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See all the couples who showed up and showed off at the 2024 SAG Awards

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) Russell Wilson and Ciara attend the thirtieth Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards – Arrivals at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)

While the thirtieth Screen Actors Guild Awards were mostly about actors and actresses celebrating one another and their work in film and television, it was also a date night that honored Hollywood’s top talent on February 24, 2024 at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles, California.

As ESSENCE was readily available to cover the carpet ahead of the anticipated awards show, we gushed over the stars from the stellar solid who were nominated, equivalent to 2024 Black Women In Hollywood winner Danielle Brooks, Tracee Ellis Ross, who supported her solid with , and in fact the legendary diva herself, Sheryl Lee Ralph, who proudly represented, but drew attention to the celebrity couples who showed up on the carpet. We also caught up with Courtney B. Vance, renowned actor and president and chairman of the board of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, who told us about how he and his wife, Angela Bassett, prioritize love and family of their relationship and household. “That’s my girl (Bassett); our family comes first. That’s why now we have all the time said that our family comes first, not our profession. So sometimes we couldn’t take up certain jobs due to family,” he told ESSENCE.

Throughout our time on the carpet, we observed the power of community, family, brotherhood and, most significantly, love. See all the beautiful celebrity couples who attended the 2024 SAG Awards.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Sam Jay became a comedy master later in life. She explains how in “Masters of the Game”

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Masters of the Game: Sam Jay Preview

Sam Jay is the very unlikely latest star in comedy. She began doing stand-up at 29, is a black lesbian from Boston, and is now a universally adored master of the art of stand-up. You can see it in the way she walks on stage and relaxes. You can see it in the way she exudes that factor. You can see it in the way she delivers her jokes like she’s throwing a game—calm but cocky, laid-back but deadly. She’s hysterical, and on several occasions she’s made me laugh so hard I physically hurt. She has one long line about playing around along with her fiancée, and no, I can’t even paraphrase that line. I’m just saying she’s really sharp at her craft. She told me she studied comedy and that’s why she’s a master of the game now. Don’t miss my hysterical interview along with her on “Masters of the Game,” now available on theGrio.

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Jay got into comedy late because that is how life dealt her. When Jay was a teenager in Boston, she was interested in comedy, but her mother was sick for years. She died when Jay was 19, after which Jay went through years of depression and illness. She immersed herself in comedy after which went back to normal life. But when she was 29, very late in her comedian life, she was living in Atlanta and dating the woman who’s now her fiancée. She was coming out of depression, becoming an open lesbian, and she or he was able to attack comedy. She tried it and realized that she desired to succeed there greater than the rest. She went to clubs and commenced studying, and a decade later she’s a star on the rise.

To hear Jay’s full story and her thoughts on what it takes to be a great comedian, take a look at our interview on Masters of the Game.


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Rapper Chingy Drops Controversial Republican Party Run After Fan Backlash

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Rapper Chingy claps back at his critics who believe he should not participate in GOP event sponsored by conservative organization. (Instagram/ @chingy)

Rapper Chingy has faced criticism for his attendance at a Republican Party-sponsored human rights summit attended by the country’s largest and oldest organization representing LGBT conservatives and their heterosexual allies.

His name appeared on a “Red White & Rock” flyer produced by the sponsoring organization, alongside the likes of Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. as headliners for the evening.

When the Jasmine brand published After the flyer was released, a lot of his fans shared their thoughts on his booking.

Despite his try to deflect attention from his political affiliations, many social media users compared him to Chrisette Michele, who faced similar criticism for her performance at Donald Trump’s inauguration.

“They better do to him what they did to Chrisette Michele,” one comment read, while one other agreed and said, “Drag him down like you did to Chrisette Michele!” @tyrese Where are you? Because you had quite a lot of warmth for Chrisette.”

Chingy’s planned appearance on the event has reignited the discussion about artists supporting controversial causes for profit.

“Let Chingy do what he has to do for his pork chop and pay his electric bill in peace. Because his performance won’t affect my vote one bit,” one commenter said bluntly.

Rapper Chingy responds to critics who say he shouldn’t have attended a GOP event sponsored by a conservative organization. (Instagram/ @chingy)
Rapper Chingy responds to his critics who say he shouldn’t have attended a Republican Party event sponsored by a conservative organization. (Photo: @chingy/Instagram)

Another wrote: “Not all money is good money, Chingy. It’s the difference between chasing a dollar and creating a brand.”

A 3rd comment read: “At least he said it was just about the money, most people wouldn’t even admit that.”

Chingy was so overwhelmed by people’s criticism for participating within the controversial event, Log cabin event during which he addressed his fans and critics with a special statement.

The ‘Right Thurr’ star wrote: “I said it once. MY JOB IS TO PERFORM AND I GET PAID TO PERFORM, NOT FOR POLITICS. NOW FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO WITH YOUR TIME.”

He added: “HEY, MAYOR, IT’S SEPTEMBER 14THTH CHINGY DAY IN ST LOUIS! WHY IS THIS NOT ON THE VASSAL BLOGS?”

Someone told him“Just tell us you’re in a bad mood,” in line with Baller Alert, to which he replied, “You can’t be in a bad mood when you just bought a $500,000 house.”

“These people don’t hate me because they love my music. The music is not racist and that’s how I play it. All this crap you guys create doesn’t bother me at all,” he continued.

He added: “I’m a performer, whether those people are political or gay or whatever — everybody loves music. I have classic records that everybody loves, and I’ll perform them for them. So I hope that helps you understand that my job as an artist is to perform and create timeless music. And that’s what I did.”

Chingy continued to attempt to make his case on social media. One Instagrammer asked the rapper directly, “What the hell, you a Trump supporter now?” to which he replied, “No, correction, I’m a Chingy supporter. My job is to perform, not to be political.”

This would not be the primary time Chingy’s support for Donald Trump has been met with resistance.

In 2016, the rapper posted a tweet supporting Trump.

“Politics vs. society. People need to understand that politics is a business, just like the job you do. I’m voting for @realDonaldTrump,” he wrote in January 2016. After posting the tweet, the rapper was inundated with backlash, withdrawing his support and admitting he was not fully informed.

“Everything I wrote was completely taken out of content… but I’m still on top. lmao #LiveofACeleb #TwitterIsTheDevil #NoEndorsement,” he said he tweeted later that very same day.

He later said that in line with Bulletin board“I thought it was good stuff. Obviously, we want to keep terrorism out of the country. I didn’t know about some of the negative things he had to say about some of the racing here and the hip-hop community. I didn’t know about a lot of the negative stuff, I was just commenting on reading the article and reading some of the good things he said, so that’s where my comments came from.”

The Red White & Rock event that has sparked a lot discussion is a fundraiser for the Republican Party and can happen on September 29 from 3 to 7 p.m. in Nashville.

The St. Louis native has not formally endorsed any candidate on this round and doesn’t appear to have any political content on his energetic Instagram account. However, after receiving mounting backlash, he decided to tug out of the event.

“YOU KNOW WHAT, BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MESS. I REFUSED TO PERFORM AND NO, I AM NOT A SUPPORTER OF TRUMP OR ANYONE ELSE BUT CHINGY. YES YOU DO,” Chingy said, in line with an Instagram screenshot captured by TeaWith Tia.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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What’s the Story Behind Alicia Keys and Her Husband Swizz Beatz? Everything You Need to Know

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Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, Alicia keys on marriage, Black celebrity families, Black celebrity children, Black celebrity couples, theGrio.com

Long before he was Mr. Keys, Swizz Beatz was producing records to your favorites. Born Kasseem Dean in the Bronx in 1978, Beatz got into the game via his uncles, Joaquin, Darrin and Chivon Dean, who founded the hip-hop label Ruff Ryders Entertainment in 1988. Swizz was an aspiring DJ but wasn’t given the probability to test his production skills. After begging his uncles for one probability, his wish was granted and he landed a beat for “Ruff Ryders Anthem.”

Swizz Beatz performs during The Dean Collection X Bacardi No Commission event on April 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Hu Chengwei/Getty Images for Bacardi)

Since then, Beatz has produced a whole bunch of songs for everybody from Jay Z and TI to Nicki Minaj and Whitney Houston. He has left his mark on the hip-hop genre as a talented producer who creates heavy basslines which are perfect for dancing and grooving.

Even with all of his accomplishments in music, Beatz’s marriage to famed singer-songwriter Alicia Keys has earned him several headlines over the years. The couple shares a variety of accomplishments, from award-winning albums and art collections to an almost 15-year marriage and a phenomenal black patchwork family.

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz’s Love Story

Keys and Beatz’s love story began in the concrete jungle just outside their Bronx highschool. Keys was 14 at the time, Beatz 16, and he offered Keys his number after chatting her up. But Keys said, “Nah, it’s fine,” and left. Years later, the two reconnected as their stars rose, bumping into one another at live shows and events. They collaborated on a music project in 2008, and Keys agreed to let him take one other shot.

60th Annual GRAMMY Awards - Producers & Engineers 11th Annual GRAMMY Week Honoring Swizz Beatz & Alicia Keys
NEW YORK, New York – JANUARY 25: Honoree Alicia Keys (left) and Swizz Beatz attend the eleventh annual GRAMMY Week event at the Producers and Engineers Wing honoring Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys at The Rainbow Room on January 25, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images)

According to Keys, her man won her over first date when he was late because he was busy tying a gift he bought her to the roof of her automobile. Their love grew from there, and the couple announced their engagement and Keys’ pregnancy in May 2010. Swizz Beatz married Alicia Keys in July 2010 and they now have two sons, Egypt (born 2010) and Genesis (born 2014).

Beatz has three children with Alicia: sons Prince (born in 2000) and Kaseem Dean Jr. (born in 2006) from his first wife, R&B singer Mashonda, and daughter Nicole (born in 2008) from his relationship with singer Jahnna Sebastian. Beatz’s ex-wife initially had a tumultuous relationship with Keys, but the two have since smoothed it over and created a successful co-parenting dynamic that Mashonda praised in her book“Blend: The Secret to Co-Parenting and Creating a Balanced Family.”

Family Life and Parenthood for Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz

Family is every thing in the Beatz-Keys household. Keys has spoken highly of her patchwork family and her relationship with Tifrere. “The understanding, compassion, and support we’ve found is a powerful testament to the healing that comes when we choose love. Especially for our children… the most important part of our lives,” Keys said in a Facebook post promoting her song “Blended Family.”

Mashonda, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz on GMA thegrio.com
(Good morning America)

When Keys was a judge on The Voice, she talked about how difficult it was combining motherhood with a demanding schedule. However, she was comfortable that her children could see her chasing her dreams and fighting for what she wanted.

Alicia Keys’ husband has they talked about fatherhood and how necessary it’s for him to commit to a healthy lifestyle for himself and his children.

Both Beatz and Keys enjoy working on their craft, which doesn’t at all times mean music for Keys. Beatz enjoys going to the studio, while Keys enjoys hitting the slopes. The “Fallin’” singer has discovered that she really loves skiing as a way to escape the cold, so long as she’s wrapped up warmly. She’s taken to social media to share the way it forced her to overcome her fears and find the strength to survive the edge.

How Alicia Keys’ Husband Supports Her Music

In addition to supporting his wife’s profession, Swizz Beatz has gone a step further and turn into her paymaster. He is credited on several of her music tracks, including “Put it in a Love Song,” “Wait Til You See My Smile,” and “New Day.”

In April of this yr, Beatz was I smile on the blue carpet alongside his wife and two young children to rejoice the premiere of “Hell’s Kitchen,” the Broadway musical based on Keys’ childhood in New York City.

2024 Tony Awards, 77th Annual Tony Awards, 2024 Tony Awards red carpet, Tony Awards red carpet, Black stars at Tony Awards, Red carpet style, Black Broadway, Black star style, Kara Young, Alicia Keys, Taraji P. Henson, Cynthia Erivo, theGrio.com
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 16: Alicia Keys performs onstage during the 77th Annual Tony Awards at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on June 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions) – Photo: Alicia Keys performs onstage during the 77th Annual Tony Awards on June 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)

“Hell’s Kitchen” has enjoyed massive success on stage, earning 13 Tony Award nominations and two wins at the 2024 ceremony. The show won awards for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. The show was largely inspired by Keys’ mother, who moved to New York from Ohio. “She did that and raised me in New York. The story is inspired by the experience of growing up in New York,” Keys said.

Swizz Beatz’s artistic interests extend beyond music to the art world. Beatz is a noted art collector, with each established and undiscovered black artists. Beatz and Keys recently had an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum titled “Giants”, which showcased a significant slice of their extensive art collection. The Dean Collection, as they call it, includes works by Kehinde Simpson, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Meleko Mokgosi.

Navigating Life Together: Quarantine and Beyond

Alicia Keys and her husband used the pandemic as a chance to showcase their creativity. They wrote a song titled “Good job” as a tribute to the frontline and essential employees who’ve served and saved the remainder of us during COVID-19. According to Keys, she wanted to bring attention to all the hard-working individuals who may never get the recognition and respect they deserve. The comments on Keys’ Facebook post about the song are stuffed with these employees appreciating the love.

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Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz attend the Met Gala Celebrating In America: A Lexicon Of Fashion 2021 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on September 13, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

The pandemic has brought challenges for Keys and Beatz, but they’re still together after nearly 15 years of marriage. Keys has previously said that great communication is what keeps them together — and they laugh.

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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