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‘Homecoming’ Star Weaves Real HBCU Experience Into Character — Andscape

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actor Gefry Maja found her character, Simone Hicks, caught up in a love triangle at the top of the CW series’ second season, sparking heated debate on social media. Now, viewers know her answer, and her decision is a central storyline throughout the show’s third and final season, which premiered Monday night.

Maya, a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, got her start as a recurring character on the CW sister series before starring in its own spinoff, which is about at Bridston University, a fictional historically black college in Atlanta. The campus serves because the backdrop for the show as Maya’s character navigates young maturity as a mother and student-athlete, and Maya’s time as an HBCU student helped her portrayal, she said.

On Friday, Andscape spoke with the Los Angeles native in regards to the show’s final season, Simone’s love triangle, and the impact of a TV series set at an HBCU.

What is it like being an HBCU student in real life and playing one on the show?

It’s very coincidental. … In this life that all of us undergo, there are specific things that we do with none expectation that they are actually going to occur. So I feel that having the ability to play an HBCU student from LA was just my thing. It was all the time a part of my goal, and I’m grateful that I had a showrunner like Little Carrollwho saw that in me and gave me the chance to play that role in a way that was reflective of little girls who appear like me, come from similar backgrounds, and just allowed me to honor the undeniable fact that these stories really do matter. … I consider that is my purpose, which is to inform stories.

To what extent is your personality reflected in Simone?

The humanity aspect of acting, basically, is to bring just a little little bit of yourself to the role, regardless of what it’s. I feel most of (Simone’s) personality, by way of the silliness and the little South Central LA moments, though she’s from Beverly Hills. It just would not feel right to not play her that way. Because, again, do not get me incorrect: black is black. So you possibly can be from Beverly Hills, but you could have aunts and cousins ​​who live in Crenshaw or somewhere – it doesn’t matter. I just knew I desired to bring just a little little bit of my L.A. upbringing to the character and really to any character I play. … I just need to be authentic, so I needed to bring my South Central roots to this little Beverly Hills girl.

Season two ends on a cliffhanger, with Simone deciding between two suitors. Will the love triangle be resolved this season?

Absolutely, and I feel it resolves in a way that is more for Simone than for anyone else. And I feel like I’m not saying much because there’s a lot happening for her this season. But I feel by way of love, I feel it resolves for her. That’s a very powerful a part of this puzzle, her and her decision for herself.

What’s it wish to play a task in a love triangle?

Simone had more suitors than I ever had in my life and I’m not mad at her for that. I feel especially with girls, allow them to live, allow them to have their alternative. In retrospect, at my age and at this stage in life, I feel you should not put all of your eggs in a single basket because truthfully, you only do not know. Whether it is a man or a job, life is about living and experiencing, so I all the time encourage women to explore life in all the pieces it has to supply.

What can viewers expect from Simone this season?

I might say resilience because I feel like while you’re younger and also you undergo so lots of the trials and tribulations of life, we do not take a look at it as something that happens to us, but relatively it happens to us. … When you are capable of change your perspective … and you are able to have a look at it through the lens of growth and maturation and evolution, and really give up to life and all the pieces that it has to give you, whether it’s good and higher and different, I feel you only have a unique perspective on coming out of the hearth.

I feel Simone will certainly experience numerous things that may help her grow as an individual, as a girl, as a mom, as an athlete. Simone has so many roles to play. But I feel numerous it’s her resilience within the face of adversity, and it was really beautiful to play this season. … I do know individuals are so invested in Simone and this love triangle since it’s a lot fun. We want the women to win, but at the identical time, life happens, and when life hits you, it changes you. It changes you. … It was really refreshing to play a more nuanced, grounded version of her this season.

What do you think that How will the image of HBCUs impact future generations of scholars?

I feel the impact will just be more visibility and more opportunity to see yourself. One thing I’ll say is just being in business so long as I even have my purpose, that is starting to vary. I consider that this wasn’t a chance that was only for me and my dreams and my purpose and my work. It was really a chance for generations of youngsters who need to go to a historically black college or university, who need to learn more in regards to the legacy, who need to act, who need to play tennis, who need to be a featured character or who need to tell stories. So I feel that chance is incredibly necessary. But I feel the impact is a blessing. … I’m grateful that I can take a look at my art, in all the pieces that I create, as something that is just beyond me. I’m glad that I can serve a generation in that way, so I hope that it inspires people to simply do what they need to do and pursue what they need to pursue.

How necessary was it for the show to portray the problems that took place on HBCU campuses?

As Black people, we’ve a responsibility that we do not necessarily ask for, but we’ve a responsibility to reflect truth, authenticity, resilience, elevation, art, culture, and history. … It’s just too necessary due to how we impact other people, not only our own people, but literally the world. Black culture is all over the place on the planet. … That’s why it is so necessary that history is taken out of colleges. You cannot erase history after which sit here and have fun other cultures and histories because, again, all of that’s in the material of this world, of this country. … We have to offer credit to who deserves credit. And you understand, Black people, that is how we move, that is how we work. So it deserves that quantity of visibility and time and education because … we’re real individuals with real impact and we matter.

This will likely be the last season What was your initial response to the news of the series’ cancellation?

I’m really happy with this season, and though our fate is what it’s, I discussed it before: it’s about quality, not quantity. And I feel the standard of the work that we have done over the course of three seasons has affected people.

My character, being a recurring guest (on ), I didn’t know in the event that they would get attached to that version of that world, especially coming down from the heights that they still are. He’s still doing an astronomical job of celebrating the culture and giving back to the youngsters and families that actually love the show. I didn’t know what we were going to do, and it exceeded my expectations. So I feel how we began and definitely how we ended is rooted in something much greater than how long we have been on the show.

Mia Berry is a senior HBCU author at Andscape who covers all the pieces from sports to student protests. She’s a Detroit native (What up Doe!), a long-suffering Detroit sports fan, and a Notre Dame grad who occasionally shouts, “Go Irish.”

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 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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