Shes’ Out of This World Star Trek: Discovery’s Sonequa Martin-Green!
Sonequa Martin-Green knows what it’s like to be the “other.” One of the few faces of color to have navigated the zombie apocalypse on The Walking Dead, she’s now the first Black woman to be a lead on a Star Trek series in its 53-year history. Perhaps Martin-Green, who stars as First Officer Michael Burnham on Star Trek: Discovery, considers “otherness” as her superpower (season two is currently streaming on CBS All Access). “It’s kind of surreal,” says the Alabama native. “Parents tell me their girls are interested in math, science and technology after watching the show. That’s incredible. It makes me want to work harder. It makes me more grateful.”
Martin-Green—who’s married to actor Kenric Green and mom to their son, Kenric II—stays focused on the creative possibilities of her intergalactic role and how her on-screen alter ego can be used as a tool to help normalize Black women in power. “There’s misogyny and racism everywhere,” Martin-Green states. “My husband and I can’t help what our son comes across. But we present him with images and messaging that will at least negate what he sees. That’s why I thank God for this role because it is something I can point to and say, ‘Hey, look at this. It’s Mommy, but it’s also a Black woman saving the world and being a genius.’”
The actress is also committed to embodying the spirit of Michael, a human who as a child witnessed the killing of her parents and was then taken from her home to live and compete as a Vulcan in order to be seen as equal. The first officer eventually joins the Starfleet to take on the war against the Klingons in season one. Michael, like Martin-Green, understands what it means to be othered and refuses to accept that people are considered a threat simply because they’re different. “I am telling this story about universality and equality, how it’s not just about the fight to gain it but also about the fight to sustain it. It makes me look at myself and question the choices I make, the way I speak, the way I navigate all the encounters I have and how I look at all the people who are different from me. It’s a call to rise,” Martin-Green says. Get more at Essence https://www.essence.com/cover-stories/sonequa-martin-green-cover-story/
#RHOA: Uh Oh? Kandi Burruss Threatens If Phaedra Parks Ever Returns She’ll Leave The Show!
Kandi Burruss has had enough of Phaedra Parks, and Kandi said if Phaedra were to ever return, She would be done with ‘RHOA.’
Even though she’s been a mainstay on Real Housewives of Atlanta for nine seasons – almost since the beginning! – reality star Kandi Burruss, said she said she’d ditch the entire franchise if former co-star Phaedra Parks, 45, would come back to the show according to HollywoodLife. “There’s only been like one year that I had to kind of like question if [the show] is really worth it,” Kandi said, referencing all the drama that went down between her and Phaedra back in the season nine reunion episodes with the rest of the RHOA cast and host Andy Cohen, 50.
“Obviously it was that year when the whole craziness with Phaedra happened, you know,” Kandi continued. “So that was the only year that I kind of questioned it, because I was like, okay, this is too much.”
Kandi went on to describe what was too much for her, saying it was the “attacking” of her “character” and “making up stuff” about her. “But outside of that, I’ve been cool,” she said. “I feel like it’s been a great platform for people to learn more about my businesses and different things that I’ve wanted to do, to work on. I’ve built up so many fans from the show that support all the things that I’m doing, so I love it for that.”
Kandi also revealed that she hasn’t heard from Phaedra again, since those season nine episodes. “I just think it’s kind of crazy when you don’t even realize you’re in a battle with a person to the point where they would make up stuff about you,” Kandi said. “I wouldn’t even ever known she was doing that had Porsha [Willams, 37] not told it at the reunion.” Kandi said she “wouldn’t be dealing with it” if Phaedra were to return, although she admitted she doesn’t have input on the cast of the reality show. Kandi said Phaedra returning would be her exit.
The friends-turned-enemies had been on the show together for six seasons, with their friendship getting tainted by more and more drama. The breaking point for their friendship was when Kandi discovered on the season nine reunion episodes that Phaedra had claimed to Porsha that Kandi and her husband Todd Tucker allegedly drugged and attempted to take advantage of Porsha. Kandi was visibly upset on the after show, crying at the accusation which she denied. Even though Phaedra eventually apologized to Kandi for saying that to Porsha, the friendship between Phaedra and Kandi has never repaired since.
#Empire: Creator Lee Daniels talks 'pain,' 'anger' and 'sadness' following the Jussie Smollett scandal
'Empire' executive producer Lee Daniels took to social media before the latest episode of the series to update fans on how everything has been on set amid the Jussie Smollett saga.
The co-creator and executive producer of “Empire,” Lee Daniels, hasn’t said much since the scandal involving actor Jussie Smollett became one of the hottest topics in America. However, he took to social media before the latest episode of the series to update fans on how everything has been on set.
Daniels never mentioned Smollett by name, but was clearly talking about him when highlighting the “pain and anger and sadness and frustration” he, the cast and all the minds behind the show have faced in recent weeks.
He captioned a video posted to Instagram that bizarrely starts with the 59-year-old executive producer brushing his teeth, with a note about why he’s been so absent lately.
“I was so in my feelings last week that I forgot to post about @empirefox & @staronfox .... I guess y’all know why 👀👀... anyway I’m back and I’m finally ok!!!! 👊🏿🇺🇸👊🏿.”
After rinsing out his mouth and putting his toothbrush away, Daniels gets into the heart of what he and the cast have been feeling.
“These past couple of weeks have been, a freaking roller coaster,” he began. “Me and my cast have experienced pain and anger and sadness and frustration and really don’t know how to deal with it. Because it happened… everything has happened, which you are seeing tonight, happened prior to the incident. And this was not what the show as made for. The show was made to bring America together… to talk about the atrocities that are happening right now in the streets.”
Daniels and many of the cast were caught up in the unflattering spotlight, which saw Smollett first claim he was beaten in an alleged hate crime in which his assailants poured bleach on his head, placed a rope around his neck and yelled: “this is MAGA country.” However, Chicago Police launched an investigation in which they determined that Smollett and two brothers who worked on “Empire” orchestrated the attack.
Daniels has remained mostly quiet about what he called the “incident,” with the exception of a joint statement with “Empire” co-creator Brett Mahoney and executive producers Danny Strong, Brian Grazer, Sanaa Hamri, Francie Calfo and Dennis Hammer in which they revealed Smollett’s role will be cut from the remainder of the latest season.
“The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for all of us. Jussie has been an important member of our EMPIRE family for the past five years and we care about him deeply. While these allegations are very disturbing, we are placing our trust in the legal system as the process plays out,” the statement obtained by Fox News read.
It continued: “We are also aware of the effects of this process on the cast and crew members who work on our show and to avoid further disruption on set, we have decided to remove the role of ‘Jamal’ from the final two episodes of the season.”
#NewMusic from Marvin Gaye – My Last Chance (Salaam Remi Mix)
In celebration of the legendary Marvin Gaye’s 80th birthday next month, Motown/UMe is preparing to release his previously unheard album “You’re the Man”. You can now check out star producer SaLaAM ReMi’s newly mixed version of the song “My Last Chance”.
“You’re the Man” is Marvin Gaye’s 1972 unreleased album that will finally find it’s release on March 29th, 2019.
LISTEN HERE
In addition to “My Last Chance”, three tracks from the album are newly mixed by SaLaAM ReMi including “Symphony,” and “I’d Give My Life For You.” Also included on the album is the rare, long LP version of Gaye’s cancelled 1972 Christmas single, plus an unreleased vault mix of its instrumental B-side.
#HipHopNews: Pete Rock Reveals "The Return Of SP1200" Cover Art & Release Date
Pete Rock is back with another update on his forthcoming Return Of The SP1200 instrumentals album. On Wednesday (March 20), the veteran producer took to Instagram and revealed the release date for the project is April 12.
He also shared the album’s artwork and gave a special shoutout to The Beat Junkies’ J. Rocc who provides scratches on the album.
“Im super excited about this project cuz its old beats that still sound heavy,” he wrote. “Jamie Staub did such a wonderful job mixing, Jrocc my other soul brotha from anotha motha and sanford green former marvel artist of black panther & Luke Cage! Wanted that “spiderverse” feel. 4/12.”
Rock has evid
ently been busy. De La Soul’s Maseo recently confirmed to HipHopDX he and DJ Premier were working on two new albums with the New York-bred trio. Skyzoo also has a project coming out with the storied beatsmith called Retropolitan.
Return Of The SP1200 serves as Rock’s follow-up to 2017’s Lost Sessions and 2015’s Petestrumentals2 instrumental albums. His first rhyme-free project, Petestrumentals, dropped in 2001.
Is Lady Gaga Dating Jeremy Renner?
Is a new romance brewing for Lady Gaga? The “Bad Romance” singer, 32, has been “hanging out” with Jeremy Renner, a source exclusively reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly.
The insider “doesn’t believe it’s romantic at this point,” but says Gaga has “been spending a lot of time” with the Avengers star, 48, and his daughter, Ava, 6, who he shares ex Sonni Pacheco.
The news comes one month after the Oscar winner, 32, called off her engagement to Christian Carino. Since then, the songstress has been having a blast on her own. On Sunday, March 17, Gaga was seen hanging out with Lisa Vanderpump and Ken Todd at their Pump Restaurant.
“They were all in great spirits, drinking and dancing,” an eyewitness told us. “I got to dance with Gaga and talk to her. … She was so sweet, and I told her how I’m pursuing acting, and she told me to never give up and [that] she believes in me. She could not have been sweeter.”
Rihanna’s Fenty Body Lava Is Back and Introducing an Iconic New Shade and Chris Brown ‘Turned On’ By her says He ‘Would Still Love’ To Marry Her
Fenty Beauty By Rihanna is relaunching its iconic Body Lava luminizer just in time for skin-baring Opens a New Window. season. And there’s a totally new shade to obsess over, too.
This gel-based body highlighter originally launched Opens a New Window. back in March 2018 with two luminous tints — Who Needs Clothes? (a pinky color) and Brown Sugar (a bronze hue). Now she’s bringing both of these back thanks to popular demand and introducing a new pick called Trophy Wife.
This golden hue was first introduced in the form of the Killawatt Freestyle Opens a New Window. powdered highlighter. Now you can get the same pop of metallic all over.
“Trophy Wife is one of my all-time favorites,” the Fenty founder said in a statement. “So I wanted to make a formula to wear all over your body, and now we have a third member to the Body Lava family!”
The “Umbrella” singer announced the relaunch via Instagram on Wednesday, March 20. Looking heavenly in a tiny Morphew metallic dress, the Barbados beauty beamed a golden high-shine from her elbows to her toes. “Back with the new DRIP,” she wrote in the caption.
To celebrate, Fenty is launching the Face & Body Kabuki Brush 160 in limited-edition special packaging for $34.
This proves that the Anti singer hasn’t lost her edge, and her ex has definitely taken notice. “He is still turned on by her after all these years and thinks she has only gotten more beautiful with age,” our source continues. “He has never stopped wanting her and his attraction to her has gotten stronger since they have been apart.” Yes, even nearly six years after they parted ways in 2013, following a brief reunion.
“He has matured, grown, changed and doesn’t see why they can’t make it work when the time is right,” our source continues. “He would still love to make her Mrs. Rihanna Brown. Until then, he loves seeing her sexy pics on the ‘Gram and will keep one eye on her always.” In Nov. 2018, the Grammy-winner made this apparent by commenting with a blushing emoji — “😳” — underneath a sultry photo of his ex-girlfriend, who was wearing hot red underwear and not much else
See Pics of Jordan Peele, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke & Cast Attend ‘Us’ NYC Premiere
The cast of Jordan Peele’s new nightmare, “Us,” attend the New York City premiere.
Cast members Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tim Heidecker, and Cali and Noelle Sheldon attended the New York City premiere at the Museum of Modern Art on Tuesday, March 19.
Us, opens in theaters this Friday.
#RIP Cliff Dixon Fatally Shot When He Arrived At His Birthday Celebration In Atlanta
Some sad news to report out of Atlanta! Cliff Dixon was shot multiple times and killed outside of the SL Lounge when he arrived early Thursday morning around 1:15 a.m. for his birthday party.
Cliff was rushed to Grady Hospital where he died. He was 32-years-young.
Police are investigating the case as a homicide, but have not released a possible motive.
Cliff is the ex-boyfriend of “Love & Hip Hop” star Erica Mena and the “adopted brother” of NBA baller Kevin Durant.
Many have taken to the social media to pay their respects and condolences following the shocking news of Cliff’s murder.
Our sincerest condolences to the Dixon family and all who knew and loved Cliff.
Beyoncé Fans Are Attacking Tamera Mowry For Saying She Flirted With JAY-Z
The Bey Hive doesn't play when it comes to Beyoncé or JAY-Z, and Tamera Mowry-Housley had to learn that the hard way.
During Wednesday's (March 20) episode of The Real, the talk show host caught heat for sharing a story about the first time she met Bey's husband. "I actually met JAY-Z in person," she shared. "He wasn’t with Beyoncé at the time, and I wasn’t dating anybody. When I met him, you do get, like, hit with the charm."
"I found myself, strangely, asking for gum," Tamera laughed. "It’s so weird, I swear! My sister and I were at a premiere of Nutty Professor and he walked by and I was like, 'Oh my God, that’s JAY-Z.' And I was like, 'Can I have some gum?' And he gave me some gum!"
"It was his charm," she recalled of what stuck out to her after meeting him. "I was 23, I hadn’t even met Adam [Housley, her husband]."
"I actually was attracted to him in the moment," she added.
Despite being married since 2008, Tamera's words — specifically her calling Jay "charming" and attractive — didn't sit too well with the Bey-Hive, who instantly flooded her page with comments with bee and honey emojis, representing the "Beyhive."
LOL!
Cardi B Trademarks Her Famous Catchphrase Okurrr!
Cardi B has officially marked her famous catchphrase as her own, and now she’s ready to launch a full line of products with the super popular tagline.
In new documents obtained by The Blast, the Grammy Award-winning rapper filed papers to trademark, “Okurrr,” for merchandising purposes, such as “paper goods, namely paper cups, and posters.” She’s also planning to print the phrase on pants, shirts, and hoodies for a clothing line.
To be sure she collects all her coins for her famous tagline, the Bronx raptress filed the official trademark with the three Rs and another version with just two. Okurrr or Okurr, it all belongs to Cardi B.
Okurrr! Shout out to Cardi B!
HBO Releases ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 8 New Poster Art
HBO’s Game of Thrones continued the drip-drip of pre-premiere enticements, releasing key art for its eighth and final season. See it below.
The new season debuts Sunday, April 14 on HBO, with all seven seasons currently available for any necessary catching up on HBO’s various platforms.
So intense are the want-to-watch levels for this finale season that HBO recently released the episode dates and estimated running times. Read that here. And to watch the trailer, go here. And for a look at the season’s character posters, check this out.
The new poster mashes up a couple all-important images from the series: The spikey Iron Throne and the fiery orange eyes of Daenerys’ dragons. In last season’s cliffhanger, the dragons – or at least the ones still (technically) alive – were heading to Westeros for what promises to be a showdown of all showdowns.
Here’s the key art poster. Let the theories begin.
James Corden Will Host 2019 Tony Awards for a Second time!
James Corden will host the 2019 Tony Awards. The 73rd annual ceremony is set for June 9 at Radio City Music Hall. He returns to emcee Broadway's biggest night, having previously taken center stage at the 2016 ceremony at the Beacon Theatre (and subsequently earning an Emmy Award).
A Tony winner himself for One Man, Two Guvnors, Corden is not shy about his affinity for the stage and musicals. As host of CBS' The Late Late Show, he frequently welcomes stage favorites and partakes in several theatrical antics, including the Crosswalk the Musical series and, in December last year, a 12-minute movie musical retrospective alongside Mary Poppins Returns duo Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
His screen credits also include the film adaptation of Into the Woods, in which he played the Baker opposite Blunt as the Baker's Wife.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to host the Tony Awards, the Broadway community is very dear to my heart and I’m beyond proud to be part of this incredibly special night,” said Corden in a statement.
“James is not only a beloved talent—he is also a veteran of the stage and has a true passion for Broadway,” added Charlotte St. Martin and Heather Hitchens, presidents of the Broadway League and American Theatre Wing (the Tonys' co-presenters), respectively. “We cannot wait to see what he has in store for us this year at the Tony Awards.”
Nominations for the 2019 Tony Awards will be announced April 30 ahead of the June 9 ceremony, which will once again be broadcast on CBS.
Florida Man Cesar Altieri Sayoc Pleads Guilty To Charges Of Mailing Bombs To Trump Critics
A Florida man accused of mailing pipe bombs to a number of prominent Democrats and Trump critics, as well as CNN, has pleaded guilty before a federal judge in New York.
Cesar Altieri Sayoc, 56, was arrested in late October and was scheduled to go trial in July on charges related to using weapons of mass destruction and transporting explosives. None of the devices exploded. He has been held without bail since then.
"I knew these actions were wrong. I'm extremely sorry," Sayoc said as quoted by The Washington Post. He told U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff that he did not intend for the devices to explode, but was aware of the risk that they might.
Sayoc faces a possible life sentence in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 12 on 65 criminal counts, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
"For five days in October 2018, Cesar Sayoc rained terror across the country, sending high-ranking officials and former elected leaders explosive packages through the mail," U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman. "Thankfully no one was hurt by these dangerous devices, but his actions left an air of fear and divisiveness in their wake. Sayoc has taken responsibility for his crimes, and will soon be sentenced to significant time in prison."
Sayoc mailed 16 improvised explosive devices to 13 targets around the country, including 11 current or former U.S. government officials, the U.S Attorney's statement said.
"In alphabetical order, SAYOC's intended victims were former Vice President Joseph Biden, Senator Cory Booker, former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, CNN, Robert De Niro, Senator Kamala Harris, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former President Barack Obama, George Soros, Thomas Steyer, and Representative Maxine Waters. Between October 22 and November 2, 2018, the FBI and the U.S. Postal Service recovered all of the 16 IEDs mailed by SAYOC."
A former DJ and bouncer at strip clubs, Sayoc had a criminal history.
"Prior to the arrest, the registered Republican was living in a van plastered with pro-Trump and anti-Democrat stickers. One image showed the president standing on a tank with a rifle, complete with United States flag and fireworks," reported NPR's Sasha Ingber.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘THE SQUEEZE’
Pink meet stink. Stink meet Pink. You’ll be bff’s forever.
#EGGPLANT NATION Meet The Leather Man!
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ENJOY!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
