always going to be perfect … [but] we both married to stay together forever.”
Sidora, who tied the knot with Pittman in 2014, promises that a softer side of her spouse will soon emerge onscreen.
“I feel like this season, people are going to see the layers of Ralph. Yes, he is what you guys see,” she says of her “strong-minded” partner.
“But he’s so many other things and that’s ultimately why I married him. At the end of the day, he’s a good dude. He’s a great father, he’s very giving, he’s very loving, he’s very vulnerable — at times — and that’s what I love about him.”
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.3
#NewMusic from Raheem DeVaughn – If I Don’t
Check out the latest single from Raheem DeVaughn called “If I Don’t”. The song will be included on his upcoming project “Raheem DeVaughn Presents From Lust Till Dawn” which is set to release on May 6th.
“If I Don’t” was produced by legendary producer Tim Kelley who provides a dynamic backdrop to match Raheem’s energy on the song. The result is an undeniable track that will have you nodding your head upon the first listen.
LISTEN HERE
It’s pretty special to see Kelley and DeVaughn come together for this track since they are among the hardest workers in keeping R&B alive. Kelley simply never lets us down with his production and Raheem clearly knew what to do with it on this song.
Raheem adds about the song:
“The inspiration behind the song came after having numerous conversations with Black women and I realized that they want to be recognized for how they show up in relationships. If I Don’t is an introspective record that speaks for women in the third person regarding how they want to be recognized and appreciated by the man in their life.”
“Raheem DeVaughn Presents From Lust Till Dawn” will feature many artists that Raheem has collaborated with through the years including Wes Felton, Bee Boy$oul, YahZarah, Grenique, Georgia Reign, and more. Be sure to look out for that when it releases next week!
#HipHopNews: Jack Harlow Reveals ‘Come Home The Kids Miss You’ Tracklist
With just three days to go, Jack Harlow has revealed the tracklist for his sophomore album Come Home the Kids Miss You.
In addition to the Fergie-sampled hit “First Class,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the 15-track set includes appearances from GOATs like Lil Wayne (“Poison”) and Pharrell (“Movie Star”).
Justin Timberlake joins Jack on “Parent Trap,” while Drake drops in on their long-awaited collaboration “Churchill Downs.” It’s unclear if this is the same song that leaked last month where Drake reportedly took shots at Pusha T.
The Louisville heartthrob also shoots his shot with Dua Lipa on the aptly-titled “Dua Lipa,” which he recently teased.
The album, which follows 2020’s Thats What They All Say, is shaping up for a huge debut with first-week sales projections between 160-180,000.
Come Home the Kids Miss You drops Friday. See the tracklist below.
COME HOME THE KIDS MISS YOU TRACKLIST
1. “Talk of the Town”
2. “Young Harleezy”
3. “I’d Do Anything to Make You Smile”
4. “First Class”
5. “Dua Lipa”
6. “Side Piece”
7. “Movie Star” feat. Pharrell
8. “Lil Secret”
9. “I Got a Shot”
10. “Churchill Downs” feat. Drake
11. “Like a Blade of Grass”
12. “Parent Trap” feat. Justin Timberlake
13. “Poison” feat. Lil Wayne
14. “Nail Tech”
15. “State Fair”
Janelle Monáe To Star As Iconic Entertainer Josephine Baker In TV Series
Janelle Monae is set to star as iconic entertainer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker in TV series De La Resistance!
The eight-time Grammy nominee and SAG winner will also produce the upcoming project under Wondaland Pictures– the film division of her multimedia company Wondaland. Janelle Monae, 36, has been a long time fan of Josephine Baker
Reportedly, the drama series will focus on Josephine Baker’s role as a spy for the Allies during the French resistance helping defeat the Nazis, and on her experience as one of the world’s most iconic, talented and glamorous entertainers. Baker was an American-born French entertainer and civil rights activist who spent most of her career in Europe. She was the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture, the 1927 silent film Siren Of The Tropics.
In her early career, Josephine Baker was among the most celebrated performers in Paris. Her performances and fashion style became an iconic image and a symbol both of the Jazz Age and Roaring Twenties.
Josephine Baker was highly respected for her contributions to the civil rights movement, often refusing to perform to segregated audiences in the U.S. She was even offered a leadership role in the movement by Coretta Scott King following her husband’s assassination.
Janelle Monae is best known for roles in films like Hidden Figures, Moonlight and Harriet. The singer turned actress has taken hollywood by storm and has quickly set her mark as a well respected actress in the game!
What are your thoughts?
Police Arrest and Identify Man that Tackled Comedian Dave Chappelle During Live Hollywood Bowl Show
Police have arrested and identified the man they say tackled comedian Dave Chappelle during a show in Hollywood on Tuesday night.
Isaiah Lee, 23, was booked for assault with a deadly weapon, Los Angeles police spokeswoman Officer Hernandez told Law&Crime on the phone. The officer declined to provide Law&Crime with her first name.
Lee is allegedly seen on video from TMZ charging Chappelle and then running off. Security guards then appear to chase Lee and reportedly beat him, all while the comedian provided cheerful narration.
The comedian appeared well, continuing to joke at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater as part of the Netflix Is a Joke festival. Officers did not report him having any injuries but said that Lee had pointed a “replica handgun” at him during the incident.
The fake firearm had a knife inside it, Hernandez said.
In a moment that was arguably apropos to the situation, comedian Chris Rock—who was recently slapped by actor Will Smith during the Oscars for a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith—happened to be at the show, and he grabbed the mic after the tackling.
“Was that Will Smith?” he said.
Detectives did not release information on the motive, the officer said.
Chappelle made a crack during incident about the attacker being a “trans man.” The comedian has faced staunch criticism for transphobic jokes, though he has insisted the controversy wasn’t about him versus the LGBTQ community but “about corporate interests and what I can say and what I cannot say.”
The Daily Beast and TMZ are reporting that Lee is a rapper, and has a song named after Chappelle:
Isaiah Arias Lee, who performs under the name “NoName_Trapper” and recorded a song in 2020 titled “Dave Chapell,” was arrested on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly rushed the stage and attacked comedian Dave Chappelle https://t.co/VnBlug41UL
Lee was taken to the hospital for treatment and released for booking, Hernandez said. Detectives did not release details on his condition, she said.
Footage from the scene shows the man identified as Lee being carried into an ambulance. He was conscious, but his right arm was visibly twisted, with his elbow facing forward.
Lee is being held on a $30,000 bond. Court records were not available, and an attorney was not identified. Jail records do not indicate a scheduled hearing.
Netflix Now Getting Sued For Losing Subscriber To The Service
Netflix continues its sudden, somewhat shocking transformation into the Charlie Brown of the streaming world this week, as Vulture reports that the service—which, just a few months ago, was riding high as the established apex predator of the streaming universe—is now getting sued by its shareholders for those crappy subscriber numbers it posted back in April.
Specifically, the company’s investors are pissed at what they’re claiming was a deliberate attempt to mislead them about whether the streaming entertainment company was going to be able to hit subscriber goals it set for itself in Q1 of 2022. In an earnings call in April, the company announced it had lost 200,000 subscribers during the quarter, and expects to lose even more during Q2; the immediate result was one of the biggest drops in the company’s stock price to date, plunging roughly $50 billion in value.
Shareholders are claiming to be blindsided by the loss, with accusations that Netflix made “misleading statements” and “failed to disclose” the oncoming drop—which has been blamed on a number of factors, including the fact that an easing of pandemic restrictions means a large chunk of humanity is no longer living in individual blanket forts with nothing but Bridgerton and Is It Cake? to keep them some semblance of sane. Investors who owned Netflix stock between October of last year and April of 2022 are reportedly now seeking monetary damages against the company.
As to what Netflix intends to do about these subscriber issues, that remains to be seen—although there are spreading concerns that the company’s approach is landing on the decidedly myopic side. For one thing, co-CEO Reed Hastings has now repeatedly suggested that its best revenue option in the U.S.—where the subscriber base is probably about as saturated as it’s going to get—is to try to catch and charge people sharing their passwords, which feels like a very “Gotta be some change in the couch cushions, right?” tack for a multi-billion-dollar company to take.
The service also went on a penny-pinching spree in recent weeks, gutting (and potentially rebuilding) its original animation department, and eliminating a number of editorial jobs at its Tudum fan site. But its basic strategy of “Let’s pay Gal Gadot and The Rock hundreds of millions of dollars to look hot while Ryan Reynolds cracks jokes” seems to be continuing to run in full force—even as rising competitors like Disney+ continue to run circles around it in terms of getting audiences excited for the original programming that’s seen as the only way to stave off competitors in an increasingly crowded streaming world.
Federal Judge accepts Derek Chauvin's plea deal set to sentence him up to 25 years in prison
Derek Chauvin’s plea deal has officially been accepted by the federal judge who is presiding over the cases of the four Minneapolis police officers involved in the death of George Floyd. He will be sentenced anywhere between 20 and 25 years in prison.
Filed months ago, the plea had a sentencing range between 17 and just slightly over 21 years in prison “assuming all good-time credit,” per reports from CNN.
Initially Chauvin pleaded not guilty to federal charges that stated that he had violated Floyd’s constitutional rights. However, late last year he pleaded guilty to one count of violating Floyd’s civil rights. The former officer also pleaded guilty to one count of violating the rights of a teenager in another case.
Ultimately, other charges brought forth were dismissed by prosecutors who instead recommended a sentence to be served simultaneously with his prison time for the murder conviction.
“It’s a good day for justice,” said Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, back in December when Chauvin entered his plea.
At the time, attorneys for Floyd’s family also shared how the case was showing progress in the fight toward holding police officers accountable in a joint statement.
“We must all keep marching,” wrote lawyers Ben Crump, Antonio Romanucci and Jeff Storms. “We must all keep fighting against injustice. We must do this for George, to ensure that his one life and shocking death will change the future for countless others.”
In February three additional ex-officers from the Minneapolis force were found guilty of violating Floyd’s rights in February following a month-long trial. All officers were president during his death.
A jury came to the conclusion that J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas K. Lane and Tou Thao failed to provide Floyd with medical aid. It also held both ex-officers Kueng and Thao responsible for not intervening.
Questlove helps to launch fully funded Ph.D. scholarship program for creatives in Philly
This year continues to be the year of Questlove. Coming off of some major wins including an Oscar and Grammy award for his Summer of Soul documentary, the Philadelphia native is giving back to the city of Brotherly Love.
Born, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, the multifaceted creative has partnered with the University of the Arts in Philadelphia to launch a scholarship fund for an all-new Ph.D. program. The Balvenie Fellowship is “a fully funded three-year program in the Ph.D. program of Creativity that begins in June of 2022.”
It all began when the program director, Dr. Jonathan Fineberg purchased a home from Shawn Gee who just so happens to be Questlove’s manager. Together they will now spearhead the creative futures of people in Philly starting with the first recipient of the program, James Brandon Lewis.
Lewis,who is an acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and writer is based in Brooklyn.
“We’re honored to be granting this scholarship to James Brandon Lewis, who is already a well-established and incredible saxophonist,” said Questlove. “I’m looking forward to seeing what he achieves while honing his craft in my hometown of Philadelphia, and the impact he will have on the music community.”
Dr. Fineberg has been a fan of Questlove for quite sometime and even notes assigning his book, “Creative Quest” to his students at the University of the Arts.
“‘Creative Quest’ is one of the most interesting books about creativity that I’ve ever read,” he shared. “He’s so honest and smart about what he is doing. I thought my students really needed to read this.”
With a low-residency, dissertation-only course of study, the Ph.D. program stands apart from other programs which generally take an average of six to seven years to complete. The program is centered around exploring the arts, humanities, science, and social sciences.
Besides a summer immersion for the duration of two weeks, The Balvenie Fellowship is fully remote.
Kim Cattrall Reveals Third ‘Sex & The City’ Film Involved Samantha And Miranda’s Teen Son
Kim Cattrall confirmed during an interview that she was reportedly heartbroken over an inappropriate subplot involving Samantha receiving nude photos from Miranda’s son during the scrapped third ‘Sex & The City’ film.
Why Kim Cattrall didn’t want to return for the third ‘Sex & The City’
In an interview with Variety, Cattrall confirmed a rumored plot involving her character Samantha Jones and Miranda Hobbs’ son Brady where the then 14-year-old character was sending her “unwanted d*ck” pictures. She says the script should’ve been more realistic and caused conflict for the character instead of a subplot involving an underage boy.
“It’s heartbreaking. Why can’t Samantha, who owns her PR company — maybe she had to sell it because of financial woes? 2008 was tough. Some people are still recovering,” she said. Cattrall also noted she and her team came up with the idea and added, “That’s a conflict, instead of an underage boy’s …”
“I would have preferred for all of us to have some kind of event to warrant a third film. That didn’t happen. But also, I was ready. And this is exactly what I wished for: to be in different places playing different characters because I’m a character actress. And as difficult as it was, and as scary as it is to stand up and not be bullied by the press or the fans or whomever — to just say, I’m good. I’m on this track. It was so great working with you. I so enjoyed it, but I’m over here.”
According to Insider, Cattrall turned down the iconic character role three times for the original series because she thought she couldn’t pull it off at 42. She also confirmed that she wasn’t asked to reprise her role for the spinoff “And Just Like That..”
“Well, it would never happen anyway. So nobody has to worry about that.”
Cattrall learned about the new reboot around the same as everyone else and said it felt strange not to be a part of it.
“It’s odd, isn’t it? I don’t know how to feel about it. It’s so finite for me, so it doesn’t continue. I think I would ponder it more if I didn’t have something like “Queer as Folk” or “How I Met Your Father.” That’s kind of where I’m centered around. This feels like an echo of the past. Other than the really wonderful feeling of — it’s rare in my business — people wanting more, especially at 65. That feels powerful, that I’ve left something behind that I’m so proud of. I loved her. I loved her so, so, so much. It’s tough competition. The original show is in all of our imaginations. But for me, it feels clean.”
Although fans miss Samantha’s character, Cattrall says she’s not returning to the series but still thinks the original is still amazing.
“You know the thing about doing a show like “Sex and the City”? I think Darren got it right with “Emily in Paris.” It’s a young show. It’s about young ideals. It’s about discovery. I think the original show is really amazing, but that was a different time”
‘Family Matters’ Star Jo Marie Payton Claims Jaleel White Tried to Fight Her While on Set
Family Matters actress JoMarie Payton is speaking out about an alleged altercation with her co-star Jaleel White who played Steve Urkel. The actress claims the two nearly got into it while filming the show’s ninth season.
“There was something that he wanted to do and I said we can’t do that, standards and practices will not let that pass. It’s not gonna happen. He wanted to do it anyway,” she said. “He was so mad, he started kicking and screaming and stuff.”
That’s when Payton detailed how “she walked off” but as she was doing so, she heard White make a comment, to which she says she asked costar Darius McCrary to clarify. “He said something about, ‘She must want to melee.’ I said, ‘What’s a melee?’ He said, ‘a fight.’ I turned around — if he wanna fight, I would,” she told ET. “Darius [McCrary] grabbed me. I was gonna whip his behind.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Urkel actor had recently implied there were onset tensions between him and his Family Matters costars during the show’s run. During an interview with TV One’s Uncensored in 2021, White indicated that tension was due to him not being “welcomed to the cast at all.”
That response, according to several stars who was featured in an episode of E!’s True Hollywood Story, was about White’s character being heightened to a main character in the show. The actors were told by producers that the “dynamic was going to change” to make the show more about Urkel.
“And we said ‘OK,’” Payton said at the time. “We weren’t happy about it. I think along the way it got to be a little resentful but it was just an adjustment that we had to make.”
“My arrival to Family Matters was a rocky start at the beginning,” White said. “They kind of had to accept that I was there. That was a process.”
Eventually, though, he claims the cast started to accept him, he says. “Over time, figuring out that ‘if you do this and I do that, we win’ — that’s ultimately what evolved.”
Amber Heard testifies Johnny Depp performed 'cavity search' for cocaine: 'I froze'
After three weeks of testimony from Johnny Depp's side, including the actor's memorable four days on the stand, it's Amber Heard's turn to tell her story. The Aquaman star, 36, sat before a jury on Wednesday afternoon and accused her ex-husband of physical abuse and sexual assault. Throughout her three-hour testimony, Depp, 58, kept his head down and never looked at her on the witness stand.
"I am here because my ex-husband is suing me for an op-ed I wrote," Heard began. "I struggle to find the words to describe how painful this is. This is horrible for me to sit here for weeks and relive everything ... this is the most painful and difficult think I have ever gone through."
Heard is being sued for $50 million as Depp claims she defamed him in a 2018 op-ed published in The Washington Post. The actor's legal team presented its case that he lost at least $40 million in earnings and that the article was "catastrophic" for his career. The Pirates of the Caribbean star testified that he "never" abused Heard, or any woman, and that she was the violent aggressor in their relationship.
According to Heard, that's not the case. She testified that Depp was volatile after they started dating. "It started with throwing things, destroying the property and screaming at me," she claimed. It turned physical in 2013.
"It's seemingly so stupid, so insignificant. I will never forget it. It changed my life," Heard told the jury about the first time she was hit. "I was sitting on the couch and we were talking, we were having like a normal conversation. There was no fighting, no argument, nothing. He was drinking and I didn't realize it at the time, but I think he was using cocaine. ... I asked him about the tattoo he has on his arm."
Depp's tattoo read "Wino Forever," which he changed from "Winona Forever." (The actor previously dated Winona Ryder.) When Depp told Heard what it said, she laughed.
"He slapped me across the face — and I laughed. I laughed because I didn't know what else to do. I thought this must be a joke. This must be a joke because I didn't know what was going on. I just stared at him kind of laughing still, thinking that he was going to start laughing too ... but he didn't," Heard declaraed.
Depp purportedly yelled at her "You think you're funny, bitch?"
"He slapped me again. It was clear it wasn't a joke anymore. I stopped laughing but I didn't know what else to do. ... He slapped me for no reason it seemed like," Heard continued, adding that Depp slapped her a third time "hard." She remembered how "dirty" the carpet was as she was laying there face down.
Heard became emotional on the stand, claiming Depp told her he'd "done it before" and "thought I put the monster away." The actress left the house, but not the relationship. She said Depp later begged for forgiveness and told her, "I'll never lay a hand on you again."
When Depp testified two weeks ago, he claimed this whole incident never happened. In fact, there's practically nothing the actors agree on except that when they kissed filming The Rum Diary in 2009, their chemistry was "remarkable."
"It didn't feel like a normal scene anymore, it felt more real," Heard recalled.
That's where the similarities end.
Heard told the jury about how on movie sets, "you don't use your tongue" as to keep things professional.
"Those lines were blurred. He grabbed my face and pulled me into him and really kissed me. But we were filming a scene," she said, confirming that Depp slipped her his tongue. Alluding to more unprofessional behavior, Heard claimed that one time when she was wearing a bathrobe on set "he kind of picked up the back of my robe with his boot."
"I didn't know what to make of it at the time, I just kind of giggled and batted it away playfully," she explained.
Depp testified that he and Heard kissed one time off-camera in his trailer, and that while she wanted to stay, he knew it was a bad idea as they were in other relationships. Heard had a different story. She said Depp "playfully" pushed her on a bed in his trailer in a "flirtatious" way.
"I giggled, laughed it off and batted him away," she claimed.
Heard and Depp didn't see each other for almost two years, although she says he sent her lavish gifts in the interim. When they reunited for the film's press tour in 2011 they were both single. Heard said Depp invited her up to his hotel room under the guise of having a drink with the director, but when she arrived, the director wasn't there. They drank wine and hung out for hours on the couch.
"As I went to leave he grabbed both sides of my face, similar to what he did [during filming]," She said. "He kissed me and I kissed him back ... then we fell in love."
By March 2013, according to Heard, violence was becoming routine in their relationship. She claimed in one instance, Depp hit her and "my lip went into my teeth and it got a little blood on the wall."
Heard said she was attacked on another occasion that month: "He grabbed me by the arm and he kind of just held me on the floor screaming at me. I don't know how many times he hit me in the face, but I remember being on the floor of my apartment and I remember thinking, 'How could this happen to me again?'"
The alleged incident happened in May 2013 when they were doing drugs with a group of friends in Joshua Tree, Calif. (It's been dubbed the "Hicksville" incident during trial.) In the trailer where they were staying, the actress testified that she was digitally penetrated by Depp when he was searching for cocaine.
"He ripped my dress ... he's grabbing my breast, he's touching my thighs, he rips my underwear off and then he proceeds to do a cavity search," Heard emotionally recounted. "He said he was looking for his drugs, his cocaine."
Heard told the jury she "didn't do cocaine and was against it."
"Why would I hide his drugs from him?" she continued, claiming Depp "shoved his fingers inside me."
Heard said she "just stood there staring at this stupid light."
"I didn't know what to do. I just stood there while he did that. He twisted his fingers around. I didn't say stop or anything I just," Heard added, becoming emotional. "I froze."
Heard still didn't leave Depp after the alleged incident calling him the "love of my life" at the time. "I had so much hope," she explained.
The relationship didn't improve that summer as Heard testified about two more alleged abuse incidents. After a flight where they supposedly both took MDMA, and fed a pill to a flight attendant, he gave her a bloody nose.
While in the Bahamas with his children, Heard claims Depp slammed "me up by my neck and holds me there for a second and tells me that he could f****** kill me and that I was an embarrassment."
Heard's testimony has wrapped for the day. She will be back on the stand on Thursday.
Oscar Winner and Broadway Alum Ariana DeBose to Host 2022 Tony Awards
“West Side Story” star and Oscar winner Ariana DeBose will host this year’s Tony Awards, the organization announced Wednesday.
The actor, singer and dancer played Anita in Steven Spielberg’s feature-film adaptation of the iconic musical last year. She won the Oscar for best supporting actress, along with a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and BAFTA Award. In 2018, she earned a Tony nomination for best featured actress in a musical for “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.” She was also in the original ensemble for Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton,” where she also played the key role of The Bullet.
“We are thrilled to have Ariana DeBose, who has captivated audiences with her inspirational roles on stage and in film and television, host this year’s Tony Awards,” said Jack Sussman, executive vice president of specials, music, live events and alternative programming at CBS in a statement. “After the challenging last two years, there is no one better to bring the theater community together on this important night honoring the best of Broadway and share the joys of live performing once again than this extraordinarily talented artist.”
This year’s Tony Awards will take place on Sunday, June 12, at Radio City Music Hall. The ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, airing live across the country for the first time. The broadcast will stream live on CBS and on streaming service Paramount+. Exclusive content will stream on Paramount+ an hour before the celebration begins.
“I’m coming home! I’m so honored to celebrate 75 years of excellence in theatre, but more importantly every member of this community who poured themselves into making sure the lights of Broadway have the opportunity to shine brightly once again! This is a dream come true, and I’m excited to see you all on June 12,” said DeBose in a statement.
Nominations for the 2022 Tony Awards will be announced by Adrienne Warren and Joshua Henry on Monday, May 9.
Denzel Washington Drops $10M for Lavish Century City Condo
*Denzel Washington has reportedly dropped $10.9 million for a lavish “double-wide” unit at one of LA’s most elite condo buildings.
Here’s more from dirt.com: The Century, the Robert A.M. Stern-designed skyscraper that has been one of L.A.’s preeminent condo buildings ever since its completion, circa 2010. Standing 42 stories tall, the complex has proven particularly popular with foreign businesspeople, and these days there isn’t a unit in the building that costs less than $3 million. Records reveal the condo in question was sold by HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, a granddaughter of the late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.
Per the report, in 2013 Princess Reema paid nearly $9 million to buy two adjacent condos in The Century. She then remodeled the space to include six bedrooms and eight bathrooms in over 8,000 square feet.
The property boasts hardwood floors, custom finishes and two ultra-private entrances, two living rooms, two dining rooms, a 75-foot swimming pool, a pet spa, a children’s play area, and a screening room, She Knows reports. There’s also 24/7 concierge service, an exclusive on-site restaurant, Hinoki & The Bird, and panoramic views of Los Angeles.
Tom Cruise Arrives In Helicopter To Star-Studded ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Premiere
If there’s one thing Tom Cruise knows, it’s how to arrive in style.
The actor touched down for the highly anticipated “Top Gun: Maverick” premiere in a USS Midway helicopter, before casually strolling onto the red carpet in San Diego, Calif., on Wednesday.
The 59-year-old — who is famous for doing his own stunts in films — rocked up to the star-studded event looking dapper as ever, sporting a black tux for the overdue occasion.
Cruise was all smiles as he waved to a massive crowd of diehard fans who have patiently waited 36 years since the original film.
Eagle-eyed fans even spotted a key detail on his chopper, which read, “Tom Cruise Top Gun: Maverick.”
The father of three posed for pictures with co-stars Jennifer Connelly, Monica Barbaro and Miles Teller in front of a sea of cameras.
Teller, 35, donned a blue suit with a matching tie for the occasion, before putting on a loved-up display with wife Keleigh Sperry.
Teller plays Goose’s son and Maverick’s new protege in the movie. Goose, the co-pilot to Cruise’s character in the original, was played by Anthony Edwards.
Connelly opted for a show-stopping gold gown for the premiere, where she and longtime husband Paul Bettany packed on the PDA as they linked arms on the red carpet.
The sure-to-be-blockbuster film was originally set to be released in 2019, but was delayed repeatedly as a result of the pandemic.
The hotly awaited sequel is set in a world of drone technology and explores the end of the era of dogfighting, with Cruise portraying a flight instructor.
In addition to a starry cast of new pilots, Val Kilmer will reprise his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky.
The original film was a massive success, grossing more than $350 million worldwide on a $15 million budget.
“Top Gun: Maverick” lands in theaters on May 27.
Amazon To Pay Up To $4,000 In Travel Expenses For Employees Needing Non-Life Threatening Medical Treatments, Including Abortions
Amazon will give its U.S. employees benefits that will allow them to pay for abortions and other health-related treatments, USA Today reports.
As the Republican-led effort to ban women from being able to receive abortions continues, Amazon has announced a new benefit in which the company will pay up to $4,000 in travel expenses for female employees to receive a non-life threatening medical procedure, including pregnancy termination.
Amazon announced the news Monday in a message sent to employees. In the message, the company shared the benefit will be accessible to warehouse and corporate employees or dependents who are covered under the company’s Premera or Aetna health plans, Reuters reports.
The benefit will be offered to workers who are unable to receive a medical procedure within 100 miles of their home or if virtual care cannot be provided. USA Today reports the new benefit is set to take place in January of 2023.
Other medical procedures the benefit covers include cardiology, cellular gene therapies and substance abuse disorder treatment and services, USA Today report
Kim Kardashian Says Hopefully She’ll Have Just One More Wedding: ‘Fourth Time’s The Charm’
Kim Kardashian isn’t afraid to walk down the aisle for the fourth time. After three failed marriages, she hasn’t given up on “I do” yet.
Kardashian had been married two times before marrying Kanye West. At 19, she married music producer Damon Thomas who was ten years older than her. She claims she was on ecstasy at the time. The marriage lasted from 2000 to 2003.
After the breakup, she started dating Ray J, but their relationship ultimately ended in 2007 after things got messy and a sex tape was leaked. In 2011, she wed then-NBA player Kris Humphries. That marriage was heavily documented on Keeping up With The Kardashians. She shared at E! Reunion Special for the reality show with Andy Cohen that she wished she got an annulment.
“If I was mature, I would have wanted the annulment too.” Kris wanted an annulment since the marriage lasted for 72 days and didn’t want it on his record if he decided to get married again. Kardashian offered him a public apology at the reunion and expressed her regrets.
It’s not clear who will be the next lucky guy to marry the SKIMS founder, but Pete Davidson may have a good chance considering the two just had another red carpet appearance at the Met Gala. Their first appearance was at the White House in late April.
FKA Twigs Trial Date Set For Lawsuit Against Ex Boyfriend Shia LeBeouf For Sexual Battery & Assault
FKA Twigs won a trial date for her claims against ex-boyfriend, actor Shia LaBeouf.
It was announced Monday that there will be a trial date set for FKA Twigs after her lawyer accused LaBeouf of “gaslighting” the British avant-pop star amid her ongoing lawsuit alleging “relentless abuse” during a “living nightmare” relationship. Twigs’ lawyer, Bryan Freedman told sources,
“The gaslighting has gone on long enough here and it’s time to hold Shia LaBeouf accountable. My client wants a trial date.”
As previously reported, FKA Twigs (real name Tahliah Barnett) is suing Shia LaBeouf over sexual battery, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims that she filed back in December 2020. According to court documents, FKA twigs highlighted an alleged incident from Valentine’s Day in 2019, where Shia LaBeouf was said to be speeding and driving recklessly in Los Angeles. The two had just returned from a trip.
He allegedly removed his seatbelt and said he would crash the car unless she told him she loved him. Reportedly, she begged him to let her out of the car and he stopped at a gas station and removed her bags. While she got out of the car, she alleged he followed her and slammed her against it before making her get back in the vehicle.
Shia LaBeouf initially seemed apologetic for his action in a statement to The New York Times and said:
“I’m not in any position to tell anyone how my behavior made them feel. I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalizations. I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt. There is nothing else I can really say.”
However, the “Disturbia” actor later denied FKA Twig’s allegations in a February 2021 answer to her complaint, stating that he denied causing her
“any injury or loss” and that she is not “entitled to any relief or damages whatsoever.”
The trial date has been set for April 17, 2023 in which both parties will go before a jury.
Kidd Creole of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five Sentenced to 16 Years for Manslaughter
After he was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter last month, Kidd Creole has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.
TMZ reports that the former musician, who was a member of Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five alongside his brother Melle Mel, was sentenced to 16 years behind bars and five years of probation for the fatal stabbing of a homeless man in 2017. The legal team for the 62-year-old, real name Nathaniel Glover, argued that he acted in self-defense.
The incident in question happened in New York just before midnight on Aug. 1, 2017. The stabbing victim, 55-year-old John Jolly, allegedly approached Creole and said, “What’s up?” The rapper then pulled out a steak knife and stabbed Jolly twice in the chest. He was later discovered bleeding out by a group of tourists and taken to a nearby hospital. He later died of his injuries. Creole is said to have fled the scene shortly after, and went to his office to change clothes and clean the knife. Police said he attempted to dispose of the knife in a sewer by a Bronx subway station, although it was recovered by authorities the next day.
Kidd Creole’s attorney argued that Jolly sustained non-life-threatening stab wounds during the altercation, and his death was actually caused by a mix of alcohol and sedatives given to him by hospital staff. Prosecutors have argued a police interview with Creole allegedly saw him admit he attacked Jolly because he believed the man was hitting on him. Speaking with the Source in 2021, he denied the attack was homophobic.
British Virgin Islands Premier Andrew Fahie Claims Immunity in U.S. Drug Trafficking Case
The Premier of the British Virgin Islands and the territory’s ports director were arrested Thursday in Miami on charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering in the US, according to a criminal affidavit filed in the US District Court’s Southern District of Florida.
Premier Andrew Alturo Fahie and BVI Ports Authority Managing Director Oleanvine Pickering Maynard were arrested at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, the affidavit says. Maynard’s son Kadeem Stephan Maynard was also arrested. According to Sky News, Fahie claims he is immune from prosecution for the alleged crimes “because he is an elected, constitutional head of government of the British overseas territory,” the outlet writes.
Fahie and the Maynards are being held on charges of conspiracy to import 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to launder money, the affidavit says, per CNN. Get caught up on the full details of the case here.
British Virgin Islands Governor John Rankin, who is the territory’s de facto head of state, announced the arrest of Fahie.
“It is my duty as Governor to inform you that this morning the Honourable Premier Fahie was detained in Miami on charges related to conspiracy to import a controlled substance and money laundering,” Rankin said in a news release.
In a statement obtained by CNN, Britain’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she was appalled by the allegations against Fahie.
“This afternoon, the Premier of the British Virgin Islands, Andrew Fahie, was arrested in the United States on charges related to drugs trafficking and money laundering,” her statement said. “I am appalled by these serious allegations.”
Truss also referenced an anti-corruption inquiry unrelated to the DEA investigation.
“This arrest demonstrates the importance of the recently concluded Commission of Inquiry. I have spoken to the Governor of the BVI and he will be holding an emergency meeting of the Territory’s Cabinet later today. He will set out next steps tomorrow, including urgent publication of the Inquiry’s report,” she added.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration said in a statement the arrest should send a “clear message” to anyone bringing drugs into the country.
“Anyone involved with bringing dangerous drugs into the United States will be held accountable, no matter their position. Today is yet another example of DEA’s resolve to hold corrupt members of government responsible for using their positions of power to provide a safe haven for drug traffickers and money launderers in exchange for their own financial and political gain,” DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said.
Teacher Terminated For Making Black Students Pick Cotton; Allows White Students To Forgo Assignment
Parents demand that a teacher be terminated after forcing students to pick cotton seeds during a slavery lesson.
Last week, Rochester School of the Arts teacher Patrick Rausch, who is white, gave his seventh-grade students an assignment that included picking the seeds out of the cotton. However, the lesson took a disturbing turn when Rausch allowed white students to throw their cotton away and work on their Chromebooks instead. Several Black students reported that when they tried to throw their cotton away, Rausch threatened them with a poor grade for disregarding the assignment. He even asked students to call him “Massah.”
“I never would have thought a teacher would do such things. When you send your kid to school, you are sending them to school in the hands of those teachers,” said Precious Morris, whose daughter was one student who Rausch threatened with a bad grade if she ditched the assignment.
Nearly half of the School of the Arts attendees are Black, and about 65 percent are considered economically disadvantaged.
One parent, Vialma Ramos-O’Neal, reported that her 13-year-old son told her that Rausch taught his class the same lesson during a separate social studies class.
The Rochester School of the Arts has launched an investigation into the shocking lesson and has placed Rausch on administrative leave. Parents, however, are pushing for his teaching license to be revoked.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Adult Diapers
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HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND ALL!!!
EFREM
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