Shaq

Shaq Stands On Business: Threatens to Put Hands On RGIII Over Angel Reese ‘Monkey Post’

Shaq warned Robert Griffin III to watch his words when it comes to Reese.


Shaq does not play about Angel Reese. The NBA legend got on the internet, threatening to punch Robert Griffin III over his controversial posts about Reese.

Shaq stepped into the ongoing feud that initially started with RGIII’s claims that Reese hates her fellow WNBA star, Caitlin Clark. RGIII’s insertion in the matter led to the former NFL star getting pushback over his harsh critique of Reese.

He asserted that the WNBA forward holds “jealousy and resentment” toward Clark, despite the former holding her own in the league. Furthermore, the situation escalated yet again when RGIII reposted an image of Reese depicted as a monkey on her WNBA 2K26 cover.

Although denouncing the racist image, he still shared the photo publicly while alleging that Reese’s social media usage led to his family receiving death threats. This latest bout of the drama led to Shaq’s involvement, where he threatened to swing at RGIII for the disrespect and harassment of the talented female baller.

“RGIII, tweet another monkey post about my girl Angel Reese and [I’ll] punch in your f-cking face. Okay, that’s enough. Like, I don’t usually do stuff like this, but just stop it, bro. You got your job. You got your podcast. Leave my Angel Reese alone. I’m the one calling her and telling her not to respond. Fucking stop it. That’s the last time.”

He then stated that the two WNBA stars’ rivalry does not equate to the real hate found in this country. Furthermore, he asserted that RGIII has ruined his own legacy in football history. He believes the podcaster’s latest controversies now overshadow his NFL achievements.

“It’s not real hate. We look around what’s going on in this real country, that’s hate. This is sports. I’m not supposed to like you. It’s a shame that all the stuff you did in your life, you’re gonna be remembered for your podcast…that should tell you you’re not that f-cking great.”

Shaq has advised Reese not to feed into RGIII’s hateful words, calling him a “fool” who is not worth her time. He would also rather RGIII focus on men’s sports topics, allowing women to discuss this sector of the game.

“She’s not gonna respond. Because I’m the one calling and be like, ‘Baby, keep it classy,’ because she’s not soft by any means,” he added. “You’re from the streets, but I’m like, ‘You’re beautiful. Don’t indulge with these fools, because he’s a fool. You don’t even have G 14 classification to say that. I respect it more if Lisa Leslie said it like, that’s your category, stay out of the people’s category.”

Shaq called himself Reese’s “protector” as the hate piles up on the WNBA 2K26 cover star. As such, if things get too disrespectful, he is not afraid to throw hands in her honor.

“Like I don’t mind you doing your job as anyone, but don’t pick on that little girl because guess what, I’m her protector. Now pick on me, you pick on me, [I’m] punching you in your f-cking face.”

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Morehouse College, Dream

Morehouse College’s Newest President Talks Evolved Vision For the Atlanta HBCU

Dr. F DuBois Bowman has returned to his alma mater to lead Morehouse into a new era.


The newest president of Morehouse College has officially begun his tenure at the HBCU, speaking to his evolved vision for the all-mens’ institution.

Dr. F. DuBois Bowman did not initially envision his career path leading to educational leadership. A Morehouse alum, the biostatistician and public health leader found his way by becoming a dean at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

His work in this role led to a call about returning to his alma mater. Excited to take part in the search process, his deep ties to the institution paved the way for his new place within its history. Speaking to WABE, Bowman discussed his journey back to Morehouse.

“Morehouse is home for me, and having studied there and being an alum, [it’s] an institution that I’ve maintained deep ties to over the years; it was a call that I was really excited and really thrilled to get,” explained Bowman. “And so that was the beginning. And obviously, these kinds of things are really involved, decisions to make and a search process to get through, but one that I was really excited and eager to participate in.”

He also plans to meet an evolved generation of students where they are, while still maintaining this historic school’s mission toward academic excellence.

“Institutions have to evolve… Our students nowadays they’re different. They’re different than the young man that I was when I arrived on campus, and we have to meet them where they are, try to figure out how best to support them, how best to take them and lead them along their own educational journeys and really prepare them for the workforce and to be positive agents of change in society.”

He wants his presidency defined by how well the institution prepares its students to excel professionally and academically. However, given Morehouse’s history within civil rights and racial justice, he also wants scholars to blossom into “positive agents” for social change.

“As a college president, what I want to prioritize for the students first is their academic preparation. But that is in preparation to be positive agents for change in society. And so I want students to be socially engaged and civically critical thinkers. And there, if there are things that come up that they feel the right course of action is demonstration, then that is a pathway for them.”

Like many HBCUs, funding remains a looming concern. As president, he aims to enhance fundraising efforts to expand the college’s academic profile. This funding will not only support scholarships but also help renovate campus dorms and improve student resources.

“So part of my job as president will be to continue doing fundraising and other things like that, to provide educational support, financial support for students, so that we can support students in need, but also be able to attract the best and brightest minds who’d have opportunity to go anywhere in the country when we want them to come to Morehouse because we feel like Morehouse would be in the kind of environment where they can thrive.”

While some political pressures, from federal funding to DEI pushback in higher education, sit on Bowman’s mind, his commitment to service for the Morehouse students, alumni, and HBCU community takes top priority.

“[Service] is really the spirit in which I come back now, and that is to serve and having just deep appreciation and gratitude for how the institution shaped me, not just academically through my educational journey, but as a young man. And those things have stayed rooted in me throughout, and that subsequently, I think, [exists] in my leadership style and my leadership orientation and approach.”

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lawsuit, JaMarcus Russell,,Connie Bobo,, Missouri,

CJ Wallace, Son Of The Notorious B.I.G., Named In Sexual Lawsuit Against Diddy

A John Doe filed the suit implicating Wallace in an attempted sexual assault.


The son of late Bad Boy recording artist The Notorious B.I.G., CJ Wallace, has been named in a sexual assault lawsuit that involves his father’s former label head, Sean “Diddy” Combs.

According to TMZ, in a lawsuit filed against Diddy over the July 4th weekend, an anonymous man has accused Combs of several sexually-fueled occurrences over a couple of years, including masturbating in front of him and then ejaculating on a shirt owned by The Notorious B.I.G.

In one instance, he claimed that the late rapper’s son, Wallace, was involved with other men in transporting him to a meeting with Diddy, where he was allegedly sexually assaulted by the entertainment mogul.

The anonymous man, who filed the suit as John Doe, stated that Wallace was part of a group of men who brought him to a Revolt TV location in 2020 in a Combs Corporation vehicle. He claims he was ambushed by the men and then taken to Diddy in another room, where he was held down while the producer tried to put his penis in the plaintiff’s mouth.

Doe said he believed that a picture was taken of him to use as evidence against him. He was was taken back home via car by Wallace and others.

Doe has sued Diddy for sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and more.

Diddy’s attorneys provided a statement to TMZ:

“Mr. Combs’s trial and acquittal on trafficking and RICO charges proves what we have been saying all along: Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone. That people continue to broadcast and file false accusations—no matter how heinous and uncorroborated—is unfortunate, but Mr. Combs will not back down. He will fight for as long as necessary to win his full vindication.”

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AI, artificial intelligence, trends, A.I., journey, technology, DryMerge, AI, job interview

It Looks Like ChatGPT Called Out Sick For Thousands Of AI Users 

The July 16 outage marks the second of its kind this month.


OpenAI’s services experienced another major global outage, causing major disruptions across ChatGPT, Sora, and the GPT API, MoneyControl reports. 

The July 15 outage, which appears to have entered a second day, marks the second of its kind this month affecting regions including North America, Europe, and Asia. Now concerns are being raised about just how reliable AI as it continues to expand.

With OpenAI’s status page confirming a  “degraded performance” across multiple services with a statement saying, “we have identified elevated error rates and are working on a mitigation,” social media platforms were flooded with complaints from users. Some of the complaints push narratives of blank chat screens, incomplete responses, and login issues correlated to users being stuck in verification loops.

There were also issues of random disconnections during active work sessions resulting in loss of work. “Damn, ChatGPT down feels like having a power outage at this point,” X user @hardcapital_x wrote. 

ChatGPTis free for users, those with paid subscriptions were experiencing the same outages.

https://twitter.com/bytesbybree/status/1945313429658722652

Developers that are fans of Codex, used for programming assistance and Sora for video generation, also experienced massive delays.  

According to Entrepreneur, as of April 2025, ChatGPT had approximately 500 million global users on a weekly basis. In the same month, the startup company raised $40 billion at a valuation of $300 billion, labeled as the biggest private tech deal recorded ever. 

So users may have a reason to complain about repeated outages. However, there are things to do to bypass the time. OpenAI recommends users should stop making repeated attempts to login since it could trigger security locks. The platform also recommends checking the official status page for live updates and most importantly, making sure to save work on an external outlet to avoid data loss during the outages. 

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Emmy,SeveranceTramell Tillman,Zach Cherry

‘Severance’ Actors Could Make Black History At Emmys Despite Drops In Diverse Nominees

This year's ceremony has an 18% drop in nominations for actors and hosts of color compared to 2024.


While two Black actors are on the cusp of making history at the Emmys, the awards show has seen a significant drop in diverse nominees.

Tramell Tillman scored his first Emmy nomination July 15 for his breakout role on AppleTV+’s “Severance.” His co-star, Zach Cherry, also earned a nomination for his role on the streamer show. If either secures the trophy, they would make history as the first Black actor ever to win Outstanding Supporting Actor in a drama series.

Either man’s win would lead to a Black actor securing all four major acting categories at the Emmys. In 2015, Viola Davis became the first Black woman to win Outstanding Actress in a Drama series for “How To Get Away With Murder”, with Ayo Edebiri winning Outstanding Supporting Actress for Comedy in 2023 for “The Bear.”

As for the men, Sterling K. Brown won Outstanding Lead Actor in 2017 for “This is Us.” Now, the “Severance” actors have the opportunity to break a new record for Black faces on the small screen.

“Severance” also leads with the most nominations at the 2025 ceremony, taking place Sept. 14. However, while the awards show celebrates the best of television, this year’s rendition still leaves much to be desired for diverse entertainers.

According to Deadline, the number of diverse nominations in the acting and hosting categories is down 18% from 2024. Only 28 actors and reality hosts gained recognition for this year’s Emmy awards, a reduction from the 34 recognized last year.

The number compares to the lowest recently recorded in 2019, where only 26 non-white actors received nominations. However, since its high in 2021, when 49 actors of color became nominees, the numbers have yet to reach similar heights in the years that followed.

Three major acting categories are entirely devoid of diversity, including Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Guest Actress in a Drama Series, and Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The growing gap in recognizing diverse talent at the Emmys has already caught the attention of media groups. The National Hispanic Media Coalition released a statement stating the Television Academy “fell short,” especially during a time when people of color’s existence is “erased, challenged, and attacked.”

Despite the decline in nominations, some Black actors are growing their recognition in this space. Returning nominees include Edebiri, who is also the first Black woman to be nominated for both acting and directing in the same year. “Abbott Elementary” star and creator Quinta Brunson also scored nominations for her writing and acting in the ABC sitcom.

Brown will also return to the awards ceremony, up for his seventh overall nomination, this time for his work on Hulu’s “Paradise.”

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Uno social club

UNO Social Club Debuts In Las Vegas

'We created UNO Social Clubs to reimagine what game night can be—bringing people together for real-world fun, connection, and a bit of friendly competition,' said Ray Adler, vice president and global head of games at Mattel.


Get those UNO skills ready.

Mattel had announced the launch of several UNO Social Clubs. Now, the first one is opening at Las Vegas’ Palms Casino Resort.

“We created UNO Social Clubs to reimagine what game night can be—bringing people together for real-world fun, connection, and a bit of friendly competition,” said Ray Adler, vice president and global head of games at Mattel, in a written statement. “The UNO Social Club in Las Vegas is just the beginning, and we’re excited to see how these new experiences inspire players to show up, play hard, and make unforgettable memories.”

After the announcement was made in May, Mattel held a contest where fans could enter for a chance to win the UNO Social Club getaway that the company was holding in celebration of the social club and experience. Contestants had to create a TikTok video using the new UNO Reverse Card filter and the hashtags #UNOSocialClub and #MattelContest.

The winner, who will enjoy their stay July 18 through July 20 in Vegas, will have access to the technicolor suite that is embedded in UNO’s red, yellow, blue, and green colors. The suite also has a private bowling alley and game-inspired décor.

Mattel says there will be featured decks at the UNO Social Club:

  • UNO Golf™: Match cards by colors and numbers, but your cards are laid out as you try to get rid of high cards and keep lower-value cards. Strategically clear columns to eliminate cards, but beware of cards that can raise your score. The player with the lowest score wins!
  • UNO Teams™: Players still match color, number, and symbol, but instead of every-man-for-himself, they team up in pairs of two and play together to win. Special cards and rules help teammates work together, but both players must get rid of all the cards in their hands to win.
  • UNO Show ’em No Mercy™: This game has a ton more cards with WAY tougher penalties and new rules that will have players stacking, swapping, and drawing more cards than ever before! There are two ways to win in this merciless version of the classic game: get rid of all cards OR knock all other players out of the game.

Mattel said pop-up UNO clubs will opening throughout the country later in the year.

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agents, Workday, AI

The ‘Gen Z Stare’ Has Employers Worried About The Demographic’s Communication Skills

The "Gen Z stare" could be hindering the generation in the workplace.


A newly coined term, the “Gen Z stare,” is gaining attention on social media. In the corporate world, some employers are worried about the generation’s face-to-face communication skills.

The Gen Z stare refers to a blank, expressionless look often given in response to routine questions, according to the International Business Times. It’s the kind of look Gen Zers are said to give with something as simple as taking an order or answering a work-related inquiry.

While the term has sparked debate online, service industry employers are expressing real-life concern. Studies show that 18% of managers have considered quitting due to the stress of hiring Gen Z workers. Fifty-two percent of managers say Gen Z employees have created workplace tension with older staff, while 27% admit to avoiding hiring Gen Z members altogether.

@7newsaustralia

The so-called 'Gen Z stare' has divided the internet – and even generations – with people arguing that it has become a real problem in the workplace. #genzstare #stare #genz #workplace #debate #internet #7NEWS

♬ original sound – 7NEWS Australia

Common concerns about the generation include a lack of initiative and professionalism. Common concerns include a lack of initiative and professionalism, key traits in customer-facing roles like those in hospitality and retail, where strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential. If customers perceive staff as unapproachable or disengaged, it can hurt business and sales, contributing to some employers’ hesitation to hire Gen Z workers.

The root of Gen Z’s social skills challenges traces back to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. A 2024 survey revealed that 51% of Gen Zers felt their social skills declined due to limited in-person interactions, compared to 47% of millennials, 37% of Gen Xers, and 26% of Baby Boomers.

“While soft skills like communication, time management, and teamwork are essential, it’s worth considering the new grads, especially those in recent years, have had fewer opportunities to develop these skills through traditional methods such as internships or in-person work, partially due to the pandemic,” said Huy Nguyen, Intelligent.com’s chief education and career development advisor.

Not all hope is lost. As this generation matures and gains professional experience, employers value these workers’ ability to stay ahead of trends and adapt to advancing technology.

RELATED CONTENT: These Are the Three Things Gen Z Wants in a Workplace

Black Americans, DOE, student loans, Inflation, Debt, Bills, Achieve Center for Consumer Insights, Kilgore

Not So Fast: Judge Rules Against Medical Debt Being Wiped From Credit Report

Democratic leaders issued a letter to the current acting bureau leader on how the rule would assist consumers without decreasing credit score accuracy.


A Texas judge ruled against an embedded rule by the Biden administration that would eliminate unpaid medical debt from showing up on Americans’ credit reports, CNN reports. 

Judge Sean Jordan, a President Donald Trump appointee, of the U.S. District Court of Texas’ Eastern District vacated the rule put in place by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) after finding the rule went above the bureau’s authority due to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Jordan sided with Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA), which filed a lawsuit against the rule along with the Trump administration. 

Finalized shortly before the Biden left office in early 2025, the rule was established to eliminate an estimated $49 billion in medical bills from the credit reports for close to 15 million Americans and would have banned lenders from using certain medical information to hinder them in loan decisions.

Medical devices such as wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs would also be prohibited from collateral use for loans and barred from repossession if patients failed to repay loans. 

If the rule stayed in place, persons with medical debt on their credit reports would have the opportunity to receive an average 20-point boost on their credit score in addition to potentially approving roughly 22,000 additional mortgages per year.

But the rule was met with massive pushback from Republican leaders who sent a letter to the bureau’s then director Rohit Chopra, expressing concern that it would “weaken the accuracy and completeness of consumer credit reports” in addition to undermining underwriting processes and harm access to—and affordability—of credit for consumers, focusing on lower-income Americans.

On the other side of the political aisle, Democratic leaders issued a letter to the current acting bureau leader, Russell Vought, who was behind Project 2025, saying that the rule would assist consumers without decreasing credit score accuracy. Leaders also requested information from Vought on why the request to vacate the rule came about in the first place. 

However, according to The Economic Times, CDIA director Dan Smith celebrated the court’s decision, labeling it as the “right outcome for protecting the integrity of the system.” 

The decision that Republicans felt would hurt lower-income Americans comes just weeks after the GOP-controlled House passed the “Big, Beautiful Bill” that will gut needed medical programs that the same demographic relies on, such as Medicaid. New work requirements added to the bill, which several elected lawmakers said will help “lazy Americans get off the couch,” could strip millions of their Medicaid coverage. 

Unlike some elected officials, the credit industry has taken into account how medical debt affects consumers. In 2022, the Big Three of credit reporting agencies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—made moves to remove close to 70% of medical debt from consumer credit reports.

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Odell Beckham Jr, NFL, Quterback room

Odell Beckham Jr. Gains From Bitcoin Surge After Accepting 2022 Salary In Crypto

The $750,000 annual salary he converted to bitcoin in 2022 is now worth $1.3 million


In 2022, former New York Giants player Odell Beckham Jr. signed an unheard-of deal with CashApp to receive his $750,000 annual salary in Bitcoin. Four years later, after a tumultuous market, he is reaping the benefits with the cryptocurrency nearly doubling in value since he inked the contract.

According to Bleacher Report, the wide receiver is basking in the decision made several years ago when skeptics questioned his financial move, given that Bitcoin was worth $64,293 at the time of the deal signing. Today, it is presently worth $121,908.40. He took to social media to gloat after others doubted he made the right move in 2022.

Sooooo bitcoin is at an ALL TIME high today…safe to say we still happy with our decision. 

Let’s see what crypto week talkin about

Darren Rovell did some calculations and posted on his X account regarding Beckham’s now-brilliant move. He concluded that the $750,000 invested in 2022 is now worth $1.39 million today.

DXB News Network reported that the wide receiver suffered a significant loss several years ago when bitcoin prices plummeted drastically. In late 2022, Bitcoin was trading under $20,000, making Beckham seem like a fool for his arrangement. Less than four years later, that smile on his face tells the story of a very patient and smart man.

Beckham isn’t the first, nor is he the only, NFL player to convert his salary into Bitcoin.

According to Essentially Sports, former NFL offensive tackle Russell Okung changed the game in 2020 when he asked that half of his $13 million annual salary (from the Carolina Panthers) be paid to him in bitcoin. Last November, it was announced that the $6.5 million that was invested in the cryptocurrency coin had grown to an astounding $20 million.

Beckham is currently a free agent looking to join a team for the upcoming NFL season.

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Jon Gossier

Black Fintech Founder Jon Gosier Is Changing the Game In Film And TV Finance


Film and TV financing has long been an exclusive club dominated by legacy institutions. But Jon Gosier is rewriting the script and doing it on his terms.

As founder and CEO of FilmHedge, a fintech platform that provides up to $25 million per production in private credit, Jon Gosier is opening new pathways for investors, especially those outside the Hollywood bubble, to share in one of the entertainment industry’s most profitable spaces. Since launching in 2020, FilmHedge has invested more than $200 million into film and TV productions, proving that innovation, access, and inclusion can thrive at the intersection of finance, entertainment, and technology.

BLACK ENTERPRISE sat down with Jon Gosier to explore how he’s de-risking investments in Hollywood, empowering underrepresented creatives, and shifting the power dynamic in a multibillion-dollar industry.

BE: What inspired you to launch FilmHedge, and how does it challenge traditional models of film and TV financing?

JON: In 2017, I had just sold a company. With more free time and new money, I wanted to explore something different. So, I invested in a $10 million sci-fi film called Skylines (2019).

In tech, it often takes 5 to 10 years to start a company, grow it, and successfully exit. But with this film, I got my money and earnings back in just six months. I couldn’t believe it. That experience made me ask: Why don’t more people finance film and television?

That question led to the creation of FilmHedge. Since then, we’ve raised over $350 million to make film and TV investing accessible to accredited investors and, most importantly, safe. Our team has financed more than 50 productions with an average budget of $15 million, achieving a 100% repayment rate with zero investor losses. Our partners earn between 15% to 20% on each deal.

BE: As a Black founder in fintech and entertainment, what barriers did you face entering this space, and how did you overcome them?

The first barrier is mental. A great entrepreneur is really a tireless problem solver. No matter your background—Black, white, Asian, anything—you will face obstacles. When I accepted Ernst & Young’s 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Georgia, I told the room, “Entrepreneurship is a mindset.”

The film and TV world is notoriously gatekept. The knowledge needed to succeed is rarely shared. I had to deconstruct everything by first investing my own money, then proving to institutional players —those with billions to allocate —that I knew how to protect their capital. Believe it or not, not losing money is often more important to them than making it.

BE: Many investors still view film as a high-risk investment. How does FilmHedge work to shift that perception?

Investors often treat film like they treat tech startups. They bet on a good idea and a charismatic founder and hope the rest falls into place. But film is closer to trade finance than tech.

Think of it this way: the movie is the product. The filmmaker is the manufacturer. Our job is to fund the production until the final product is delivered to a buyer such as Netflix, Amazon, or Sony. Once that happens, they pay us back. They take on the risk of whether it sells, not us.

So, the idea that film is always risky? It’s just a misunderstanding of how film finance works.

BE: Why did you choose to build FilmHedge in Atlanta instead of relocating to Hollywood or Silicon Valley?

Funny enough, in 2018, I almost moved to Santa Monica. I had even placed an offer on a house. But then I stepped back and looked at the landscape.

Hollywood has been at the top of the industry for over 100 years. Atlanta, on the other hand, where I grew up, was on the rise. More people are moving here. The economy is booming. The film and TV industry is expanding rapidly. And no one else was doing what I was planning in Atlanta.

It made perfect sense to stay. The city had momentum, and I wanted to be part of building something from the ground up.

BE: How does FilmHedge ensure equity and access for diverse filmmakers and producers?

Hollywood has never been known for equity. It’s long been controlled by gatekeepers with deeply embedded networks.

At FilmHedge, we’ve broken down those barriers by making our platform accessible to everyone. Any producer can contact us or submit a project through our website. And more importantly, our criteria are consistent, whether you’ve made a hundred movies or are just starting out.

We’re one of the only financing companies at this level that truly levels the playing field for diverse and emerging talent.

BE: With over $200 million directed to productions, what impact have you seen financially and culturally?

We’re proud of the impact we’ve had. Over 40% of our funded projects have been led by women producers, and more than 20% by Black producers. Many were first-time filmmakers, receiving an average of $5 million per project.

One recent example is The Dutchman, directed by Andre Gaines and starring Zazie Beetz, Aldis Hodge, and Kate Mara. The cast and crew were predominantly people of color.

We also push A-list productions to shoot in underserved areas. In 2024 alone, we financed 10 features, eight of which filmed in low-income communities using state economic development programs. That leads to local jobs, infrastructure boosts, and real change. Film finance isn’t just for celebrities. It can uplift entire neighborhoods.

BE: What advice do you have for aspiring Black entrepreneurs who want to sit at the intersection of tech, finance, and entertainment?

Learn to deconstruct systems, whether it’s business, law, media, or culture. Don’t just assume something is broken or stacked against you. Understand how it works first.

Once you grasp the mechanics, you can find your role and begin to map out a path for change. The people who win in this space aren’t always the loudest. They’re the ones who study the game before they make their move.

To learn more about Jon Gosier or FilmHedge, visit: www.Filmhedge.com

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