Comedy star Robin Thede shared an emotional moment with comedy legend Whoopi Goldberg during her recent appearance on “The View.”

Thede was there to promote season 4 of her HBO Max series “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” and decided to take a moment to give flowers to Goldberg for serving as her early inspiration as a Black woman in comedy.

“I’m not gonna cry, but you were the first woman that showed me that Black women can play characters and be funny,” Thede said through tears.

“I talk about this all the time. I hope you don’t think I’m a stalker, ’cause I talk about you constantly in interviews, but when I saw your Broadway show on television and you put that shirt on your head…This character. She talked about identity and how ‘I wanna be white because that’s what I’m supposed to be, but then she came back to love herself. It was funny and it was real.”

“I had never seen that, so thank you. I’ve been waiting my whole life to tell you thank you.”

"I've been waiting my whole life to tell you thank you."@robinthede tells our #WhoopiGoldberg that she's the reason she got into sketch comedy: "You were the first woman that showed me that Black women can play characters and be funny." https://t.co/cVclFZQmjA pic.twitter.com/8aqRRrgMVs

— The View (@TheView) April 5, 2023

Goldberg is hailed as the first Black woman to reach EGOT status having won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony ahead of John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, and Viola Davis who most recently became an EGOT recipient. With 40 years in the business, “The Color Purple” star has achieved feats others can only dream of.

Yet, Goldberg remained humble and returned the love by passing the torch to Thede and celebrating her contributions to comedy.

“Kids now have you,” Goldberg told Thede. “And that is not just a small thing, that’s a huge thing because you have invited an entire room full of Black women to write comedy. This is unheard of.”

“There are not rooms full of white women writing comedy, so this is a huge thing,” she added. “And that’s what you did. So thank you.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqI_OHo2OQM

Season 4 of “A Black Lady Sketch Show” premieres on April 14.

‘Lil Penny’ has grown up and has become the first-ever brand ambassador for the sneaker-trading marketplace, Tradeblock.

Tradeblock recently announced that they’ve partnered with former NBA player, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, who is currently the head basketball coach of the Memphis Tigers.

Tradeblock is a popular online sneaker-trading marketplace where users and collectors trade collectible kicks, new sneakers, used footwear, and anything in between.

The collaboration connects the community with someone of Penny’s stature who “understands the social and cultural importance of trading sneakers to today’s generation.”

The former NBA player is also an investor in the Black-owned company.

“I invested in Tradeblock because of Mbiyimoh, Darren, and Tony. As a black-owned company, there was no way I could say no as a big fan of sneakers and understanding what Tradeblock would bring to the community.”

Tradeblock has been around since 2020 and is the largest sneaker trading marketplace of its kind in the world with over 300,000 members.

“We are thrilled to have Penny Hardaway join our community and share his passion for sneakers with our members,” said Mbiyimoh Ghogomu, CEO of Tradeblock. “His legacy in the basketball world and his iconic sneaker designs have had a profound impact on the culture, and we are excited to see what he brings to Tradeblock.”

Penny can be found on the app at @iam1cent. You can directly trade and/or accept one of his public offers. Tradeblock is also running a “tradeaway with Penny” for an undisclosed pair of kicks from his sneaker collection.

To learn more, stay tuned to their socials and website.

WNBA star Brittney Griner is ready to detail the traumatic time she experienced being held captive in Russia.

The Associated Press reported the professional basketball player is working on a memoir where fans can get insight on her trip to Moscow in 2022. Griner is preparing to share about the drug-related arrest at the Moscow airport which lead to her being detained in a Russian prison for nearly 10 months.

“That day (in February) was the beginning of an unfathomable period in my life which only now am I ready to share,” Griner said in a statement released on Tuesday by Alfred A. Knopf.

Kevin Gates has come a long way from his All or Nuthin’ mixtape era. Since then, the Bottom/Baton Rouge native has flourished as an MC – and Gates now has the key to the city of Baton Rouge.

Gates recently took to his Instagram account to share a video of him being surprised with the grand gesture during a pause in his performance at Baton Rouge’s Raising Canes River Center Arena.

In the clip, Gates’ publicist approached him on stage. She said to him, “We could not come to your hometown without recognizing you. You are a man of God — you said you work out of love, correct?”

Gates agreed with his publicist before receiving the key to the city. The clip concluded with a woman speaking to a boy, who appeared to be Gates’ son, saying, “Yo’ daddy received the key to the city.”

Gates wrote, “Feeling grateful and honored to have received the key to the city of Baton Rouge! It’s a privilege and I look forward to continuing to contribute to its growth and prosperity.”

He added, “During Ramadan, we embrace the power of reflection, gratitude, and I must say it’s been the best Ramadan ever.”

 

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Back in 2019, Gates visited the Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program, where he blessed the teenagers with words of encouragement. The rapper was in the program back in 2002. 

​​“YCP was one of the best life changing experiences for me. I really started to see myself develop. It took me away from the environment I was in and taught me teamwork and team-building skills. It taught me leadership skills and determination. With these skills there is nothing in life that you can’t overcome,” Gates said, per WAFB. 

The “IDGAF ” rapper is the latest in a long line of MCs to receive the key to a city. Drake received the key to Toronto back in 2016. That same year, Compton’s Kendrick Lamar was gifted the key to the city. In 2017, Nicki Minaj was blessed with the key to Queens, New York.

J.R. Smith, like everyone, has his fair share of regrets. But one of the biggest regrets the North Carolina A&T University student has was not putting the money he earned from the NBA to better use. 

Last year, the Aggie took time out of his busy schedule to visit the offices of I Am Athlete. During the pitstop, Smith shared how he regretted wasting money on designer clothes and jewelry.

“I could have fed my whole community 10 times over with the money I was just [paying in fines for being] late on the bus,” Smith said during the interview. 

“You know how many people you can change their lifestyle with $10 million in our hood?” Smith said on the podcast. “We’d rather go throw $60,000 in the strip club…than go feed 2,500 people in the hood.”

More recently, Smith released the docuseries Redefined: J.R. Smith on Prime Video, focusing on his life after the NBA. 

One of the ways Smith has taken control of his life is by continuing his education at North Carolina A&T University, where he also plays golf. 

“I mean, to be able to like to do it at an HBCU is everything because kids who look like me and grew up like me get to see me, a person of quote-unquote a large following who hasn’t always been in the good eye of the following, from the public eye anyway,” Smith said during an interview with Hypebeast. And for them to see me taking my education seriously, I think it only emphasizes more for them, and I can be the role model I want to be. And I think they perceive it well. So around campus and stuff is great, I can’t complain honestly. It’s a great group of people and it’s a great place. You know, from all the professors to the administration, everybody’s been really helpful in my journey.”

What a time to be alive for Drake and Future. We know you’ve heard the news: the 6 God and Future Hendrix joined forces to executive produce the Hulu series, Saint X.

Hitting the streaming site later this month, the series follows the death of a woman and its aftereffects, which toss the woman’s sister into dangerous spaces as she chases the truth surrounding her sister’s death.

The series stars Jayden Elija, Alycia Debnam-Carey, and Josh Bonzie, with Stephen Williams and Leila Gerstein hammering out production and screenplay duties, respectively.

In other Drake and Future news, the 6 God spoke to GQ about Future for the latter’s cover story shortly before the release of the latest effort, I Never Liked You.

“He’s an absolutely relentless, spontaneous workhorse,” Drake said to Eliott Wilson during the GQ interview. “And me, I’m a calculated, purpose-driven, militant individual. You take his free-flowing genius and you mix it with my level of understanding and planning and—records, albums, singles—we can pretty much create anything together.”

And Drake, who is also picky about his media sitdowns, recently sat with Lil Yachty for Lil Boat’s FUTUREMOOD’s ‘A Moody Conversation with Drake.’ During the conversation, the QC artist asked Drake about retiring.

“Well, I think like on a broader scale, I think I’m at the point now where I just wanna, like—I feel like maybe we talked about this the other day—but I feel like I’m kind of introducing the concept in my mind of a graceful exit.”

Drake added, I’ll still be around to like, you know, work with people or do a show here or there, but I’m not going to like, force myself to compete…So I guess that’s the one thing that I want for myself really badly.”

Drake and Future made magic in the studio on their 2015 collaboration, What a Time to be Alive. Hopefully, their joint effort as executive producers on Saint X produces similar results.

Viewers can stream Saint X on Hulu on April 26.

Watch Saint X’s trailer below.

A performance of the current Bodyguard musical was put on hold last week after a group of attendees interrupted the live show with their own rowdy rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”

It wasn’t the only song the excited group belted out during the touring stage show’s stop at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, England on Friday Variety reported. The attendees were singing most of the musical’s songs throughout the show before the house lights came on during the climactic close of Houston’s Grammy-winning hit.

Things went completely left with two women being forced out of the theater along with “a mini-riot” that ensued with “fights in the aisles,” sources said. The show had already been halted during the first act due to the disruption caused by the group’s loud singing.

The show resumed but was halted once more during the final 10 minutes when Pussycat Dolls member Melody Thornton tried belting out the 1992 film’s signature song made famous by Houston. Thornton’s mic was cut mid-performance, the house lights came on, and members of the audience were forced out of the theater.

Video footage of the melee was shared on social media.

“I’m new to the world of theatre. But sad and disappointed tonight at the state of some peoples arrogance and disrespect while at a show,” one attendee tweeted.

“Completely ruined #TheBodyguard, singing over the actors, to the point of them canceling the show & police being called 🤦‍♂️😢 #Manchester”

https://twitter.com/KarlBradley_1/status/1644464609586192384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1644464609586192384%7Ctwgr%5E592d7c7f123665d750569f44705b90137870afa6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fvariety.com%2F2023%2Flegit%2Fnews%2Fbodyguard-musical-halted-mini-riot-audience-singing-along-1235577476%2F

“Truly disappointing though, especially for the actors!@MelodyThornton smashed it as predicted,” the attendee added. “However a shame we never got the see it all end @PalaceAndOpera💔.”

“This was last night at @PalaceAndOpera during #bodyguard,” another attendee explained.

“Shocking behavior.. Some people just have no respect for the cast and their fellow audience members. We pay to watch the professionals who have trained for years not Wannabe Wilma & her drunk pals.”

This was last night at @PalaceAndOpera during #bodyguard . Shocking behaviour. Some people just have no respect for the cast and their fellow audience members. We pay to watch the professionals who have trained for years not Wannabe Wilma & her drunk pals.#manchester pic.twitter.com/s90xkp8JCH

— Jordan Doolan (@jordandoolan) April 8, 2023

Thornton also took to her Instagram Story to apologize for not being able to finish the live stage show.

“I respect that you paid your money, and i am so grateful to everyone who respects the people on stage who want to give you a beautiful show,” she said in her video post.

“For everything that happened tonight, I cant say, I don’t have all of the details. I just am very, very sorry that we couldn’t finish the show. i fought really hard. It feels awful.. … I thank everyone who was respectful of the performers and am very, very sorry for those who weren’t. I hope we see you soon.”

Cardi B made her voice heard after watching the encounter between the Dalai Lami and a little boy he asked to suck his tongue.

The Grammy-winning rapper took to social media on Monday to urge parents to educate their children on how to identify “predators” and instill “boundaries” to ensure their safety.

“This world is full of predators,” Cardi tweeted. “They prey on the innocent. The ones who are most unknowing, our children.”

“Predators could be our neighbors, our school teachers, even people wit money, power & our churches,” she continued. “Constantly talk with your kids about boundaries and what they shouldn’t allow people to do to them.”

This world is full of predators. They prey on the innocent. The ones who are most unknowing, our children. Predators could be our neighbors, our school teachers, even people wit money ,power & our churches. Constantly talk with your kids about boundaries and what they shouldn’t…

— Cardi B (@iamcardib) April 10, 2023

The mother of three, who shares daughter Kulture, 4, and son Wave, 19 months, with Migos rapper, Offset, sent out a second tweet revealing her house rule of “No sleep overs nothing!!!”

Her message came less than a day after the Dalai Lama issued a public apology for a controversial video showing him kissing a young boy and asking the child to suck on his tongue, NBC News reported. Cardi might’ve meant well with her public service announcement, but there were many who criticized her as “the wrong messenger,” considering her 2019 admission of drugging and robbing men who petitioned her for sex during her days working as a stripper in New York City.

As a result, Cardi took to Instagram Live to respond to the critics and double down on her stance against “predators.” She also clarified the difference between “robbing” her past victims and “raping.”

“When it comes to f – – king weird ass predators, and rapists, and pedophiles and s – – t…I don’t play that s – – t,” Cardi began.

“Robbing and raping is two different type of s – – t,” she said of her past admission about adult males, as compared to assaults against children. “So don’t f – -king call me no rapist, don’t call me no f – – king predator.”

“I’m the right messenger ’cause I’m a f – – king mom. I’m a f – – king woman. I’m a girl that as a teenager my body got f – – king abused,” she added.

Cardi B on live talking about the recent tweet she put up and people saying she’s the wrong messenger because she “drugged and robbed men” pic.twitter.com/CF917ERBvT

— ໊ (@cardiposts) April 10, 2023

“Y’all wanna f – – kin’ bring up some s – – t that was happening when I was a stripper…When I’m talking about f – – king kids and when I’m talking about the protection of our kids,” Cardi continued. “Don’t bring up some bulls – – t and don’t call me something that I’m f – – king not.”

After her heated video response, Cardi returned to Twitter to thank her fans for their support despite the criticism she received from others.

“Wow all this support I’m getting at the same time is beautiful,” she tweeted Monday night.

Wow all this support I’m getting at the same time is beautiful. It was deep in my heart to talk about this cause me & my friend was talkin last night & then the dalai lama thing happen this morning …Thank you everyone..I just have to realize the people attacking me are just…

— Cardi B (@iamcardib) April 10, 2023

“It was deep in my heart to talk about this cause me and my friend was talkin’ last night and then the Dalai Lama thing happened this morning,”

SZA fans were throwing big money on her first arena tour across North America.

The St. Louis-born singer’s SOS Tour reportedly grossed $34.5 million, averaging 12,812 tickets per night and $1.9 million per show.

According to Complex, the tour followed the release of the SOS sophomore album the 33-year-old songwriter dropped in December.

“Time to take this sh*t on the road,” SZA wrote on Instagram upon releasing the official tour flyer back in December.

“Selling out arenas is something I NEVER fathomed for myself,” the “Kill Bill” singer wrote to fans on Instagram in February. “I was literally scared to even try . so grateful for everyone’s time and energy, for riding w me . So blessed to be on this journey w chall.”

 

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Billboard reported that SOS immediately debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 when she dropped it last winter. The ranking marked her first chart-topper and saw over 400 million streams in the U.S. during the week she released it. SOS became the second-largest streaming week for a female artist and third-largest of 2022 among all albums.

During an episode of the Rap Radar podcast, Top Dawg Entertainment boss Terrence “Punch” Henderson praised SZA for how she connected with her fans through the SOS Tour.

“You’re actually seeing these live people, and you’re seeing them respond to you, and that energy exchange,” Punch said about the singer. “So she’s handling [fame] a way lot better now.”

Reportedly, the superstar’s plans for the album include the release of a deluxe version of SOS with 10 additional tracks. She’s also taking inventory of everything she has accomplished over the last few months. “I’m looking forward to actually feeling proud of myself and not just smiling and nodding at accolades, but really feeling it internally and knowing that I’m good enough,” SZA said.