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BET says ‘audio failure’ caused significant censorship of Usher’s 2024 BET Awards speech

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Usher’s BET Awards Lifetime Achievement acceptance speech was heartfelt, at times vulgar, and long — something few people have had the chance to listen to.

The 13-minute speech was largely censored by the network, leaving viewers at home wondering what Usher needed to say. A BET spokesperson told The Associated Press that “due to an audio glitch during the live broadcast, portions of his speech were inadvertently muted. We extend our sincere apologies to USHER, as we could not be more grateful for his participation.”

The full version of the speech is now available on BET’s YouTube channel and might be included in Monday’s rebroadcast, with some profanity removed. Much of his speech focused on the concept of ​​fatherhood, forgiveness and his three-decade profession. It appears the heavy censorship began shortly after Usher said, “I’m sorry, I’m going to swear and tell you how I really feel” initially of his acceptance speech.

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He recounted walking into music mogul L.A. Reid’s office at age 12 or 13 and telling a room of executives he was going to make it. “It wasn’t a self-serving speech. I changed the name of that word that day,” he said in an element of the speech that didn’t air. “I changed the name of that word that day. I said my goals out loud.”

The R&B superstar is an eight-time Grammy Award winner who recently wrapped a two-year Las Vegas residency, “Usher: My Way,” at Park MGM. In February, he released his first solo album in eight years and is ready to launch a 24-city U.S. tour titled “Past Present Future” in August.

Usher’s 2024 Super Bowl halftime performance was met with acclaim and featured guest appearances from Alicia Keys, HER, Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon and Ludacris. His album Confessions has sold over 10 million copies within the U.S., making it one of the best-selling music projects of all time. He has spawned No. 1 hits similar to “Yeah!” featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon, “Burn” and “Confessions Part II.”

The 2024 BET Awards replay airs on BET on Monday at 8:00 PM ET.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Television

Phaedra Parks and More Black Stars Join ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 33

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Some of your favorite Black stars are dusting off their dancing shoes and on the brink of compete on Season 33 of “Dancing with the Stars.” This week, the show revealed that the celebrity forged members will hit the dance floor in hopes of winning Len Goodman’s mirror ball trophy.

This 12 months’s competition will feature a bunch of familiar faces, from Olympians to reality stars, models, actors and even a convicted fraudster. Phaedra Parks can be taking to the dance floor with partner Val Chmerkovskiy ahead of her highly anticipated return to Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Parks, who rose to fame on the Bravo show, has been moving on to latest ventures. Earlier this 12 months, the Georgia housewife was fan favorite on Peacock’s star-studded survival reality show, “The Traitors.”

But this fall, she’ll be competing against other black TV stars, including “Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin” actress Chandler Kinney and “Family Matters” actor Reginald VelJohnson, best known for his role as Carl Winslow.

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In addition to the TV stars, the popular ballroom dancing reality series will feature a spread of athletes. From Team USA Olympians Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscikva to NBA champion Dwight Howard, these athletes will explore skills outside of their disciplines in hopes of triumphing on the dance floor.

While the show is bringing in latest hopefuls, season 33 will even feature some familiar faces. Dancing with the Stars actors and veterans Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough will return to host the latest season, while Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough will return to the judging panel.

“Dancing with the Stars” Season 33 will premiere continue to exist ABC on September 17, 2024.


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Oprah Winfrey to Host and Produce ABC Special on Artificial Intelligence

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Oprah Winfrey delves into the world of artificial intelligence.

The media mogul has reportedly been tapped to host and executive produce an ABC special on artificial intelligence titled “AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special,” which is able to premiere on the network on September 12. Hollywood Reporter. The special “will provide a serious, entertaining and meaningful foundation for every viewer to understand AI, and empower everyone to participate in one of the most important global conversations of the 21st century,” according to ABC, according to THR.

In this special edition, Winfrey will speak with leaders within the AI ​​and technology industries, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, technologist and YouTube tech reviewer Marques Brownlee, and FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Altman “will explain how AI works in everyday language and discuss the enormous personal responsibility that AI company executives must shoulder. Gates will outline the coming AI revolution in science, healthcare, and education, and warn of the once-in-a-century impact AI could have on the job market. Brownlee will guide Winfrey through stunning demonstrations of AI’s capabilities,” according to the discharge, per Deadline.

Winfrey will even speak to those skeptical of the brand new technology within the hour-long special, THR reports. Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin, co-founders of the Center for Humane Technology, who’ve warned concerning the dangers of AI, will appear within the special. The duo “will guide Winfrey through the emerging threats posed by powerful and superintelligent AI — sounding the alarm about the need to address these threats now,” reads a press release, according to Deadline.

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Author Marilynne Robinson, one other skeptical voice within the tech industry, will share her thoughts on “the threat AI poses to human values ​​and the ways people might resist the comfort of AI,” ABC reports, according to THR.

“AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special,” which is produced by Winfrey’s Harpo Productions, is Winfrey’s second special this yr. The “Color Purple” actress previously hosted a one-hour special concerning the rising popularity of Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegova and other weight-loss drugs in March.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Glynn Turman and Nkechi Okoro Carroll honored at the 2024 AAFCA TV Honors

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Glynn Turman, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Starz “Power” Universe, “UnPrisoned” and many other Black stars and projects were honored Saturday afternoon at the 2024 African American Film Critics Association TV Honors.

The sixth annual awards ceremony, held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, presented a complete of 15 awards recognizing achievements in television and streaming. Hollywood ReporterCarroll, showrunner of “All American” and “Found,” was honored with the Salute to Excellence Award.

The New York-born dancer spoke in her acceptance speech about her love of Dolly Parton’s 1982 musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, connecting her childhood fascination together with her current profession.

Nkechi Okoro Carroll attends the sixth Annual AAFCA TV Honors Presented by the African American Film Critics Association at The Hollywood Roosevelt on August 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

“I’m passing on this story because I refuse to listen when I hear people tell me our stories aren’t relatable. I refuse to listen when they tell me our stories don’t travel, that they’re too niche,” Carroll said. “The truth is, our stories aren’t just great television, they’re great business. They’re universal. Because if I, a seven-year-old Nigerian girl, can relate to Dolly and her ladies in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, then I know for a fact that there’s a way for the larger world to relate to our stories. And that’s why I refuse to budge.”

Turman received the Legacy Award in the final hour of the ceremony, in accordance with THR. The “A Different World” actor said in his acceptance speech that he was the last surviving actor from the 1959 Broadway solid of “A Raisin in the Sun,” which included Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee and Louis Gossett Jr.

“These people created this space and set such high standards for us to dedicate ourselves to this, and that’s always in my mind when I’m choosing parts, when I’m doing my job, when I’m dedicating productions or performances,” Turman said, in accordance with THR . “It’s for you, Sidney, it’s for you, Ruby, it’s for you, Douglas Turner, it’s for you, Lou Gossett. It makes it more than just me. It makes me have to dedicate a different part of what this journey is about, because I owe it to her.”

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“I owe it to you,” Turman added, pointing to his granddaughter, who was with him on stage. “It’s about life. It’s about life. It’s about the task that we’ve been given, and that I don’t take for granted. What an opportunity we have. What a journey we’re on… There’s only sacrifice. There’s no finish line.”

Other winners included “Black Twitter: A People’s History” for Best Documentary Feature, “Masters of the Air” for Best Ensemble, Ayo Edebiri for Best TV Actress for “The Bear,” Wendell Pierce for Best TV Actor for “Elsbeth,” “Unprisoned” for Best TV Comedy, and Universe’s “Power,” which won the Impact Award.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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