Entertainment
‘This is not the era of the Minstrel Show’: Billy Dee Williams sparks online outrage after saying he doesn’t mind if actors do blackface
Actor Billy Dee Williams shocked his fans by expressing his opinion on actors wearing blackface, which is considered unacceptable in today’s climate and regarded a mockery of African Americans.
Williams is best known for his roles in the movies “Star Wars” and “Lady Sings the Blues.” He joined comedian Bill Maher’s podcast “Club Random with Bill Maher,” where they discussed British actor and film star Laurence Olivier wearing blackface in the 1965 film “Othello.”
The history of blackface dates back to minstrel shows in the mid-Nineteenth century, when white actors darkened their skin with shoe polish or a burnt cork, exaggerated their features, and wore tattered clothes to portray black people.
According to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, it was the first minstrel to introduce he imitated slaves living on southern plantations and portrayed them as lazy, ignorant, cowardly, or hypersexual.
Maher smoked marijuana while Williams, 87, sipped a glass of wine and a Colt .45 during the interview. Williams admitted that Olivier was also criticized for being “physical and doing things with his voice,” but when he saw Olivier as Othello, he thought it was funny .
“When he did Othello, I cried with laughter,” Williams recalled. “He stuck his ass out and walked around with his a—, you know, because black people are supposed to have big butts. …I thought it was hysterical. Love it. Love it. I love this kind of stuff.”
After Maher said actors couldn’t afford to wear blackface today, Williams pushed back and said that as performers, they need to have the option to play any role they need.
“If you’re an actor, you should do whatever you want,” he said. “As an actor, whatever you think you can do, you should be able to do it.”
Hollywood Unlocked shared clips from interview on Instagram, and fans welcomed Williams’ comments.
“He got old and now he just talks like that.” recorded one fan. “Sir, this is not the 19th century,” one other added. “Man, please… stop already. This is America!!!!”
“It’s crazy how old heads have gone soft in the face of disrespect towards their community. This is not the era of minstrel shows, nobody should feel comfortable in that shit. he replied one fan, while others joked that “the Dem Colt 45 beers impressed him the most.”
Other fans were just completely happy to learn that “What We Have Here?” the creator was still with us, but some weren’t surprised considering Williams “did an interview a few weeks ago where he said he was a brown actor, not a black actor.”
During Black History Month this February appeared on “The View,” where co-host Sunny Hostin asked about his experience working in Hollywood as a black actor.
“So you actually came out, as Whoopi (Goldberg) said, in an industry where there were very few people of color on TV and in movies,” she said, before Williams interjected, “Everyone is a people of color.”
Sunny replied, “Yes, well, a black man,” to which Billy corrects her, stating, “Well, a brown-skinned man.”
Did you notice the hot moment on The View when Billy Dee Williams corrected Sonny Hostin on-air? Things got interesting when he stated that he identified as a “brown” man! #View #BillyDeeWilliams #SonnyHostin #Star Wars #SocialJustice #Identity #RepresentationMatters pic.twitter.com/tuT4knzlIM
— Vlemx4u (@vlemx4u) March 9, 2024
It’s almost secure to assume Williams was also interested in Robert Downey Jr., who wore blackface in 2008’s “Tropic Thunder.”
The film faced backlash at the time over Downey’s character, Kirk Lazarus, a cocky Australian actor dedicated to his craft who insisted on wearing an afro while adopting brown skin for the role. Producers defended the use of blackface in the film, saying it was satire – a form of humor that uses mockery to criticize human stupidity or views equivalent to racism.
Downey claimed that along with his performance, for which he received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor, he wanted to show “tropes that are wrong and have been perpetuated for too long.”
The film’s director and star is also Ben Stiller defended this in X, stating that he “makes no apologies for Tropic Thunder. I do not know who told you that. Since its opening, this film has all the time been controversial. I’m proud of it and the work everyone did on it.
‘This is not the era of the Minstrel Show’: Billy Dee Williams sparks online outrage after saying he doesn’t mind if actors do blackface
Entertainment
Rihanna apologizes to Donald Trump supporters and tells her to stay away from politics after joking about voting
Rihanna, 36, a recording artist from Barbados, didn’t hold back when she addressed trolls within the comments section of an Instagram post about politics.
The nine-time Grammy winner’s joke about the 2024 US presidential election caused an uproar, with several commentators clapping at her words.
“POV: I’m trying to sneak into the polls using my son’s passport. #votecauseicant,” Rihanna wrote under the video of her driving a automotive.
The “Good Girl Gone Bad” singer did just that two sons born in America with her boyfriend, rapper A$AP Rocky, 36. RZA Mayers was born on May 13, 2022, and Riot Mayers was born on August 1, 2023.
Moreover, she captioned her Instagram post: “Protecting p… and releasing p… can happen in one voice. #votecauseicant #TanSuitSeason.” The mention of vaginas in RiRi’s caption seemed to be an announcement about the fight for abortion rights in America.
Former President Donald Trump, 78, has repeatedly taken credit for appointing three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade. This landmark 1973 decision recognized that abortion is a constitutionally protected right within the United States.
“After 50 years of failure, with no one even close, I managed to kill Roe v. Wade, to everyone’s ‘shock’,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth in May 2023.
The MAGA leader added: “Without me, there would be no 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks or anything that was finally agreed upon. Without me, the Pro-Life movement would still lose. Thank you President TRUMP!!!”
Rihanna’s light-hearted way of encouraging her followers to vote within the 2024 election became a serious topic when conservatives slammed the “Umbrella” hitmaker for her political opinions.
“Illegal voting is a crime. Maybe she should be arrested for trying,” one person commented. The Fenty Beauty founder replied, “Shut up, Karen.”
When one other person said the abortion issue “isn’t as important as you think,” Rihanna responded: “You’re f**ked up. And that is the America you dream of. I hope you will not have to experience this for yourself.
The “Ocean’s 8” star also hit back on the criticism, claiming the billionaire singer was misleading fans by saying she should persist with her “musical sister.”
In response, the Barbados-born businesswoman responded he asked“Where were you on January 6, sister? Stick with the discounted crotch. We are here fighting for his rights!”
Rihanna meant it crowd of Trump supporters storming the US Capitol. The Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was allegedly a part of Trump’s failed coup plot to overturn the 2020 election after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden by a 306-232 Electoral College vote.
Trump currently faces a federal criminal case for his alleged role in the trouble to overturn his 2020 election defeat, which led to the Jan. 6 revolt on the U.S. Capitol. He pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy and obstruction.
On January 6, a violent Trump mob attempted a coup on the Capitol, leaving several people dead and a whole lot of cops injured – here’s a timeline of how that day descended into full-blown anarchy pic.twitter.com/P9uYlf0aR0
— KT “CIA Special Operation” (@KremlinTrolls) November 5, 2024
Additionally, 18 alleged co-conspirators were charged within the Georgia RICO case. Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges. Four defendants pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the prosecutor’s office.
The presidential contest between Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris will turn out to be a reality on Election Day, November 5, while the newest national opinion polls show a near tie.
Rihanna joins the list of stars who’ve announced their support for Vice President Harris, 60, who shall be inaugurated on January 20, 2025 because the forty seventh president of the United States.
Harris also secured support from musicians including Bad Bunny, Beyoncé, Cardi B, Common, Eminem, Fat Joe, GloRilla, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Lizzo, Megan Thee Stallion, Queen Latifah, Taylor Swift and Usher.
Donald Trump’s musical supporters include rappers 6ix9ine, Anuel AA, Lil Pump and Waka Flocka Flame, in addition to singers Billy Ray Cyrus, Justin Moore, Ted Nugent and Kid Rock.
Entertainment
Why is Mookie Betts still missing from the culture? — Andlandscape
On October 30, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts was still in a hazy mood as he sat down for a postgame interview with the FOX baseball crew following the Dodgers’ five-game World Series victory over the New York Yankees. First baseman and World Series MVP Freddie Freeman showed up with a four-hitter that included a wild outburst after the first game. Fierce right-hander Blake Treinen, whose profession seemed all but over after a series of diverse injuries, threw 42 pitches and struck out three batters over 2.1 innings of labor in the fifth, limiting the Yankees to simply one hit.
However, it was Betts who once more reminded fans why the Dodgers moved heaven and earth in 2020 to sign the disastrous Boston Red Sox franchise. In 16 postseason games in 2024, the famed five-tool outfielder hit .290 with 18 hits, 4 runs scored, 16 RBI and 14 runs scored. Betts’ profession stats are much more impressive. The 2018 American League MVP is an eight-time All-Star, six-time Gold Glove winner and 2018 batting champion. The only reason Betts is not the biggest star in the game is because his teammate, Shohei Ohtani, is a record-breaking hitter with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, a soon-to-be three-time National League MVP, who also won 38 games in profession as a pitcher.
On paper, Betts — who earned his nickname because his parents were huge fans of NBA guard Mookie Blaylock — must be as famous by name as other extraordinary figures in the current Black culture zeitgeist, like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, LeBron, Kendrick, Zendaya and Barack and Michelle.
When polarizing baseball great-turned-analyst Alex Rodriguez reminded him that he was the only energetic player with three World Series titles (one with the Red Sox in 2018 and two with the Dodgers in 2020 and 2024). , Betts downplayed the feat. Instead, he praised his teammates for his or her support during a stretch last season during which the 32-year-old struggled at the plate.
“I remember in San Diego I was just grinding, grinding, grinding,” he recalled. “Literally no one turned their back on me. They were all there, cheering me on in the cage as I hit shots, hit shots, and told me I was OK…all my teammates were there…I love every single one of those guys. I just love being a Dodger, I really do.”
Betts is armed with retro charm. In one other life, the MLB superstar might have been an eye-candy ’90s soap opera idol who would give fresh-faced Shemar Moore a run for his money. You might wonder why Betts – who married childhood sweetheart Brianna Hammonds and has a postcard-ready family that evokes comparisons of BLACK LOVE to LeBron and Savannah James or Rihanna and A$AP Rocky – is not celebrated more by us. And while his name has been name-checked in several rappers’ rhymes, akin to Benny the Butcher in “Line“, Kennedy House in “Trust” and DJ BlueBucksClan, A-Bliccy and Jeezy in “Mookie Bets”, some rappers they’re astonished that it continues to be unnoticed of the conversation.
People outside of sports fandom would have a tough time picking Betts out of the lineup. However, he actually doesn’t shrink back from the highlight. In 2020, Betts moved to Hollywood where she executive produced the award-winning 2022 documentary about the most beloved Dodger of all of them, .
Despite the charismatic Betts’ contract with the Dodgers value $365 million, which in today’s staggering $700 million market, represents a bargain that his teammate Ohtani, away from the diamond, is comically aloof. A talented athlete who was a standout basketball player at Overton High School in Nashville, winner of the Class AAA All-City Player of the YearBetts is knowledgeable bowler who bowled an ideal match in 2017.
So what gives? Why hasn’t Betts grow to be a ubiquitous fixture in black celebrity circles? Blame MLB. In 2024, only 4 African Americans participated in the Fall Classic (not counting Afro-Latino players and one from the Bahamas). Things got even worse in 2022 when no Black players took the field in the World Series.
This season, when MLB celebrated Jackie Robinson Day in honor of the giant who broke baseball’s color barrier on April 15, 1947, the variety of black players on the league’s 30 rosters was just 6%. By comparison, 1991 boasted the highest percentage of black players in the MLB at 18%, led by such immortals as Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Andre Dawson, Ricky Henderson, Ozzie Smith, Lee Smith and Eddie Murray .
Back then, baseball was still considered cool, a lot in order that the aforementioned Bonds, Griffey and frozen two-sport star Deion Sanders routinely shared highlights on SportsCenter with Michael Jordan and Barry Sanders. That’s why Betts has made it his mission to draw more black fans and elite black talent to MLB.
“I think one of the most important things is that kids don’t see us there.” – he said during the 2023 meeting. In the profile, he was filmed wearing a T-shirt that read “We need more Black people in the stadium.”
“If you watch football and basketball, you can see us everywhere… everyone on the field, everyone in the commercials,” Betts continued. “I have to continue to do my part and stay involved so that kids can see someone they can be.”
Each 12 months, MLB’s development programs, akin to the DREAM Series, Hank Aaron Invitational and Breakthrough Series, involve 1,200 to 1,500 children participating in the league’s diversity initiative. And the Andre Dawson Classic collegiate tournament showcases HBCU talent trying to break into the big leagues.
The query, nevertheless, is not whether Betts will eventually be engulfed by this nebulous and overused all-encompassing “culture.” Is that why it’s taking so long?
“I have three” Betts said to a packed crowd at Dodgers Stadium for World Series celebrations, holding his right hand up. “I’m trying to fill this hand, Los Angeles”
Entertainment
Remembering Quincy Jones: 10 songs from across his career to honor his legacy
Few artists can boast such a legacy that their name alone could be considered synonymous with the music industry, but nevertheless, most musicians aren’t like this prodigy producer Quincy Jones.
The extraordinary figure died on Sunday evening at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family. He was 91 years old and was to receive the award Honorary Academy Award later this month.
Over the course of his career, Jones, a 28-time Grammy Award winner, has worked with everyone from Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson with tons of in between. The best way to honor his legacy is, in fact, by listening to the music he created.
Read on after which listen to all of the songs on our Spotify playlist, here.
1963: Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie’s Orchestra, “Honeysuckle Rose”
Those who want to start listening to Jones on the very starting of his career can accomplish that with “Liza” from his first album, Jazz Abroad, released with Roy Haynes. As for others, take a look at his arrangements in “Ella and Basie!” from 1963 Fitzgerald album with Count Basie’s orchestra. Moving from vocals and bass to its own greatness – not to mention Fitzgerald’s stunning scat solo – the album’s “Honeysuckle Rose” exemplifies Jones’ jazz brilliance.
1963: Lesley Gore, “It’s My Party”
Teen heartbreak met its counterpart in Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party,” recorded when the pop singer was still an adolescent. Jones produced an album with addictive melodies, percussion and a cheerful brass section – emotionally and diametrically opposed to the narrative story of a lady who, on her birthday, is abandoned by her boyfriend for her best friend. You’d cry too if it happened to you.
1964: Frank Sinatra, “Fly Me to the Moon”
Jones’ legacy is defined by his specific ability to master various American musical forms with conspicuous ease. Such is the case with this canonized cover by Frank Sinatra, “Fly Me to the Moon” from Sinatra’s 1964 album “It Might as Well Be Swing” arranged by Jones. The producer gave the song a powerful, swinging rhythm and a longing flute, and the remaining is history. You may also thank Jones for “The Best Is Yet It Come.”
Featured Stories
1967: Ray Charles, “In the Heat of the Night”
Jones scored the 1967 film “In the Heat of the Night,” which incorporates the gospel-style R&B title song “In the Heat of the Night,” performed by his good friend Ray Charles. It’s a soul committed to wax, enhanced by the inclusion of a rousing tenor saxophone solo.
1979: Michael Jackson, “Don’t stop until you’ve had enough”
Perhaps Jones’ most famous production collaboration is with Michael Jackson, during which he collaborated with the King of Pop on his culture-changing albums: 1979’s “Off the Wall,” 1982’s “Thriller” and 1987’s “Bad.” The couple met while working on the 1978 film “Wizard” —Jones was working on the film’s soundtrack, and Jackson was its star. With its inventive disco-funk, ambitious production and Jackson’s signature falsetto, “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” set the stage for what would grow to be an enormous career.
1981: Quincy Jones, “Just Once”
Place it within the pantheon of great piano ballads: On Jones’ 1981 album “The Dude,” James Ingram takes over vocal duties on “Just Once,” a song with big heart and greater feelings.
1982:Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean”
What songs are more recognizable? An prolonged drum and bass lick introduces “Billie Jean,” certainly one of the best genre-averse pop songs of all time, from Jackson’s record-breaking album “Thriller.” Here, Jones’ production is post-disco, but still funky, still prophetic. And time tells the best story: “Thriller” sold higher it sold over 20 million copies in 1983 alone and equaled, amongst others, the Eagles’ Greatest Hits 1971-1975 because the best-selling album of all time.
(*10*)1982: Donna Summer, “Love’s in Control (Finger on the Trigger)”
And now for something completely different: in 1982 he collaborated with Jones Donna Summer on her self-titled album dance-forward, which incorporates the synth-pop single “Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)”, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
1985: USA for Africa, “We are the world”
Nearly 4 many years ago, a number of the biggest stars on the planet – including Jackson, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson and Bruce Springsteen – gathered for an all-night recording session. The result was “We are the world”, a pop superhit overseen by Jones, a 1985 charity record for African famine relief.
Lionel Richie, who co-wrote “We Are the World” and was certainly one of the lead vocalists, called Jones the “principal orchestrator.”
1989: Quincy Jones with Ray Charles and Chaka Khan, “I’ll be good to you”
In 1976, Jones produced the Brothers Johnson R&B hit “I’ll Be Good to You” after which re-recorded the song with Ray Charles and Chaka Khan – a spirited number with a recent production, completely changing the classic.
-
Press Release7 months ago
CEO of 360WiSE Launches Mentorship Program in Overtown Miami FL
-
Business and Finance5 months ago
The Importance of Owning Your Distribution Media Platform
-
Press Release7 months ago
U.S.-Africa Chamber of Commerce Appoints Robert Alexander of 360WiseMedia as Board Director
-
Business and Finance8 months ago
360Wise Media and McDonald’s NY Tri-State Owner Operators Celebrate Success of “Faces of Black History” Campaign with Over 2 Million Event Visits
-
Ben Crump7 months ago
Another lawsuit accuses Google of bias against Black minority employees
-
Fitness7 months ago
Black sportswear brands for your 2024 fitness journey
-
Theater7 months ago
Applications open for the 2020-2021 Soul Producing National Black Theater residency – Black Theater Matters
-
Ben Crump8 months ago
Henrietta Lacks’ family members reach an agreement after her cells undergo advanced medical tests