#MAGFABl Jeffrey Wright for Ebony Magazine!
ODE TO JEFFREY WRIGHT: IT’S ALL LOVE via Ebony
It takes a great deal of love and care to bring a role to life the way Oscar-nominated actor Jeffrey Wright does. Not only does he put on for the Black community through his portrayals, but he inspires the masses to imagine greatness for one another. In this homage to his career, we lean into his own inspirations, the impact of American Fiction and more.
Love is most commonly classified in four ways: storge (familial); philia (friendship); eros (romantic) and agape (“Godlike” for your fellow human). In the African diasporic community, we like to think there is an additional type that belongs strictly to us: BLACK LOVE. Black love foundationally shows up in our persistence to exist every day; it’s radical and distinctively ours. It emanates not solely in our DNA but in how we create meaning for ourselves. We choose it, as the late Gloria Jean Watkins, also known as “bell hooks,” defined while affirming that it is more than a feeling but an action. Before her time, writers like Alain Locke, (dubbed “Dean of the New Negro Movement” or Harlem Renaissance) captured the lifeblood of Black love in how our community exudes it through creative mediums such as art and literature.
Love requires fierce imagination and execution—no one embodies this conception better than Jeffrey Wright.
As an actor, Wright’s archetype is rooted in a genuine love of storytelling. Fortunately, this adoration has resulted in a body of work that presents a variance of Black life. When Wright shows up on screen, he commands your attention with an infectious energy that moves the viewer to feel what he intends to articulate. When he arrived on set for EBONY’s cover shoot, the room was still for a quick moment in an undeniable consensus that we were all in the presence of greatness.
In short, he deserves all the things.
Once Wright was suited and ready to go, the vibe instantaneously transformed into a Motown-laced reverie in which the past was both realized, reflected and honored. To watch Wright behind the scenes was to have a front-row seat to the care that he has poured into his craft over the span of his career. He genuinely sits in a bespoke genre of his invention. The fruits of his labor manifested in a recent Oscar nomination for his latest film, American Fiction. Serendipitously, this acknowledgment comes exactly three decades after his Tony Award win for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Angels in America—way overdue. There’s even a bit of irony for this to be the project that earns him a nomination, given the subject matter of the film. But how does an institution best pay homage to a man who has taken on many of the most iconic portrayals, from Jean-Michel Basquiat to Muddy Waters and Martin Luther King Jr.? And that’s just to name the ones he believes he’d personally enjoy a guy’s night out with.
Once the shoot wrapped, we hopped in a black car service to Wright’s next destination. As the driver buzzed through the streets of Brooklyn, Wright spoke intently and humbly on the role of an artist in a way that resembled Black contemporary figures like James Baldwin, whom he missed taking a guest lecture course with while he was enrolled at Amherst College. “It’s one of the regrets of my life,” Wright recalls. “I think he only gave three lectures. I was playing lacrosse, and I got injured that year. I am embarrassed to say that I missed his lectures, and he passed away not too long after that. I don’t even care to speak about it.”
It’s one of the regrets of my life. I think he only gave three lectures. I was playing lacrosse and I got injured that year. I am embarrassed to say that I missed his lectures and he passed away not too long after that. I don’t even care to speak about it.”
The D.C. native is widely recognized for his range and the incomparable uniqueness he gives to the characters he takes on. Whether fictional or nonfictional, each interpretation is never the same. Few Black actors have been able to play a multitude of roles that chronicle Black historical figures yet are unrecognizable in each one. This speaks to the singularity of his gift, which he attributes to his time spent in Western Massachusetts. It was there where he honed his acting chops, soaked up the breadth of endless artistic opportunity and developed lifelong friendships.
“As an actor, [Western Massachusetts] is where it begins for me. I hadn’t done anything before that. What was wonderful about my time at Amherst College was that I found the freedom to explore outside of what I thought were my primary interests because of the Five College Consortium. It’s a beautiful area, but there was also a really interesting group of thinkers and artists around the school,” he ruminated. “[Ekwueme] Michael Thelwell taught there and his wife was the head of a theater group at UMASS Amherst that did a range of really interesting work. The first piece I did was an adaptation of Wallace Terry’s novel Bloods which is about black Vietnam veterans and their recollection of their experiences. This was the beginning of my pathway as an actor and it leads directly back to Western Mass. The first day I was in an acting class, I was asked to perform a scene. I knew at that moment that this was what I was going to be doing for a while. I am indebted to that place.”
Since its release at the end of 2023, American Fiction, Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut, has generated dialogue across groups about the duplicity of America’s commodification of Blackness—Black literature specifically.
“IN CREATING THIS CHARACTER, THERE WERE SO MANY INTERESTING, FORTUNATE AND NOT-SO-FORTUNATE OVERLAPS BETWEEN MONK’S CIRCUMSTANCES AND MY OWN…I’VE NEVER BEEN ASKED TO PLAY WITHIN A DYNAMIC LIKE THIS BEFORE ON SCREEN.”
Based on novelist Percival Everett’s 2001 book Erasure, American Fiction delves into how the Black community reckons with the knowing of self-preservation versus selling out. Splendidly satirical, the film entertains a multitude of perspectives on the matter through each character’s accordance with one another. Wright plays Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, a Boston-born writer who struggles with maintaining his authenticity in a publishing marketplace that leans heavily on adulterated “Black” stories that bring validity to banal generalizations.
The character Monk is full circle for Wright in many ways. Not only did the role bring him back to a state that he accredits his earliest beginnings to, but it paralleled tropes that reflect his own reality. “In creating this character, there were so many interesting, fortunate and not-so-fortunate overlaps between Monk’s circumstances and my own. Less so in terms of his professional or personal frustration but more so relative to the pressures that he’s experiencing regarding responsibilities to family and caretaking,” said Wright. “My mother passed away a little over a year before I got this script from Cord, so it was that side of the story that really struck me on an intimate emotional level. I found myself saying, ‘I’ve never been asked to play within a dynamic like this before on screen.’ It was that aspect of the film that is the antidote to the absurdity of the satirical side of the film.”
During his conversation with EBONY, Wright shared more of his thoughts about the place of Black imagination, creating meaningful work and doing it all from a place of love.
“At its best, it’s the artistic community that shows us the way forward.”
EBONY: Congratulations on American Fiction’s Oscar nominations. How does it feel for the film to be recognized in this way?
Jeffrey Wright: I’m really pleased that the film was acknowledged in such a broad way by our colleagues. Being nominated for Best Picture is reflective of the work that everyone did to make this story. Having Sterling [K. Brown] being acknowledged for his work, Cord being acknowledged for his screenplay and Laura Karpman for her score just reflect the type of collaboration that went into making this film. That’s the best part about what we do; it takes a lot of different parts, a lot of different hands, a lot of different talents and skills. Everyone involved in this film was passionate about the story, first and foremost. It’s just really cool to be acknowledged.
You seem to give your all and complete dedication to every project you touch. Is there such a thing as a work-life balance that is achieved with that?
What I do is just a job like anybody else’s job. I go to work, I do my job, and then I go home. I try not to think about my work when I’m not on set. I used to when I was younger and had the time and space to think about a role almost 24 hours a day. Like with Basquiat, he was constantly on my mind. I was constantly thinking, referencing and trying to find him while walking through New York City. As I got older, I couldn’t afford to do that anymore. I have children, responsibilities to family and things like that. I don’t have any difficulty separating the facts of my life from the fiction of the stories. As I’m sure you know, it’s just part of the job.
Without question, you’ve been a leading man for some of the most iconic films and plays in history. What guides you when you decide to sign on to a role?
I choose roles because they’re interesting to me; therefore, they might be interesting to audiences. I choose them because they seem to be about smart things and people, and they are crafted in smart ways by smart collaborators. That’s what I like to dive into. I like to dive into stories that are ideally new for audiences and not retracing old steps. That keeps me interested, engaged and focused.
“WE’RE RISING ABOVE VIA THE POWER OF OUR IMAGINATION, ABSOLUTELY IN SPITE OF.”
With your storied career, I can’t imagine that you have not been mentored or championed by others. Who have been influences who encouraged you to stand in your convictions and find your own agency as an actor?
There’s a line from Angels in America where Tony Kushner writes, “Everyone who makes it in this world makes it because someone older and more powerful takes an interest.” There were many such people in my life during my career. Chief among them is George C. Wolfe, who directed Rustin. George and I have worked on I don’t know how many projects since we first worked together on Angels on Broadway in 1993. But there were directors when I was even younger, like Hal Scott, who gave me my first equity job in a role that Lorraine Hansberry had written for him in a play called Les Blanc. He was head of the theater department at Rutgers but cast me in my first legitimate role down in Washington at Arena Stage. Joe Dowling, an Irish director, hired me early on four or five times. Lloyd Richards at Yale Repertory Theater and the Yale Drama School provided space for me to work three years in a row after I moved to New York on three separate plays. They took an interest in me.
Then there were actors early on who gave me a bit of advice. Sidney Poitier, whom I first worked with on my first major role in a major production, the miniseries Separate but Equal, took an interest. Albert Hall and Cleavon Little, who worked on the film, were incredibly gracious toward me and supportive and appreciative even though I was young and had no idea what I was doing. They took an interest in me. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Wes Anderson on multiple occasions. He’s said that he has seen every bit of theater that I’ve done in New York prior to writing the role for me in French Dispatch, which is one of the most beautiful pieces of writing that anyone’s ever offered me.
I don’t have enough digits to count all the people who have taught, assisted and collaborated with me in my career in a way that allows me the position I enjoy today. Another wonderful part about this work is that we don’t do it alone.
“EVERYONE HAS ACCESS AND THE RIGHT TO THE OWNERSHIP OF FREEDOM… NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE.”
What is one of the greatest lessons you’ve taken with you thus far?
I’ve been fortunate to find some ideal artists who really shaped the nature of my career. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to avoid those who detract from the quality and enjoyment of the work. I’ve learned to choose more wisely. I’d like to think so.
In the film, Monk leans into a vivid stream of imagination to become Stagg R. Leigh and critique the publishing system. Can you expound on the power of Black imagination in shaping the future?
The work that we do is born entirely of the imagination. I’ve made my career, fed my children, supported my family, been fortunate enough to travel the world and have access to rooms across the spectrum on account of my imagination. But the imagination is not just a playground. Imagination is how we look toward the future. It drives the choices that we make based on what we perceive is coming next. So there’s often a disparagement or under-appreciation of the artistic folks in our society across the board. But at its best, it’s the artistic community that shows us the way forward.
It’s them that shine perspective on the future based on an understanding of the past but also an imagining—or reimagining—of what comes next. That’s the role of the creative community. In regard to the Black community in America, very often we didn’t have the material things or opportunities, so the power to conjure through imagination has always been heightened. It’s a powerful tool that changes the cultural landscape forever. But still, we’re rising above via the power of our imagination, absolutely in spite of.
While under the guise of his pseudonym, Monk says “Words belong to everybody.” What do you feel belongs to everyone?
“As far as our country goes, I think everyone has access and the right to the ownership of the freedoms it offers and to the rights of citizenship here—no matter who they are. There’s a type of freedom—creative freedom, intellectual freedom, freedom to be alive in one’s own skin, freedom to be an individual—that belongs to all of us. No matter what the resistance out there is to that, it is ours. It applies to the sense of place we have in this country and society. We’re here. When we seize on that idea, it gives us a greater sense of power and ability to overcome the things that frustrate us. Still, we just keep pushing.”
#RHOA: Sanya Richards-Ross Exits 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Ahead of Season 16
After just two seasons, Sanya Richards-Ross is departing The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
During the March 14 episode of his Sirius XM show, Andy Cohen Live, Bravo host Andy Cohen confirmed that the Olympic track and field star, 39, has decided to step away from the series amid the unusually long hiatus in between filming seasons 15 and 16.
"How do you feel about Kandi [Burruss], Sanya and Marlo [Hampton] leaving the show?" Cohen, 55 asked his guest, Mariah Smith.
The clip was quickly picked up and posted to social media channels by viewers who shared their shock at Cohen so "casually" revealing that yet another big name was leaving RHOA after Kandi Burruss and Marlo Hampton were previously confirmed to be exiting.
"Andy casually announced Sanya is leaving #RHOA although it was never officially announced in the press," one fan wrote in a tweet.
Sanya -- who welcomed her second child with her husband, Aaron Ross, in December -- has yet to publicly announce her departure on social media or in an interview like her former co-stars have done.
Her exit from the franchise comes after Burruss, 47, first shared with ET at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards in early February that she would not be returning to the show after 14 seasons. She is the longest-running Housewife in the franchise's history.
"I've been going back and forth and I think because they gave us such a long break, I had a lot of time to do other things and I've got some big announcements to make coming soon, so yeah," Burruss explained. "I mean, I love the girls, they're my friends, I'm still gonna see them and hang out with them. And Bravo is my family, I love them as well, but you know."
Weeks later, Hampton, 47, also confirmed she was leaving the series ahead of season 16, telling People that her contract with the long-running Bravo series ended at the end of season 15, which wrapped filming in January 2023.
#NewMusic from Tamar Braxton Releases New Single “Notice Me”
R&B superstar Tamar Braxton returns with the surprise new single “Notice Me”.
The captivating ballad was co-written by Braxton along with Nyerere Davidson and Amber Smith. It offers a heartfelt exploration of love, vulnerability, and the longing for acknowledgment. With her signature soulful vocals, Braxton effortlessly conveys the raw emotions that resonate deeply with listeners.
Also releasing is an accompanying visual which beautifully complements the song’s message, adding an additional layer of depth and emotion to the overall experience.
LISTEN AND WATCH HERE
This is the first new offering from Tamar Braxton since she released the chart topping hit single “Changed” in 2023, followed by her collaborative single with the We Sound Crazy Podcast on the song “You Bring The Love”.
#HipHopNews: PARTYNEXTDOOR Announces 'PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4)' Release Date
PARTYNEXTDOOR’s next project is coming sooner than you think. On Thursday (March 14) night, the R&B singer announced the release date for his next eponymous album, PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4).
During his SXSW concert, PND revealed that the upcoming body of work will hit streaming platforms on April 26. To coincide with the big news, he also dropped “R E A L W O M A N” today (March 15).
On the song, he crooned, “Shawty met a boss like me and put 100 down on a condo downtown with me/ Shawty is experienced, put a period when we drunk drivin’ that Bentley/ Last night, we were sippin’ Henny and now we doin’ deals/ Tomorrow, we’ll be hungover and hangin’ here, baby/ Huh, life is good; the worst is over now.”
PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4) is expected to include other pre-released singles, such as “R E S E N T M E N T” and “H e r O l d F r i e n d s.” It will serve as a follow-up to 2021’s re-release of COLOURS. Before that, PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 (P3) came out in 2016 with a lone feature from Drake on “Come and See Me.”
In the comment section of DJ Akademiks’ repost, fans were evidently excited about the project under one condition: PND brings back the old vibes. One user wrote, “Better sound like 2016 PARTYNEXTDOOR.” Another person shared, “I would’ve cared in 2017, but bro’s music nowadays does not hit the same anymore. I really only listen to his older stuff and leaks.”
During a recent cover story with Billboard, PND revealed that PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4) is the “hardest” he’s ever worked on an album. “This is the proudest I’ve felt,” the artist said. “I’m excited to grind even more for the next [one]. I’m in love with how hard you should work for it.”
#BoxOfficeNews: ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ repeats at No. 1 But DUNE has grossed over 500 Million at the US Box Office
“ Kung Fu Panda 4 ” stayed at the top of the North American box office in its second weekend in theaters. The Universal and DreamWorks Animation movie earned $30 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The franchise featuring the voice of Jack Black is responsible for over $1.9 billion at the box office since it launched in 2008 and spawned several animated series, shorts, video games and a holiday special. The fourth installment, playing in 4,067 locations in North America, has already made $107.7 million domestically.
There were several new movies arriving in over 1,000 theaters (or expanding) this weekend, including Lionsgate’s Mark Wahlberg dog movie “ Arthur the King,” Focus Features’ comedic satire “The American Society of Magical Negroes” and A24’s Kristen Stewart-led bodybuilding thriller “ Love Lies Bleeding.”
But the charts still belonged to the franchises, including “ Dune: Part Two,” which came in a very close second in its third weekend, with $29.1 million. That’s down only 37% from last weekend. It’s now made $205.3 million domestically. The first film, which was released simultaneously in theaters and on streaming, capped out at around $435 million globally, while “Part Two” is already at almost $500 million worldwide.
“ Arthur the King ” did the best of the newcomers, landing in third place with $7.5 million from 3,003 locations. The studio went into the weekend expecting something in the $8 million to $10 million range. Its low production cost and international presales should yield profits. Directed by Simon Cellan Jones and written by Michael Brandt, the movie is based on the true story of an adventure racer who befriends a stray dog on a perilous 435-mile trek in the Dominican Republic. Simu Liu plays one of Wahlberg’s teammates. With an A CinemaScore, the studio is hoping positive word of mouth will boost sales in the coming weeks.
“ Love Lies Bleeding ” opened in 1,362 locations to $2.5 million. Written and directed by Rose Glass (” Saint Maud ″), it’s a pulpy ’80s-set Western thriller about an isolated gym manager (Stewart) and a bodybuilder (Katy O’Brian) passing through town.
“The American Society of Magical Negroes” opened in 1,147 theaters and made an estimated $1.3 million. According to exit data, 52% of the opening weekend audience was Black. The movie, written and directed by Kobi Libii, is a satire about a secret society of Black people dedicated to making white lives easier. Justice Smith and David Alan Grier star.
In the first weekend following the Oscars, “ Poor Things ” added $2.3 million globally, bumping its total to $112.6 million.
Next weekend, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” will arrive in theaters, armed with proton packs and brand name recognition.
“When there’s not a newcomer dominating the marketplace, it makes for a rather slow weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “Now we’re just waiting for ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ and ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.’ That combo should take us out of the month of March on a high note.”
He added: “We’re going to have to have a lot of patience until we get to May and ‘The Fall Guy’ and the summer movie season. But there’s some great movies on the way.”
Estimated ticket sales are for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.
ODE TO JEFFREY WRIGHT: IT’S ALL LOVE via Ebony
It takes a great deal of love and care to bring a role to life the way Oscar-nominated actor Jeffrey Wright does. Not only does he put on for the Black community through his portrayals, but he inspires the masses to imagine greatness for one another. In this homage to his career, we lean into his own inspirations, the impact of American Fiction and more.
Love requires fierce imagination and execution—no one embodies this conception better than Jeffrey Wright.
As an actor, Wright’s archetype is rooted in a genuine love of storytelling. Fortunately, this adoration has resulted in a body of work that presents a variance of Black life. When Wright shows up on screen, he commands your attention with an infectious energy that moves the viewer to feel what he intends to articulate. When he arrived on set for EBONY’s cover shoot, the room was still for a quick moment in an undeniable consensus that we were all in the presence of greatness.
In short, he deserves all the things.
Once Wright was suited and ready to go, the vibe instantaneously transformed into a Motown-laced reverie in which the past was both realized, reflected and honored. To watch Wright behind the scenes was to have a front-row seat to the care that he has poured into his craft over the span of his career. He genuinely sits in a bespoke genre of his invention. The fruits of his labor manifested in a recent Oscar nomination for his latest film, American Fiction. Serendipitously, this acknowledgment comes exactly three decades after his Tony Award win for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Angels in America—way overdue. There’s even a bit of irony for this to be the project that earns him a nomination, given the subject matter of the film. But how does an institution best pay homage to a man who has taken on many of the most iconic portrayals, from Jean-Michel Basquiat to Muddy Waters and Martin Luther King Jr.? And that’s just to name the ones he believes he’d personally enjoy a guy’s night out with.
Once the shoot wrapped, we hopped in a black car service to Wright’s next destination. As the driver buzzed through the streets of Brooklyn, Wright spoke intently and humbly on the role of an artist in a way that resembled Black contemporary figures like James Baldwin, whom he missed taking a guest lecture course with while he was enrolled at Amherst College. “It’s one of the regrets of my life,” Wright recalls. “I think he only gave three lectures. I was playing lacrosse, and I got injured that year. I am embarrassed to say that I missed his lectures, and he passed away not too long after that. I don’t even care to speak about it.”
It’s one of the regrets of my life. I think he only gave three lectures. I was playing lacrosse and I got injured that year. I am embarrassed to say that I missed his lectures and he passed away not too long after that. I don’t even care to speak about it.”
The D.C. native is widely recognized for his range and the incomparable uniqueness he gives to the characters he takes on. Whether fictional or nonfictional, each interpretation is never the same. Few Black actors have been able to play a multitude of roles that chronicle Black historical figures yet are unrecognizable in each one. This speaks to the singularity of his gift, which he attributes to his time spent in Western Massachusetts. It was there where he honed his acting chops, soaked up the breadth of endless artistic opportunity and developed lifelong friendships.
“As an actor, [Western Massachusetts] is where it begins for me. I hadn’t done anything before that. What was wonderful about my time at Amherst College was that I found the freedom to explore outside of what I thought were my primary interests because of the Five College Consortium. It’s a beautiful area, but there was also a really interesting group of thinkers and artists around the school,” he ruminated. “[Ekwueme] Michael Thelwell taught there and his wife was the head of a theater group at UMASS Amherst that did a range of really interesting work. The first piece I did was an adaptation of Wallace Terry’s novel Bloods which is about black Vietnam veterans and their recollection of their experiences. This was the beginning of my pathway as an actor and it leads directly back to Western Mass. The first day I was in an acting class, I was asked to perform a scene. I knew at that moment that this was what I was going to be doing for a while. I am indebted to that place.”
Since its release at the end of 2023, American Fiction, Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut, has generated dialogue across groups about the duplicity of America’s commodification of Blackness—Black literature specifically.
“IN CREATING THIS CHARACTER, THERE WERE SO MANY INTERESTING, FORTUNATE AND NOT-SO-FORTUNATE OVERLAPS BETWEEN MONK’S CIRCUMSTANCES AND MY OWN…I’VE NEVER BEEN ASKED TO PLAY WITHIN A DYNAMIC LIKE THIS BEFORE ON SCREEN.”
Based on novelist Percival Everett’s 2001 book Erasure, American Fiction delves into how the Black community reckons with the knowing of self-preservation versus selling out. Splendidly satirical, the film entertains a multitude of perspectives on the matter through each character’s accordance with one another. Wright plays Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, a Boston-born writer who struggles with maintaining his authenticity in a publishing marketplace that leans heavily on adulterated “Black” stories that bring validity to banal generalizations.
The character Monk is full circle for Wright in many ways. Not only did the role bring him back to a state that he accredits his earliest beginnings to, but it paralleled tropes that reflect his own reality. “In creating this character, there were so many interesting, fortunate and not-so-fortunate overlaps between Monk’s circumstances and my own. Less so in terms of his professional or personal frustration but more so relative to the pressures that he’s experiencing regarding responsibilities to family and caretaking,” said Wright. “My mother passed away a little over a year before I got this script from Cord, so it was that side of the story that really struck me on an intimate emotional level. I found myself saying, ‘I’ve never been asked to play within a dynamic like this before on screen.’ It was that aspect of the film that is the antidote to the absurdity of the satirical side of the film.”
During his conversation with EBONY, Wright shared more of his thoughts about the place of Black imagination, creating meaningful work and doing it all from a place of love.
“At its best, it’s the artistic community that shows us the way forward.”
EBONY: Congratulations on American Fiction’s Oscar nominations. How does it feel for the film to be recognized in this way?
Jeffrey Wright: I’m really pleased that the film was acknowledged in such a broad way by our colleagues. Being nominated for Best Picture is reflective of the work that everyone did to make this story. Having Sterling [K. Brown] being acknowledged for his work, Cord being acknowledged for his screenplay and Laura Karpman for her score just reflect the type of collaboration that went into making this film. That’s the best part about what we do; it takes a lot of different parts, a lot of different hands, a lot of different talents and skills. Everyone involved in this film was passionate about the story, first and foremost. It’s just really cool to be acknowledged.
You seem to give your all and complete dedication to every project you touch. Is there such a thing as a work-life balance that is achieved with that?
What I do is just a job like anybody else’s job. I go to work, I do my job, and then I go home. I try not to think about my work when I’m not on set. I used to when I was younger and had the time and space to think about a role almost 24 hours a day. Like with Basquiat, he was constantly on my mind. I was constantly thinking, referencing and trying to find him while walking through New York City. As I got older, I couldn’t afford to do that anymore. I have children, responsibilities to family and things like that. I don’t have any difficulty separating the facts of my life from the fiction of the stories. As I’m sure you know, it’s just part of the job.
Without question, you’ve been a leading man for some of the most iconic films and plays in history. What guides you when you decide to sign on to a role?
I choose roles because they’re interesting to me; therefore, they might be interesting to audiences. I choose them because they seem to be about smart things and people, and they are crafted in smart ways by smart collaborators. That’s what I like to dive into. I like to dive into stories that are ideally new for audiences and not retracing old steps. That keeps me interested, engaged and focused.
“WE’RE RISING ABOVE VIA THE POWER OF OUR IMAGINATION, ABSOLUTELY IN SPITE OF.”
With your storied career, I can’t imagine that you have not been mentored or championed by others. Who have been influences who encouraged you to stand in your convictions and find your own agency as an actor?
There’s a line from Angels in America where Tony Kushner writes, “Everyone who makes it in this world makes it because someone older and more powerful takes an interest.” There were many such people in my life during my career. Chief among them is George C. Wolfe, who directed Rustin. George and I have worked on I don’t know how many projects since we first worked together on Angels on Broadway in 1993. But there were directors when I was even younger, like Hal Scott, who gave me my first equity job in a role that Lorraine Hansberry had written for him in a play called Les Blanc. He was head of the theater department at Rutgers but cast me in my first legitimate role down in Washington at Arena Stage. Joe Dowling, an Irish director, hired me early on four or five times. Lloyd Richards at Yale Repertory Theater and the Yale Drama School provided space for me to work three years in a row after I moved to New York on three separate plays. They took an interest in me.
Then there were actors early on who gave me a bit of advice. Sidney Poitier, whom I first worked with on my first major role in a major production, the miniseries Separate but Equal, took an interest. Albert Hall and Cleavon Little, who worked on the film, were incredibly gracious toward me and supportive and appreciative even though I was young and had no idea what I was doing. They took an interest in me. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Wes Anderson on multiple occasions. He’s said that he has seen every bit of theater that I’ve done in New York prior to writing the role for me in French Dispatch, which is one of the most beautiful pieces of writing that anyone’s ever offered me.
I don’t have enough digits to count all the people who have taught, assisted and collaborated with me in my career in a way that allows me the position I enjoy today. Another wonderful part about this work is that we don’t do it alone.
“EVERYONE HAS ACCESS AND THE RIGHT TO THE OWNERSHIP OF FREEDOM… NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE.”
What is one of the greatest lessons you’ve taken with you thus far?
I’ve been fortunate to find some ideal artists who really shaped the nature of my career. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to avoid those who detract from the quality and enjoyment of the work. I’ve learned to choose more wisely. I’d like to think so.
In the film, Monk leans into a vivid stream of imagination to become Stagg R. Leigh and critique the publishing system. Can you expound on the power of Black imagination in shaping the future?
The work that we do is born entirely of the imagination. I’ve made my career, fed my children, supported my family, been fortunate enough to travel the world and have access to rooms across the spectrum on account of my imagination. But the imagination is not just a playground. Imagination is how we look toward the future. It drives the choices that we make based on what we perceive is coming next. So there’s often a disparagement or under-appreciation of the artistic folks in our society across the board. But at its best, it’s the artistic community that shows us the way forward.
It’s them that shine perspective on the future based on an understanding of the past but also an imagining—or reimagining—of what comes next. That’s the role of the creative community. In regard to the Black community in America, very often we didn’t have the material things or opportunities, so the power to conjure through imagination has always been heightened. It’s a powerful tool that changes the cultural landscape forever. But still, we’re rising above via the power of our imagination, absolutely in spite of.
While under the guise of his pseudonym, Monk says “Words belong to everybody.” What do you feel belongs to everyone?
“As far as our country goes, I think everyone has access and the right to the ownership of the freedoms it offers and to the rights of citizenship here—no matter who they are. There’s a type of freedom—creative freedom, intellectual freedom, freedom to be alive in one’s own skin, freedom to be an individual—that belongs to all of us. No matter what the resistance out there is to that, it is ours. It applies to the sense of place we have in this country and society. We’re here. When we seize on that idea, it gives us a greater sense of power and ability to overcome the things that frustrate us. Still, we just keep pushing.”
#RHOA: Sanya Richards-Ross Exits 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Ahead of Season 16
During the March 14 episode of his Sirius XM show, Andy Cohen Live, Bravo host Andy Cohen confirmed that the Olympic track and field star, 39, has decided to step away from the series amid the unusually long hiatus in between filming seasons 15 and 16.
"How do you feel about Kandi [Burruss], Sanya and Marlo [Hampton] leaving the show?" Cohen, 55 asked his guest, Mariah Smith.
The clip was quickly picked up and posted to social media channels by viewers who shared their shock at Cohen so "casually" revealing that yet another big name was leaving RHOA after Kandi Burruss and Marlo Hampton were previously confirmed to be exiting.
"Andy casually announced Sanya is leaving #RHOA although it was never officially announced in the press," one fan wrote in a tweet.
Sanya -- who welcomed her second child with her husband, Aaron Ross, in December -- has yet to publicly announce her departure on social media or in an interview like her former co-stars have done.
Her exit from the franchise comes after Burruss, 47, first shared with ET at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards in early February that she would not be returning to the show after 14 seasons. She is the longest-running Housewife in the franchise's history.
"I've been going back and forth and I think because they gave us such a long break, I had a lot of time to do other things and I've got some big announcements to make coming soon, so yeah," Burruss explained. "I mean, I love the girls, they're my friends, I'm still gonna see them and hang out with them. And Bravo is my family, I love them as well, but you know."
Weeks later, Hampton, 47, also confirmed she was leaving the series ahead of season 16, telling People that her contract with the long-running Bravo series ended at the end of season 15, which wrapped filming in January 2023.
#NewMusic from Tamar Braxton Releases New Single “Notice Me”
R&B superstar Tamar Braxton returns with the surprise new single “Notice Me”.
The captivating ballad was co-written by Braxton along with Nyerere Davidson and Amber Smith. It offers a heartfelt exploration of love, vulnerability, and the longing for acknowledgment. With her signature soulful vocals, Braxton effortlessly conveys the raw emotions that resonate deeply with listeners.
Also releasing is an accompanying visual which beautifully complements the song’s message, adding an additional layer of depth and emotion to the overall experience.
LISTEN AND WATCH HERE
This is the first new offering from Tamar Braxton since she released the chart topping hit single “Changed” in 2023, followed by her collaborative single with the We Sound Crazy Podcast on the song “You Bring The Love”.
#HipHopNews: PARTYNEXTDOOR Announces 'PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4)' Release Date
During his SXSW concert, PND revealed that the upcoming body of work will hit streaming platforms on April 26. To coincide with the big news, he also dropped “R E A L W O M A N” today (March 15).
On the song, he crooned, “Shawty met a boss like me and put 100 down on a condo downtown with me/ Shawty is experienced, put a period when we drunk drivin’ that Bentley/ Last night, we were sippin’ Henny and now we doin’ deals/ Tomorrow, we’ll be hungover and hangin’ here, baby/ Huh, life is good; the worst is over now.”
PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4) is expected to include other pre-released singles, such as “R E S E N T M E N T” and “H e r O l d F r i e n d s.” It will serve as a follow-up to 2021’s re-release of COLOURS. Before that, PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 (P3) came out in 2016 with a lone feature from Drake on “Come and See Me.”
In the comment section of DJ Akademiks’ repost, fans were evidently excited about the project under one condition: PND brings back the old vibes. One user wrote, “Better sound like 2016 PARTYNEXTDOOR.” Another person shared, “I would’ve cared in 2017, but bro’s music nowadays does not hit the same anymore. I really only listen to his older stuff and leaks.”
During a recent cover story with Billboard, PND revealed that PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4) is the “hardest” he’s ever worked on an album. “This is the proudest I’ve felt,” the artist said. “I’m excited to grind even more for the next [one]. I’m in love with how hard you should work for it.”
#BoxOfficeNews: ‘Kung Fu Panda 4’ repeats at No. 1 But DUNE has grossed over 500 Million at the US Box Office
“ Kung Fu Panda 4 ” stayed at the top of the North American box office in its second weekend in theaters. The Universal and DreamWorks Animation movie earned $30 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The franchise featuring the voice of Jack Black is responsible for over $1.9 billion at the box office since it launched in 2008 and spawned several animated series, shorts, video games and a holiday special. The fourth installment, playing in 4,067 locations in North America, has already made $107.7 million domestically.
There were several new movies arriving in over 1,000 theaters (or expanding) this weekend, including Lionsgate’s Mark Wahlberg dog movie “ Arthur the King,” Focus Features’ comedic satire “The American Society of Magical Negroes” and A24’s Kristen Stewart-led bodybuilding thriller “ Love Lies Bleeding.”
But the charts still belonged to the franchises, including “ Dune: Part Two,” which came in a very close second in its third weekend, with $29.1 million. That’s down only 37% from last weekend. It’s now made $205.3 million domestically. The first film, which was released simultaneously in theaters and on streaming, capped out at around $435 million globally, while “Part Two” is already at almost $500 million worldwide.
“ Arthur the King ” did the best of the newcomers, landing in third place with $7.5 million from 3,003 locations. The studio went into the weekend expecting something in the $8 million to $10 million range. Its low production cost and international presales should yield profits. Directed by Simon Cellan Jones and written by Michael Brandt, the movie is based on the true story of an adventure racer who befriends a stray dog on a perilous 435-mile trek in the Dominican Republic. Simu Liu plays one of Wahlberg’s teammates. With an A CinemaScore, the studio is hoping positive word of mouth will boost sales in the coming weeks.
“ Love Lies Bleeding ” opened in 1,362 locations to $2.5 million. Written and directed by Rose Glass (” Saint Maud ″), it’s a pulpy ’80s-set Western thriller about an isolated gym manager (Stewart) and a bodybuilder (Katy O’Brian) passing through town.
“The American Society of Magical Negroes” opened in 1,147 theaters and made an estimated $1.3 million. According to exit data, 52% of the opening weekend audience was Black. The movie, written and directed by Kobi Libii, is a satire about a secret society of Black people dedicated to making white lives easier. Justice Smith and David Alan Grier star.
In the first weekend following the Oscars, “ Poor Things ” added $2.3 million globally, bumping its total to $112.6 million.
Next weekend, “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” will arrive in theaters, armed with proton packs and brand name recognition.
“When there’s not a newcomer dominating the marketplace, it makes for a rather slow weekend,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “Now we’re just waiting for ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ and ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.’ That combo should take us out of the month of March on a high note.”
He added: “We’re going to have to have a lot of patience until we get to May and ‘The Fall Guy’ and the summer movie season. But there’s some great movies on the way.”
Estimated ticket sales are for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.
1. “Kung Fu Panda 4,” $30 million.
2. “Dune: Part Two,” $29.1 million
3. “Arthur the King,” $7.5 million.
4. “Imaginary,” $5.6 million.
5. “Cabrini, ”$2.8 million.
6. “Love Lies Bleeding,” $2.5 million.
7. “Bob Marley: One Love,” $2.3 million.
8. “One Life,” $1.7 million
9. “The American Society of Magical Negroes,” $1.3 million
10. “Ordinary Angels,” $1 million.
Lenny Kravitz Looks Incredible In New Shirtless Photos
The photo shows him in jeans and sunglasses, with no shirt on. He appears to be looking up at the sun, with his hands tucked in his pockets. “Standing in love and gratitude,” he captioned the post, prompting a flurry of praise in the comments section.
“Lenny is in better shape than most of the new generations and he is freaking 59,” wrote a viewer. “We too, as the viewers of this photograph are also standing in love and gratitude,” wrote a second person.
“And just like…. I’m headed to the gym!!!” wrote Kelly Rowland.
Lenny Kravitz is often questioned about his ageless looks and incredible body, with him explaining that while he does care for himself, doing all of what’s expected for someone whose abs look that good, he’s also pretty blessed in the genetics department.
“I mean, do I watch what I put into my body? Yes. Do I take care of myself? Yes. Do I eat organically and vegan and blah, blah, blah? Yeah. Do I work out and take care of my body and my limbs? Yes, I do all of that. So, I have that and I’ve been trained in that from a young age, but also it’s the genes. It’s my family genes,” he said to GQ. “It’s also the fact that I love doing what I do: I love making music and being an artist. I think they’re all contributors.”
David Guetta Beams With Happiness As He Announces Birth Of First Child With GF Jessica Ledon
Congratulations are in order for David Guetta and Jessica Ledon. The "When Love Takes Over" artist beamed with happiness as he revealed that he and his actress girlfriend have welcomed their first child together.
On Sunday, March 17, the 56-year-old disc jockey made use of Instagram to announce the happy news. In the caption of his new joint post with the 32-year-old Cuban-born actress, he penned, "Love is in the air," adding a red heart emoji. He went on to unveil their baby's name by simply writing, "Welcome Cyan."
In the same post, David and Jessica treated social media users to a first photo of their little family. In the heartwarming picture, it could be seen that he was flashing his radiant smile as he looked straight at the camera. He was photographed placing his cheek on hers as he put his hand on her hair.
Meanwhile, Jessica was pictured looking in another direction while cradling their bundle of joy. The perfect pair appeared to have no problem with showing off Cyan's face to the public as it was clearly seen in the snap. Cyan, who was sporting a yellow tee, was peacefully sleeping on his mother's chest.
After revealing the exciting news, David and Jessica quickly received congratulatory messages from Instagram users. Among them were famous artists, including fellow disc jockey Steve Aoki. The "Just Hold On" artist exclaimed, "Congrats!!!!" Similarly, DJ Tiesto penned, "I am so happy for you two!! Congrats brother!" adding a red heart emoji.
David and Jessica started their romantic relationship in 2015. Two years into their romance, he gave her a promise ring. In 2022, it was reported that the two had gone their separate ways. However, a source spilled at the time, "They haven't completely cut contact so some of us are hoping they will patch things up."
Aside from Cyan, David has two other children. He shares son Elvis and daughter Angie with his former wife Cathy. The music producer and Cathy were married for 22 years before calling it quits in 2014.
Journalist Wants 'Evil' Jay-Z To Be Investigated For His Alleged Mistress' Sudden Passing
Liz, who was set to interview Cathy just days before she died, wants the rapper to be investigated in connection to his alleged mistress' death. "It's only a matter of time before spirit cooking Jay Z is exposed like Diddy," she posted on X, formerly Twitter.
"There's a reason Kanye said Jay's got murderers. I would know," the journalist added. She went on claiming, "He's evil to the core. I pray there will be justice for Cathy White one day."
Cathy had allegedly been caught creeping with Jay-Z in 2010, when he's already married to Beyonce Knowles, and the rumors were spreading like wildfire. According to Liz, who used to work for Star Magazine, Cathy initially denied that she knew Jay-Z and partied with him, but after Liz confronted Cathy with pictures of her, Jay-Z and Diddy at Tao nightclub in Las Vegas, Cathy said she would consider going public with her story.
However, that story never happened because Cathy died shortly afterwards. Liz said she strongly feels that the fitness and beauty expert was murdered and did not suffer a brain aneurysm like her autopsy report said.
"I found it highly suspicious that a seemingly healthy 28-year-old woman would drop dead from an aneurism," Liz wrote. She said sources told her that Cathy had planned to go public about her alleged affair with Jay-Z prior to her death. Liz noted that days after she learned about Cathy's passing, Beyonce announced her pregnancy with Blue Ivy's at the 2011 MTV VMAs.
"It would've been a PR nightmare for Beyonce and Jay Z if Cathy did a tell-all around the time they had crafted her over-the-top pregnancy announcement," the journalist claimed. She went on insisting that media outlets at the time alleged that Cathy's friend Claudia Jordan was convinced an "A-list rapper had her friend killed."
Parents Accuse Diddy's Charter School of Being Violent and Dysfunctional Place for Kids
Students and families affiliated with Capital Prep, co-founded by Diddy, claim the entertainment mogul’s charter school did a disservice to children who attended.
Diddy co-launched the East Harlem school with Dr. Steve Perry in 2016, and in 2018 pledged $1 million for its expansion into the Bronx. However, last November Capital Prep cut ties with him amid his ongoing sexual assault lawsuits.
Now adding to the mounting controversy around the Bad Boy Records founder, a new report from The Cut reveals many issues with Capital Prep, including the accusation that Diddy had no involvement with the school beyond photo ops, guest appearances, and the school's grand opening in 2016.
Fourteen sources told The Cut about alleged frequent violence at Capital Prep, along with "unstable" leadership, and frequent teacher resignation. These issues were most apparent at the height of the pandemic during both virtual learning and when students, including those who were unhoused, returned for in-person classes in 2021. According to The Cut, teachers began to not show up for virtual classes, and by the end of 2020, 80 percent of teachers had left Capital Prep altogether.
When students did return to school after quarantine, some were enrolled in courses they had previously taken, or were "sitting in the cafeteria receiving no instruction for hours.” Dysfunction among teachers reflected on the student body, especially upperclassmen who were unable to transfer their credits or enroll in college due to ineligible transcripts.
“Darnell’s transcripts had classes he’d never taken, passing classes that he never took, failing classes that he was never in,” one parent, Shirley Payne, said about inaccuracies found on her son’s transcripts.
“I thought if Diddy is funding and attaching his name to something, it would be run very tightly, that he was going to give our kids what he didn’t have at that age,” parent Shakemia Harris said. Harris’ daughter Madison was enrolled at Capital Prep as an 11-year-old in 2017.
In addition to the many academic issues, violence during the school day was reportedly ongoing. Fights were rampant when the school nearly doubled in size, expanding to include a tenth grade, and again when Capital Prep relocated to 129th and Madison. Not only was the area more violent than its previous East 104th Street address, but Capital Prep began locking out students who were late, ultimately causing families to protest the disorderly conditions. In addition it violence between students, cops were called on students for things like uniform violations.
“Like other schools, we wrestled with deep community safety concerns, exacerbated by increased violence in both the local community and New York City,” the school said.
Allegedly absent from these issues was Diddy, although parents tried to contact him and his team.
“I was emailing the teachers. I was emailing leadership. I was emailing everyone. No one is responding to me,” said Payne.
Due to Capital Prep's alleged messy recordkeeping, some students were unequipped with the tools needed to acquire a higher education. Capital Prep claimed that 100 percent of students were accepted into four-year colleges; however, at least one student failed out of his first college semester, while another was accepted into three colleges but didn't attend because of depression exacerbated by the school.
Despite the controversy, 500 students from grades six through 12 still currently attend Capital Prep.
Kyrie Irving Stunned The Nuggets With A Midrange Lefty Hook Shot To Win At The Buzzer
But it wasn’t just a pull-up from three, or a crazy layup, or anything else we’ve come to expect out of Irving. Instead, it was a completely ridiculous running lefty hook from midrange despite a contest from Nikola Jokic.
Like many of us, Luka Doncic was in a state of total shock after the shot went in.
Doncic played a big part in even getting Dallas to this point. With less than 30 seconds remaining and the game tied at 102, Jamal Murray pulled up from deep to give Denver the lead.
On the ensuing inbound, Doncic was able to answer the bell, as he managed to get open for an excellent look from behind the top of the 3-point line.
WATCH
The Mavs were able to stop Murray from hitting a game-winner on the next possession, which gave Dallas a chance to get a walk-off winner. And fortunately for them, Irving was able to make it happen.
Blaise Taylor, Former College Football Star, Charged With Fatally Poisoning His Pregnant Girlfriend
Blaise Taylor, a former football star at Arkansas State, has been arrested and charged with fatally poisoning his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, and their unborn child.
In February 2023, Blaise allegedly poisoned Jade “without her knowledge while visiting her Lebanon Pike apartment” in Nashville.
Later that night, Jade Benning, who was 5 months pregnant, was rushed to the hospital after Blaise Taylor contacted authorities and told them she appeared to be having “an allergic reaction.”
The baby died two days later, and tragically, Jade also passed on March 6, 2023, which happened to be her 25th birthday.
Following the death of his girlfriend and baby, Blaise Taylor relocated to Utah.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said Taylor, 28, was indicted on two charges of first-degree murder in the 2023 deaths of his girlfriend and unborn baby.
He was arrested on Thursday and is currently held without bail at the Cache County Jail in Logan, Utah.
MNPD is now working with authorities to arrange for Blaise Taylor’s return to Nashville.
At the time of his arrest, Blaise was employed as a football analyst at Utah State.
USU released the following statement:
We are aware of the arrest of former employee Blaise Taylor, who left the university on March 1, 2024, to begin a new role at another institution.
Taylor had worked as an analyst with the USU football brogan since July 1, 2023.
The university is not involved in this law enforcement matter.
Lil Nas X Just Ran a Half Marathon in a Pair of Designer Shoes—and Left in a Wheelchair
Lil Nas X ran the New York City Half Marathon for the first time over the weekend—and had a pretty rough time of it. The singer and rapper, known for hits like 'Industry Baby' and 'Old Town Road,' allegedly couldn't find a pair of running shoes in time— and so he ended up repping Coach, the fashion brand he has been a spokesmodel for since 2022.
He ran the entire 13-mile track in a pair of Coach distressed leather high-top sneakers, which might make for some strong drip but are in no way made for endurance running.
According to Page Six, Nas did very little to no training for the event, having reportedly never ran for longer than three miles at a time—and even then, only on a treadmill. The half marathon apparently marked the first time that the musician went running outdoors.
Lil Nas X completed the 21-kilometer race with a final time of 2:32:53, but running 13 miles with insufficient training, not to mention highly unsuitable footwear, took a physical toll: he shared a video on his Instagram Story after the race showing that his legs were so fatigued he had ended up needing a wheelchair.
"Well... the race went well," he joked. "It's giving race!"
The next morning, he posted a video to his Instagram Story from his bed, chiding his cat for jumping on his legs, which he claims are in quite a lot of pain right now... and understandably so.
That isn't to say the 24-year-old rapper isn't in otherwise great shape. Cardio notwithstanding, Nas stays in the gym, and has frequently shared glimpses of his workouts—as well as his lean physique and shredded six-pack abs—on social media. He's also known for performing shirtless, and most recently, showed off his sculpted muscles at last year's Met Gala, going nearly nude and covering his entire body in silver paint.
Idris Elba reveals ‘dream’ of building eco city on island off Sierra Leone
Idris Elba has shared details of his “dream” to turn an island off the coast of Sierra Leone, the country where his father was born, into an environmentallyfriendly smart city.
The actor is working with his childhood friend to develop Sherbro, which is roughly the size of the Isle of Man, after the island was given enough autonomy by the west African nation’s government to allow the work to go ahead.
“Originally, we went there thinking how could we bring tourism to the most incredible 19 miles of beachfront,” Elba told the BBC. But his friend Siaka Stevens said it became apparent Sierra Leone was not yet prepared for such an influx of tourists.
Instead, the pair – who grew up together in east London – decided to embark on a more ambitious project. Their company, Sherbro Alliance Partners (SAP), has reached agreements with the Sierra Leonean government, as well as several major firms, to build an eco city as a public-private partnership.
They have agreed a deal with the energy company Octopus to build Sierra Leone’s first windfarm on the island, which lacks mains electricity and is a two-hour ferry trip from the mainland. Elba said a sustainable approach to developing the project would be central throughout the development.
Equally important will be respecting local culture and sensibilities, with Elba expressing his hope to create a “culturally diverse international city that blends African tradition, dynamism, and pride with state-of-the-art infrastructure and services”.
“The character of the island hopefully will remain intact. It’s a beautiful, green part of the world and we don’t want to disturb that,” he said.
He added: “It’s about being self-reliant, it’s about bringing an economy that feeds itself and has growth potential. I’m very keen to reframe the way Africa is viewed … as an aid model. This opportunity is completely different.”
He and Stevens have defined three key principles for the project. Among them is developing “based on African cultural values and principles, which prioritise community, collaboration, and respect for nature”.
They also said they planned to design the infrastructure in a way that was adaptable to “changing social, economic and environmental conditions” and to follow “eco city principles”, such as building in a way that is “environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and resilient to climate change”.
Stevens said that the development on the island would be “fuelled by clean energy sources”.
The pair said they had also sought to consult residents of the island; saying they have each visited several times to meet local leaders.
Last month, Lloyds of London announced it was to take up a role in the project, but said at the time that Stevens and Elba’s company was still in the process of putting together feasibility studies with the government of Sierra Leone.
Elba and Stevens have said they hoped to break ground on the project within about a year of those studies starting, but they have stressed that this is a process that is likely to last decades.
Feasibility is a key question for the project, for which SAP reportedly hopes to raise billions of dollars from various sources.
The US-Senegalese singer Akon is another artist who announced a plan to build a futuristic city in his ancestral homeland. The first phase of his project was due to be completed by late last year. But, as the Guardian reported in December, the project has been beset by delays and controversy – with only a youth centre and the shell of what is planned to be the “welcome centre” having been built so far.
While Akon received praise for the planned city’s Afrofuturistic aesthetic, there has been scepticism as to whether it will ever come to pass, fuelled by a lack of detail around the plans.
Elba, for his part, has been clear about where his strengths lie. “Never in my lifetime would I have thought I could build the foundation for a new smart-city … I’m not qualified for that. But I am qualified to dream big,” he said.
“It’s a dream, you know, but I work in the make-believe business.”
He added: “Part of me wants to build that beautiful retirement home for my mum.”
The actor told the broadcaster his late father would probably think the dream too big. But he said he would be proud, and tell his son “If you’re going to do it, make sure you do it properly. You do it good, you do it with all your heart because that’s the best you can do”.
Tiffany Haddish Paints Mystery ‘Not Drinking’ Because She’s ‘Trying to Get Pregnant’
*Is she or isn’t she? That’s the question, as Tiffany Haddish opted for sober status with motivations of “trying to get pregnant.
Co-hosting Elton John’s star-studded AIDS Foundation Oscar party, the “Girls Trip” fixture was noticeably avoiding the good stuff. When asked about her anti-booze mind state at the annual event, an attendee revealed to Page Six that Haddish simply answered, “I am trying to get pregnant.”
Although it is unclear whether the funny woman’s response was her comedic way of dealing with scrutiny surrounding her sobriety after being arrested late last year for a DUI, another source mentioned that “It didn’t feel like [she was joking]. She said it numerous times.”
Countering the claim, Page Six noted comments from a source close to Haddish. According to the Haddish source, the “Back on the Strip” entertainer’s reply “was likely a joke,” despite her desire to be a mother.
“She is serious about her sobriety,” the source confessed to Page Six. “She’s kept it, and is very into her health right now. She’s going through her changes and is doing amazing.”
Whether Haddish was truthful remains up in the air. At this time, there is no official word from her rep on the situation.
In the meanwhile, the word about Haddish’s appearance at the Oscar party was a good one. Along with “The Last O.G.” star, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka assumed co-hosting duties at the event, which drew the likes of Heidi Klum, Patricia Arquette, Tim Allen, Jane Seymour, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Mario Cantone and Sandra Lee, among others. More than $10.8 million was raised to help John’s foundation.
“She was having the time of her life!” another source shared with Page Six about Haddish, who “bid on nearly everything in the auction.”
“She was jovial and hilarious,” the source added. “She was the bright light in the room, making fun of herself and her dress. She ruled that room.”
Caitlyn Jenner & Lamar Odom To Launch New Podcast Together Called ‘Keeping Up With Sports’
This is unexpected! Caitlyn Jenner has partnered with Lamar Odom to create a podcast, “Keeping Up With Sports.” The podcast appears to pay homage to the popular reality TV series “Keeping Up With The Kardashians,” which once starred Lamar Odom and Caitlyn Jenner.
Podcaster Mystic Zach Hirsch, who hosts multiple podcasts, including “Running It Back With Pac and Zach,” will co-host the podcast with Lamar Odom and Caitlyn Jenner.
Their first episode is reportedly set to debut in a few weeks, with former boxing star Sugar Ray Leonard as the first special guest. Other reported future guests include a variety of athletes, such as boxer Bryce Hall and world champion boxer Zab Judah.
Odom hasn’t made an official announcement about the new podcast, but he reposted news about it on his Instagram story on Monday (March 18).
It comes as no surprise that the former NBA star and Jenner have started a sports podcast. In 1976, Jenner won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Montreal.
On the other hand, Odom won championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010. He was also named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2011.
The pair were also once members of the Kardashian family. The former decathlete was married to Kris Jenner for over two decades before they called it quits in 2015. Their marriage was before Bruce Jenner’s transition to Caitlin Jenner. Their divorce was highly publicized on the E!’s former reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”
Meanwhile, Odom was married to Khloé Kardashian before they divorced in 2016.
It’s unclear if the Kardashian family is in any way affected by the two exes teaming up for this podcast, but Caitlyn has made it clear that she and her ex-wife don’t speak to each other anymore
While speaking to UK Daytime talk show “This Morning” last year, Caitlyn revealed,
“If there’s any communication, my manager kind of talks to her, and when you have as many kids as I have, you’re closer to some than you are to others… I certainly see them, and we do this and that. I’m much closer to the Jenner side, but Kris, I don’t really have any more contact with her. It’s kind of sad because we went through a lot.”
What do you think about Lamar Odom and Caitlyn Jenner launching a new podcast together?
Wayne Brady Speaks On The “Biggest Misconception” Surrounding Pansexuality
Wayne Brady explains the biggest misconception about pansexuality.
While attending the 2024 GLAAD Media Awards on Thursday evening in Los Angeles, Brady shared with PEOPLE that he empathizes with individuals who find the term confusing. He admitted to needing to “research” the topic himself.
“I had to do research and find out what it was that I was,” Brady, who identifies as pansexual, says. “I think the biggest misconception — and I even make a joke about it onstage tonight — is that people think that you’re an indecisive bisexual. It’s like, no, no, no, no, no. Let me set you straight.”
He added, “What the definition basically boils down to is, regardless of gender, regardless. So that means that I am happily free to fall in love with anybody here. If you’re gay, if you’re straight, if you’re non-binary, trans, I don’t care.”
Following his disclosure last year, Brady characterized his pansexuality to PEOPLE as being akin to being “bisexual — with an open mind.” He revealed that the passing of Robin Williams in 2014 profoundly impacted him, sparking an unexpected journey of self-exploration.
Apart from engaging in therapy to comprehend his lack of fulfillment in certain areas of life and seeking treatment for “love addiction,” he found himself pondering the question, “Wayne, um, are you gay?”
“And the answer was no because despite having been in all of these unsuccessful relationships and now dealing with what I know can be diagnosed as love addiction, I started to go, ‘Okay, I’m feeling something, but I just don’t know how to get there,'” Brady added.
Queen Latifah Joins Princess Tiana And Louis For A Magical Day At Walt Disney World
The Mavs were able to stop Murray from hitting a game-winner on the next possession, which gave Dallas a chance to get a walk-off winner. And fortunately for them, Irving was able to make it happen.
Blaise Taylor, Former College Football Star, Charged With Fatally Poisoning His Pregnant Girlfriend
Blaise Taylor, a former football star at Arkansas State, has been arrested and charged with fatally poisoning his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, and their unborn child.
In February 2023, Blaise allegedly poisoned Jade “without her knowledge while visiting her Lebanon Pike apartment” in Nashville.
Later that night, Jade Benning, who was 5 months pregnant, was rushed to the hospital after Blaise Taylor contacted authorities and told them she appeared to be having “an allergic reaction.”
The baby died two days later, and tragically, Jade also passed on March 6, 2023, which happened to be her 25th birthday.
Following the death of his girlfriend and baby, Blaise Taylor relocated to Utah.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said Taylor, 28, was indicted on two charges of first-degree murder in the 2023 deaths of his girlfriend and unborn baby.
He was arrested on Thursday and is currently held without bail at the Cache County Jail in Logan, Utah.
MNPD is now working with authorities to arrange for Blaise Taylor’s return to Nashville.
At the time of his arrest, Blaise was employed as a football analyst at Utah State.
USU released the following statement:
We are aware of the arrest of former employee Blaise Taylor, who left the university on March 1, 2024, to begin a new role at another institution.
Taylor had worked as an analyst with the USU football brogan since July 1, 2023.
The university is not involved in this law enforcement matter.
Lil Nas X Just Ran a Half Marathon in a Pair of Designer Shoes—and Left in a Wheelchair
He ran the entire 13-mile track in a pair of Coach distressed leather high-top sneakers, which might make for some strong drip but are in no way made for endurance running.
According to Page Six, Nas did very little to no training for the event, having reportedly never ran for longer than three miles at a time—and even then, only on a treadmill. The half marathon apparently marked the first time that the musician went running outdoors.
Lil Nas X completed the 21-kilometer race with a final time of 2:32:53, but running 13 miles with insufficient training, not to mention highly unsuitable footwear, took a physical toll: he shared a video on his Instagram Story after the race showing that his legs were so fatigued he had ended up needing a wheelchair.
"Well... the race went well," he joked. "It's giving race!"
The next morning, he posted a video to his Instagram Story from his bed, chiding his cat for jumping on his legs, which he claims are in quite a lot of pain right now... and understandably so.
That isn't to say the 24-year-old rapper isn't in otherwise great shape. Cardio notwithstanding, Nas stays in the gym, and has frequently shared glimpses of his workouts—as well as his lean physique and shredded six-pack abs—on social media. He's also known for performing shirtless, and most recently, showed off his sculpted muscles at last year's Met Gala, going nearly nude and covering his entire body in silver paint.
Idris Elba reveals ‘dream’ of building eco city on island off Sierra Leone
Idris Elba has shared details of his “dream” to turn an island off the coast of Sierra Leone, the country where his father was born, into an environmentallyfriendly smart city.
The actor is working with his childhood friend to develop Sherbro, which is roughly the size of the Isle of Man, after the island was given enough autonomy by the west African nation’s government to allow the work to go ahead.
“Originally, we went there thinking how could we bring tourism to the most incredible 19 miles of beachfront,” Elba told the BBC. But his friend Siaka Stevens said it became apparent Sierra Leone was not yet prepared for such an influx of tourists.
Instead, the pair – who grew up together in east London – decided to embark on a more ambitious project. Their company, Sherbro Alliance Partners (SAP), has reached agreements with the Sierra Leonean government, as well as several major firms, to build an eco city as a public-private partnership.
They have agreed a deal with the energy company Octopus to build Sierra Leone’s first windfarm on the island, which lacks mains electricity and is a two-hour ferry trip from the mainland. Elba said a sustainable approach to developing the project would be central throughout the development.
Equally important will be respecting local culture and sensibilities, with Elba expressing his hope to create a “culturally diverse international city that blends African tradition, dynamism, and pride with state-of-the-art infrastructure and services”.
“The character of the island hopefully will remain intact. It’s a beautiful, green part of the world and we don’t want to disturb that,” he said.
He added: “It’s about being self-reliant, it’s about bringing an economy that feeds itself and has growth potential. I’m very keen to reframe the way Africa is viewed … as an aid model. This opportunity is completely different.”
He and Stevens have defined three key principles for the project. Among them is developing “based on African cultural values and principles, which prioritise community, collaboration, and respect for nature”.
They also said they planned to design the infrastructure in a way that was adaptable to “changing social, economic and environmental conditions” and to follow “eco city principles”, such as building in a way that is “environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and resilient to climate change”.
Stevens said that the development on the island would be “fuelled by clean energy sources”.
The pair said they had also sought to consult residents of the island; saying they have each visited several times to meet local leaders.
Last month, Lloyds of London announced it was to take up a role in the project, but said at the time that Stevens and Elba’s company was still in the process of putting together feasibility studies with the government of Sierra Leone.
Elba and Stevens have said they hoped to break ground on the project within about a year of those studies starting, but they have stressed that this is a process that is likely to last decades.
Feasibility is a key question for the project, for which SAP reportedly hopes to raise billions of dollars from various sources.
The US-Senegalese singer Akon is another artist who announced a plan to build a futuristic city in his ancestral homeland. The first phase of his project was due to be completed by late last year. But, as the Guardian reported in December, the project has been beset by delays and controversy – with only a youth centre and the shell of what is planned to be the “welcome centre” having been built so far.
While Akon received praise for the planned city’s Afrofuturistic aesthetic, there has been scepticism as to whether it will ever come to pass, fuelled by a lack of detail around the plans.
Elba, for his part, has been clear about where his strengths lie. “Never in my lifetime would I have thought I could build the foundation for a new smart-city … I’m not qualified for that. But I am qualified to dream big,” he said.
“It’s a dream, you know, but I work in the make-believe business.”
He added: “Part of me wants to build that beautiful retirement home for my mum.”
The actor told the broadcaster his late father would probably think the dream too big. But he said he would be proud, and tell his son “If you’re going to do it, make sure you do it properly. You do it good, you do it with all your heart because that’s the best you can do”.
Tiffany Haddish Paints Mystery ‘Not Drinking’ Because She’s ‘Trying to Get Pregnant’
Co-hosting Elton John’s star-studded AIDS Foundation Oscar party, the “Girls Trip” fixture was noticeably avoiding the good stuff. When asked about her anti-booze mind state at the annual event, an attendee revealed to Page Six that Haddish simply answered, “I am trying to get pregnant.”
Although it is unclear whether the funny woman’s response was her comedic way of dealing with scrutiny surrounding her sobriety after being arrested late last year for a DUI, another source mentioned that “It didn’t feel like [she was joking]. She said it numerous times.”
Countering the claim, Page Six noted comments from a source close to Haddish. According to the Haddish source, the “Back on the Strip” entertainer’s reply “was likely a joke,” despite her desire to be a mother.
“She is serious about her sobriety,” the source confessed to Page Six. “She’s kept it, and is very into her health right now. She’s going through her changes and is doing amazing.”
Whether Haddish was truthful remains up in the air. At this time, there is no official word from her rep on the situation.
In the meanwhile, the word about Haddish’s appearance at the Oscar party was a good one. Along with “The Last O.G.” star, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka assumed co-hosting duties at the event, which drew the likes of Heidi Klum, Patricia Arquette, Tim Allen, Jane Seymour, Michaela Jae Rodriguez, Mario Cantone and Sandra Lee, among others. More than $10.8 million was raised to help John’s foundation.
“She was having the time of her life!” another source shared with Page Six about Haddish, who “bid on nearly everything in the auction.”
“She was jovial and hilarious,” the source added. “She was the bright light in the room, making fun of herself and her dress. She ruled that room.”
Caitlyn Jenner & Lamar Odom To Launch New Podcast Together Called ‘Keeping Up With Sports’
This is unexpected! Caitlyn Jenner has partnered with Lamar Odom to create a podcast, “Keeping Up With Sports.” The podcast appears to pay homage to the popular reality TV series “Keeping Up With The Kardashians,” which once starred Lamar Odom and Caitlyn Jenner.
Podcaster Mystic Zach Hirsch, who hosts multiple podcasts, including “Running It Back With Pac and Zach,” will co-host the podcast with Lamar Odom and Caitlyn Jenner.
Their first episode is reportedly set to debut in a few weeks, with former boxing star Sugar Ray Leonard as the first special guest. Other reported future guests include a variety of athletes, such as boxer Bryce Hall and world champion boxer Zab Judah.
Odom hasn’t made an official announcement about the new podcast, but he reposted news about it on his Instagram story on Monday (March 18).
It comes as no surprise that the former NBA star and Jenner have started a sports podcast. In 1976, Jenner won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Montreal.
On the other hand, Odom won championships with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009 and 2010. He was also named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2011.
The pair were also once members of the Kardashian family. The former decathlete was married to Kris Jenner for over two decades before they called it quits in 2015. Their marriage was before Bruce Jenner’s transition to Caitlin Jenner. Their divorce was highly publicized on the E!’s former reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”
Meanwhile, Odom was married to Khloé Kardashian before they divorced in 2016.
It’s unclear if the Kardashian family is in any way affected by the two exes teaming up for this podcast, but Caitlyn has made it clear that she and her ex-wife don’t speak to each other anymore
While speaking to UK Daytime talk show “This Morning” last year, Caitlyn revealed,
“If there’s any communication, my manager kind of talks to her, and when you have as many kids as I have, you’re closer to some than you are to others… I certainly see them, and we do this and that. I’m much closer to the Jenner side, but Kris, I don’t really have any more contact with her. It’s kind of sad because we went through a lot.”
What do you think about Lamar Odom and Caitlyn Jenner launching a new podcast together?
Wayne Brady Speaks On The “Biggest Misconception” Surrounding Pansexuality
While attending the 2024 GLAAD Media Awards on Thursday evening in Los Angeles, Brady shared with PEOPLE that he empathizes with individuals who find the term confusing. He admitted to needing to “research” the topic himself.
“I had to do research and find out what it was that I was,” Brady, who identifies as pansexual, says. “I think the biggest misconception — and I even make a joke about it onstage tonight — is that people think that you’re an indecisive bisexual. It’s like, no, no, no, no, no. Let me set you straight.”
He added, “What the definition basically boils down to is, regardless of gender, regardless. So that means that I am happily free to fall in love with anybody here. If you’re gay, if you’re straight, if you’re non-binary, trans, I don’t care.”
Following his disclosure last year, Brady characterized his pansexuality to PEOPLE as being akin to being “bisexual — with an open mind.” He revealed that the passing of Robin Williams in 2014 profoundly impacted him, sparking an unexpected journey of self-exploration.
Apart from engaging in therapy to comprehend his lack of fulfillment in certain areas of life and seeking treatment for “love addiction,” he found himself pondering the question, “Wayne, um, are you gay?”
“And the answer was no because despite having been in all of these unsuccessful relationships and now dealing with what I know can be diagnosed as love addiction, I started to go, ‘Okay, I’m feeling something, but I just don’t know how to get there,'” Brady added.
Queen Latifah Joins Princess Tiana And Louis For A Magical Day At Walt Disney World
Award-winning singer and actor Queen Latifah experienced a day of magic and laughter at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The iconic star was spotted dancing and sharing laughs with Princess Tiana and Louis from Disney’s beloved film “The Princess and the Frog.”
Captured in heartwarming snapshots by photographer Olga Thompson, Queen Latifah embraced the whimsical atmosphere of the Magic Kingdom Park. The joyful encounter took place near Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the newest attraction set to open in Summer 2024.
Queen Latifah’s visit to Tiana and Louis was just the beginning of her enchanting day at Walt Disney World. After meeting her new jazz-loving friends, the acclaimed artist embarked on a magical adventure through the iconic park with her family by her side.
As fans eagerly anticipate the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Queen Latifah’s visit serves as a reminder of the timeless allure and enchantment found within the magical world of Disney. With unforgettable moments and cherished memories awaiting guests at every turn, Walt Disney World continues to be a place where dreams come true for visitors of all ages.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Cute Kitty
She's cute but she's not happy maybe?
She's cute but she's not happy maybe?
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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