Entertainment
Oscar winner Louis Gossett Jr., known from the films “Roots” and “An Officer and a Gentleman”, dies at the age of 87
Louis Gossett Jr., an Oscar and Emmy winner who played a variety of characters in a profession spanning over fifty years, died on Thursday at the age of 87.
The legendary actor has appeared in over 50 films and a whole bunch of television shows, earning respect and popularity of roles reminiscent of Fiddler in the TV miniseries “Roots” and Sgt. Emil Foley in “An Officer and a Gentleman.”
A native of New York, Gossett was born on May 27, 1936, to Hellen Rebecca Gossett, a nurse, and Louis Gossett, Sr., a porter. His Coney Island neighborhood in the Brooklyn borough of New York was home to other notable artists, including Gustav Blum. Harvey Keitel, Neil Simon and Arthur Miller.
Acting got here early, nevertheless it was not Gossett’s primary interest. He attended Abraham Lincoln High School, where he first focused on basketball. An injury that kept him out of the game prompted him to join acting classes. At age 17, he made his debut in the school play “You Can’t Take It With You,” and his performance was so inspiring that his teacher persuaded him to audition for a Broadway play. He did it, landed a role in “Take a Giant Step” (1953) and won the Donaldson Award for best newcomer of the yr.
After graduating from highschool, he decided to attend New York University, which offered him a scholarship in basketball and theater. While at school, he took part in other acting gigs, appearing in “The Desk Set” (1955) with award-winning actress Shirley Booth. After graduating from college in 1958, he was invited to the New York Knicks’ rookie camp. He decided to stay committed to his acting profession and studied at The Actors Studio under John Sticks and Peggy Fury.
In 1961, Gossett played a key role in the Broadway production and then film adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun. He also appeared in the original solid of Jean Genet’s “The Blacks.” It became the longest-running off-Broadway play of the decade. His castmates included James Earl Jones, Roscoe Lee Browne, Cicely Tyson, Godfrey Cambridge, Maya Angelou and Charles Gordone. He then appeared in “Golden Boy” (1964) and later in “Chicago” (2002).
On screen, Gossett’s profession also blossomed. His credits include: “The Landlord” (1970), “Good Times” 1976), “Don’t Look Back: The Story of Leroy “Satchel” Paige” (1981), “Enemy Mine” (1985), “The Prince” (1987), the Iron Eagle film series (1986-1995), The Josephine Baker Story (1991), Blues Lackawanna (2005) and Watchmen (2019).
In 1977, he won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama or Comedy Series for his role as Fiddler on the groundbreaking ABC miniseries “Roots.”
He made Oscar history in 1983. In 2023, Gossett celebrated the fortieth anniversary of his historic Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “An Officer and a Gentleman.” He was the first black actor to win this category.
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Gossett – recalled during a press conference in December 2023 that he faced some tough competition this awards season. Other nominees included Charles Durning, John Lithgow, James Mason and Robert Preston. “Being in the top five is pretty cool,” said Gossett, who also won a Golden Globe this yr.
In addition to the Oscar and Emmy, Gossett won one other Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in the HBO series “The Josephine Baker Story” in 1992. In 2000, he received the Black Reels Award for Outstanding Directing in a Made-for-TV Movie or Limited Series series “Love Songs” (1999). He teamed up with Robert Townsend and the late Andre Braugher to every direct a story, all tied together by themes of love and family.
Gossett, at age 87, was still wanted. Although it was a small role, Gossett took on the role of Ol’ Mister Johnson with gusto in the film adaptation of the musical “The Color Purple,” which premiered in 2023 to rave reviews and awards season buzz. For Gossett, it was a “blessing” to be a part of all of it. “It’s just lightning in a bottle” – Gossett he said about the film’s popularity. “It’s just perfect.”
When asked at a press conference in Atlanta on the decision to bring The Color Purple back to the screen, he praised the novel as a “monumental work of art” and its commitment to truth.
He told the audience, “As long as I am still here, I have been committed to the absolute, ultimate truth of our common existence as humanity.”
Off screen, Gossett was a dedicated community activist and educator. With the grant, Gossett, James Earl Jones and Paul Sorvino founded a theater group in the Nineteen Sixties to assist at-risk youth. In 2005, he sponsored an anti-violence campaign in Los Angeles called One Summer of Peace. The following yr, he founded the Eracism Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating racism. The foundation provides young adults with the tools to steer racially diverse and culturally inclusive lives. As part of the foundation’s work, he partnered with the Reverend George Clements, a black Catholic priest and human rights activist, to create Shamba centers where black history and culture may be taught.
Gossett is survived by sons, Satie Gossett and Sharron Gossett.
Entertainment
Erykah Badu attacked, reignites fire for Beyoncé fans after calling out Jay Z and accusing the singer of stealing her style
The buzz of swarming bees is music to Erykah Badu’s ears, which also includes real insects and fiercely loyal followers who pledge their allegiance to Beyoncé.
As for speculative fans, each women consider Texas their home state, but there isn’t any semblance of a relationship between them. They have evolved into one of the most unsuspecting rivals in music over the last yr, largely as a result of Badu several times attacking the “Beautiful Liar” singer’s creative integrity, or perceived lack thereof.
On multiple occasion, the Neo-Soul star saw her comments crammed with bee emojis, marking an all-out digital attack from the BeyHive, angered by her snubbing Beyoncé.
A number of months after his last sting, Badu asks one query: “Where is the hive now?” He appeared on Halloween episode “The Breakfast Club,” where hosts DJ Envy, Charlamagne tha God, and guest Lauren LaRosa didn’t hesitate to ask the artist if she was being targeted by her modern fans.
“I haven’t seen BeyHive in a long time. And I love bees,” she replied shyly. “They do not know I prefer it. I like bees. This is my totem… They will tear me to pieces.
In 2023, Badu angered countless members of the hive when she derisively remarked that she was “everyone’s stylist” while showing photos of herself and Beyoncé wearing similarly large, metallic, wide-brimmed hats.
The global pop star was on the Renaissance Tour at the time and recurrently used the accessory as part of her stage costume collection, although the look harks back to her time on the Lemonade Tour in 2016.
When Badu faced backlash for the comment, she hopped on Twitter to call for support. “To JAY Z. Say something to Jay. You left, you let that woman and those bees do this to me?”
To Jay Z. Say something, Jay. You left, you let that woman and those bees do that to me? 😆 pic.twitter.com/oxNhNgvfWp
— ErykahBadoula (@fatbellybella) March 20, 2024
When asked about the intentions behind her decision to involve Jay-Z, Beyoncé’s husband, in the fight, the Dallas native replied that it was all a joke. “I don’t know why people take everything so seriously. It’s just my sense of humor. I love Jay,” she joked.
Badu said earlier Standard that BeyHive never gave her the opportunity to offer context to her tweet. Instead, she was “guilty before it started.”
However, the murmurs about suspected rift between the women became louder when Badu once more fueled the rumors by slamming Beyoncé for wearing Fulani braids in the cover of her “Country Carter” album.
Badu has worn the same hairstyle over the years and others throughout her profession. On The Breakfast Club, she selected her words fastidiously when she noticed her peers taking the same approach.
“Even though we love our art, it doesn’t belong to us once it comes to light… You can’t decide what people do with art. You can’t decide if they’re going to replicate it, do a different interpretation, or just enjoy it or use it as inspiration. It can’t be done, but there is no need to remain silent about it,’ she said. Badu added: “If it makes you feel any way, you should say something about it.”
Andre 3K if he hears screams like that from her, he might give Erykah an aneurysm https://t.co/2YkzCagTA5
— Can I tag you @Sethrogen? (@MrsKhandiCoated) April 2, 2024
The response to the interview was: “Badu is not mocking Beyhive trolling.” Someone else said her comments prove she’s jealous of Beyoncé. Although one other person suggested: “He’s weirdly obsessed with her.”
Another viewer wrote that the women’s dispute involved a 3rd party. “It’s about André 3000,” he said. André 3000 and Badu dated over twenty years ago and share a son. He collaborated with Beyoncé and even gained recognition when she received the Innovator Award at the 2024 iHeart Awards.
Entertainment
Gayle King slams Megan Thee Stallion, calling her a ‘slut’ after confessing she lied about her relationship with Tory Lanez
Gayle King is not concerned after hearing Megan Thee Stallion call her a “bitch” within the Prime rapper’s latest documentary “Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words.”
In a latest Instagram video, the “CBS Mornings” host immediately responded, saying, “Hey, I’m sitting here minding my very own business. People contact me and say, “Hey Gayle, Megan Thee Stallion just called you a bitch.”
“I do know you are expecting me, or possibly you’re thinking that I even have something negative to say. I do not. I even have nothing but great, great love and respect for Megan Thee Stallion. I’m at all times rooting for her,” King added, before turning to what she considers more necessary topics, equivalent to the 2024 election next week.
Fans responded to King’s message, defending the “Savage” rapper. Two said, “She didn’t mean it that way,” and “She said the word b—tch out of endearment, but clearly didn’t admit that Meg had lied to her.”
A 3rd fan scolded the 29-year-old for calling King by name: “I’m sorry, no matter what context she said, respect your elders… it was inappropriate and disrespectful.”
In a documentary that aired on Halloween, Megan Thee Stallion gives fans insight into her personal thoughts and feelings following the rapper’s sentencing Tory Lanez. Lanez was found guilty of three felony charges in 2022 following a 2020 shooting incident that left Megan shot within the foot.
After the controversial and widely discussed trial, the “Hot Girl” coach had a one-on-one interview on “CBS Mornings,” during which King asked her if she was intimate with Lanez.
Megan denied it on the time, but almost eight months later, during her testimony in court, she confessed that she and Lanez were close.
At the time, a lot of Lanez’s supporters and Megan’s haters took this confession as ammunition and justification for his or her claims that Megan was falsely accusing Lanez of shooting her too.
In the document, she truthfully explained why she lied to King within the interview. She said, “Fuck yeah. I lied to Gayle King, bitch. First of all, I don’t know if this female dog even wanted to ask me this shit. I thought we were going to talk about this shooting. Why are you asking me about fucking Tory? That’s not what this is about.”
The “Bigger In Texas” artist continued, “Even if I… fucked that nigga once, possibly twice on a drunken night. You kept knocking me out of my fucking mind.
Megan Thee Stallion admits she lied to Gayle King about sleeping with Tory Lanez in her latest documentary. pic.twitter.com/5jimgmR5Gm
— 〽️ (@drizzyys) October 31, 2024
Megan’s second confession is now causing backlash from fans who imagine Tory is, the truth is, innocent. Many people imagine that Megan’s former best friend, Kelsey Nicole – who was present on the time of the shooting – was the actual wrongdoer within the situation and imagine that she was the one who pulled the trigger on Megan.
Prior to the incident, Kelsey was also romantically involved with the Toronto resident, which many imagine sparked an argument between the three of them in a automobile that resulted in Megan being shot in the summertime of 2022.
Lanez is currently serving a 10-year sentence and plans to appeal his case while maintaining his innocence.
One of Lanez’s representatives released a statement to TMZ in response to the video wherein Megan admits to lying. They said: “The fact that Megan lied about her sexual relationship with Tory clearly makes her an unreliable witness. If someone lies to millions of people, how can you trust what they say next time?”
Roy Wood Jr. was on the short list of people that could develop into host of “The Daily Show” after Trevor Noah. Many people guessed or assumed that he would eventually get the job. One day, Wood announced that he was leaving this system. Why? We enter “Masters of the Game”, which is now streaming on theGrio platform.
There is quite a bit to this story, but let me provide you with the shortened version. Every time I hear a few black person voluntarily leaving their job, I feel anxious. Can we actually ensure there will probably be one other one??? Maybe I’m silly, but anxiety should not be logical. But I asked Wood why he left, and his most vital point was this: he needed to be in charge of his future. He was on The Daily Show waiting for them to make a call, and that meant putting his future in other people’s hands. He desired to be the captain of the ship that was his profession.
Wood told me he left his job not knowing what lay ahead. I love the courage he showed. Leaving a job without knowing where you are going takes courage, especially while you’re a parent. I also admire his persistence in controlling his profession. We often rush to do what we were hired to do as a substitute of attempting to create a situation where we do what we would like. Wood has built his skilled life around doing what he wants. Not everyone can do that, but there at the moment are more tools that can help you try. Just take heed to Wood discuss leaving “The Daily Show” and see what you concentrate on yourself and your job. Don’t miss Wood on “Masters of the Game,” now streaming on theGrio.
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