BMI Celebrates Best at Trailblazers of Gospel Music Honors
*Broadcast Music, Inc. ® (BMI®) celebrated the best and brightest in gospel music during its 18th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Honors at the Rialto Center for the Arts in Atlanta, GA. The night paid tribute to iconic gospel singer-songwriter Marvin Sapp and was hosted for the second consecutive year by previous Trailblazer recipient and renowned […]
Black Filmmakers Talk Importance of Merging Art with Activism
*The Blackout Festival aims to celebrate and empower visionary voices that consistently champion diversity in storytelling, as the website states, and this year’s event saw the work and voice of many artists focused on the growing national movement around police brutality and social justice. The Root caught up with Chris Rock, who was on hand […]
Lionel Richie: Singer Producing Sammy Davis Jr. Biopic
*The estate of Sammy Davis Jr. has announced a biopic in the works that will be based on Davis’ 1965 memoir “Yes I Can: The Story Of Sammy Davis, Jr.,” Shadow and Act reports. The project is being led by Lionel Richie, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mike Menchel. Richie has this to say about […]
Ringling Bros Circus Ends – Animal Rights Activists Cheer, Ringmaster Cries Foul (EUR Exclusive)
*There’s a time-worn axiom that speaks about there being two sides to every story. With regard to Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ ending their 146 year run, and their perceived treatment of animals, it’s absolutely true. The circus has struggled to fill seats for decades, with heightened attention being paid to the treatment […]
Director Explains Why Unknown Actor Will Play Tupac, Billy Porter Recalls Naysayers
Director Benny Boom explained to Page Six why he wanted an unknown actor to play late rapper Tupac Shakur in his biopic “All Eyez on Me.” “I feel like I definitely got the right actor to play Tupac,” he said of Hollywood newcomer Demetrius Shipp Jr. “It was important to get an unknown [actor] so […]
EUR EXCLUSIVE! ‘XXX: The Return of Xander Cage’ Red Carpet Premiere (WATCH)
*Thousands of people gathered outside of the TCL Chinese theater down Hollywood Boulevard last night on Thursday, January 19 for the “XXX: The Return of Xander Cage,” movie premiere. The XXX shaped carpet featured a live show screening by IGN, fire and a performance by Nicky Jamz, French Montana & Ty Dolla $ign for their […]
Malia Obama Lands Internship With Film Producer Harvey Weinstein
*Malia Obama has booked another high-profile internship in the entertainment industry. When her family returns from their post-White House vacation in Palm Springs, Malia, 18, will head straight to work for The Weinstein Company, headed by Hollywood powerhouse producer Harvey Weinstein. Malia will work out of the company’s New York office beginning next month, according to The Hollywood […]
Michelle Obama’s Inauguration Day Shade is Everything
*It lasted only a split second, but that was all Twitter needed to pause, screenshot and meme Michelle Obama’s brief look into the camera during the Obamas’ greeting of the new first couple at the White House…and that look was just the beginning of a full day of delightful shade from our former FLOTUS. When Melania Trump presented […]
‘Ride Along’ Director Tim Story to Helm Yet Another Reboot of ‘Shaft’
*Tim Story has been tapped to direct New Line’s reboot of “Shaft,” the 1971 blaxploitation classic starring Richard Roundtree as Harlem private detective John Shaft. The script will be written by “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris and “Goldbergs” executive producer Alex Barnow. Gordon Parks directed the original, which saw Shaft searching for a missing girl. An […]
Chaos in D.C. as Anti Trump Protests Turn Violent (Watch Live Here)
*Folks protesting the election of Donald Trump have taken to the streets of Washington D.C. in droves. What began this morning as peaceful demonstrations against the inauguration grew increasingly volatile throughout the day, with a self-described group of about 100 “anarchists” dressed in black joining in — tossing rocks and bottles, smashing the windows of cars and business and […]
Jaden Smith the 1st to Participate in Shia LaBeouf’s 4-Year, Interactive Trump Protest
*As Donald Trump was being sworn into office on Friday (Jan. 20), Jaden Smith was with actor Shia LaBeouf in New York City for the launch of LaBeouf’s four-year, interactive protest against the new president. LaBeouf, Smith, Nastja Säde Rönkkö and Luke Turner are collaborators in the movement, titled “He Will Not Divide Us.” Staged outside New […]
Trump’s Inauguration Prompts Protests Around the Country (VIDEO)
*You already know, but for the record, it’s on!! In Washington, police deployed pepper spray and made numerous arrests in a chaotic confrontation blocks from Donald Trump’s inauguration Friday as protesters registered their rage against the new president. Spirited demonstrations unfolded peacefully at various security checkpoints near the Capitol as police helped ticket-holders get through […]
Gymnast Gabrielle Douglas Releases Compilation Album ‘Conqueror’
*Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas has released a compilation album full of songs that she uses to get herself pumped during training, hoping it will encourage others to get motivated, reports Billboard. The 21-year-old gymnast is the first athlete to join Heard Well, a record label specializing in compilation albums. “It was just really fun for […]
Barack and Michelle Obama Say Goodbye As POTUS and FLOTUS (Watch)
*Lord have mercy. The reality of the reality that we are now in is sinking fast. That new reality was made starkly clear in a video message posted online by now former President Barack Obama and and former First Lady, Michelle Obama as they offered their final public message together as president and first lady. They are […]
ESPN Commentator Doug Adler Removed After Venus Williams ‘Gorilla’ Remark
*An ESPN tennis commentator has learned the hard way that you don’t use the word “gorilla” or even “guerilla” when you’re trying to be cute in describing tennis superstar Venus Williams. According to ESPN, it has pulled Doug Adler from its broadcast booth. It happened on Thursday. Here’s network’s reason for the decision: “During an […]
