Remember Her? Documentary On Famed ’90s TV Psychic Miss Cleo In the Works
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 17, 2022

Remember Her? Documentary On Famed ’90s TV Psychic Miss Cleo In the Works

Millennials are set to take a trip down memory lane as famed TV hotline psychic Miss Cleo is set to be the subject of documentary, Deadline reported.

Entertainment studio XTR and production company Majority have teamed up with the film’s award-winning director, Senain Kheshgi, to tell the full story of Miss Cleo’s controversial pay-per-call tarot reading service that came crashing down following a billion-dollar fraud investigation.

Miss Cleo’s advertisements were seen on television screens across the country during the ’90s and early 2000s. The famed fortune teller posed herself as a Jamaican shaman but was actually an Los Angeles native named Youree Dell Harris.

The sometimes actress and playwright was reportedly hired to take on the role of the gifted psychic that lured people to “Call me now for ya free reading!”

“Claiming to be a shaman from Jamaica, Miss Cleo’s charisma and famous imperatives enabled the Psychic Readers Network, a pay-per-call service, to charge callers seeking answers over $1 billion for advice,” XTR said.

“But in 2002 it all came crashing down when the Federal Trade Commission accused the network and its owners of deceptive advertising, billing, and collection practices, bringing Miss Cleo’s reign as queen of clairvoyance to a dramatic end.”

While the famed psychic passed away from cancer in 2016 at the age of 53, Kheshgi has been interviewing “subjects throughout Miss Cleo’s past” for the documentary.

“Youree Harris may have been an accomplice or perhaps a victim in the Psychic Reader’s Network fraud but she also had talent and personality, which for women doesn’t always translate into access or wealth,” Kheshgi said.

“Her story is an example of how brown and Black women have historically been marginalized and exotified in society and popular culture. The enduring image of the dark, mystical woman still continues to perpetuate this stereotype.

“As a woman of color and a director who wants to explore stories from diverse perspectives, I am moved by how Youree found a way to navigate her life on her own terms.”

An official release date for the film is unknown as production continues.

IOC: Sha’Carri Richardson and Kamila Valieva’s Doping Cases ‘Very Different’
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 17, 2022

IOC: Sha’Carri Richardson and Kamila Valieva’s Doping Cases ‘Very Different’

After Sha’Carri Richardson called out the double standards she feels are taking place during the Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) explained how her doping case and Kamila Valieva’s are “very different.”

Richardson took to Twitter earlier this week to question why 15-year-old Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was cleared to continue competing in the Winter Games after she failed a pre-Olympics drug test, The New York Post reported.

The American track and field star, who was banned from competing in the Tokyo Olympics last summer after testing positive for marijuana, questioned the decision and asked for “a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mine.”

https://twitter.com/itskerrii/status/1493209274457153536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1493209274457153536%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fwinter-olympics%2Fshacarri-richardson-kamila-valieva-ioc-b2016324.html

The outspoken athlete credited race as why more leniency was given to Valieva.

“Not one BLACK athlete has been about to compete with a case going on, I don’t care what they say!!!” Richardson tweeted.

https://twitter.com/itskerrii/status/1493263290327306243

But on Wednesday, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams addressed Richardson’s “double standard” claims and explained why the two doping cases aren’t the same.

“You can’t talk about double standards in relation to Russian and American athletes, each case is individual,” Adams said, according to Yahoo Sports.

“Richardson’s positive doping test was discovered on 19 June, and the result was received before the start of the Olympics. She was suspended for a month. There is nothing in common between these two cases,” he continued.

Valieva failed a drug test in December after testing positive for a banned heart medication. However, the results weren’t revealed until last week. The teen was allowed to continue competing in the Winter Olympics and won gold for the Russian Olympic Committee.

While the medals were never awarded due to the doping case, many are upset Valieva was still allowed to compete. On Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) cited Valieva’s status as a “protected person” (a minor) in making the decision in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code to allow her to compete despite testing positive.

“This Games, which has not concluded, concerns an issue in December. She is in the center of a lot of speculation,” Adams said showing sympathy for Valieva. “It must be very tough for her.”

“We of course are in touch with the team, her welfare is the team’s first priority, and obviously we are very careful of that but there’s only so much that we can do.”

Twitter Is Here For It: Orlando Jones Plays Tyler James Williams’ Father On ‘Abbott Elementary’
by Atiya Jordan

February 17, 2022

Twitter Is Here For It: Orlando Jones Plays Tyler James Williams’ Father On ‘Abbott Elementary’

Viewers of ABC’s hit show Abbott Elementary had an idea in mind and used Twitter to ask the show’s creator, Quinta Brunson, to cast a particular actor that they thought would be the perfect fit.

The result: Twitter proved to be pretty powerful in convincing Brunson to recruit veteran actor Orlando Jones to secure the role as the father of Tyler James Williams‘ character because of their uncanny resemblance.

So, when Tuesday’s episode of Abbott Elementary revealed that Jones, an award-winning comedian, was  playing Williams’ father, Twitter went into a frenzy.

The resemblance of the two actors had been the topic of many jokes on social media. As a response, Jones made it known that he was not related to Williams, who plays a substitute teacher, by making his Twitter bio “Not the little boy from Everybody Hates Chris.”

After the episode aired, viewers were delighted that Brunson listened to how much the pair looked alike. Twitter users took to the platform with laughs, appreciation, and references to the old internet joke.

Other users appreciated the casting.

One viewer commented on Jones’ humorous reactions online about his resemblance with his  onscreen son.

It’s safe to say, viewers are here for it. Watch more of the look-alike father-son duo Tuesdays at 9 p.m. EST on ABC or Hulu.

 

Guy Johnson, Maya Angelou’s Only Son, Dies At 77
by Atiya Jordan

February 17, 2022

Guy Johnson, Maya Angelou’s Only Son, Dies At 77

Guy Johnson, the one and only son of poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, has died at age 77 in California.

News of his death was first shared on the official social media account for Maya Angelou, writing that Johnson died peacefully Wednesday morning in his Oakland home.

“Mr. GUY JOHNSON passed away peacefully at his home this morning in Oakland, California,” the announcement read. “Arrangements will be made and announced in the coming days. We ask that you respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time. Thank you for your prayers and words of comfort and strength.”

Johnson was born as Clyde Johnson in 1945, in San Francisco, California. He was a poet and author who spent most of his college years and adulthood abroad. After graduating college, he managed a bar on Spain’s Costa del Sol, ran a photo-safari service from London through Morocco and Algeria to the Spanish Sahara, and worked on the oil rigs in Kuwait. At the time of his death, he took medical leave from the local government of Oakland, where he was a manager for over two decades.

The novelist has appeared in Essence magazine and My Brother’s Keeper, an anthology of Black male poets. He has written several books, including, Save the Stratford Canal! (1983), Standing at the Scratch Line: A Novel (2001), and Echoes of a Distant Summer (2005).

His wife and two children survive him.

The news of Johnson’s passing comes after his mother, Angelou, becomes the first Black woman on a U.S. quarter. On Valentine’s Day, Johnson shared with KRON that he was instrumental in the way his mother was portrayed.

“One of the reasons I chose that image is, first off, I know how difficult it is to capture the actual essence and animus of a human being on a metal coin, and I thought that picture with the bird behind her, the wings and her arms out gave some sense of the style that she had, the grace that she had,” he said.

Rest in peace, Guy!

McCormick® Celebrates Black History Month with Soul-Cuterie Boards
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

February 17, 2022

McCormick® Celebrates Black History Month with Soul-Cuterie Boards

McCormick® brand announced they are partnering with award-winning chef, taste-maker, soul food and southern cooking expert Millie Peartree, to acknowledge the history and prominence of soul food by transforming traditional charcuterie boards into Soul-Cuterie boards for Black History Month.

This collaboration provides fans the opportunity to not only celebrate soul food recipes but dig deeper to understand their history and the innovation used to create.

Over the last decade, the popularity of charcuterie boards for all types of gatherings has risen in popularity due to the variety of sweet and savory options that are presented in beautiful arrangements. Soul food is timeless and is strongly rooted in sharing flavorful food full of spices.

The gatherings that form around sharing soul food is timeless. For generations, Black families have passed along stories and the history behind the recipes with their friends, family, and community.

With the introduction of Soul-Cuterie boards, families will be able to reimagine how they share their favorite soul food dishes, whether during an informal gathering at home or when asked to bring a potluck item for their next community event, according to a press release.

(Image: McCormick®)

“Soul food is not just food from the soul, but also comes from the heart. Growing up in the South, I’m always inspired by the down-home cooking that was passed from generation to generation,” says Chef Millie Peartree.

“Rooted in Black culture, soul food connects families and community. I love bringing this new spin to classic soul food with Soul-Cuterie, while still showcasing the origins and history of our favorite dishes.”

To celebrate the partnership with Chef Millie Peartree, today McCormick donated to the chef’s own “Full Heart, Full Bellies” initiative, which supports the food insecure in her current hometown — the Bronx. As a way to further educate and help fans learn soul food recipes, there is new dedicated section on Soul-Cuterie boards within the McCormick Flavor Maker App and on McCormick’s website. The experience features the history behind soul food, Chef Peartree’s classic recipes, with a few twists, along with videos that will showcase all the tips and tricks needed to create a Soul-Cuterie board and celebrate the month.

(Image: Chef Millie Peartree)

Chef Peartree’s favorite soul food recipes are approachable, bite-sized and finger-licking good:

— Catfish Nuggets: Battered in a zesty mixture of Zatarain’s® Crispy Southern Fish Fri and Creole Mustard, with a hint of OLD BAY® Seasoning, these deep-fried bites serve up tender and flaky on the inside, with an irresistibly golden-crisp coating on the outside.

— Deviled Eggs with Southern Fried Chicken Skin: Sorry bacon crumbles, there’s a new deviled egg garnish in town. Welcome crispy chicken skin to the party, adding an element of surprise and uniquely seasoned crunch to every bite of this popular appetizer, prepared with the signature heat of McCormick® Paprika and tangy French’s® Classic Yellow Mustard.

Creating a Soul-Cuterie board is a fun way to curate your soul food recipes and Chef Peartree has provided some creative tips:

— When plating a Soul-Cuterie board, you want to plate the star of the show in the middle, which would be our catfish nuggets, because we want people to eat it while it’s hot. You probably won’t have to worry about re-heating anything because McCormick® seasonings add so much flavor, everything will be devoured before any reheating is necessary!

— You can turn any soul food staple into a small bite perfect for a Soul-Cuterie board — whether it’s collard greens you turn into spring rolls, mac-n-cheese into fried gooey nuggets of goodness or banana pudding into individual pie bites.

— Adding ready-made sauces to the board allows for dipping that creates a unique bite for each guest. Mini ramekins with an assortment of condiments like Stubb’s® BBQ sauce, Zatarain’s® Creole Sauce, even some French’s® mustard can really jazz up the board.

Mariah Carey Set To Defend Defamation Accusations From Her Brother, NY Judge Rules
by Atiya Jordan

February 17, 2022

Mariah Carey Set To Defend Defamation Accusations From Her Brother, NY Judge Rules

Arising from Mariah Carey’s 2020 best-selling memoir, a New York judge dismissed most of a defamation lawsuit against the singer brought by her older brother but allowed the suit to persist.

The lawsuit, filed in March 2021, cites several “false and defamatory” passages from The Meaning of Mariah Carey and alleges “intentional infliction of emotional distress.” Her brother, Morgan Carey,  claimed these same passages caused “serious damage to his reputation,” the Guardian reports.

For example, Mariah alleges Morgan physically abused their mother, which he argues is “a false and defamatory lie.” She also said Morgan had “sketchy contacts in the music industry” and that “there was no telling what [Morgan] might do for money.”

While the judge threw out most of the passages, the judge ruled that Morgan Carey can pursue his suit solely for two passages in the book that described him as a “sometimes drug dealing, been-in-the-system… brother.”

“Although Carey maintains that the phrase ‘sometimes drug dealing’ is a ‘rhetorical epithet,’ in light of the earlier statement that plaintiff had supplied clubgoers with ‘powdered party favors,’ the average reader could understand this phrase to mean that plaintiff had committed a serious crime,” Justice Barbara Jaffe wrote in her decision.

According to Tuesday’s ruling, the case will proceed to trial on just those two passages once Morgan refiles a new complaint against his sister.

Billboard reports that the judge also dropped the claims against the memoir’s publisher, Macmillan Publishing Group. She ruled that his “vague and conclusory allegations” about his sister’s behavior could not prove that the publisher was made to believe that Mariah’s claims were false.

“Evidence that Carey was a difficult person does not demonstrate that publisher defendants entertained or should have entertained doubts about the veracity of her statements at the time of publication,” Justice Jaffe wrote.

Morgan is the second Carey family member to sue the pop singer over The New York Times Best Seller, following Mariah’s sister Alison, who claimed it contained “cruel and outrageous allegations” about her.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 17, 2022

Official Afeni Shakur Biopic On The Way, Jasmine Guy and Jamal Joseph to Executive Produce

An official biopic on Afeni Shakur, the late mother of the late great rapper/actor Tupac Shakur and prominent member of the Black Panther Party, is in the works.

The documentary film, now titled Peace, Love & Respect, the Afeni Shakur/Panther 21 story, being the first film script to receive full backing and approval of the Shakur estate, Variety reported.

Actress Jasmine Guy is set to executive produce the biopic alongside Jamal Josephs, a former Panther Party member who was arrested with Afeni as one of the “Panther 21.”

“Afeni Shakur lived a life of challenge, power, rebelliousness, genius and beauty,” Joseph said. “This is an origin story of a fierce, sexy, trailblazing, woman in Blackness Super Hero!”

Dina LaPolt worked with the Shakur estate for years and will serve as a producer on the documentary that follows a pivotal two-year period in Afeni’s life. The film starts around the time she and 20 other Black Panthers were arrested and charged with conspiracy to bomb police stations in New York on April 2, 1969, and spans to June 16, 1971, the day Tupac was born.

“When the trial started, Afeni had gotten pregnant when she was out on bail,” LaPolt said. “Two of the Panthers absconded, the judge freaked out and Afeni got put back in jail.”

“She was five months pregnant [with Tupac] and made a motion to get a glass of milk for her unborn child! She had a lot of self-confidence, and that’s our movie — it begins with the day she was arrested.”

The film captures the trial where Afeni ended up representing herself and was acquitted.

“That’s a testament to what a powerful woman she was,” LaPolt said.

The film is personal to LaPolt, who was raised by an activist mother who saw Afeni as a heroic figure.

“My mother was very much a part of the civil rights movement—she taught me about Afeni and how she was arrested as a member of the ‘Panther 21,” LaPolt said.

Video Emerges On New Wendy Williams Instagram Account — But Many Claim It’s Not Recent Footage
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 17, 2022

Video Emerges On New Wendy Williams Instagram Account — But Many Claim It’s Not Recent Footage

Did talk show host Wendy Williams recently emerge on social media to address her fans and combat her bank’s claims that she’s of “unsound mind?”

On a newly created Instagram account, Williams walks on a beach with the wind blowing through her hair. She is in Florida, and her son, Kevin Hunter Jr, is filming the video.

But while some outlets are reporting the video as new because the Instagram account is new, Williams clearly says she’s 56 in the video when she’s 57 and has a birthday coming this July.

However, her publicist pushed back on that claim, telling Page Six the famed talk show host just “misspoke.”

Williams talks on video with her son, at times tongue-in-cheek, as she walks on a beach, blonde tresses blowing while opening up about how she’s taking a break from the hustle and bustle of New York City.

But, in the comments section, many people doubt that the video is current. Others have also stated that she mentions visiting her mother, but her mother passed away in December 2020, according to some people leaving comments.

It is also speculative when this was filmed as there is no mention of any recent news regarding her. There is no mention of Wells Fargo holding on to her money, nothing about Sherri Shepherd becoming a “permanent guest host” for this upcoming season. No talk of the health issues she has encountered over the last year.

The New York Post reports that her publicist gave a statement:

“She thanks everyone who has been patiently awaiting her return and believes that, thanks in large part to the love and support of her son, her family, her new team of doctors and a change of scenery, she is on the mend.”

Earlier this week, it was reported that the 57-year-old filed an affidavit with the New York Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order against Wells Fargo, according to The New York Post.

Her former Wells Fargo financial adviser, Lori Schiller, was fired due to alleged misconduct involving her accounts and claimed Williams was “of unsound mind.”

Williams has not hosted her daytime talk show for almost a year since—July 2021. News of her requiring guardianship emerged as the future of The Wendy Williams Show host remains in limbo.

First Black Female AG Will Defend NFL In Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
by Derek Major

February 17, 2022

First Black Female AG Will Defend NFL In Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

The National Football League (NFL) has hired former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to defend the organization against a class action lawsuit.

Lynch, the first Black female attorney general in U.S. history, will defend the NFL against former Miami Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores’ class-action racial discrimination lawsuit.

The NFL has also hired another Paul Weiss firm lawyer in Brad Karp, who previously defended the league in its concussion settlements.

Lynch, a North Carolina native, has a wealth of legal experience. She’s currently representing McDonald’s against three high-profile racial discrimination lawsuits. In the past, she has represented Syracuse University in an independent review of its Department of Public Safety’s handling of bias-related incidents raised by students during the 2019/2020 academic year.

The Shaw University alum also worked for former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and represented North Carolina State University in an NCAA investigation concerning money and other benefits allegedly offered to a former student-athlete in violation of NCAA regulations.

Flores, who the Dolphins fired in January, has filed a class-action racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL and three of its teams, the Dolphins, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos. In his suit, Flores alleges the Giants interviewed him for their open head coach position to fill the Rooney Rule requirement and already knew they would hire Brian Daboll, a white coach.

There are currently two Black NFL head coaches in a league where 70% of the players are Black. Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Houston Texans Head Coach Lovie Smith, who was hired earlier this year. The Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel, who identifies as multiracial.

Flores’ suit also alleges that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered to pay him $100,000 for each loss he incurred to secure a better position in the NFL Draft. Flores added when he refused, Ross painted him as a coach with “disdain and held out as someone who was noncompliant and difficult to work with.”

The Dolphins have denied the allegations, however, Pro Football Talk reported if the allegations are true, Ross would likely be forced to sell the team. Flores also alleged the Denver Broncos conducted a “sham interview” with him in 2019 for their head coaching position. A claim the Broncos denied in a statement.

Mahisha Dellinger Shares Her Journey of Launching CURLS, Mentoring Black Women Entrepreneurs + More
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 17, 2022

Mahisha Dellinger Shares Her Journey of Launching CURLS, Mentoring Black Women Entrepreneurs + More

CURLS CEO and Founder Mahisha Dellinger continues to propel the next generation of women entrepreneurs following the massive success of her pioneer natural haircare brand.

While appearing on BLACK ENTERPRISE’s “Hip Hop and Enterprise,” Mahisha recalls her journey to launch CURLS in 2002 while still employed full-time. She was feeling undervalued while working for a racist manager who targeted her and “made my life a living hell,” she explains.

“That’s when the wheels started to turn in not wanting to work so hard to have that experience happen to me,” Mahisha said.

The OWN host goes on to share how being a “newly natural mother” to her child inspired her to begin the process of developing her own natural hair product. Using her marketing degree, Mahisha knew how to conduct thorough research to determine the need for natural hair products.

She recalls the journey to getting CURLS into stores that came knocking after initially closing the door on her. Now the owner of a thriving beauty brand on shelves in major retailers like Ulta Beauty, Mahisha shares her experience when originally pitching to Ulta Beauty and working with a former buyer who told her that he didn’t see a need for her type of product.

Having mentored Black women entrepreneurs on her OWN show Mind Your Business with Mahisha, the beauty mogul offered advice to aspiring entrepreneurs including how to keep a full-time job while starting a business and why she thinks it’s best to “grow organically” before signing on with an investor.

Still on a mission to empower female entrepreneurs, Mahisha’s Women Making Millions Academy: Mastering the Business, The Money, & the Mindset has a lineup of virtual winter sessions aimed at guiding BIPOC women into sustained business growth that will position them as trusted leaders in their respective industries.

As a busy mother of four, Mahisha stressed the importance of having a supportive partner by her side and how she is helping her husband pursue a business of his own. She also shares how her entrepreneurial bug is rubbing off on her kids.

Press play below to catch the resourceful gems on entrepreneurship from CURLS founder Mahisha Dellinger.

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