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Taraji P. Henson Reunites With Kevin Hart, Don Cheadle, Terrence Howard in ‘Fight Night’ – Essence

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 16: Taraji P. Henson arrives on the 77th Annual Tony Awards on the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on June 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)

Taraji P. Henson wants you all to fulfill a certain someone. Her name is Vivian Thomas.

Earlier this month, audiences on the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival got a probability to see Vivian when Henson screened the primary episode: .

The limited series, which premieres on Peacock on September 5, is the true story of Atlanta numbers runner Gordon “Chicken Man” Williams (Kevin Hart), who seizes a chance to expand his business — and his pocketbook — by hosting a casino-style house party for notorious gangster Frank Moten (Samuel L. Jackson) on the night of a key Muhammad Ali fight. Henson plays Vivian, the Chicken Man’s astute business partner, confidante and lover.

The award-winning actress isn’t any stranger to playing firecrackers. Check out the fabric: ruthless assassin Mary in , unhinged hitwoman Sharice Waters in , and uninhibited mama bear Cookie Lyon in Empire . In Fight Night , Henson emphasizes that Vivian isn’t her bell-bottom-era version of Cookie. Vivian is a business mastermind, and her cunning is respected by Chicken and their tight-knit community of Atlanta hustlers.

Taraji P. Henson Reunites with Kevin Hart, Don Cheadle and Terrence Howard on 'Fight Night'

“Can’t wait” [for folks] “To meet her,” says Henson, who smiles with satisfaction as a few of her co-stars enter the film festival’s guest room. Don Cheadle and Chloe Bailey hug and shake hands with producer Will Packer, the show’s executive producer, and creator and showrunner Shaye Ogbunna. Packer interrupts our conversation, but Henson jokingly shoos him away, wanting to make it clear that there are levels to playing women that may’t be pigeonholed.

“When I think about fire, Cookie was very fiery, so when I have these characters, I always think, ‘Oh, this has to be different.’ Well, it’s clearly a different, different time,” he says. “But Vivian was grounded, grounded Chicken Man. She wasn’t a pop-off. Cookie is a pop-off. Yes, she’s a strong woman and she handles her own business, but she had to be a little more deliberate in how she moved, especially with a group of men.”

Henson explains that it was the person who influenced her portrayal of Cookie. “I enlisted the help of my father to play Cookie. He was the only person I knew who literally lived out loud, who was unapologetically himself, he didn’t care,” Lawrence Henson says of her father, Boris. “He didn’t care about anything bad, he wore his heart on his sleeve. It’s a brave place to live.”

Taraji P. Henson Reunites with Kevin Hart, Don Cheadle and Terrence Howard on 'Fight Night'
Taraji P. Henson attends the TIME Women of the Year 2024 Gala held at Ardor at West Hollywood EDITION on March 5, 2024 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

is a homecoming for Henson, as she reunites with several of her male co-stars and producers from throughout her profession. She and Kevin Hart were a part of the ensemble solid of its sequel, which was produced by Packer; Henson and Cheadle starred in ; and he or she and Terrence Howard worked together in i . This made appearing on set a simple task.

“I know it’s going to be a good time,” Henson says. “I remember having an out-of-body experience the first time I worked with all the guys. I walked up and thought, ‘Shit, I’ve been busy. I’ve worked with almost everyone except Sam.’ I had a moment where I had to pinch myself.”

The green room has filled up with more people as stage managers and publicists begin to warn solid and producers that the festival’s closing show is about to begin. He has time for yet one more query, and Henson answers without hesitation.

What’s next?

Pension.

Taraji P. Henson Reunites with Kevin Hart, Don Cheadle and Terrence Howard on 'Fight Night'
American actress Taraji P. Henson attends the Time100 Most Influential People Gala in New York City, April 25, 2024. (Photo: ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Henson jokes, because she has several projects in pre-production as an actress and producer. She also assures me that she is going to use her Howard University theater degree when she finds the time. “Broadway is always there. It’s just a matter of time. To do theater like that, you have to have the time. And I just didn’t have the time. Don’t worry, it’s coming,” she says with a wink.

What’s coming sooner quite than later is her next entrepreneurial enterprise, but she will’t reveal all the small print. Henson offers with a shy smile.

“When I think of my brand, I think of a gift package. So the gift package I send you is literally head to toe. It’s everything. It’s hair, it’s body, it’s books to read, it’s mental stimulation,” she says. “Now we’re going to add something to drink.”

When Henson stepped behind the bar, we knew whatever she was mixing was going to be good.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Beyoncé’s Mom Tina Knowles Responds to Dolly Parton After CMA Skip Was Called ‘Fake’

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Tina Knowles is denying speculation that she responded to legendary country artist Dolly Parton in defense of her daughter.

Just two days after Parton attempted to deny rumors that the Country Music Awards had stripped Beyoncé of her nominations for Cowboy Carter , an Instagram comment that appeared to come from Knowles’ verified account went viral in response to Parton’s post.

But not so fast! Mama Tina now claims: “It’s a fake, not from me!”

Beyonce's mom responds to Dolly Parton
Tina Knowles is criticizing a post by which she claims to have responded to Dolly Parton for omitting Beyonce on “Cowboy Carter.” (Photo: @mstinaknowles; @beyonce/Instagram; @Dollyparton/Instagram.)

The “fake” comment was concerning the “Here You Come Again” singer and was originally shared by The Neighborhood Talk, who later deleted their post.

The comment read: “Oh Ms. Dolly, we love you, but Bey has spent her ENTIRE life working hard since she was 9! She has country roots too. She has mastered her craft and broken records in EVERY genre. So to say she hasn’t ‘spent her life’ in country music is to diminish all the work she has put in.”

It continued: “Bey doesn’t have to stick to one lane to earn respect – her talent and work ethic speak for themselves! She puts in the work, and no one else is asked to ‘spend their life’ in one place to be appreciated! #been country.”

Before the post was deemed fake, it sparked some debate on the topic. Some people supported what they saw as Knowles’ retort, including one one who said, “This just goes to show that white women will always be white women. No matter who they are.”

Another person compared the CMAs’ treatment of the “Irreplaceable” singer to the way in which they treat white hip-hop artist Post Malone, who also appeared in “Cowboy Carter” and who coincidentally receive 4 nominations after releasing his first country album this yr.

“If Post Malone could make the jump from hip-hop to country, then Beyoncé should be able to do the exact same thing! It’s not even about whether you think her album is good or not, it’s unfair to be written off because you’re Beyoncé.”

Tina Knowles says Dolly Parton’s retort is allegedly false. @theneighborhoodtalk/Instagram

Others respectfully sided with Parton. One person said, “Mom… Ms. Dolly is right. It was a special album. And an album that doesn’t deserve an award just because it’s Beyonce.”

Another wrote: “Dolly Parton was polite and tried to be honest about how it went down. I don’t think she meant any harm or had much love for Beyonce from a public perspective. I think Ms. Tina could have handled it differently, but I understand she’s a mama bear too. It’s just a trophy at the end of the day.”

Beyoncé released her first country album, “Cowboy Carter,” in March, years after having an experience on the 2016 CMAs where she “didn’t feel welcome.” The Houston-born artist performed her first country song, “Daddy Lessons,” alongside The Chicks, formerly referred to as The Dixie Chicks. Despite receiving much praise for her performance, she was also met with boos from the audience and racist tweets from onlookers.

So when the awards show didn’t include her in any of the categories nominated this yr, the Beyhive immediately called it a foul. But Parton doesn’t imagine the omission was “intentional.”

In response to Parton’s allegations he said Variety September 17: “Well, you never know. There are so many great country artists that I think probably in the country music community, they probably thought, well, we can’t leave out some of these guys who dedicate their whole lives to this.”

She later added, “So I don’t think it was a matter of cutting myself off, of intentionally doing it. I think it was just more of what the country charts were doing and country artists who were doing it all the time, rather than just a special album.”

Overall, Parton showed great love for Beyoncé and gave her permission for the project. She even appears twice on the album, and a song is called after her.

“But it was a great album,” she said. She could be very, very pleased with it, and I believe everyone in country music welcomed it with open arms and thought it was good.”


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Fans warn Shedeur Sanders to beware of Kardashian curse after Colorado star spotted with Kendall Jenner

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Deion and Shedeur Sanders call out constant disrespect from their doubters.

Shedeur Sanders has been generating quite a bit of buzz recently and is claimed to be a highly anticipated prospect in next 12 months’s NFL Draft.

But being the Colorado Buffaloes quarterback and son of former NFL player and current Colorado coach Deion Sanders also brings with it a potentially unwanted highlight. Shedeur’s clip goes viral after the 22-year-old was spotted embracing Kendall Jenner.

Deion Sanders' son Shedeur defends his father's coaching skills after criticism from former athletes.
Deion Sanders’ son Shedeur speaks out in defense of his father’s coaching skills after being criticized by former athletes. (Photo: @deionsanders/Instagram)

The content creator posted the clip and wrote, “Shedeur Sanders met up with Kendall Jenner, who was recently in Boulder.” Jenner was in Boulder — the house of the University of Colorado — because she was traveling to different cities to promote her brand of liqueur 818 Tequila.

Since the video only shows Jenner’s upper body and Shedeur’s back, who happened to be wearing a hoodie, it’s unclear if she was serving drinks during their meeting, but it surely appeared he was waiting in line to greet her. After a couple of people in front of him moved out of the way in which, he went over to hug Jenner and said, “How are you?” before the video ended.

Many fans warned Shedeur against getting close to Jenner.

One person said, “Nothing good happens when a BLACK athlete dates a Kardashian/Jenner,” and one other said, “Oh no. I’m scolding, I’m scolding!”

A 3rd person wrote: “Stay away from our quarterback. Kardashian/Jenner can’t remember the last athlete who had a successful relationship with one of these girls.”

Of all five Kardashian-Jenner girls, Khloé and Kendall have mostly dated NBA players. Khloé, who’s best known for her marriage and divorce from NBA player Lamar Odom, dated Minnesota Timberwolves player Rashad McCants from 2008 to 2009. He was then traded to the Sacramento Kings, where he played just one season and was never drafted by one other team.

Speaking to Charlotte’s Observer in 2017, McCants said his relationship with Khloé made people query his commitment to the NBA. “Without that in-game situation, I’m a $60-70 million player,” McCants said. “Easily.”

Later in 2009, after only one month of dating, Khloe married Los Angeles Lakers star Odom. The two documented their wedding on the truth show Khloe and Lamar, but their relationship began to crumble, and Odom’s secret struggles with substance abuse began to come to light in 2013. Later that 12 months, Odom was arrested for driving under the influence. From 2011 to 2014, he played for the Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, after which the LA Clippers before becoming a free agent. He then went to the EuroLeague, where he played in two games before injuring his back.

Then in April 2014 he signed with the Knicks before the team waived it in July of the identical 12 months.

Then there’s Khloé’s infamous relationship with Cleveland Cavaliers player Tristan Thompson. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star had two children with Thompson, but their relationship was severely strained by Thompson’s repeated infidelities. Nevertheless, Thompson’s 13-year NBA profession didn’t end there, and he’s currently on the Cleveland Cavaliers roster.

As for her younger sister Kendall, she briefly dated Brooklyn Nets player Ben Simmons from 2018 to 2019. Simmons was named Rookie of the Year in 2018 and an All-Star in 2019. However, the next seasons became difficult for Simmons after his Philadelphia 76ers team lost to the Atlanta Hawks within the Eastern Conference semifinals in an especially close seven-game series in 2021. He apparently felt that blamed for the Game 7 loss, Simmons never played for the 76ers again before being traded to Brooklyn. He ultimately missed the whole 2021-22 season, even after arriving in Brooklyn mid-season. Since then, battling knee and back injuries — which resulted in each knee and back surgeries — Simmons has played in only 57 games over the past three seasons.

Following this relationship, Kendall dated Phoenix Suns player Devin Booker for 2 years from 2020 to 2022.

It is currently unclear what her relationship status is, but it surely looks like she is likely to be rekindling her relationship with Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny in 2023. They were spotted together in Paris, holding hands in June of this 12 months.

Shedeur’s relationship status is uncertain, because it appears he and actress Storm Reid have quietly split after making their red carpet debut last 12 months.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Kamala Harris’ Reproductive Freedom Bus Tour Turns Into ‘Scandal’ Cast Reunion

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Gladiators reunite within the name of democracy.

The solid of Shonda Rhimes’ hit series Scandal will reunite to affix Vice President Kamala Harris and her partner Tim Walz in Michigan for his or her Reproductive Freedom Bus Tour. Actors Kerry Washington, Tony Goldwyn, Guillermo Díaz, Bellamy Young, Katie Lowes, Dan Bucatinsky, Scott Foley, Portia de Rossi, George Newbern, Jeff Perry and Cornelius Smith Jr. will join Harris-Walz for the campaign launch in Madison Heights.

According to The Hollywood ReporterThe solid’s appearance on the political tour is an element of the Democratic presidential candidate’s technique to win the 2024 election. According to the Harris-Walz campaign, the tour’s mission is to “highlight the stark contrast between Vice President Harris and Governor Walz, who will restore Roe v. Wade protections when Congress passes legislation to that effect, and Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, who will enact their dangerous Project 2025 agenda to ban abortion nationwide, restrict access to contraceptives, force states to report women’s miscarriages and abortions, and threaten access to in vitro fertilization.”

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The Reproductive Freedom Bus Tour, which kicks off September 3 in Florida, plans to go to key states across the country to debate the stakes of reproductive rights with Democratic and Republican communities. During the last presidential debate, attention focused on abortion rights and in vitro fertilization (IVF), as Harris pledged to revive nationwide reproductive rights, while Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump refused to commit to vetoing a nationwide abortion ban if he wins the election.

In August, “Scandal” stars Washington and Goldwyn, known for his or her iconic roles as Olivia Pope and fictional President Fitzgerald Grant, thrilled fans by reuniting to co-host the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Over the years, Washington has develop into known for her political advocacy. As a Democratic supporter, the actress has not only partnered with nonprofits to debate abortion rights, but additionally launched her own nonprofit, Influence Change, which “recruits other artists to promote civic engagement.”

“Democracies work best when everyone votes. As a public figure, it’s important to me to remind people of their political power and share any information I have that helps them step into their power,” she said, as previously reported by theGrio. “Artists, musicians, athletes, actors and creators have a unique opportunity to encourage voters. The combined reach of our networks can be used to inspire participation and ensure that more people take their rightful place as active participants in our democracy. I’m not speaking out because I’m an artist; I’m speaking out because I’m an American.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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