Coogler is an acclaimed director, with films such as Fruitvale Station, Creed, and Black Panther captivating audiences. His latest offering, Sinners, is dominating the box office. The genre-defying vampire drama set in 1930s Mississippi has garnered critical acclaim and achieved significant box office success. The film grossed over $175 million worldwide in its first 2 weeks in theatres.
Yet, the billion-dollar-grossing director has not had an easy road to success. Early in his career, he faced substantial financial hurdles. He’d amassed $200,000 in student debt while attending the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Reflecting on this period on the WTF With Marc Maron Podcast, Coogler revealed, “I was always 200 grand in debt for film school. It was bad,” he said. “We don’t come from no money.”
Despite these obstacles, Coogler’s dedication to storytelling and his unique vision propelled him forward. Sinners, co-written and directed by Coogler, showcases his commitment to blending genres and exploring complex themes. Coogler’s wife, Zinzi Coogler, served as a co-producer, and the film features a score by longtime collaborator Ludwig Göransson.
The film’s success is further amplified by Coogler’s innovative deal with Warner Bros., which includes a first-dollar gross arrangement. This agreement ensures Coogler receives a percentage of the film’s revenue from the outset.
Sinners has been lauded for its originality, with critics highlighting its blend of horror, drama, and Blues music. The film’s minimal second-week drop of 6% is a rarity in the industry.
Coogler’s journey from significant student debt to directing a major box office hit underscores his resilience and commitment to the craft of storytelling. His success with Sinners not only cements his status as a leading filmmaker but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring artists.
WNBA Teams Have Started Waiving Players Before First Preseason Games
The Las Vegas Aces and the Connecticut Sun released several players leading up to the start of the WNBA season.
The next WNBA season is set to start on May 15, and the first preseason game is scheduled for May 2. However, some of the women hoping to make the roster for the season have already been cut before the first contest.
According to SB Nation, as teams look to finalize their rosters in preparation for a championship run at the end of the season, two teams have already cut players without the opportunity to observe their performance in an actual game.
The Las Vegas Aces have sent two players packing about a week before the first preseason matchup. The first person cut from the team was Elena Tsineke on April 24. Although she was drafted in 2023 by the Washington Mystics, she has yet to make it to the regular season with any WNBA team. This may not be her year either. Several days later, on April 30, the team waived Jordyn Jenkins to begin trimming their roster for the 12-woman squad they will have for the start of the season.
The Connecticut Sun brought out their scissors this past weekend when the team waived Morgan Maly on April 26. The team signed her to a rookie-scale contract the previous week. Two days later, the Sun made two more roster moves when they waived Mya Hollingshed and Abbey Hsu.
All teams must finalize their rosters by 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 15. The season officially begins on Friday, May 16, and will run through the summer until Sept. 11.
According to the WNBA, this year marks the highest number of games teams will play, with a record 44 games.
The preseason starts on May 2 with a doubleheader airing on the ION network, featuring the debut of this year’s No. 1 Draft Pick, Paige Bueckers, who the Dallas Wings selected. She and her new team will face off against the Las Vegas Aces at Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center on the University of Notre Dame’s campus.
The second game will feature the Chicago Sky playing against the Brazilian Women’s National Team. The match will be played at LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Angel Reese’s alma mater, and Sky’s second-year player.
Nelly Stands 10 Toes Down In Support Of Donald Trump’s 1st 100 Days In Office
The “Country Grammar” rapper described himself as a "glass half full type of guy” while pushing for American voters to embrace Trump and his leadership.
Despite the initial backlash for performing at the 2025 Inauguration, rapper Nelly called for others to act in the spirit of unity during an interview with Fox News Digital as President Donald Trump celebrated 100 days in office.
The “Country Grammar” rapper described himself as a “glass half full type of guy” while pushing American voters to embrace Trump and his leadership.
“I’m all for everybody staying positive about any and everything,” Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., said. “I’m a glass half full type of guy. I’m more empowered by bringing people together and making sure that we all get what we need, when we need it and why we need it.”
Nelly defended his Liberty Ball inauguration performance with an interview with fellow artist Willie D, saying his respect for the office of president led him to perform. He claims it doesn’t matter who sits in the Oval Office. “It doesn’t matter who is in office. The same way that our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country, have to go to war and have to put their life on the line for whoever [is] in office,” he said.
“So, if they can put their life on the line for whoever [is] in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever [is] in office.”
As social media users attacked his stance, accusing him of doing it just for the money, Nelly answered, revealing that it wasn’t the case. “I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing this ’cause it’s an honor. I respect the office,” he said at the time, according to Billboard.
However, the damage was already seemingly done. During the Grammys weekend in February 2025, singer Janelle Monae went viral when a video from an after-party showed her calling the Grammy-winning artist a “sell-out,” being supported by Anderson.Paak. “F*ck you, Nelly, you sold out,” she rapped.
It didn’t seem to faze him as he labeled his inauguration performance an “honor” and pushed that politics did not influence his decision-making. “The politics, for me, is over. He won! He’s the president. He’s the commander in chief of what I would like to say is the best country in the world,” Nelly continued.
“Now we look to the president to step up, serve, and lift us all.”
The “Hot In Herre” artist isn’t shy about his love for the country, as the St. Louis native was born on a military base. In addition to his father, Nelly comes from a heavy military family. An unidentified source close to the artist revealed that his aunts and uncles “all served in the military for our democracy and the right for us all to vote.”
“Eliminating it would be a regressive and damaging decision—one that erases essential history, silences marginalized voices and contradicts the stated values of public higher education in Georgia,” said Gerald Griggs, president of the Georgia NAACP.
Griggs cast doubt on KSU’s assertion that the changes were a part of an overall “curriculum issue,” or because of “low enrollment” and low “degree output.”
“This is more than a curriculum issue—this is a moral issue,” Griggs said. “We will not stand by while educational spaces critical to Black identity, history, and scholarship are threatened.”
The Georgia NAACP is alarmed by reports regarding the potential elimination of Black Studies Program at Kennesaw State. We have been made aware of an internal memo allegedly indicating this deeply troubling decision, immediate clarification and accountability is needed. pic.twitter.com/K9V3rGmDlL
The decision to deactivate the Black Studies program, announced April 30, comes as Georgia intensifies efforts to limit DEI programs in public education. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission voted to remove terms like “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” from teacher preparation standards, replacing them with phrases such as “fair access” and “opportunity.”
Additionally, the University System of Georgia has prohibited public colleges from requiring DEI statements in hiring processes.
In March, the Georgia Senate passed House Bill 127, which aims to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in public schools and higher education institutions. The bill prohibits policies or procedures based on race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, and bans the promotion of concepts such as social justice and intersectionality. It also threatens to cut funding to institutions that fail to comply, though it lacks clear enforcement guidelines.
Critics argue that such actions erode academic freedom and hinder educational institutions’ ability to address the needs of diverse student populations. They warn that the elimination of DEI programs could have long-term negative impacts on student engagement and success.
Department Of Education Targets Chicago Public Schools In DEI Investigation
Chicago Public Schools is defending its 'Black Student Success Plan'
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has initiated a Title VI investigation into the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), according to a press release from the organization.
The inquiry follows allegations that its “Black Student Success Plan” discriminates against students of other races. The complaint filed by the nonprofit Defending Education asserts that CPS’s initiative is designed to improve academic outcomes for Black students.
Subsequently, Defending Education contends, the plan unlawfully allocates resources based on race. The organization argued that while the plan aims to address disparities, it overlooks the academic struggles of students from other racial backgrounds.
Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said, “Chicago Public Schools have a record of academic failure, leaving students from all backgrounds and races struggling and ill-prepared to meet challenges and enjoy the rewards of contemporary American life. Rather than address its record, honestly, CPS seeks to allocate additional resources to favored students on the basis of race.”
CPS has defended the Black Student Success Plan, emphasizing its goal of addressing long-standing inequities that affect Black students. Additionally, the district noted that the plan was developed through community engagement and is part of the broader effort to ensure equitable educational opportunities.
Steven Schwinn, a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, told ABC 7, “The Black Student Success program seeks to promote academic success for Black students in Chicago Public Schools, not to the exclusion of any other students.”
The investigation takes place amid a national debate over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The state of Georgia has moved to eliminate DEI programs in public colleges, reflecting a broader trend of targeting its efforts.
CPS said it will cooperate fully with the Department of Education. The outcome could have significant implications on how school districts nationwide implement programs aimed at addressing racial disparities in education.
Secrets and Regret Revealed As Defense Attempts To Minimize Murder Charges During Tyre Nichols’ Trial
Former Memphis officer Desmond Mills Jr. took the stand April 29 during the trial of his former colleagues Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith.
Defense attorneys attempted to downplay unnecessary force accusations against three former Memphis police officers involved in the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols, while other involved cops testified to bouts of regret, NBC News reports.
Former Memphis officer Desmond Mills Jr. took the stand on April 29 during the trial of his former colleagues Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith. Mills testified as a witness for the prosecution against the three ex-officers who pleaded not guilty to state charges that include second-degree murder in Nichols’ death. Mills and another involved officer, Emmitt Martin, agreed to plead guilty to the state charges in exchange for not standing trial in a deal with prosecutors.
While on the stand, Mills testified he regrets not stepping in to stop the beating, which resulted in Nichols’ death three days later from blunt force trauma, as described by the official autopsy. Mills acknowledged his duty to intervene but didn’t. “Do you regret that?” the prosecutor said.
Mills replied with, “Yes.”
Footage from a police pole camera of the beating made national headlines and resulted in statewide protests. The 29-year-old Black man was seen being yanked out of his car during a January 2023 traffic stop, in addition to being pepper-sprayed and hit with a taser. After fleeing, Mills, Haley, Bean, and Smith caught up with him and, after apprehending Nichols, the officers were seen punching, kicking, and hitting the victim with a police baton, struggling to handcuff him. Nichols was heard yelling for his mother just a few steps away from his house.
However, during cross-examination, Mills claims Nichols was resisting arrest and not complying with orders to give officers his hands so he could be handcuffed.
Questions from defense attorney John Keith Perry tried to dial back on murder accusations by asking Mills if he would have hit Nichols with the baton if he had put his hands behind his back when asked. Perry also asked if he thought Bean and Smith were holding Nichols in hopes that Martin could hit him. Mills responded with no answers to both questions.
In addition to Mills claiming he and the other officers didn’t feel safe since Nichols wasn’t searched before he fled, other secrets from the investigation were revealed from key testimonies. According to CNN, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) cybercrime expert Derek Miller testified that Haley took a picture of Nichols. At the time, he was propped up on the ground and shared the incident 11 times while having text conversations with eight people about it.
In December 2024, the U.S. Justice Department released results from a 17-month-long investigation that highlighted how the Memphis Police Department has a habit of using excessive force and discriminating against Black people. Mills admitted Nichols never once punched, kicked, or got on top of any officers involved that night.
Shedeur Sanders’ Cleveland Browns Jersey Is Third Best-Selling Among 2025 Draft Picks
Only Travis Hunter, and the number-one draft pick, Cam Ward, have sold more jerseys
The man hasn’t been assigned a uniform number yet, but Shedeur Sanders‘ Cleveland Browns jersey is a big seller.
The NFL Shop posted the top 10 selling jerseys for players selected in the NFL Draft. Shedeur, has sold more jerseys other than the first two picks: quarterback Cam Ward and Colorado teammate and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
“The future is here 🔥 Check out the Top 10 best-selling jerseys from the 2025 NFL Draft! Which rookie are you repping this season? Link in bio 🏈
#NFLDraft #NFLShop”
The remaining seven are: Oakland Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, Carolina Panthers wideout Tetairoa McMillan, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, Giants defensive end Abdul Carter, Green Bay Packers receiver Matthew Golden, Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren, and Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland.
The owners, general managers, and coaches who snubbed Sanders, who was chosen with the 144th pick, may have gotten their selections wrong, but the fans have spoken with their dollars.
Whether that appreciation lasts when Sanders hits the field is another issue entirely.
Sanders was once projected to be the draft’s top pick, but saw his stock fluctuate due to several theories suggested by football analysts and media covering the NFL Draft, including the involvement of his dad and head coach at both Jackson State and Colorado, Deion Sanders, and off-putting behavior during the pre-draft interview process that reportedly irked many teams.
Although he lost the top pick slot, Sanders was still expected to be a top 10 pick, but nobody expected him to last until the fifth round when the Browns, a franchise long plagued with quarterback problems, chose Sanders.
Steve Jones Turns 20 Years Of Hollywood Experience Into A Roadmap For Success
Steve Jones has consistently done the work in Hollywood as a marketing executive, producer, and host. He can now add author to his list of titles
Steve Jones has been a force in Hollywood for two-decades while flying largely under the radar. Now, the multi-hyphenate marketing executive, producer, and author is stepping into the spotlight, and he’s bringing a roadmap with him.
Jones’ start in the industry came by chance, but was driven by sharp instincts. As a student, he spotted a major opportunity when Destiny’s Child’s album leaked online. In the early days of the internet, record labels were scrambling to figure out digital damage control. Jones recognized the gap, took initiative and contacted Music World, and eventually Mathew Knowles. He offered to scrub the album from the internet landing him an internship with Knowles’s company—his first step into the business.
Jones told BLACK ENTERPRISE about working with stars like Jennifer Lopez and Brandy, producing high-profile content for the Oprah Winfrey Network and channeling years of experience into his debut book, Hollywood Confidential: 12 Secrets to Becoming the Star of Your Own Life.
Part memoir and part self-help, the book, which comes out May 6, is an insider’s guide for anyone looking to pursue their passion, especially Black creatives navigating an industry where equity programs are under attack.
“There weren’t resources for people like me when I started,” Jones says. “Now, I want to double down on uplifting and informing the next generation.”
Jones isn’t just reflecting on his legacy, he’s building one. And this time, he’s doing it in full view.
BLACK ENTERPRISE: Why was it important for you to create this roadmap for success?
Steve Jones: I just believe there’s a disparity between white creatives and Black creatives. There are gatekeepers, or there’s a lack of resources available. I thought it was my job, my responsibility, my call to give back in this way and create this roadmap and blueprint for success.
Each section of the book begins with an affirmation and personal anecdotes. What was your creative process for connecting those dots?
Brandy and I became friends, and she gifted me a journal for my birthday. It allowed me to get my thoughts out onto paper and then let God take it from there.
Next thing you know, I started writing affirmations. Then I started posting quotes on social media, and those started going viral. I felt like I could offer up some affirmations and personal anecdotes that might shift the trajectory of someone’s life—or just simply shift their mindset.
Hollywood Confidential is such a powerful space—full of wisdom passed down from experts and legends. Some people overlook those who came before them, but you chose to highlight them. Why?
So many people [in entertainment] weren’t successfully entering or landing their dreams. That was my priority: figuring out how to provide tools, information and resources. Then I thought, we could do two things at once. What if the information, the tools, the resources could come from legends in Hollywood who are willing to give of their time?
A line that really stood out to me was about having the “bravery to prioritize the fulfillment of your dreams.” What does that kind of bravery look like on a day-to-day basis?
It’s moving with intention. It’s about figuring out your “why,” knowing your North Star, and then setting and defending boundaries around that North Star so that you are prioritized.
You can be of service to others, but you have to prioritize the fulfillment of your own dreams above everything else. Because once you get where you want to go, then you have a bigger platform and more resources to give back to the next generation.
The book is broken into 12 chapters: “Courage,” “Optimism,” “Nuance,” “Faith,” “Ingenuity,” “Detachment,” “Endurance,” “Negativity,” Tenacity,” “Intention,” “Allergy,” “Authenticity,” and “Luminosity.” Which one was the most important to you on your journey?
Nuance.
We’re conditioned to believe that we can only do one thing at a time, but the reality is, we’re multidimensional, multifaceted human beings. If I had only stayed a marketing executive, I never would’ve become a television executive. I never would’ve grown into a journalist or a host, because I would’ve had too many limiting beliefs. I think we’re conditioned to lean into those limiting beliefs. That chapter, to me, really has the power to shift lives.
Clarksdale, Mississippi, Inspired ‘Sinners,’ Now Residents Petition For A Screening In A Town With No Open Theater
Clarksdale, Mississippi, inspired Ryan Coogler's "Sinners," but has no way of watching the box office smash due to having no open theater. They're hoping a screening will change that.
A local from Clarksdale, Mississippi, has launched a petition to secure a screening of Sinners because the small, predominantly Black town has no open theater to see the film they helped inspire.
Tyler Yarbrough drove nearly 80 miles—twice—to watch Sinners, Capital B News reports. But for many in Clarksdale, where public transportation is scarce and the median income hovers around $35,000, making a trip to see the film their town inspired isn’t a realistic option. As a solution, Yarbrough launched a petition to ask Ryan Coogler and the Sinners cast to host a screening for Clarksdale residents.
The open letter, addressed to “Mr. Coogler, Mr. Jordan, and the extraordinary Sinners Cast and Crew,” sends an open invitation to visit Clarksdale to witness the legacy that inspired Sinners and host a public screening and celebration.
“We are extending an open invitation to you, the cast, and the creative team behind Sinners to visit Clarksdale, to walk the streets your vision reimagined, to meet the people whose real stories echo through every frame, and to experience firsthand the living, breathing legacy that inspired your work and the people who are sustaining and reimagining its future,” Yarbrough wrote.
He spotlighted several Black-owned arts and entertainment businesses he believes would make great stops on a local tour and shared his hope to collaborate with Coogler and the talented cast behind the film, which has already grossed over $161 million worldwide at the box office.
“We would also be honored to collaborate with you to host a public screening and celebration here in Clarksdale,” Yarbrough wrote. “A homecoming not just for the film, but for the history, culture, and future that continue to define our city and to connect Mississippi creatives with you and your work.”
The petition has quickly gained traction, and just days after its launch, it’s fewer than 2,600 signatures away from reaching its goal.
Suge Knight Will Fork Over $1.5M To Family Of Deceased Hit-And-Run Victim
The former Death Row Records owner has agreed to pay the family of Terry Carter $1.5 million
Former Death Records owner Suge Knight has settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of the man he killed to avoid another court trial for $1.5 million, Rolling Stone reports.
Knight is currently in prison after being convicted of killing Terry Carter in 2015 when he ran over him with a truck near the production office of the N.W.A. biopic, Straight Outta Compton.
The settlement came after Knight said he wanted to go to trial but changed his mind a day before the April 30 jury selection started.
The agreement stipulates that Carter’s wife and two daughters would each get $500,000 from him.
Carter’s wife, Lillian, spoke to the media outside the courtroom after the hearing.
“It’s hard living without him when I lived all those many years with him,” she said. “It’s been very, very difficult. I’ve been in pain ever since January 29, 2015. I haven’t had a good day, not one good day.”
Added, Lillian’s daughter, Nekaya, “I’m glad it’s finally over. It’s been a long, emotional, and mental rollercoaster. We couldn’t put ourselves through it all again. I want to move onward and upward, to get to work like my dad was always saying.”
Knight has always denied that hitting Carter was intentional, claiming he was fleeing the scene after an ambush.
“Terry was a friend of mine. It definitely wasn’t done intentionally. It wasn’t done to bring harm to him,” Knight said from prison to Rolling Stone. “One of the reasons I settled [is] I got respect for Terry, so that means I’ve got respect for his family…I didn’t want to put the family through more pain. It’s not that I did anything wrong. I never would have. But I do owe the family an apology because of this thing they had to go through.”
Knight, 60, is serving a 28-year prison term after taking a plea deal. He was initially charged with murder, but prosecutors agreed to drop the charge to voluntary manslaughter.
