#MAGFAB: Star Kumail Nanjiani on His Villain Era for INSTYLE Magazine
Kumail Nanjiani is showing off in a whole new way in the new Hulu miniseries, “Welcome to Chippendales.” Opening up to InStyle, the Marvel alum discusses playing a villain, whether or not he’ll ever make a similar movie to “The Big Sick,” and even shares the story behind his first kiss when he was 20 years old.
On taking on this role squarely outside his usual comedic repertoire: “Welcome to Chippendales is the role I’ve been most nervous to take on, because I never played anybody like [Somen] … I’ve mostly played people who were, in some ways, different versions of myself. Generally they were funny or had some element of likability to them,” Nanjiani tells InStyle
On his Marvel workout regimen: “I really still enjoy working out. I get a lot out of it. It’s for me, mentally, been really good. It grounds me in my body, it’s good for stress, I sleep better, and it makes me better at my job, you know, because so much of acting is about sort of feeling your body and being in your body,” Nanjiani says. “For years, I felt really disconnected from my body, so working out is something that just connects me with myself.”
On how quarantine affected his marriage: “Quarantine was a very, very stressful time. It was stressful for her, too, but I think we can both admit it was much more stressful for me. I just felt so out of control and we realized that both of our reactions to her initial illness were such a big part of the patterns of our relationship … it became very obvious that this was something that was still affecting us, so really, spending that year-and-a-half with just us — we really didn’t leave the house, some people were shooting, but I didn’t — really, really brought us closer together,” he said. “When we look back, however many years from now at that year-and-a-half together, it’s always going to be a milestone. I think we appreciate each other more now. I think we communicate a lot better now.” He ends with this wise takeaway: “Relationships are always evolving, because you’re always evolving, and the other person is always evolving.”
On his recurring nightmare: “I’m about to do stand-up, and I get on stage and I don’t have any material and it’s a full crowd and I’m up there and I don’t know what to do. The set-up is always different so I never know what dream I’m walking into, you know? I’ll be hanging out with friends at a bar or something and then suddenly I’m at an open mic and they call my name and I’m like, ‘Oh shit, it’s that fucking dream again!'” “It always happens whenever I’m feeling intimidated or inadequate. Last week, I had the dream three nights in a row. I was like, I get it.”
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Shares Update On Her Son After He Suffered Stroke, Heart Failure
NeNe Leakes just shared a joyful update about her son, Brentt. The former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star, 54, revealed that her son, 23, is walking and talking again two months after suffering a stroke and congestive heart failure.
Leakes shared multiple videos in her Instagram story of her son leaving the hospital as the staff cheered him on.
“Oh my god, you have no idea how Brentt came in here,” she said in another video, filming her son walking down the hospital hallway in a pink tracksuit. “Two months later, Brentt is walking out! Hallelujah!”
The TV personality also shared photos and videos documenting her son’s recovery process, which included using machines to help him walk again.
'RHOA' star Nene Leakes shares update on her son after he suffered stroke, heart failure
In one video, he stood with the support of a harness and walked slowly backwards as he tossed a ball.
In another photo, he posed with what appeared to be a team of medical staff and a support dog.
“Nurses are the best,” his mom captioned the pic.
Leakes also penned several messages of gratitude in her Instagram story, including “Home just in time for The holidays” and “To God be the Glory.”
Brentt Leakes suffered a stroke and congestive heart failure in late September. His mom shared the news in her Instagram stories on Oct. 10, saying at the time that doctors were still trying to figure out the cause of his medical issues.
She said at the time that her son was having trouble speaking and that the situation was “very scary.”
“We’re just shocked,” she said. “Just shocked. But I thank all of you guys for your prayers.”
The medical emergency occurred less than a month after Brentt's father, Gregg Leakes, died from colon cancer at age 66.
“He was very close to his dad, and he’s been super stressed out over it,” his mom said in October when she shared the news of her son’s stroke and heart issues. “I don’t even know if that has anything to do with it at all. I really ask the doctors questions like that, and they seem to think that is not the case with Brentt."
#MusicNews: Rihanna Is Reportedly Working On A Documentary About Her Life
Rihanna is giving fans a glimpse into her world. The pop icon is reportedly working on a documentary about her life as she gears up to return to the stage at the Super Bowl next year. According to The Sun, Rihanna has signed a multi-million dollar deal with Apple, where the behind-the-scenes film will stream.
“There is a massive appetite for everything to do with Rihanna, especially as this will be her major return to the stage for the first time in years,” a source told the outlet.
Cameras will be rolling as the new mom, who gave birth to her first child with A$AP Rocky in May, prepares for her long-awaited comeback.
“She will be recorded during rehearsals and meetings in the lead-up to the big night and give an insight into what her life is really like now she is returning to pop as a mum,” added the source. “The Super Bowl is one of, if not the, biggest stages in the world, so her show was always going to be huge. She is keen for the world to remember why she is one of the greatest performers of all time.”
Rihanna made her return to music last month as part of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She contributed two songs to the soundtrack, including “Born Again” and “Lift Me Up,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
But fans may have to wait a little longer for a full album. She told the AP that her upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance doesn’t necessarily mean that new music is imminent.
“Super Bowl is one thing. New music is another thing. Do you hear that, fans?” she said before teasing a “special project.”
It’s unclear when the documentary will air, but the Super Bowl will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. on Feb. 12, 2023.
#HipHopNews: Kodak Black Claims He Was Just Joking About Shooting His Shot At GloRilla
Kodak Black always says what's on his mind. Last month, he publicly shot his shot at CMG rapper GloRilla on Instagram, to which she didn’t respond. In a recent interview, he claims he was only joking.
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Florida rapper Kodak Black is clearing the air about his recent shot at newly emerged artist GloRilla on Instagram live. In a recent red carpet interview at the AMAs, Kodak claimed he was only joking after being asked about the situation.
Kodak Black is no stranger to going after what he wants. His latest crush appeared to be newly emerged talent GloRilla.
Lately, CMG labelmate GloRilla has been taking to her Instagram live more frequently as things unfold on who owns the rights to her hit single “F.N.F.”
Kodak appears to put relationship rumors with singer Monica to rest when he hopped on GloRilla’s live.
The “F.N.F.” artist was talking to her fans when Kodak decided to “shoot his shot” in the comments.
Yak then creatively used lyrics from Glo’s hit “Tomorrow” to tell the Memphis artist that he wants her to be his “girl.”
GloRilla’s lyrics originally say:
“Everyday the sun won’t shine, but that’s why I love tomorrow”
Kodak remixed the lyrics and said:
“You Prolly Aint My Girl Today But That’s Why I Love Tomorrow”
The “No Flocking” artist also recently defended GloRilla at the BET Hip-Hop Awards by saying if anyone should have won over him it should have been her.
Glo has yet to respond to the “Super Gremlin” artist.
An Arrest warrant issued for friend of Shanquella Robinson, Mexican prosecutor says
An arrest warrant has been issued in the death of Shanquella Robinson, a Charlotte woman killed while vacationing in Mexico, according to a Mexican prosecutor and confirmed by ABC News.
Daniel de la Rosa Anaya, a prosecutor for the state of Baja California Sur, told ABC a friend of Robinson’s “who is the direct aggressor” is being sought by international authorities on charges of femicide.
“This case is fully clarified, we even have a court order, there is an arrest warrant issued for the crime of femicide to the detriment of the victim and against an alleged perpetrator, a friend of her who is the direct aggressor,” de la Rosa Anaya told ABC News. “Actually it wasn’t a quarrel, but instead a direct aggression.”
“We are carrying out all the pertinent procedures such as the Interpol alert and the request for extradition to the United States of America. It’s about two Americans, the victim and the culprit.”
Authorities have not identified who they are working to arrest at this time.
Michael Lettieri, an expert on femicide in Mexico, said when a woman is killed in the country, authorities are often required to open the investigation as a femicide. From there, they look into whether she was killed for reasons due to her gender or if there were specific circumstances, such as domestic violence.
ABC News told Robinson’s mom on Wednesday evening that an arrest warrant had been issued in the case.
“I feel so good, that’s a good feeling,” Sallamondra Robinson said. “That’s what we have been waiting for, for someone to finally be held accountable and arrested. I just can’t wait for justice to be served.”
Her parents said Robinson, 25, left for Cabo San Lucas with several friends on Oct. 28. A day later, she was dead, said the state attorney general in Mexico investigating the case.
At first, friends told Robinson’s family she died of alcohol poisoning, but the autopsy showed she died of a broken neck and spine.
Channel 9 obtained Robinson’s death certificate. It lists the cause of death as “severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation,” and says she died within 15 minutes of injury. Alcohol poisoning is never mentioned.
In the box asking whether the death was accidental or violent, the medical examiner wrote “yes.”
After her death, video surfaced showing a woman attacking Shanquella Robinson. Sallamondra Robinson, previously identified the people in the video as the friends her daughter accompanied on the trip to Cabo.
While the original source of the video is unclear, Sallamondra Robinson believes it was taken during the Cabo trip. In the video, a person can be heard asking if Shanquella Robinson “could at least fight back.”
The U.S. State Department and FBI have also been involved in investigating the case.
Robinson’s death has drawn national attention. A GoFundMe for her family has raised more than $370,000 including contributions from several celebrities.
Brandy Agrees To Pay $40k To Settle Legal Battle w/ Ex-Housekeeper Over Alleged Age Discrimination
According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline, Brandy has agreed to pay her ex-housekeeper $40k to end their legal dispute.
The publication also notes that the housekeeper’s lawyers are requesting an additional $87,445 in attorney fees.
The court filing states, “[Castaneda’s] counsel only seeks a fair recovery for the time, risk, and effort spent in representing its client and now seeks an award of attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of $87,445.89”
The judge has yet to rule.
As previously reported, the “Moesha” star was sued by Maria Castaneda for age discrimination.
In her lawsuit, Castaneda claimed she was denied her proper wages and a meal break. In addition, she accused Brandy of age discrimination and wrongful termination.
Castaneda initially demanded in excess of $250k but settled for $40k.
The Victims in Virginia Walmart Mass Shooting Identified, Those Killed Include a 16-Year-Old Boy
The victims who died after a Walmart manager opened fire in a break room on Tuesday night have been publicly identified by Chesapeake, VA, authorities.
via People:
The City of Chesapeake shared the names and photos of five of the victims on Wednesday, noting that the sixth person killed was a 16-year-old boy whose identity will not be publicized due to his age.
The remaining victims are Brian Pendleton, 38, Kellie Pyle, 52, Lorenzo Gamble, 43, Randy Blevins, 70, and Tyneka Johnson, 22, according to multiple outlets.
Five people were also injured, with one being released from Sentara Norfolk General Hospital on Wednesday evening. Two people are still in critical condition, per Norfolk, Virginia’s 13 News Now.
The suspect, later identified by Walmart as 31-year-old Andre Bing, took his own life.
Michelle Johnson, said that her late son Brain Pendleton “had a real big heart,” while speaking with ABC News via phone.
“Anybody that wanted to laugh, or just want company, he’d buy you lunch. He’d buy you anything in a minute,” she added.
Pendleton, who was a custodian at the grocery chain for more than a decade, “loved his job” Johnson recalled. “He was just a hard worker and a good kid.”
She opened up about the moment she found out about the deadly shooting through a family friend. Her husband immediately went to the area where families were waiting to hear updates about their loved ones. Johnson’s husband was informed that Pendleton had been taken to Norfolk General Hospital, where Johnson and her husband quickly headed.
Becoming emotional, she explained to ABC News, “We waited, and then the police came out with a nurse and they took us to a side room and that’s when they told us that he didn’t make it.
“I just wondered, was he afraid at that time? I know my son. I didn’t want him to be afraid, and I didn’t want him to hurt.”
Johnson shared that she and Pendleton, who was set to celebrate his birthday on Dec. 2, both had congenital hydrocephalus.
“We’re fighters, and we trust the Lord,” she said, stating that she and Pendleton were “blessed” to not have suffered from serious cases.
“I don’t understand why, what happened, happened,” she said. “I will never go near that Walmart again.”
Authorities told reporters that the events began shortly after 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday night and that the suspect also died at the scene. In a Wednesday morning press conference, authorities said that the gunman, who was unidentified at the time, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He used a pistol in the shooting, police say.
“I looked up and my manager just opened the door and he just opened fire,” Walmart employee Briana Tyler told ABC’s Good Morning America Wednesday. “He just started shooting throughout the entire break room. I watched multiple people drop down to the floor, whether they were ducking for cover or they were hit.”
The manager looked her way, fired, but missed.
“He looked directly at me,” she said. “But luckily he missed my head by an inch or two.”
Tyler said he didn’t say anything during the shooting.
“I would have never thought he would do something like this,” she said. “Absolutely not.”
Jordin Sparks Joins in Supporting Chris Brown Amid AMAs Controversy: ‘It’s About His Talent’
Jordin Sparks voiced her support for Chris Brown following an uncomfortable moment at the American Music Awards on Nov. 20 where singer Kelly Rowland shushed a booing crowd when she accepted the favorite male R&B artist award on Brown’s behalf.
Sparks told TMZ that she loves Brown and believed he should’ve been at the awards ceremony on Sunday night. “People deserve to be able to grow and learn and be able to live their life without things hanging over them. Everybody deserves that … him especially,” the singer said.
Sparks, who famously collaborated with Brown on the 2008 duet “No Air,” also suggested that the AMAs should have let the singer move forward with his axed performance tribute to Michael Jackson. Brown posted a snippet of the rehearsals for the awards show on his Instagram with the caption “U SERIOUS?” and in the comments, he claimed the showcase was canceled “for reasons unknown.”
“Honestly, I think that shouldn’t even be a conversation anymore. It’s about his talent,” Sparks said of Brown’s controversial past, which includes the highly publicized domestic violence incident involving his then-girlfriend Rihanna. “They just shouldn’t have canceled the performance. That’s how I feel about it.”
On Monday, Rowland amplified her original statements to TMZ, saying “I believe that grace is very real, and we all need a dose of it, and before we point fingers at anybody, we should realize how grateful we are for every moment we get.”
She added: “We all need to be forgiven for anything that we could be doing — we all come up short in some sort of way. Grace is real, and we are humans, and everybody deserves grace, period.”
That same day, a spokesperson from the production company issued a statement via ET explaining that the cancellation was simply due to creative direction.
“Live shows change all the time, it’s the nature of this business; unfortunately, this element of the AMAs didn’t come together as we couldn’t align on the performance, to no fault of Chris Brown,” the statement read, according to the publication.
Brown’s last network television performance took place at the BET Awards in 2017. He’s previously claimed that he was blacklisted from the industry because of the Rihanna incident, although he has faced more legal issues since then. Brown has not directly commented on the incident after his original Instagram post, but he did post a story with the caption “You can’t fight all your battles using the same weapons.”
Lady GaGa's And Lizzo's Dresses To Be Displayed At Kensington Palace
Outfits once donned by Lady Gaga and Lizzo will be put on display at Kensington Palace. The royal residence - which is the home of Prince William, his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales and their children Princes George and Louis as well as Princess Charlotte, and previously housed the late Princess Diana - has announced an exhibit titled "Crown to Couture."
It is expected to feature a large number of historical memorabilia on display across the palace's State Apartments alongside pieces from the modern day world of celebrity, including clothing worn by the likes of the "Poker Face" hitmaker and her fellow pop star Lizzo.
A statement from Historic Royal Palaces read, "From the glittering world of the Georgian court to the high glamour of the modern-day red carpet, 'Crown to Couture' is a new must-see fashion exhibition at Kensington Palace in spring 2023 that will see dazzling contemporary couture worn by celebrities including Lizzo and Lady Gaga, displayed alongside beautiful historic costume, highlighting parallels between the world of the red carpet and the Royal Court in the eighteenth century."
The exhibit will be one of the "largest ever" staged at Kensington Palace and will strive to tell the story of how "rules and politics" have played a part in modern-day fashion. The statement added, "One of the largest exhibitions ever staged at Kensington Palace, with over two hundred stunning objects filling the palace's spectacular historic State Apartments, this major exhibition tells the story of how the rules and politics of dress at court have influenced modern-day couture fashion."
Al Roker Celebrates Thanksgiving At Home After Being Discharged From Hospital
Al Roker is ready for the holiday. Having been discharged from a hospital after being treated for blood cots, the "Today" weather anchor informed his fans that he's celebrating Thanksgiving at home today.
It's the first time in 27 years for Roker not participating in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Though he's at home, the TV personality set aside time to cheer on his colleagues, Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, who were hosting the Thursday, November 24 event.
Making use of Instagram, the 68-year-old shared photo of him watching his co-hosts on TV. He captioned it, "Back home in time to catch a little bit of the #macysthanksgivingdayparade Missing being next to @savannahguthrie and @hodakotb."
Roker got candid about his health issue on November 18. "So many of you have been thoughtfully asking where I've been," he wrote along with a picture of a bouquet of colorful flowers. "Last week I was admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in my leg which sent some clots into my lungs."
Assuring that he is getting better after receiving the medical care that he needed, Roker continued, "After some medical whack-a-mole, I am so fortunate to be getting terrific medical care and on the way to recovery." He concluded his message by thanking his friends and fans, "Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers and hope to see you soon. Have a great weekend, everyone."
This isn't the first time Roker has taken a leave from "Today" due to health issue. Back in November 2020, he shared his prostate cancer diagnosis with viewers. "The good news is we caught it early, not great news is that it's a little aggressive so I'm going to be taking some time off to take care of this," he announced before his temporary absence from the show.
"I don't want people thinking, 'Poor Al' because I'm going to be OK," he optimistically added, sharing his hopes to come back in two weeks after surgery. He indeed returned to the morning show later in the same month.
Usher helps donate 500 Thanksgiving meals to Atlanta families
Usher is back home for Thanksgiving, but before he indulged in a warm festive meal, he made sure families in Atlanta would be able to make the most of the holiday too.
On Wednesday (Nov. 23), the singer was joined by his eldest sons, Usher “Cinco” Raymond V and Naviyd Ely Raymond, as they helped provide 500 meals to people experiencing homelessness.
Usher partnered with two organizations, HUNGRY and Sunfare, as they passed out meals at the Freedom Village Center. The holiday spread was prepared by J’s Kitchen Culinary Incubator, a business incubator that provides a state-of-the-art kitchen facility to culinary entrepreneurs. It was created by the R&B icon’s mother, Jonnetta Patton.
“Giving back to others, especially in my hometown, is so important to me,” the Grammy-winning artist said in a statement. “Sharing today with my sons, Cinco and Naviyd, felt especially good since this gift of serving over 500 hot meals is helping other families locally be able to enjoy the holiday.”
To date, HUNGRY has donated 1 million meals over the last five years. Usher, Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners, and Kevin Hart are among the company’s investors who have helped provide businesses with healthy food solutions. According to officials, Sunfare is a food service company that brings the convenience of healthy eating to your front door.
When he isn’t serving those in need, Usher is hitting the stage for his “My Way” residency in Las Vegas. During a recent appearance on Angie Martinez’s “IRL” podcast, the world-renowned artist hinted that he’s in the early stages of forming a media company with industry veteran L.A. Reid.
“We hadn’t been working together for a very long time. To be able to be back in each other’s lives is great,” the Confessions vocalist said. “I feel he has been a viable commodity to so many people in so many industries and so many incredible entities. But now to be able to come together and have ownership in what we’re building for our future is awesome.”
Father of alleged Colorado Springs shooter promotes homophobia in bizarre interview
This past Tuesday (Nov. 22), San Diego’s CBS8 met up with Aaron Brink, the father of accused gunman Anderson Lee Aldrich, to speak on the tragedy that took place in Colorado Springs, Colorado, last weekend. During the video interview, the reporters asked for his reaction to the deadly incident, to which he gave a shocking response regarding both his claimed religion and his son:
“[A defense attorney] started telling me about the incident, a shooting involving multiple people. And then I go on to find out it’s a gay bar. I said, ‘God, is he gay?’ I got scared, ‘S**t, is he gay?’ And he’s not gay, so I said, ‘Phew’… You know Mormons don’t do gay. We don’t do gay. There’s no gays in the Mormon church. We don’t do gay.”
He also spoke about teaching his son how to fight: “I praised him for violent behavior really early. I told him it works. It is instant and you’ll get immediate results.”
Brink revealed that, up until six months ago, he hadn’t spoken to his son since 2016. Apparently, Aldrich’s mother, Laura Voepel, told him the 22-year-old — who changed his name from Nicholas Franklin Brink — had died by suicide:
“I thought he was dead. I mourned his loss. I had gone through a meltdown and thought I had lost my son… His mother told me he changed his name because I was in ‘Intervention‘ and I had been a porno actor.”
Previously known as a professional mixed martial artist, Brink entered the adult industry in 2002. He is also recovering from an addiction to methamphetamine, which led to his aforementioned “Intervention” appearance. Currently, he works as an MMA trainer.
Near the end of the clip, Brink apologized to the families of the victims:
“I’m sorry for your loss… Life is so fragile and it’s valuable. Those people’s lives were valuable. You know, they’re valuable, good people probably. It’s not something you kill somebody over. I’m sorry I let my son down.” Watch the CBS8 interview HERE.
Mariah Carey's kids join her sweet 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' Thanksgiving Day Parade performance
The legally unofficial (but, honestly, kind of official) Queen of Christmas made her Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut a family affair.
Pop icon Mariah Carey joined the annual NBC broadcast for a performance of her perennial holiday hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You" at the end of the event, just before Santa Claus' sleigh arrived at 34th Street in Manhattan.
Sporting what appeared to be a crystallized umbrella (because why not?), a bejeweled crown ("Queen of Christmas" whomst!?), and a pink (new Christmas color staple, we don't make the rules!) gown, Carey sang her signature song as dancers dressed as toy soldiers rallied around her.
During the performance, a pair of gift boxes flanking her opened up to reveal her 11-year-old twins, Moroccan and Monroe, and they danced alongside her for the remainder of the tune.
After Carey finished, NBC aired a hilariously brief shot of Santa bringing up the rear, and if that doesn't tell you who the real royal of the holiday season is, we're not sure what else could.
Though Carey remains pop culture's foremost patron of Yuletide joy, the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board recently ruled that the singer-songwriter can't claim ownership of the official "Queen of Christmas" moniker.
As EW previously reported, Elizabeth Chan, a full-time Christmas recording artist, formally blocked Carey's attempt to trademark the title on top of the latter's further move to register trademarks for "Princess Christmas" and "QOC."
Carey will next appear on the CBS TV special Merry Christmas to All on Dec. 20.
Blair Underwood Is Engaged! Star Gushes 'Future Is Crazy Bright' with Friend of 41 Years Josie Hart
Blair Underwood is engaged! The actor, 58, announced on Instagram Tuesday that he popped the question to his longtime friend-turned-lover, Josie Hart.
"My personal highlight was walking the red carpet with my new fiancée Josie Hart," he captioned a photo of him and Hart on the red carpet. "The most amazing, brilliant, beautiful, hilarious, thought provoking & insightful person I know who continuously lives life out loud. The future is crazy-bright Girl! None of us ever know where God will guide our paths."
Underwood continued, "She's had my back since before I even became an actor. When a 41 year friendship slaps you in the back of the head & blossoms into romance, you stand up, pay attention & step forward in gratitude. Gently forward. It begins! #trinilife"
Before Underwood began dating Hart, the actor — whose credits include Dear White People, Sex and the City, The New Adventures of Old Christine and Quantico — was married to Desiree DaCosta.
The pair welcomed three children together — sons Paris, 25, and Blake, 21, and daughter Brielle, 23 — during their 27-year marriage before announcing their split in a joint statement in May 2021.
While it's unclear exactly how long Underwood and Hart have been dating, the couple's friends were thrilled by the engagement announcement and shared their congratulatory wishes in his comments section.
"Somebody call 9-1-1 - my breathing is laboured and I can't feel my heart beat anymore," wrote Sherri Shepherd, later adding, "Okay I revived myself! Congrats Blair and Josie - glad you got someone in your corner❤️"
Niecy Nash commented, "Issa fiancé 💍💍💍" while Anika Noni Rose and Yvette Nicole Brown both sent their congratulations to the actor and his wife-to-be.
Ryan Coogler Shares Note Thanking Fans for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Success
Ryan Coogler shared a heartfelt note thanking Marvel fans for making Black Panther: Wakanda Forever a huge success.
In a post shared on the official Marvel social media accounts, Coogler detailed what the support has meant to him as the sequel’s worldwide gross topped $550 million. “Gratitude. That is the only world that comes to mind for your support of our work on the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” he wrote. “I am filled with it. Thank you. Thank you to the people who bought their tickets early and camped out opening weekend. Thank you to those of you who took their families out—young ones and elders in tow."
Cooglr’s latest Marvel epic was forced to contend with the untimely loss of Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed the titular character in the first film. Instead of taking the easy route in recasting the character, the absence of Boseman hangs heavy over the movie. In his note, Coogler expressed gratitude for audiences who flocked to Wakanda Forever despite its heavier tone and longer running time.
“Our film deals with the inescapable human emotion of grief,” he wrote. “Thank you for opening yourself up to the emotional journey of this film. We made something to honor our friend, who was a giant in our industry, and we also made something to be enjoyed in a theatrical setting with friends, family, and strangers. Something to be quoted and discussed. To be debated. Something to make people both physically and emotionally feel seen. This medium wouldn’t exist without an audience, and I thank you for giving me professional purpose, and an emotional outlet. I look forward to bringing you more stories in the future.”
Following the release of Black Panther in 2018, Coogler shared a similar letter thanking audiences for their overwhelming support. At the time he suggested that he didn’t expect the movie to do as well as it did. It ultimately grossed over $1.38 billion worldwide, making it the sixth highest grossing film of all-time. The sequel is well on its way to bringing in an impressive gross, too, and has already set the record for the biggest debut in November ever with $180 million at the domestic box office during its opening weekend.
#RIP: Cecilia Marshall, wife of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, dies at 94
Cecilia “Cissy” Marshall, the wife of the late Supreme Court Justice and civil rights icon Thurgood Marshall, died on Tuesday at age 94, the court’s public information office announced.
Like her husband, Marshall had worked for the NAACP in the 1940s and ’50s. She was born in Hawaii and moved to New York, where she became a stenographer, according to details of her early life provided by the court. No cause of death was given.
Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice in the court’s history, had retired in 1991 and died in 1993. But Cecilia Marshall, known for her warmth, exuberance, and enduring interest in the court, continued to attend oral arguments and extracurricular court festivities, often with their son Thurgood Marshall Jr.
“You wanted to sit next to her at any event,” Chief Justice John Roberts said in a statement Tuesday that captured her personality. “She had an easy sense of humor that could be — in an appropriate setting, of course — a bit saucy.”
He noted that Marshall often sat in a reserved section for spouses at oral arguments and Supreme Court Historical Society events. Roberts said she rarely missed an investiture or other Supreme Court occasion.
Justice Elena Kagan, who was a law clerk for Justice Marshall during the 1987-88 session, said in a statement on Tuesday, “Every clerk to Justice Marshall received a sort of bonus: the steadfast friendship and support of his wife Cissy. She was a marvelous woman, and we all loved and admired her. The community of TM clerks will today feel a great loss.”
Born Cecilia Suyat in 1928 in Pu’unene, Maui, in Hawaii, she would later move to New York City, where she took night classes at Columbia University to become a stenographer. She worked for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from 1948-1955.
Thurgood Marshall, before joining the bench in 1967, led the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. In that position, he was chief counsel for the series of cases that led to the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision striking down the “separate but equal” doctrine in public schools.
The couple married in December 1955 and had two sons, Thurgood Jr. and John.
Cecilia Marshall, who lived in Falls Church, Virginia, served over the years on the board of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Supreme Court Historical Society. The Supreme Court public information office said she was also active in church activities and community service. In addition to her two sons, she is survived by four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Arizona Cardinals Fire Offensive Line Coach For Assaulting A Woman In Mexico
The Arizona Cardinals have fired their offensive line coach and running game coordinator Sean Kugler. According to ESPN, Kugler was fired after he groped a woman in Mexico City over the weekend while the team was there to play the San Francisco 49ers.
The incident happened on Sunday night, and Mexican authorities alerted the team. Kugler was terminated overnight and sent back to Arizona before the Monday Night Football game.
ESPN notes Kugler is the second Cardinals assistant coach to receive accusations of assaulting a woman this year, following former running backs coach James Saxon. Saxon turned himself into Indiana authorities for assaulting a woman in his home in May. He was placed on administrative leave in August before resigning in October.
Jerry Jones Admits to Being In 1957 Photo Trying to Stop Black Students From Entering North Little Rock High School
Are we surprised that an old, wealthy white man once participated in one of history’s most notable racially charged events? Not at all.
Leave it to social media to unearth never-before-seen photos that some hoped were long gone. On Wednesday, historian and civil rights activist, Joshua Clark Davis, tweeted a black-and-white picture from 1957 of six Black students trying to enter North Little Rock High School. They are surrounded by white men and teens trying to prevent them from entering the school. Among the crowd of racists stands the Dallas Cowboys owner, Jerry Jones, who is one of the young men trying to stop the school’s desegregation from taking place. He was 14 years old at the time.
According to Davis, the now 80-year-old has acknowledged it was him in the picture. While this may be surprising for some, the multi-billionaire has a sketchy past when it comes to Black and brown people. In 2013, he was recorded on video making an insensitive comment about a Black woman. Famously in 2017, as NFL players took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustices, Jones gave his players an ultimatum: stand for the anthem or be cut from the team. Jones has also been called out on several other occasions for being silent on issues facing African-Americans, which is disheartening considering that many of his players are Black.
Though Jones admitted to being in the photo, he has not apologized for it nor issued a public statement about it.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
“SOMEONE WAS HUNGRY”
Warning it will be bad for your digestive track
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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