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Actor Louis Gossett Jr. he loved Hollywood even if it didn’t love him back – Andscape

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For informal insiders, the Oscar is the important thing that opens the door to profession opportunities in Hollywood. But not all that glitters is gold in a spot built on creating and maintaining illusions. Take, for instance, Louis Gossett Jr., the Oscar winner who died on March 29 on the age of 87. It is widely believed that after winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1982 for , the classically trained actor’s phone rang. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

“After the Oscars, well, I’ve got plenty of time left.” Gossett said in 1989 “I thought I would get a lot of offers, but they didn’t come.”

And why would not he do it? Gossett was the second black man to win an Oscar since Sidney Poitier won best actor in 1963, and only the third black man. Box office success and significant acclaim must have made Gossett a hot commodity. But the phone didn’t ring for a very long time.

Louis Gossett Jr. he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role within the film An officer and a gentleman on the annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on April 11, 1983.

“I didn’t work in films for another year.” Gosset said. “I do not think people were ready for me to win. I believed winning an Oscar meant, “I’m a millionaire!” And it never really meant 1,000,000 dollars for nothing.

When film roles finally got here his way, he was relegated to supporting roles, often filled by black actors. In Gossett’s heyday, there weren’t many opportunities for black artists, so saying “no” wasn’t at all times an option. However, he never allowed the size of production or the form of film to find out the extent of his performance. Whether it was a giant studio movie, a 3rd film, or a low-budget Chuck Norris motion movie (1986), Gossett maintained the identical energy. Even if it meant wearing prosthetics and makeup like he did in .

“Everyone turned down the role because you couldn’t see your face or eyes. “How can you give a performance?” So there’s just a little little bit of Lon Chaney Sr. in me (), you gotta try it” Gosset said. “That’s why I made this decision, because it was a challenge.”

There’s something cool, almost regal, about someone who devotes himself to all the things with the identical dedication, especially when there’s an Oscar hanging on the mantelpiece. Gossett was pleased with his work ethic and understood the racial elements of his career. He lamented the industry’s treatment of the typical black actor in 1989 and Hollywood’s “limited vision of what Negroes are.”

“Wizard storytellers – fool roles, roles in cop movies, roles in blaxploitation movies, trickster types, all the stereotypical Black characters, Black roles with white hats, dark glasses and chains around their necks,” Gossett said. He experienced unequal treatment behind the scenes during a dark period in his life.

Depressed, Gossett became hooked on drugs and alcohol when the bounty didn’t bring him what he wanted. He fought for leading roles and equal pay that did not materialize. He has reached what many consider to be the top of acting, but nothing has modified. “I said to myself, ‘What else can I do? Where is the light at the end of the tunnel? I started to self-destruct.” He noted how narrow the trail was for black actors in comparison with their white counterparts. He wrote about it in his memoirs:

“(They) were in a position to overcome worse problems through drugs, alcohol and self-destructive actions. There was hope for them of redemption and an even more successful profession after treatment, and their drug problem only added to their allure. But for a black man who was alleged to “mind his manners,” drugs were a everlasting stain. For me, the road was too narrow to permit for playing around.

Louis Gossett Jr. on stage during Center Theater Group’s fiftieth Anniversary Celebration on the Ahmanson Theater on May 20, 2017 in Los Angeles.

Rich Polk/Getty Images for Center Theater Group

As Rowan Pope famously said on a TV show, “We have to be twice as good as them to get half of what they have.” It’s the identical now as it was then. It says loads that what he experienced 40 years ago continues to be relevant today. Even after Gossett’s successful stint in rehab, the established order remained for a person who deserved higher. What does it say concerning the entertainment industry when a person who overcame his transgressions, treated every job as if it were his last, won so many accolades along the best way, and who envisioned a world of color-blind casting never had the possibility to attain what several his white co-stars did on film? What does it say about this man that he found himself in a greater place and overcame his bitterness?

Gossett loved Hollywood, even if it never fully loved him. An Academy Award signifies that the complete entertainment community recognizes someone’s talent and says, “We such as you. We really such as you. The same individuals who voted for him in 1983 over Charles Durning, John Lithgow, James Mason and Robert Preston hung him to dry when the ceremony was over and the champagne stopped flowing. Gossett hoped that television would change the situation and that when audiences saw Black people in diverse roles, it might turn the tide for higher film roles.

It finally happened.

Jason Gedrick (left) and Louis Gossett Jr. (right) within the scene with Iron Eagle in 1986

TriStar/Getty Images

Although his film profession never really took off, Gossett blazed a trail in television. Having someone of his height forged in non-stereotypical roles opened doors for those behind him. He showed off his comedy talent in . He voiced Lucius Fox within the animated series and a drill sergeant in . In the series, he played priests, reverends, private detectives, teachers and even a superhero.

This last point stands out because it’s hard to assume a world during which Regina King existed because the principal character if it weren’t for all the things Gossett achieved. It’s even harder to see someone apart from him play Will Reeves/Hooded Justice with righteous outrage at what was taken from him and the methods he selected to take it back. There is a Bible verse about how there may be a time for all the things. Gossett had his way when individuals who grew up watching him in every sequel and casting him of their shows or movies like in 2023.

These props didn’t arrive when he called, but they eventually arrived on time.

Marcus Shorter is a communications specialist and author. When he’s not writing ideas for Consequence, Cageside Seats, or Bloody Disgusting, he gets extremely nerdy about rap lyrics, politics, poetry, and comics.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Pharrell Williams ‘Irritated’ by Celebrity Political Endorsements

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Pharrell Williams shouldn’t be a fan of celebrity political endorsements. In an interview with Hollywood ReporterThe multi-faceted star shared her more “humanist” view of politics and her opinion on the music and entertainment industry’s involvement in elections.

“I’m more of a humanitarian. I like people who try to help others. I’m not sure I’ll ever vote for the far right. I won’t,” he reportedly said with fun. “But I’m not really into politics. I do like some of the politics; I think education is important. We have a nonprofit called YELLOW (whose mission is equality through education), and then there’s another 501(c)(3) that helps black and brown entrepreneurs called Black Ambition—those are the things I lean into. I’m not an activist, but I believe in action.”

As hundreds of men and girls rally to support Vice President Kamala Harris within the 2024 presidential election, Williams revealed his mixed feelings about celebrities publicly endorsing political candidates. When asked if he would allow any party to make use of his music of their campaigns, as Beyoncé did with Harris, Williams said no, adding that he sometimes “gets irritated” by celebrities getting involved in politics.

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“Sometimes I get annoyed when I see celebrities trying to tell you (who to vote for). There are celebrities I respect who have their own opinions, but not all of them. I’m one of those people (who says, ‘What the hell? Shut up. Nobody asked you,'” he explained. “When people come out and start thinking they’re righteous, they roll up their sleeves and go around with a sign saying, ‘Shut up!'”

In recent years, celebrity endorsements have turn into a key a part of each parties’ political campaigns. While Williams apparently has no plans to endorse anyone this election cycle, he publicly endorsed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016. Similarly, he sent former President Trump a letter demanding that he stop using his song “Happy” at one in all his rallies.

“Politics is not my field of expertise,” he said, at a Clinton rally in 2016“But I am a human being. I am a human being with a family, a human being who shares this Earth with other people. These elections are simply too important. I could not sit on the sidelines and just remain silent.”

Social media users were quick to criticize the Louis Vuitton menswear creative director for his seemingly contradictory comments.

“I respectfully disagree, Pharrell. The voices of the informed can educate,” one user wrote on X.

“That’s a privileged approach, lol,” said one other as well as.

Regardless of your opinion on celebrity political endorsements, Williams’ statement reminds us how vital it’s to do your research and fully understand the ballot before casting your vote.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Jennifer Lopez allegedly wants ‘revenge’ on Ben Affleck, revealing how he ‘let her down’ in the bedroom amid embarrassing divorce

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jlo-ben-affleck revenge

Soon-to-be-four-time divorcee Jennifer Lopez is reportedly gearing up to disclose unflattering details about her relationship with Ben Affleck following their recent split.

According to a brand new report, Lopez, 55, who has previously praised their passionate sex life in her music, is now considering changing her praise and should be preparing to release a song that paints a very different picture.

jlo-ben-affleck revenge
Sources claim that singer Jennifer Lopez wants to embarrass her soon-to-be ex-husband Ben Affleck with songs about his poor bedroom performance. (Photos: @jlo/(Instagram; Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

As tensions between them intensify following their breakup, a more essential side of their time together begins to come back to light.

Lopez, who once bragged about watching the “Good Will Hunting” actor have sex in the bedroom while singing sensual lyrics in “The Greatest Love Story Never Told,” appears to be changing his tune on Affleck’s abilities in the bedroom.

“When things were going well between them, J.Lo put Ben and his bedroom skills on a pedestal,” the insider said. revealed to In Touch, “but she’s taken off her rose-tinted glasses and is telling people he was actually a pretty selfish and basic lover.”

This marks a major change from Lopez’s previous tributes to Affleck, in which she appeared to idolize him each personally and physically.

Her latest album, This Is Me… Now: A Love Story, released in February, was intended to have a good time their renewed romance.

Lopez’s ninth studio album featured a companion film that showcased their relationship in a vibrant light. While she produced the project herself, In Touch’s alleged source claims that Affleck played a major role behind the scenes, likely controlling the narrative greater than people realize.

Just two months after the project’s premiere, the couple announced their end of collaboration and have remained separated ever since.

However, Lopez’s tone has reportedly modified drastically. She not praises Affleck’s talent but as a substitute expresses frustrations about their personal lives, especially his mediocre performance in the bedroom, a brand new report claims.

“She’s so pissed she wrote all those sexy lyrics about him,” an alleged insider told In Touch, claiming Lopez is considering writing one other song that exposes Affleck’s flaws.

The person said at the time: “She says she’s now ready to write a breakup song that hits where it hurts most and makes up to him for all the ways he let her down, including in the bedroom.”

Adding that Lopez uses writing as an outlet for her emotions and that her team is fully supportive of the idea, the anonymous spokesperson said, “She’s very emotional and angry right now, and part of the way she deals with her emotions is by keeping a journal and writing. Her team is encouraging her to channel that into songwriting.”

Lopez’s longtime manager Benny Medina and her team are reportedly urging her to pursue the project, though some speculate they’ve been working behind the scenes to break Affleck’s image since their marriage began to unravel.

This alleged manipulation is not any stranger to those that have previously been involved with Lopez’s life.

Her first husband, Ojani Noa, recently spoke to the Daily Mail about the similar treatment he experienced during his marriage to the star.

“(Her people) wanted her to look good for everything that was coming out — the movie, the album, and they didn’t want any bad publicity,” Noa claimed. “They made it sound like I didn’t want to be with her, and it was the opposite.”

There’s no word on whether Lopez plans to officially channel her frustrations with Affleck into recent music. She’s currently promoting her latest film, “Unstoppable,” a project she co-produced with Affleck and his longtime friend Matt Damon. Lopez recently attended the Toronto International Film Festival to advertise the film, although Affleck was noticeably absent.

Despite their split, the duo have remained in touch, reportedly raising their combined family together. Lopez and Affleck were recently spotted at the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where they met up with their children — Affleck’s daughter Seraphina, 15, son Samuel, 12, and Lopez’s twins, Emme and Max, 16 — for a family chat.

Art often imitates life, and Lopez’s story suggests she could use this tumultuous time to fuel her creativity. Whether it’s a chart-topping song or successful movie, the fallout from this breakup could encourage her next big hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMFIOGsIdA


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Fans slam Oprah Winfrey’s ‘shady’ move to hide her secrets after blocking upcoming documentary on her life

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oprah winfrey documentary

Oprah Winfrey has officially halted production on her online documentary, but fans want to know why.

The billionaire actress and former talk show host reportedly spent “a fortune” to make sure the docuseries never saw the sunshine of day after she fell out with Oscar-winning filmmaker and director Kevin Macdonald over the biopic project.

oprah winfrey documentary
Oprah Winfrey faces criticism after paying a “fortune” to block a documentary about her life. (Photo: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images)

According to Page SixA rep for the 70-year-old media mogul confirmed she paid to shelve the documentary after her content take care of Apple expired in September 2022.

“As her Apple TV+ deal was coming to an end, Ms. Winfrey purchased the rights to her docuseries and has since decided to put the documentary on hold,” Oprah’s spokesperson told Page Six.

Additionally, one other source said, “Kevin made a video, but Oprah didn’t like it and refused to make changes, so Oprah gave Apple her fee back.”

While speculation suggested McDonald refused to comply with Winfrey’s requests to edit, the TV personality’s team denied the claims, with Oprah’s camp insisting to Page Six that “it just wasn’t the right time to do the documentary.”

It comes amid speculation that Winfrey spent “millions” on the rights to the documentary. However, Team Oprah dismissed the concept the deal was price seven figures.

Deadline Originally announced as an Oprah Winfrey documentary for Apple TV+ in January 2021, MacDonald teamed up with Emmy-nominated producer Lisa Erspamer to create the now-cancelled biopic, which was to be presented in two parts.

They previously worked together on the documentary “Whitney,” which premiered in U.S. theaters in July 2018.

Internet users reacted to the news that the documentary had been frozen, with many wondering whether Winfrey was fearful that some damaging information was about to be released.

“Well isn’t that suspicious!” one person wrote within the Page Six comments section. Another person asked, “What is she afraid of or hiding?”

Similar footage appeared on the X program. For example, in response to an article concerning the cancellation of the documentary, an individual identifying himself as a Donald Trump supporter he tweeted“What is Oprah hiding?”

Another X account published“Oprah Winfrey spent a fortune to prevent a documentary from being released, that sounds credible… money tells the truth… not the truth.”

Winfrey was a goal of conservatives throughout the 2024 presidential campaign. The Tennessee State University graduate endorsed Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, drawing the ire of Donald Trump’s MAGA legion.

After making a surprise appearance on the Democratic National Convention in August 2024, Winfrey faced backlash from Trump supporters over allegations of abuse related to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa.

Winfrey apologized to the parents of scholars who accused a Leadership Academy worker of molestation in 2007. Tiny Makopo, a dormitory supervisor at the college, he was acquitted of 14 charges related to allegations of abuse.

Winfrey’s announcement that she would hold a virtual “Unite for America” ​​rally in support of Harris also sparked outrage from the appropriate.

Critics have relentlessly hounded the “Beloved” star over her alleged “disappearance of girls” allegations, despite no evidence to support the disappearance of any Leadership Academy students.

Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. After graduating from college and dealing in journalism, she became a household name, hosting the favored program “The Oprah Winfrey Show” from September 1986 to May 2011.

The so-called “Queen of All Media” has built an empire price $3 billion. Winfrey earned an Oscar nomination for her role within the 1985 film “The Color Purple.” She can be a two-time Emmy winner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMFIOGsIdA

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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