Megan Thee Stallion Dives Into Entrepreneurship By Opening A Popeyes Chicken
'It's still just bones right now, but this is about to be the littlest Popeyes ever.'
Megan Thee Stallion is a restaurateur. The Grammy-winning rapper announced that she is opening her first Popeyes franchise location.
In a TikTok post, the bejeweled Texas Hottie walked through the under-construction site in fashionable attire that included a crop top, blue denim cargo pants, and a “hottie” construction helmet,People observed.
“My very own Popeyes is opening this summer, Hotties,” she said in the video. “I just stopped by to check out the location. It’s still just the bones right now, but this is about to be the littlest Popeyes ever.”
This development takes Pete’s 2021 partnership with Popeyes to a new level. The two brands collaborated and introduced the “Hottie Sauce.” The limited-edition item was a blend of honey, vinegar and Aleppo pepper. The collaboration also included a line of co-branded merchandise and a franchise agreement, making Pete a multi-unit franchise owner.
Beyond her business endeavors, she recently released her new single “Whenever,” the lead in the third chapter of the rapper’s MEGAN album series.
As Megan Thee Stallion, 30, continues to diversify her portfolio, she has been navigating a few legal challenges.
In January, a Los Angeles judge granted her a five-year restraining order against rapper Tory Lanez, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence for shooting her in July 2020. Megan testified that Lanez continued to harass her from prison through third parties and online attacks on her credibility.
She also filed a defamation lawsuit against blogger Milagro Gramz, also known as Milagro Elizabeth Cooper. accusing Gramz of spreading false information and sharing an altered, deepfake video of Megan engaged in sexual acts without her consent. The allegations suggest that Gramz worked to smear Megan’s reputation on behalf of Tory Lanez.
Former NBA Player Vernon Maxwell Calls Draymond Green ‘The O.J. Simpson Of Basketball’
The former Houston Rockets player made the comment on social media
During an NBA Playoff game, which saw the Houston Rockets match up against the Golden State Warriors, a former NBA player compared Warriors player Draymond Green to another famous former athlete, O.J. Simpson.
Former NBA champion Vernon Maxwell, who won his two titles while a member of the Rockets in 1994 and 1995, took to social media to draw a comparison to the oft-controversial player known for his aggressive play and combative nature on the basketball court.
Based on the reputation of Green and the fact that Simpson was acquitted of murder in 1995, but spent nine years in prison for an armed robbery 2008, it can be safely assumed that it wasn’t a compliment. Although Simpson was an NFL Hall of Famer, we can’t imagine that Maxwell would compare Green’s possible Hall of Fame selection after he retires from the game to Simpson’s successful football career.
Maxwell was also an aggressive NBA player during his career, which spanned over a decade from 1988 to 2001. He played for several teams during his time after being drafted by the Denver Nuggets, and on draft night, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, where he began his NBA career.
Some of his fans remembered that Maxwell was no slouch on the basketball court and could play against Green, matching, if not surpassing, the same energy the Warriors player gives during a game. One fan even suggested that Maxwell put on a Rockets uniform and insert himself in the game to “take Draymond’s head off his shoulders.”
we need you to suit up next game unc and take draymonds head off his shoulders 🙏🏼
Another fan recently came up with a solution of his own, suggesting the same thing as the above poster. Place Maxwell on the bench, and when he is needed to “stop Draymond,” throw him in the game to “stand up” to him.
Tough Rox loss. Solution? Hire @VernonMaxwell11 to sit on the bench for game 5 and 6. He’s the only one who can stand up and stop Draymond.
However, as we are sure Maxwell will not be coming out of retirement, he had a suggestion of his own (not specific to Green, but to the team in general).
If any of my young Rockets wanna lay any of these Warriors out I’ll pay the fine (if I can get my money from Vincent Askew).
Rev. Dr. Barber Arrested For Bringing The Word Of God Into The Capitol Rotunda
The activist pastor has been a long-time advocate for progressive causes that help the poor, women, and children.
Reverend William Barber, known for the “Poor People’s Campaign,” and more recently, his “Moral Monday” Progressive movement, has been arrested while praying inside the Capitol.
Rev. Barber was conducting a prayer in the Capitol Rotunda April 28 when U.S. Capitol police officers began arresting him and fellow participants. According to Jack Jenkins of the Religion News Service, Barber and two others were detained as fellow gatherers were prompted to leave the area.
Barber had already begun the morning before his afternoon arrest with his “Moral Monday” sermon on the Capitol steps. The pastor also delivered an address on behalf of the movement at the Supreme Court. Fellow religious leaders joined him to speak on the moral issues they believe plague the nation.
When we cannot depend on the courts and the legislative power of human beings, we can still depend on … the power of your love and your mercy and your truth,” Barber said in the Rotunda moments before police surrounded him. Barber showed footage of the incident to Facebook.
His group, Repairers of the Breach, also confirmed his detainment by Capitol police.
“Bishop Rev. Dr. William Barber II and Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove were among those arrested this afternoon while praying in front of a statue that honors suffragettes in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda,” Barber’s group, Repairers of the Breach, said in a statement Monday afternoon.
The group’s statement also confirmed that their address spoke to the proposed budget cuts. They noted that the policy would negatively impact poor and working-class Americans.
“The arrests occurred after an interfaith gathering of leaders from across the nation delivered a moral message to the nation this morning at the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to sound the alarm on the immoral budget cuts and proposed budget cuts being pursued in Washington D.C. at the expense of the poor, working people, children, women, and families,” the statement continued.
However, a Capitol Police spokesperson told The Independent that the religious advocates were arrested for “crowding, obstructing, and incommoding.” The spokesperson emphasized that any demonstrations inside the Capitol are strictly prohibited. Additional footage showed reporters covering the prayer were also threatened with arrest if they did not leave the area.
“They were arrested for demonstrating inside the Congressional Buildings, which is not allowed in any form, including but not limited to sitting, kneeling, group praying, singing, chanting, etc. In this case, they began praying quietly and then transitioned to praying out loud. That is when we gave them multiple warnings to stop, or they would be arrested. The[y] didn’t stop,” said a US Capitol Police spokesperson.
Barber, however, was able to speak about the ordeal following his release. The incidents also caused him some pain due to his chronic illness, which limits his walking ability. Unswayed, he told RNS that his arrest further confirms the necessity of his acts of “nonviolent direct action.”
“To think that we went into pray—pray against the budget, but to pray nonetheless — and the order now is that, evidently, if you pray, you are seen as violating the rules of the Rotunda,” Barber told RNS after his arrest. “What we hope is that folks will see this and it will begin to remove some of the fear, and people will understand that this is the time — now — that we must engage in nonviolent direct action to register our discontent.”
Barber has been a steady opponent of non-progressive legislation. For over a decade, Barber’s religious beliefs have fueled his political activism as a leader of the Poor People’s Campaign. He has advocated for a raise in minimum wage, labor and voting rights within the Capitol and his home state.
The pastor has advocated for these policies even within the previous Biden Administration. However, his cause gained new momentum under Trump’s second term. This time, the activist pastor has vocalized his discontent with federal funding cuts to Medicaid and Social Security. Always referencing God in his speeches, he criticized Trump’s “foolish” budget plans during the recent “Hands Off” day of action.
However, his arrest contradicts the Trump administration’s stance on protecting other religious activists. Moreover, Trump also approved the establishment of a “task force” to root out “anti-Christian policies” within the government. The chairwoman of this initiative, Attorney General Pam Bondi, even placed blame on former President Biden for “targeting peaceful Christians” during his leadership.
Moreover, Trump recently pardoned Christian activists who blocked the entrance to abortion clinics in Washington State. The move suggests his support for these protestors may only extend to those who favor his policies and conservative values.
South Dakota Never Elected A Black Senator, Julian Beaudion Wants To Change That
The retired state trooper is running to become the state's first Black senator.
Less than 3 percent of people in South Dakota identify as Black. Julian Beaudion hears a variation of “I didn’t know Black people live here” all the time.
“There’s actually a lot of us here, especially in Sioux Falls,” he tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Beaudion would know. He traveled the highways as a state trooper, where he has (almost) seen it all. The one thing he and the more than 624,000 registered voters in South Dakota haven’t seen is a Black U.S. Senator from the state. At least not yet. Beaudion is hoping to change that in the 2026 midterm election.
From State Trooper To Vying To Become South Dakota’s First Black Senator
Serving others is not new to Beaudion. He grew up in a family of public servants. His mother worked as a nurse with the Veterans Affairs, and his father was a schoolteacher. Beaudion became a state trooper, and after 13.5 years with the South Dakota Highway Patrol, he later became the Biden nominee for U.S. Marshall.
Now, he’s working with his wife, a chef, at Swamp Daddy’s Cajun Kitchen. The duo currently owns the largest Black-owned restaurant in South Dakota. It’s a celebration of Beaudion’s Southern roots, having grown up in Alexandria, Louisiana. When he’s not in the restaurant, you can find him at his nonprofit, The Hub SD, where he and his team work together to build communication tools and platforms that drive equity, inclusion, and progress.
But these days, his time is spent at packed town halls with standing-room-only crowds since he announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in April.
The town halls have been a reprieve for the pent-up frustration of voters, as leadership within the Republican Party directs current elected officials to stop holding public events, as many are hounded by their own constituents.
In some instances, Beaudion’s campaign team has unfortunately had to turn people away because the town halls have reached capacity. He’s taking advantage of what he says Republicans are scared to do: hear from the people they serve.
“One of the things that we have been very intentional about doing is listening to folks in South Dakota,” he tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “We want to make sure that policies are shaping around their needs.”
The future of Social Security is coming up over and over at Beaudion’s town halls. As the Trump administration prioritizes reducing the federal workforce, South Dakotans worry an already overwhelmed system will become worse. People are also concerned about proposed changes from the current administration that would require individuals to verify their identity in person at a local Social Security office. The problem, according to Beaudion, is some local offices may close.
The other concern for people in South Dakota is agriculture.
‘Tariffs Will Destroy Us’
Agriculture is the backbone of South Dakota’s economy. According to the USDA, corn, soybeans, and wheat are the top commodities in the state. In 2017, more than 5 million acres of farmland were planted with corn, giving South Dakota the sixth-largest corn acreage among all states.
The livestock industry is also strong, with cattle inventory and sales ranking among the top 10 states in the nation, according to the USDA. On average, the industry generates over $3 billion in annual sales.
But Trump’s trade war has created frustration and confusion among farmers.
“Our farming community is really by these tariffs. These tariffs will impact the relationships that they have worked so hard to build for the last 25 to 30 years, particularly in import and export. The top three countries that we import and export with are China, Mexico, and Canada.”
Getting a farm bill passed is also on the minds of farmers Beaudion is talking to. Farm bills provide a safety net for farmers, including crop insurance and subsidies, ensuring that farmers and ranchers can supply Americans with affordable food.
“South Dakota alone has received almost $10 billion in government subsidies. [Not passing a farm bill] means removing government subsidies. You’re also talking about hiking the price of farm equipment, soybeans, and other agriculture needs as much as 25% to 30%. That’s really going to cripple our community.”
A Campaign Where Everyone Matters
Beaudion’s campaign message is simple: all voices in South Dakota matter. He wants to represent the voices he says are overshadowed, especially in the farming community and in education. If he secures the Democratic nomination, he will be running against Republican incumbent Mike Rounds, who supports dismantling the Department of Education.
Gutting the education department is personal for Beaudion. His father was a public school teacher. He wants to protect teachers and students.
“Getting rid of the Department of Education is dangerous,” he says, adding that he anticipates grants and funding to be cut in half.
“Federal Pell Grants are set to be on the chopping block. My wife and I went to college on Pell Grants. We wouldn’t have been able to get an education without it. Many folks in South Dakota rely on these types of grants and government subsidies to be able to live a productive life in our society.”
He’s aware that some people will call him a “DEI hire” as he puts in the work to garner the support of South Dakota voters and ultimately become the first Black Senator from the state.
“It’s come up a couple of times already, and my response is they’re correct.”
That’s because, for Beaudion, DEI stands for “definitely earned it.”
Of the 2,000 symbols and memorials, 685 are Confederate monuments, according to SPLC’s Whose Heritage? Report.The rest consists of government buildings, plaques, markers, schools, parks, military properties, and other features on streets and highways. When looking at Whose Heritage? Map, there are an overwhelming number of Confederate symbols in the South.
“Our report explores the tremendous harms of glorifying white supremacy in monuments and memorials, from keeping false narratives of racial hierarchy alive to propping up ongoing systemic discrimination,” said Margaret Huang, SPLC president and CEO. “We need spaces of public memory that capture the full truth of our history, especially the struggle for freedom and civil rights.”
Divided on Preserving Confederate Legacy and Symbols
SPLC’s Whose Heritage? The report was revealed as many states celebrate Confederate History Month in April.
Americans are divided on how to preserve the Confederate legacy. A 2024 poll from Public Religion Research Institute shows more than 50% of Americans support preserving Confederate history. The poll also shows 81% of Republicans support preserving Confederate monuments, compared to 30% of Democrats.
More than half of white Americans, Multicultural Americans, and Hispanic Americans support preserving them, compared to just 25% of Black Americans, which reveals a polarized divide along lines of race and party.
Recently, the Trump administration restored former names of two military bases that honored Confederate generals. Fort Liberty in North Carolina was reverted to Fort Bragg. Fort Moore in Georgia was renamed Fort Benning.
“We should not honor those who fought to continue slavery and tear apart our democracy,” Huang added. “It’s on all of us to lead efforts in our own communities to promote truth-telling and reconciliation. Our report serves as a tool to support that critical work.”
Storm Reid Responds To TikTok Troll Who Criticized Her Decision To Go To College
Storm Reid issued a classy flex when explaining her decision to go to college.
Actress Storm Reid issued a classy clapback to one TikTok troll who criticized her decision to attend college, citing the Emmy she won while studying for her degree.
The Last of Us star posted an April 24 TikTok video in response to one user who asked a shady question that downplayed the need for a college degree to obtain success.
“College isn’t a flex, success is. And college isn’t needed to be successful,” the comment read. “College just pushes people into debt. Unless you’re becoming a doctor or something, a lot of people don’t even use their degrees.”
While Reid doesn’t typically respond to negativity on social media, she took time to address this one as she approaches her May 16 graduation from the University of Southern California’s School of Dramatic Arts. The Euphoria star asked a question in return that highlighted her ability to obtain a college degree while also being a successful Emmy Award-winning actress.
“What do we call my success, plus going to college?” Reid replied. “My success plus getting a degree? What are we gonna call that? Let me know.”
“And you’re right, college isn’t for everybody, but it was for me. I wanted to go,” she continued. “I felt like I needed to go. I was able to do that and work full time. I wanted to work and I wanted to further my education, so I did that.”
Reid also emphasized how hard it is to get accepted into USC, which had a 12% acceptance rate when she got accepted, which has since dropped to 8%.
“I’m all for people having their own opinions,” Reid added. “But let’s be real. Let’s tap into reality. I did that. And I also got an Emmy while doing it, in college, 20 years old, junior in college.
“So, babe, again, back to my first question: What do we call being in college— about to graduate, actually — what do we call graduating plus being successful?” she concluded. “What do we call it? I would love to know.”
Reid is still booked and busy. While she won’t be in the third season of Euphoria, she’s set to appear in the comedy Killing Winston Jones and Teyana Taylor’s directorial debut, Get Lite.
Texas Lawmakers Want To Exempt Officers From Being Charged With Deadly Conduct
Texas's GOP-led House is looking to pass a bill that would protect police officers from deadly conduct charges in the line of duty.
Texas lawmakers are working to pass a bill that would exempt police officers from deadly conduct charges when acting in the line of duty.
House Bill 2436 was up for vote in the lower chamber on April 28 after the Senate approved a similar bill earlier in the month, the Texas Tribune reports. The bill aims to protect law enforcement from being prosecuted under a charge originally intended to fight gang violence statewide.
Critics say the bill allows police to use excessive force while on duty. It’s one of several pieces of legislation this session designed to protect police officers that has Republican lawmakers clashing with left-leaning prosecutors. The bill comes in response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s push for local politicians to sign “Back the Blue” pledges and maintain local police budgets.
“It wasn’t intended for that at all,” said Rep. Cole Hefner, the Mount Pleasant Republican who authored the bill. “We want to protect [police officers] in doing the official duties of their job from these prosecutors that may be a little bit politically motivated sometimes.”
“Allowing police to shoot at people without justification will make our community and our law enforcement officers less safe,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza.
“Bad actors and mistakes do happen in every profession and our police officers, our police force, is not an exception to that,” said Yasmine Smith, a vice president of justice and advocacy for the nonprofit Austin Area Urban League. “We must hold those bad actors accountable.”
Earlier this month, the GOP-led House passed Senate Bill 1637, which would exempt officers from deadly conduct charges if they can show they were acting in the line of duty. The bill also allows law enforcement agencies to permanently seal an officer’s conduct records if no disciplinary action is taken.
Black Basketball Players Were Drafted To The NBA 75 Years Ago
Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, Chuck Cooper, and Earl Lloyd played during the 1950-51 season
The NBA has recently celebrated and acknowledged the 75th anniversary of the first three Black players to take the court for the league.
According to Andscape, during the 1950-51 basketball season, three Black men broke the racial barrier when they made their debut for the National Basketball Association: Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, Chuck Cooper, and Earl Lloyd. To acknowledge their feat, the NBA is in talks to celebrate the three pioneers every year, starting next season, during Black History Month.
“I am excited about the fact that we are going to honor the legacy, the courage and determination of these pioneers and also many players that have come after them,” NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) president and New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum told the media outlet. “But it starts with them and how they transformed the NBA and how they inspired players like myself. They faced a lot of extremely difficult challenges from racism to discrimination. But they showed tremendous resolve to overcome these obstacles and still figure out a way to perform at a high level.”
Clifton had the honor of being the “Jackie Robinson” of the NBA as he became the first Black player to have an NBA contract after the New York Knicks purchased his contract from the Harlem Globetrotters in May 1950. Cooper had the distinction of being the first Black player drafted by an NBA team when the Boston Celtics selected him in the second round of the NBA Draft as the 13th overall pick. In that same draft, in the ninth round, with the 101st pick, the Washington Capitals selected Lloyd to become part of their team.
Due to a scheduling issue, Lloyd became the first Black player to play in an official regular season game when he took the court Oct. 31, 1950. Another achievement for Lloyd was becoming one of the first Black coaches when he did so for the Detroit Pistons. He and Jim Tucker were the first Black players to win an NBA title when the Syracuse Nationals won the championship in 1955.
The NBPA plans to release three videos across its social and digital platforms that will celebrate Clifton, Cooper, and Lloyd. Next season, the NBA will honor the three pioneers who transformed the league and made it possible for the ones playing today.
Clarence O. Smith leaves behind a legacy of greatness.
Clarence O. Smith, visionary co-founder of ESSENCE magazine and a pioneering force in Black media and marketing, died April 21 at 92. Smith’s legacy reshaped the landscape of publishing, advertising, and representation for Black Americans.
In 1970, recognizing the absence of media dedicated to Black women, Smith co-founded ESSENCE alongside Edward Lewis, Cecil Hollingsworth, and Jonathan Blount. The publication quickly became a cultural cornerstone, celebrating the beauty, power, and achievements of African American women. At its peak, ESSENCE reached a readership of 7.5 million. Beyond publishing, Smith expanded ESSENCE Communications into several ventures, including the ESSENCE Awards, ESSENCE Television, and the ESSENCE Festival of Culture.
On social media, EBONY magazine honored Smith’s legacy on X, writing, “Clarence O. Smith, co-founder of ESSENCE, has passed at 92. A true visionary, he created space for Black women when few would. His work reshaped media, culture & community. A pioneer whose legacy lives on in every platform that speaks to us, for us.”
Clarence O. Smith, co-founder of ESSENCE, has passed at 92. A true visionary, he created space for Black women when few would. His work reshaped media, culture & community. A pioneer whose legacy lives on in every platform that speaks to us, for us. pic.twitter.com/rl2XCe3jss
Former editor Susan Taylor spoke about Smith’s passing and legacy in a statement to ESSENCE.
He shifted hearts, minds—and investment choices—in the conventional advertising world,” Taylor wrote. “With the income he and his teams primarily generated, we editors were able to grow the magazine’s beauty and depth.”
Born on March 31, 1933, in the Bronx, New York, Smith began his professional journey after serving in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959. He later studied business at the Baruch School of Business and worked for Prudential Insurance in its Investors Planning Corporation.
Smith earned numerous accolades during his career, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Publishing in 1994 and the A.G. Gaston Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine, and their family. Clarence O. Smith’s enduring legacy lives on through the continued celebration and empowerment of Black women in media and beyond.
Malcolm X Letter Responding To JFK Assassination Controversy Sells for $11,344 At Auction
A letter Malcolm X penned after being silenced for his remarks on JFK’s assassination sold at auction for over $10,000.
Malcolm X’s historic, typed and hand-signed letter addressing the backlash he faced for his controversial remarks on JFK’s assassination, sold at an auction for $11,344.
According to the auction website, the April 24 auction by Nate D. Sanders Auctions saw bidding for the letter begin at $7,500 and close after three bids were made. The piece of history, dated Dec. 11, 1963, was crafted by Malcolm X just days after his controversial “chickens coming home to roost” remarks regarding President John F. Kennedy’s assassination that took place weeks prior.
Malcolm X was responding to Gloria Owens, the sister of Maceo X, Owens, secretary at Elijah Muhammad’s Mosque No. 7 in Harlem, New York, where Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan preached. The letter, typed on his personal Malik Shabazz Islamic stationery, highlights Malcolm X’s response to the 90-day suspension from public speaking he received from Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad regarding his remarks about JFK.
“I am still the Minister of Muhammad’s Mosque, but my speaking and public appearances have been curtailed, ‘suspended’ for an indefinite period,” Malcolm X wrote. “Actually, this is for good because for 10 years I have kept a very fast pace, and this is the only way I could ever get any rest.”
He closed the letter with a striking metaphor, reflecting on his suspension and standing firm in his beliefs about JFK’s assassination.
“The only way to stop a rooster from crowing is to stop the sun from rising,” Malcolm X wrote. “When the rooster sees the light, by nature, it is time for him to crow. Once we know who the devil is, it is difficult to keep all that light to ourselves. We just have to crow.”
The revolutionary leader initially made the controversial remarks at a Nation of Islam rally in New York on Dec. 1, 1963. During the speech, Malcolm X criticized America’s history of global violence and referred to JFK’s assassination as “a case of chickens coming home to roost.” Elijah Muhammad took issue with Malcolm X’s remarks after instructing him to remain silent, leading to Malcolm X’s 90-day suspension from speaking or engaging with the press.
