One of the largest Black-owned hair-care brands in the U.S. and available in the country’s largest big-box retailers and drugstores, Kaleidoscope Hair Products, has launched its game-changing KALEIDOSCOPE X DA BRAT Styling Collection. This revolutionary product line is designed to provide maximum benefits for those who love and embrace protective styles.

Grammy-nominated rapper and actress Da Brat collaborated with her wife and natural hair care mogul Jesseca “Judy” Dupart to create the KALEIDOSCOPE X DA BRAT Styling Collection, offering six innovative products designed to maintain the health of hair and scalp while achieving maximum style benefits. The collection features ingredients such as coconut oil, ginger, and Manuka honey that soothe and nourish the scalp while promoting hair growth.

The KALEIDOSCOPE X DA BRAT Styling Collection has already taken the beauty industry by storm, selling out within an astonishing six minutes of its online release.

We are passionate about bringing our innovative and effective products to everyone who loves protective styles and desires healthy hair. This collection is not just a hair product line, but a representation of our shared commitment to the protective styling community,” said Da Brat.

The KALEIDOSCOPE X DA BRAT Styling Collection includes six amazing products, each with a unique set of benefits that are perfect for use on braids, twists, wigs, weaves, locs, and ponytails.

The products are available for individual purchase (15.99 each) or as part of bundle deals.

• The Platinum Shine Spray- Imparts a silky luminous shine, conditions hair and scalp, eliminates frizz, and controls flyaway strands.
• The Unrestricted Braid & Loc Butter – Imparts the perfect balance of moisture to hair and scalp, nourishes and soothes the scalp.
• The Whatchu’Like Apple Cider Vinegar Cleansing Rinse – Deeply cleanses without stripping, reduces friction, reduces time to detangle, soothes, moisturizes and refreshes the scalp.
• The Yo Fav Wrapper Mousse – Is great for finishing braids, twists, and other protective styles. It can also be used as a wrap or setting foam.
• The So So Slick Braid & Grip Gel – Helps hold braids and twists for longer protective styles and clean parts. It adds healthy-looking shine, smooths edges and ponytails.
• The Funkdafied Soothing Braid & Scalp Spray – Instantly nourishes hair and scalp, helps strengthen and soften hair, relieves tension, boosts shine, and revitalizes dry, dull hair.

“The KALEIDOSCOPE X DA BRAT Styling Collection is not just a hair product line, but a movement. It’s for all of us who are passionate about our protective styles and care deeply about the health of our hair and scalp. We’re thrilled to bring these innovative products to our customers, offering maximum benefits that will change the game for the protective styling community,” said Jesseca “Judy” Dupart, founder of Kaleidoscope Hair Products.

To get your hands on this innovative collection, visit https://iluvcolors.com or head to select Walmart, CVS, Sally Beauty and Meijer stores.

The United States has made progressive steps toward change once again.

Three Black women recently made history, leading The White House press briefing on March 10.

According to The White House, the press briefing was led by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, OMB Director Shalanda Young, and CEA Chair Cecilia Rouse.

At the White House briefing today, three women of color who are each the first in their respective positions. ⁦@PressSec⁩ ⁦⁦@CeciliaERouse⁩ ⁦@ShalandaYoung46⁩ pic.twitter.com/9pEisOLMJ2

— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) March 10, 2023

“I do want to take a moment to note the historic nature of the moment that you see in front of you right now,” Jean-Pierre said at the briefing. “All three of us are historic firsts in our roles: the first Black women to serve as CEA Chair, OMB Director, White House Press Secretary. The first Black women, right in front of you, for all of those three important, important key roles in the administration.”

Reportedly, all of the women have been in the briefing room before, both leading their teams for around two years.

During the briefing, the women addressed different topics, including President Joe Biden‘s budget to lower family costs, which Young explained is built around four key values and contrasts with congressional Republicans. Rouse also spent time talking about the president’s fiscal year 2024 budget and the new jobs data, before Jean-Pierre opened up the floor for questions.

Young, who is director of the United States Office of Management and Budget, discussed with CNN what it was like being in the room for the occasion and why that representation was significant.

“The three of us,” she began, “I look at what this means for the next generation, that they will not be first, if they want to pursue these jobs or any other, and that’s the goal,” she said, ” to make sure we leave this country in a better place than we found it [and] make sure all of our children, no matter where they’re from, including a small town in Louisiana, can reach whatever their dreams are.”

Young shared that both Jean-Pierre and Rouse are really good friends of hers, and they are all mothers to daughters.

“Representation matters, but more, I think as mothers it matters for what we leave behind for our children.”

• News

by Sidnee Michelle Douyon

March 14, 2023

Hate Crimes in US Surged 11.6% in 2021, Fueled by Racial, Ethnic Bias

---

Hate crimes in the United States surged 11.6% in 2021, with the largest number motivated by bias against Black people, followed by crimes targeting victims for ethnicity, sexuality and religion, the FBI said in a report released on Monday.

The FBI said reported hate crime incidents rose to 9,065 in 2021 from 8,120 in 2020.

The bureau said 64.5% of hate crime victims in 2021 were targeted because of their race, ethnicity or ancestry bias, while 15.9% were targeted because of sexual-orientation and 14.1% due to religion.

The largest number, some 2,233 incidents, were motivated by anti-African American bias, the report found.

Of the religion-based hate crimes in 2021 cited in the report, a little more than half targeted Jewish people.

Some 948 of the reported crimes were motivated by anti-white bias, while there were 543 incidents targeting gay males and another 415 incidents involving members of the broader LGBTQ community.

Bias against Hispanics totaled 433 incidents, while the FBI reported 305 such incidents targeting Asians.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has made enforcement against hate crimes a top priority for the Justice Department.

In 2021, he expanded funding and other resources to states and municipalities to help track and investigate hate crimes, and ordered prosecutors to step up both criminal and civil investigations into such incidents.

“We are continuing to work with state and local law enforcement agencies across the country to increase the reporting of hate crime statistics to the FBI,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, the No. 3 official at the department.

“Hate crimes and the devastation they cause communities have no place in this country. The Justice Department is committed to every tool and resource at our disposal to combat bias-motivated violence in all its forms,” Gupta said.

The FBI’s new analysis marks the first time the bureau has been able to confidently report national hate crimes trends since it transitioned to a new data collection system.

Uniform crime data released by the FBI in October 2022 contained gaps, with only 52% of U.S. law enforcement agencies reporting a full 12 months of 2021 information.

For its supplemental report, FBI officials said they were able to retroactively include crime data from some of the country’s largest cities that had not yet made the switch to the new reporting format.

The nation’s two largest cities – New York and Los Angeles – are now included in the hate crimes analysis reported on Monday, while Chicago was able to provide two quarters worth of data for the report.

FBI officials said they typically track the 130 most populous cities across 16 states to identify statistically significant trends. Of those, 96 cities were able to provide data for the new report.

Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), said the report confirms that hate crimes reached “record high levels” in 2021.

The group, which collects its own criminal and non-criminal data on acts of hate against Jewish people, counted a total of 2,717 antisemitic incidents in 2021 – the highest figure since the ADL began tracking such data in 1979.

“With antisemitic incidents up across the board in nearly every category we track,” said Greenblatt, “a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach will be needed to address these extremely disturbing trends.”

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 14, 2023

Innocent Brooklyn Man Released from Prison After 18 Years, District Attorney States Conviction Was ‘Fundamentally Unfair’

---

An error that has affected the life of an innocent man has finally been corrected, 18 years later.

The Brooklyn District Attorney of New York City announced that Sheldon Thomas, who has been in prison for over 18 years after being convicted of a murder he did not commit, has been freed and his conviction vacated. It was discovered that the conviction of Thomas was “fundamentally unfair,” according to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, after a thorough investigation completed by his Conviction Review Unit (CRU).

This is a prime example of why Brooklyn’s nationally recognized Conviction Review Unit exists. To ensure fairness and integrity in every case, we must reckon with and be transparent about past miscarriages of justice so that we can avoid them in the future. pic.twitter.com/rZafZnIBuJ

— DA Eric Gonzalez (@BrooklynDA) March 12, 2023

“We must strive to ensure fairness and integrity in every case and have the courage to correct mistakes of the past. That is what we are doing in this case, where an extensive reinvestigation by my Conviction Review Unit revealed it was compromised from the very start by grave errors and lack of probable cause to arrest Mr. Thomas. He was further deprived of his due process rights when the prosecution proceeded even after the erroneous identification came to light, making his conviction fundamentally unfair. I am determined to continue doing this critical work whenever we discover a questionable conviction in Brooklyn” said Gonzalez in a written statement.

CBS News reported that last Thursday, Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic vacated his murder conviction. In the courtroom, Thomas told the judge that he forgives the people responsible for placing him in jail.

“I forgive them. Just like I’ve made mistakes in my life and people have forgiven me and people have shown mercy on me, I will do the same,” he stated.

Thomas was arrested based on a witness looking at a photo of a different Sheldon Thomas. Although police officers knew it was the wrong picture, they proceeded to cover that fact up in order to close the case and obtain a conviction. Full details of the case can be viewed here.

The District Attorney in that case said that three people who were alleged gang members, including Thomas, had been charged with killing 14-year-old Anderson Bercy and wounding another person on December 24, 2004. A witness gave a positive identification for the other two, who were purportedly in a white car when the shooting occurred. That witness did not identify Thomas as being in the car.

Although Detective Robert Reedy admitted to falsely testifying that Thomas’ actual picture was not in the photo array, a judge still found there was probable cause to arrest Thomas based on “verified information from unknown callers.”

The District Attorney’s Office, before the trial started, dismissed the charges against one of the three suspects. That was based on the same witness failing to identify that suspect in a double-blind lineup, and prosecutors saying they thought he had a credible alibi. Thomas had to go to trial with a codefendant, who allegedly threatened the victims two days before the shooting took place. He was actually acquitted, while Thomas was convicted of second-degree murder, attempted murder, and related counts, and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Once you hit the workplace, playing the corporate game will often become one of the only survival mechanisms.

In just an hour, four Black women executives who climbed the corporate ladder their way came ready at the BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit with gems that turned pressure into diamonds.

During the powerful session, “Climb The Ladder Your Way,” a glowing panel of excellence activated an urgency within guests to get to the next level, title, or promotion. The room was fully tapped into the strategies that proved that career advancement in the corporate world is attainable.

The corporate game, or office politics, is similar to the rules of the Snakes and Ladders game, where certain moves lead to promotions and progress, and those who cannot play the game are overlooked or relegated to the sidelines. The panel strived to spread awareness that choosing not to play the game (or being ignorant of its existence) can hinder us.

Learn how to win the corporate game

“If you choose to play the game in your organization, you have to learn how to win,” said Francine Parham, Founder & CEO of FrancineParham & Co., to an empowered room. The accomplished global business professional and practitioner is no stranger to career mobility. Her company equips women with the tools and solutions to advance female talent and fuel the leadership pipeline. For Parham, the work continues.

Michelle Marshall, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion of PUMA, echoed Parham’s remark by challenging the room to understand that there is no single approach to career advancement. Marshall courageously shared her journey about her game-changing pivot when she realized that building connections and skill sets were to her advantage in a corporate game often stacked against Black women.

“When you’re playing the game, it’s not giving up your authentic self,” Marshall said. “You have to think about the big picture and the end goal that you’re trying to accomplish.”

The Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at UnitedHealth Group, Monique McWilliams, also spoke about authenticity, and with passion, she encouraged guests to not “let anyone define your story” on the path to success.

“Don’t give up who you are to be someone else. Come as authentic as you are and people will appreciate that,” McWilliams said.

For a young lawyer turned advocate, McWilliams shared that law firms are way behind in DEI and leadership accountability. Coupled with her awareness of this disparity, and her passion for representation, McWilliams declared to the room that “you have to be ready to exercise your muscle.”

“Make sure you are leveraging your levels of strength.”

Climbing the ladder comes at a cost

A seasoned licensed therapist in the room posed a relevant question to the panel after opening her introduction with “climbing the ladder comes at a cost.” The room sighed as the panelists nodded in agreement.

For multicultural and inclusive media executive Arnetta Whiteside, her experience with burnout revealed that she “cannot be well and help others if I’m not helping myself.” As the SVP of Multicultural Consulting, Agency & Brand Readiness at Publicis Media, Whiteside is a next-generation mentor who encompasses self-advocacy’s power as a corporate game player.

“Make sure you’re advocating for yourself and asking for the resources to help you,” Whiteside said, who emphasized the importance of being visible to your company executives or Fellow players.

 

“I got my job by playing the game.”

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 14, 2023

The National Kidney Foundation Honors Johns Hopkins’ Dr. Tanjala Purnell for Transplantation Research

---

Next month, Johns Hopkins University Associate Professor Tanjala S. Purnell, PhD, MPH, FASN will receive the National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) Excellence in Transplantation Award at the 2023 NKF Spring Clinical Meetings in Austin, TX. This award recognizes the scientist or clinician scientist whose exceptional research has contributed novel insights to improved access to kidney transplantation.

“I am truly honored to receive this tremendous award for my research to advance equity in kidney transplantation,” Dr. Purnell said. “I dedicate this award to family members I have lost due to kidney failure, and I promise to continue working to promote kidney health equity for all.”

Dr. Purnell is an epidemiologist and health services researcher with more than a decade of experience focused on promoting equity in kidney health, transplantation, and organ donation in the United States. She is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Surgery at Johns Hopkins University, where she serves as the Founding Director of The B.O.L.D. Health Equity Initiative; Director of Education for the Brancati Center for the Advancement of Community Care; and Executive Director of the Health Freedom Path to Wellness Program.

“Dr. Purnell’s research work has not only highlighted inequities in transplantation but identified modifiable factors such as referral to transplant or distance from transplant centers where there is still work to be done. She is also dedicated to the education of future scientists,” said NKF President Sylvia E. Rosas, MD, MSCE. “Achieving equity in kidney transplantation is an important initiative of the National Kidney Foundation.”

She is a member of the National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) Transplant Advisory Committee, which is a leadership council comprised of clinicians, healthcare leaders, patients, and living donors dedicated to improving processes and finding solutions to accelerate kidney donation and transplantation for anyone that needs it. In addition, Dr. Purnell is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP), and a member of the Governing Board for the Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland. She is also Co-Chair of the Education Workgroup for the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Health Care Justice Committee. Dr. Purnell is the Immediate Past Chair of the American Society for Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and was the inaugural recipient of the ASTS Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. She also served as the Region 2 Representative on the OPTN/UNOS Minority Affairs Committee.

Each year NKF considers the work of hundreds of specialists in the field of Nephrology and selects among them those who most exemplify the relentless efforts of NKF to enhance the lives of patients through action, education, and accelerating change. The prestigious awards are presented to the recipients during the annual gathering of clinicians and kidney health professionals at the 2023 NKF Spring Clinical Meetings, which will be held from April 11-15, in Austin, TX.

NKF Spring Clinical Meetings
For the past 31 years, nephrology healthcare professionals from across the country have come to NKF’s Spring Clinical Meetings to learn about the newest developments related to all aspects of nephrology practice; network with colleagues; and present their research findings. The NKF Spring Clinical Meetings are designed for meaningful change in the multidisciplinary healthcare teams’ skills, performance, and patient health outcomes. It is the only conference of its kind that focuses on translating science into practice for the entire healthcare team.

Chlöe Bailey is starring in a new cinematic musical event set in the world of Atlanta’s competitive gospel youth choir praise teams, and she and director Tina Gordon sat down with BLACK ENTERPRISE to tease what viewers can expect from the new gospel comedy film.

Praise This, staring Bailey, releases exclusively on Peacock on April 7th. The powerhouse cast, led by Music Supervisor Harvey Mason Jr., works together to blend pop hits with gospel classics to bring a modern twist to praise competitions.

From director Tina Gordon, the film follows aspiring musical superstar Sam (Chlöe Bailey), a young woman driven, at almost any cost, to break into the music business. After a move from Los Angeles to Atlanta to live with Sam’s sunny cousin, Jess (Anjelika Washington), Sam is forced to join her cousin’s struggling, underdog gospel praise team just ahead of a national championship competition.

When Sam sees an opportunity to finally make her dreams of becoming a superstar singer come true, she joins the choir and quickly learns that praise is not about glory, but gratitude. Gordon teamed up with famed director Will Packer to create the film.

“if you are not familiar with praise teams, it’s like a gospel choir, but like their edgier, more energetic, younger cousin,” Gordon told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

While Bailey is no stranger to the big screen, appearing in shows like Grown-ish, it’s the first time she’s taking the lead in a feature film. The movie shows resemblances to other gospel-based films like Sister Act 2 and The Fighting Temptations.

But Bailey said she didn’t pull from anyone else when preparing for her role – she made sure to stay true to her natural talent and true art form.

“I always find things within myself that I can bring into that role so that it feels completely authentic and not fake,” Bailey said.

“And I never want someone to look at the character and feel like it’s a made up facade or this is what we want you to see when you watch this film.”

Others in the film include Grammy nominee Tristan Mack Wilds, hip-hop sensation Quavo, Birgundi Baker, Crystal Renee Hayslett, Loren Lott, Grammy-nominated gospel stars Jekalyn Carr and Koryn Hawthorne, and comedian Drew “Druski” Desbordes.

Press play below to hear more from Tina Gordon and Chlöe Bailey about their new film.

The dynamic of workplace relationships changed drastically after the pandemic. Managing relationships without face-to-face interaction can be hard.

With more of us working hybrid or strictly from home, BLACK ENTERPRISE used this year’s Women of Power Summit to tackle the importance of “Mastering Relationships When You Work Remotely.” Moderated by our Managing Editor of Digital, Kia Smith, she spoke candidly with Yolanda DeGrange, Vice President of Strategic Relationship Management & Consulting at John Hancock; Shavonne Gordon, Global Head of Diversity for Company and Infrastructure at Morgan Stanley; and Dr. Sabrina Kizzie, Digital Media Consultant/Lecturer at Baruch College, about building and maintaining connections with staff, allies, and sponsors in a remote work world.

DeGrange made sure to remind attendees how important it is to show up work-ready to a Zoom or virtual meeting, the same way you would to an in-person meeting.

“You are the brand of the organization, so how you show up matters,” she said.

Proximity bias was also discussed, a concept where supervisors believe on-site employees work harder than their remote colleagues, just because they can physically see in-person staff doing the work. DeGrange touched on ways team members can make themselves visible in the workplace, even if working remotely.

“Be intentional In being there even when you can’t be,” she said.

Gordon spoke of the importance of producing good work that others can identify as your own, in the event proximity bias comes into play. Having a sponsor or someone in the room who can vouch for you can be vital to saving your job.

It’s why Kizzie said making connections in the workplace is a key component to success in your professional development at work. With it being the first time in history that four generations are working together in the workplace, Kizzie stressed the importance of making connections and sponsors.

The ladies shared some tips for leaders to consider in creating a productive and welcoming remote work environment: having in-person meetings, trying to manage expectations for the company, networking, and communicating your goals.

Most importantly, protect your peace and demand what you need to be successful, even if you are an introverted remote worker.

• Business

by Stacy Jackson

March 13, 2023

Sisterhood Sit-in Trolley Celebrates Black Women Businesses with Two-Hour Shopping Tour

---

Shop ’til you drop on this Philly tour.

Jeannine Cook, owner of sister bookshops Harriett’s in Fishtown and Ida’s in Collingswood, created the Sisterhood Sit-in Trolley Tour, a two-hour shopping tour that stops riders at half a dozen businesses along the Cherry Street Pier and Baltimore Avenue.

According to The Philadelhphia Inquirer, the tour is sponsored by Harriett’s and is a celebration of Black women in business.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Harrietts Bookshop (@harrietts_bookshop)

“Welcome,” tour guide Sequoia “Starfire” Starre said to 18 women participating in the tour on Saturday, March 4. “We are here to celebrate Black businesses, Black womanhood, Black sisterhood, and maybe learn about some places we’ve never been to before.”

“We want to bring more attention, resources, and camaraderie to Black women’s businesses,” said Minista Jazz, events coordinator for Harriet’s. “We want to continue to support these women’s businesses after the initial buzz fades away. We are trying to create a congregation, a church experience.”

Nyambi Royster, owner of Nyambi Naturals, a beauty and apothecary shop on the Cherry Street Pier, is one of the business women who riders can support during the tour. Her shop sells handmade soaps, body butters, and skincare.

“The tour brings shoppers who are intentional about supporting Black businesses,” Royster said. “At least 85% of the people who have come by have made purchases, and 20% to 25% of them come back for return business.”

The tour also stops at French Toast Bites, a food truck at the Cherry Street Piers; Booker’s Restaurant; Ceramic Concept, a boutique that sells handmade pottery; and Modest Transitions, a specialty store that sells naturally dyed yarn.

According to a 2021 article in the Harvard Business Review, Black women are the fastest-growing group of American entrepreneurs. Statistics showed 17% start businesses, compared to 10% of white women and 15% of white men. Although percentages are higher for launching businesses, only 3% of Black women business owners see a profitable or repeat customer base.

Cook launched the shopping tour in February 2022, and it returned this year with a new theme, Rebel Ride, inspired by Rosa Park’s historic act of defiance. The tours depart from Harriett’s Bookshop on Saturdays, until April 15. Tour organizers are looking to eventually expand to Germantown Avenue, Main Street in Manayunk, and South Street.

LaTocha Scott is under fire after her sister, Tamika Scott, made some shocking allegations on their new Bravo reality series SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B.

The drama between the Xscape group members has plagued the R&B quartet for decades. While Tocha has often been at the center of the drama, she typically has had the support of her sister Tamika.

But all that has changed on the new show. The Bravo reality series follows Xscape and SWV’s work to try and organize a multi-city tour, after seeing the success of their Verzuz battle.

The only issue is, Tocha isn’t willing to work with a group that has so much bad blood. The main person she appears to have issues with this time around is her own blood sister, Tamika.

When their mother attempted to bring her two daughters together for a family meeting, Tamika became upset and revealed the stealing she claims Tocha and her husband Rocky did behind her back. According to Tamika, Tocha and Rocky were receiving her royalty checks and cashing them into Rocky’s bank account without her knowledge.

Another preview clip of the new episode of The Queens of R&B. Where is Tamika's money at Tocha ?
My review will follow after the new episode.
link in bio #TheQueensOfRB #QueensOfRB#xscape #swv #bravo #bravotv #rhoa pic.twitter.com/uImP9kbVoo

— J. Evans (@J_EvansOfficial) March 10, 2023

To make matters worse, Tamika has resentment toward their mother for seemingly always protecting Tocha and taking her side. When Tamika made the shocking claims on the show, their mother told the camera crew to leave her house.

Is it not possible Latocha had/has no idea about her sisters money if Rocky was her manager at the time and the money was deposited in his account #TheQueensOfRB #SWVXSCAPE pic.twitter.com/gIRVy4TMaz

— Nicole (@Nprezzed) March 13, 2023

In addition to the family drama being aired out, the show also revealed Tocha’s plans to work on a solo project, without her group members’ knowledge and approval. She also appeared visibly bothered whenever she was put in a group setting with the other Xscape members.

In the wake of the show’s first two episodes, fans have been sounding off and bashing Tocha in the process. She posted a solo photo on Sunday with a caption that appeared to be in response to all the issues she’s facing with her group members.

“There are so many forces against me, but the one who is with me is much greater,” she captioned her post.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by LaTocha (@iamlatocha)

But she failed to limit her comments, and fans were quick to call out Tocha for her behavior on the show.

“Lmaooo girl just give tamika her 30k 😂,” one fan wrote.

“No one is against you but right is right and wrong is wrong you was talking about kandi on xscape still kickin it and look what you doing,” another added.

The shade only got worse over on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/SoFuckingPetty_/status/1635087991608852482?s=20

“latocha gets on my NERVES !! you had all this time in between to chase that solo career you wanted so bad. but you wait until the group is working on something to attempt your solo career AGAIN?” one user claimed.

https://twitter.com/jadaalert/status/1635082427805872128?s=20

Only two episodes in and LaTocha has already managed to become the villain. Only time will tell if the fans’ view of the group’s lead singer will change.