Chance The Rapper has social media buzzing again after his wife issued a cryptic message in wake of the now-viral video showing his sultry dancing at Jamaica Carnival.

The Grammy award-winning rapper set the internet ablaze last week when a video surfaced showing him dancing on a woman at Jamaica Carnival. Chance, real name Chancelor Johnathan Bennett, drew criticism for the booty-smacking and grinding he displayed during the dance.

https://twitter.com/raphousetv2/status/1648135848662269953

The dancing sparked debate among social media users who either celebrated Chance for embracing Caribbean culture, or accused him of disrespecting his wife and the mother of his daughter Kensli Bennett.

“This is the difference between us Caribbean folk and American folk…..it’s dancing….get over it,” one person wrote in response to the video.

“Sad to say but here is the truth. When you are married your body is completely off-limits,” added someone else.

Amid the mixed reactions to Chance’s Jamaica Carnival behavior, his wife, Kirsten Corley-Bennett, is speaking out in the form of a cryptic quote that seemingly called out those people who “don’t grow up,” as captured by Radar Online. Kirsten even highlighted a portion of the posting in blue to add emphasis to her subliminal message.

“Most people don’t grow up. It’s too damn difficult. What happens is most people get older,” the highlighted quote began. “They honor their credit cards, they find parking spaces, they marry, they have the nerve to have children, but they don’t grow up. Not really.”

“But to grow up costs the earth,” the quote read.

“It means you take responsibility for the time you take up, for the space you occupy. It’s serious business. And you find out what it costs us to love and to lose, to dare and to fail. And maybe even more, to succeed.”

In a separate message, Kirsten shared another quote that talked about how “awareness is growth,” and coming to the realization when it’s time to let go.

“Noticing that something is holding you back and deciding to change is a huge step forward,” the quote read in part.

Now, fans are speculating if Kirsten’s cryptic series of posts are in response to Chance’s antics at Jamaica Carnival.

Chance the rapper wife shares a message "People don't grow up…. they marry have the nerve to have children….. but don't grow up pic.twitter.com/CE59MkzdTq

— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) April 27, 2023

“All because of Caribbean whine,” one person wrote.

“And that’s the problem it’s not a “Caribbean whine” it’s calling “dry humping” a sexual act…mine as well go naked and perform the real act,” another user quipped.

RELATED CONTENT: 60-Person Brawl Breaks Out On Carnival Cruise Dance Floor Over Threesome Between Passengers

Who better than Oprah Winfrey to share the first look of “The Color Purple” movie musical?!

The media mogul, who stole hearts with her portrayal of Sofia in the original film, surprised movie theater owners with her appearance at CinemaCon April 25, Variety reported. Winfrey serves a producer role in the musical movie version of the 1985 Steven Spielberg classic she also starred in.

“‘The Color Purple’ in 1985 was the biggest and most important thing that happened to me,'” Winfrey told the crowd.

“This is a full circle moment to be part of this film. It holds great personal meaning.”

Appearing alongside director Blitz Bazawule, best known for his work on Beyoncé’s “Black Is King,” the pair awarded guests with never-seen-before footage that highlighted Taraji P. Henson’s performance in the musical film.

Singer Fantasia Barrino will reprise the role of Celie, following her praiseworthy performance of the film’s lead in Winfrey’s Broadway production of the film. Danielle Brooks, who received a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Sofia in the Broadway musical, will also return.

Others on the star-studded cast include Quincy Jones, Scott Sanders, Halle Bailey, Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, H.E.R., David Alan Grier, Corey Hawkins, Elizabeth Marvel and Louis Gossett Jr.

With the announcement coming ahead of Mother’s Day, Winfrey teased how much mothers will love the film which includes “a musical factor that is so dynamic,” and “not your mama’s ‘Color Purple,'” she told CinemaCon attendees. The OWN CEO gushed about how much “the magical realism is so perfected” in the upcoming film.

Revelers also got to see Danielle Brooks appear as Celie to belt out the song “Hell No” ahead of watching the trailer, Indie Wire reports. Winfrey boasted about the film being a “celebration of sisterhood” and “wholesome, wonderful family goodness.”

“They are survivors because of their inner strength, and that is how Celie especially finds her voice. And in this film, boy does she have a voice,” Winfrey said.

“I was so out of my body the whole time, so I’m asking you to stay in your body, stay present, and enjoy it all, this Purple experience,” she said.

According to the billionaire media proprietor, the film will bring out “the groups in the seats” when the film opens in theaters on Christmas Day, December 25, 2023.

Dwyane Wade is opening up about his decision to leave Florida amid the state’s expansion of anti-LGBTQ laws like the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

The NBA alum, who helped bring three championship wins to the Miami Heat, appeared on “Headliners” with Rachel Nichols on Thursday where he was asked about the Florida politicians who are fans of his sports career while passing laws that jeopardize the livelihood of families like his.

“That’s another reason why I don’t live in that state,” Wade said.

“A lot of people don’t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions.”

“My family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there.” – Former NBA star Dwyane Wade, telling @Rachel__Nichols why he moved out of Floridapic.twitter.com/3G99P4U0T3

— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) April 26, 2023

Wade, who’s a proud supporter of Zaya who came out as transgender in 2020, noted the things he loved about residing in Florida before explaining why he had to let it all go.

“I mean, obviously, the tax [situation] is great. Having Wade County is great,” he continued.

“But my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there. And so that’s one of the reasons why I don’t live there.”

The Chicago native has faced public scrutiny for his support of Zaya’s transition. But that hasn’t stopped Wade from remaining a present and encouraging father and friend to his 15-year-old daughter.

It’s an unconditional love he credits his father, Dwyane Wade Sr. for.

“I tell my dad all the time, I’m just a mirror image of the way he loved us and the way that he accepted not only myself and my brothers but other kids in the community that didn’t have father figures,” Wade said before explaining more about his journey to accepting his daughter’s transition.

“And so I don’t know any difference. And so yes, I had to educate myself and yes, I had to get a better understanding,” he continued.

“And yes, I had to lose some friends along the process, but I never wavered on loving my kids and trying to find space to get the chance to understand them.”

Wade’s comments come one week after Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded on what many deem the “Don’t Say Gay” law, with the House passing bills on gender-transition treatments, bathroom use, and keeping children out of drag shows, AP reports.

RELATED CONTENT: Dwyane Wade Credits Zaya Wade in Impassioned NAACP Award Speech on LGBTQ+ Rights: ‘She’s Taught Us How to Lead’

Jada Pinkett Smith’s Emmy award-winning daytime show “Red Table Talk’ has been canceled as Meta moves to shut down Facebook Watch original programs, but it’s host hasn’t given up.

In light of being tabled, it may not be the last we’ve seen of Red Table Talk. Viewers may have another opportunity to watch the show even if it’s 2.0. Jada remains optimistic: “We at Red Table are in talks of finding a new home and we’ll see you soon.” Jada said.

On Thursday, a Meta representative confirmed the company is closing down its Facebook Watch originals, including the breakout series hosted by Jada, daughter Willow Smith, and mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Variety reports.

The show, produced by Jada and Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios production company, saw three generations in Jada’s family tackle current social and cultural issues with special guests. “Red Table Talk” reformed well on Facebook garnering over 11 million followers on Facebook and 600,000 active members in a Facebook discussion group.

The Smith’s Westbrook also produced a series spinoff, “Red Table Talk: The Estefans,” with Gloria Estefan, her daughter Emily and her niece Lili. Now that the deal is done, the production company is reportedly on the search for a new show distributor.

Amid the shutdown of Facebook Watch’s original programming, Meta’s entertainment team is transitioning the focus to creating virtual-reality experiences in Meta Horizon Worlds where users can access content across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

“Red Table Talk” premiered its last episode on December 2022, KTLA reports. Jada and her family hosted a special reunion with the cast of “A Different World” to celebrate the show’s 35th anniversary.

Some of the show’s most memorable episodes include Jada’s shocking “entanglement” reveal with Will Smith in 2020, Jordyn Woods sharing the truth about her scandalous kiss with Tristan Thompson in 2019, Will and Jada’s marital discussions throughout the show’s history, as well their Coronavirus conversations in 2020, as noted by Memo’d.

In 2020, Jada credited media mogul Oprah Winfrey with pioneering the success she saw with “Red Table Talk.”

“This woman beside me is the only reason @RedTableTalk could even be imagined. Thank you @Oprah and congrats✨ 📷: @jas,” Pinkett Smith captioned an Instagram post, captured by People.

RELATED CONTENT: Jada Pinkett Smith Reveals How She Gained Her Confidence Back After Losing Hair From Alopecia

• Lifestyle

by Atiya Jordan

April 27, 2023

BLK Dating App Announce Giveaways To Address Burdening ‘Black Tax’ On Single People

---

A new campaign from Match Group’s BLK, the largest dating app for Black singles, is designed to address the financial strain Black singles face.

As part of the “Break the Bank 2.0: Black Tax Giveaway,” BLK Dating App is helping to free hookup alleviate this burden of  the “Black Tax.” It announced its initiative to award $250 gift cards to 10 BLK members who have had to make sacrifices to support their extended family, community, and even strangers.

“Black Tax is not an official tax, but rather a social expectation that Black people must financially support their family members and community to overcome financial hardship,” the release stated. “It is a significant issue in the Black community, and its impact is felt across generations,” per the release.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by BLK Dating App (@meet_blk)

To enter the contest, BLK users must share a written story highlighting their personal “Black Tax experience” via Instagram direct message. The submission should emphasize users’ personal sacrifices to financially support their family members and share how they would use the $250 gift card.

The recipients can “splurge” on various expenses such as dating, school fees, vacations, clothing, rent, and other areas.

“At BLK, we are deeply committed to promoting Black Joy through our marketing initiatives and campaigns. We acknowledge the financial burden faced by many Black families, and we believe that it’s our responsibility to support and uplift the community,” Jonathan Kirkland, head of Brand and Marketing for BLK, said, according to the release.

“This program is not just about providing financial assistance to those impacted by the ‘Black tax,’ but also about raising awareness of this critical issue that affects so many. We hope to inspire and empower individuals to achieve their goals and experience the joy they deserve.”

Black Tax

While dating may sometimes cost a pretty penny, BLK is jumping to action after recent survey results revealed how many Black daters are negatively impacted by the “Black Tax.”

“This burden often results from systemic racism and economic inequality, which limits opportunities for Black people to build wealth and access resources,” per the release.

However, 79% of Black singles were unaware of the term describing the financial strain until now.

Results show that “siblings and mothers are the most commonly supported family members, and paying bills and buying groceries are the primary forms of assistance.” Whether you’re supporting a disabled or sick family member, BLK considers the impact on dating life and marriage.

Twenty-eight percent of Black daters are affected by this problem, noting less money for dates and lack of quality of time. Forty-six percent reported negative impacts on their mental and emotional well-being.

As for the Gen Z population, the survey found that 44% of these young adults support their families due to the Black Tax. Unemployed singles lead at 46%.

Steve Harvey lost fast money from his own family feud.

During a recent appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast, Harvey revealed his divorce left him with $1,700 to his name after having to pay out nearly $30 million.

According to the interview, Harvey lost everything twice. “In 2005, you had $1,700 left?” Sharpe asked Harvey, who agreed to the question. “This was after Kings of Comedy.”

Sharpe said that the Family Feud host was left with $1,700 after he had made an estimated $30 million on the Kings of Comedy tour.

“We made more than that,” Harvey said before a curious Sharpe asked, “What the hell happened to the money?”

“It’s called a divorce,” the former Miss Universe host said. “I got jumped on, but it was even before the divorce.”

The television host mentioned an anonymous individual got access to his finances. “I was writing checks to the government for seven years, writing tax checks, signing the tax checks, giving them to turn in.” The 66-year-old said the money was taken out of the account as if his taxes were being paid. Instead, the individual was keeping the money for themselves. 

“When my accountant passed, a lady went in the office and found a box on the floor, and I had seven years of unpaid taxes,” Harvey said. His lawyer informed him that he hadn’t paid taxes in seven years. 

“Ooh, so you hadn’t paid in seven years plus the interest,” Sharpe interjected.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

The comedian said he saved millions, but the funds were withdrawn from the account before the assets were split. “The divorce was over. It was just, Let’s split the assets, but you took all the assets,’ and I was stuck with this tax bill. So, I had to pay seven years of back taxes with interest.”

“I was in a world of trouble, man,” Harvey continued. “When I looked up, I had $1,700.”

With several business ventures, investments, and TV deals under his belt, the 66-year-old has been able to bounce back and use the situation as a valuable lesson. 

• News

by Stacy Jackson

April 27, 2023

Carolyn Bryant Donham, White Woman Who Claimed Emmett Till ‘Whistled’ At Her, Dies at 88

---

Carolyn Bryant Donham is dead. The 88-year-old white woman was responsible for the lynching death of Emmett Till in Money, Mississippi after she accused the 14-year-old child of harassment in the summer of 1955. 

According to Mississippi Today, Donham died after battling cancer and receiving end-of-life hospice care in her last days.

Devery Anderson, the author of Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement stated that all hope is lost for those who wanted her prosecuted. 

“She was the last remaining person who had any involvement,” he said. “Now, that can’t happen.”

His perspective is that her death may cause some people to feel as though justice was never served. 

“Some others were clinging to hope she might still talk or tell the truth… Now it’s over.”

Till’s family, including cousin Wheeler Parker, extended condolences to the woman’s family.

“We don’t have any ill will or animosity toward her,” Parker said, adding that the 14-year-old victim’s mother, Mamie Till Mobley, forgave those involved in her son’s killing.

BLACK ENTERPRISE reported in February that a family member of Till filed a lawsuit demanding the Leflore County (MS) sheriff present a warrant for Donham’s arrest for her role in the teen’s murder.

In 2022, an unpublished memoir by Donham claimed she tried to protect the young boy from her husband and brother-in-law, who kidnapped the boy in the middle of the night, beat him, and killed him. 

Reportedly, she told her husband Till wasn’t the one who had allegedly whistled at her, encouraging the men to take him back home. A Mississippi grand jury declined to indict Donham on any charges in 2007.

According to a fact-of-death letter from the Calcasieu Parish Coroner, CNN reported that Donham died Tuesday in Westlake, Louisiana  

RELATED CONTENT: Emmett Till’s Cousin Responds to Taraji P. Henson Referencing His Case in Her Plea to Free Jussie Smollett

Shein is allegedly at it again with the Photoshop shenanigans.

Black lifestyle blogger Dominique A. is not happy with the Chinese online fast fashion retailer after it allegedly stole a photo of her and photoshopped it to make her appear more fair-skinned with European features.

The blogger posted a video to her TikTok page showing followers the photo Shein posted to its site. According to details in the video, the retailer used the image for a product labeled “Clip In Extra Straight Synthetic Hair Extensions.”

“This is not my face,” Dominique said in the video questioning the retailer.

The blogger, who has amassed more than 300,000 views on her first video, posted a follow-up video showing her original photo compared to Shein’s edited version. The most recent video shows Dominique wearing the natural, straight hairstyle and elegantly posed in a tan bodycon dress, which has garnered almost one million views. 

In the video, she explained, “So this is the original photo that I took. So, why? Why, Shein? Why?” Unhappy with the company’s actions, she concluded the video demanding, “Do me a favor and remove the f***ing photo.”

@dominiqueaofficial

I need Answers @SHEIN #greenscreen #shein #sheinclothing #scammers #fyp #fypシ #dominiquea #photoshop #business #badbusiness #influencer #hairinfluencer #hairguru

♬ original sound – Dominique A

Dominique clarified and called out the company for allegedly stealing the photo of her. “@SHEIN, why would you steal and photoshop my content?!?” she wrote in the caption, tagging the company’s TikTok page. 

Hip-hop organizer and consultant Khafre Jay also posted a message to LinkedIn calling for others to help raise awareness about the issue.

“THIS MUST NOT BE OK. RACIST BUSINESSES MUST BE 🛑,” he wrote. “Y’all are cold-hearted people for doing her like this. The practice of companies like SHEIN photoshopping #BlackModels to appear whiter is a blatant act of racist B.S., and we all know it perpetuates and upholds #whitesupremacist beauty standards.”

“We must unite to denounce these harmful practices and even problematic people and hold #companies like Shein accountable for their racist actions,” he continued, reposting Dominique’s video underneath his message with a call to action urging others not to ignore this issue. 

• Business

by Stacy Jackson

April 27, 2023

From High School Dropout to Building a Multimillion-Dollar Brand, How Ebony Swank Defied the Odds

---

Dropping out of high school was no hindrance to Ebony Swank’s determination to reach her goals.

The Detroit native and fashion entrepreneur may not have followed the typical path to become the successful businesswoman she is today. Still, the fashionista is a significant asset to the fashion industry’s ongoing evolution of systemic change and efforts to address inclusivity issues. Known for creating the “World’s Stretchiest Jeans,” Swank is the founder of Swank a Posh, a quality and affordable clothing brand, growing from a small business into a multimillion-dollar company in less than a decade.

Innovative thinking and a tenacious spirit led her to identify a void in the fashion marketplace. Affordable, stylish clothing accentuating women’s curves and appealing to all body shapes and sizes accelerated Swank a Posh’s popularity among consumers.

The self-taught business owner shared her journey with BLACK ENTERPRISE, from being a high school dropout to building a successful brand and mentoring young Black businesswomen.

Navigating Success Without a Degree

“It’s not just I’m a high school dropout,” Swank says. “I only have an eighth-grade education. When I decided to take my GED, which was very early on, I just went in and took the test and passed.”

Swank explained that taking the test was just something she decided to do. Calling herself a forward thinker, Swank said she broke into the accounting world and made sure she was actively working to gain experience.

She navigated through the corporate culture with various job titles, from data entry to becoming a collections specialist, accounting manager, and financial analyst.

Failing Forward

The fashionista said she was excited when she quit her job to open her first storefront next door to Nordstrom’s department store in a high-end luxury mall. However, things quickly took a turn when she realized, “I spent tons of money, but I didn’t make any, so I had to close. That’s why I love failure.”

Knowing that she had no desire to return to work, she reopened another store with only $12,000, and this time she was successful. Creating her multimillion-dollar baby, Swank a Posh, Swank applied her accounting principles and developed a plan. 

Swank said she researched the Juicy Couture brand, digging into their target demographic, “the young, Black girl. I started researching who the young, Black girl was and her interests.” Studying the customer allowed her store to soar, leading her to open a second store and eventually an online store. 

As she continued scaling, Swank was approached by a company to buy nearly 50% of her business for one million dollars, which she knew was not enough money to share a portion of her brand. This propelled her to invest more money into her business, with Swank creating a marketing plan of ads, educating herself on the ins and outs of digital media, and hiring others to perform company tasks so she wouldn’t have to be a one-woman show. 

Swank went from starting with $12,000, which was all she had at the time, to building a $40 million company. This past year, the brand saw a record one-day profit from $1 million on Black Friday to $2 million by Cyber Monday.

Addressing Inclusivity

The Swank a Posh brand considers the Black woman first, and Swank said making clothes specifically for Black women is her responsibility. She makes sure Swank a Posh clothing provides stretch in specific areas like the hip, thigh, and butt, where Black women may be a little heavier. 

“Nobody has ever made clothes specifically for Black women,” she said. 

“It’s my responsibility to make sure that whatever I touch, whatever fabric I use, it has the amount of stretch that’s needed,” she said in regards to fit.

Her business motto has always been about producing clothing inclusive to all sizes. “Body positivity is where I really went in,” Swank said. Swank a Posh clothing pays close attention to details such as arm length, and women with a full bust size, because she remembers shopping at stores and struggling to find clothes that comfortably fit her physique. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Stretchy Jeans For EVERYBODY (@swankaposh)

Teaching Young Employees Business Tools for Success

The self-taught entrepreneur said she thrives on teaching young people leadership skills to help prepare them for success, even the basics, including:  

• How to craft resumes and cover letters
• How to capitalize on your ideas
• How to learn from your mistakes
• How to dress for a job interview 

Swank insisted, “No one showed me how to do that,” adding that youth mentorship had always been a mission, even before she became a multimillionaire.

She said although she doesn’t require a degree to work with her company, she does love when people have them, as she believes a degree gives you structure. “That’s my giveback. My giveback is giving to those that possibly didn’t have the chance to go to college or the money,” she emphasized, further iterating that she  employs many individuals on the basis of helping to nurture their career and grow within her company. 

“You definitely have to be able to work for it and have the skillset, but I am a really great teacher,” Swank said, as she prides herself on accelerating the careers of those who receive valuable experience working directly under leadership. 

What’s Next?

According to Swank, she is working to better streamline her company process by opening her own factories and gaining more control over the volume going in and out of her company. Swank has multiple brick-and-mortar stores, and her social media presence has amassed over a million followers.

• News

by Stacy Jackson

April 27, 2023

Don Lemon Walks Red Carpet With His Head Held High And Totally Unbothered By CNN Termination

---

Veteran journalist Don Lemon knew the questions were coming.

The award-winning journalist was receptive to interviews about his job status during a recent appearance on the red carpet at the Time 100 gala in New York City on Wednesday night.

According to Variety, the former CNN anchor was all smiles and good vibes as several media outlets bombarded him with questions regarding his recent termination from the network and plans for the future.

“I don’t have to rush to another job — even if I want another job,” Lemon said on the red carpet. “I want to work again. But I am lucky enough to be in a position where I don’t have to worry about those things.”

“I’m doing well, and I’m here to celebrate,” Lemon told Entertainment Tonight. “I’m happy to be here… I am happy to be moving in a new direction. I’m going to miss all the talented people and journalists at CNN, who are my friends and who I love, and to who I’ve been speaking to… I’m fine. Life is good.”

Lemon said he is looking forward to spending his summer with family on the beach. “I’m just chilling out, and we’ll see what happens next,” he added. “One day at a time and one foot after the other.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by TIME (@time)

“I think my statement speaks for itself,” Lemon told Extra, commenting on his own words following news of the termination. “Yeah, it was a surprise. But life goes on. That’s behind me, and we’ll see what happens in the future.”

Lemon parted ways with CNN after 17 years, seemingly surprised at the cable network’s decision to terminate him. In addition to backlash he received for his remarks about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, several reports mentioned Lemon involved in other conflicts and altercations behind the scenes.

Reportedly, after the network tweeted they were parting ways with the veteran journalist, Lemon informed his followers that no one told him directly about his status.