Entertainment
Roberta Flack, Rep. Maxine Waters, Dawn Richard and More Feature on Album Paying Tribute to Women of Color
Roberta Flack, Dawn Richard, Rep. Maxine Waters, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, creator Danyel Smith and more feature on a brand new album celebrating women of color, released Tuesday by Atlantic Records.
According to On Imagination, the film also stars Valerie Simpson and Valerie June Diversity. Selected speakers read poetry by June Jordan, Gwendolyn Bennett, Phillis Wheatley, Georgia Douglas Johnson and others. The project was produced by singer-songwriter Ebonie Smith.
The album, first released in honor of Juneteenth, Variety reports, features a special track featuring Jordan’s 1982 poem “Moving Towards Home,” read by activist and author Dr. Angela Davis.
“The poems on this album are restorative,” says Ebonie Smith. “They helped me heal and regain my balance after Covid. The language is demanding, requiring the listener to work at a deeper level of understanding, but those who make the effort will find these poets’ words truly powerful and transformative.”
She went on to talk in regards to the impact the poems had on her following the 2022 murder of rapper Takeoff, a founding member of the group Migos. “After Takeoff’s death, I turned to these poems to help me heal and understand the deaths that were happening in and around hip-hop culture. The language on this album helped me find strength during that time.”
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Check out the tracklist according to Variety:
1. “Dare to Dream” (2022) – written by Genesis Briggs and performed by Genesis Be
2. “She Came Home Blameless” (1971) – written by Maya Angelou, performed by Roberta Flack and Valerie Simpson
3. “Calling Dreams” (1920) – written by Georgia Douglas Johnson and performed by Flyana Boss
4. “Songs For The People” (1895) – written by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and performed by Lori Lightfoot
5. “Of Imagination” (1773) – written by Phillis Wheatley and performed by Danyel Smith
6. “Make My Name” (2023) – written by adrienne maree brown and performed by maxine waters
7. “Douce Souvenance” (1920) – written by Jessie Redmon Fauset and performed by Ebonie Smith
8. “Double Standard” (1895) – written by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and performed by Divinity Roxx
9. “Fantasy” (1927) – written by Gwendolyn Benne and performed by Dawn Richard
10. “Moving Toward Home” (1982) – written by June Jordan and performed by Dr. Angela Y. Davis
11. “On the Death of a Gentlemen” (1773) – written by Phillis Wheatley and performed by Tarriona “Tank” Ball
12. “I Sit and Sew” (1918) – written by Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson and performed by Valerie June
Entertainment
Controversial Australian Olympic breakdance dancer Rachael Gunn withdraws from competition
SYDNEY (AP) – Australian tennis player Rachael Gunn told a Sydney radio station she plans to withdraw from competition just three months after her unconventional performance on the Paris Olympics led to her being ridiculed and spawned conspiracy theories about how she qualified to the games.
The now 37-year-old University of Sydney lecturer missed the mark in all three competition rounds in August, performing a routine that included unconventional moves corresponding to a kangaroo jump.
Gunn initially planned to proceed competing, but found it so “upsetting” that she modified her mind.
“I just had no control over how people perceived me and who I was,” she told radio station 2DayFM. “I definitely intended to proceed competing, but it surely seems really difficult now. “I think there will be a level of control, people will film it and it will go on the Internet.”
There was breaking she appeared on the Olympic Games for the primary time. This could also be a one-off event and never included in this system for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games or the 2032 Brisbane, Australia Olympic Games.
“Raygun,” because it was called, got here later ridiculed on social mediawith some posts also questioning the Olympic qualification process.
In a television interview for The Project broadcast in September on Australia’s Channel 10, she talked about it chased by cameras through the streets of Paris and the way she handled the very public response to her performance.
“It was really wild,” she said. “If people are chasing me, what should I do? This really made me panic. I was nervous about performing in public. It was quite tense for a while.”
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She apologized for the confusion, but again defended her performance and she said she was grateful for the support from others involved in the game.
She had defended herself before how she qualified for Parisand repeated it on a TV show.
“I won the Oceania Championship. It was a direct qualifier,” Gunn said. “There were nine judges, all from abroad. As soon as I qualified for the Olympics, I knew my possibilities were slim.
“People didn’t understand the violation and were just angry at my performance,” she added. “The conspiracy theories were just terrible and it was really upsetting. People are now attacking our reputation and our integrity – none of the attacks are based on fact.”
Gunn’s performance was ridiculed on the Internet and on television, including: within the skit re Jimmy Fallon’s late night TV show.
In a Sydney radio interview on Wednesday, Gunn said she wouldn’t completely stop breaking down.
“I’m still dancing and I’m still breaking.” she said. “But it’s like being in my living room with my partner.”
Entertainment
Stephen Boss’s brother reunites with his children for the first time since the dancer’s death two years ago amid family tensions with widow Allison Holker
The family of Stephen “tWitch” Boss reunited with the late dancer’s children for the first time since his death almost two years ago.
Tensions rose between his mother, Connie Boss Alexander, and his brother, Dré Rose, and his widow, who was accused of causing their family’s separation.
Allison Holker, mother of tWitch’s three children – adopted daughter Weslie, 16; son Maddox, 8; and youngest daughter, Zaia, 5 – recently faced accusations that she was keeping tWitch’s biological children away from their father’s side of the family, apparently compounding an already painful loss. However, plainly the separation is, in a way, over.
For some time in the public eye, things were really bad between the wife and her husband’s family, which got worse after Holker’s recent online debut about her recent relationship. Holker’s last post on tWitch read: common on Father’s Day in 2024, but has since claimed that “Life is sweet” after the death of her children’s father.
In August 2023, Dré shared a public message about the family conflict, revealing it on Instagram post that despite his efforts to maintain their issues private, he felt compelled to talk out. He suggested that Holker’s approach led to an “atmosphere of alienation” between the children and their grandmother.
“Over recent months, we have observed a number of actions and attitudes that, from our perspective, do not create an environment conducive to healing and unity,” he said, partially, referring to Holker’s treatment of their family. According to reports, the family’s problems stem from a dispute over an NDA that Holker allegedly asked the family to sign, which the family didn’t comply with.
Dré claimed that the terms of the contract unintentionally influenced the “Think You Can Dance” star’s children, who he said were “drawn into the intricacies of adult disputes and effectively weaponized in the process.”
The children’s uncle further expressed his disappointment at the lack of consistent “communication” with the children, claiming that his family had not been included of their activities, and added: “It is depressing that their interaction with their grandmother and wider family has been noticeably limited.”
Although greater than a 12 months has passed since Dré’s post, the situation has apparently improved. When Zaia turned 5, Holker, Rose and Connie posted on Instagram on November 3.
Holker post was endearing: “Today is my daughter ZAIA’S BIRTHDAY! She is 5 years old and 20. I’m very happy with how far she has come. My angel has a heart of gold and the cry of a lion.
Fans flooded her comments with their best wishes. Some said, “She looks a lot like her daddy,” others said, “Nothing beats family.”
However, one follower directly addressed the tensions inside the family, commenting: “Poor baby, her mother DOES NOT let her see her GRANDMOTHER… Stop being a (snake emoji) @allisonholker, let the Twitch kids see HER FAMILY!!!”
Dré posted his own birthday wishes for the toddler with the note ” family photo himself holding Zaia and Maddox in his arms.
“Baby Girl Z, wow, big five already! Time flies and each moment with you is more precious than the last. Your pure and beautiful spirit lights up any room and I am happy to watch you grow into a wonderful young girl,” my uncle said.
“Always keep in mind that your ancestors, including your father, are watching over you with love and protection. Uncle Dee loves you a lot and might’t wait for you to see all the amazing belongings you will do. Shine shiny, my dear.
Many followers expressed support for his sentiments, asking if the photo was recent, and rooting for him to see his niece and nephew.
“Yes. For the first time since December 2022, I have to spend some time,” Dré replied.
Another person added: “It’s great to see them, that’s what your brother would want.”
Connie post it was equally warm for Zaia: “From AZ to California. Happy fifth BIRTHDAY to our beloved little Zaia! How time flies… it’s such a blessing to see you grow.
She added: “With your charming smile and unwavering determination, I can not wait to see what the world has in store for you! I really like you, baby! I do know Daddy is smiling and surrounding you with his loving presence in your special occasion.
However, her supporters didn’t hold back their opinions.
“Happy birthday, sweet girl. Grandma, please honestly when signing your captions you should mention how their mom keeps them/you away from her, the kids will grow up and see your IG page, they need to know that you and your family have tried EVERYTHING to stay in their lives, but their mother selfishly refused!!!” one person wrote.
Another asked: “Are you allowed to send your grandchildren gifts on their birthdays and Christmas?” Grandma didn’t answer this query.
But one person paid attention to the conversation and wrote: “Stephen is alive because of his children…who can never be taken away.”
Tension in the family began after the tragic death of the executive producer/DJ of “The Ellen Degeneres Show,” but it surely is unclear exactly when. When tWitch died by suicide, he didn’t leave a will specifying how his estate or future assets could be divided.
Holker, who also danced in “So You Think You Can Dance,” filed a California spousal estate petition to determine her right to her late husband’s estate. She asked for control of his estate to support their children, including her teenage daughter, whom Boss adopted. This move reportedly didn’t go down well with Boss’s mother, who had different views on access to his property.
The legal decision was made on April 26, 2023, According to to E! News when the California Supreme Court awarded Holker Boss an interest in the couple’s joint estate, which included several assets including Stephen Boss Productions, Inc., his investment account with Goldman Sachs, royalties from Cast and Crew Production Services and Disney Worldwide Services, Inc.
This provided Holker with the financial resources she needed to support her children, even though it doesn’t appear to have fully resolved the tensions inside the family.
Although Holker could have modified his life in some respects, the conflict with Boss’s family continues. Many people hope that for the sake of the children, adults will reconcile in order that the mourning process is not going to be further complicated by constant estrangement.
Entertainment
Dave Chappelle Reportedly ‘Refused’ to Host a Post-Election Episode of ‘SNL’ Years After Backlash to His Controversial Monologues
Dave Chappelle won’t weave jokes into election news on the primary episode of “Saturday Night Live” after America has determined that Donald Trump will develop into the forty seventh president of the United States.
Since 2016, the veteran comedian has had the glory of delivering the opening monologue on the primary Saturday after Election Day. Trump’s race against Vice President Kamala Harris has been considered one of an important elections of this generation.
Polls showed that the votes of Republican and Democratic candidates nationwide were almost equal before the ultimate tally of votes. When Trump secured his first victory within the Oval Office, Chappelle noted that he “didn’t know Donald Trump was going to win the election” because “I know white people.”
In 2020, when President Joe Biden defeated Trump, Chappelle delivered a 16-minute monologue. He jokingly thanked “God for Covid” because “something must have locked those murderous white people at home.”
But when viewers tune in to the long-running sketch show on Nov. 9, they’ll be greeted by stand-in and fellow comedian Bill Burr.
To the surprise of many, on October 31, “SNL” announced a lineup change. Firstly response read: “Having a post-election SNL host aside from Dave Chappelle is a crime. He won Emmy Awards for his performances in 2016 and 2020.
Another comment To read“Will Dave Chappelle be on SNL this week? Keep the tradition alive! No matter what happens, half of this country will need a laugh.”
Third person on Twitter he wrote“#SNL selected #BillBurr over Dave Chappelle for his or her post-election show. You’re replacing #Chappelle with Burra, aren’t you? Well, that is going to be a HARD show, you are speaking to a nation that won’t even know what to say. Bill higher be on his A game because of this.
And a fourth Chappelle fan
No%20more%20Dave%20Chapelle??!!%20You%E2%80%99ve%20lost%20me
%E2%80%94%20Deji%20Ojo%20(@ojoski)%20November%201,%202024
%20%E2%80%9C>joked,%20%E2%80%9CNo%20more%20Dave%20Chapelle??!!%20You%E2%80%99ve%20lost%20me.%E2%80%9D
%0A%0A%0A%0A
Several%20people%20have%20speculate%20that%20%20artist%E2%80%99s%20years%20of%20controversial%20jokes%20were%20a%20factor.%20
%0A%0A%0A%0A
Dave Chappelle’s opening monologue for 2020 on the positioning #SNL
— InThrill (@inThrill) November 8, 2020
One person he tweeted“To all of the people upset that Dave Chappelle isn’t hosting the post-election show: the likely reason is that SNL should have seen all of the backlash he received from transgender people/allies the last time he hosted in 2022 and decided that it is best in the event that they don’t do it anymore.
Other he was pleased“Finally not Dave Chappelle!”
The backlash intensified in 2021 when a humorist was accused of attacking the LGBTQ+ community in his Netflix special “The Closer.” Amid a wave of criticism, NBC, which airs “SNL,” decided to hire Chappelle to host the show, leading some fans to say they were “shocked” and “disappointed” by the choice.
However, claims of a tense relationship between the “Half-Baked” star and the network got here to light after it was alleged that he was kept from delivering a rehearsed monologue throughout the live show.
Chappelle’s punchlines from the 2023 special “The Dreamer” fueled attempts to have his appearance canceled again over transgender material.
Two weeks ago on Punchline, Chappelle said that SNL asked him to host a post-election show, but he declined.
— Ilya Abyzov (@IlyaAbyzov) October 31, 2024
One insider at X claimed that the actor revealed that he turned down a suggestion to perform at a recent comedy show.
“Two weeks ago, Chappelle said on Punchline that SNL asked him to host the post-election show, but he declined” – this person alleged. “He said why, but with these programs it’s a circle of trust thing, so I don’t want to blow it up. Let’s leave it like this: they disagreed on what basis the monologue could move.”
After the outcomes of the 2024 presidential elections, one other person sent“I still remember how hard the first episode of SNL after the 2016 election, hosted by Dave Chappelle, was. Tonight is just as amazing, same feeling – different font.”
Neither NBC nor “SNL” producers provided a statement on the choice to part ways with Chappelle. Burr, like his contemporary, was also the topic of controversy due to offensive jokes he made on the show.
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