#MAGFAB: Taraji P. Henson for Elle US
When we asked Taraji P. Henson what her biggest career goal is, I’m surprised that her answer is retirement. “Well, not retire all the way,” she reassures. “I will always work. I’m talking about the grind—feeling that I have to take an acting job. I really want to start enjoying the fruits of my labor more and be in a position where I can rent a yacht and call my family and be like, ‘Meet me in Spain.’”
After more than 20 years of hustle, the break would be well-deserved. Born in Washington, DC, Henson studied drama at Howard University, began acting in the late ’90s, and made her feature film debut in John Singleton’s Baby Boy in 2001. The cult classic introduced her to a wide audience (“from the great-grandkids all the way up to the great-grandmas”). Seven years later, she was nominated for an Oscar for her supporting role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. But it was her role as Empire’s Cookie, the brazen matriarch of the Lyon family, that saw her make history. In 2015, she became the first Black woman to win the Critics Choice Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series. The following year, when she won the Golden Globe for best performance by an actress in a television drama series and the teleprompter rushed her to finish, she said, “Please wrap? Wait a minute. I waited 20 years for this. You gon’ wait.” More viral award-night moments may be yet to come: This December, she’ll star as Shug Avery in The Color Purple, a musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s classic novel.
She finds a lot of her joy offscreen now. In addition to the foundation, she owns a hair and body care line, TPH by Taraji, that she launched in 2020. The company is just another way she hopes to inspire people to care for themselves: “Everything I do is [about] wellness from head to toe.” This year, she also made her Broadway debut as a producer of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, a play that honors the “hidden figures” working in a Harlem braiding shop. “I thought it was going to be acting that brought me to Broadway, but look at life,” Henson says. “I was thinking too small, I guess.”
On when she first realized the power of storytelling
“This may sound crazy because I’m 53, but I remember like it was yesterday. The first time I knew the power of art was in kindergarten, when I was chosen to sing for our graduation. I was a very rambunctious kid, full of energy and always the loudest one. I did something on that stage, and the entire audience laughed. I understood at that young age the power that I had from being center stage, and I fell in love with it.”
On filming The Color Purple
“I remember being on a set and looking around like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve never seen Black people look so beautiful.’ [The director Blitz Bazawule] took such great care and he allowed us to bring what we had to it. It wasn’t about trying to reinvent the wheel or trying to do what Oprah and [the original cast] did before us. He really allowed us to just make it our own. And that’s a scary thing to do because we’ve got big shoes to fill. I just think everyone came and showed up and understood how important this piece of literature is to our culture. We brought our hearts and our souls. We just left it on the set every day on this film, everybody. It was such a beautiful moment of my career.”
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#RHOA: Hot Or Not? Kandi Burruss In an Elegant Black-and-White Minidress at Variety's Women of Reality TV dinnerVariety's Women of Reality TV dinner
On the other hand, Kandi also loves to go for classic glamour. In June, the Atlanta mom attended the 2023 Tony Awards in a black-and-white chiffon gown by Sergio Hudson.
More recently, Kandi again opted for a classic black-and-white look, this time for a special occasion where she and a few fellow Bravolebrities were honored.
On November 29, Kandi brought her fashion game to Variety's Women of Reality TV dinner, which was taking place in Beverly Hills, California. For the occasion, Kandi struck a pose in a black minidress by Chiara Boni that featured white fabric that spread across her midsection and draped elegantly on the side.
Kandi paired her chic style with elbow-length black gloves by Erdem that had playful exaggerated sleeves and completed her style with black Giuseppe Zanotti strappy heels.
Kandi was joined by her husband, Todd Tucker, for the evening. Todd donned a classic black suit and a black button-down short for the affair.
We also got a close-up shot of Kandi's beautiful glam, including a sleek low ponytail via Alexander Armand and a silver-y smoky eye by Laetitia Beyina. The peach-holder also kept her accessories simple, but glamorous, with a sparkly diamond necklace and figure eight-shaped drop earrings.
For the Variety event, Kandi was joined by her fellow 'Wives who were being honored, including Teresa Giudice, Tamra Judge, Heather Gay, and Kyle Richards.
#MusicNews: Beyoncé Celebrates 'RENAISSANCE' Film Release With New Single "MY HOUSE"
In the record, Bey sang, “Me and my thug bae gon’ slide tonight/ Call the paparazzi, ain’t got clips to hide tonight/ Cash out this pain, call Lorraine/ Then take me to Tiffany; I want 44 karats on my fangs/ I want pink diamonds on my belly chain, and my nipple rings.”
The track was produced and co-written by The-Dream, marking Beyoncé’s first solo drop since 2022’s RENAISSANCE. The 16-song project boasted contributions from Labrinth, Hit-Boy, Sabrina Claudio, Syd, and JAY-Z. It also landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 332,000 album-equivalent units.
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“Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world,” the musician spoke of the LP. “It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, [and] feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration.”
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj Says ‘Pink Friday 2’ Is "Beyond Anything I Could Have Imagined"
Nicki Minaj is heightening anticipation for her upcoming album, Pink Friday 2, slated for release on her birthday (Dec. 8).
In a series of tweets this morning (Nov. 30), Minaj issued a stern warning to her detractors alongside a thrilling promise about the LP. She shared, “Dec. 8 is COMING SOON,” followed by a cautionary message: “If you [are] on my [s**t] list, you will never EVER recover. The. [F**kng]. End.”
The rapper also expressed her enthusiasm about the project. She wrote, “This album is just beyond anything I could have imagined.” Elsewhere, Minaj shared potential lyrics from an unnamed track that read, “I just wanna watch him do his push-ups [with] his sweats on/ Every time he hit it, he gon’ nail it like a press-on/ When I ride his [d**k] the only time he gettin’ flexed on/ Hit it from the [back] with my pumps and my dress on.”
Minaj previously mentioned plans to release a new lyric daily until Pink Friday 2‘s debut. She asked her fans to rate from one to 10 how hard she should go on the LP.
Earlier this month, the musician revealed the RSVP and route for her “Pink Friday 2 Tour.” Some of the stops include Atlanta, New York City, Toronto, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, and more. Subsequently, Minaj will perform overseas in the Netherlands, London, Paris, Berlin, and Manchester, among others.
She’ll also be headlining the first day of 2024 Rolling Loud California on March 15, 2024. Sexyy Red, Lil Tecca, Lay Bankz, Rae Sremmurd, and PARTYNEXTDOOR will also be performing on that day.
In a recent interview with Vogue, Minaj described her approach to creating her forthcoming project. “When I look back at a lot of my music, I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, where was the me in it?’” she explained. “So, for this album, I went back to the old game plan.”
The Weeknd To Provide 4 Million Emergency Meals To Gaza Amid Israel-Hamas War
WFP’s director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe, Corinne Fleischer, emphasized the critical situation. She explained, “This conflict has unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe beyond reckoning. WFP is working round the clock to provide aid in Gaza, but a major scale-up is needed to address the desperate level of hunger we are seeing. Our teams need safe and sustained humanitarian access and continued support from donors to reach as many people as we can.”
Fleischer added, “We thank Abel for this valuable contribution toward the people of Palestine. We hope others will follow Abel’s example and support our efforts.”
The Weeknd’s involvement with the WFP began in October 2021. He donated $1.8 million to the organization’s global hunger relief missions through his XO fund. Additionally, the singer pledged $1 per concert ticket sold from his “After Hours Til Dawn Tour” to the cause.
Since Oct. 7, the WFP has assisted over 764,000 Palestinians, delivering essential food items to hard-to-reach areas.
During that same month, artists like Drake, Kehlani, Victoria Monét, Miguel, and Vic Mensa signed Artists4Ceasefire’s letter urging President Joe Biden and the U.S. Congress to facilitate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“Half of Gaza’s 2 million residents are children, and more than two-thirds are refugees and their descendants being forced to flee their homes. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them,” the statement read.
On Nov. 5, Kid Cudi similarly shared his views on the situation. In an Instagram post, he wrote, “The things I’ve been seeing in the news have been breaking my heart. I can’t watch what’s happening in the world and remain silent. I can’t imagine the pain people are feeling.”
Lil Nas X Responds To Recent Criticism After Announcing His "Christian Era"
Lil Nas X clapped back at naysayers who believe the “Old Town Road” rapper should not be making Christian music after featuring Satan in his previous work. These tweets come on the heels of prominent figures, including Tyrese, commenting on the Atlanta artist’s first snippet from his “Christian Era.”
The rapper tweeted, “I hate how the world successfully changed the narrative of the [MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)] name video. You all hate that I symbolically took ownership of the very place y’all condemned gay people to, so you’ve flipped the script and convinced everyone that it’s about me ‘mocking god'” in response to a now deleted post highlighting critiques of the Cardi B-collaborator’s forthcoming track.
Famous actor and R&B singer Tyrese said, “Y’all gon’ learn to stop playing with God… God is not to be played with… From shoes with devil signs and devil’s blood in the [shoe] sole?” he wrote. “We can all change, I get it, but I feel a way about people making a mockery about Jesus. Do you, live your life… Do what makes you happy, but you all better stop playing with Jesus out here.”
Nas X later responded to Tyrese and mentioned he was overreacting. “This really crazy cuz all I did was post a song about asking god for hope when you feel hopeless, and y’all acting like I posted a video of me burning a church down and peeing on a nativity scene.”
In the new song, Nas X sings, “Free me from worry and wanting pity / Free me from all this envy in me / I don’t want these feelings / I don’t want these feelings / I call on angels / Im trying hard to face my pain, yeah / Give me hope when I feel / Give me hope when I feel less.”
There’s no set time for the upcoming song’s release, but the controversial content creator has already caused quite the discourse with the 75-second snippet.
Keke Palmer 'Chooses Happiness' After Getting 'Rude Awakening' From Darius Jackson Relationship
"So misogyny came at me hard and quick, with the quickness. I grew up in a house where my mom would say, 'This is what it needs to be.' And Larry would be like, 'Okay, Sharon. Go on ahead, Sharon,' " she said on her "Baby, This Is Keke Palmer" podcast.
"So, for me, when I entered outside of my household and I saw that everybody doesn't really respect their wives or even women in the way that my dad respects my mom, it was a pretty rude awakening."
The 30-year-old actress then pondered if she was the "bad one" in a relationship", but was offered reassurance from her guest, Dr. Drew Pinsky. She mused, "We're all in different dynamics with friends, family, lovers, and you find yourself saying, 'Well, damn it. Am I playing a game on myself, and I'm actually the person that's doing wrong?' "
"How does someone know if they're - and look, it takes two to tango, right? - but how does someone know when they did the wrong thing and they're really the issue? How do you know when you're the issue?"
Drew replied, "Keke, the person who is re-evaluating themselves, trying to do what's right, contemplating they could be doing what's wrong, that is rarely the person who's doing wrong."
Keke is thankful she "chose happiness" and walked away from the relationship. She said, "And at that point, it was just like, I choose happiness and I choose joy, and I don't choose to go back there. And like you said, as time goes on, I'm like, 'I'm good. Whatever that was, I'm good.' "
When she filed for her restraining order, the singer-and-actress claimed she feared for the safety of her son after Darius allegedly got "rough" with the baby. In documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, she wrote, "On September 26, 2023, I was concerned for Leo's safety after Darius became very frustrated with him when Leo was crying while Darius changed his diaper. Darius started getting rough with Leo physically and I stepped in to make sure Darius would not hurt him. Darius was angry and it almost became a tug of war with Leo."
When she took over changing Leo, Keke alleged Darius turned his aggression on her instead. She continued, "Darius finally let go and Leo was not harmed, but as I was holding Leo trying to comfort him and finish changing his diaper, Darius hit me in the head before storming out of the room."
Will Smith talks making ‘I Am Legend 2’ with Michael B. Jordan
Will Smith has confirmed he is making a sequel to his 2007 sci-fi I Am Legend, and is working on the script with Michael B. Jordan; while the US actor also addressed his controversial Oscars slap at the 2022 ceremony.
Speaking at an in-conversation session at Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, Smith said, ”I have a call with Michael B. Jordan tomorrow. The script just came in… I’m probably giving away too much information…”
Smith said that, while his character Robert Neville dies at the end of the first film, the DVD extras contained an alternative ending where the character survives - and the sequel will exist in that world.
”We’re going with the mythology of the DVD version where my character lived,” said Smith. ”I can’t tell you any more but Michael B. Jordan is in and we’re doing it.”
Directed by Francis Lawrence and released by Warner Bros in late 2007, I Am Legend grossed $585m worldwide, including $256m in North America.
The sequel was first announced in spring 2022, with Akiva Goldsman, writer and producer of the first film, also returning.
Billie Eilish addresses sexuality rumors at Variety Hitmakers event: 'Wasn't it obvious?'
In her November cover story, Eilish had told Variety journalist Katcy Stephan, “I’ve never really felt like I could relate to girls very well. I love them so much. I love them as people. I’m attracted to them as people. I’m attracted to them for real. … I’m physically attracted to them. But I’m also so intimidated by them and their beauty and their presence.”
On the red carpet Saturday, Variety correspondent Tiana DeNicola asked Eilish if she'd intended to come out as queer in the Variety profile, to which the indie-pop star gigglingly answered, “No, I didn't! But I kind of thought, wasn’t it obvious? I didn’t realize people didn’t know! I just don’t really believe in [coming out]. I’m just like, why can’t we just exist? I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I just didn’t talk about it.”
Eilish was most recently romantically linked to the Neighbourhood's frontman, Jesse Rutherford, but has hinted about her fluid sexuality in the past — most notably in her slumber party-themed music video for “Lost Cause,” which had some fans accusing her of queerbaiting and others congratulating her for seemingly coming out at that time. Shortly after the premiere of the “Lost Cause” video in June 2021, Eilish posted a behind-the-scenes photo from the shoot with the Instagram caption "i love girls."
Inmate (John Turscak) Charged with Attempted Murder After Stabbing Derek Chauvin 22 Times
The inmate accused of stabbing Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted in George Floyd’s killing, has been charged with attempted murder, according to court documents.
According to the federal complaint, at approximately 12:30 p.m. local time on November 24, Chauvin was in the law library at FCI-Tucson when John Turscak, 52, attacked him with an improvised knife and stabbed him approximately 22 times, causing serious bodily injury.
“Federal corrections offices immediately responded and deployed OC spray to subdue Turscak,” the criminal complaint added.
According to the complaint, Turscak told the corrections officers he would have killed Chauvin had they not responded so quickly.
Turscak had been contemplating attacking Chauvin for approximately a month, it added.
Turscak has been charged with four counts, including attempted murder, assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
Cardi B Makes Her Runway Debut In Front of Celebrities During The Balenciaga Fall '24 Show!
The 31-year-old rapper walked the outdoor runway wearing a blue jacket with her hair in a long ponytail on Saturday (December 2) in Los Angeles.
Watching her from the audience included a list of superstars such as Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman, Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria and Joey King. In fact, more than 50 celebs were in attendance!
Since so many people were there, we pulled together images of everyone for you to easily peruse. That way you can see everyone there and what they were wearing!
Macaulay Culkin celebrated by ‘Home Alone’ mom Catherine O’Hara at his Walk of Fame ceremony
He's the boy who was left to his own devices in everyone's favorite holiday comedy, and on Friday he got some recognition in Hollywood.
Macaulay Culkin, star of '90s classics "Home Alone" and "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" among many other titles, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this week. There to congratulate him was his onscreen mom from the beloved franchise, Catherine O'Hara.
O'Hara – who famously realized she left her son "Kevin!" home while on a plane to France for Christmas in the 1990 Chris Columbus and John Hughes movie – said on Friday that the reason "Home Alone" was and is so beloved is because of Culkin.
"It is Macaulay's perfect performance as Kevin McAllister that gave us that little everyboy on an extraordinary adventure," she said.
"I know you worked really hard," O'Hara continued, "but you made acting look like the most natural thing in the world to do."
As Culkin stood beside her, looking suave while decked out in wayfarer shades and a double-breasted black suit, O'Hara got choked up as she called him "the dearest thing."
She also made reference to the crushing popularity of the films and how that sudden stardom could have proven to be too much for Culkin, but credited his sense of humor as what helped him persevere.
"It's a sign of intelligence in a child, and a key to surviving life at any age," O'Hara observed, adding, "From what I see, you have brought that sense of sweet, yet twisted, yet totally relatable sense of humor to everything that you have chosen to do since 'Home Alone.'"
"Thank you for including me, your fake mom who left you home alone not once, but twice, to share in this happy occasion," O'Hara concluded. "I'm so proud of you."
Also in attendance at the ceremony on Friday were Culkin's partner Brenda Song, siblings Rory Culkin and Quinn Culkin, and friends Paris Jackson and Seth Green. Culkin's "Party Monster" costar Natasha Lyonne also made a speech in "Mac's" honor.
Susan Sarandon Apologizes for Remarks at Pro-Palestine Rally: My ‘Phrasing Was a Terrible Mistake’
At the Nov. 17 rally, the actor had said, “There are a lot of people that are afraid, that are afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.” UTA subsequently dropped Sarandon as a client over the remarks.
In a post on Instagram late Friday, Sarandon wrote that “It was my intent to show solidarity in the struggle against bigotry of all kinds, and I am sorry I failed to do so.”
“Recently, I attended a rally alongside a diverse group of activists seeking to highlight the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for a ceasefire,” Sarandon wrote. “I had not planned to speak but was invited to take the stage and say a few words.”
She continued, “Intending to communicate my concern for an increase in hate crimes, I said that Jewish Americans, as the targets of rising antisemitic hate, ‘are getting a taste of what it is like to be Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence.’ This phrasing was a terrible mistake, as it implies that until recently Jews have been strangers to persecution, when the opposite is true. As we all know, from centuries of oppression and genocide in Europe, to the Tree of Life shooting in Pittsburgh, PA, Jews have long been familiar with discrimination and religious violence which continues to this day. I deeply regret diminishing this reality and hurting people with this comment.”
Sarandon concluded, “I will continue my commitment to peace, truth, justice, and compassion for all people. I hope that we can meet with love and willingness to engage in dialogue, especially with those with whom we disagree.”
The Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war have exposed deep divisions in Hollywood.
In October, CAA agent Maha Dakhil resigned from the agency’s internal board after referring to Israel’s response to the Hamas attacks as “genocide,” for which she subsequently apologized. Melissa Barrera was fired from “Scream 7” by Spyglass Media Group over the actor’s social-media posts about Israel’s military assault on Gaza, which the production company said “flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.” In a response Barrera posted last week, she said in part, “I will continue to speak out for those that need it most and continue to advocate for peace and safety, for human rights and freedom. Silence is not an option for me.”
Jussie Smollett Has Lost His Appeal In Court
Smollett was sentenced to 30 months of probation, with the first 150 days to be served in jail. Despite several celebrities publicly criticizing the punishment as excessive, the actor spent six days in Cook County Jail. He was released in March 2022 because of his appeal. Special prosecutor Dan K. Webb told the Times that Smollett won’t required to go back to jail right away. However, Webb noted that Smollett won’t have any more appeal options if the Illinois Supreme Court declines to take up the case.
Jamie Foxx Accuser Pleads With Judge To Keep Identity Secret In Sexual Assault Lawsuit
In a recent development, an anonymous woman who filed a lawsuit against comedian Jamie Foxx accusing him of sexual assault has pleaded with a judge to protect her identity from public disclosure. The woman, referred to as Jane Doe in court documents, asserts that revealing her identity would cause further emotional trauma, given the sensitivity and prominence of the case.
According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, Jamie Foxx’s accuser has formally requested permission to proceed with the lawsuit using the pseudonym Jane Doe. In her affidavit, she details the psychological and emotional injuries she suffered as a result of the alleged sexual assault that occurred in a New York club in 2015.
Expressing her reluctance to disclose her identity publicly, Jane Doe stated, “I do not desire to publicly disclose my identity as a victim of sexual assault because this matter is highly sensitive, and I have already experienced significant shock, shame, and embarrassment for my disclosure due to the prominence and celebrity status of the Defendants.”
The affidavit continues, outlining the significant impact on her mental well-being, with the sexual assault leading to depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, and distress. Jane Doe emphasized her fear that public disclosure could exacerbate her emotional trauma and emphasized her desire to avoid the stigma associated with being a sexual assault victim.
While expressing a willingness to share her name with Jamie Foxx and his legal team, Jane Doe is adamant about keeping her identity private from the public eye. The accuser’s plea comes in the wake of her lawsuit filed last month, using the pseudonym, in a New York court.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the case raises important questions about the delicate balance between protecting the privacy and well-being of sexual assault victims and the public’s right to access information. The court will now decide whether Jane Doe will be allowed to maintain her anonymity throughout the course of the legal battle against Jamie Foxx.
Jeezy Says He Did Not Cheat On Jeannie Mai During Their Marriage
A rep on his behalf denied claims made by his now estranged wife that he was unfaithful during their marriage to US Weekly.
“Any claim of infidelity on Mr. Jenkins’ behalf are 100 percent false and we have no further statements at this time.”
Mai filed a response to her ex-husband Jeezy’s divorce petition and requested that the court uphold their prenuptial agreement clause because of his alleged infidelity. The two signed a prenup in March 2021, although the terms of the prenup aren’t specified. Mai’s Thursday, November 30, filing revealed a penalty if either had cheated during the course of their relationship, Hollywood Unlocked reported.
Jeezy has also accused Mai of acting as a “gatekeeper” for their daughter amid their ongoing divorce case. In his filing, the Atlanta rapper asked a judge for a hearing to set “clearly defined” temporary legal and physical custody rights of their child.
Reportedly, the two had initially “agreed upon a visitation schedule through the end of 2023” after Jeezy filed for divorce in September. But, in the filing, he claims that the situation is “becoming increasingly less feasible.”
“The lack of consistency, continuity, and stability inherently associated with such a haphazard and fluid parenting time schedule is stressful to the Child (Monaco), and it has, as is unfortunately inevitable with all families in transition, created unnecessary tension and confusion regarding not only parenting time but also in regard to each parent’s role and rights when the Child is in their respective custody,” his filing continued.
As for Mai, she wants the judge to uphold the infidelity penalty and also requested an “equitable division” of all marital assets.
“Wife reserves the right to amend this counterclaim to add other grounds for divorce, but which Wife does not wish to specify herein at this time in the hope this matter can be resolved without having to disclose such conduct publicly,” her lawyer wrote in a statement to TMZ.
“Wife further shows that the Court should enforce Paragraph 8 of the Prenuptial Agreement regarding infidelity which provides, in pertinent part, that in the event that either party engages in sexual relations, an emotional relationship, or is emotionally or sexually suggestive in communication with a third party via all forms of electronic communications, including but not limited to texting, sexting, Facetiming, social media and/or Direct Messages, shall result in a significant financial penalty upon the adulterous party …”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
What’s the taste?
I wonder what the bacon tastes like?
I wonder what the bacon tastes like?
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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