#MAGFAB: Quinta Brunson, For Glamor Magazine Woman of the Year!
Quinta Brunson has had a bewildering summer. For the first time since she was 14, she spent it not working. Brunson—who has written, starred in, and executive-produced the certified hit Abbott Elementary and simultaneously restored her entire industry’s faith in the viability of the half-hour network sitcom—went on strike with the rest of the writers in the WGA union in the spring, and remained on it through the summer when the actors joined them on the picket line.
Now that the WGA has scored a new contract, Quinta Brunson is back in business (although shooting the new season of Abbott will have to wait until SAG-AFTRA settles its negotiations too). She doesn’t cast it as a silver lining, but she does acknowledge that these past few months have given her “time to process” her whirlwind ascension from viral video creator to genuine star.
The 33-year-old—as an entire generation knows—got her start as the mind behind beloved shorts like “The Girl Who’s Never Been on a Nice Date,” which nabbed her a job at BuzzFeed. Abbott Elementary, which takes the tropes of the traditional workplace comedy and sends them up by setting it at an underfunded elementary school in Philadelphia, is her first network show and creative brainchild. Needless to say, given its rapturous reception, there will be others. She's signed a multiyear deal with Warner Bros. Television Group to develop new series and tell fresh stories.
Who better to talk to Brunson about her wild ride in Hollywood than a woman who knows very well where she came from? Newly minted Meet the Press host Kristen Welker also hails from Brunson’s hometown of Philadelphia. Both women are self-proclaimed “Philly kids” to their core—tenacious, open, and generous in equal measure. Here Welker and Brunson talk ambition, heartbreak, inspiration, and what’s next for Brunson, from her ideas for new shows to… moving to London? Janine Teagues would be so proud. — Glamour
Kristen Welker: Let’s talk about how you got your first start. I read that when you were a kid in Philadelphia, you started doing impressions at age three, is that right?
Quinta Brunson: Yeah, my brothers and sisters—they really liked to watch me imitate characters from their favorite shows. I don't think I realized that I was doing impressions; it would just be like, “Quinta, say this.” And then I would say it, and I really enjoyed making them laugh.
Where does that come from?
I was just passionate about making people laugh! It brought me such joy. It really connected me to my siblings. I came so much later than them, so I think to them that was the value in me. Because they thought my mom was done, and then here I come and it was like, “Ugh.”
Get more at Glamour!
#RHOA: Andy Cohen On NeNe Leakes' Possible Return To 'RHOA'
Andy Cohen is not sure whether NeNe Leakes could ever return to "The Real Housewives of Atlanta". The executive producer of the "Real Housewives" franchise addressed the matter at BravoCon on Saturday, November 4.
"I'm a nostalgic guy. She and I came up together and there's always room in my heart for, you know, everybody," the 55-year-old told a fan after revealing that the show now has a "growth opportunity." Once the fan asked if NeNe would rejoin the cast, he replied, "Who knows? I mean, she asked me a few years ago to keep her name out of my mouth, so I try to respect that."
In April 2022, NeNe sued Bravo and Andy for allegedly "encouraging" racism on the show. The TV personality, who is black, claimed that she faced years of "racially offensive and stereotypical" remarks from her white former co-star Kim Zolciak, but the team ignored her complaints.
The "Glee" alum, however, dismissed the case and "all claims asserted by [her] without prejudice" in August of the same year. "All Parties consent and stipulate to the foregoing dismissal. No party will seek recovery of costs or attorneys' fees in any submission to this Court," court documents obtained by PEOPLE read.
NeNe herself has divulged whether she's open to returning to "RHOA". When asked if the popular series needs her and Kim back on the show, NeNe told TMZ, "I would say check the ratings... That should give you an answer."
During the interview, NeNe suggested that she's ready to return to the show if that's what fans want. "The fans are the ones that love me. They're the ones that love to see me in that position, and I would do anything for them," she told the paparazzo.
#NewMusic: Goapele Releases New Album “Colours”
Veteran soul singer Goapele has just returned with the release of her much anticipated seventh studio album “Colours”. The project is out via her independent label Skyblaze Recordings.
“Colours” is an eight track project that is a testament to Goapele’s artistry, showcasing a blend of sensuality and emotional depth. It is led by the first single “Time Heals” which released over the Summer. The song “Purple” followed which was also given an accompanying visual.
The album features collaborations with esteemed musicians, producers, and fellow songwriters, including Bedrock, Chris Dave, Keyon Harold, Mike Aaberg, Marcus Phillips, Chris Johnson, Nate Mercereau, and Errol Cooney. The album’s themes delve into the concept of time.
STREAM HERE
Goapele’s innovative approach extends beyond music, as she merges color tones, scents, and aesthetic apparel to create a multisensory experience for her audience. With a rare gift of synesthesia, she curates scented candles and apparel through her lifestyle brand Dreamseekers, enhancing the emotional resonance of her music.
#HipHopNews: DJ Kay Slay Honored With New Hour-Long Posthumous Track!
On Friday (November 3), 200 of the culture’s finest MCs hopped on an hour-long joint to honor his legacy. The nearly-endless list of contributors includes names such as Snoop Dogg, Bun B, Ice-T, Paul Wall and Raekwon, to name a few.
Whereas the video release of Rolling Deep 200 bundles every contribution into one lengthy segment, the record drop has been chopped up into 16 cuts.
Watch the audio-visual package HERE:
The dozens-of-rappers-on-one-song conceit was something Kay Slay did repeatedly throughout his life. He went from 25 MCs in 2010 (something he actually did twice) to 50 a decade later to a mind-blowing 110 in 2021.
The new homage has been released a year and a half after Kay Slay succumbed to complications stemming from COVID-19. Soon after his death, DJ Vlad expressed regret over not pushing Slay to get vaccinated, opining that it could have saved his life
The media personality interviewed actor Michael Jai White late last year, during which the two began talking about health and upkeep. Amid a discussion on obesity and the food consumed in America, Vlad brought up a conversation he’d had with the Drama King just one week before the latter caught the virus that would ultimately take his life.
“To this day, it still bothers me,” the YouTube host began. “DJ Kay Slay, who had been my friend for like 20 years – my last text message with him, we were talking about some interview stuff. He was helping me book somebody. And I’m like, ‘How you been?’ He’s like, ‘I’m good, just trying to stay out of the way of this COVID thing.’ I’m like, ‘Okay! Are you vaccinated?’ He said, ‘Nah, the vaccine don’t work for the variants. I’m gonna wait until all the variants are done and I’m gonna take the vaccine then. Maybe.’
The 50-year-old explained that he wanted to say something but decided not to because he’d tried convincing others before and it didn’t work. He also felt that it was Slay’s decision to make.
“One week later, he got COVID,” Vlad continued. “Went to the hospital. He was in the hospital on life support for months; ultimately died. And it’s like, if I had said something, would it have changed? Would he have been like, ‘I respect Vlad. Let me go ahead and get vaccinated.’ That vaccine would have saved his life.”
Nicki Minaj Urges Fans To Not Send Threats On Her Behalf
Nicki Minaj has an important message for the Barbz. On Sunday, November 5, the "Barbie World" raptress made use of her Instagram account to urge her fans to not threaten people on her behalf.
"Dear Barbz, be sure to never threaten anyone on my behalf. Whether on the internet or in person. Whether in jest, or not," the "Anaconda" femcee wrote. The Trinidadian raptress went on to stress, "I don't and never condoned that."
Later in her post, Nicki appeared to hope that fans would focus on her upcoming album "Pink Friday 2" instead. "We have an amazing album right around the corner 12/08/23. It feels so surreal & euphoric," she added, before concluding, "Wishing you blessings on blessings."
It remains to be seen what drives Nicki to write the message.
Now that the WGA has scored a new contract, Quinta Brunson is back in business (although shooting the new season of Abbott will have to wait until SAG-AFTRA settles its negotiations too). She doesn’t cast it as a silver lining, but she does acknowledge that these past few months have given her “time to process” her whirlwind ascension from viral video creator to genuine star.
The 33-year-old—as an entire generation knows—got her start as the mind behind beloved shorts like “The Girl Who’s Never Been on a Nice Date,” which nabbed her a job at BuzzFeed. Abbott Elementary, which takes the tropes of the traditional workplace comedy and sends them up by setting it at an underfunded elementary school in Philadelphia, is her first network show and creative brainchild. Needless to say, given its rapturous reception, there will be others. She's signed a multiyear deal with Warner Bros. Television Group to develop new series and tell fresh stories.
Who better to talk to Brunson about her wild ride in Hollywood than a woman who knows very well where she came from? Newly minted Meet the Press host Kristen Welker also hails from Brunson’s hometown of Philadelphia. Both women are self-proclaimed “Philly kids” to their core—tenacious, open, and generous in equal measure. Here Welker and Brunson talk ambition, heartbreak, inspiration, and what’s next for Brunson, from her ideas for new shows to… moving to London? Janine Teagues would be so proud. — Glamour
Kristen Welker: Let’s talk about how you got your first start. I read that when you were a kid in Philadelphia, you started doing impressions at age three, is that right?
Quinta Brunson: Yeah, my brothers and sisters—they really liked to watch me imitate characters from their favorite shows. I don't think I realized that I was doing impressions; it would just be like, “Quinta, say this.” And then I would say it, and I really enjoyed making them laugh.
Where does that come from?
I was just passionate about making people laugh! It brought me such joy. It really connected me to my siblings. I came so much later than them, so I think to them that was the value in me. Because they thought my mom was done, and then here I come and it was like, “Ugh.”
Get more at Glamour!
#RHOA: Andy Cohen On NeNe Leakes' Possible Return To 'RHOA'
"I'm a nostalgic guy. She and I came up together and there's always room in my heart for, you know, everybody," the 55-year-old told a fan after revealing that the show now has a "growth opportunity." Once the fan asked if NeNe would rejoin the cast, he replied, "Who knows? I mean, she asked me a few years ago to keep her name out of my mouth, so I try to respect that."
In April 2022, NeNe sued Bravo and Andy for allegedly "encouraging" racism on the show. The TV personality, who is black, claimed that she faced years of "racially offensive and stereotypical" remarks from her white former co-star Kim Zolciak, but the team ignored her complaints.
The "Glee" alum, however, dismissed the case and "all claims asserted by [her] without prejudice" in August of the same year. "All Parties consent and stipulate to the foregoing dismissal. No party will seek recovery of costs or attorneys' fees in any submission to this Court," court documents obtained by PEOPLE read.
NeNe herself has divulged whether she's open to returning to "RHOA". When asked if the popular series needs her and Kim back on the show, NeNe told TMZ, "I would say check the ratings... That should give you an answer."
During the interview, NeNe suggested that she's ready to return to the show if that's what fans want. "The fans are the ones that love me. They're the ones that love to see me in that position, and I would do anything for them," she told the paparazzo.
#NewMusic: Goapele Releases New Album “Colours”
Veteran soul singer Goapele has just returned with the release of her much anticipated seventh studio album “Colours”. The project is out via her independent label Skyblaze Recordings.
“Colours” is an eight track project that is a testament to Goapele’s artistry, showcasing a blend of sensuality and emotional depth. It is led by the first single “Time Heals” which released over the Summer. The song “Purple” followed which was also given an accompanying visual.
The album features collaborations with esteemed musicians, producers, and fellow songwriters, including Bedrock, Chris Dave, Keyon Harold, Mike Aaberg, Marcus Phillips, Chris Johnson, Nate Mercereau, and Errol Cooney. The album’s themes delve into the concept of time.
STREAM HERE
Goapele’s innovative approach extends beyond music, as she merges color tones, scents, and aesthetic apparel to create a multisensory experience for her audience. With a rare gift of synesthesia, she curates scented candles and apparel through her lifestyle brand Dreamseekers, enhancing the emotional resonance of her music.
#HipHopNews: DJ Kay Slay Honored With New Hour-Long Posthumous Track!
Whereas the video release of Rolling Deep 200 bundles every contribution into one lengthy segment, the record drop has been chopped up into 16 cuts.
Watch the audio-visual package HERE:
The dozens-of-rappers-on-one-song conceit was something Kay Slay did repeatedly throughout his life. He went from 25 MCs in 2010 (something he actually did twice) to 50 a decade later to a mind-blowing 110 in 2021.
The new homage has been released a year and a half after Kay Slay succumbed to complications stemming from COVID-19. Soon after his death, DJ Vlad expressed regret over not pushing Slay to get vaccinated, opining that it could have saved his life
The media personality interviewed actor Michael Jai White late last year, during which the two began talking about health and upkeep. Amid a discussion on obesity and the food consumed in America, Vlad brought up a conversation he’d had with the Drama King just one week before the latter caught the virus that would ultimately take his life.
“To this day, it still bothers me,” the YouTube host began. “DJ Kay Slay, who had been my friend for like 20 years – my last text message with him, we were talking about some interview stuff. He was helping me book somebody. And I’m like, ‘How you been?’ He’s like, ‘I’m good, just trying to stay out of the way of this COVID thing.’ I’m like, ‘Okay! Are you vaccinated?’ He said, ‘Nah, the vaccine don’t work for the variants. I’m gonna wait until all the variants are done and I’m gonna take the vaccine then. Maybe.’
The 50-year-old explained that he wanted to say something but decided not to because he’d tried convincing others before and it didn’t work. He also felt that it was Slay’s decision to make.
“One week later, he got COVID,” Vlad continued. “Went to the hospital. He was in the hospital on life support for months; ultimately died. And it’s like, if I had said something, would it have changed? Would he have been like, ‘I respect Vlad. Let me go ahead and get vaccinated.’ That vaccine would have saved his life.”
Nicki Minaj Urges Fans To Not Send Threats On Her Behalf
Nicki Minaj has an important message for the Barbz. On Sunday, November 5, the "Barbie World" raptress made use of her Instagram account to urge her fans to not threaten people on her behalf.
"Dear Barbz, be sure to never threaten anyone on my behalf. Whether on the internet or in person. Whether in jest, or not," the "Anaconda" femcee wrote. The Trinidadian raptress went on to stress, "I don't and never condoned that."
Later in her post, Nicki appeared to hope that fans would focus on her upcoming album "Pink Friday 2" instead. "We have an amazing album right around the corner 12/08/23. It feels so surreal & euphoric," she added, before concluding, "Wishing you blessings on blessings."
It remains to be seen what drives Nicki to write the message.
Mary J. Blige Reportedly Has A New Radio Show Coming Soon!
According to Hot 97 host Funk Flex, the “Just Fine” singer has a new radio show coming to the station in the near future.
The rapper turned radio personality made the announcement on his instagram page yesterday (November 2nd), writing:
News of Blige’s new gig as a radio host first began circulating back in July of this year. Flex, who’ll be acting as the creative producer of the show, also revealed the project was in the works at that time. However, no details were shared about when fans would actually get to enjoy hearing the Grammy award winner in a more talk based setting. It seems things are finally moving forward, much to fans excitement.
The show is also just one of a slew of other projects the entertainer is reportedly working on. Along with a recurring role on the 50 Cent produced TV series “Power Book II: Ghost”, the musician also landed a talk series deal with BET which premiered back in March. The show, titled “The Wine Down with Mary J. Blige”, only released two episodes, however, and it is unclear if the network plans to continue putting out more episodes.
50 Cent Pokes Fun At Dwight Howard Following Sexual Assault Lawsuit, Hooper Responds
The “In Da Club” rapper shared an old photo of himself, Denzel Washington, and Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith sitting courtside at a Los Angeles Lakers game while Howard stood in front of them. “@dangerookipawaa gonna say you made eye contact with Dwight Howard,” he wrote with an eyebrow raising emoji and facepalm emoji. “Man me and Denzel thought that mother [f**ker] was alright man. WTF”, he wrote, adding multiple emojis hinting at anger.
The 37-year-old hooper didn’t seem bothered by what Fif was hinting at and commented “Glad I put a smile on your face” with a laughing emoji. Check out the post below.
Dwight Howard’s current sexual assault lawsuit is centered around the eight-time NBA All-Star allegedly forcing a man named Stephen Harper into a threesome with another man. Harper claims the third man was a fully-bearded, cross-dressing male named Kitty and that he was assaulted during their sexual activities. Specifically, Howard touched his private area and said he was going to do whatever he wanted and that Harper would like it. Howard denied the allegations and claimed that they only engaged in “consensual kissing.”
“This is a civil case that was made public for profit,” his legal team said in a statement to AllHipHop. “In this case, the accuser is solely suing Dwight Howard and has refrained from suing the other party in which he claims to be involved. It is important to know that these matters were never about sexual assault. This was merely about money and greed.”
The statement continued, revealing that Harper had allegedly been trying to get money from Howard for some time. “Such individuals, have made continuous attempts to elicit payment from Dwight,” they wrote. “This has resulted in intimidation of not only Dwight, his family and friends have also been targeted as well. The accuser took to social media, only after being ignored by Howard.”
Pepsi Donating $250K To Deal With Food Insecurity At HBCUs
Multinational food and beverage conglomerate PepsiCo announced $250,000 in grants Tuesday (Nov. 2) to five historically Black universities to help them tackle food insecurity on campus.
The HBCUs – Morgan State University, Prairie View A&M University, Florida A&M University, Jackson State University and Bethune-Cookman University – will receive $50,000 each. PepsiCo will distribute the funds at various events throughout November as part of its larger HBCU Tour to support HBCU students and celebrate the legacy of these universities.
PepsiCo said it tailored its donations to support each campus' unique efforts to help those who don’t always know where their next meal is coming from so they could focus on their education.
The grants will help more than 37,500 food-insecure students by funding campus food pantries, meal plans for homeless students, stipends for student staff within the pantries, and free meals to approximately 2,000 students in December during finals week.
"Our donation to tackle food insecurity is another example of our commitment to empower students and ensure their success in every aspect of their educational journey," said Kent Montgomery, Senior Vice President, Industry Relations and Multicultural Development at PepsiCo.
A Temple University study in 2020 found that hunger was a problem for 46 percent of students at 14 HBCUs. But food insecurity wasn’t the only problem. More than half of the students, 55 percent, said they were also housing insecure during the prior year.
In 2020, Kroger supermarket’s Delta Division donated $30,000 to local HBCUs Jackson State University and Tougaloo College, citing the Temple University study.
“This is an alarming statistic, and Mississippi is one of the most food-insecure states in the nation. We are honored to support our HBCUs and the work they are doing to alleviate hunger through campus food pantries,” Teresa Dickerson, manager of corporate affairs for Kroger’s Delta Division, said at that time, local station WLBT reported.
JSU is far from alone when it comes to persistent campus hunger. Morgan State conducted a campus survey in 2018 that found students were “skipping meals, borrowing food or money, and eating food that is less preferred.
Tupac Shakur gets street named after him 27 years after his death
The new Tupac Shakur Way stretches near the neighborhood where the musician resided during a point of his life in the early ’90s. The dedication ceremony drew family members and notable figures from the music industry, including MC Hammer.
Addressing the gathering, Sekyiwa “Set” Shakur, urged the community to let her brother’s spirit “live on the rest of these years in these streets and in your hearts.” Today (Nov. 4), AP News reported that her voice cracked with emotion as the new sign was revealed.
MC Hammer labeled him “hands down, the greatest rapper ever.” He shared close ties with Tupac during the final months before he died in 1996. Meanwhile, Money-B and Bay Area legend Too Short echoed the “U Can’t Touch This” hitmaker’s sentiments during their respective speeches.
Tupac’s deep connection with the city was highlighted by City Councilwoman Carroll Fife, who spearheaded the renaming initiative. “He claimed Oakland,” she said. “He said Oakland gave him his game.”
In related news, the “California Love” rapper was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in June. Sekyiwa accepted the award on his behalf. During her speech, she shared, “As the proud sister of Tupac Amaru Shakur, the daughter of Mutulu and Afeni Shakur, it fills my heart with honor to stand here today representing the Shakur family.”
Sekyiwa continued, “Tupac knew deep down that he was always meant for something great, and as his little sister, I had the privilege to watch that greatness unfold. From the first time he stepped foot on the stage at the Apollo Theater at 13 years old, before anyone recognized his name, he knew he had the dream to have a star here on the Walk of Fame.”
Barbra Streisand addresses infamous invasion of privacy lawsuit in new memoir.
Barbra Streisand's long-awaited memoir, My Name Is Barbra, has arrived and the legendary singer/actress/director gives her unfiltered take on everything from Funny Girl and Yentl to pup cloning and politics. The 992-page tome, officially out on Nov. 7, also devotes one-and-a-half pages to correcting the record on "the Streisand effect."
What is "the Streisand effect"?
The term, long adopted into pop culture, refers to how efforts made to censor information or minimize a story can backfire, leading to it being widely publicized instead.
In the late 1990s, Ken and Gabrielle Adelman created California Coastal Records Project with the goal of using their helicopter to take aerial photos of the state's approximately 840-mile coastline for an online database. It was to document erosion and development along the Pacific over time — for the use of mostly environmental groups, the government and the media — with a goal of reshooting every five years.
Enter the acting and singing legend. The Brooklyn-born Streisand first put down roots in Malibu, Calif., in 1974. She gifted her original 24-acre estate — now known as Ramirez Canyon Park — to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for a tax write-off in 1993. By then she had already eyed her current estate, back in 1984, but the owners wouldn't sell to her, so she bought up adjacent properties around them and bided her time. When the owners split in 1995, she finally purchased her dream abode. The compound — boasting a main house, a barn, a mill house, a building they call "Grandma's" home and a mini shopping mall in the basement — is where she married husband James Brolin in 1998 and they still reside with their furbabies.
In 2002, California Coastal Records Project officially went live and among the 12,000 frames of the coast was one, image 3850, that included Streisand's home within a larger aerial shot. Streisand — known for her own environmental activism — had her attorney send two cease and desist letters the following year, claiming the inclusion of the photo was an invasion of privacy, violated the "anti-paparazzi" statute, sought to profit from her name (because the images could be printed) and threatened her security. Ken, an amateur photographer who took the image from an elevation of 500 feet in public airspace over the ocean, refused to take it down, saying he didn't target Streisand's home — it was on the coast like the other 11,999 photos. Streisand sued for $50 million (see the lawsuit) and lost. She paid the defendant's legal fees and court costs, and the Adelmans posted a copy of the $155,567.04 check on the website (where it remains today).
Prior to the lawsuit, the image in question had been viewed just six times in total on the website (including twice by Streisand's legal team). Within a month of her lawsuit being filed, more than 420,000 people visited the website to view the image. It was later published by the Associated Press, and other newspapers and websites around the world, and hundred of thousands of people ended up seeing the photo.
While her intent was to make the image go away, instead there were articles far and wide about her demand, like the Japan Times calling her an "indignant diva."
"The Streisand effect" was coined in 2005
It was Mike Masnick, founder of Techdirt, who used the term "the Streisand effect." In 2005, he was writing about a different legal saga — around a website posting urinal photos, of all things — and how Marco Beach Ocean Resort claimed it was illegal to use its name on the website.
"How long is it going to take before lawyers realize that the simple act of trying to repress something they don’t like online is likely to make it so that something that most people would never, ever see (like a photo of a urinal in some random beach resort) is now seen by many more people?" Masnick wrote at the time. "Let’s call it the Streisand Effect."
The phrase took off — it has its own Wikipedia page — and is cited time and again when this type of thing happens. Other examples involving celebrities include Scientology demanding that a four-year-old indoctrination video of Tom Cruise gushing about the power of the organization be taken down. Also, Beyoncé's publicist demanding that website BuzzFeed take down unflattering photos of the singer from the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show. In both cases, more people saw the video/photos in question due to the many headlines that the cease and desist demands generated.
Masnick told NPR in a 2008 interview, "People feel that their rights are being taken away when someone's trying to, say, bully someone into suppressing information that they think should be out there."
"I naively thought, Is that about the effect of my music?"
Streisand attempts to correct the record on her infamous lawsuit that started it all, according to Vanity Fair.
"When I first heard the term, I naively thought, Is that about the effect of my music?" she wrote in her book. "Little did I know."
Streisand went on to say she didn't intend to try to remove the picture of her house from the website. She merely didn't want her name to be publicized with it, for security reasons.
Fast-forward 20 years and images of Streisand's multimillion mansion are everywhere. With the click of a button, you can zoom in even closer on the property via Google Maps. Zillow has aerial and street views, lot size and property taxes.
My Name Is Barbra by Barbra Streisand comes out on Nov. 7.
Prince Harry rejects King Charles's latest invitation to join the Royal Family
The Duke of Sussex was invited to attend the monarch's party next week at Clarence House. The 39-year-old prince does not plan on attending, amid his ongoing feud with the Royal Family.
Relations between Harry, his father, and Prince William have been tense for the past couple of years.
Meghan Markle and Harry have launched multiple public attacks on the Royal Family, through the duke's memoir, Spare, and the couple's Netflix documentary.
King Charles will celebrate his 75th birthday on November 14 and is said to be having a small party, with close family attending.
This is not the first invitation from King Charles that Prince Harry has snubbed.
Earlier this year, it was reported that the duke rejected an offer to visit Balmoral for the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's death.
Prince Harry did attend the King's Coronation, however, he flew back to the United States as soon as the ceremony was over.
The monarch's recent invitation to his son was intended to be an olive branch.
A royal insider told The Sunday Times: “When he gets to the end of another successful work day and thinks of his family, there will always be a twinge in his heart about a problem he hasn’t been able to solve yet.
“But he will be taking the long-term view. The current act is a challenging one.
“There are issues that aren’t resolved and there won’t be a rapprochement any time soon.
“There is the sense of a cooling-off period from the family that is underway after the aftershocks of the book and interviews.
“But that doesn’t change the King’s love for his son. He’ll never not invite his son to a family gathering, because that’s not who he is.”
Both Harry and Meghan were out on the weekend, having attended Katy Perry's Las Vegas concert on Saturday.
Boy George Returning To Broadway After 20 Years For Limited ‘Moulin Rouge!’ Engagement
Culture Club singer Boy George will return to Broadway in February after a 20-year absence to play a limited engagement in the hit musical Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
Boy George, born George O’Dowd, will play the role of Harold Zidler at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre from Tuesday, February 6, 2024, through Sunday, May 12, 2024.
The Zidler character is the owner of the Moulin Rouge! nightclub and serves as a de facto emcee in the musical. The role was originated on Broadway by Danny Burstein, and is currently played by Tituss Burgess through Sunday, December 17. Eric Anderson returns to the role December 19 through February 4.
Boy George was last on Broadway in the short-lived Taboo, the musical about the fashionable London nightclub Taboo of the 1980s. Boy George wrote the music and lyrics and portrayed nightlife icon Leigh Bowery.
As lead singer of the ’80s band Culture Club, Boy George sang on such hit singles as “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.”
The winner of ten 2021 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Moulin Rouge! opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in the summer of 2019 and reopened in September 2021 following the industry’s Covid pandemic shutdown. Directed by Alex Timbers and with a book by John Logan, the musical, like the 2021 Baz Luhrmann’s film, features a wide range of pop music hits (or snippets of them), including “Lady Marmalade,” “Every Breath You Take,” “Children of the Revolution,” “Single Ladies,” “Firework,” “Your Song,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Up Where We Belong” and many others.
Jason Momoa to Host 'SNL' with Tate McRae as Musical Guest!
Tate also just announced her new album, THINK LATER, out December 8 and a 2024 tour, too.
On November 11, SNL will see Timothée Chalamet taking the hosting reigns with Boygenius as the musical guest.
If you didn’t see, be sure to find out which famous stars have been banned from Saturday Night Live over the years. There’s quite a few surprising names on the list!
Alabama Mayor Commits Suicide After Being “Outed” for Wearing Women’s Clothing by Right-Wing News Publication
A mayor of a small Alabama town died by suicide Friday, days after a conservative news blog published photos of him dressed in women’s clothing.
Smiths Station Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland, who was also a pastor at First Baptist Church of Phenix City “produced a handgun and took his own” after a slow pursuit following a welfare check, said Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones.
Two days before Copeland’s death, 1819 News published photos of him wearing women’s clothes and makeup and alleged he was leading a secret life as a transgender woman.
“It is sad and disgusting how he was treated by 1819 News,” said former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones.
“We live in a mean, bitter world where the self righteous tend to throw the largest stones.”
According to the Ledger-Enquirer, Copeland addressed the online story during a Wednesday evening service at his church, where he stated that he had become the target of an internet attack.
Philadelphia Reveals Black Artist’s Design for Harriet Tubman Statue
Alvin Pettit’s design for the permanent, 14-foot bronze Tubman statue shows the abolitionist with her fists clenched in prayer as she prepares for battle.
“This woman was a soldier, a scout, a union spy, a military strategist, and a war hero,” said the Jersey City–based sculptor. “Therefore, I captured a moment in time that shows her as a conqueror.”
According to the Associated Press, Pettit’s “A Higher Power: The Call of a Freedom Freedom Fighter,” will portray Tubman as a military leader.
“She is shown in majestic prayer. Perhaps she is calling upon her faith or contemplating a battle,” Pettit said of his clay model of the design (see below), per Black Information Network.
The work will be the first portrayal of a historical Black woman in the city’s public art collection. A white male artist was initially selected by the city to create the statue, but he withdrew his submission amid heavy criticism at the time
“As an artist, it’s hurtful and it is traumatizing,” artist Dee Jones told city officials during a meeting in June 2022, according to BIN. “If it was an open call, and Wesley was chosen, it would be fine. But because the process wasn’t open, that’s the big issue.”
Following the backlash, Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy issued an open call for submissions. Members of Tubman’s family ultimately helped choose Petitt for the design process.
Petitt’s Tubman statue is expected to be completed in 2025. City funds will be used to fund the project, which will cost $500,000, Art News reports.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
I smelled that
I smelled that miles away.
I smelled that miles away.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
