Entertainment
GloRilla faces heavy criticism after Baltimore preacher used lyrics from her song ‘Tomorrow’ during sermon
Social media went wild when a Baltimore preacher referenced rapper GloRilla in one in every of his Sunday sermons, linking the Memphis resident’s hit “Tomorrow” to Psalm 30:5 as an encouragement to persevere while waiting for higher times which are sure to are available in the longer term .
The Rev. Melech E. M. Thomas, the twenty fourth senior pastor at Payne Memorial AME Church, posted a clip from a recent sermon he delivered titled “I’m Tired of Being Seen!”
On Tuesday, March 5, under a video post on the platform, X wrote: “Gloryla’s lyrics >>>>.”
“I love good gospel music,” he begins to say within the clip. “And there’s this new gospel artist… Some of you may know her, some of you may not, but her name is Gloria Hallelujah Woods… She’s from Memphis… some of you may know her as ‘GloRilla.’
He continues, “GloRilla has a song called “Tomorrow” and he or she makes such a press release that blesses me. She says, “Every day the sun doesn’t shine, but that’s why I love tomorrow,” and I seek advice from some those who life hasn’t been the nicest for you, but you understand what Big Mama said… “Crying may last one night, but joy will come in the morning. (You understand) not every day is a good day, but as long as I live to see tomorrow, something can change.
This is a reference to the verse in the Psalm that says, “The wrath of God lasts but a moment; for his benefit is life: weeping may last through the night, but in the morning there is joy.”
Within a day of posting the video, the clip on his profile had been viewed over 1.6 million times.
Pastor Thomas then explained why he used the rapper’s lyrics: saying“I rarely post my own sermon clips because I have trouble commoditizing Black sermons, but @GloTheofficial’s music consistently inspires and affirms.”
GloRilla, the preacher’s child, reposted the sermon saying, “PREACH! Yes, Glo. He replied: “I LOVE YOU, BIG GLO!!! If you are ever in Baltimore, you have a seat reserved at my church!”
I LOVE YOU, BIG GLO!!! If you might be ever in Baltimore, you could have a seat reserved at my church! 🙌🏾 https://t.co/A9EIg6qPcq
— Melech. (@MelechThomas) March 6, 2024
Fans also responded. One person suggested using the clip for a brand new project, writing“Glo, we need a church remix directly from you!!! There is great energy in this intro from your story of why you were named, and fire choir!.”
One joker added: “Look at your neighbor and shout Yea Glo!” Other he wrote“I almost started screaming!”
However, not everyone was glad with Reverend Thomas’s use of some words from the song.
User
Jesus watches from the rafters
Knowing all of the texts that had come before… and realizing that the pastor had pushed this before the sermon pic.twitter.com/oDPpK7qgCo
— Clark (@TruthinBeing) March 6, 2024
“Glorilla is a devil worshiper, she sold her soul, and the fact that she had the courage to publish this is beyond me. “There is nothing ‘churchy’ when her music degrades the black community,” another person wrote.
GloRilla is also known for songs like “Blessed,” the “Tomorrow 2” remix with Cardi B, and her 2022 breakout hit “FNF (Let’s Go),” which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance.
Glorilla is a devil worshiper, she sold her soul and the fact that she had the courage to publish this is beyond me. There is nothing “churchy” when her music degrades the black community.
— 〽️ario Lewis (@Armondsthoughts) March 6, 2024
After less than a year in his position, Howard Grad (who also attended the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University for his Master of Divinity degree) also shared on social media that this is not the first time he has used rap lyrics in his sermons .
“The crazy thing about all this is that I quote rap lyrics in almost every sermon I have preached for the last 17 years,” Thomas wrote in X. “Rap has ALWAYS been a major part of my preaching and my hermeneutic. I actually wanted to be a rapper before I wanted to be a preacher.”
The crazy thing about all that is that I’ve quoted rap lyrics in almost every sermon I’ve preached for the last 17 years. Just like rap has ALWAYS been a significant a part of my teaching and my hermeneutics. I actually desired to be a rapper before I desired to be a preacher.
— Melech. (@MelechThomas) March 6, 2024
He added Later“I preached my first Sunday morning sermon in August 2009 on David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 and the theme of my sermon was “Ain’t I?”, using the song Yung LA with Young Dro and TI as my anchor” .
He’s not the primary person to make use of GloRilla’s lyrics to evangelise the gospel – though he’s probably the primary to noticeably attempt to get the message across.
The sun won’t shine day by day, but that is why I like tomorrow
preach the evangelist GloRilla
— Bailey, scientist 🧪🦠📶 (@TheGreatBailey) February 4, 2024
Reverend Thomas just isn’t the one preacher who has gained popularity by injecting popular culture into his sermons, speaking from their hermeneutic perspective and trying to succeed in a more secular population.
Bishop William Murphy Jr. faced heavy criticism from the media after playing Fast Life Yungstaz’s “Swag Surfin'” during a New Year’s Eve service at Atlanta’s Dream Center Church.
One person wrote on social media: “If you want a club, just go to a club. “Do not defile the temple of God.”
Murphy said he does no such thing.
“We had to be very creative in terms of engaging the culture,” he said in an interview after the service, stating that “there was no swearing in our church. There was nothing that defiled the house of God.”
He went on to acknowledge that his congregation is multi-generational, but not rigid: “It’s not your grandma’s church.”
Entertainment
An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit
Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”
She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.
Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.
On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”
One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.
Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.
Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, cropped a photograph of him in a jumpsuit and then set Instagram on fire with her look.https://t.co/n7YNGctQFE pic.twitter.com/DNKP2i9o9C
— Sean Joseph (@sjoseph_sports) December 2, 2024
When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.
Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”
Lauren Sanchez 2003 vs. Lauren Sanchez 2024
Nothing to see here, people, move on#LaurenSanchez pic.twitter.com/mgr4vj6mFq
— Occam was right (@OccamWasRight) November 21, 2024
Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”
Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.
Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.
Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.
Entertainment
Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape
India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.
“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”
Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.
Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.
Name:
India Shawn
Hometown:
Los Angeles
Artistic soundscape
Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric
The oldest musical memory
Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.
Influences
For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.
Creative process
Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”
Challenges and development
As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”
Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.
Current project
“There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”
Entertainment
ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence
With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.
Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.
From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.
In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.
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