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Famous black women truly are the queens of Halloween

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Jennifer Hudson, Janelle Monae, Lance Bass, Halloween 2024, Black celebrity Halloween costumes, theGrio.com

It’s officially Halloween and lots of people’s favorite pastime has finally begun: judging the stars’ Halloween costumes. This 12 months, celebrities, especially Black women, really stepped as much as the challenge. For starters, we could easily call it “Halle-ween” because there have already been so many tributes to Halle Berry’s most famous characters, and every one was as stylish as the last. Meanwhile, Berry maintained a sublime air of mystery, debuting a mystical witch costume (complete with a black cat worthy of “Catwoman”).

One of the funniest annual trends is celebrities dressing like other celebrities – and there have been some spot-on homages this season. Plus, it’s overwhelmingly black stars and gals in costumes who seem to return out and show up as interpretations of timeless and iconic characters from different ethnicities, and we’re here for it. There are also those that managed to make multiple costume changes. Lizzo, Sherri Shepherd, Love Island US star Serena and more also gave us plenty of looks to like this 12 months. And while few famous black men have shown off their costumes up to now, there are a handful who’ve actually committed to it.

Sherri Shephard’s many Met Gala outfits

(Photo: The Sherri Shepherd Show)

Sherri Shepherd treated audiences and talk show viewers to her own Halloween fashion extravaganza this Halloween, donning many of her iconic Met Gala looks from the past decade.

Jennifer Hudson as “Queen of the Night” Whitney Houston

Jennifer Hudson, Janelle Monae, Halloween 2024, Black Celebrity Halloween Costumes, theGrio.com
(Photo: The Jennifer Hudson Show)

Jennifer Hudson celebrated Halloween by hosting her third episode of Halloween Party on her talk show of the same name. In addition to Hudson dressing up as Whitney Houston’s iconic “Queen of the Night” costume from her 1992 film “The Bodyguard,” “HalloQueen” Janelle Monáe appeared as the iconic character ET (see below).

Janelle Monae as E.T

HalloQueen has once more outdone itself. This 12 months, Janelle Monáe capped off a month of teases by debuting her flawless ET costume on each her social media platform and Hudson’s holiday special.

Saweetie as Joker

Never one to disappoint on Halloween, Saweetie created the perfect Joker based on the late Heath Ledger’s version of The Dark Knight.

Kerry Washington as Tashi Duncan in “Challengers”

Kerry Washington paid a clever homage to Zendaya’s controversial character in the steamy tennis drama “The Challengers” … with two of her most famous actors in supporting roles.

Megan thee Stallion as Starfire

Megan’s portrayal of the DC Comics character Starfire was so well done that Even DC Comics CEO James Gunn weighed incalling it “awesome.”

Lizzo as Edward Scissorhandsa “South Park”-inspired weight-loss drug and a never-fading face card

Lizzo kicked off Halloween week by debuting a weight-loss costume and later a really clever face-to-face costume. On this truly terrible day, she revealed her version of Edward Scissorhands.

Winnie Harlow as Diana Ross

Model Winnie Harlow paid a trendy tribute to the one and only Diana Ross in a single of her timeless and most iconic photo shoots.

Halle Bailey as Halle Berry

Halle Bailey is amongst the few women who’ve paid tribute to the wide selection of Halle Berry’s characters, including her transformation right into a Bond girl as Jinx in Die Another Day.

Tyla as Sharon Stone from “The Flintstones”

Tyla also paid tribute to Halle Berry by dressing up as Miss Sharon Stone, who steals scenes from the 1992 live-action film “The Flintstones.”

Coi Leray as Catwoman in Halle Berry

Singer Coi Leray didn’t just appear as Catwoman; joined the few people paying tribute to Halle Berry as her version of the iconic anti-heroine from the “Batman” cinematic universe.

Chloe Bailey as Jessica Rabbit

Chloe Bailey took us back to the Eighties by playing the sensual and legendary Jessica Rabbit from the hit animated film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.”

Ciara as Naomi Campbell

So far this 12 months, Cici has brought out not one, but two looks; the first is a trendy ode to supermodel Naomi Campbell, and the second tribute to GloRilla.

Coco Jones as Donna Summer

If this 12 months’s unofficial Halloween theme was to pay homage to the greats, Coco Jones kept the nostalgia going as the stunning Donna Summer.

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Keke Palmer and family as Milli Vanilli

In multiple posts, Keke Palmer revealed her family’s group costume during which she portrayed herself as iconic pop duo Milli Vanilli and their band.

Keke Palmer as Cersei Lannister and Prince Joffrey Baratheon

With the help of her young son Leo in the role of Prince Joffrey Baratheon (we imagine), Palmer also revealed her version of Cersei Lannister, the formidable mother from Game of Thrones.

‘Love Is Blind’ Alums Serena Page and Kordell Beckham as ‘Clueless’ Dionne Davenport and Murray Duvall

Serena Page and Kordell Beckham are the perfect couple, Dionne and Murray, with almost equivalent wardrobes.

Serena Page, Leah Kateb and JaNa Craig as the Powerpuff Girls

Everyone’s favorite Love Island US trio, Serena, Leah and JaNa, have teamed up once more to create the iconic group costume as the Powerpuff Girls.

Tyga as the Crypt Keeper from “Tales from the Crypt”

Tyga could also be the unofficial king of Halloween because he really likes it. This 12 months was no different, with a terrifyingly accurate “Crypt Keeper” costume from the classic horror series “Tales from the Crypt.”

Ray Ray McCloud III as Katt Williams

It’s hardly surprising that somebody selected Katt Williams as the unofficial prophet of 2024 this 12 months.


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Why Denzel Washington quit drinking at 60

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Denzel Washington, alcohol use, sobriety, drug abuse, Gladiator II, Denzel Washington retiring, theGrio.com

Denzel Washington has been sober for nearly a decade, but he had one particular vice: wine.(*60*)

In a brand new profile, the 69-year-old actor talks about his history with wine, drugs like LSD and growing up in New York within the Seventies. Esquire magazine..(*60*)

“Wine is very difficult,” he warned. “It’s very slow… It’s not like boom.”(*60*)

He explained that, unlike harder substances, he had “the perfect idea for wine tasting and so on – and that’s how it was in the beginning.”(*60*)

“And this is a very subtle thing,” he added.(*60*)

Washington said his habit really took off in 1999, when he built a house with a ten-thousand-bottle wine cellar and “learned to drink the best of it.”(*60*)

He added: “My passion was wine, and now I was pouring $4,000 bottles just because it was left.”(*60*)

The “Gladiator II” star eventually developed an intake management system; he frequently ordered the 2 best bottles of wine available at his favorite liquor store.(*60*)

“And my wife says, ‘Why do you only order two?’ I said, “Because if I order more, I’ll drink more.” So I limited it to 2 bottles and drank each in the course of the day,” he told the publication.(*60*)

Even though she drinks wine day by day, the “Equalizer 3” star said she never drank alcohol while working or preparing for a task, even while filming “Flight,” which tells the story of an alcoholic pilot.(*60*)

“I would clean up and go back to work – I could do both,” he said. “Regardless of the months of shooting, bang, it is time to wrap up. And then boom. Three months of wine and time to get back to work.(*60*)

The actor admitted that when he was younger, it was easier to take care of this pattern.(*60*)

“Two months off and we’re going. But the drinking was a fifteen-year pattern. And truth be told, it didn’t start in 1999. It began earlier,” he explained.(*60*)

Washington, who was born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, described what it was like growing up there within the late Seventies. Spending time on projects with individuals who exposed him to heroin, cocaine, hard alcohol and more, he admits that he experimented but personally “never got hooked on it.” (*60*)

In fact, much of those formative years experiences were passed on to a few of Washington’s best and most complex figures. Still, he said, “I am unable to consider a single role where I said, ‘Man, that is me.’ Completely me? No, no.(*60*)

Since he quit drinking, he appears like “everything is opening up to him.”(*60*)

Will one of Denzel Washington's last films be

“It’s like you’re seventy,” he said. “This is real. And it’s okay. This is the last chapter – if I get one other thirty, what do I would like to do? My mother lived to be ninety-seven.(*60*)

The husband and father of 4 also pays more attention to fitness today, due to Lenny Kravitz, who introduced him to his trainer.(*60*)

“I’m doing everything I can,” he said.(*60*)

As he noted in the course of the “Gladiator II” press session, he’s also enthusiastic about upcoming projects which will become his last – and yes, they include two more “Equalizer” movies.(*60*)

“People love these daggone ‘Equalizers,'” he said. (*60*)

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Steph Curry is using the NBA Tunnel to showcase Black and Brown designers this season

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Steph Curry, Rakuten, Steph Curry Rakuten, Steph Curry Jason Bolden, Steph Curry NBA tunnel, Jason Bolden Rakuten, NBA tunnel, NBA tunnel fashion, NBA tunnel style, Steph Curry fashion, NBA fashion, Jason Bolden, theGrio.com

This NBA season, Steph Curry is bringing latest talent to his team with the help of a friend and stylist, Jason Bolden. As a part of the duo’s ongoing collaboration with Rakuten, Bolden styles the Golden State Warriors point guard and two-time league MVP in an array of black and brown designers for his walks through the NBA tunnels during the 2024-25 season.

“My mission at every opportunity I have is to upskill people who deserve it and spread awareness of very talented individuals, especially in the fashion industry where Black and brown communities don’t necessarily have the same resources and opportunities,” Curry explained , per Women’s on a regular basis clothing. “Using our tunnel walks, which have become a really big part of the NBA experience with cameras everywhere behind the scenes, you have that moment when you walk in, and it’s a great opportunity to express yourself through the clothes you wear.”

In recent years, the NBA tunnel has change into something of a runway for menswear designers, as the league’s most trendy players use their entrances and exits to showcase their personal style, drawing attention that sometimes rivals the games themselves.

“In my rookie season in 2009, there was one camera following me from the car to the locker room – our Golden State Warriors PR team,” Curry recalls. “How all of it became almost a runway show, because you get out of the automobile, the bus, and go into the locker room – the funny thing is that we dress, whether you are at home or in a hotel, and you are probably wearing outfit from half-hour to an hour, depending on how long the trip is. Then you go to the locker room, take it off and put it back on after the match, but that moment is special because you wish to look good,” he added.

While Curry typically opts for traditional styles, he admits his fashion sense has evolved “dramatically” over the course of his profession. According to WWD, this season his wardrobe will feature creations by each established and emerging designers, including Áwet and Saif Ud Deen, co-founder of Pharrell Williams Billionaire Boys Club.

“My goal is not to try to stand out too much… I never dress loudly just to dress loudly, and I think I have a very classic, modern, casual style,” Curry explained, later adding: “Any brand we wear , has a unique way of coping with or attacking this problem and it can be nice to see diversity inside the different outfits I wear.”

Fans who like Curry’s look can shop online at stores like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Mr. Porter while also receiving money back through Rakuten.

“The saying ‘look good, feel good and have fun’ is true,” Curry said. “Have fun with what you wear in the tunnel and during the game – it helps you be present in the moment.”


This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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An AI discrimination class action lawsuit has finally been settled

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AI racial discrimination lawsuit settled, theGrio.com

Mary Louis’ excitement about moving right into a Massachusetts apartment within the spring of 2021 turned to dismay when Louis, a Black woman, received an email informing her that a “third-party service” had denied her a lease.

This third-party service included an algorithm designed to judge rental applicants, which became the topic of a class-action lawsuit led by Louis that alleged the algorithm discriminated on the premise of race and income.

On Wednesday, a federal judge approved a settlement in that lawsuit, certainly one of the primary of its kind. The company behind the algorithm has agreed to pay greater than $2.2 million and to recall some parts of its monitoring products that the lawsuit said were discriminatory.

The settlement doesn’t include an admission of wrongdoing by SafeRent Solutions, which said in a press release that while it “continues to believe that SRS Scores complies with all applicable laws, litigation is time-consuming and expensive.”

While such lawsuits could also be relatively latest, using algorithms or artificial intelligence programs to screen and rate Americans is just not. For years, artificial intelligence has been secretly helping make essential decisions for US residents.

When an individual applies for a job, applies for a house loan, and even seeks specific medical care, there may be a risk that a man-made intelligence system or algorithm will judge or evaluate them as Louis did. These AI systems, nonetheless, are largely unregulated, although some have been found to cause discrimination.

“Management companies and property owners need to know that they have been warned that systems they believe are reliable and good will face challenges,” said Todd Kaplan, certainly one of Louis’ attorneys.

The lawsuit alleged that SafeRent’s algorithm didn’t bear in mind housing voucher advantages, which it said were a very important detail affecting a tenant’s ability to pay monthly bills, and due to this fact discriminated against low-income applicants who qualified for assistance.

The lawsuit also accused the SafeRent algorithm of over-reliance on credit information. They argued that it doesn’t provide an entire picture of an applicant’s ability to pay rent on time and unfairly awards housing voucher applicants to Black and Latino applicants, partly because they’ve lower average credit scores, which will be attributed to historical inequalities.

Christine Webber, certainly one of the plaintiff’s lawyers, argued that simply because the algorithm or artificial intelligence is just not programmed to discriminate, the info the algorithm uses or weights can have “the same effect as if you told it to intentionally discriminate.”

When Louis’ application was rejected, she tried to appeal the choice by sending two landlords references confirming that she had paid her rent early or on time for 16 years, despite the fact that she didn’t have a robust credit history.

Louis, who had a housing voucher, was floundering, having already notified her previous owner that she was moving out, and was facing custody charges against her granddaughter.

The response from a management company that used SafeRent’s tenant screening service was: “We do not accept appeals and cannot overrule a tenant screening result.”

Louis felt defeated; the algorithm didn’t know her, she said.

“It’s all about numbers. You can’t get individual empathy from them,” Louis said. “You can’t beat the system. The system will always beat us.”

While state lawmakers have proposed aggressive regulation of a majority of these AI systems, these proposals have largely modified them did not obtain sufficient support. This implies that lawsuits like Louis’ are beginning to lay the groundwork for AI liability.

SafeRent’s attorneys argued within the motion to dismiss that the corporate shouldn’t be chargeable for discrimination because SafeRent didn’t make the ultimate decision on whether to simply accept or deny a tenant. This service would screen applicants, evaluate them and supply a report, but leave it to the landlords or management firms to come to a decision whether to simply accept or reject the tenant.

Louis’ lawyers, together with the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed a press release of interest within the case, argued that the SafeRent algorithm could possibly be held liable since it still plays a job in housing access. The judge denied SafeRent’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit on these grounds.

The settlement stipulates that SafeRent cannot include its rating in tenant screening reports in certain cases, including if an applicant is on a housing voucher. It also requires that if SafeRent develops a distinct audit result that it plans to make use of, it have to be validated by a 3rd party, to which the plaintiffs agree.

Louis’ son found her an inexpensive apartment on Facebook Marketplace, which she moved into, even though it was $200 dearer and in a less desirable neighborhood.

“I’m not optimistic that I’ll be able to take a break, but I have to continue playing and that’s it,” Louis said. “I have too many people depending on me.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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