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The Rock’s return to wrestling was a success thanks to his adaptability, which continued throughout his career

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A number of months ago, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson agreed with WWE to return to the ring. When he did this, everyone involved thought he was going to important event WrestleMania 40 against his cousin Roman Reigns. Instead, fan revolt, a creative pivot and the necessity to save a potentially ruined marquee event caused Johnson to do what has defined his career since he began as a wrestler: he had to change. Johnson created a completely recent character and evolved into a new edition of himself. That’s what he does best – because if there’s one thing The Rock has to do, it’s reinvent himself to survive.

Johnson began his WWE career as a guaranteed star. The sport’s first third-generation star – his father was Soul Man Rocky Johnson and his grandfather was High Boss Peter Maivia – he was called “the company’s best player.” Rocky Maivia, as Johnson was known on the time, arrived in WWE as a 24-year-old version of what wrestlers call a “white meat babyface” – a smiling, jovial, good-natured athlete like Hulk Hogan or Sting. However, this coincided with the brand new WWE “The era of attitudes”, which blurred the road between good and bad people. Good guys like Stone Cold Steve Austin swore, drank beer and were rebellious. So there was just no room for the banality of Rocky.

It didn’t take long for fans to boo him at every turn. They chanted “Rocky sucks” and “Die, Rocky, die,” although Johnson was supposed to be a good guy. His career was doomed to failure.

Then Dwayne Johnson reinvented himself.

After an injury sidelined him for several weeks in 1997, Johnson returned as a completely different person. He became a bad guy heel by joining the Nation Of Domination, an all-Black Nation Of Islam inspired group that antagonized fans, especially white ones. This is where Rocky Maivia died and The Rock was created in his place.

“I grabbed the microphone. The fans were already booing. They started chanting, “Rocky sucks,” Johnson I said in 2016. “At that moment, The Rock was born… A month later, I was the hottest heel in the company.”

Johnson would not just be the most well liked bad guy in the corporate. He became a fan favorite, spending the subsequent 4 years rivaling Stone Cold Steve Austin as the most important star of wrestling’s hottest era. Part of Johnson’s greatness was his improvisation, summoning the audience to the ring and dropping comedy gold on the mic. It was clear that he may very well be a star not only in wrestling. He will soon turn this potential into reality.


Johnson’s foray into film and tv proved to be his most important transformation. And it wasn’t all the time so smooth. When The Rock entered Hollywood, it gave the look of a sure-fire move, and it was treated as such. His first starring role in 2002 brought then April’s biggest Box Office performance every time. His next big feature film featured Arnold Schwarzenegger, which can be a move mark the passing of the torch to the subsequent great motion hero. Still, Johnson had his feet firmly planted within the wrestling world, even when fans were starting to hate him.

By 2003, Johnson had transformed himself from a skilled wrestler into a megastar who occasionally competed in wrestling. Fans noticed this alteration and have become indignant with the previous audience champion, claiming that he had abandoned them for Hollywood glitz. They began booing Johnson each time he made a guest appearance, leading to mass chants of “Sold out.” The Rock was supposed to be beloved when he returned, but fans had other ideas.

That’s when Johnson pulled off considered one of his most good twists. He evolved into Hollywood Rock, a character that was based on every thing his fans said about him. He interrupted interviews with calls to his agent. He complained that he hated the small towns where he was scheduled to perform. In every city he went to, he delivered hilarious, wicked ads, from Sacramento Down Toronto. Johnson took fan reactions and turned them into his best work. He was such a great villain that he left fans clamoring for more. And although he made a few one-off appearances over the subsequent few years, The Rock essentially ended his wrestling career.

It’s time to take over Hollywood for good.

When we have a look at Johnson’s film career in 2024, it’s hard to imagine a time when he wasn’t a guaranteed hitmaker. But Johnson’s journey into acting has been, well, rocky. This was largely due to his decision to distance himself from skilled wrestling.

“I was then told… these are the biggest stars in the world: Will Smith, George Clooney, Johnny Depp,” he said in an interview for last 12 months. – You are nothing like them. You need to stop talking about wrestling. Stop calling yourself Rock. You’re too big, go on a weight loss plan, leave the gym.

Johnson did exactly as he was told, starting a period from 2005 to 2010 when he seemed lost. He debuted a recent, leaner body that was a far cry from the wrestler he once was. He has done family movies reminiscent of (2007) and (2010). The former was panned but did well on the box office; the latter was a disaster and compelled Johnson to rethink his entire approach.

“After (2010)” – his manager and ex-wife, Dany Garcia, he said in 2014. “We felt that Dwayne was moving away from the core of who he was.”

Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Dwight Howard on the “Jumanji” premiere.

Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media

When Johnson and Garcia decided to change representation, he returned to what made him great: wrestling and motion movies. In 2010, The Rock returned and hosted WrestleMania 27, immediately starting a feud with the best wrestler on the planet, John Cena. The two competed at two WrestleManias, and the result was a match at WrestleMania 29 that broke all WWE records on the time. It was also a probability for The Rock to reconnect with fans who felt he had abandoned them.

As Johnson regained his interest in wrestling, he also became the go-to person for major film franchises. He starred in a movie that reminded everyone what a star he may very well be and reminded the studios how much they liked Johnson. He did the identical with; a franchise that has grossed nearly $2 billion since he became the star of the reboot. These moves led Johnson to the box office success that seemed obvious when he left skilled wrestling. Films like , three sequels and his frequent comedy collaborator Kevin Hart made Johnson feel like a guaranteed box office star.

But for Johnson, not all changes bear immediate fruit. Some of them destroy careers.

Throughout Johnson’s rise to mainstream success, his approach to politics has been surprising. Johnson has flirted with the thought of ​​running for president for nearly a decade. His television program focused on the longer term presidential campaign. In 2020, Johnson shared a video on Instagram in which he endorsed Joe Biden – which was the primary real endorsement of the president in his career (he attended the 2020 Republican National Convention. However, it was a part of a WWE-branded appearance in which wrestlers attended the conventions of each party). Earlier this month, he said he regretted the endorsement.

“Then the takeaway was it caused an incredible divide.” he said . “Now I realize that going into this election, I won’t do that. My goal is to unite this country. I believe it. There will be no support. At this level of influence, I will keep my politics to myself. This is between me and the ballot box. But I will tell you this: Like many of us, while not trusting all politicians, I truly trust the American people and whoever they vote for is my president and who I will support 100 percent.”

The comment was mostly met with eye rolls and reminded fans that Johnson has never had enough distance to engage in politics, yet he still tries to insert himself.

Just like he did with the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) – and the outcomes were damaging. Johnson has apparently based his acting career on the character of Black Adam, which can be a cornerstone of the DCEU for years to come. But the movie was a box office disappointment and truly terrible. An internal power struggle over the longer term of the DCEU led to Johnson being kicked out of any future plans. On the opposite side of the chaos got here a series of movies that left Johnson without a major hit from 2019

Still, Johnson managed to turn out to be as popular as ever, thanks to his latest and creatively fruitful adaptation: Wrestling. Johnson returned as a part of the deal that secured him on the management board for TKO Group Holdings, a company created as a results of the merger of WWE and UFC. As a part of the deal, Johnson returned to the ring with a storyline ready to face his real-life cousin Roman Reigns within the important event of WrestleMania 40. The fight would pit the most important star the game has ever seen against the person who ruled WWE for last decade and who was champion for over 1,000 days.

But there was one problem: the fans got behind him Cody Rhodes be the person to end Reign’s belt at WrestleMania.

Johnson believed his star power would persuade fans to support a match between him and Reigns. But fans revolted when WWE announced that Johnson can be within the match as an alternative of Rhodes. The announcement became probably the most most disliked YouTube video in WWE history. Fans bombarded Johnson’s social media pages with complaints concerning the decision. Johnson and WWE miscalculated. And they’d to adapt. Quick.

Within days, Johnson was on a recent story. Not only did he make the choice to write himself out of the match, giving Rhodes the important event against Reigns again, but he also allied himself with Reigns, joining as a heel Bloodline Faction. This time he created a recent character, The Final Boss, who’s a mixture of every villain he has ever been. He was The Rock of the 90s, antagonizing the audience and calling them trailer trash. He was the Hollywood Rock of 2003, acting greater than a sport, resentful that a wrestler like Rhodes would not dare match him. But in the brand new layer, magic happened.

The Rock was now off-balance, terrorizing and dropping F-bombs within the air. At 51, Johnson is at his prime, adding a commanding presence from every angle. When he attacked Cody Rhodes on March 29, he made a bloody spectacle that was intense, intimidating and a little terrifying. Rock’s entire 2024 comeback was truly the perfect acting of his career, including in Hollywood. And all of it culminated in a 40-plus-minute match on the primary night of WrestleMania 40. Even as fans booed Johnson, they still cheered when his music played. His return helped WrestleMania turn out to be the highest-grossing event in the corporate’s history.

These days, it looks as if Rock is doing greater than just being an motion star. He is a one who knows his craft.

On Monday, Johnson announced that he can be stepping away from wrestling for a while, which might be expected as he starts making more movies. He still has to work out how to get out of the present Hollywood crisis. Even if he didn’t, he’s spent the previous few months doing the perfect job he’s ever done. And it’s all thanks to a career stuffed with change, adapting and taking leadership from people.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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John Legend’s wife, Chrissy Teigen, is causing a stir around plastic surgery with a bold transformation

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Celebrity couple Chrissy Teigen and John Legend

Model-turned-entrepreneur Chrissy Teigen has her sights set on something aside from just looking stunning on red carpets with her husband: animal food.

Teigen took the stage at Adweek’s Brandweek event in Phoenix, Arizona to advertise her latest enterprise, Kismet, a line of pet products and foods she created fired with husband John Legend in May.

After she showcased her business skills on panels and discussed marketing strategies, she posted highlights from the event on Instagram to her 42.2 million social media followers.

John Legend’s wife, Chrissy Teigen, is accused of her recent plastic surgery. (Photo: @chrissyteigen/Instagram)

In her post, the mother of two could be seen wearing a gray dress with a uniquely designed V-neck. Teigen shared her enthusiasm for the event with the caption: “@adweek Brand Week is truly one in all my favorite events of the yr! it was a lot fun talking about the whole lot @kismet! Phoenix, you might be ungodly sexy, but additionally very cool.

She jokingly as well as“We also had a great, amazing meal at North Italia, so overall a 10/10 experience!”

Teigen also couldn’t resist quickly sharing her dog’s food and told her followers, “Get some shrimp and dip the bread in it, and the truffle garlic bread that you can use as a ladle too, baby.”

Fans figuratively ate it up, and her comments section was stuffed with praise for her brand.

One person raved: “Our dog loves @kismet! The dog food is of high quality and the treats are motivating! I love the scheduled delivery options.”

Clearly, Teigen’s brand and vibrant personality resonated with her audience, with one one who attended her panel saying, “You stole the show moo deng style.”

Although her skilled skills were on full display, some couldn’t help but give attention to her appearance relatively than her business achievements.

Several critics even speculated that she had recently undergone botched plastic surgery.

“In what universe is all this plastic surgery considered attractive?” one person interrogated.

Another harshly added: “Dear God…your doctor must have his license revoked for putting s… like that in your cheeks. … It looks absurd. I do not know if anyone told you this or not, but it surely’s a fact.

Despite the negative reviews, not all reviews were critical.

A 3rd said: “Do you have Lipo on your stomach? You look amazing!! Flat stomach!! Amazing figure!!”

A fourth added: “Umm you look lovely from every angle. Tell John I’m sorry.

This is not the primary time she has faced criticism about her appearance.

In June 2024, People magazine reported when she took to Instagram to share rumors about her cosmetic procedures.

When someone claiming to be a doctor accused her of using fillers, she denied the claims in a series of videos.

“Would you trust a doctor who couldn’t tell the difference between filler and weight gain? I personally would not do this,” she said in one clip, before adding, “Plus, my doctor would never, ever spend time on Instagram and analyze people’s faces… he’s too busy with work.”

In the second video, Legend’s wife identified the damage that one of these criticism causes.

“This sort of criticism only makes the person you might be talking about not need to smile and show their natural joy because they think people will make fun of them due to their bone structure, possibly their teeth, their lips, how they appear after they smile,” she said. “Like, what does it really do other than steal someone else’s joy? Literally.”

The 38-year-old has been open about her past cosmetic enhancements, going to X in 2020 to disclose she had had breast augmentation, but it surely wasn’t her first surgery.

In September 2021, Teigen candidly revealed that she had a s surgery to remove fat from the cheeka treatment geared toward improving the definition of the jawline, reducing facial fullness and shading the cheeks. According to Harper’s Baazar, this trend is becoming increasingly popular in Hollywood.

Just a few months later, she shared details about her next cosmetic procedure — an eyebrow transplant. The surgery involved taking hair from the back of the top and using it to create fuller, more sculpted eyebrows.

On the January 30 episode of “Watch What Happens Live” with Andy Cohen, Teigen revealed more about her cosmetics history in the course of the show. She unintentionally confirmed that she had undergone three separate breast augmentation procedures by playing a game wherein she needed to lie about herself.

“I had them drop them off, put them in and take them out. I don’t love them,” she said he said explaining that she didn’t really know that she shouldn’t tell the reality in the sport.

But this was nothing latest. She previously spoke about getting breast implants in her 20s for a magazine spread, and in a 2020 interview with Glamor UK she said it was “more about the swimsuit.”

She as well as“I thought if I was going to pose lying on my back, I wanted them to be perky! But then you give birth to babies and they fill up with milk and deflate, and now I’m screwed.”

Despite the noise, Teigen seems unfazed as she balances her role as mother of 4, cookbook creator, business owner and superstar wife.

Whether it’s about her parenting or how she looks and dresses, she knows that individuals will at all times have something to say.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Jaylen Brown Turns Down $50 Million Backing to Launch His Own Performance Brand, 741 – Essence

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 24: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics addresses the media during Boston Celtics Media Day on the Auerbach Center on September 24, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that by downloading and/or using this image, User consents to the terms of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo: Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)

Jaylen Brown, NBA MVP and Boston Celtics champion, is making waves each on and off the court.

A daring and strategic move, Brown he turned down over $50 million in endorsements launch your personal performance brand, . But this is not only one other sneaker line – Brown is constructing something revolutionary from the bottom up, fueled by his passion for ownership, creativity and creating lasting change.

Since his contract with Adidas expired in 2021, Brown has been something of a sneaker-free agent while quietly developing. The name itself has personal meaning for the basketball star and reflects his reference to spirituality. The numbers 7, 4 and 1 symbolize spiritual awakening, labor and latest beginnings – befitting a player who consistently defies expectations each on and off the pitch.

Brown’s decision to reject traditional endorsements reflects a growing movement in Black culture: constructing one’s own legacy. Rather than sign one other lucrative contract, he selected to fully own and control his brand, following within the footsteps of other athlete-entrepreneurs who’ve chosen to take control of their very own creative visions. “741 is more than just a sneaker brand – it is a statement of independence, creativity and ownership,” Brown explains in a release shared with ESSENCE.

Inspired by the late Kobe Bryant, who had similar plans to start his own independent sneaker brand, Brown follows the concept that athletes can resolve their future, each inside and outdoors of their careers. “Kobe’s journey has taught me to be fearless and to take the sport and society to new heights,” says Brown. It is this fashion of considering that drives the corporate’s ethos.

But what really sets it apart? This is greater than just performance-based technology, although that’s actually a serious area of ​​focus. Brown designed this line with an emphasis on high-performance equipment that makes no compromise on quality or style. In fact, these products promise to bring innovation to the sneaker world, all while maintaining reasonably priced costs – especially for youngsters and disadvantaged communities. Brown has ensured that prices for teenagers’ plus sizes are 40% lower than competitors, so families can afford high-end footwear without the hefty price tag.

In addition to products, it also offers a brand new economic model for athletes. By launching his own product line, Brown is making a plan that may enable athletes to have greater ownership of their brands, offering them greater creative control and higher financial terms than traditional sponsorship deals. It’s not only a game changer for sneakers – it’s revolutionizing the way in which athletes interact with them.

Looking ahead, Brown plans to sign athletes directly with the corporate, giving them the chance to collaborate on projects and keep a bigger share of the profits. This is an extended-overdue change in the way in which athletes engage with major footwear corporations, and Brown’s goal is to empower a brand new generation of athletes to take control of their careers and the brands they represent. After all, it isn’t just in regards to the shoes – it’s about breaking down barriers, difficult the establishment and creating pathways for many who will come next.

With this premiere, Jaylen Brown makes an announcement on the longer term of sports, business and property that may resonate beyond the court.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Remembering Michael Clark Duncan: Early Life, Career and Legacy

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 26: Actor Michael Clarke Duncan arrives at the premiere of "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" at Mann

Michael Clarke Duncan is best known for his role as John Coffey in The Green Mile. 180 cm high. Duncan’s life and legacy were much greater than his role within the 1999 supernatural thriller. Although his life and profession were ultimately cut short as a result of his death in 2012, Duncan managed to look in over 40 movies. His extraordinary contributions to television and film, in addition to his kindness and gentle demeanor, are remembered by his friends, castmates and fans alike.

The youth of Michael Clark Duncan

Michael Clarke Duncan was born on December 10, 1957 in Chicago. His father left when he was 6, so he was raised on the South Side by his mother, a cleansing lady, and an older sister. As a toddler, Duncan desired to play football, but his mother didn’t allow him for fear of wounding himself. Duncan made up his mind give attention to learning and staying out of trouble, although he tried unsuccessfully Chicago Bears as a young man. He all the time thought of becoming an actor, but this dream and his education at Alcorn State University were placed on hold when his mother became unwell and he needed to work to support his family.

Duncan supported himself and his family by working as: trencher and eventually as a bouncer in nightclubs. He also worked as a private bodyguard for stars equivalent to Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Notorious B.I.G. When Notorious B.I.G. was killed in 1997, Duncan gave up being a bodyguard and focused on his longtime ambition to be an actor.

LOS ANGELES – MARCH 28: Actor Michael Clarke Duncan arrives for the premiere of “Sin City” on the Mann National Theater on March 28, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

His profession included The Green Mile and beyond

Initially, Duncan secured numerous smaller roles in movies, including “Bulworth” and “A Night at the Roxbury”, normally playing a bouncer. His star rose significantly when he was solid because the Bear within the motion film “Armageddon.” Duncan made a reputation for himself and made a brand new friend in his castmate Bruce Willis. Duncan made an enormous impression on Willis that he really helpful him for the role of John Coffey within the film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel “The Green Mile.”

Duncan shined as a mild-mannered inmate accused of murdering two young white girls within the Depression-era South. He earned it together with his performance Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actor.

Duncan followed up his “The Green Mile” success with roles in “Planet of the Apes,” “The Scorpion King” and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.” He has also lent his voice to movies equivalent to ‘Green Lantern’. His last film before his death, “The Challenger”, was released posthumously in 2015.

LOS ANGELES – JANUARY 28: Director Malcolm D. Lee (left) and actor Michael Clarke Duncan pose on the afterparty of the premiere of Universal Pictures’ “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” at Annex on January 28, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The Legacy of Michael Clark Duncan

Duncan died on September 3, 2012, on the age of 54, in consequence of complications from a heart attack he suffered several months earlier. After news of his death was announced, tributes began to pour in. His “The Green Mile” co-star Tom Hanks said: “He was a treasure that we all discovered on the set of “The Green Mile.” He was magical. He was a fantastic human being and his passing leaves us stunned.”

Duncan supported several charities and philanthropic initiatives throughout his life. One of them was the Sue Duncan Children’s Center (no relation). The actor is grateful to the middle for keeping him on the right track as a young man growing up in Chicago.

Michael Clarke Duncan TheGrio
Actor Michael Clarke Duncan (left) and television personality Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth attend In Touch Weekly’s annual “Icons & Idols” celebration on the Marmont Bar on September 12, 2010 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images)

Although Duncan never mentioned having children, just a few days after his death, a girl named Marquea Ambrose got here out claiming to be his secret daughter, which was never confirmed. Duncan denied paternity, and his estate – reportedly value several million – was managed primarily by his former fiancée, Omarosa Manigault Stallworth, despite some conflict with Duncan’s family over control of the estate.

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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