#MAGFAB: Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae and Erika Alexander For Essence Magazine The Queens!
Even before they became American Fiction’s leading ladies on the big screen, Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross and Erika Alexander were queens of the small screen who gave Black women just what we needed. As they play the leads of the film –American Fiction, we see Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae and Erika Alexander as we’ve likely never seen them before. For the three women—each one with a prolific comedic career—it’s easy, almost expected, to think you’ve seen the breadth of their work on screen; but think again.
Raw, emotional, complex and uncomfortably relatable, American Fiction, which opened in select theaters on December 15 and theaters everywhere in January, is a story of America in all of its dysfunction. The movie’s protagonist, Thelonious “Monk” Ellison—played by Jeffrey Wright—is a frustrated novelist who’s fed up with White America profiting from Black trauma. The heart of the film grapples with Black family dynamics; “selling out”—or selling in—for White America; having to accept our parents as people rather than just parents; individuals conforming due to racism or homophobia; and so much more. Based on the 2001 novel Erasure, by Percival Everett, the film is directed by Cord Jefferson, who makes his feature debut. It confronts our culture’s obsession with reducing: reducing Black voices, reducing ourselves to conform, reducing our desires to benefit our loved ones. Yet there’s power in transforming our reduced circumstances by reclaiming our -personal truths.
Ross, Rae and Alexander each break new creative ground in the film. We see Ross as Lisa, Ellison’s sister, a Planned Parenthood abortion physician (it’s important to her that you know that, specifically) who is all things to all the people in her life—much like many Black women. Caregiving for the siblings’ sick mother (played by the brilliant Leslie Uggams), Lisa is also hardened by heartbreak in the wake of her divorce.
“I think the three of us are people who’ve made choices in our careers, and have played roles in our careers, where we do have a whole life and a whole story,” says Ross. “It is not easy as an actress—as a woman and as a Black actress—to find roles where you are not written in the context of something else—where your identity is not because of something, or you’re just the setup for someone else, or you establish something and then you’re gone, and just used in that way. And what Cord Jefferson did in these split seconds, in these moments that we appear on the screen, is ensure that we are whole people. And it was on the page—and I think it’s why we were drawn to the script, because that is a spectacular thing, and it’s rare.”
Rae plays an author seemingly monetizing Blackness for White consumption. “She saw the games being played,” she says of her character. “She knows that she’s an excellent writer, and she was like, f*ck it, I’ll play the game, too. And I think that so much of being a Black woman is sometimes like that—like, ‘You’re going to try to play me, but I will overcome, and I’ll play the game better.’ And I honestly love that part of it.”
Alexander, on the other hand, calls upon a softer touch. She plays Coraline, Monk’s love interest, turning in a performance that holds lessons in sacrifice and settling. “I just keep hearing messages of survival,” she says about the roles the women play in the film. “Black women do a lot to thrive, but first they have to survive. They have to survive society’s expectations, and then their own ambition—because obviously you’re looking at three very accomplished women in this film. That’s what Cord did.”
Beyond its powerful and satirical storytelling, what makes this film even more iconic is how Ross, Rae and Alexander are symbolic representations of Black sisterhood. Their mega-hits Girlfriends, Insecure and Living Single continue to influence us—and to illustrate how Black womanhood is conceptualized, showcased and observed. It wasn’t until shooting this ESSENCE cover that the trio even realized how their roles and presence in this film intersect with the reasons why a magazine like ours exists. Each represents an iconic character in a show that embodies the full identity of Black sisterhood—a goal that this magazine also strives to accomplish. So it’s only right to give these women their flowers —and for an issue focusing on our love, no less, because Black sisterhood is Black love. This issue is dedicated to the woman who understands the unique burdens of our birthright—but also acts as a balm for the troubles of this world.
On the set of the cover shoot, the energy is almost palpable. Each actress holds a tremendous level of admiration for the others, and they have an almost giddy joy at the opportunity to work together. “This is so epic,” Alexander says simply.
Raw, emotional, complex and uncomfortably relatable, American Fiction, which opened in select theaters on December 15 and theaters everywhere in January, is a story of America in all of its dysfunction. The movie’s protagonist, Thelonious “Monk” Ellison—played by Jeffrey Wright—is a frustrated novelist who’s fed up with White America profiting from Black trauma. The heart of the film grapples with Black family dynamics; “selling out”—or selling in—for White America; having to accept our parents as people rather than just parents; individuals conforming due to racism or homophobia; and so much more. Based on the 2001 novel Erasure, by Percival Everett, the film is directed by Cord Jefferson, who makes his feature debut. It confronts our culture’s obsession with reducing: reducing Black voices, reducing ourselves to conform, reducing our desires to benefit our loved ones. Yet there’s power in transforming our reduced circumstances by reclaiming our -personal truths.
Ross, Rae and Alexander each break new creative ground in the film. We see Ross as Lisa, Ellison’s sister, a Planned Parenthood abortion physician (it’s important to her that you know that, specifically) who is all things to all the people in her life—much like many Black women. Caregiving for the siblings’ sick mother (played by the brilliant Leslie Uggams), Lisa is also hardened by heartbreak in the wake of her divorce.
“I think the three of us are people who’ve made choices in our careers, and have played roles in our careers, where we do have a whole life and a whole story,” says Ross. “It is not easy as an actress—as a woman and as a Black actress—to find roles where you are not written in the context of something else—where your identity is not because of something, or you’re just the setup for someone else, or you establish something and then you’re gone, and just used in that way. And what Cord Jefferson did in these split seconds, in these moments that we appear on the screen, is ensure that we are whole people. And it was on the page—and I think it’s why we were drawn to the script, because that is a spectacular thing, and it’s rare.”
Rae plays an author seemingly monetizing Blackness for White consumption. “She saw the games being played,” she says of her character. “She knows that she’s an excellent writer, and she was like, f*ck it, I’ll play the game, too. And I think that so much of being a Black woman is sometimes like that—like, ‘You’re going to try to play me, but I will overcome, and I’ll play the game better.’ And I honestly love that part of it.”
Alexander, on the other hand, calls upon a softer touch. She plays Coraline, Monk’s love interest, turning in a performance that holds lessons in sacrifice and settling. “I just keep hearing messages of survival,” she says about the roles the women play in the film. “Black women do a lot to thrive, but first they have to survive. They have to survive society’s expectations, and then their own ambition—because obviously you’re looking at three very accomplished women in this film. That’s what Cord did.”
Beyond its powerful and satirical storytelling, what makes this film even more iconic is how Ross, Rae and Alexander are symbolic representations of Black sisterhood. Their mega-hits Girlfriends, Insecure and Living Single continue to influence us—and to illustrate how Black womanhood is conceptualized, showcased and observed. It wasn’t until shooting this ESSENCE cover that the trio even realized how their roles and presence in this film intersect with the reasons why a magazine like ours exists. Each represents an iconic character in a show that embodies the full identity of Black sisterhood—a goal that this magazine also strives to accomplish. So it’s only right to give these women their flowers —and for an issue focusing on our love, no less, because Black sisterhood is Black love. This issue is dedicated to the woman who understands the unique burdens of our birthright—but also acts as a balm for the troubles of this world.
On the set of the cover shoot, the energy is almost palpable. Each actress holds a tremendous level of admiration for the others, and they have an almost giddy joy at the opportunity to work together. “This is so epic,” Alexander says simply.
Maxine Shaw. Joan Clayton. Issa Dee. We know their TV characters’ names as if they run in our own sister circles. Indeed, for many of us—in an era when loneliness and solitude are becoming increasingly prominent aspects of our experience—these women have been some of our first “girlfriends.” They were honest about our insecurities, even as they made living single look like a damn good time. In the words of author Toni Morrison, “Black women have always been friends. I mean, if you didn’t have each other, you had nothing.”In a nineties kind of world, Living Single, created by Yvette Lee Bowser, made us glad we had our girls. The blueprint for future ensemble-comedy shows like Friends, it centered around six singles living and loving in Brooklyn. The show, which debuted more than 30 years ago—on August 22, 1993, to be exact—helped set the tone for the representation of Black women on the small screen, in TV’s golden era of Blackness. Then came our Girlfriends—with Tracee Ellis Ross playing Joan Carol Clayton, a successful Black attorney and the glue holding her girlfriends together. The Mara Brock Akil–created show was nuanced. It showed our flaws, and it showed the diversity of our sister-girl groups. It was Living Single but more grown up.
“I don’t think I realized, while I was playing Joan, that for eight years I was speaking the dialogue of a woman who was waiting to be chosen,” says Ross, “which is one of the reasons that publicly I speak so clearly, and all the time, about that not being a choice for me, and to sort of break that mold. Because I don’t want young girls—or boys, but [especially] young girls—to be taught to grow up dreaming of their wedding. I want young girls to grow up dreaming of their lives—who they want to be and what they want to give to the world.”
More than two decades later, these shows ushered in a new generation of sisterhood with Issa Rae’s Insecure. The show was realistic and relatable. It sparked debates. It explored—dare we say it—toxicity in our relationships and our friend groups. Viewers were glued to their phones each week, live-Tweeting and sharing their opinions. And now, with each of these shows on streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, we can revisit and relive some of our favorite moments with these beloved characters.
There are certainly other shows that allow us to peek behind the veil of Black sisterhood. A Different World -showcased the bonds of college friendships in the early nineties, for example, while modern-day shows like Run The World and Harlem show us how groups of friends can take on love, life and career in New York City.
Undeniably, however, there was something special about Living Single, Girlfriends and Insecure. They were the master class; a love letter, if you will. From the breakdowns to the breakthroughs in Black Hollywood, there’s an invisible thread that connects Alexander, Ross and Rae, whether they knew it before the ESSENCE shoot or not. And as Black women in the entertainment business, they share unique experiences through the perspectives of their former TV characters—women we’ve grown up with, from our trying twenties to our fabulous fifties and beyond.
“I’ve lived long enough to see grown women come up to me and say that the character of Maxine Shaw meant something to them,” says Alexander. “And they went out into leadership. They went into politics. They pursued tough careers. People like -Stacey Abrams, Ayanna Pressley. It’s amazing. So I give that back, as something that someone put into me—and for that brief period, I’m able to tap into that and put it out in the world. And thank goodness for all the people who came along and provided those opportunities to express those bonds of sisterhood.”
Issa Rae feels similarly. She says the Insecure series “changed my life.” “I played a character who was a younger version of myself, or so I thought,” she explains, “and I didn’t recognize that I still exhibited those insecure traits, the lack of confidence in some areas. Ironically, doing this show made me so confident. Playing this character who was uncertain of herself, similar to you, is just like—I am very much not that anymore, and I am very sure of myself and what I’m doing. I’m sure of myself behind the scenes. It taught me a lot of lessons that I put into place in my real life. So I thank her for shining light on my strength.”Ross appears to be deep in thought as Alexander and Rae share their truths. “I’m taking in all the beautiful stuff,” she states. Indeed, Black sisterhood is beautiful. Even more so is the growth and appreciation of each other, both on and off the screen, that the three actresses shared long before their latest film project.
Maxine, Joan and Issa have grown into Coraline, Lisa and Sintara (though, to be clear, we’ll never stop referring to them by their now-iconic small-screen names). American Fiction is the actress’s new playground, and their performances reflect how each of their respective TV shows have brought them to this moment and helped them forge an unbreakable bond.With Alexander, Ross and Rae as leading ladies, this film is more than just another tale of the threads that connect Black women’s sisterhood. In the Black American tradition of truth telling, it’s a masterpiece.
#RHOA: Congrats! Sanya Richards-Ross Gives Birth To Second Son
“He’s here!” Sanya announced via Instagram Stories. “And he’s healthy, super chill and an absolute cutie. God is so good.”
The 38-year-old Olympic bronze medalist is already mother to six-year-old Aaron II. RHOA fans watched through tears earlier this year when Sanya fell pregnant, and then suffered a miscarriage, sharing the story on the show. Thankfully, her rainbow baby has now arrived safely.
From trauma to triumph
After a “traumatic” miscarriage that resulted in Sanya having to receive a blood transfusion, the Real Housewives star finally has cause to celebrate.
She and Aaron conceived again one month after the tragic loss. Sanya later revealed her due date as Christmas Day (December 25, 2023). It looks like Aaron II’s brother didn’t want to wait around!
“I didn’t think it’d happen so quick again,” she told PEOPLE at the time of sharing her pregnancy news. “But my husband, he prides himself. He’s like, ‘I never miss. Whenever you’re ready, I’m ready.’ I just couldn’t be happier.”
Sanya and Aaron continued to document their journey, including one incredibly cute gender reveal. Now, attention will turn towards the little guy’s name! Will he be Aaron III? Or are Sanya and OG Aaron going to go down a different route?
Also, we have to wonder if the new baby could help secure Sanya another season of RHOA. Perhaps she could return in a “friend of” role at the very least? It’s going to be interesting to see which direction Bravo decides to go down when it comes to that series.
#MusicNews: Ledisi Looks Ahead To Spring 2024 European Tour
stamps in the new year. After recently announcing The Good Life Tour concurrently with the release of her straight-talk single “Sell Me No Dreams,” she keeps the good news coming by revealing a slate of European tour dates.
Days after The Good Life Tour ends, Leddy will head across the pond for The European Tour. Her visit to Europe will be a mixed bag of festival dates, her Nina Simone tribute show and her usual concerts. She’ll begin this run in Finland at the April Jazz Festival on April 25th-26th. After that, she is off to Lithuania, Estonia, Norway, Netherlands, France and the UK. The 10-date tour winds down in London where she’ll be taking her final bow on May 5th.
Fans in Europe and the UK – or anyone who’d like to take a transatlantic trip to see Ledisi perform – can view all of the concert dates and locations below. After you’re done browsing, visit her website to purchase tickets to select shows currently available or sign up to be notified when the remaining show tickets go on sale.
Ledisi The European Tour 2024 dates:
April 25 – Helsinki, Finland – April Jazz Festival: House Of Culture
April 26 – Lahti, Finland – April Jazz Festival: Sibelius Hall
April 27 – Launas, Lithuania – Kaunas Drama Theater
April 28 – Tallinn, Estonia – Jaik
April 30 – Oslo, Norway – Cosmopolite Scene
May 1 – Rotterdam, Netherlands – Lantarenvenster
May 2 – Paris, France – New Morning
May 3 – Birmingham, United Kingdom – O2 Institute
May 4 – Manchester, United Kingdom – Manchester Academy 2
May 5 – London, United Kingdom – Electric Brixton
#HipHopNews: Dame Dash: ‘There Would Be No Rapping Jay-Z If It Wasn’t For Me’
Dame Dash has claimed that his fighting for JAY-Z in label offices and teaching him the business side of the music industry is the reason Hov went on to have a Hall-of-Fame rap career.
The music mogul joined The Gauds Show on Tuesday (December 19) where he opened up about his former Roc-A-Fella partner, specifically how much work he had to do to open the lane for the Brooklyn rapper’s music career because he believes Hov was more interested in hustling rather than breaking as a rapper
“I shopped JAY-Z to every single label,” he told the show’s hosts. “Kevin Liles, all of them. Every single one of them and they all said no. And he becomes one of the greatest rappers alive. Those are the same people that said he was too old, rapped too fast, and dressed corny.
“I learned to listen to nobody. If I listened to them, there would be no JAY-Z. He wasn’t gon’ do it. There would be no rapping JAY-Z if it wasn’t for me 100,000 percent. He wasn’t gonna do what I did to make sure he got heard. He was hustling.”
Dame continued to explain how his business expertise cleared the way for JAY-Z to take off into stardom.
“He wasn’t gonna put a record out by himself and create a record company,” he added. “He could rap but he didn’t know business. I taught him business. How to put a record out yourself. How to leverage your celebrity and put it on a product yourself.”
Dame Dash, Kareem “Biggs” Burke and JAY-Z launched Roc-A-Fella Records in 1994 but the label infamously split in 2004 when The Island Def Jam Music Group purchased ownership in the Roc and Dame launched the Dame Dash Music Group.
While Dame took credit for helping put Hov on, the rap legend didn’t agree with those sentiments and addressed the idea on Kingdom Come‘s “Lost One.”
“I heard muthafuckas sayin’ they made Hov/ Made Hov say, ‘Okay, so? Make another Hov!’/ N-ggas wasn’t playin’ they day role/ So we parted ways like Ben and J-Lo/ I shoulda been did it but I been in a daze though/ I put friends over business end of the day though,” he raps on the 2006 track.
Lil Nas X Partners With Coach For New Capsule Collection
The line also featured a range of ready-to-wear items and accessories, all characterized by their electric color scheme and eye-catching designs. Coach’s creative director, Stuart Vevers, worked closely with the “Old Town Road” artist to incorporate elements of his identity into them.
Among those are graphics from Nas X’s concert merchandise and personal symbols such as his pet cats and Aries zodiac sign, which adorned an American varsity jacket.
Regarding the collaboration, Vevers commented, “Our Winter collection is inspired by my belief that fashion is about exploring and celebrating all of who you are. To create the collection, we twisted the Coach archives and were also inspired by Lil Nas X’s connection to music and nightlife.”
“I think this collection is encouraging people to wear whatever they want and what feels right to them. Wear these bright a** colors, and don’t be afraid to shine,” Nas X told V Magazine. “It’s fun to take risks and maybe choose certain colors or pieces that you normally wouldn’t put together. If you didn’t question the look, you aren’t taking enough risks.”
Last month, the musician teased his “Christian era” while sharing a snippet of unreleased music. “Father, stretch my hands/ The lonely road seems to last the longest,” he crooned. “Help me with my plans/ Everything seems to go nowhere.”
Afterward, users began criticizing Nas X for “mocking” the religion. “Making Christian music does not mean I can’t suck d**k no more,” he responded. “The two are not mutually exclusive. I am allowed to get on my knees for multiple reasons.”
Tiffany Haddish Enters Not Guilty Plea Following DUI Charges
The 44-year-old actress and comedian was arrested on November 24 in Beverly Hills, Calif. after she was reportedly found asleep at the wheel of her car. It marked her second DUI in just under two years, and she faces two misdemeanor charges as a result.
On Wednesday (December 20), Tiffany‘s lawyer entered the plea for her in court, and a date was set for a pretrial hearing.
According to Deadline, the hearing will take place on February 14.
Tiffany stands to be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a .08% blood alcohol content.
In the aftermath of her arrest, Tiffany issued a statement promising that “this will never happen again.” She previously poked fun at her first arrest for similar charges.
We’ll update you as we learn more about the case.
Britney Spears Gets Flirty With New Manager Benjamin Mallin In Instagram Video
Britney Spears has welcomed a new man in her life after Sam Asghari revealed the silver lining of their split. The pop star has posted a flirty video with her new manager Benjamin Mallin, who works for Cade Hudson's company Hudson MG.
On Wednesday, December 20, the 42-year-old updated her Instagram page with a post featuring a picture of a tree which leaves have turned yellow and orange as well as a photo of a rainbow. The last slide featured footage of her hanging out with Benjamin in the pool.
Bikini stripped down to her turquoise bikini and wore a wide-brim black hat while smoking. She made a silly face and shielded her eyes with sunglasses. As for Benjamin, he went shirtless while wearing black swim trunks, dark shades and a brown baseball cap which he put on backwards.
Benjamin smiled before he turned the camera to show Britney's puppy Snow on an inflatable. A glass of red wine was placed next to the dog. "Paradise playing with my baby," so the "Oops!... I Did It Again" hitmaker captioned the snaps and video.
The post comes after her estranged husband Sam appeared to throw subtle shade at their short-lived marriage in new PETA ads. The model, who advocates adoption instead of buying dogs, posed for a shirtless snap in a photoshoot for the organization.
"You can't buy love, but you can adopt it," read the tagline on the ad. Another ad featured a tagline that read, "Some loves last."
Sam, who recently showed off his body transformation, said he's able to drop 40 pounds after focusing on himself following his split from Britney. "So, in the past five months I've had a little transformation which was losing about a good 35 to 40 pounds," he told Page Six.
The 29-year-old explained, "Sometimes when you are in a situation that you don't get to necessarily focus on yourself, it could be challenging for you to notice [your physique changes] but everybody else does."
The former personal trainer said he went through a "spiritual" and "energy" shift recently. He added, "I have more time for myself to focus on myself. Being by yourself and alone is a really good opportunity to focus on yourself."
Keke Palmer Agrees With Taraji P. Henson on Not Being Paid Her Worth, Says 'No One Can Really Have One Job Anymore'
Henson's now-viral comments on thoughts of retiring from acting struck a nerve with Palmer, who shared actress-comedian Robin Thede's X thread about financial deductions that Black actresses face. On Instagram, Palmer gave a lengthy explanation about why she keeps a steady stream of income in entertainment fields besides acting. Henson, who plays Shug Avery in the upcoming musical drama The Color Purple, also has a hair and skincare line, TPH.
"The entertainment industry is just like any other industry. We run businesses to keep our brands afloat, us being the brand/business," Palmer began on her Instagram post. "And it’s that team of company members that decrease any assumed large lump sum. This includes monthly expenses just like everyone else. In the words of biggie “more money more problems.”
She continued, "To make money you must spend money so what seems like a lot is taken by a lot. There is still privilege in this depending what vantage point you are seeing from, but in our industry amongst one another this is neutralized."
"This is why no one can really have one job anymore! People working outside of the entertainment industry may do Uber eats, [Postmates], accountant part time, substitute teacher every other week etc."
The Nope actress also explained why she's a quadruple threat who stays true to the Keke 'Keep a Job' Palmer nickname given to her by fans. "For an entertainment career you may be like me, an actor, influencer, host, singer, speaker etc. I keep a job because I HAVE to haha. We ALL work multiple jobs and we may like some but also because we HAVE to," she wrote.
Stressing the importance of entrepreneurship, Palmer added, "Having one job for anyone is not really an option no matter what industry unless you are like the top top top TOP earner and I mean that’s like Bill Gates and them I suppose. Idk because I can’t relate haha!"
The mother-of-one asserted that she's "not complaining or comparing," but acknowledged that "we all have similar struggles in our industries and it’s because corporations run everything and they aren’t people."
Palmer's thoughts follow Henson's interview on SiriusXM with The Color Purple director Blitz Bazawule and actress Danielle Brooks. On the radio show, Henson told Gayle King about her exhaustion with being undervalued despite being an acting veteran.
"I'm just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do, getting paid a fraction of the cost," a tearful Henson said. “I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired."
Byron Allen Offers Paramount $3.5 Billion in Renewed Bid for BET
Byron Allen is taking another swing at BET Media Group. On Wednesday, the mogul offered $3.5 billion to Paramount Global in a renewed attempt to acquire the Black culture-oriented cable company, TheWrap has confirmed.
Paramount Global began exploring the sale of BET in March, part of an effort to generate cash in support of, among other things, Paramount+. But the company backed away from that plan in August, when it informed bidders the sale wouldn’t generate a significant enough amount of money.
It’s not known precisely why Allen chose this moment to try again, but in a remarkable coincidence — or, perhaps not — his new offer comes on the same day that Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav met with his counterpart at Paramount Global to discuss a potential merger between the two entertainment giants.
Such a deal would mark an escalation in the wave of consolidating that has beset Hollywood over the last decade. Most notably, Disney bought out 21st Century’s assets in 2021, while Amazon recently purchased MGM — and naturally Warner Bros. Discovery was formed in 2022 when Discovery merged with WarnerMedia.
But that merger would also create a very different financial landscape for Paramount — and perhaps different incentives regarding the sale or retention of BET.
Earlier this year, aside from Allen, Tyler Perry tried to buy BET, as did Shaquille O’Neal in partnership with Group Black, rapper and producer 50 Cent, and “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris. We’ll be keeping an eye out for potential new bids from any or all of them.
BET was launched in 1980 by founder Robert Johnson as a channel specifically aimed at African American audiences. Paramount acquired BET in 2000 for $2.3 billion.
Kendrick Lamar attends annual Christmas toy drive in Compton
On Saturday (Dec. 16), the “Rich Spirit” artist joined the Christmas In Compton Toy Giveaway, dressed casually in a white tee, jeans, and Adidas Sambas. His presence at the Enterprise Park advent was warmly received, as revealed by pictures shared online.
The event was also attended by other music industry figures, including Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine, Dairold Potts of 319 Music Group, and Jay Worthy. The last-mentioned expressed his gratitude on Instagram, acknowledging Lamar and pgLang for their participation and celebrating the toy drive’s success.
He wrote, “Who else hood you know got Jimmy Iovine pulling up to they park? Westside [Compton is] the most influential hood in America. [Shoutout] to my brothers and everybody else involved. This [is] deeper than rap, this [is] family.”
Lamar previously spoke about his connection to the city during an interview with The New York Times in 2022. “It’s nature versus nurture. I was nurtured in an environment where there’s, like, a lot of gang mentality,” he explained. “That certain language, certain lingo. How we walk. How we talk.”
The rapper continued, “I was just fortunate enough to have a group of guys around me that gave me that courage to feed myself with the arts, whether it was the street cats in my neighborhood, whether it was Dave [Free] who pushed me to be an artist, whether it was Top [Dawg] from the projects, the Nickerson Gardens. I always was allowed to be myself.”
Lamar’s last album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, came out in March 2022. It featured Blxst, Amanda Reifer, Summer Walker, Ghostface Killah, Tanna Leone, and more. The LP was lauded for tracks like “Die Hard,” “N95,” and “United In Grief,” to name a few.
Since then, Lamar collaborated with Beyoncé for a remix of “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM,” which came out in May. He partnered with Baby Keem for “The Hillbillies” that same month.
Madonna Welcomes Santa Claus to the Stage During 'Celebration Tour' Stop in DC
Madonna got in some quality time with Santa Claus before the busiest night of his year.
On Tuesday (December 19), the Queen of Pop welcomed the Christmas icon onstage with her during her Celebration Tour performance at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
Wearing his iconic red suit, Santa sat alongside Madonna during the Ballroom segment of the five-act show. He appeared to be having an excellent time with the legendary musician.
Fans will likely recall that Santa isn’t the first celeb to join Madonna during this particular segment. Other guests have included the likes of Julia Garner (who was supposed to play the musician in a scrapped biopic). Her daughter Lourdes Leon also participated in the segment!
Madonna launched the U.S. leg of her tour earlier this month.
Brad Pitt & Girlfriend Ines De Ramon Celebrate His 60th Birthday In Paris
Brad and Ines were dressed in seasonally appropriate all-black ensembles, sporting a peacoat and chic belted trench, respectively. The pair reportedly stayed at a five-star hotel where balloons spelling out the number “60” were delivered for the actor’s big day.
The jet-setting couple appeared to keep the festivities going back in the States for Ines, who celebrated her birthday the following day. She and Brad were seen enjoying dinner at LA hotspot Mother Wolf on Tuesday, where their guests reportedly left with various pieces of artwork including a framed photo of Brad and Ines making silly faces.
People previously reported that the couple had “low-key” plans for the week of Brad’s big milestone. The Hollywood A-lister and the jewelry designer have been linked since last year and haven’t commented publicly on their relationship, but sightings of the duo have increased over the course of their romance.
In November 2022, they attended a Bono concert together in what appeared to be their first public outing.
Ines separated from “Vampire Diaries” alum Paul Wesley last year, and the actor filed for divorce in February. Her and Brad’s relationship is said to be his first “proper” one since splitting from ex-wife Angelina Jolie.
“It’s great to see him in a good place. Ines makes him very happy,” an insider told People in recent weeks.
Eddie Murphy Is Back On The Beat As Axel Foley In Action-Packed ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ Teaser Trailer
After 30 years and rumors of a franchise resurgence, Eddie Murphy is BACK as Alex Foley who teams up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) to uncover a conspiracy after his daughter (Taylour Paige) is threatened.
“You’re trying to cast Axel Foley’s daughter. That’s a real challenge,” said director Mark Molloy in an interview with TUDUM. “I saw that same glint in Taylour’s eye, that infectious spark and energy that Axel has, but also someone who could go toe to toe with Axel, which is a hard thing.”
Check out the teaser trailer HERE:
“Eddie’s such an incredible artist. He can do drama, he can do comedy – he can do anything,” said legendary producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
“And he’s the same Axel Foley. He’s still on the streets. He’s still doing what he does. Obviously with age you get wiser. But he still has the twinkle in his eye.”
Directed by Mark Molloy, the long-awaited sequel also stars Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, and Kevin Bacon.
CNN Replaces Don Lemon with New Duo for New’s Year’s Eve Broadcast
At least one auld acquaintance won’t be present for CNN‘s annual coverage of the nation’s New Year’s Eve festivities.
Sara Sidner and Cari Champion will take over the Warner Bros. Discovery network’s wee-hours broadcast on New Year’s Eve, holding forth from Austin, Texas, during a slot that for years served as a showcase for raucous antics from Don Lemon. Lemon and CNN parted ways earlier this year after management tried to move him from a prominent primetime show to the network’s morning program.
Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen will return as hosts of CNN’s main coverage of the evening. The broadcast will feature performances by Enrique Iglesias, Maroon 5, Jonas Brothers, Flo Rida, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker and Rod Stewart and live interviews with Patti Labelle, Jeremy Renner, Neil Patrick Harris, Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers.
Will alcohol be served? Imbibing has been key to the event since Cohen joined CNN’s end-of-the-year antics in 2017. Last year, however, under former chief Chris Licht, the network issued an edict that drinking on camera would not be allowed. When it comes to 2023, says a network spokesperson, “Inquiring minds will need to tune in!”
Cooper has led coverage of New Year’s Eve for CNN for more than 17 years, taking the assignment initially as a way to help viewers who may be ambivalent about the holiday. New Year’s Eve is often “too difficult, too stressful to go out. There’s something mildly depressing about it. It often ends badly for a lot of people,” Cooper told Variety in 2020. But the Times Square broadcast, he believes, can help audiences celebrate without risking a bad night. “It’s two people standing out in the cold and rain and watching things happen. Funny things happen, and plenty of things happen, and that’s it. It’s a fun night out, and that’s really all you can seek for New Year’s Eve.”
In picking Sidner and Champion, CNN is giving a spotlight to an interesting duo. Sidner’s profile at CNN has been on the rise over the past year, with the one-time veteran correspondent taking up anchoring duties at CNN’s mid-morning “News Central.” Champion had been slated to do a show for the now-shuttered CNN+ with writer Jemele Hill, but the program never got a broad airing. Champion logged a multi-year stint as a “SportsCenter” anchor for ESPN, and has taken up assignments for Vice and Amazon Prime Video since her departure from the Disney sports-media giant in 2020.
As has been the norm, Cooper and Cohen will rely on CNN correspondents reporting from celebrations across the country. Richard Quest will report from the crowds in Times Square, and Stephanie Elam will report from Atlantis, Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Randi Kaye will be stationed in Key West, Florida, while Gary Tuchman and his daughter Lindsay — who have appeared for years on CNN in tandem as part of a long-standing tradition, will report from Las Cruces, New Mexico. Boris Sanchez will be stationed in Miami, Florida.
The show will also stream live on CNN Max, the news-focused component of Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max streaming hub.
Jonathan Majors’ Ex-Girlfriend Speaks Out After His Conviction, Thanks Domestic Violence Organization For Support
In an Instagram post shared on Tuesday, Grace Jabbari thanked a domestic violence organization for their support throughout the trial against Majors.
“For my birthday, if you want…a donation to @/sffny, a charity that helped me so much this year, would be the best gift you could give,” the 30-year-old wrote, highlighting Sanctuary for Families New York. “Thank you so much @/sffny, and everyone else….For everything.”
According to PEOPLE, the organization represented Jabbari in Majors’ assault trial and promised to continue their support for the dancer as she healed in the wake of the verdict.
“We are gratified to see justice served by today’s guilty verdict,” Jabbari’s attorney, Ross Kramer, said after the trial. “Ms. Jabbari testified publicly and truthfully, even though reliving these traumatic events on the witness stand was obviously painful. We are grateful to the jurors and the Judge for their attention and patience, and to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for their hard work and support.
In the meantime, Majors will be back in court on February 6 for sentencing.
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