Entertainment
Fans blame Caitlin Clark after Angel Reese exposes racism and horrific death threats from fans of Indiana star
Angel Reese has no hatred for WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark, despite the constant headlines and social media comments pitting the ladies against one another.
The same can’t be said for the Indiana Fever star’s fans who went too far to destroy Angel. The Chicago Sky forward opened up about how he’s endured infinite cyberattacks from Clark’s legion of supporters for the reason that two athletes’ teams faced off in back-to-back NCAA title games in 2023.
Angel and the Louisiana State University Tigers won the championship a yr ago against Clark and the University of Iowa Hawks, and the “you can’t see me” gesture between the highest college players on the time fueled furious discussions about racism, prompting critics who accused Reese of lacking sportsmanship in comparison with Clark.
Now, as each women enter their debut seasons as skilled basketball players, the attacks remain. Angel, who recently made WNBA history because the all-time leading rookie rebounder, addressed the hate she faces on the “Unapologetically Angel” podcast on Sept. 5.
When asked by co-host Maya Reese about her tackle the media story concerning the two players being at odds, she first said, “Caitlin is an amazing player, and I’ve always thought she was an amazing player. We’ve been playing together since high school.”
The 2024 Rookie of the Year candidate continued, “I think it’s just the fans — her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans — that are so… they ride for her, and I respect that. Sometimes it’s very rude. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to that, and I don’t think she’s leaning into that.”
The indisputable fact that the ladies’ fans give kkk and the indisputable fact that she doesn’t tell them about it out loud makes me imagine that she tolerates their mean and rude behavior. https://t.co/Xb7ohqFgK5
— 𝕸𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕒 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕓𝕝𝕖𝕞 (@lazytaurus__) September 6, 2024
When a clip of the conversation began circulating on Twitter, one person he commented“I wouldn’t even doubt that shit, some people are fucking weird.”
Clark has faced criticism for not speaking out loudly enough against the hate directed at Angel, or no less than not checking in to see if her fans were being attacked.
A podcast listener responded to a fraction of Angel’s statement in tweet which stated, “The fact that the girls’ fans give kkk and she pays no attention to them makes me believe that she tolerates their vile, dirty behavior.”
Renovated tweet who admonished the racist undertones of Clark’s supporters, said, “Caitlin Clark is in the wrong league if she refuses to take a stand against racism. Even though she didn’t ask to be the great white hope, the moguls made her one, and that causes real harm.”
As reported ESPN In June, Clark expressed her desire to maintain her name out of racist and misogynistic conversations. “People shouldn’t be using my name to promote these shows. It’s disappointing. It’s unacceptable,” she told the media.
“I don’t spend a lot of thought and time thinking about things like that, and honestly, I don’t see a lot of it,” she added. “Basketball is my job. I can’t control everything that’s out there, so I’m not going to spend time thinking about it.”
But Angel and social media users agree that some of Clark’s following is volatile and racially charged and doesn’t understand boundaries. The 6-foot-3 athlete said, “As far as the death threats I’m talking about, people have come to my address, followed me home, like that’s what it boils down to.”
Additionally, the Maryland native revealed, “I’ve had people take pictures of me naked, literally, of AI, multiple times. They’ve sent them to my family members. My family members are like uncles sending them to me like, ‘Are you naked on Instagram?’… It’s just horrible to see that and it’s really hard for me to go through with it.”
The former LSU star was moved to tears in April at a post-game news conference where he spoke concerning the death threats he received, sexualizedand the subject of online attacks. “This has all happened since I won the national championship,” Angel said.
“It sucks, but I wouldn’t change a thing, and I would still sit here and say I am my unapologetic self. I will always leave that mark and I will be myself and I will stick to that.” Her then-teammate Flau’jae Johnson also defended her, noting that her captain was a powerful, caring and loving person.
A month earlier, in March, she spoke out about AI photos of herself that were circulating online, tweeting on the time: “AI creating fake photos of me is crazy and weird!”
Entertainment
Oprah Winfrey under fire for controversial leadership of Academy amid criticism of her political affairs
Oprah Winfrey became a trending topic on social media across multiple platforms on September 16. The billionaire’s upcoming live broadcast with Vice President Kamala Harris drew negative reactions from conservatives.
The Unite for America event will feature Winfrey, Harris and representatives from greater than 100 grassroots Democratic organizations. Winfrey posted a video of the announcement on the TikTok account @oprahdaily.
“It’s going to be incredibly exciting to have all the different groups from all over the country come together,” Winfrey, 70, said on social media.
The OWN founder added: “Everyone is coming together for what I think will be one of the biggest election rallies in history.”
Winfrey officially endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in a surprise speech on the 2024 Democratic National Convention in August. Every time the previous talk show host shows support for Harris, supporters of Republican candidate and MAGA leader Donald Trump go on the attack.
In light of Oprah’s popularity online, Trump supporters have begun to allude to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy scandal. South African boarding school faces allegations of physical and sexual abuse within the late 2000s.
“Where are all the missing children???” one of the self-identified MAGA members asked on X in response to the “Unite for America” livestream. Someone else she tweeted: “Oprah, what about the girls at your South African school, huh?”
Some Sponsored by Oprah posted: “No girls disappeared, but girls were being sexually harassed at this school. As we know, Oprah is a victim of harassment, so she hopped on a plane to South Africa and made sure the person who did this was arrested. Why do you want her to be so angry? Because she’s a billionaire?”
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls was founded in Gauteng Province, South Africa in January 2007. Later that yr, multiple female students accused the dormitory manager of physical and sexual abuse.
Winfrey apologized to oldsters of Leadership Academy students after allegations were made about a faculty worker. She also visited the power to talk on to the community.
In October 2010, Tiny Makopo he was acquitted of all 14 charges related to the harassment allegations. In addition, Winfrey defamation case resolved with former Lerato Lerato director Nomvuyo Mzamane, who was fired amidst the abuse controversy.
Winfrey has followed the progress of some Leadership Academy graduates after they leave school. In June 2024, she celebrated the graduation of one of her “daughter-daughters” with an M.D. from Stanford University.
“I have attended 22 graduation ceremonies for all of my daughters who graduated from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa and went on to colleges across the United States.” The star of “The Color Purple” wrote in an Instagram caption from June 17.
Oprah Winfrey’s “Unite for America” Virtual Rally will probably be presented in partnership with the Win With Black Women volunteer network on September 19. The livestream will begin at 8:00 PM ET on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitch.
Entertainment
Lamorne Morris takes home his first Emmy and other notable Black moments from the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards
The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards took place on Sunday evening at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles, returning the annual awards to its usual place in the fall. Another returning vibe: few non-white nominees and even fewer non-white winners. Out of 14 Black acting nominees across multiple categories shown during the televised broadcast, there was only one Black winner. Lamorne Morris, who not only attended his first Emmys on Sunday evening, also took home the gold for outstanding supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for his role “Fargo.”
During his endearingly bumbling remarks, Morris thanked his mother, with whom he attended the awards, and jokingly shouted out his 3-year-old daughter, Lily, for not believing in him. He thanked everyone he loved, saying, “If you got my number, that means I love you,” as he wrapped up.
In an interview after his big win, he said, “This is strange, but it’ll sink in at some point. I just need to spend more time with it. If I wake up in the morning and it’s still in my room, then I know it’s real.”
Throughout the live broadcast, the Emmys paid homage to classic television characters, including a TV cop homage featuring Niecy Nash for her “Reno 911” days, a TV mom moment that included Susan Kelechi Watson for her portrayal of Beth on “This is Us,” and a tribute to TV lawyers featuring Viola Davis for “How to Get Away with Murder” and Gina Torres for “Suits.” The solid of “The West Wing” reunited to introduce the nominees and winner of the outstanding drama series. While Bradley Whitford was noticeably absent from the reunion, actor Dulé Hill was there.
Before the broadcast, Maya Rudolph won Outstanding Character Voice-over Performance for her role in Netflix’s hit animated series “Big Mouth.” Liza Colón-Zayas made history as the first Latina actress to win the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in “The Bear.” Other big wins for the night included “Shōgun,” which took home a history-making 18 Emmys for its first season, including best drama. HBO/Max’s “Hacks” won for best comedy.
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While Black talent could have been sparse on the big stage, they definitely won on the red carpet. Leading as much as the awards ceremony, Black television stars peppered the red carpet with style and vigorous interviews. Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who was nominated for her guest appearance role in “Only Murders in the Building,” arrived in a vivid yellow hooded gown. Meanwhile, Ayo Edebiri, who was nominated for her supporting role in “The Bear,” wore a colourful Bottega Veneta strapless gown with a sultry slit.
When chatting with Laverne Cox, Edebiri said, “Danielle Goldberg, my stylist, said (the dress) was really reminiscent to her of Gaetano Pesce, this amazing Italian artist who just passed away. And for me, I’m also getting Nollywood vibes.”
Elsewhere, Sherly Lee Ralph, nominated for her role in “Abbott Elementary,” arrived in a custom black Versace halter gown and said her look styled by her daughter Ivy Coco was “classic.”
“I just love everything about it,” she gushed while chatting with Robin Roberts. When asked what she enjoys most about playing Barbara, Ralph said she loved the proven fact that Barba “as a teacher is a constant student.”
“She continues to learn every year, every season. She is growing just a bit. She is evolving just a bit,” Ralph continued. “I love that in people in general, that you are forever learning. You are forever a student of life. And that’s what I love about Barbara Howard.”
Black and other darker hues were major themes on the red carpet. Pops of color included pinks, reds, and multicolor prints. Men continued to experiment with the suit, pushing the boundaries on cuts, sleeve styles, and colours. Take a take a look at a few of the best looks in the gallery below.
Entertainment
Exclusive: Jalen Hurts and Bry Burrows are engaged!
Jalen Hurts has been “on the books” for years, but he’s now officially off the market. ESSENCE can exclusively confirm that the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback is engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Bry Burrows.
The couple shared exclusive photos with ESSENCE from the day the star athlete popped the query, including a have a look at the romantic backdrop of the moment. It included a violinist, candles, and red roses scattered around. We also get a glimpse of the intimate moment because the two hold hands while searching to sea.
Burrows, who’s a synthetic intelligence partner at IBM, met Hurts while they were students on the University of Alabama; she is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and he’s a star quarterback in the faculty and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. They have been dating on and off since then, going public with their relationship in 2023. She joined Hurts on the sphere after the Eagles won the NFC Championship and has remained a personal but crucial a part of his life. But the 2 left the sphere for one night to make their red carpet debuts on the Time100 Next Gala in October 2023, wearing black and megawatt smiles.
The glad news comes as people have been whispering a couple of possible engagement. It all began when Burrows showed up on the Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers game in São Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 6 with an enormous rock on her finger. The girls celebrated online earlier, sharing their excitement for “our good sister.”
It was only a matter of time before he asked her to marry him, as Hurts told ESSENCE of their May/June 2023 cover story that he had known for a very long time that she was special. Make it something spectacular.
“I knew a long time ago,” he said. “I mean, up until this point in my life, it’s an irreplaceable feeling. I think that’s what got us to where we are now.”
We love black love normally, but there’s something special about college students finding their strategy to the altar. Congrats to the gorgeous couple!
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