Entertainment
Brandy on her role in “The Front Room”: “It scared the hell out of me”
In her latest role, Brandy faces her fears.
The music legend, 45, plays Belinda, a professor and wife who’s expecting her second child after a previous stillbirth, in the psychological horror film The Front Room. When Belinda’s mother-in-law, Solange (Kathryn Hunter), moves in with Belinda and her husband (Andrew Burnap), strange things start happening in the house — forcing the couple to make unexpected decisions.
Brandy has starred in horror movies before (“I Still Know What You Did Last Summer”), but “The Front Room” presents a brand new challenge for the singer-actress. The “Almost Doesn’t Count” singer tells theGrio in an exclusive interview that she took the role in part because “it scared the hell out of me.”
“That’s one of the things that drew me to Belinda,” Brandy says. “The role was so different from anything I’d ever done, and I wanted to see if I could do it. I wanted to see if I could expand my range, my depth as an actress, and see what could happen when I worked with Kathryn Hunter, Andrew Burnap and (directors) Sam and Max Eggers.”
“It was a great environment, a great atmosphere that made me feel safe and free enough to try,” she adds.
Brandy does greater than “try” in the film; she excels in every scene she’s in, portraying fear, anger, confusion, hope and more with authenticity. The “Full Moon” singer’s character is pregnant for many of the film, which Brandy says is a brand new but familiar experience. The actress’ real-life daughter, Sy’rai Iman Smith, is 22, but Brandy remembers what it was prefer to carry her all those years ago.
“That belly (in the movie) made me think about being pregnant when I was 23 and having my first child,” Brandy says. “It was beautiful. I loved being pregnant. It was a beautiful experience. But it just felt like I was pregnant the whole movie, right?”
“When I wasn’t pregnant, my belly didn’t even get any smaller,” Brandy adds with fun.
The actress worked closely with Hunter’s co-star on the film, as Hunter’s Solange is especially interested in Belinda’s pregnancy. Brandy tells Grio that their on-set bond developed organically through the script.
“Well, it all comes down to the writing. I think the writing was brilliant. It helped us figure out what to do and how to do it,” says Brandy. “We were very close to Sam and Max, who kept an eye on us and helped us with everything.”
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Brandy adds that she and Hunter “had a special bond when the cameras were off.”
“I got to get to know her on a different level, and I was able to try things and react to things that she would do naturally because I just felt safe doing it with her,” the singer says.
“The Front Room” hits theaters on September 6.
Entertainment
Chrissy Teigen’s sweet video of John Legend with kids backfires as Donald Trump supporters flood her comments
Celebrity couple Chrissy Teigen (38) and John Legend (45) were outspoken supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris’s efforts to defeat MAGA leader Donald Trump within the 2024 presidential election.
On November 5, the Republican politician emerged as the winner of election night, winning over 290 Electoral College votes, and returned to the White House for the second time after winning the 2016 election.
Fans of the president-elect won’t let Teigen forget that she was a robust supporter of Harris’ campaign, a lot in order that her most up-to-date Instagram post about her family was attacked by pro-Trump trolls.
The former “Lip Sync Battle” host shared a video on November 6 of her husband and two children sitting on the piano, with Legend singing to her youngest children, Esti and Wren. Her caption read, “When there are no words, there is music,” paired with a red heart emoji.
While Teigen didn’t make a direct political statement on this particular Instagram post in comparison with others, Trump supporters in her comments slammed the model and TV personality.
Someone wrote: “Let’s go TRUMPPPPP. Now perhaps deal with the belongings you actually find out about as a substitute of pushing a BS agenda that has no effect on you.
Another MAGA advocate wrote, “What a fantastic day today! Proud to be an American. Let’s make America great again.”
Another Donald Trump supporter asked: “Are you leaving the US?” A like-minded person wondered, “When are you moving?… Yeah, that’s what I thought. All talk, no action… just like KAMALA.”
On the opposite hand, many of her followers complimented Teigen’s family for his or her public support of Harris.
“Thank you to the entire family for how much you supported Kamala and Tim! Your spirit, your words, your fight – all of it has made a positive impact on so many! I appreciate you!!!!” one person said.
“We are very happy that you are with us. Your support for Kamala is amazing, your spirit, courage and positive attitude have made a huge difference,” commented a second Harris supporter.
The legend mentioned his family’s possible move from America in response to the Trump administration during a 2020 interview Cosmopolitan throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
“You think about it from time to time,” the “All of Me” singer told the outlet about leaving the United States because of Trump. “We were born and raised here, all our families are here. It would be hard to leave.”
The 12-time Grammy winner continued, “But I don’t know what to do when you have a leader who’s trying to destroy democracy.” At the time, Trump was running against Joe Biden, but Biden believed the general public was “exhausted by Trump’s daily efforts to destroy democracy and the free press.”
Legend and Teigen remained in America throughout Donald Trump’s first presidency, which lasted from January 20, 2017 to January 20, 2021.
Once Trump decided to run for president this yr, they began openly supporting Harris’ campaign, receiving an invite from Legend to perform on the 2024 Democratic National Convention in August.
In October, three weeks before the last day of nationwide voting, the couple posted a video of themselves playing “Vote or Veto” on their Instagram accounts.
The game saw the 2 A-list stars raise awareness of Democratic policies such as abortion rights, free school meals and the $6,000 child tax credit.
They also opposed a national abortion ban, a policy often promoted in right-wing pro-life circles. Apparently, bringing up hot-button topics like reproductive rights caused the parents of 4 children to show off comments on their joint “Vote or Veto” post.
“Okay, we had some fun voting or vetoing @KamalaHarris and Trump’s policies – because let’s be real, some things just aren’t negotiable,” Teigen and Legend said within the caption.
They also added: “This is a personal matter for us and should concern you too. What’s on your must-vote list? Let’s talk about it.”
This stamp of approval for Harris and Trump’s takedown got here after Legend’s appearance Zeteo Mehdi Hasan News. During the interview, Legend reacted to Trump’s Vice President J.D. Vance’s comments about childless women.
“I just don’t understand the contempt he has for people without children. It just doesn’t make sense,” Legend said, before adding: “We don’t desire the federal government dictating when we have now children and what number of children we are able to have.”
Legend also sat down with “CBS Mornings” in October to discuss why he decided to campaign for Harris. He specifically discussed speaking out on politics as a star.
“Politics affects all our lives and we are all citizens. We all have a stake in what is happening in this country. We pay taxes here. Our kids grow up here and go to school here,” the EGOT winner explained to “CBS Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil.
Legend and Teigen have been married since September 2013, after first meeting in 2006 while filming Legend’s “Stereo” music video. They have 4 children together.
Teigen gave birth to a daughter named Luna Simone in April 2016. Their first son, Miles Theodore, was born in May 2018. Their second daughter, Esti Maxine, was born in January 2023.
Luna, Miles and Esri were conceived through in vitro fertilization. John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s fourth child, a second son named Wren Alexander, was born in June 2023 via surrogate.
Entertainment
Black Hollywood Speaks Out: Kerry Washington, Cardi B and More Express Disappointment in Election Results – Essence
Photo: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images
It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the identical. Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss to Donald Trump sent waves of shock and consternation across Hollywood as Black stars expressed their deep frustration, concern and sadness with the country’s decision. Reactions poured in late Tuesday and early Wednesday, and the collective tone was certainly one of regret at what many see as a troubling turn for America.
Cardi B, a staunch Harris supporter who showed up at certainly one of her rallies, shared her disbelief on Instagram. In a video of her observing the outcomes, she bluntly expressed her anger with the caption: “I hate you all.” Later, during an Instagram Live session, she responded to a fan’s query about attending Trump’s inauguration: “I’m sick of you! Burn your fucking hats, motherfucker. I’m really sad. I swear to God, I’m really sad.” Her words echoed as a harsh response, underscoring the depth of disappointment felt by many.
Kerry Washington, who spoke on the Democratic National Convention on Harris’ behalf, he replied to the message, encouraging resilience and self-care. “It wasn’t a mirage. Swipe. Thank you @blackliturgies and @wetheurban for these pearls of love, truth, wisdom and humanity,” she wrote. “Be good to yourself today. There is more work to be done.” Washington’s post was a call for reflection and perseverance, and a reminder that the fight for progress must proceed.
He , Whoopi Goldberg, a longtime Trump critic, didn’t hold back. “He is the president. I still won’t reveal his name. This won’t change,” she said. Her co-host Sunny Hostin echoed the gloomy sentiment, describing herself as “deeply concerned” in regards to the consequence.
Other stars shared equally honest responses. LeBron James posted a photograph along with her daughter, with the caption: “My heart is heavy and remember this time, my princess. I promise to protect you with everything I have and more!! We don’t need their help!” The emotional message highlighted the protectiveness many Black parents feel in the face of political uncertainty.
Actor Wendell Pierce, known for his influential roles in and , shared: harsh assessment election consequences. “For those who have wondered how American society has allowed the sins of our past, know that tonight Trump won the majority despite his lack of character and integrity,” he wrote. “He has demonstrated his racism, misogyny, xenophobia and attempted to overthrow the government through insurrection… He is known for his court attack strategy that will ultimately grant him immunity and repeal his beliefs. His accusations will disappear. This says everything about our society. We absolved this behavior by electing him. A celebration of crime.”
For many black stars, the consequence was not unexpected, however it was painful nonetheless. “It’s an everyday Wednesday for us,” said star Yvette Nicole Brown. “Black people are used to this. The rest of you will be shocked at how America treats you when it doesn’t care about you.”
Former co-host Desus Nice summed up the moment with biting humor: “America having one of these genders reveals that it starts a fire that lasts for about 30 days.” This satirical metaphor speaks volumes in regards to the chaos many imagine awaits the country.
Franklin Leonard, the founding father of the Black List, was energetic on social media throughout election night, capturing the emotions of those that remember the turbulent years of Trump’s previous term. “Too many of you seem to have forgotten how crazy the Trump years were,” he said wrote on X. Early Wednesday morning, he shared his disbelief, adding: “I’m not sure about what just happened, and I’m pretty sure no one else is either.” His posts reflected a broader sense of confusion and frustration over the consequence.
Each response reflects a shared feeling that America’s alternative has once more left many individuals grappling with a reality that they feel feels heavy and all too familiar.
Entertainment
How Houston’s car culture is fueling Adidas’ new collaboration with Premium Goods – Andscape
Houston native and longtime sneakerhead Jennifer Ford tapped into that very same dedication and pride when she created Premium Goods, the nation’s first Black woman-owned sneaker boutique, which was handed right down to her by her brother while he spent hours working on his car within the driveway.
While her brother tinkered around their house, Ford got a glimpse of Houston’s car culture. In the remaining of her neighborhood, she discovered car club meetings organized by different generations. Unbeknownst to Ford, she had built considered one of the primary independent sneaker boutiques in Texas in 2004 and had recently created the PG x Adidas Campus ’00 sneaker as an ode to Houston’s car culture and car clubs.
“It’s a group of people with a common love who can come together in a safe space and talk about things they enjoy, while also gaining guidance and helping others. We feel like this happens a lot in our store,” Ford said. “Our team is really informed about previous and new products, so they advise people. I feel like car clubs do the same thing.”
This edition of the Campus ’00 silhouette includes a hidden pocket that mimics a glove compartment and a cracked leather upper that reflects the imperfections of life and cars.
The Premium Goods team also desired to be sure that the colour red was the most important theme of this collaboration. According to the brand’s creative director, Joseph Kare, red is a central element of the Premium Goods brand resulting from its ability to precise boldness and power, and is associated with all of Houston’s major sports teams.
The car culture that is “rooted in the Houston nature,” as Ford likes to say, has followed her from her childhood driveway, to attending car meets in highschool, and now into her home as an adult. Once a month, car enthusiasts gather near Ford’s home for the group’s self-titled event Coffee and cars. The meetings spread throughout Texas and started to be organized commercially in 2004, the identical yr that Ford founded Premium Goods in Houston.
“This shoe represents all of them as a collective and even those who aspire to the automotive world,” Ford said.
For Ford, a very powerful a part of the campaign is its collaboration with the Adidas Cornerstone Community. This initiative helps BIPOC-focused retailers by offering resources for ongoing support, hosting community events, and providing training from industry leaders. In partnership with Cornerstone Community, Premium Goods will donate a percentage of shoe sales to Dekaney High School’s automotive technology program, whose curriculum exposes students to the automotive industry through car care clinics, safety workshops and driver teaching programs.
“These programs aren’t as common in schools these days as they used to be, assuming funding has been removed from them, but this is a great opportunity for youth who don’t necessarily want to go to college but can still find something they really like.” Ford said. “There are many individuals on this country whose careers and lives depend upon the automotive industry, and plenty of of them, unfortunately, cannot go to school, but they create these careers and make a living from them. It’s similar to in America.”
Given Houston’s wealthy history and culture, Ford and Kare’s goal was to not overwhelm themselves by making a shoe that represents every aspect of town; as a substitute, the creative duo desired to pay tribute to the community living within the noisy city.
“Our goal was to create a well-balanced design,” Kare said. “There is a whole lot of intersection between our customers who’re occupied with cars and likewise sneakers. We feel that communities ultimately mirror one another. In a dream world, we might have had many more opportunities to create designs that showcased all the good things about Houston, but we only had one model and we wanted to point out off something that is somewhat underrated.
Ford associates cars with various core memories from adolescence to maturity. She remembers being with her older sister and seeing transport trucks in her neighborhood and MOMO wheels with shiny, colourful lights under the car.
“It was almost like a rite of passage,” Ford said. “I could not wait to be 16 and be cool, but then you definately realize how much money you’ve got, what you truly get and what you’ll be able to do with those limitations. Many people associate memories with cars and the independence that comes with them.
Ford got here from a modest family and knew she would must work for her first car. She did what many other teenagers do and went to the local mall to search for a job. When her grandmother died, she left her a car, which Ford was capable of sell for $600. She saved one other $600 and in 1996 bought a 1984 Honda Accord.
“It was pretty old, but it was fun,” Ford said. “I have a great dad, but he definitely pushes me to study. So if your tire got flat, he wouldn’t replace it for you. He would show me how to replace it, and if something went wrong with my car, he wouldn’t take me to a mechanic to fix it. I would have to go and price it and then he would go and price it and show me the difference in what they would charge men and women.”
Ford’s independence and self-protection evolved into the well-oiled machine that is today’s premium goods. After receiving the decision from Adidas, Ford, Kare and the team met internally and quickly decided that Houston’s car clubs and culture can be their inspiration.
After deciding on the concept, the Premium Goods team met with Adidas again for guidance on material selection. Ford and Kare used their previous experience working with major brands, reminiscent of two Nike Air Force 1 colorways, to assist guide them.
“Because we’ve been in business for 20 years, we’ve seen a lot of shoes come in and out of people’s homes,” Kare said. “We knew we definitely wanted cracked leather and suede because we felt it represented the aging and imperfection that exists in car design. Once we got the first sample, we didn’t have to make many changes.”
As Premium Goods celebrates its twentieth anniversary, Ford and Kare see their customers grow up and return to the boutique with their children. Kare also noted that by watching their clients grow, they’ve the chance to see them evolve as business owners and as people.
The brand was inspired by watching customers undergo subsequent stages of life and develop an interest in styles add a kid’s boutique to his offers.
“We wanted to provide them with an environment where their child could come in and pick out their own shoes and still provide a safe environment for the child,” Ford said. “It’s definitely not a huge money maker, but it’s fun for us to give away gifts and shop for the whole family. Plus, who doesn’t love photos of the whole family with everyone wearing matching sneakers.”
For Ford, it is not nearly selling lifestyle or limited-edition shoes, but greater than that, not taking with no consideration the luxurious of waking up and with the ability to go to work with her friends while making an impact on the community that raised her.
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