That’s A Wrap: Beyonce and Adidas Mutually Part Ways, Ending A Five-Year Partnership
You’re a little too late if you didn’t get your hands on Beyonce’s Ivy Park clothing line.
Hollywood Reporterreports Queen Bey and Adidas have mutually parted ways, ending the Ivy Park activewear line.
News of the split shouldn’t shock fans, as Black Enterprise reported in February that sales for Ivy Park dropped drastically by 50%. Compared to bringing in $93 million in 2021, the brand only brought in $40 million last year. “In five of the last six Ivy Park releases, roughly half of the merchandise that was produced went unsold,” an outlet reported. The clothing and sneaker line was “losing money for Adidas.”
Sources say much of the blame was due to Beyoncé’s team and Adidas not seeing eye to eye creatively. During the collaboration, both “disagreed over how to label and market the products, with Adidas pushing for more of its own branding,” sources say.
There is still hope for Beyonce’s clothing career as she’s looking to “reclaim her brand, chart her own path, and maintain creative freedom,” according to Hollywood Reporter. In the meantime, she did debut the brand’s newest collection, Park Trail, while she was in Dubai for a private concert in January—her first live show in four years. According to Page Six, the collection featured bright orange, blue, and camouflage pieces for kids, men, and women. Rapper Ice Spice is rumored to appear in the line’s campaign.
Ivy Park’s first home was with Top Shop in 2016. However, the 32-time Grammy winner acquired 100% of the brand from the Philip Green-owned company after he faced sexual harassment, bullying, and racism allegations. Once Adidas came on board, things started to look up, and the 41-year-old was excited to work with the athletic brand. “This new line is fun and lends itself to creativity, the ultimate power,” she said in 2020. “I appreciate the beauty of gender-neutral clothing and breaking the so-called fashion rules.”
Hopefully, fans will see more of the latest Ivy Park collection during her highly-anticipated Renaissance World Tour, kicking off in Europe in May.
According to TMZ, a potential suitor of one of the world’s wealthiest singers showed up at her property intending to propose. Law enforcement sources told the media outlet that a man approached the home of Rihannaon Thursday and was stopped by security as they summoned police officers to intercept the young admirer.
The man, who told security that he came from South Carolina, had traveled to the California home of the Fenty owner to ask her to marry him. Knowing that he wasn’t her current boyfriend and that he might cause a threat to the singer, security called police officers, who came to the scene to take the man away from the property. There was no mention of Rihanna being at home when this took place.Although he did appear at her home, he did not break any laws and was told not to return to the property. It was not the first time an admirer showed up at the home of the fashion designer. A man named Eduardo Leon was arrested in 2018 inside the house. He told police officers he was there to engage in sexual activity with Rihanna. She was out of town at the time, and it was reported that Leon was in the home for at least 12 hours before being discovered at the residence. The New York Post reported that Rihanna’s assistant found Leon hiding in the home.The intruder was later charged with felony counts of stalking, burglary, vandalism, and a misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. He ended up pleading guilty but was not given any jail time. Instead, Leon was sentenced to five years probation and had to go into a Los Angeles county program meant for offenders “with mental health and/or substance use disorders, including persons who are homeless.”The Umbrella singer was also granted a criminal protection order against him.
Xavier Cole named 18th president of Loyola University New Orleans
The Loyola University New Orleans Board of Trustees today named Xavier A. Cole, Ed.D., an empathic, student-centered leader of Jesuit institutions, as the university’s 18th president.
Cole will become the first person of color, and the second layperson, to lead the 111-year-old institution. Currently serving as Marquette University’s vice president for student affairs, Cole will begin his tenure at Loyola on June 1. He was announced today to the Loyola community via video message, in advance of an in-person campus event tomorrow at 1 p.m.
“Dr. Cole is a uniquely experienced higher education administrator who has dedicated his career to the study and preservation of Jesuit, Catholic institutions in America, and to the service of their students,” said Stephen Landry, Chair of the Board of Trustees.
“I am committed to strengthening this thriving institution by seeking out mission-aligned partnerships, promoting our financial health and stability, and investing in those who work and learn here,” Cole said. “There is so much possibility for us to rise up to meet the needs of our city, our state, and our region – needs in the business community, education sector, and healthcare fields. Loyola has the necessary academic programs not only to prepare future successful employees, but to position them as trusted leaders.”
Cole’s appointment by a unanimous board vote on Friday, March 17, culminates a seven-month, national search by the Presidential Search Committeerepresenting faculty, staff, students, alumni, and parents. With the help of executive search firm Isaacson, Miller, the committee culled four finalists from dozens of applicants and invited them to campus last month for final interviews.
“We have found a real gem for our students in Dr. Cole,” said Robért LeBlanc, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee and Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Throughout his career, Dr. Cole has been guided by Ignatian-influenced education ideals of fortifying the mind, body, and spirit.”
A musical hobby exemplifies Cole’s love of student life and makes him well-suited to a campus within the birthplace of jazz. At each stop in his career as a senior administrator, Cole, an accomplished trombone and euphonium player, has sought permission to audition for and play in student orchestra pits and jazz bands. (Cole’s mother sang professionally; his father was a band leader.) Cole’s presence in these ensembles has allowed students to understand him as more than a student affairs professional.
“I see Loyola New Orleans students as a force of nature and the heart of the university — the very reason we do our work as educators. I can’t wait to learn more about their dreams and how they plan to use their gifts to improve the world,” Cole said.
A product of Biloxi, Mississippi, Cole holds a bachelor’s in history from the University of Mississippi, and a master’s, again in history, from Miami University (Ohio). Cole discovered his passion for student affairs as a resident advisor at Ole Miss and then as a graduate hall director at Miami.
In 2013, Dr. Cole added a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania. His dissertation explored the outcomes of mission and identity programs at U.S. Jesuit universities and analyzed their effectiveness in preparing future lay leaders at Jesuit universities. Its prescient title is “Answering the call: An examination of the development of lay leadership on Jesuit, Catholic university campuses.”
Leading the Division of Student Affairs at Marquette since 2016, Cole has brought particular passion to access and engagement initiatives to ensure first-generation students and students of color feel they belong. Cole also won praise for chairing Marquette’s COVID-19 Response Team, starting in the demanding days of March 2020.
Before his role at Marquette, Cole spent more than two decades shaping student life at higher education institutions in Maryland.
From 2014 to 2016, he was vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Washington College, a small liberal arts college in Chestertown, Maryland, which holds the distinction of being the first college chartered in the sovereign United States. From 1995 to 2014, Cole held roles of increasing responsibility within the Division of Student Development at Loyola University Maryland, leaving Baltimore in 2014 as assistant vice president.
Today, Cole serves as chair for the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education Executive Doctorate Alumni Board. From 2017 to 2022, he was vice chair and director of the education committee on the board of Messmer Catholic Schools, a K-12 network of Catholic schools serving Milwaukee’s north and west sides.
Cole’s appointment as the first Black president of the university breaks new ground following the tenure from 2018 to 2022 of Tania Tetlow, Loyola’s first female and first lay president.
“We would also like to thank Fr. Justin Daffron, S.J., for his service as interim president,” Landry said.
Making the move to New Orleans with Cole are his wife, historian Susanne DeBerry Cole, Ph.D., and Mingus, their feisty cairn terrier.
Afroman Is Being Sued By The Police Officers Who Raided His Home
Police officers who raided the home of Afroman are suing the rapper for allegedly using their likeness for monetary profit and invasion of privacy, among other things.
According to TMZ, police officers claim that Afroman, who had cameras in his home, is using their faces in music videos, social media posts, and t-shirts without their consent.
“My house is my property, my video camera films, everything on my property as they begin, stealing my money, disconnecting plus destroying my video camera system, they became my property,” Afroman said to TMZ.
He continued: “Criminals caught in the act of vandalizing and stealing money. My video footage is my property. I used it to identify the criminals who broke into my house and stole my money. I used it to identify criminals, who broke into my house, stole my money, and disconnected my home security system.”
According to TMZ, Afroman was not present during the raid. However, his wife recorded the event with her cell phone.
The Clarion-Ledgerreported, “Four deputies, two sergeants and a detective are claiming Foreman (a.k.a. “Afroman”) took footage of their faces obtained during the raid and used it in music videos and social media posts without their consent, a misdemeanor violation under Ohio Revised Code.”
The Clarion-Ledger wrote: “They’re also suing on civil grounds, saying Foreman’s use of their faces (i.e., personas) in the videos and social media posts resulted in their ‘emotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation and humiliation.’
The Clarion-Ledger continued: “The plaintiffs say they’re entitled to all of Foreman’s profits from his use of their personas. That includes, according to the complaint, proceeds from the songs, music videos, and live event tickets as well as the promotion of Foreman’s ‘Afroman’ brand, under which he sells beer, marijuana, t-shirts and other merchandise.”
In 2022, the rapper’s home was raided by Clermont County Sheriff’s Office in search of drugs in Afroman’s home. No drugs were found during the raid.
New Podcast “Freeway Phantom” to Investigate the 1970s Serial Murders of Six Black girl in Washington, DC
Between 1971 and 1972, six Black girls ages 12 to 18 went missing in the Washington D.C. area: Their names are Carol Spinks; Darlenia Johnson; Brenda Crockett; Nenomoshia Yates; Brenda Woodard; and Diane Williams.
Each girl was found murdered and discarded alongside D.C. highways; local media began to call the killer “The Freeway Phantom.” The “Phantom,” Washington D.C.’s first serial killer, taunted police with a chilling note claiming responsibility, and terrorized victims’ families with calls to their homes. Five decades later, their killer has never been brought to justice. From iHeartPodcasts, Tenderfoot TV, and Black Bar Mitzvah, “Freeway Phantom” will share the stories of the six victims and explore new evidence which could crack these cold cases wide open.
The 10-episode series is hosted by journalist and public radio veteran Celeste Headlee (NPR, PBS, TEDx), who’s spent the past two years sifting through boxes of documents and interviewing investigators and family members who are still haunted by these murders. One of Headlee’s most notable contributors throughout the podcast is retired D.C. police detective Romaine Jenkins, who spent a great deal of her career working on the Freeway Phantom murders. The series also explores racial disparities, how strategies for solving murders have evolved over time, the lack of trust between law enforcement and local communities — a theme that persists today — and the role of community action in bringing forth justice. From the creators of “Atlanta Monster,” “Monster: D.C. Sniper,” and “The MLK Tapes,” “Freeway Phantom” premieres on May 17.
“This is an engrossing story, not only because of how much has changed in the way we track down serial killers, but also what has not changed,” says host Celeste Headlee. “Our effort to protect the public is still hampered by racism, mistrust between communities and authorities, and a lack of cooperation among those whose job is to protect and serve. This series answers so many tough questions and asks just as many.”
“What struck me when I first heard about these cases was both the tragedies that these families have had to endure for so long, and the parallels happening today with other missing Black and Brown girls throughout the country,” says Jay Ellis, President, Black Bar Mitzvah. “That’s what fueled my desire for Black Bar Mitzvah telling this story – to shine a light on the stories of the victims and their families, and the inequities that continue to exist 50 years later.”
“The lack of coverage, then and now, surrounding the murders of these six Black girls is shameful,” says Donald Albright, co-founder and CEO of Tenderfoot TV. “We are grateful to collaborate with iHeartPodcasts and Black Bar Mitzvah to not only tell their stories, but to further investigate these horrific crimes, and address many of the same systemic issues that persist today.”
“Freeway Phantom” is produced by Tenderfoot TV, in partnership with iHeartPodcasts and Black Bar Mitzvah. The series is hosted by internationally recognized, award-winning journalist, bestselling author, radio and podcast host, Celeste Headlee.
In her 20-year career in public radio, Headlee has been the executive producer of “On Second Thought” at Georgia Public Broadcasting and anchored programs including “Tell Me More,” “Talk of the Nation,” “Here and Now,” “All Things Considered,” and “Weekend Edition.” She also served as co-host of the national morning news show, “The Takeaway,” from PRI and WNYC. In 2019 she received the Media Changemaker Award.
Headlee is also a professional speaker and author of the bestselling books, We Need To Talk: How To Have Conversations That Matter, Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving, Speaking of Race: Why Everybody Needs to Talk About Racism – and How to Do It, and You’re Cute When You’re Mad: Simple Steps for Confronting Sexism. Her TEDx Talk, “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation,” has been viewed over 34 million times. She also serves as president and CEO of Headway DEI, a non-profit that works to bring racial justice and equity to journalism and media through targeted training and interventions, and she is on the board for the National Center for Race Amity.
The first two episodes of “Freeway Phantom” will premiere on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, and will be available on the iHeartRadio app and across all podcast platforms. The following eight episodes will be released weekly on Wednesdays. Ad-free listening and early access will be available on Tenderfoot+.
Cultural Influence: Black Women Controlling the Conversation
Every eye is watching how the Black woman moves, and that is exactly why she holds a unique place in society as the reigning influencer of culture. For decades, Black women have been overlooked and excluded from having a voice across industries, but now they are changing the narrative and controlling the conversation.
From sitting at the executive tables of male-dominated career fields to amplifying representation in the media, the Black woman’s voice is significant. Whether it’s in fashion, business, beauty, music, television, and beyond, Black women validate the trends that even other communities look forward to following.
“Black audiences spend more time with media than any other group in the U.S., with content engagement that consistently drives breakout hits and trending topics alike,” a Nielsen report on representation stated.
Although every Black woman isn’t in the spotlight or recognized for their influence, these particular Black women are holding it down in the public eye, making back- to- back headlines as they challenge norms and shift the culture accordingly.
Rihanna
For years, Rihanna has been known for making bold statements in the media. She has started trends that are now followed by many other female celebrities. Rihanna is a factor in controlling the conversation as she uses her brands Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty to diversify its industries. Fenty Beauty, along with other Black women-owned beauty brands has brought Black women into the conversation of making sure there is a true “nude” for melanated skin tones.
To add to RiRi’s influence, her Savage X Fenty line has amplified gender and body inclusivity, opening doors for the LGBTQ+ communities and plus- sized fashionistas. Through the layout of her fashion shows, Rihanna has demanded the world to pay attention to the unique differences of individuals who don’t meet the typical standards of white society. Her efforts in diversifying these spaces have pushed other large fashion brands to do the same, forcing them to embrace culture, larger features, and communities of color.
Patricia Bright
It’s almost as if the world was mad for a second when the Black Girl Luxury trend took off. The trend, pioneered by Black women such as Patricia Bright, placed Black women in a light that society tried to exclude them from.
Bright and other Black women who drive this trend have normalized a lavish lifestyle of happiness, financial freedom, and traveling that for years has mainly been experienced by their white counterparts.
“…Being black is not a trend. It’s great that everyone is more aware now, but we’ve always been here, even if everyone else wasn’t seeing us,” Bright told Glamourin a past interview. “However, I love that black girls now see themselves represented by models and brands as that’ll boost their confidence.”
Ava DuVerney
Once Black women got into media spaces, the narrative began to change for how they were portrayed on television and in movies.
The Black woman filmmaker who didn’t get behind the camera until she was 32, is a history-making writer, director, and producer. Ava DuVerney has used her skills and platform to tell the stories of Black women and Black culture, and reflect them on major Hollywood screens. Black women filmmakers like DuVerney validate the experiences of Black people and use these narratives to influence the world to respond differently to the raw culture of Black people.
“I’ve been in a lot of spaces where I’m the only woman, the only Black person, the only person of color,” DuVerney said at the Toronto Film Festival in 2020. “Now I walk in, like, ‘why am I the only one? What’s wrong with you? Why don’t you have more people here?’
Selma, one of DuVerney’s most well-known films, starring powerful Black talents including Oprah Winfrey, Lorraine Toussaint, Tessa Thompson, Carmen Ajogo, and Niecy Nash, told the story of the epic march Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his followers made from Selma to Montgomery.
Lizzo
Black women, having curvier body types, larger features, or darker complexions have previously been ignored in areas like ballet, modeling, and even being featured in music videos.
Lizzo is all about body positivity and you better not mess with her girls. The award-winning singer and musician has made her message clear in the industry since the beginning, welcoming her plus-sized dancers onstage, she has influenced the culture to embrace the reality that everyone is not the same, and old standards should not dictate who gets to showcase their talents to the world.
Although Lizzo has heavily influenced the music industry, the singer had to address the public who accused her of making music for white listeners, however Lizzo set the record straight explaining that she draws inspiration from Black music from the 1970s and 1980s. She described her music as “funky” and “soulful.” Artists like Lizzo are using their talents to bring back the originality of the Black musicians who paved the way.
Symone D. Sanders
Author and democratic strategist Symone Sanders-Townsend, 32, brought her bold passion for social justice to the world of politics when she was appointed the youngest presidential press secretary at age 25. The former Senior Advisor and Chief Spokesperson to Vice President Kamala Harris, shifted her passion to host her MSNBC show SYMONE, where she discusses controversial issues of present-day America. She brought the perspective of the younger generation to juvenile justice and policy conversations.
“I am motivated by the simple fact that someone fought, marched, cried, prayed and spoke up so that one day I would be able to do the same for the next generation,” Sanders-Townsend said in her bio. “I also know that when I show up — whether it’s on tv, to a meeting or at my fellowship at Harvard — no one is going to bring the same perspective. So it’s my duty to show up as my authentic self every single time.”
Program Helping Thousands of Black Moms, Other Minority Women in Financial Trouble
A community-based program called Debt Help For Women has already helped thousands of single moms and women who are overwhelmed with their financial obligations in life. The program is especially looking to help underprivileged Black, Brown and other minority women who live in the United States.
For over 20 years, the program has helped thousands of women across the country to settle their financial woes through credit counseling and debt management. One major advantage of the program is that women in need can talk to a live consultant to better understand what the program offers.
Hundreds of thousands of women in the U.S. are $10,000 or more in debt, and many women are currently being evicted from their homes, have had their bank accounts frozen, and/or are not able to adequately provide for their children.
The founders of the program say that they are very passionate about fighting on behalf of women and moms that are often innocent victims of desperate financial situations and injustice.
The program is currently helping women with the following types of debt: federal taxes, medical bills, collections and repossessions, certain types of private student loans, and more.
To find out if you qualify and/or to learn about upcoming online workshops, visit DebtHelpForWomen.org
Public Historically Black Colleges Unite to Launch Student Success Coaching Network
Thousands of current and former students at public Historically Black Colleges and Universities will receive one-on-one success coaching and support, thanks to a new initiative announced today by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the national nonprofit representing nearly 300,000 students attending 47 HBCU member institutions, and the Partnership for Education Advancement, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides capacity building support and sustainable solutions to mission-focused higher education institutions. In collaboration with student success nonprofit InsideTrack, the organizations will launch a four-year, multi-campus initiative that will provide one-on-one success coaching to help remove barriers to college enrollment and success for students at a network of 16 HBCUs nationwide.
“Over the past few years, we’ve seen record growth in enrollments and applications at some HBCU campuses, and outside investments are leading to an exciting new era of impact and innovation,” said Harry Williams, president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. “HBCUs disproportionately enroll and support students from low-income backgrounds as well as those who are first-generation college students—students who gain significant value from this type of one-on-one coaching and support. By both providing individualized coaching for current and former students, as well as building capacity for institutions to continue this important work over time, this initiative will help institutions capitalize on the current momentum.”
The coaching work will support current and returning HBCU students as they work to clarify their academic, career and personal goals; identify potential obstacles and a plan to overcome them; and stay motivated as they encounter challenges on the path to completion. The network initiative will be managed by Partnership for Education Advancement (Ed Advancement) and is made possible by philanthropic support from Blue Meridian Partners as part of its HBCU Transformation Project, a landmark initiative that seeks to improve student outcomes and increase the health and sustainability of HBCUs.
Over the next three years, the program will provide one-on-one success coaching services for up to 11,500 students, pairing stopped out students with a corps of professional InsideTrack success coaches who will work individually to help them navigate the barriers to returning to higher education and provide continued support to help them stay on track to graduation. In addition, the partnership will provide coaching support to more than 9,800 currently enrolled students over three years, helping them persist and stay on track to graduation.
“Despite historic underfunding and an array of systemic barriers, HBCUs have a remarkable track record of creating pathways to socioeconomic mobility for students of color and first-generation students,” saidJames Runcie, CEO and Co-Founder of the Partnership for Education Advancement. “Scaling the impact of HBCUs requires equipping them with individual supports and services that build on the strengths of the schools, that are financially sustainable, and that improve the student journey to successful outcomes. Individualized coaching will support HBCUs in ensuring students can set and achieve their own goals, and capacity building will allow this work to continue into the future.”
The partnership with Ed Advancement and TMCF builds on InsideTrack’s long-standing work to bring its evidence-based coaching model to support HBCU institutions and students over the past decade.
Beginning in the second year of the engagement, InsideTrack and Ed Advancement will work across the 16 Thurgood Marshall College Fund member colleges to build a coaching corps of 80 professionally trained student success coaches, 50 certified program leaders—and another 21 observers and 35 trainers qualified to certify and train new coaches, with participating HBCUs beginning to operate the coaching programs independently in year four.
“As a proud HBCU alumna and daughter of an HBCU educator, I have been the beneficiary of the rich educational experiences, campus community and lifelong connections afforded by the Historically Black college experience,” said Malika Clinkscales, associate vice president for partner success at InsideTrack. “Ultimately, our vision for this work is to build an HBCU community of practice that will bring innovations in student support and success coaching to thousands of students of color nationwide.”
Method Man & Redman to Headline Star-Studded Heineken® House Lineup at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Heineken® is returning to Coachella with an unforgettable lineup featuring iconic hip-hop artists and an eclectic mix of genre-adjacent acts on the Heineken House stage. Method Man & Redman, DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak), SG Lewis, NGHTMRE and Austin Millz will be among the most anticipated sets in a loaded schedule showcasing talent that, in the true Coachella spirit, embraces a wide variety of artists and music.
As an added mic drop, a new star will make its debut at this year’s event. Festivalgoers will be among the first in the country to taste NEW Heineken Silver, a crisp and refreshing, lower-carb, lower-cal beer hitting shelves nationwide as part of Heineken’s lineup. The perfect choice for sipping at concerts or any social occasion, Heineken Silver is brewed to create full-bodied flavor without a bitter finish and is 4% alcohol by volume (ABV) with 3.2g of carbs and 95 calories in a 12-oz serving.
Two weekends of high-energy performances will make Heineken House a must-see experience for music lovers.
Weekend One:
Friday, April 14: Walker & Royce, Felix Da Housecat, Hannah Wants, Lee Wells and Bones Saturday, April 15: Method Man & Redman, Austin Millz, DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak), Andre Power and SWEET LIKE CHOCOLATE Sunday, April 16: NGHTMRE, LondonBridge, WHIPPED CREAM, NIIKO x SWAE and Tony H
Weekend Two:
Friday, April 21: Chris Stussy, Emmit Fenn, Francis Mercier, HoneyLuv and Antoinette Van Dewark Saturday, April 22: SG Lewis, Franc Moody, TEED, Coco & Breezy and Zen Freeman Sunday, April 23: Snakehips, Fleetmac Wood, Bontan, Black V Neck and Max Styler
“Heineken House will have something for everyone with an exciting collection of artists who have shaped music and culture taking center stage,” said Christine Karimi, Director, Partnerships and Consumer Experience at HEINEKEN USA. “It’s the perfect backdrop for serving up a first sip of Heineken Silver to fans enjoying some of the best beats Coachella has to offer.”
The one-of-a-kind Heineken House will be a show-stopping destination where attendees can have their main character moment on the dance floor, at the beer garden or by interacting with a variety of highly visual artistic installations. In addition to Heineken Silver, the Heineken House beer garden will offer Heineken Original, alcohol-free Heineken 0.0, Dos Equis Lager, Dos Equis Lime and Salt and Dos Equis Ranch Water Hard Seltzer.
Festivalgoers are invited to visit Heineken House April 14-16 and 21-23, 2023. To experience the 2023 Coachella festival highlights with Heineken, follow @Heineken_US on Twitter or Instagram, follow @HeinekenUSA on Facebook or use the hashtag #HeinekenHouse.
Not Again: Donald Glover Accused of Hating Black Women After Comparing ‘Swarm’ Character to ‘Animal’
Donald Glover’s “Swarm” has the multifaceted entertainer facing a new era of claims about how much he allegedly “hates Black women.”
The Atlanta creator is back in the spotlight amid the release of his new Amazon Prime dark comedy Swarm. The series tells the story of a Black female superfan who embarks on a disturbingly violent adventure for the love of her favorite pop artist.
Actress Dominique Fishback stars as the lead character Dre, the obsessed Houston-based fanatic of R&B star Ni’jah. Glover recently opened up to Vulture about keeping Fishback in the dark regarding Dre’s backstory.
“I kept telling her, ‘you’re not regular people. You don’t have to find the humanity in your character. That’s the audience’s job,” he explained.
Glover noted Fishback’s struggles during filming due to not knowing where to take her character.
“She really was lost a lot of the time,” Glover said before sharing his advice for Fishback “to think of it more like an animal and less like a person.”
Glover continued: “It reminds me of how I have a fear of dogs because I’m like, ‘you’re not looking at me in the eye, I don’t know what you’re capable of.’”
The Community star, who also raps under the moniker Childish Gambino, came under fire on social media after writer Alex Jung highlighted Glover’s comments on Twitter.
“oh he’s not beating the allegations,” Jung tweeted along with a link to the article.
“Dude just hates black women so much Lmfao,” one user wrote in response.
“HE SAID THE QUIET PART OUTLOUD lol I hope folks are paying attention,” added someone else.
It’s not the first time Glover has been accused of offering a skewed portrayal of Black women. The Emmy Award winner faced the allegation so much that he vaguely addressed them in an eccentric interview he conducted with himself for Interview Magazine in April 2022.
“Are you afraid of Black women?” he asked himself.
“Why are you asking me that?” Glover told himself in response.
“I feel like your relationship to them has played a big part in your narrative,” Glover’s fictional interview version of himself asked.
“I feel like you’re using Black women to question my Blackness,” he responded.
Glover faced criticism at the time for not exactly addressing the allegations. Now, his latest comments on his Black women-led psycho-thriller have seemingly heightened the speculation.
