• Celebrity News

by Wendy Medina

April 2, 2022

Kanye West Reveals He’s ‘Going Away To Get Help’ After Erratic Instagram Rants

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According to Page Six, Kanye West has shared with Kim Kardashian that “he’s going away to get help” following his months-long harassment on Instagram of the reality star and her boyfriend Pete Davidson. 

Ye’s erratic behavior online not only caused the social media platform to suspend his account for 24 hours, but the Grammys also decided to pull his performance following his use of a racial slur when addressing The Daily Show host, Trevor Noah, for calling out his abusive behavior towards Kardashian. Noah, however, even came to West’s defense, saying, “I said counsel Kanye not cancel Kanye.” 

Per Kardashian family insiders, Ye has now agreed to stop tormenting the beauty mogul and Davidson. 

“For the sake of the kids, Kanye has told Kim he’s not making any public appearances or inflammatory social media statements, and he will go away somewhere to get better,” revealed a source close to the Kardashians.

Although it’s not clear whether West will travel to a treatment facility or stay in California, a rep for the rapper told the outlet, “At this time, Ye is committed to a healthy co-parenting relationship with Kim and is focused on raising their beautiful children.”

The months-long harassment reached an all-time high following West’s claims that 8-year-old North was on TikTok against his will, amid other concerning aggression, causing Kardashian to publicly drag the Donda rapper for being “[obsessed] with trying to control and manipulate” the narrative of their ongoing divorce.

While Davidson remained silent about the whole ordeal, including West’s release of his Eazy claymation music video in which Davidson is depicted as being kidnapped and decapitated, the SNL star exchanged a few words with Ye after Kardashian’s newly single status last month, in which he expressed concern for his mental health.

Kardashian announced on Friday that she will rebrand her KKW Fragrance line and website after dropping West from her last name.

It’s been 13 years since the release of Precious, and since its director Lee Daniels and Oscar-winner Mo’Nique have spoken. It appears as though now things are water under the bridge after Mo’Nique has landed a role set to replace Octavia Spencer in Daniels’ upcoming Netflix film Demon House.

In a public apology during the set of Mo’Nique and Friends: April Fools Day with The Queen of Comedy event at St. George Theatre on Staten Island, Daniels joined the comic on stage to express his regret for the decade-long quarrel.

“I am so sorry for hurting you in any way that I did,” Daniels said to Mo’Nique, who appeared to get emotional. “Y’all, and she was my best friend — my bestfriend. Y’all think that Precious was just… That was God working, through both of us. And we’re gonna f—— do it again!” he exclaimed.

The two then did a little dance before a fond embrace and expressing to each other that they love each other.

So went to see #monique & she brought out #leedaniels 😧 #NoAprilFools pic.twitter.com/HOt7Hf90gD

— Sade Salami (@sadesalami) April 2, 2022

The pair held on to a grudge that was sparked over accusations that Daniels, and Precious executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry blackballed the Phat Girlz star following the release of the film, according to Deadline. 

Mo’Nique will now join the cast of Andra Day, Glenn Close and Aunjanue Ellis, as the star in Daniels’ Demon House, following Spencer’s departure due to a scheduling conflict with her Apple TV+ show Truth Be Told.

Production for the high-profile Netflix movie is set to begin in June in Philadelphia, with Daniels, Tucker Tooley and Pam Williams attached as producers. 

Demon House follows the 2011 haunting of the Ammons family in Gary, Indiana, where Latoya Ammons and her three children were allegedly tormented and possessed by demons in a series of bizarre events that grew progressively worse, per USA Today. Gary police, the Department of Child Services and the local hospital and church all witnessed and corroborated the Ammons family story, while public opinion remained skeptical.  

The $65 million film will frame the real-life haunting as inspiration for the fictional thriller, speculated to be released by the streaming giant in the first half of 2023.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 2, 2022

Former Cracker Barrel Employee Reveals ‘Code Word’ For Black People

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A former employee at a Cracker Barrel in Arizona took to social media to reveal that the restaurant she worked at used a code word amongst coworkers when referring to Black customers.

A user by the name of @cinnamnhoney posted on her Tik Tok account last week that there is a code word being used by white people to speak about Black people without being obvious about it. In the viral clip, she wrote, “a waitress used to complain SO MUCH if i sat “canadians” in her section & i was so confused bc i thought canadians were stereotyped as nice”

As the short video clip continues to play, it reveals that “canadian” was code word for black people.

@cinnamnhoneya waitress used to complain SO MUCH if i sat “canadians” in her section & i was so confused bc i thought canadians were stereotyped as nice♬ original sound – kooze

According to Newsweek, Cracker Barrel released a written statement after getting wind of the Tik Tok entry. They stated that they were unaware of the video and that they “will be looking into the matter further.”

“We only recently learned about this video and have not had a chance to identify or speak with the relevant individuals. Obviously, racism has no place at Cracker Barrel and any actions like the ones described in the video would be against our policies, beliefs, and who we are as a company,” a Cracker Barrel spokesperson said.

Allegedly, this is not a new thing and has been used in this form for some time.

In 2008, an internal memo from the then-assistant district attorney Mike Trent of Harris County, Texas stated that Black jurors were seemingly referred to as “Canadians,” according to The Guardian. That memo was written in 2003 and emerged five years later as Trent praises a prosecutor in a particular case.

Comedian Tony Rock has always stepped in as his older brother Chris Rock‘s unofficial spokesperson whenever his famous sibling is caught in the crosshairs of controversy.

In 2016, when actress Jada Pinkett Smith called for a boycott of the Oscars, Chris Rock was tapped to emcee the ceremony. Rock was under pressure from the Black community and some members of Black Hollywood to pull out from his hosting duties but decided to go forward with the job because, in Tony’s words, “there’s a big a– check involved,” according to TMZ.

Fast forward to 2022, Chris Rock has found himself again in the middle of another Oscar dispute involving Will Smith and his wife, Jada. In 2016, Rock cracked the joke that Jada’s boycott of the Academy Awards was futile because she wasn’t invited.

On Sunday, March 27, 2022, Rock quipped about Jada’s hairstyle, saying he is looking forward to seeing G.I. Jane 2, a military drama released in 1997, starring a shaved head Demi Moore.

The joke landed, but Will Smith took offense because Jada lives with alopecia and marched towards the stage, delivering a swift slap to Rock’s face.

While Chris Rock has not spoken about the ordeal publicly and said that “he’s still processing what happened.” He told a crowd who showed up for his comedy set for his Ego Death tour, stopping at The Wilbur in Boston, that he would discuss the situation “in a more serious manner,” according to People.

However, his younger brother Tony did not wait to address the altercation and took to the stage on Friday evening, April 1, in Raleigh, North Carolina, and went straight for the jugular.

He appeared on stage with Tupac’s track “Ambitonz Az A Fighta” playing in the background and shouted to the crowd, “Oh, we on Pac for the rest of the year,” which the group affirmed.

Tony’s song selection is another dig at Smith, who admitted that he was jealous of the deceased rapper due to his wife’s close relationship with the “California Love” artist, as he said two years ago on The Breakfast Club.

Tony gave a stern warning to attendees that if anyone takes issues with any joke and tries to bum rush him on stage, he will meet that person with an immediate beatdown.

“And if you walk your ass up here, you ain’t nominated for shit but these muthaf*ckin hands,” said the comedian.

He continued and instantly spoke of Smith hitting his brother.

“You gonna hit my muthaf*ckin brotha cause yo bitch gave you a side-eye?” he rhetorically asked of the disgraced Oscar winner.

Watch the complete NSFW video below.

A federal judge in Florida has ruled to block parts of Florida’s voting limits due to its unconstitutional nature that seemingly works to “discriminate against Black voters.”

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a 288-page ruling calling out certain limits within Florida’s controversial voting law saying the restrictions violated the Voting Rights Act and constitutional protections, The Hill reports.

The parts of the law that were raised in the ruling pertained to the restrictions Florida attempted to place on reducing the use of ballot drop boxes, making it more difficult for third-party organizations to collect voter registration forms, and banning groups from offering food, water and aid to voters waiting in line to cast their ballots.

“At some point, when the Florida Legislature passes law after law disproportionately burdening Black voters, this Court can no longer accept that the effect is incidental,” Walker wrote.

“Based on the indisputable pattern set out above, this Court finds that, in the past 20 years, Florida has repeatedly sought to make voting tougher for Black voters because of their propensity to favor Democratic candidates.”

Walker ruled that parts of Senate Bill 90 mimicked two decades of discriminatory voting laws from the Florida legislature that were aimed at strengthening Republican power, Reuters reports.

“For the past 20 years, the majority in the Florida Legislature has attacked the voting rights of its Black constituents,” Walker wrote.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law last year, the expected 2024 presidential hopeful was among a group of GOP leaders who implemented controversial voter restrictions following the turnout of the 2020 election.

Walker was appointed by former President Barack Obama. His ruling is expected to be appealed to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, known for being a more conservative court.

The decision helped to resolve four different lawsuits filed by civil rights and voting rights groups over claims of voter suppression.

The daughters of Motown icon singer and actress Diana Ross celebrated her 78th birthday wearing clever custom T-shirts, People reports. 

Tracee Ellis Ross, 49, and her sisters Rhonda Ross Kendrick and Chudney Ross modeled shirts that read “Straight Outta Diana Ross,” alluding to the phrase and typography of the N.W.A’s culture-shifting album “Straight Outta Compton” and the subsequent biopic in 2015, according to People.

The “black-ish” star posted a series of pictures on her Instagram grid showing her goofing off with her siblings with a caption that read, “Not sure what’s funnier: the t-shirts @therhondaross made for my mom’s birthday or the photos oh how I love my family.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross)

On her mother’s birthday, which was March 26, Tracee uploaded a carousel of Diana’s old photos and wrote, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY GLORIOUS, WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL and SWEET MAMA.” 

Diana commemorated another year around the sun with family and showed her endless love for the birthday well wishes, “I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life for there are so many. I am very proud and happy, I have so much to be grateful for. Thank you ALL for your birthday wishes, my heart is filled with joy and so much loves,” she wrote on her Twitter.

I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life for there are so many. I am very proud and happy, I have so much to be grateful for. Thank you ALL for your birthday wishes, my heart is filled with joy and so much love. pic.twitter.com/W0baEKrHg7

— Ms. Ross (@DianaRoss) March 27, 2022

Rhonda, 50, explained on her Instagram how the family photos happened. While they were comical, the images resulted from a series of blunders that transpired at the photoshoot, E! Online reports.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rhonda Ross (@therhondaross)

“My sisters and I decided to do a photoshoot, you know, because we’re straight outta Diana Ross,” she laughed. “It was hilarious… We tried to pose, it was not working. I stepped on Tracee’s foot. It was a rough shoot, but enjoy the pics.” 

Fans can purchase the T-shirts on Rhonda’s website, as well as other apparel and merchandise.  

While many people may wish they were the child of Diana Ross, Rhonda said if her mother ever moved fans, then they are a special part of her legacy, according to People.

“Have you been inspired by our mother’s music, her career, her elegance, her straight up fabulousness? Then you, too, are ‘Straight Outta Diana Ross’!!” wrote Rhonda promoting the garb. “Get one before they’re gone!”

Along with Tracee, Rhonda, and Chudney, Diana is the mother of Evan Ross and Ross Naess and the grandmother to eight grandchildren, People reports. 

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 2, 2022

Former South African Student Sentenced to Five Years For Spending Money Erroneously Credited to Bank Account

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A woman in South Africa has been sentenced to five years in jail after a bank mistakenly credited her account with approximately $1 million (in US Dollars).

According to Face 2 Face Africa, South African student, Sibongile Mani was sentenced to spend five years in prison after she spent money from about $1 million that was credited to her bank account when she was supposed to be credited $100 in monthly food allowance almost 5 years ago. On June 1, 2017, Mani, at the time, was a student at South Africa’s Walter Sisulu University (WSU). She erroneously received a payment of about $1 million for her monthly food allowance.

Typically, students received a monthly allocation of $100. In an apparent error, Mani was credited with a payment of $1 million. It was revealed that she was overpaid from the account of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). The NSFAS gives out loans to students who are expected to repay them after they graduate. The mistake wasn’t found until August 2017.

When Mani received the money, instead of reporting the blunder, she started spending the money. She purportedly spent the money on luxury items, weaves, and mobile phones within two hours of getting the funds. When her account was blocked, she had allegedly already used almost $70,000 in 48 different places across the country.

On Wednesday, March 30, 2022, she was found guilty of theft and jailed for five years. East London Regional Magistrate Twanette, said that Mani’s spending was inspired by “greed not need. The only sentence that is appropriate is direct imprisonment.”

Although she spent money that was not rightfully hers, many South Africans feel the five-year sentence is harsh. The South African Union of Students believes that the people who transferred the funds into Mani’s account should also be held liable.

“The seems to be scapegoating and hiding from the broader corruption and criminal syndicate that exists, particularly around students and funding,” the student union’s president Asive Dlangwa said.

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 2, 2022

Black Tesla Employees Claim They Had To ‘Move To The Back’ When the CEO Was Coming, ‘They Didn’t Want A Black Face Up There’

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A new report highlights the disturbing racist and discriminatory treatment Black employees were allegedly subjected to at Tesla’s flagship California plant.

The report shares accounts from three former workers included in a class-action lawsuit against Tesla filed by California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) in February, LA Times reports. A single mother, an Army veteran, and a former refinery worker described being fired after complaining about the rampant racism and harassment on display at Tesla’s Fremont, Calif., factory.

The former plant workers recalled instances where Black workers were called the N-word on the assembly line, forced to work in a segregated area of the factory called “the plantation”, and even being terminated after being called “monkeys” by a manager.

Monica Chatman, Kimberly Romby, and Nigel Jones detailed accounts of being tormented at work in the form of racial slurs in English and Spanish, homophobic harassment, being overworked and underpaid, as well as forced into the hardest jobs without little to no promotion.

“There was a time where I worked three months straight — no days off,” Chatman said.

After bringing their concerns to the company, the workers say they were either fired or ignored.

Tesla is “modern-day slavery,” Chatman said. “And we are the crabs in the barrel.”

She shared accounts of Latino and white workers casually using the N-word with their supervisors.

“You would hear n— this and n— that,” she recalled. ”It was the norm. It was Tesla’s tradition.”

While Chatman didn’t hear Asian workers use the N-word, she said they “would make chicken jokes,” instead.

Chatman’s attorney Lawrence Organ, claims that Tesla is attempting to use the “same tactic” it used to counter separate complaints made by Black workers, including one where a Black elevator operator was awarded $137 million after the company ignored racial taunts and offensive graffiti.

“Instead of attacking the victims of racism at their facility, Tesla should focus on taking remedial actions designed to end the racist conduct,” Organ said.

Another shocking claim from a number of Black employees reports that they were allegedly “moved to the back of the plant” when Elon Musk, Tesla CEO would visit the facility. It was reportedly done because “they didn’t want a Black face up there.”

Tesla has denied the former employees’ accounts, claiming the former staffers never complained about racism and they were fired as a result of their own workplace behavior.

“Race plays no role in any of Tesla’s work assignments, promotions, pay or discipline,” attorneys for Tesla said in a statement. “Tesla prohibits discrimination, in any form.”

• News

by Atiya Jordan

April 2, 2022

Oprah Winfrey Named 2022 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion

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Celebrated media mogul and cultural tastemaker, Oprah Winfrey, is getting the recognition she deserves for paying it forward to creatives, authors and the world of literature.

The literary champion has now been selected as the 2022 PEN/Faulkner Literary Champion to commend a “lifetime of devoted literary advocacy and a commitment to inspiring new generations of readers and writers,” according to a press release statement.

“Oprah Winfrey is a literary force field,”  said PEN/Faulkner Board Vice President Mary Haft. “She has been like a lighthouse, standing sentry and shining a beacon of light onto literature and into the lives of writers and readers.”

On Sept.17, 2021, Oprah’s Book Club, founded in 1996, celebrated 25 years. With over 90 selections, the acclaimed book club has committed to uplifting emerging and renowned literary voices to a worldwide audience of readers.

“From the time I was a little girl, books have guided me,” Winfrey wrote on Instagram to mark the 25-year milestone. “They’ve helped me see and understand the world and myself. I owe a debt of gratitude to all the brilliant authors over the decades who have led me to conclude: There is no best life without books.”

Over time, Winfrey’s influence has transcended the selling and buying of books. Her book engagement and opinions generated mega book sales and stock prices for dozens of authors, according to ABC News.

For instance, the talk show host gave the nod to four of Toni Morrison’s books —more than any other writer over the lifetime of the Oprah’s Book Club.

Winfrey’s approval and turns in the spotlight gave Morrison a far bigger sales boost. Morrison’s Nobel Prize win coupled with her reader engagement helped to boost her into mainstream popularity among black and white audiences alike. In recognition of her ongoing work, Winfrey received an honorary National Book Award in 1999.

In addition to the champion award, PEN/Faulkner is otherwise known for the annual fiction prize it has awarded since 1981. Winfrey will accept her award, along with this year’s PEN/Faulkner Award winner and finalists, in a virtual celebration to be held on May 2, 2022.

Cardi B isn’t the only one paving lanes from the Bronx to Hollywood. Meet Mugzy Mcfly, the designer behind Signed by McFly, a fashion label that was hand-selected by the Recording Academy to participate in the 2022 Grammy Awards.

“I”m so excited to be back, this is my second year doing the GRAMMYS gift bag,” Mugzy told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“Last year was virtual so I did gift cards, this year I’m back with a one size fits all Trucker Hat.”

McFly creates genderless streetwear ranging in everything from sneakers and jackets to swimwear, athleisure, and more. Born and raised in the fashion capital of the world, New York City, Mugzy grew up with a deep appreciation and a keen eye for fashion.

The Bronx native made his inception as a fashion designer at the young age of thirteen when he began hand-making apparel to match his favorite sneakers. After graduating from St. Johns University with a degree in accounting, Mugzy used his knack for numbers to set himself up for success as an emerging entrepreneur and businessman.

In 2013, Signed by McFly was born. What initially began as a graphic T-shirt line evolved into an innovative genderless line for all that’s deeply grounded in Mugzy’s original vision.

Mugzy launched the brand from the ground up, managing all sides of the business himself with no outside investors or financial backing. Running everything from finances, production, and event planning, to graphic and fashion design, the experience inspired the company’s motto, “More Dreams, Less Sleep”.

With a naturally dope aesthetic, stars have naturally flocked to Mugzy’s designs giving the young creator free advertising along the way.

“I’ve been blessed to have some very fashionable celebs rock my creations,” Mugzy said. “I’ve had a few like Young Thug, Jim Jones & Bernice Burgos.”

“I like to have authentic relationships, I never pay for anyone to wear my clothing.”

For those looking to stay on trend this Spring season, Mugzy offered some insight.

“Earth tones, LOUD & Bright colors will dominate. Nudes & Greens for the earth tones,” he said, noting that “Yellow and Oranges will add spice to wardrobes this spring.”

As we hopefully come out of the pandemic, casual attire is still in style.

“Keep it COZY. First real summer out of COVID (fingers-crossed) but we will keep some habits,” Mugzy said.

“Number one.. stay comfortable. Easy, functional & fashionable clothing will reign supreme.”

“Texture & fabric fusions. Even if you keep it simple, it’s all in the details,” he added. “Mix the heavy cottons, with the velour & corduroy.”