Quinta Brunson is receiving mixed reactions to her opening monologue on Saturday Night Live, where she took a jab at the lack of diversity on the popular ’90s sitcom, Friends.

The star and creator of Abbott Elementary had one of her dreams come true Saturday when she hosted SNL, Entertainment Tonight reports. Brunson described the gig as a “pinch me” moment.

She had dreams of auditioning for the show in her childhood, but the process “seemed long” which led her to “[create] my own TV show, made sure it became really popular, won a bunch of Emmys and then got asked to host and it was so much easier!”

Brunson went on to compare the success of her Emmy award-winning show to that of Friends, the hit NBC sitcom that ran from 1994 to 2004.

“Except instead of being about a group of friends, it’s about a group of teachers,” Brunson joked.

“And instead of New York, it’s in Philadelphia. And instead of not having Black people—it does.”

'I have a show called "Abbott Elementary," like say "Friends." Instead of New York, it's in Philadelphia. And instead of not having Black people, it does!' – Quinta Brunson's opening monologue on #SNL pic.twitter.com/bvHEEp985I

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 2, 2023

After the clip was shared on Twitter, Brunson received a swarm of reactions from social media users who criticized her shade toward the popular 90s sitcom.

“Ok? So what does she want to do about this.. reverse time and change the cast of Friends?” one user wrote.

“She isn’t the first to say this and who cares. Friends was not a show meant for black people,” added someone else. “They had their target market and had a successful run. We gotta stop whining about the past.”

One commentator called out the irony of Abbott Elementary being diverse but not representing other people of color.

“I’m going to create a show like ‘Abbott Elementary’ and ‘Friends’ but instead of not having Asian people, it does,” they quipped.

Abbott Elementary has proven to be a huge success. In its two seasons, the series has already picked up an an Emmy, three Golden Globes, and a Critics Choice Award. Next season, Taraji P. Henson joins the cast in a major guest starring role as the mother of Brunson’s character, Janine Teagues.

Just a hint of Tabitha magic and business was booming for this Black couple within a week.

Actress and social media personality Tabitha Brown is responsible for a huge boost in sales for Black-owned business, Brand Avenue, a marriage lifestyle apparel brand owned by couple Marc and Ima Carnelus. 

According to AfroTech, Brown and her husband Chance Brown flaunted a sweater set from the company during a March episode of their YouTube series, Fridays with Tab and Chance. After viewers saw the Browns rocking the apparel, Marc and Ima gained a profit of over $23,000 from March 10 to March 16. The week before, the Carneluses brought in around $200.

The couple, who launched Brand Avenue in 2014, shared that they had been struggling for six months prior to the YouTube feature.

“We even considered shutting the business down altogether,” Marc Carnelus shared in an Instagram post. “This is our main source of income and it’s been super tough.”

“We have been praying in the midst of all that for a breakthrough, for a sign to keep going, a miracle,” Ima Carnelus added. “We’ve had people really rallying around us, supporting us, praying for us, helping us financially because we still got bills to pay. And God answered our prayers.”

Reportedly, sales for the couple’s brand blew up overnight after the Browns posted the episode to their channel.

“This is the Tabitha effect,” Marc Carnelus said.

“I love this so much and it’s just another reason I can’t wait to bring back Very Good Mondays!!! So happy for you guys @brandaveclothing,” Brown shared on her Instagram page. “Keep believing and keep trusting God, he got you!!!!” The content creator was also seen sporting another item from the brand in a separate episode.

 

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The Chi actress created Very Good Mondays in 2020 as a way to feature and support small businesses.

Willie McGinest has reportedly been laid off as part of NFL Network’s layoffs, a move that comes after the former New England Patriot was charged with a pair of felonies stemming from his role in a December melee at a California restaurant.

The news of McGinest’s departure was reported by several outlets.

According to CBS Sports, McGinest has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon and one count of assault by means of force likely to cause bodily injury. The 51-year-old could face up to eight years in jail—four years for each charge. 

The incident happened at Dalilah, a restaurant in West Hollywood, CA, on December 9. According to a statement from the Sheriff’s office, “Witnesses identified [McGinest] as being one of the individuals involved in the incident.” 

In a video released by TMZ, security footage shows a man, appearing to be McGinest, punching a victim several times. The footage also shows the man,, hitting the victim with a bottle. 

McGinest admitted to his wrongdoing in a public apology. 

“First and foremost, I want to offer my deepest apology for my lapse in judgment and behavior on December 9 at a restaurant in West Hollywood,” McGinest said in a statement.

“I am disappointed in myself, as I know this is an isolated incident and is not reflective of my faith, role as a father, life’s body of work, or the role model I’ve worked hard to become,” he continued. “It is personally devastating that decades of community service, youth engagement, mentoring, and professional development would become an afterthought in a single moment that should have never happened.”

​​McGinest was suspended from the NFL Network, and now it looks like his job is no more. McGinest played 15 seasons in the NFL, winning three Super Bowls as a member of the New England Patriots. 

• News

by Iman Milner

April 3, 2023

Los Angeles Politician Guilty On Federal Corruption Charges

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Not all nepotism is legal; it turns out.

Democratic City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas of Los Angeles found this out the hard way last week when he was found guilty of seven felonies, including bribery and fraud. In an apparent scheme to help ensure a scholarship for his son to the University of Southern California and employment in the form of a teaching job, Ridley-Thomas promised to funnel millions in government dollars to the institution.

The jury’s decision marks the end of an otherwise storied career for the councilman known for his involvement in civil rights and racial issues. “When elected leaders engage in acts of corruption, our community suffers immense damage. Ridley-Thomas engaged in a corrupt conspiracy with a university dean to steer taxpayer-funded contracts to the school in exchange for benefits for his son,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. The dean in question is Marilyn Flynn, who pleaded guilty to one count of bribery last year, for her part in concocting a plan to send $100,000 of the promised funds to a nonprofit run by Councilman Ridley-Thomas’ son.

Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, at the time, was a state assemblyman until 2017, when he resigned amongst allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances toward a Capitol staff member. His organization received $100,000, and he was awarded a $26,000 graduate scholarship to attend USC and a $50,000 salary to teach at the school. Though this was a violation of the university’s policy, the school allowed it due to the promise made by his father. This is no surprise to many as the University of Southern California was one of the many institutions named in the admissions cheating scandal in which wealthy parents passed their children off as star athletes and stellar students to get them into schools they otherwise would not have been eligible for.

Ridley-Thomas was suspended in October 2021 after he was charged in the case. USC was not accused of any wrongdoing.

Howell Wayans, man who literally created the Wayans, has died, according to his youngest son, comedian and actor Marlon Wayans.

• News

by Iman Milner

April 3, 2023

Rest Well, Legend: Iconic ‘Fat Albert’ Animator Leo D. Sullivan Passes Away At 82

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They say what we do in life echoes in eternity, and that was never more true than in the case of legendary animator Leo D. Sullivan.

Throughout his illustrious career, Sullivan lent his talents to the history-making animated series Fat Albert, My Little Pony, and the iconic moving train logo for Soul Train. His work spanned five decades and earned him an Emmy Award. Most notably, in 2017, Sullivan was heavily featured in the 2016 documentary An Animated Life, which explores his business partner Floyd Norman’s expansive career as the first Black animator at The Walt Disney Co.

In 1966, Norman and Sullivan created Vignette Films Inc., making six animated films, and were one of the first companies to develop projects on Black history. “I would go to the movies and see all these cartoons and I thought it was little people running around in costumes doing it. Then I started doing some research when I was in high school and I said, ‘Hey, this is fantastic”, Sullivan once said. The pair, along with Richard Allen and Norm Edelen, produced the 1969 Bill Cosby special Hey, Hey Hey! It’s Fat Albert for NBC. In 1972, the series was picked up in a weekly format that aired on CBS.

“It was also during this time that I learned that my partner Leo was an excellent movie producer. Actually, it would not be exaggerating to say he’s better than most. During this time, it was highly unlikely that a Black man would ever be given such a position in a major studio,” Norman said in his 2013 memoir, Animated Life: A Lifetime of tips, tricks, techniques and stories from an animation Legend. 

Per the Hollywood Reporter, Sullivan is also credited on The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle and Jeckle, The Flintstones, Flash Gordon, Scooby-Doo, The Incredible Hulk, Tiny Toons, Pac-Man, and I Am the Greatest!: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali.

Sullivan leaves behind his wife, Ethelyn, son Leo Jr., and daughter, Tina.

Naomi Campbell and BMW have aligned their iconic brands to release the world’s first high-performance car with M HYBRID drive.

Robb Report notes that BMW tapped Campbell to help promote their “Dare to Be You” campaign as part of the BMW XM launch. As part of the launch, Campbell will release an “extravagant high-performance” model in 2023.

“The BMW M slogan, ‘Dare to be You,’ immediately appealed to me because it describes exactly the confident attitude that is necessary for progress and positive change,” Campbell said.

According to BMW, Campbell’s influence on design and aesthetics helped influence the brand’s next set of projects. Campbell also took to Instagram to share a video promoting the new luxury vehicle. The veteran supermodel stood in front of the “electrified M Power” car while sporting baggy blue jeans and a white tank top.

“It’s all about: DEDICATION. DETERMINATION. DRIVE. 🖤 @BMW @BMWM #BMWXM #DareToBeYou,” Campbell captioned her Instagram video.

 

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A post shared by Dr Naomi Campbell (@naomi)

Fans of the supermodel applauded her latest campaign.

“She’s an icon, a legend and she is the moment!!” one fan wrote.

“The original IT girl,” added another.

“Naomi Campbell is a woman who goes her own way unswervingly and has become not only a unique supermodel but also a fascinating personality,” said Jens Thiemer, BMW’s senior vice president of customer and brand.

“There are few people who can identify with the motto ‘Dare to be You’ as strongly as she can.”

The new car’s features include going zero-to-60 mph in 4.1 seconds, having a top speed of 168 mph and 590 ft-lbs of torque, and delivering 644 hp, the BMW Blog reports. By this fall, BMW will release a Label Red model up to 748 hpd.

The Red model is credited as the most powerful series-production vehicle approved for road use in the brand’s history and is expected to retail for $185,995.

• News

by Iman Milner

April 3, 2023

What’s Going On? Wendy Williams Reportedly Selling Off Items From NYC Condo

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Wendy Williams has had a tough couple of years.

Following her sudden exit from her hit TV show amid swirling concerns for her mental and physical health, Williams has kept a relatively low profile. In recent months, she was said to have completed rehab for alcohol addiction in an undisclosed facility. She was “doing better than ever,” according to her rep Shawn Zanotti, who has provided updates on the daytime talk show host.

However, Williams is back in the news as Page Six reports that the 58-year-old has begun selling prized possessions from her New York City condo. The sale is said to be the first step in relocating to LA for the former shock jock, but someone close to the star says it’s cause for concern. “She was asking how to sell her stuff with ‘The Real Real,’ but I don’t think she’s actually moving to Los Angeles,” an insider told Page Six exclusively. “She seems so unwell.”

Zanotti vehemently refuted the claim saying, “Wendy is getting rid of items for spring cleaning; this is what people do this time of year. It’s a new chapter for Wendy, and she wants new things. This is a common gesture people do, and Wendy is no different.” Among the possessions up for grabs are the iconic purple chair she’s infamously delivered the segment “Hot Topics” from and items fans would recognize from her virtual episodes during the COVID-19 lockdown.

It hasn’t been all doom and gloom for the New Jersey native, as news of a highly anticipated podcast has been making its rounds, a move that could bring the original gossip girl back to the airwaves. Williams began her career as the go-to voice for all the latest celebrity news and rumors on radio stations like Hot 97 and WBLS. Her success at radio opened the door for her television success from 2008–2018; The Wendy Williams Show reigned supreme in the daytime. Before her health troubles began in late 2018, she’d never missed a single episode of the show—a feat accomplished by few other hosts.

The NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament may have ended, but the larger conversation around how the media reports on Black players is still in play.

WNBA legend and South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley took to the podium after her team’s 77-73 loss to the University of Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday night to set the record straight about how her players have been portrayed in the media. Throughout most of the tournament, but especially ahead of their Final Four appearance, some very choice words were used to describe the size and playing style of the Gamecocks. For some fans, it seemed to affect how they were officiated, especially in the weekend’s game against Iowa, a predominately white team.

“We’re not bar fighters. We’re not thugs. We’re not monkeys. We’re not street fighters,” Staley said. “This team exemplifies how you need to approach basketball on the court and off the court. And I do think that that’s sometimes brought into the game, and it hurts.”

Staley and her players have been successful—building an impressive 42-0 record—amid prejudice tainting their historic journey’s talent and narrative. “Don’t judge us by the color of our skin. Judge us by how we approach the game,” Staley said. “You may not like how we play the game … that’s the way we play. That’s the way I coach. We’re not changing.”

Bias in sports media has been a long-time issue that disproportionately lends itself to profiling Black student-athletes, specifically. A point Coach Staley also spoke to in her press conference. “You can not like our team, you can not like me, but when you’re saying things that you probably should be saying in your home on the phone or texting out in public and you’re being heard, and you are a national writer for our sport, it just confirms what we already know,” she said.

Her words were further confirmed on Sunday evening when the LSU Lady Tigers defeated Iowa’s Hawkeyes to win the national title. In a show of celebration, the Tiger’s leader, Angel Reese, who has put together a remarkable season of accolades, mimicked the actions of her rival, Caitlin Clark, who taunted South Carolina players with a “you can’t see me” action after her 40-point performance on Friday. While Clark was praised for her impressive play and elite trash talk, Reese was ridiculed as being “classless” and displaying “unsportsmanlike” behavior.

Let’s hope sports media learns a valuable lesson from Coach Dawn Staley.

The oldest historically Black institution in Maryland has undergone some new upgrades.

Bowie State University has officially named its theater at the school’s performing arts center after the legendary singer Dionne Warwick.

According to CBS News, The Dionne Warwick Theater was unveiled Saturday morning at Bowie State University to celebrate the naming of the theater.

“We are very grateful that Dionne Warwick recognizes the value of this storied institution, and for lending her iconic name to the Main Stage Theater inside of our Fine and Performing Arts Center,” said Brent Swinton, Bowie State University’s vice president of Institutional Advancement, according to Newsone. “Given the rich history of artists and performers such as Myles Frost who have originated from this university, the naming is even more appropriate because of Ms. Warwick’s lifelong advocacy for higher education, healthcare and the arts.”

“The Dionne Warwick Theater will host concerts, plays, and other performances with her name elevating the venue to another level,” Swinton added.

https://twitter.com/BowieState/status/1642309018872954881?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

The unveiling followed NBA champion Kevin Durant’s $500,000 donation to the university to create a reimagined basketball arena. The gift was made through the Durant Family Foundation, a nonprofit empowering youth from underserved communities through sports and educational initiatives.

“We are dedicated to providing resources and possibilities to students for higher education, especially in Prince George’s County,” said Wanda “The Real MVP” Durant, as she presented the donation to the school before the women’s and men’s basketball teams at the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex.

Kevin Durant and the Durant Family Foundation Commit to Major Investment in Bowie State University https://t.co/6JtZYs8KsE

— Bowie State Athletics (@BSU_Sports_Info) December 12, 2022

The Durant family’s donation will support the refurbishment of the school’s basketball court, including renovating its bleachers and press box, and creating scholarships. “Bowie State was the perfect place to make a meaningful impact,” she added.

“We’re grateful for the resources that Kevin Durant and his family foundation have generously donated to Bowie State University to advance student success in achieving their academic goals,” said Aminta Breaux, President of Bowie State University. “His contributions will go a long way towards updating our facilities and ensure a top-tier athletic experience for all of our students. The foundation has already built a network of community-centric services within the Durant Center in Prince George’s County that is exemplary.”