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Paris restaurant responds to Serena Williams attack for refusing entry to tennis player and her children

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Tennis champion Serena Williams has an estimated net price of $340 million. Then add 4 Olympic medals. Seven Wimbledon singles titles and the title of arguably the best Grand Slam player of all time.

But talent, fame and wealth didn’t stop the mother of two from being denied entry to among the best hotels in France to have lunch with her children throughout the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She and her husband Alexis Ohanian are parents to 6-year-old Olympia and daughter Adira, who was born in December 2023.

Serena Williams poses with husband Alexis Ohanian and their two daughters Olympia and Adira. (Photo: @alexisohanian/Instagram)

It’s unclear when the incident occurred, but Williams took to social media Monday, Aug. 5 to address the restaurant. She said, “Oh my @peninsulaparis I’ve been denied access to the roof to eat at an empty restaurant in better places but never with my kids. Always a first. #Olympic2024.”

Afterwards, a whole bunch of individuals asked, “Who denied him entry into GOAT?”

Although Williams never gave an actual reason for why she and her children were refused entry, word of the slight spread quickly, with many pointing to racial or national origin discrimination as the rationale for the disrespect.

“Everyone knows the French don’t like black people,” one person wrote on The Shade Room blog. fasting concerning the hotel’s refusal to accommodate Williams and her family.

Another added: “Between the Jamaicans who pulled out of their events, Sha’Carri and Shelly being denied entry, Coco being treated unfairly on the field and Serena being denied entry to a nice rooftop restaurant… Paris doesn’t seem to be kind to black people.”

Another cheekily asked: “Why was she refused? Did they give a reason or was it racism?”

Sha’Carri Richardson and Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce were briefly barred from the 100m warm-up area after a rule change, while Jamaican runner Shericka Jackson withdrew from the 200m on Sunday.

Williams considers Paris his second home, even buying two bedroom pied-à-terrea small apartment within the seventh arrondissement in 2007. Before the recent backlash, she recalled fondly the time she spent there.

Someone said that the City of Light is: “Paris is that bad/introverted friend that invites you over but doesn’t want you to show up or touch anything.”

Some social media users have slammed the Olympic committee for a series of horror stories about how athletes of color are treated.

“Paris and the Olympic drama. They should never have the games again,” someone said. “They were HORRIBLE in their treatment of athletes—especially black and brown athletes.”

Others suggested it was a wider problem for France, comparing it to one other recent incident that drew criticism for racist treatment.

“Paris gives Cannes the red carpet,” one post read, referring to a May 2024 incident when singer Kelly Rowland was herded onto the red carpet throughout the premiere of “Marcello Mio” on the Cannes Film Festival by a staff member who was standing across from the guest.

Many assumed Rowland was offended for wagging her finger and frowning on the sight of a white woman who was considered one of the safety guards who pushed her down the red carpet steps into the hall. Meanwhile, other stars of color on the red carpet didn’t receive the identical treatment.

The Destiny’s Child singer was quick to say it was a transparent act of discrimination.

However, on this case, with Williams, there isn’t enough information to investigate what really happened.

One post said: “Maybe they don’t want kids on the roof. We need more context.”

The Peninsula Paris, which has been named the very best hotel in the town, has a rooftop restaurant and bar, L’Oiseau Blanc, where guests can enjoy views of the town, According to to the web site.

While hotels are generally family-friendly, policies regarding children in specific areas, reminiscent of the terrace, may vary. Typically, fantastic dining restaurants and bars could have restrictions or specific guidelines for young children.

For now, fans only know that one of the decorated tennis players on the planet was not allowed into the event.

Many have already began bombarding the European establishment with negative reviews on Google.

Others simply encouraged Williams to “support a black-owned restaurant in Paris” on her next visit to Paris.

The hotel later issued a press release apologizing to the tennis icon for the error.

“Dear Ms. Williams, Please accept our sincerest apologies for the disappointment you experienced this evening,” read a message on the restaurant’s website, X. “Unfortunately, our rooftop bar was fully booked and the only tables you saw were in our gourmet restaurant, L’Oiseau Blanc, which was fully booked.”

In diversity reportMaxine Mannevy, who works on the Peninsula restaurant, said Williams looked “unrecognizable.”

“When she arrived, there were only two tables available, which had been reserved by hotel guests,” Mannevy explained. “My colleague didn’t recognize her and felt terrible, but he told her what he would tell any other customer, which was to wait downstairs at the bar until a table became available. It was absolutely nothing personal.”


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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‘The Pivot’ Podcast Hosts Go to War Over Andrew Schulz’s Controversial ‘Racist Jokes’ About Black Women

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Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder of The Pivot podcast are amongst those criticizing comedian Andrew Schulz for his disgusting comments about black women.

Schulz, 40, got here under fire after making critical remarks during a discussion of the “Black Girl Effect” on a revived episode of his show “Glaring” podcast.

A clip of the July 17 edition of Flagrant recently went viral after its guests, British podcasters James Duncan, 33, and Fuhad Dawodu, 33, made their first visit to the US, which was met with outrage online.

Photo: The Pivot Podcast/YouTube; Flagrant/YouTube)

In the clip, James and Fuhad, hosts of the podcast “ShxtsnGigs,” discuss the favored trend of men claiming their appearance has improved after starting a relationship with or marrying a black woman. Schulz, it seems, was interested.

“So you see a guy who had a black girlfriend and suddenly he has short hair, a clean-cut figure,” Duncan told Schulz, trying to explain.

In response, Schulz said, “They’re shaving their hair because they’re starting to lose it, because they’re so stressed out that they’re complaining about a black girl all the time.”

James and Fuhad continued laughing, and Schulz added, “They grow beards because they need a cushion when someone beats them up.”

Social media users began criticizing James and Fuhad for failing to get up for black women.

“As a black woman, Andrew talking about the black girl effect as racist. He created this entirely based on the angry black woman stereotype. Can’t we just relax???” an offended YouTube user commented.

Another person directed their anger at Schulz, writing, “The fact that you spoke so casually in front of two black men makes me shudder to think of what you say when there are no black people present.”

A conversation between “ShxtsnGigs” hosts Fuhad Dawodu and James Duncan and “Flagrant” host Andrew Schulz sparked outrage over comments in regards to the so-called “black girl effect.” (Photo: Flagrant/YouTube)

The “Shxtsngigs” hosts began the most recent episode of their podcast by apologizing for the Schulz situation, with James stating, “Andrew made a joke… honestly, a racist joke, and we laughed at him.”

He then blamed the “fight or flight” response for not immediately responding to Schulz’s racist jokes. James said, “When you’re there, you’re in shock.” Fuhad added, “All you want to do is move on.”

The explanation sparked heated reactions within the YouTube comments section, with one person asking: “Did he actually say he fought or ran away because of a racist joke? You are grown men.”

The Pivot Podcast crew also talked in regards to the exchange between the blokes from ShxtsnGigs and Schulz.

Channing Crowder suggested that cultural differences between James and Fuhad and black Americans could have influenced their response to jokes about black women.

He said, “I like strong women. If some asshole can’t handle a strong woman and says it’s argumentative or comparative, then find yourself a weak woman.”

Ryan Clark added: “When you’re sitting across from Andrew Schulz and he’s talking about something he can’t understand because his wife isn’t black, you have no right to talk about it.”

Additionally, the Super Bowl champion stated that “Black women are not violent” and “Black women are on the front lines of everything that affects us.”

On Episode from September 18 On the “Flagrant” podcast, Schulz claimed that James and Fuhad’s producer asked that a part of their performance be cut from the podcast, apart from a discussion in regards to the “black girl effect.”

“They’re still worried about getting canceled. Comedians, we understand that being funny means saying the wrong things,” Schulz said of the U.K.-based content creators.

The former “Guy Code” regular also stated, “By apologizing, you’re just reinforcing it. The people who are upset about it, most of them don’t even listen to the podcast. A lot of them are probably unhappy with your success.”

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Janet Jackson Issues Statement After Her Outrageous Comments About Kamala Harris Spark Fan Fury

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Singer Janet Jackson regurgitates Trump’s talking point that Kamala Harris is not Black and has a White Father. (@JanetJackson/Instagram; AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)

In a recent interview promoting her first European tour since 2011, Janet Jackson made controversial comments about US Vice President Kamala Harris that stunned fans. Now she is apologizing for the misunderstanding.

Janet Jackson has lived within the UK for eight years, near her ex-husband, billionaire Wissam Al Mana, with whom she shares their 7-year-old son, Eissa. But the gap from the US has kept her somewhat out of touch with American politics.

During an interview with The Guardian’s Nosheen Iqbal, Jackson repeated a standard Republican talking point, falsely claiming that Harris is “not black” and has a “white father.”

“You know what they supposedly said? She’s not black. That’s what I heard… she’s Indian” – Jackson he noticed.

Iqbal, who’s of Indian descent, quickly corrected her, saying, “Well, she’s both.”

Singer Janet Jackson echoes Trump's argument that Kamala Harris is not black and has a white father. (@JanetJackson/Instagram; AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)
Singer Janet Jackson echoes Trump’s argument that Kamala Harris shouldn’t be black and has a white father. (@JanetJackson/Instagram; AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)

Undeterred, Jackson replied, “Her father is white. That’s what I was told. I mean, I haven’t watched the news in a few days. They told me they found out her father is white.”

Contrary to Jackson’s claims, Harris’ father shouldn’t be white.

Donald Harris, a Jamaican-born retired Stanford University economist, is black and of mixed descent, stemming from the Caribbean’s history of slavery and colonization.

How reported According to the Irish Times, one in every of his ancestors, and great-grandfather Hamilton Brown, was an Irish slave owner.

When corrected, Jackson responded, “I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t want to answer that question because I really, honestly, I don’t know. I think it’s going to be chaos either way,” referring to the high-stakes election fallout.

Jackson’s comments sparked widespread criticism on X, formerly generally known as Twitter, with many fans expressing disappointment.

The “Rhythm Nation” singer, known for her anti-racism activism, has gone viral with users criticizing her for spreading misinformation.

One user X he said“We need to hold an internal family meeting!”

Other as well as“So she is loudly and proudly uninformed… what a shame.”

Third he commented“I miss the days before social media, when we didn’t know how stupid celebrities were.”

Another fan he tweeted“Janet Jacksonnnnnn! Whyyyyy!”

The criticism got even worse, with one person suggesting her late brother Michael Jackson could be upset together with her comments: “How embarrassing.”

Some consider her views could also be influenced by her brother, Randy Jackson.

Randy, who’s 4 years older and her partner in Rhythm Nation Records, is a staunch Trump supporter. In 2020, he tweeted: “My friend sent me this and I thought it was really important to watch – ‘I voted for Biden but this changed my mind about Trump.’”

Randy’s daughter, Stevanna Jackson, who starred within the Nickelodeon series “Zoey 101,” allegedly criticized her father’s political beliefs on her Instagram Story, stating, “You’ve always been on the wrong side of history. As a father, as an uncle, as a brother, as a husband, as a friend.”

She continued: “That’s the saddest thing about you… Even your legacy won’t remember you fondly.”

On the Jackson Family’s Timeline, a longtime Jackson fan who caught the story 4 years ago noted his disappointment with the singer’s song “Pleasure Principle” statement“I just wish Janet wouldn’t do any more interviews if it’s just going to be a repeat of Randy’s MAGA crap.”

After 1000’s of tweets about Jackson’s comments about Harris, the singer finally responded.

A press release was made Buzzfeed through her manager, Mo Elmasri.

“I deeply respect Vice President Kamala Harris and her accomplishments as a Black and Indian woman. Janet apologizes for any confusion and recognizes the importance of accurate representation in public discourse.”

The statement concluded: “We appreciate the opportunity to address this matter and remain committed to promoting unity.”


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Lin-Manuel Miranda and playwright Eisa Davis talk to Lauryn Hill about their concept music album, Warriors

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NEW YORK (AP) — Most New Yorkers, Lin Manuel Miranda argues, answer the next query: When was the primary time you watched “Warriors”?

“I saw it when I was 4, an unsupervised teenager. My friend’s older brother had a VHS tape. There were no adults around,” he told the Associated Press. “Everything you’re afraid of as a New Yorker, growing up in the city, is in that movie.”

The 1979 cult classic follows a street gang that moves from the Bronx to their Coney Island turf on an all-out assault. The group is wrongly accused of murdering one other gang leader, Cyrus of the Gramercy Riffs, who’s in search of peace.

October 18 Miranda — in her first full musical after “Hamilton” — and award-winning actor and playwright Eisa Davis will release “Warriors”, a musical concept album inspired by the film, with some significant changes.

Lauryn Hill is their Cyrus, and their Warriors gang is made up entirely of ladies, played by Kenita Miller, Sasha Hutchings, Phillipa Soo, Aneesa Folds, Amber Gray, Gizel Jiménez, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Julia Harriman.

It’s not a one-to-one story, and it’s definitely not an easy gender swap. “My sense of New York, which I think really comes out in this album and was sparked in the movie Warriors, is a real dream of unity and peace,” Davis says. “And that was something I really felt we could relate to.”

The interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

AP: How did this project come about?

MIRANDA: It was a movie that lived in my brain before I even began forming memories. And then a friend from college sent me an email in 2009 after “On the Heights” got here out. He was working as an assistant to one in every of the producers of the movie, Larry Gordon, and he said, “‘Warriors’ the musical, what do you think about that?” And I wrote him an in depth email about how that may never work. But he got me in, just by asking the query. And so, , years had passed and I had just finished my first show on “Hamilton,” and I believed, “What do I want to do next?” And “Warriors” was already there, like he raised his hand and said, “You’ve been thinking lowly of me since 2009.”

I noticed in a short time that I wanted to write this with someone, and someone smarter and cooler than me. I believed of Eisa. Eisa and I actually have been friends for “Passing Strangely” and “In the Heights” were on Broadway the identical season in 2009, but we had never really worked on anything together before. And so in early 2022, I took her to the basement Drama Book Store and he said, “Warriors? A musical?”

She had never seen the movie, and I had seen it too over and over. So we form of met one another halfway and began writing seriously.

AP: Why an album?

MIRANDA: The proven fact that it is so intensely visual for you, once you listen to it, it’s like, “Why an album?” Most of us cannot afford to watch that much theater growing up. … And even the forged albums that I loved growing up, I never saw those shows. … But I listened to those forged albums and connected the dots and created the show in my head. … There’s an important tradition of musicals that started off as concept albums. I believe of “Jesus Christ Superstar” what I consider to be the gold standard. “Evita” even recently “Hadestown” which is one in every of my favorite recent shows, began its life as a song series.

And I used to be really curious should you could even tell that story. Because I believe the toughest thing for me about adapting an motion movie right into a musical is that the motion sequences and the songs are fighting for a similar space. So what do you do? Doing it as an album, you’ll be able to musicalize those things in loads of ways. There are times once we’re stretching out time and isolating a moment, and there are occasions once you hear the music and, like, you are hitting the sound effects.

The second thing that was really exciting was the chance to delve into the secrets of writing music by being within the studio with talented musicians and working with a producer. Musical theatre writers work in a extremely specific way, where we sit in a room by ourselves and then we try it on actors and we get it back and we try it again. And I wanted to improvise with musicians.

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DAVIS: I also think it has to do with our aesthetic being more pop—a hybrid of pop and musical theater. … For something as iconic as that movie, it is a shorter path to making an album.

It’s also a extremely exciting narrative challenge to see how we are able to actually tell a complete story on this sung way, with these small scenes.

AP: What did the gender swap of a number of the principal characters make possible?

MIRANDA: It was a coin flip that made me think, “I think I understand why this might be interesting to write about.”

I just got out of “Hamilton”, Gamergate took place online. … The anonymous web trolls were just saying, “I don’t think women should be in video games. Here’s her f—— home address.” And that form of act, the chaos of deciding to destabilize someone’s life and then going back to the pc, the very first thing that went through my mind was Luther shooting Cyrus and pointing on the Warriors and saying, “They did this.” And now the Warriors have the remainder of the night where every gang thinks they broke the truce and are fighting for their lives due to actions of 1 person with a gun. I made that connection and I believed, “Well, if the Warriors are women, how does that change the narrative?” It complicates it in a extremely compelling way at every point.

DAVIS: I believe it is so necessary to think about this – this can be a group of ladies that nobody believes. Everyone is accusing you falsely, as Lin says, and what are you doing? What are you trying to do?

And after all, the best way we divide it’s that there’s each this drive home, but there’s also still the likelihood (of peace). And so getting back to that dream of peace is so crucial.

But I also think it was really necessary to proceed down that path and make certain that ladies didn’t just step in and do the male stuff.

AP: How did you get there? Lauryn Hill on board? She’s a really fitting Cyrus.

DAVIS: She symbolizes that, right? If she wanted to, she could exit and tell everybody to stop fighting, and people would listen, because that is what Ms. Lauryn Hill has done along with her artistry and authority for all these years. And it was her way. We had to have her, what I mean? There was no plan B, no plan B in any respect.

MIRANDA: I contacted her manager a little bit over a 12 months ago and said, “I’m working on it.” She said, “Lauren is a huge fan of Hamilton, so send us what you have in mind.” Eisa and I rigorously wrote our letter and just stayed in contact along with her manager for a complete 12 months, never having a plan B, texting one another, until in the future we had a Dropbox file with all these harmonies.

AP: Are there any ambitions for theatrical adaptation? Or a movie?

MIRANDA: We haven’t any cinematic ambitions on this regard. … We created our musical love letter to a movie that already exists. We hope that once you listen to this album, you imagine the story and the way it happens.

If there’s a world for stage life, like a stage adaptation of this album, that may be very exciting to explore. And should you imagine something really unbelievable, we now have created a really difficult problem for ourselves.

___

The Cast of “Warriors”

CYRUS: Lauryn Hill

COCHISE: Kenita Miller

COWGIRL: Sasha Hutchings

FOX: Phillipa Soo

CLEON: Aneesa is folding

AJAZ: Amber Grey

REMBRANDT: Gizel Jiménez

SWAN: Jasmine Cephas Jones

MERCY: Julia Harriman

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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