Entertainment
the family he built with his wife Pauletta – Andscape
Somewhere between tender and incorrect comes the following comment about one among Hollywood’s best living actors: “Denzel Washington is the same person in all his movies.”
I definitely understand that sentiment. His wide, toothy smile never falters whether he’s an equalizer or a corrupt cop. He is a force of nature, whether he is a person on fire or showing the heart of a hurricane.
It’s a fantastic injustice to suggest that Washington is the same man in every film, and that is a fault because familiarity has never bred contempt over a profession spanning nearly half a century.
That’s one among the explanation why I actually enjoyed the press visit from Washington – no, Washington – which promoted two latest projects and…
In , the big-budget sequel to the 2000 film, Washington plays the cunning Macrinus in ancient Rome and, as usual, steals the show. In , the 1987 film adaptation of August Wilson’s play was produced by Washington and his daughter Katia, directed by his son Malcolm, and in addition stars his eldest child John David and daughter Olivia. The Washingtons’ collective talents were on full display.
In the run-up to those movies, we saw a multi-layered Washington, a proud patriarch, a loving husband, and even a “therapist” of sorts. IN four-minute videoappropriately titled “DENZEL GIVES THE BEST ADVICE EVER! Gladiator II” – the legend offers presenter Zainab Jiwa a three-part guide to life. “The first a part of your life is learning. The second a part of your life, you earn money. You come back in the third a part of your life.
“Can you be my therapist?” Jiwa asks, each stunned and completely satisfied.
“I’m here,” replies Washington.
Despite all the discuss being the best actor of all time and what “retirement” might appear to be (which Washington warned would come after making a couple of more movies), this appears to be Washington’s best incarnation. It’s extremely comfortable, immediately switching between serious and silly, as evidenced by this exchange between himself and fellow actors David Oyelowo, Derek Luke and Michael Ealy when he takes over the reporter’s microphone and interviews them. We mention terms like “black excellence” to the point of nausea and elitism, and yet what’s higher than watching this common man, his wife and youngsters in a press row? A tree is thought by the fruit it bears.
The synergy begins with Pauletta Washington, whom her husband and youngsters like to bring to the fore despite her best efforts to distract.
“When we were driving, I told my husband, ‘This is for them.'” she said at the premiere. “And – ”
“And for mom! For all the work she has done,” Washington interjected. “To raise them, to instill these values and everything that you see and hear.”
There is synergy of their work. Washington, in fact, became famous in the movies of director Spike Lee as Malcolm X (), Bleek Gilliam () and Jake Shuttlesworth (). John David Washington played Ron Stallworth in Lee’s 2018 film. What stands out to me from that point is John David Washington’s quick correction to broadcaster Craig Melvin in an interview by which he describes him as “Denzel Washington’s son.”
“And Pauletta Washington,” he added, before rattling off her bona fides, including the indisputable fact that she was the one who paid for dinner on her first date with his father. “My father taught me how to hunt,” he told Melvin. “My mother taught me how to love.”
Close your eyes and John David Washington’s voice will sound like his father’s. Open your eyes and you will notice the family’s distinctive smile, as protective because it is carnivorous. A field to hunt and a field to like.
Perhaps that is why Wilson’s estate entrusted the late playwright’s work to Washington. In 2015, he won an Oscar announced that it would produce all 10 Century Cycle Wilsons. This reinforces the indisputable fact that the Washington name trumps fame. It represents exertions and a focus to detail, no matter occupation. First, there was a movie released in 2016 starring Washington and Viola Davis. Eight years later, the film stars John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler. Meanwhile, it was 2020, with Davis and Washington’s on-screen son, Chadwick Boseman. “There is no Washington without Denzel,” Boseman famously said he said when Washington received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 2019.
Boseman’s praise seems especially chilling now, though the irony is relevant once we take into consideration Washington. We rarely have the opportunity to have fun greatness at its peak, let alone in its twilight. Just a couple of months ago in September, actor James Earl Jones and his iconic voice left us, a 12 months ago preceded by the death of civil rights activist and singer Harry Belafonte in April 2023. Singer and musician Frankie Beverly accomplished a farewell tour in July and died in September.
There is something incredibly beautiful about giving someone flowers after they can smell them and watching that very same person plant seeds for the next generation. Considering Washington’s repeated appeals to young actors, exhorting them to “get on the stage,” it’s decidedly old-school. And yet he stays relevant because his work will pave the way for what comes next.
I saw him last weekend in all his glory, with his silver beard and royal robes. I saw him re-emphasize the vulnerability of his role as a father in , coupled with Alonzo Harris’ cunning and corruption in . Finally, I used to be reminded of a phrase that defined the most important character’s legacy, but could just as easily have been attributed to Washington and his visible and living legacy: “What we do in life echoes in eternity.”
For Washingtonians, these reverberations happen in the present.
Entertainment
An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit
Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”
She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.
Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.
On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”
One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.
Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.
Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, cropped a photograph of him in a jumpsuit and then set Instagram on fire with her look.https://t.co/n7YNGctQFE pic.twitter.com/DNKP2i9o9C
— Sean Joseph (@sjoseph_sports) December 2, 2024
When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.
Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”
Lauren Sanchez 2003 vs. Lauren Sanchez 2024
Nothing to see here, people, move on#LaurenSanchez pic.twitter.com/mgr4vj6mFq
— Occam was right (@OccamWasRight) November 21, 2024
Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”
Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.
Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.
Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.
Entertainment
Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape
India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.
“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”
Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.
Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.
Name:
India Shawn
Hometown:
Los Angeles
Artistic soundscape
Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric
The oldest musical memory
Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.
Influences
For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.
Creative process
Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”
Challenges and development
As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”
Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.
Current project
“There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”
Entertainment
ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence
With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.
Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.
From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.
In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.
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