#MAGFAB: The Gorgeous Da'Vine Joy Randolph for Variety - March 2024
Via Variety: It’s the morning after the Oscars, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who was out celebrating her big win as best supporting actress until 5:45 a.m., looks as if she’d fall asleep for the rest of the day if she closed her eyes for a moment. And yet despite her exhaustion she’s still radiant, brimming with excitement about the ways that her life has changed since she scored her role as Mary Lamb, a grieving cafeteria manager, in Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.”
As she sits at a dining room table in a modern Beverly Hills apartment soothing a hoarse voice with cough drops, Randolph declares sleepily, “I’ve got the keys to the castle now!”
It’s a change for the Philadelphia-born actress, who says, “I was taught to make a lot out of very little. It’s exciting to have access to resources and opportunities, especially for a woman of color.”
Randolph burst onto the scene with her breakout role on Broadway as psychic Oda Mae Brown in 2012’s “Ghost: The Musical,” earning a Tony Award nomination and critical raves. That role paved the way for movies such as “Dolemite Is My Name” and “The Lost City,” in which she deftly stole scenes from veterans Eddie Murphy and Sandra Bullock, as well as the Hulu comedy series “Only Murders in the Building,” which found her sharing the screen with her acting idol, Meryl Streep.
Randolph has a way of magnetizing an audience — it’s impossible to look away. That’s certainly the case with “The Holdovers,” which gave the 37-year-old actress the most challenging and rewarding role of her career. The part required her to summon deep reservoirs of pain as she portrayed a mother dealing with the loss of her only son, who was killed in the Vietnam War.
For Payne, there’s one critical scene in “The Holdovers” that fully demonstrates Randolph’s depth as an actress. When Mary, visiting her pregnant sister, ponders giving away her son’s baby clothes, Payne remembers being astonished by “the look on her face.” Randolph wanted to show her character refusing to break down even as she reflects on that early, hopeful time in her life. “She conveys a profound, mournful wistfulness,” Payne says.
But as we sit together on the day after Randolph’s sublime performance was recognized by her peers, the actress is looking ahead to the other great roles she hopes to play.
How are you feeling this morning?
I feel grateful. I feel seen. I feel loved. I feel respected. I feel like the time and work that I’ve put in matters. I feel excited for the future. Growing up as somebody who didn’t have much, imagine when you get a lot: It’s exciting. To have access and to be a woman of color is a very big deal.
You wore your grandmother’s glasses in “The Holdovers.” Why?
Every role that I do, I always leave subliminal love letters to women of color in the details. You can go back and check my résumé — every single role, there’s a connection to someone I know personally, someone in history, a fellow actress. And I love it, because those who know, know. Ultimately what I’m doing is I’m just implanting moments of connection and honesty. And so her glasses were an artifact for me so that if and when I ever got off track or got derailed or lost the connection, the thought of my grandmother and who she was and what she suffered through, those glasses would put me right back.
What was your grandmother like?
She was the matriarch of our family. She was the backbone. She came from the South and endured so much. And when I think of someone who can champion others and be victorious in spite of their own pain, she’s the first person I think of. I knew that she was going to be a guiding light for me in the telling of this story. And that’s a very unique trait: that we, as minorities, can, in the midst of grief and loss and disparity, not only show up for other people, but give and be kind and loving. That really says something about one’s character. We’ve been kicked in the butt so much and so hard that I’m moved to see how much empathy and love we can still possess.
What would your grandmother think about your Oscar win?
She’d be over the moon. No one in my family acts or sings — nothing. There’s no sense of entertainment in my family. Sometimes I feel like an oddball, because I don’t even know where this is coming from. But they’ve always been supportive. They’ve always seen greatness within me and have always nurtured that.
Can you tell me about growing up in Philadelphia?
It was the best. It was exactly what I needed. There’s something very unique about Northeast cities and communities, even in a film like “The Holdovers.” It’s a very distinct culture, behavior, attitude, mannerisms … I love that. They don’t have that anywhere else besides that Northeast pocket. And so whether Boston, New York, Philly, I’m so grateful that I was born and raised and cultivated in a city such as that. I just love the people. They celebrate life and they champion underdogs, and I take great pride in that.
There were antiwar protests taking place outside the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are held, so the show ended up starting late. I heard you were stuck in traffic, and your category was up first. What was going through your mind?
I mean, listen, that’s serious business. But it was what I needed to be like, “Life is real.” While we were in that traffic jam, we were seeing homeless people seeking shelter. It was very interesting that I was in a very privileged situation, and yet the world still turns. It was chaotic, but it was good chaos. It actually calmed me down.
To announce the winner of best supporting actress, the Academy brought out all these legendary past winners — Jamie Lee Curtis, Rita Moreno, Mary Steenburgen, Regina King and Lupita Nyong’o. What was that like?
It knocked me out. I was in the front row, in the center. You know how you can sit too close in the movie theater? Everything is even more grand. I was a mess.
You and Lupita went to Yale drama school together, and you started to cry when she was speaking about you. What were you feeling?
It just felt like a very surreal full-circle moment, because I met her as I was becoming an actor. The emotion came because at that point I had already won for myself. I didn’t care whose name they said. I had already won because I was there.
Over time, there have been over 3,300 Oscar statuettes awarded. But you’re only the 19th Black woman to win one.
In any capacity?
Yes. Ten of those came in your category. So that’s 0.005% of all the Oscars. Can you talk about that legacy of Black women in this industry, and how that relates to your grandmother or any of the women you’ve honored in your performances?
Mary is my grandmother. Mary is every woman. To be a woman of color, to be a woman with financial limitations, there’s a hustle, a drive, a diligence that’s like no other. And so I was really adamant about showing the world what it’s like to be in our skin.
And yet at the same time, I wanted it to be something universal, because I didn’t want it to be something that only Black women could understand, or minorities could understand. I wanted everyone to get it. I actually want that for all my work. I don’t want to just do Black movies.
I will always pay tribute to, honor, uplift and be a part of Black storytelling, but I need to infiltrate and get in the spaces where we’re not. I want to be in a Wes Anderson movie just ’cause. I want to be in a David O. Russell movie just ’cause. Coen brothers. I’ve never seen us there. Because that’s when I think we can really bring about educating and creating real change. If we just stay over by ourselves, nothing is going to change.
You’ve been a star of the red carpet this Oscar season. What’s your approach to fashion?
I just like to have fun. And I just want people to know, “Don’t limit yourself. Find what you’re into. Play. Don’t stay stuck with one thing.” You know why I love clothes so much? Because it’s connected to one’s personality and sense of self. You don’t have to be as obsessive about it as I am, but I think it’s a good practice of self-love too, of like, “What colors do I feel good in? And, oh, these are my favorite pair of jeans.” It’s taking a sense of pride in oneself. And I think that’s healthy and good for anybody.
You sat next to J. Lo at Fashion Week in Paris. What did you talk about?
Life, love, prosperity, success. She was starting to talk about her new project that’s just now come out. It looks really dope. I need to check it out.
When you’ve accepted other awards this season, you’ve brought note cards. You didn’t at the Oscars. Why?
For the past two weeks, people have been telling me, “No cards for the Oscars.” They want to see my face. With those other speeches, half of those notes are from different hotel notepads or a napkin.
When you gave your speech, you talked about violating the Academy’s requests by thanking your publicist, Marla Farrell. Why did you do that?
Why would you not? Why? Why? That lady has been by my side since the beginning of my career. She has shown up for me countless times beyond even what a publicist does, and I would not be here without her. She’s beyond talented, and she has a heart of gold. So, yeah, I don’t care. She deserved it.
You also thanked your acting teacher from Yale, Ron Van Lieu. What did he do?
We used to do scenes and text analysis, and we’d do, like, “A Doll’s House.” Everybody got to play Nora, but I’d be the only one in the class playing, what’s her name — Miss Schmidt or whatever? And I’m like, “Why? Who’s choosing this? Who gets to decide what stories I get to tell?” One time I got fed up, and he was like, “Well, who is it that you want to be?” And I realized I don’t want to be anyone; I just want to be myself. And he said, “Great. You know who else is themselves? Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, De Niro. There wasn’t a them before them. So you’re gonna have to have patience and resilience, because you’re essentially forging your own path. There’s no blueprint for you.” So he just understood me.
Not only did you appear in “The Holdovers” last year, but you also played Mahalia Jackson in “Rustin.” What was it like to play these roles?
It was a full year of beautiful characters. And I feel very proud to have played fully realized, textured, complicated, multidimensional characters — women who have wants, needs, desires and drives. Yeah, I’m immensely proud of what this year has become.
Can you tell me the difference between Da’Vine Joy Randolph on Saturday versus the one who won the Oscar on Sunday?
There isn’t one. There’s a trophy in my house now, but I’m not different. You can’t come from Philadelphia and be changed; they won’t let you. This will be who I am. The roles will get better, the money will improve, the lines will get better. I hope to make a legacy and leave an imprint with this career. I hope my work will matter, and it will be something that people of all shapes, sizes, colors, creeds and genders can connect to. But me, and the soul of me, won’t change.
Makeup: Sheika Daley/Dayone Studio/Lancome; Hair: Tai Simon/The Only Agency/Joico; Location: Mandarin Oriental Residences, Beverly Hills; Styling: Wayman + Micah/The Only Agency; Dress: Custom Louis Vuitton; earrings: Moussaieff; Watch: Omega; Shoes: Alexander Birman
#RHOA: Kenya Moore’s Most Memorable Moments on RHOA
“Gone with the Wind, fabulous” Kenya Moore is everything we have ever wanted in a Real Housewives of Atlanta star. The former beauty pageant contestant is able to be the bone carrier effortlessly, all while still spilling the tea on her fellow castmates. Even though she may not be everyone’s cup of iced tea, she sure is a viewer’s dream come true. Since joining the series Kenya has been a fan favorite as she shared her life with viewers.
Kenya has gone through some rough relationships (remember Matt?), gotten married, welcomed a baby girl, and divorced, all while holding onto her peach tightly. She has had some petty moments of provoking the other women. However, it is this personality trait that we, as fans, live for. I wouldn’t want Kenya any other way.
Kenya Dragged Kim
Who could forget the time NeNe Leakes tried to host a white party in an effort to make it nice in the ATL. On the guest list was Kim Zolciak, a natural-born pot stirrer and wig afficando. The two didn’t get off to a good start. The Don’t Be Tardy singer immediately told Kenya that everything about her life was terrible, including her hair, husband, and face. Kenya didn’t take the triple threat of insults lying down and she clapped back. “Worry about your life and the daughter that you pimp out for John Legend tickets.
Real Housewives of Atlanta fans will recall Kim once joked with Chrissy Teigen about getting free event tickets. Even though NeNe tried her best to have a well-behaved get-together, all hopes of that went right out the door when both Kim and Kenya readied themselves to jump off their respective couches. Needless to say, the white party was not one of Kenya’s finest moments, but it was a fine TV moment.
Kenya’s Workout Video
Kenya is not one to miss a moment to shade a fellow cast member and make a buck off it. Phaedra Parks was known for her self-proclaimed “donkey booty,” especially as she would often show it off in a bikini on the cast trip. During Season 5, Kenya extended a hand in helping Phaedra and Apollo Nida make their own exercise video. As the actress does, Kenya changed her mind abruptly when she learned she wouldn’t be compensated for her time.
It seems money and friends just don’t mix for Kenya, who decided to take her shade one step further and make a competing workout video. In perhaps one of the shadiest moments of Kenya’s Bravo career, she upped the ante by calling her video “Stallion booty.” Not surprisingly, Kenya was not the next Jane Fonda.
Kenya Takes Over Casting
One of my all-time personal favorite Kenya moments had to be when Cynthia Bailey invited her best friend to help her judge some up-and-coming models. The ATL socialite treated it as if it were a role call for America’s Next Top Model. However, Kenya took her responsibility a bit too seriously as she proceeded to become a mini tyrant while sitting behind the judge’s table.
Perhaps the best quote of the entire round table would have to be when she decided to criticize a rookie model who showed up in skin-tight shorts by calling out her “coochie crack” Best believe that model won’t be forgetting Kenya anytime soon; but hopefully, she did take her advice.
Kenya Loves a Title
God help the Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member who didn’t get Kenya’s Miss USA title perfectly correct. Porsha Williams did the unthinkable when introducing her new friend at a charity event she was hosting. Porsha, the same cast member who didn’t know the underground railroad was not a real train, introduced Kenya by saying that there were “powerful wives and powerful mothers in attendance and Kenya Moore.”
The shade is real! RHOA fans will recall that Kenya was a single lady at the time, but the most offensive part of Porsha’s speech was how she referred to Kenya as “Miss America.” Thankfully, we had Kenya correct the rookie while she was still talking.
TELL US – WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE KENYA MOORE MOMENT?
#MusicNews: Tank, Keri Hilson, Carl Thomas Presents The ‘R&B Money Tour’
As she sits at a dining room table in a modern Beverly Hills apartment soothing a hoarse voice with cough drops, Randolph declares sleepily, “I’ve got the keys to the castle now!”
It’s a change for the Philadelphia-born actress, who says, “I was taught to make a lot out of very little. It’s exciting to have access to resources and opportunities, especially for a woman of color.”
Randolph burst onto the scene with her breakout role on Broadway as psychic Oda Mae Brown in 2012’s “Ghost: The Musical,” earning a Tony Award nomination and critical raves. That role paved the way for movies such as “Dolemite Is My Name” and “The Lost City,” in which she deftly stole scenes from veterans Eddie Murphy and Sandra Bullock, as well as the Hulu comedy series “Only Murders in the Building,” which found her sharing the screen with her acting idol, Meryl Streep.
Randolph has a way of magnetizing an audience — it’s impossible to look away. That’s certainly the case with “The Holdovers,” which gave the 37-year-old actress the most challenging and rewarding role of her career. The part required her to summon deep reservoirs of pain as she portrayed a mother dealing with the loss of her only son, who was killed in the Vietnam War.
For Payne, there’s one critical scene in “The Holdovers” that fully demonstrates Randolph’s depth as an actress. When Mary, visiting her pregnant sister, ponders giving away her son’s baby clothes, Payne remembers being astonished by “the look on her face.” Randolph wanted to show her character refusing to break down even as she reflects on that early, hopeful time in her life. “She conveys a profound, mournful wistfulness,” Payne says.
But as we sit together on the day after Randolph’s sublime performance was recognized by her peers, the actress is looking ahead to the other great roles she hopes to play.
How are you feeling this morning?
I feel grateful. I feel seen. I feel loved. I feel respected. I feel like the time and work that I’ve put in matters. I feel excited for the future. Growing up as somebody who didn’t have much, imagine when you get a lot: It’s exciting. To have access and to be a woman of color is a very big deal.
You wore your grandmother’s glasses in “The Holdovers.” Why?
Every role that I do, I always leave subliminal love letters to women of color in the details. You can go back and check my résumé — every single role, there’s a connection to someone I know personally, someone in history, a fellow actress. And I love it, because those who know, know. Ultimately what I’m doing is I’m just implanting moments of connection and honesty. And so her glasses were an artifact for me so that if and when I ever got off track or got derailed or lost the connection, the thought of my grandmother and who she was and what she suffered through, those glasses would put me right back.
What was your grandmother like?
She was the matriarch of our family. She was the backbone. She came from the South and endured so much. And when I think of someone who can champion others and be victorious in spite of their own pain, she’s the first person I think of. I knew that she was going to be a guiding light for me in the telling of this story. And that’s a very unique trait: that we, as minorities, can, in the midst of grief and loss and disparity, not only show up for other people, but give and be kind and loving. That really says something about one’s character. We’ve been kicked in the butt so much and so hard that I’m moved to see how much empathy and love we can still possess.
What would your grandmother think about your Oscar win?
She’d be over the moon. No one in my family acts or sings — nothing. There’s no sense of entertainment in my family. Sometimes I feel like an oddball, because I don’t even know where this is coming from. But they’ve always been supportive. They’ve always seen greatness within me and have always nurtured that.
Can you tell me about growing up in Philadelphia?
It was the best. It was exactly what I needed. There’s something very unique about Northeast cities and communities, even in a film like “The Holdovers.” It’s a very distinct culture, behavior, attitude, mannerisms … I love that. They don’t have that anywhere else besides that Northeast pocket. And so whether Boston, New York, Philly, I’m so grateful that I was born and raised and cultivated in a city such as that. I just love the people. They celebrate life and they champion underdogs, and I take great pride in that.
There were antiwar protests taking place outside the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are held, so the show ended up starting late. I heard you were stuck in traffic, and your category was up first. What was going through your mind?
I mean, listen, that’s serious business. But it was what I needed to be like, “Life is real.” While we were in that traffic jam, we were seeing homeless people seeking shelter. It was very interesting that I was in a very privileged situation, and yet the world still turns. It was chaotic, but it was good chaos. It actually calmed me down.
To announce the winner of best supporting actress, the Academy brought out all these legendary past winners — Jamie Lee Curtis, Rita Moreno, Mary Steenburgen, Regina King and Lupita Nyong’o. What was that like?
It knocked me out. I was in the front row, in the center. You know how you can sit too close in the movie theater? Everything is even more grand. I was a mess.
You and Lupita went to Yale drama school together, and you started to cry when she was speaking about you. What were you feeling?
It just felt like a very surreal full-circle moment, because I met her as I was becoming an actor. The emotion came because at that point I had already won for myself. I didn’t care whose name they said. I had already won because I was there.
Over time, there have been over 3,300 Oscar statuettes awarded. But you’re only the 19th Black woman to win one.
In any capacity?
Yes. Ten of those came in your category. So that’s 0.005% of all the Oscars. Can you talk about that legacy of Black women in this industry, and how that relates to your grandmother or any of the women you’ve honored in your performances?
Mary is my grandmother. Mary is every woman. To be a woman of color, to be a woman with financial limitations, there’s a hustle, a drive, a diligence that’s like no other. And so I was really adamant about showing the world what it’s like to be in our skin.
And yet at the same time, I wanted it to be something universal, because I didn’t want it to be something that only Black women could understand, or minorities could understand. I wanted everyone to get it. I actually want that for all my work. I don’t want to just do Black movies.
I will always pay tribute to, honor, uplift and be a part of Black storytelling, but I need to infiltrate and get in the spaces where we’re not. I want to be in a Wes Anderson movie just ’cause. I want to be in a David O. Russell movie just ’cause. Coen brothers. I’ve never seen us there. Because that’s when I think we can really bring about educating and creating real change. If we just stay over by ourselves, nothing is going to change.
You’ve been a star of the red carpet this Oscar season. What’s your approach to fashion?
I just like to have fun. And I just want people to know, “Don’t limit yourself. Find what you’re into. Play. Don’t stay stuck with one thing.” You know why I love clothes so much? Because it’s connected to one’s personality and sense of self. You don’t have to be as obsessive about it as I am, but I think it’s a good practice of self-love too, of like, “What colors do I feel good in? And, oh, these are my favorite pair of jeans.” It’s taking a sense of pride in oneself. And I think that’s healthy and good for anybody.
You sat next to J. Lo at Fashion Week in Paris. What did you talk about?
Life, love, prosperity, success. She was starting to talk about her new project that’s just now come out. It looks really dope. I need to check it out.
When you’ve accepted other awards this season, you’ve brought note cards. You didn’t at the Oscars. Why?
For the past two weeks, people have been telling me, “No cards for the Oscars.” They want to see my face. With those other speeches, half of those notes are from different hotel notepads or a napkin.
When you gave your speech, you talked about violating the Academy’s requests by thanking your publicist, Marla Farrell. Why did you do that?
Why would you not? Why? Why? That lady has been by my side since the beginning of my career. She has shown up for me countless times beyond even what a publicist does, and I would not be here without her. She’s beyond talented, and she has a heart of gold. So, yeah, I don’t care. She deserved it.
You also thanked your acting teacher from Yale, Ron Van Lieu. What did he do?
We used to do scenes and text analysis, and we’d do, like, “A Doll’s House.” Everybody got to play Nora, but I’d be the only one in the class playing, what’s her name — Miss Schmidt or whatever? And I’m like, “Why? Who’s choosing this? Who gets to decide what stories I get to tell?” One time I got fed up, and he was like, “Well, who is it that you want to be?” And I realized I don’t want to be anyone; I just want to be myself. And he said, “Great. You know who else is themselves? Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, De Niro. There wasn’t a them before them. So you’re gonna have to have patience and resilience, because you’re essentially forging your own path. There’s no blueprint for you.” So he just understood me.
Not only did you appear in “The Holdovers” last year, but you also played Mahalia Jackson in “Rustin.” What was it like to play these roles?
It was a full year of beautiful characters. And I feel very proud to have played fully realized, textured, complicated, multidimensional characters — women who have wants, needs, desires and drives. Yeah, I’m immensely proud of what this year has become.
Can you tell me the difference between Da’Vine Joy Randolph on Saturday versus the one who won the Oscar on Sunday?
There isn’t one. There’s a trophy in my house now, but I’m not different. You can’t come from Philadelphia and be changed; they won’t let you. This will be who I am. The roles will get better, the money will improve, the lines will get better. I hope to make a legacy and leave an imprint with this career. I hope my work will matter, and it will be something that people of all shapes, sizes, colors, creeds and genders can connect to. But me, and the soul of me, won’t change.
Makeup: Sheika Daley/Dayone Studio/Lancome; Hair: Tai Simon/The Only Agency/Joico; Location: Mandarin Oriental Residences, Beverly Hills; Styling: Wayman + Micah/The Only Agency; Dress: Custom Louis Vuitton; earrings: Moussaieff; Watch: Omega; Shoes: Alexander Birman
#RHOA: Kenya Moore’s Most Memorable Moments on RHOA
“Gone with the Wind, fabulous” Kenya Moore is everything we have ever wanted in a Real Housewives of Atlanta star. The former beauty pageant contestant is able to be the bone carrier effortlessly, all while still spilling the tea on her fellow castmates. Even though she may not be everyone’s cup of iced tea, she sure is a viewer’s dream come true. Since joining the series Kenya has been a fan favorite as she shared her life with viewers.
Kenya has gone through some rough relationships (remember Matt?), gotten married, welcomed a baby girl, and divorced, all while holding onto her peach tightly. She has had some petty moments of provoking the other women. However, it is this personality trait that we, as fans, live for. I wouldn’t want Kenya any other way.
Kenya Dragged Kim
Who could forget the time NeNe Leakes tried to host a white party in an effort to make it nice in the ATL. On the guest list was Kim Zolciak, a natural-born pot stirrer and wig afficando. The two didn’t get off to a good start. The Don’t Be Tardy singer immediately told Kenya that everything about her life was terrible, including her hair, husband, and face. Kenya didn’t take the triple threat of insults lying down and she clapped back. “Worry about your life and the daughter that you pimp out for John Legend tickets.
Real Housewives of Atlanta fans will recall Kim once joked with Chrissy Teigen about getting free event tickets. Even though NeNe tried her best to have a well-behaved get-together, all hopes of that went right out the door when both Kim and Kenya readied themselves to jump off their respective couches. Needless to say, the white party was not one of Kenya’s finest moments, but it was a fine TV moment.
Kenya’s Workout Video
Kenya is not one to miss a moment to shade a fellow cast member and make a buck off it. Phaedra Parks was known for her self-proclaimed “donkey booty,” especially as she would often show it off in a bikini on the cast trip. During Season 5, Kenya extended a hand in helping Phaedra and Apollo Nida make their own exercise video. As the actress does, Kenya changed her mind abruptly when she learned she wouldn’t be compensated for her time.
It seems money and friends just don’t mix for Kenya, who decided to take her shade one step further and make a competing workout video. In perhaps one of the shadiest moments of Kenya’s Bravo career, she upped the ante by calling her video “Stallion booty.” Not surprisingly, Kenya was not the next Jane Fonda.
Kenya Takes Over Casting
One of my all-time personal favorite Kenya moments had to be when Cynthia Bailey invited her best friend to help her judge some up-and-coming models. The ATL socialite treated it as if it were a role call for America’s Next Top Model. However, Kenya took her responsibility a bit too seriously as she proceeded to become a mini tyrant while sitting behind the judge’s table.
Perhaps the best quote of the entire round table would have to be when she decided to criticize a rookie model who showed up in skin-tight shorts by calling out her “coochie crack” Best believe that model won’t be forgetting Kenya anytime soon; but hopefully, she did take her advice.
Kenya Loves a Title
God help the Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member who didn’t get Kenya’s Miss USA title perfectly correct. Porsha Williams did the unthinkable when introducing her new friend at a charity event she was hosting. Porsha, the same cast member who didn’t know the underground railroad was not a real train, introduced Kenya by saying that there were “powerful wives and powerful mothers in attendance and Kenya Moore.”
The shade is real! RHOA fans will recall that Kenya was a single lady at the time, but the most offensive part of Porsha’s speech was how she referred to Kenya as “Miss America.” Thankfully, we had Kenya correct the rookie while she was still talking.
TELL US – WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE KENYA MOORE MOMENT?
#MusicNews: Tank, Keri Hilson, Carl Thomas Presents The ‘R&B Money Tour’
Assembling a line-up filled with sultry, smooth R&B music, Tank will bring artists like Keri Hilson and Carl Thomas on the road.
Fans can expect an evening of “classic bangers” delivered by three of R&B’s most distinct and dynamic voices, according to Live Nation Urban.
Tickets are available via presale now, but the general on-sale begins at 10 a.m. Friday, March 15,
#HipHopNews: Megan Thee Stallion Announces The American And European Stops For Her "Hot Girl Summer Tour"
Megan Thee Stallion announced the upcoming stops for her “Hot Girl Summer Tour” The trek kicks off in mid-May and will see the Houston rapper traveling across the United States and Europe.
“HOTTIES, GET READY TO COME HAVE SOME FUN WITH ME AT THEE ‘HOT GIRL SUMMER TOUR.’ Get your outfits ready now,” she captioned the post, which included a swimwear magazine-inspired flyer. “We [are] getting started this MAY. I told you what cities today to get y’all prepared! Check back in on [March 20] for [the] official dates. I’m so excited.”
The voyage is slated to begin in Minneapolis, Minnesota before hitting major cities like Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Memphis, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, to mention a few. The European leg contains shows in Manchester, Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, and London.
Megan initially revealed that she was hitting the road later this year during a January interview with “Good Morning America.” She shared, “I feel like I’ve never been able to be outside doing my own thing during the summer since, like, 2019. So, this is going to be the first time that I drop an album on time for the summer. I do want to give the Hotties the Megan Thee Stallion experience.”
The “Captain Hook” hitmaker’s next project is also expected to debut in the coming months to coincide with the tour. In February, Megan inked a distribution deal with Warner Music Group where she’ll be able to maintain her masters and publishing. As a result, she’ll be able to release songs via her Hot Girl Productions with backing from the record label.
Fulton County DA Fani Willis Case Against Trump Can Continue If She Or Special Prosecutor Wade Remove Themselves, Judge Rules
ATLANTA — A Georgia judge ruled Friday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should not be disqualified from prosecuting the racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and several co-defendants — with one major condition
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee found the "appearance of impropriety" brought about by Willis' romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade should result in either Willis and her office leaving the case — or just Wade, whom she'd appointed to head the case.
The choice is likely to be an easy one: If Willis were to remove herself, the case would come to a halt, but having Wade leave will ensure the case continues without further delay.
Trump attorney Steve Sadow said in a statement that, “While respecting the Court’s decision, we believe that the Court did not afford appropriate significance to the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade.”
“We will use all legal options available as we continue to fight to end this case, which should never have been brought in the first place,” he added.
The judge found there was no "actual conflict" brought about by the relationship, a finding that would have required Willis to be disqualified. "Without sufficient evidence that the District Attorney acquired a personal stake in the prosecution, or that her financial arrangements had any impact on the case, the Defendants’ claims of an actual conflict must be denied," the judge wrote.
“This finding is by no means an indication that the Court condones this tremendous lapse in judgment or the unprofessional manner of the District Attorney’s testimony during the evidentiary hearing. Rather, it is the undersigned’s opinion that Georgia law does not permit the finding of an actual conflict for simply making bad choices — even repeatedly — and it is the trial court’s duty to confine itself to the relevant issues and applicable law properly brought before it,” he added.
The judge did, however, also find “the prosecution is encumbered by an appearance of impropriety.”
“As the case moves forward, reasonable members of the public could easily be left to wonder whether the financial exchanges have continued resulting in some form of benefit to the District Attorney, or even whether the romantic relationship has resumed,” he wrote. “As long as Wade remains on the case, this unnecessary perception will persist.”
McAfee also suggested he was skeptical about Willis and Wade's testimony that they did not start dating until after he was appointed to the case. He said "reasonable questions about whether the District Attorney and her hand-selected lead SADA (Special Assistant District Attorney) testified untruthfully about the timing of their relationship further underpin the finding of an appearance of impropriety and the need to make proportional efforts to cure it."
The decision is a partial victory for Willis and leaves open the possibility the case could be tried before the 2024 presidential election. Had Willis been disqualified outright, the case would have had to go to a different prosecutor, who would be tasked with catching up on a case that Willis spent over two years building.
The ruling by McAfee comes after one of Trump’s co-defendants in the election interference case, former Trump White House and campaign staffer Michael Roman, filed a motion for Willis to be disqualified and the criminal case to be dismissed because of her allegedly “improper” personal relationship with Wade.
Roman alleged Willis skirted the rules to appoint Wade, and that she benefited financially from his appointment, which has earned his office over $600,000 to date. He also claimed they were romantically before Wade's appointment.
Willis and Wade later acknowledged they’d been in a relationship, but maintained it began after he was appointed special prosecutor in November 2021.
The judge signed off on an evidentiary hearing on Roman’s claims last month and warned, “Disqualification can occur if evidence is produced demonstrating an actual conflict or the appearance of one.”
In an extraordinary hearing that stretched over three days during a two-week period, Willis and Wade both took the stand and testified that they’d dated for a little over a year after he was appointed, and that she did not profit from his work. They both said while Wade would sometimes charge plane tickets for Willis to his credit card, she’d repay him with cash or by picking up other bills.
ATLANTA — A Georgia judge ruled Friday that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should not be disqualified from prosecuting the racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and several co-defendants — with one major condition
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee found the "appearance of impropriety" brought about by Willis' romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade should result in either Willis and her office leaving the case — or just Wade, whom she'd appointed to head the case.
The choice is likely to be an easy one: If Willis were to remove herself, the case would come to a halt, but having Wade leave will ensure the case continues without further delay.
Trump attorney Steve Sadow said in a statement that, “While respecting the Court’s decision, we believe that the Court did not afford appropriate significance to the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade.”
“We will use all legal options available as we continue to fight to end this case, which should never have been brought in the first place,” he added.
The judge found there was no "actual conflict" brought about by the relationship, a finding that would have required Willis to be disqualified. "Without sufficient evidence that the District Attorney acquired a personal stake in the prosecution, or that her financial arrangements had any impact on the case, the Defendants’ claims of an actual conflict must be denied," the judge wrote.
“This finding is by no means an indication that the Court condones this tremendous lapse in judgment or the unprofessional manner of the District Attorney’s testimony during the evidentiary hearing. Rather, it is the undersigned’s opinion that Georgia law does not permit the finding of an actual conflict for simply making bad choices — even repeatedly — and it is the trial court’s duty to confine itself to the relevant issues and applicable law properly brought before it,” he added.
The judge did, however, also find “the prosecution is encumbered by an appearance of impropriety.”
“As the case moves forward, reasonable members of the public could easily be left to wonder whether the financial exchanges have continued resulting in some form of benefit to the District Attorney, or even whether the romantic relationship has resumed,” he wrote. “As long as Wade remains on the case, this unnecessary perception will persist.”
McAfee also suggested he was skeptical about Willis and Wade's testimony that they did not start dating until after he was appointed to the case. He said "reasonable questions about whether the District Attorney and her hand-selected lead SADA (Special Assistant District Attorney) testified untruthfully about the timing of their relationship further underpin the finding of an appearance of impropriety and the need to make proportional efforts to cure it."
The decision is a partial victory for Willis and leaves open the possibility the case could be tried before the 2024 presidential election. Had Willis been disqualified outright, the case would have had to go to a different prosecutor, who would be tasked with catching up on a case that Willis spent over two years building.
The ruling by McAfee comes after one of Trump’s co-defendants in the election interference case, former Trump White House and campaign staffer Michael Roman, filed a motion for Willis to be disqualified and the criminal case to be dismissed because of her allegedly “improper” personal relationship with Wade.
Roman alleged Willis skirted the rules to appoint Wade, and that she benefited financially from his appointment, which has earned his office over $600,000 to date. He also claimed they were romantically before Wade's appointment.
Willis and Wade later acknowledged they’d been in a relationship, but maintained it began after he was appointed special prosecutor in November 2021.
The judge signed off on an evidentiary hearing on Roman’s claims last month and warned, “Disqualification can occur if evidence is produced demonstrating an actual conflict or the appearance of one.”
In an extraordinary hearing that stretched over three days during a two-week period, Willis and Wade both took the stand and testified that they’d dated for a little over a year after he was appointed, and that she did not profit from his work. They both said while Wade would sometimes charge plane tickets for Willis to his credit card, she’d repay him with cash or by picking up other bills.
In his ruling, McAfee questioned Willis' judgment.
"Even if the romantic relationship began after SADA Wade’s initial contract in November 2021, the District Attorney chose to continue supervising and paying Wade while maintaining such a relationship. She further allowed the regular and loose exchange of money between them without any exact or verifiable measure of reconciliation. This lack of a confirmed financial split creates the possibility and appearance that the District Attorney benefited — albeit non-materially — from a contract whose award lay solely within her purview and policing," he wrote.
He also questioned some of Wade's testimony about why he had claimed he hadn't been in a romantic relationship with anyone else in a court filing in his ongoing divorce case. "Wade’s patently unpersuasive explanation for the inaccurate interrogatories he submitted in his pending divorce indicates a willingness on his part to wrongly conceal his relationship with the District Attorney," McAfee wrote.
Lawyers for Roman had brought in two witnesses to back their claims about the timing of Willis and Wade's relationship, including a former friend of Willis’ named Robin Yeartie and Wade's former law partner and divorce lawyer, Terrence Bradley.
The judge found while Yeartie's testimony "raised doubts about the State’s assertions, it ultimately lacked context and detail." As for Bradley, who Roman lawyer Ashleigh Merchant has said was the source of their misconduct claims, the judge said he was "unable to place any stock" in his testimony.
"His inconsistencies, demeanor, and generally non-responsive answers left far too brittle a foundation upon which to build any conclusions," the judge wrote.
Bradley had told Merchant in a text message that Wade and Willis' relationship had "absolutely" started before Wade's appointment, but testified on the witness stand he'd just been speculating.
The judge said "neither side was able to conclusively establish by a preponderance of the evidence when the relationship evolved into a romantic one," but "an odor of mendacity remains."
He also criticized a speech Willis delivered at Big Bethel AME Church in mid-January, after Roman had filed his disqualification motion. In the speech, she criticized an unnamed "they" who were "attacking" the lone Black special prosecutor she'd appointed to the case — Wade, who she did not name either.
Willis "ascribed the effort as motivated by 'playing the race card.' She went on to frequently refer to SADA Wade as the 'black man' while her other unchallenged SADAs were labeled 'one white woman' and 'one white man.' The effect of this speech was to cast racial aspersions at an indicted Defendant’s decision to file this pretrial motion," McAfee wrote.
Attorneys for Roman and Trump had argued the comments were made to taint the potential jury pool for the case, and were also grounds for disqualification.
McAfee said he "cannot find that this speech crossed the line to the point where the Defendants have been denied the opportunity for a fundamentally fair trial, or that it requires the District Attorney’s disqualification. But it was still legally improper. Providing this type of public comment creates dangerous waters for the District Attorney to wade further into."
Both Trump and Roman have pleaded not guilty in the case, which alleges they conspired with others to overturn the election results in the state
Regina King Opens Up About Son’s Death: “He Didn’t Want to Be Here”
Regina King is opening up about the death of her son Ian Alexander Jr. by suicide more than two years ago.
Speaking with Good Morning America‘s Robin Roberts in an interview that aired on Thursday, King opened up about both Alexander Jr.’s “choice” to die and the “journey” she’s experienced as she grieves her only child.
“When it comes to depression, people expect it to look a certain way and they expect it to look heavy,” King said of Alexander Jr.’s struggles in her first extensive comments since he died. “To have to experience this and not be able to have the time to just sit with Ian’s choice, which I respect and understand, that he didn’t want to be here anymore. That’s a hard thing for other people to receive because they did not live our experience, did not live Ian’s journey.”
“I was so angry with God,” she said. “Why would that weight be given to Ian? Of all of the things that we had gone through with the therapy, with psychiatrists and programs — and Ian was like, ‘I’m tired of talking, Mom.’”
Two years after Alexander Jr.’s death, King is still grieving.
“I’m a different person now than I was on Jan. 19 [before Alexander Jr. died],” she said. “Grief is a journey. I understand that grief is love that has no place to go. I know that it’s important to me to honor Ian in the totality of who he is, speak about him in the present, because he is always with me and the joy and happiness that he gave all of us.”
She added, “My favorite thing about myself is being Ian’s mom. And I can’t say that with a smile, with tears, with all of the emotion that comes with that. I can’t do that if I did not respect the journey.”
King, who fought back tears during the talk, said, “Sometimes, a lot of guilt comes over me. When a parent loses a child, you still wonder, ‘What could I have done so that wouldn’t have happened?’ I know that I share this grief with everyone, but no one else is Ian’s mom, you know? Only me. So it’s mine. And the sadness will never go away. It’ll always be with me. And I think I saw somewhere, the sadness is a reminder of how much he means to me, you know?”
WATCH HERE
King paid tribute to Alexander Jr. on what would have been his 27th birthday last year.
“January 19th is Ian’s Worthday. As we still process his physical absence, we celebrate his presence,” King wrote in an Instagram post at the time. “We are all in different places on the planet…so is Ian. His spirit is the thread that connects us.”
Roberts also revealed King’s subtle tribute to Alexander Jr. during the 2024 Oscars, where she wore an orange dress — Alexander Jr.’s favorite color. And she noted that King said she still felt her son’s presence in moments of “Ian-spirations.”
King can next be seen as trailblazing congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in the Netflix biopic Shirley, hitting the streamer on March 22, which is dedicated to Alexander Jr.
Roberts said King had told her she was ready to talk about her son’s death and only wanted to do one interview to address it as she’s promoting Shirley.
“I want to talk about my son,” Roberts recalled King telling her at the Oscars. “I don’t want to make him a poster child for what’s going on. I want to talk about it once and then — “
Don Lemon Says Elon Musk Canceled His Show on X After Tense Interview
Don Lemon said Elon Musk abruptly canceled his partnership with X because the billionaire was "mad" at him over their recent interview, which he subsequently described in a video posted to Instagram as "tense."
While the full interview does not air until Monday, March 18, in the few clips that have been shared from the conversation, there were fewer fireworks than expected.
The former CNN host said Wednesday that Musk scrapped the partnership hours after he conducted the interview, which is set to air in full on March 18 as the first episode of "The Don Lemon Show."
"There were no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to, and my questions were respectful and wide-ranging, covering everything from SpaceX to the presidential election. We had a good conversation," Lemon said in a statement. "Clearly, he felt differently."
X and Musk have said Lemon is still free to post his show on X without the support of a formal partnership.
The outlet Semafor, citing unnamed sources, said that Lemon did not yet have a signed contract with X, which could mean he may have a hard time getting paid out for the scrapped deal.
Lemon shared a few clips of the interview on CNN's Erin Burnett "OutFront" on Wednesday evening.
The first clip showed Lemon asking Musk if he believes X has a responsibility to moderate content on the platform, specifically mentioning the "great replacement" conspiracy theory often peddled by white supremacists. He asked if moderation would help Musk avoid having to answer questions from reporters.
"I don't have to answer questions from reporters," Musk said, adding, "Don, the only reason I'm doing this interview is because you're on X platform and you asked for it. Otherwise, I would not do this interview."
In another moment, Lemon began to ask Musk about his apparent ketamine use.
"The reason I mentioned the ketamine prescription on the X platform was because I thought maybe this is something that could help other people," Musk said.
In a post on X in August, Musk said he had a ketamine prescription for when his "brain chemistry sometimes goes super negative." Ketamine, a common anesthetic, is increasingly being used to treat depression, though there are risks associated with it.
A third clip from the interview that was shared on CNN showed Lemon asking Musk about the reports that he met with former President Donald Trump in Florida last week.
"I was at a breakfast at a friend's place and Donald Trump came by, that's it," Musk said.
When Lemon asked what the pair discussed, Musk said: "Let's just say he did most of the talking."
Musk also answered Lemon's questions, saying Trump did not ask him for money and that he does not currently plan to endorse Trump or donate to his campaign.
Though the topics discussed in the clips were somewhat controversial, the exchanges did not appear especially tense. They also were not topics Musk hadn't faced scrutiny over before.
Of course, the entire interview hasn't aired so it's possible there were more heated moments than what we've seen so far.
When an X user asked for a reason the deal was canceled, Musk replied: "His approach was basically just 'CNN, but on social media,' which doesn't work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying. "
He also said Lemon "lacked authenticity."
He did not explain the timing of the decision or what changed in what Lemon said were "hours" between the interview being conducted and Musk telling him the partnership was over.
The US House of Representatives passes a bill that could lead to a US ban of TikTok
The House passed legislation requiring TikTok‘s parent company, ByteDance, to divest the app or face a U.S. ban.
The bill, which drew bipartisan support, passed with a 352-65 vote due to concerns over national security, free speech, and the influence of social media. The news came on the heels of TikTok appealing to its 170 million U.S. users for opposition. Earlier this month, call-to-action on the platform read, “Let Congress know what TikTok means to you and tell them to vote NO.”
The legislation notably mandated ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese entity within six months to address national security concerns. Failure to do so would result in the app’s ban in the U.S.
“[This] forces TikTok to break up with the Chinese Communist Party,” Representative Mike Gallagher emphasized. “This is a common-sense measure to protect our national security.”
“This process was secret and the bill was jammed through for one reason: It’s a ban,” a TikTok spokesperson told CNBC. “We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents, and realize the impact on the economy, 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our service.”
TikTok rose to prominence in 2018, and according to The Guardian, it was the most downloaded app of 2019, 2020, and 2021. The social media network’s dominance was mainly due to its focus on viral content, music integrations, and user-generated content, such as dance challenges and trends. Celebrities like Cardi B, Lil Nas X, Coi Leray, Megan Thee Stallion, DDG, Latto, and several more are also on the platform.
In February, Universal Music Group (UMG) officially removed its artists’ music catalogs from TikTok. The move resulted in videos using songs licensed by the music corporation being muted. Subsequently, users were forced to pick a different track or use an original sound.
‘Power’ Gets New Spinoff, ‘Origins,’ A Ghost And Tommy-Focused Prequel
The Power universe isn’t dying down anytime soon. With both Power Book III: Raising Kanan and Power Book IV: Force filming their new seasons in New York City and Chicago, respectively, as Power Book II: Ghost gears up to unveil its highly-anticipated fourth season later this year, STARZ announced that another prequel is in development.
The series’ fourth spinoff, Origins, is set to center around the origin stories of James “Ghost” St. Patrick and his partner-in-crime, Tommy Egan. The men were brought to life by Omari Hardwick and Joseph Sikora in the original Power series.
Following the official announcement, 50 Cent tweeted, “You asked, I answered. Young Ghost and Tommy coming your way.” In the first installment, he portrayed Kanan Stark and that character’s origin story is a fan-favorite as seen in Power Book III: Raising Kanan—which ended its third season back in February.
“As we approach the 10-year anniversary of Power, it is incredible to witness the enormous connection our fans have with the Power universe,” said Kathryn Busby, President of Programming for STARZ, in a statement. “We can’t wait to see how Origins will further evolve this dynamic franchise while bringing fresh, gripping, and expansive storytelling to our audience.”
When speaking to the cast as Power came to an end, Hardwick gave some insight into Ghost’s villain origin story.
“I would say that he’s maybe the most empathetic character in the entire story,” he explained. “He went to a little white boy—who was the only white boy in the neighborhood—and to a girl who hid powder and drugs for him, and said, ‘We could be more.’ […] He grew up with no mom. There’s no father introduced to Ghost. There’s no uncles, no brothers, none of that; he’s just got surrogate people all around him. The only family we know of Ghost is the one he made with Tasha. That’s the only family we know. His major overriding insecurity is that he’s still on a search, not only for betterment, but first to be better, you gotta know who the f**k you are!”
“January 19th is Ian’s Worthday. As we still process his physical absence, we celebrate his presence,” King wrote in an Instagram post at the time. “We are all in different places on the planet…so is Ian. His spirit is the thread that connects us.”
Roberts also revealed King’s subtle tribute to Alexander Jr. during the 2024 Oscars, where she wore an orange dress — Alexander Jr.’s favorite color. And she noted that King said she still felt her son’s presence in moments of “Ian-spirations.”
King can next be seen as trailblazing congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in the Netflix biopic Shirley, hitting the streamer on March 22, which is dedicated to Alexander Jr.
Roberts said King had told her she was ready to talk about her son’s death and only wanted to do one interview to address it as she’s promoting Shirley.
“I want to talk about my son,” Roberts recalled King telling her at the Oscars. “I don’t want to make him a poster child for what’s going on. I want to talk about it once and then — “
Don Lemon Says Elon Musk Canceled His Show on X After Tense Interview
Don Lemon said Elon Musk abruptly canceled his partnership with X because the billionaire was "mad" at him over their recent interview, which he subsequently described in a video posted to Instagram as "tense."
While the full interview does not air until Monday, March 18, in the few clips that have been shared from the conversation, there were fewer fireworks than expected.
The former CNN host said Wednesday that Musk scrapped the partnership hours after he conducted the interview, which is set to air in full on March 18 as the first episode of "The Don Lemon Show."
"There were no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to, and my questions were respectful and wide-ranging, covering everything from SpaceX to the presidential election. We had a good conversation," Lemon said in a statement. "Clearly, he felt differently."
X and Musk have said Lemon is still free to post his show on X without the support of a formal partnership.
The outlet Semafor, citing unnamed sources, said that Lemon did not yet have a signed contract with X, which could mean he may have a hard time getting paid out for the scrapped deal.
Lemon shared a few clips of the interview on CNN's Erin Burnett "OutFront" on Wednesday evening.
The first clip showed Lemon asking Musk if he believes X has a responsibility to moderate content on the platform, specifically mentioning the "great replacement" conspiracy theory often peddled by white supremacists. He asked if moderation would help Musk avoid having to answer questions from reporters.
"I don't have to answer questions from reporters," Musk said, adding, "Don, the only reason I'm doing this interview is because you're on X platform and you asked for it. Otherwise, I would not do this interview."
In another moment, Lemon began to ask Musk about his apparent ketamine use.
"The reason I mentioned the ketamine prescription on the X platform was because I thought maybe this is something that could help other people," Musk said.
In a post on X in August, Musk said he had a ketamine prescription for when his "brain chemistry sometimes goes super negative." Ketamine, a common anesthetic, is increasingly being used to treat depression, though there are risks associated with it.
A third clip from the interview that was shared on CNN showed Lemon asking Musk about the reports that he met with former President Donald Trump in Florida last week.
"I was at a breakfast at a friend's place and Donald Trump came by, that's it," Musk said.
When Lemon asked what the pair discussed, Musk said: "Let's just say he did most of the talking."
Musk also answered Lemon's questions, saying Trump did not ask him for money and that he does not currently plan to endorse Trump or donate to his campaign.
Though the topics discussed in the clips were somewhat controversial, the exchanges did not appear especially tense. They also were not topics Musk hadn't faced scrutiny over before.
Of course, the entire interview hasn't aired so it's possible there were more heated moments than what we've seen so far.
When an X user asked for a reason the deal was canceled, Musk replied: "His approach was basically just 'CNN, but on social media,' which doesn't work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying. "
He also said Lemon "lacked authenticity."
He did not explain the timing of the decision or what changed in what Lemon said were "hours" between the interview being conducted and Musk telling him the partnership was over.
The US House of Representatives passes a bill that could lead to a US ban of TikTok
The bill, which drew bipartisan support, passed with a 352-65 vote due to concerns over national security, free speech, and the influence of social media. The news came on the heels of TikTok appealing to its 170 million U.S. users for opposition. Earlier this month, call-to-action on the platform read, “Let Congress know what TikTok means to you and tell them to vote NO.”
The legislation notably mandated ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese entity within six months to address national security concerns. Failure to do so would result in the app’s ban in the U.S.
“[This] forces TikTok to break up with the Chinese Communist Party,” Representative Mike Gallagher emphasized. “This is a common-sense measure to protect our national security.”
“This process was secret and the bill was jammed through for one reason: It’s a ban,” a TikTok spokesperson told CNBC. “We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents, and realize the impact on the economy, 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our service.”
TikTok rose to prominence in 2018, and according to The Guardian, it was the most downloaded app of 2019, 2020, and 2021. The social media network’s dominance was mainly due to its focus on viral content, music integrations, and user-generated content, such as dance challenges and trends. Celebrities like Cardi B, Lil Nas X, Coi Leray, Megan Thee Stallion, DDG, Latto, and several more are also on the platform.
In February, Universal Music Group (UMG) officially removed its artists’ music catalogs from TikTok. The move resulted in videos using songs licensed by the music corporation being muted. Subsequently, users were forced to pick a different track or use an original sound.
‘Power’ Gets New Spinoff, ‘Origins,’ A Ghost And Tommy-Focused Prequel
The Power universe isn’t dying down anytime soon. With both Power Book III: Raising Kanan and Power Book IV: Force filming their new seasons in New York City and Chicago, respectively, as Power Book II: Ghost gears up to unveil its highly-anticipated fourth season later this year, STARZ announced that another prequel is in development.
The series’ fourth spinoff, Origins, is set to center around the origin stories of James “Ghost” St. Patrick and his partner-in-crime, Tommy Egan. The men were brought to life by Omari Hardwick and Joseph Sikora in the original Power series.
Following the official announcement, 50 Cent tweeted, “You asked, I answered. Young Ghost and Tommy coming your way.” In the first installment, he portrayed Kanan Stark and that character’s origin story is a fan-favorite as seen in Power Book III: Raising Kanan—which ended its third season back in February.
“As we approach the 10-year anniversary of Power, it is incredible to witness the enormous connection our fans have with the Power universe,” said Kathryn Busby, President of Programming for STARZ, in a statement. “We can’t wait to see how Origins will further evolve this dynamic franchise while bringing fresh, gripping, and expansive storytelling to our audience.”
When speaking to the cast as Power came to an end, Hardwick gave some insight into Ghost’s villain origin story.
“I would say that he’s maybe the most empathetic character in the entire story,” he explained. “He went to a little white boy—who was the only white boy in the neighborhood—and to a girl who hid powder and drugs for him, and said, ‘We could be more.’ […] He grew up with no mom. There’s no father introduced to Ghost. There’s no uncles, no brothers, none of that; he’s just got surrogate people all around him. The only family we know of Ghost is the one he made with Tasha. That’s the only family we know. His major overriding insecurity is that he’s still on a search, not only for betterment, but first to be better, you gotta know who the f**k you are!”
For Tommy, Sikora revealed, “[Tommy’s emotions] also can be his downfall with trying to build his family and find love, probably because of the lack of love he had from his mother growing up and then obviously growing up with a father who was absent. A lot of that comes out of him trying to fill those holes. I think Tommy Egan’s legacy is that there’s humanity in everyone. That everybody needs love. And sometimes, maybe not even sometimes, all the time, it’s that you can always judge the action but you should hold back from judging the man.”
The cast of Origins has yet to be announced, but fans are already requesting that Hardwick and Sikora reprise their roles as narrators, similar to what Fif does on Raising Kanan. Sikora is down to do so, according to a tweet from Wednesday (Mar. 14) that read, “I like the whole narration idea.”
Michael B. Jordan Admits He Gets “Lonely” But Isn’t Quite Ready To Date Again
“There’s a loneliness that I have,” he started. “The responsibility that you have is isolating and the weight is isolating. The worst part of that is the feeling like nobody really understands. Sometimes falling into the spaces of being alone, feeling alone.”
MBJ then shared that he often contemplates between, “wanting partnership” and “not knowing what’s the best partner for me.” He also mentioned that for his ideal relationship, “It’s not just ‘I love you, you love me,’” but it “should be enough” to just love your significant other — although he admits it’s “not quite that simple.”
With his very complex schedule, Jordan said that he desires someone that will “understand all of me and all that comes with me as well.” During his past relationships, he mentioned that he’s had to consider, “that balance between wanting to be available and there for that person while I’m juggling everything else.”
However, the Creed star does “want a family eventually.”
“I’m not looking but it would take a very special person to understand and grow with me,” he said.
Jordan last publicly dated Lori Harvey in 2021, before calling it quits a year later. For the first time, social media witnessed MBJ’s romantic side as the two shared “baecation” photos, date nights, quality time spent together, and more.
Since his split from the 27-year-old, the Black Panther star has remained rather quiet on the dating tip, although some have tried to link him to models, singers, and more.
However, the eligible bachelor has stated in the past that his next relationship “is gonna happen when it’s supposed to happen.”
Wendy Williams' NYC Condo Under Tax Lien As She Has Over $500K In Unpaid Taxes
Wendy Williams faces more problems in her life. On top of her health issues, the former host of "The Wendy Williams Show" was reportedly facing a tax lien over more than half a million dollars in unpaid taxes.
TMZ claimed on Wednesday, March 13 that Wendy failed to pay her federal taxes, which were $568,451.57 in total, in 2019 and 2021. As a result, the former radio personality's New York City condo, which she bought for $4.5 million in 2021, is now under lien.
The news outlet pointed out that the lien was generated in January. It was later recorded with the New York City Department of Finance in early February. It remains to be seen if Wendy has worked things out in response to the lien.
The news came after it was reported that the 58-year-old was selling her personal belongings in her NYC condo. "She was asking how to sell her stuff with 'The Real Real,' but I don't think she's actually moving to Los Angeles," an insider told Page Six back in March 2023. "She seems so unwell.
In response to the report, Wendy's then-representative Shawn Zanotti said in a statement, "Wendy is getting rid of items for spring cleaning, this is what people do this time of year." She added, "It's a new chapter for Wendy and she wants new things. This is a common gesture people do and Wendy is no different."
Amid her health issues, which were recently revealed to include Frontotemporal Dementia and Aphasia, Wendy was placed under guardianship after Wells Fargo deemed Wendy an "incapacitated person."
The TV personality was openly against the decision. "They say that I need somebody to handle my accounts, and I don't want that. I want all my money," she said during her appearance on "Good Morning America" in March 2022. "I want to see all my money that I worked hard for my entire life. My entire life. I don't lie, and I don't cheat, and I don't steal. I am an honest, hardworking person."
Jennifer Lopez Looks Somber In First Sighting Since Canceling 7 'This Is Me... Now' Shows
On Wednesday, March 13, the 54-year-old pop star was spotted out and about in Los Angeles. In pictures making their rounds online, it could be seen that she was making her way to a dance studio in the city in California. Unlike her usual public appearance, she did not appear in good spirits at that time.
Some of the photos captured Jennifer showing a stern facial expression as she covered both of her eyes with a pair of sunglasses. She seemingly was walking alone as she carried what appeared to be an iPad in one of her hands.
The "If You Had My Love" hitmaker opted to wear a casual ensemble. She kept her body warm in a black top, which came with a high neck design, and oversized navy blue hoodie that had small white graphics on its front side.
Jennifer also donned a pair of long matching sweatpants and light-colored sneakers with white soles. She ditched her bag and kept her accessories minimal by rocking only her wedding ring. In addition, her long brown tresses were styled in a sleek high bun.
The snaps circulated online after Jennifer secretly called off a number of her upcoming shows, which are parts of the "This Is Me... Now" tour. She canceled the final seven gigs of the tour from August 20 to August 31. Throughout the dates, she was supposed to perform in Cleveland, Nashville, Raleigh, Atlanta, Tampa, New Orleans and Houston.
As of Wednesday, each of the shows' Ticketmaster page has been taken down. It also has been replaced with a message that read, "Unfortunately, the Event Organizer has had to cancel your event. No action is required to obtain a refund."
Jennifer and her team have not publicly addressed the cancellation. Though so, it was revealed that the singer and her team were forced to call off the concerts due to "logistical issue through the promoter."
50 Cent Files 70-Page Complaint For Alleged $6M Scheme That Nearly Cost Him His Spirits Company
50 Cent’s spirits venture was nearly at the brink of closure, according to Fox 5 in New York, NY.
The outlet notes that the rapper and “Power” executive producer has been in a court battle over the loss of millions of dollars in an alleged embezzlement scheme. A 70-page New York State Supreme Court Complaint alleges his company, Sire Spirits, lost revenue due to being overcharged by distiller Beam Suntory, which then split the profits with Mitchell Green, the former director of brand management for Sire Spirits.
The complaint claims the loss is estimated to be over $6 million.
“Because these illicit commissions were baked into the price of the product, Sire Spirits overpaid on taxes, overpaid on customs and duties, overpaid on insurance, which are marked towards the value of the product,” Sire Spirits Attorney Craig Weiner said, according to Fox 5.
Furthermore, Beam Suntory’s chief commercial officer, Julious Grant, is being accused of wearing various hats, including Beam Suntory’s employee, officer of the company, and serving “under the actual and parent authority of Beam Suntory,” while leading the scheme.
“Beam Suntory’s role here is extraordinarily troubling,” Weiner expressed, per Fox 5.
50 Cent, aka Curtis James Jackson III, took to Instagram and shared a letter issued by Beam Suntory to individuals involved in the scheme and expressed his disdain towards the matter.
“This is the letter @beamsuntory sent without my knowledge to the people involved in the scheme that cost me millions,” he wrote. “Do I really need to hold a press conference to walk everyone through exactly what happened with convicted felon Mitchel E. Green, Julious Grant, Arnaud Fabre and the guy Beam paid millions of dollars to help sell my brands, ‘Lord Michael’ Caruso. This will make a great unscripted project.”
Beam Suntory also responded to the matter in a statement issued to Fox 5. It read: “Beam Suntory vehemently denies all allegations of wrongdoing. It had no involvement in or knowledge of the fraudulent activity alleged in the complaint, and any allegation to the contrary has no basis in fact. It is undisputed that we honored all prior obligations to Mr. Jackson and Sire Spirits, and it is very unfortunate that the parties involved continue to misrepresent the facts and misdirect blame in an attempt to recover fees and damages.”
Fox 5 also noted, Green, an alleged co-conspirator, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a related case.
“It’s only through the hard work of Mr. Jackson that the company was able to survive and now is starting to flourish,” Weiner told the outlet.
'Dateline' Correspondent Keith Morrison On Death Of Stepson Matthew Perry: 'It's With You Every Day'
“He felt like he was beating it,” Morrison told “TODAY” show co-anchor Hoda Kotb on an episode of her “Making Spaces” podcast. “But you never beat it, and he knew that, too.”
Morrison said his grief is still raw. “It’s with you every day. It’s with you all the time, and there’s some new aspect of it that assaults your brain,” he said. “It’s not easy.”
Perry, who was open about his experiences with alcoholism and substance misuse, died Oct. 28 at age 54 from the “acute effects” of ketamine, the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office said in an autopsy report released in December. The report said drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine, a synthetic opioid, contributed to his death.
The autopsy report said Perry had been “reportedly clean for 19 months.” He was reported to have been using ketamine infusion therapy to help deal with depression and anxiety, according to the findings, and his last treatment was a week and a half before he died.
Morrison, who has been married to Perry’s mother, Suzanne Perry Morrison, since 1981, told Kotb that his stepson “didn’t get to have his third act, and that’s not fair.”
Perry was beloved by generations of television viewers for his role as the smart-aleck accountant Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom “Friends.” In late 2022, Perry published a memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” which chronicled his upbringing in Canada, as well as his rise to fame, addiction challenges and recovery.
Morrison said Perry and his mother were closer than they had been in decades when he died. They were “texting each other constantly,” and he shared “things with her that most middle-aged men don’t share with their mothers.” (Perry’s mother, who was a press secretary for the late Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, divorced his biological father when Perry was young.)
Morrison said he can still feel “the echo” of Perry’s presence in his day-to-day life, remembering his stepson as a “larger-than-life person” who always “lit up a room.”
“He was goofy. He was funny. He was acerbic,” Morrison said. “But even if he didn’t say a word, he was the center of attention.”
In describing their relationship, Morrison said he and Perry were, “as they say, chalk and cheese. He was loud and out there and funny and aggressive.”
Morrison recalled taking a young Perry to hockey games on Saturday mornings, remembering that “if he didn’t score all the goals, he was so angry all the way home and he wouldn’t talk to anybody; he was really mad.” Perry would behave much the same way if he missed a shot during a tennis match.
“He had that kind of very fiery personality, and mine is not like that, as you can imagine,” said Morrison, who is widely known for his wry baritone voice. “But we got along fine. … I never tried to replace his dad … but I was there for him, and he knew it.” (Perry’s biological father is the character actor John Bennett Perry, who has appeared in various films and television shows.)
Morrison said he tried to support Perry “as much as possible” over the years.
“That’s a whirlwind of a life, to get involved in a program that became as wildly successful as it was, to be fighting an addiction that was so virulent, that went after him so hard,” Morrison said, adding that Perry would get to a “certain point” when he knew he needed to get treatment and “accept help when he needed it.”
“But as he said himself, it just kept happening … and it was a big bear,” Morrison said. “It was a tough thing … [a] big, terrible thing.”
Actor Tyrin Turner Denies Having Secret Gay Romance with Jamie Foxx
Actor Tyrin Turner has firmly refuted rumors that he and Jamie Foxx are in a secret romantic relationship.
The speculation initially arose when Suge Knight mentioned the two men on his jailhouse podcast, SandraRose.com reports. Reggie Wright, former head of security for Death Row Records, appeared on the “Bomb 1st” podcast and corroborated the allegations.
Reggie asserted that Tyrin (“Menace to Society”) once relied on Foxx for support and lived with the comedian.
“I don’t know if Jamie used KY jelly on him,” Reggie said on the podcast.
According to Reggie, Tyrin is trying to overcompensate for being gay. Generally, guys that are homosexuals, they have to overcompensate for theyself [sic] and like to be tough… Every interview that he’s doing, he’s beating up people or got into a fight with somebody,” Reggie said.
Tyrin, 52, denied the allegations in an interview on the “The Art Of Dialogue” podcast.
“Me and Jamie have been like brothers and best friends for years. What people don’t understand is that we do a lot of business together. So you may have seen us a lot,” the married father of two children explained, SandraRose reports.
He added, “When you’re dealing with people, people want to throw the little gay rumor [on you]. Somebody always gotta be gay in the world. I know what I like.”
The 30th Anniversary Of ‘Sister, Sister’ Prompts All-Day Marathon
One network is celebrating the milestone, and it’s not who you might think. Shadow and Act reports that the Dabl Network is running an all-day marathon of Sister Sister to commemorate the show, which will start on April 1. So if that is a coming-of-age, old-school show about two twin sisters getting into trouble and figuring out life is your thing, then tune in.
To refresh your memories, the show’s synopsis was about identical twin sisters who didn’t realize they had a twin until a chance meeting in a department store. They then know they were separated at birth and adopted by single parents (Tim Reid, Jackée Harry). Their parents then decide to raise the girls together. This premise catapulted the show to 199 episodes over six seasons in 1994. Interestingly, it originally aired on ABC for its first two seasons, then moved to The WB for the remainder of the series.
Now, about Dabl Network. It’s available in most of the U.S. through CBS Television Stations. Dabl describes itself as an “entertainment network presenting scripted series focused on well-known, proven and loved sitcoms showcasing and starring Black actors and comedians,” You can catch other throwback shows such as Moesha, The Game, Girlfriends, The Parkers, Half and Half, and more.
Dr. Dre To Receive Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star Next To Snoop Dogg
Producer Dr. Dre will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next to his longtime friend, Snoop Dogg.
The Aftermath Entertainment founder will receive the prestigious honor during an unveiling ceremony on Tuesday, March 19th, in the category of Recording. Dre’s star represents the 2,775th one featured on the celebrity monument for his countless achievements. Dre played a monumental role in the success of hip-hop group NWA, and after a stint at Death Row Records, he launched Aftermath, which helped skyrocket Eminem’s career. Dre has earned Grammy Awards and led several other successful business ventures, such as founding Beats headphones in 2006.
“As a producer, rapper, and entrepreneur, Dr. Dre has continuously pushed boundaries and set new standards for excellence. It is with great pride that we honor his incredible career and extraordinary impact by awarding him a star on the Walk of Fame,” stated Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, before confirming that Snoop and Dre’s star will lay side-by-side.
Given the location of Dre’s star and their longstanding friendships, Snoop will likely be attending Dre’s big day, the same way that Dre helped present Snoop with his own star in 2018. Quincy Jones and Jimmy Kimmel also came out to honor Snoop, with both expected attendees during Dre’s star. The men have recorded numerous songs together, including “Nuthin But A G Thing,” “Gin N Juice,” and “The Next Episode,” to name a few.
Dollar Tree and Family Dollar Closing Almost 1,000 Stores Following Billion Dollar Loss
The company made the grim announcement on Wednesday. Detailing the severity of the situation, Dollar Tree revealed that 600 Family Dollar locations will close in the first half of 2024. Another 370 Family Dollars and 30 Dollar Trees will also shutter within the next few years when their leases expire.
The news comes as the company reported a massive net loss of $1.71 billion in the quarter ending February 3rd. There are currently 16,774 Family Dollar and Dollar Tree locations in the U.S. The challenges of the brand have come as the economy as a whole remains unstable. Additionally, locations have faced an influx in thefts in recent years, which execs acknowledged during Wednesday’s earning call.
CFO Jeff Davis remains optimistic about Dollar Tree’s earnings this year despite the closures. Davis shared that the company is “making solid progress on our key growth initiatives” and says he is “encouraged by the early results of our business transformation efforts.”
In 2016, the company began cutting back, eliminating 370 positions during its acquisition of Family Dollar. Layoffs hit Dollar Tree once again in 2023 when it was forced to lay off 90 positions at its corporate offices in Chesapeake, Virginia. Now, with the high number of stores closing their doors, it’s likely that many retail employees may be without a job if Dollar Tree doesn’t reassign them to other stores.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Coffee with Soda
Adds more sweetness in it.
Adds more sweetness in it.
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