Tag Archives: Celebrities

Jay Ellis And Deborah Ann Woll Reveal Their Ideal “Escape Room” Partners

Source: Global Grind / Global Grind Back in October, Global Grind spoke to Jay Ellis about his new movie “Escape Room” in theaters January 4th. The film stars Jay Ellis alongside Deborah Ann Woll, Taylor Russell, Tyler Labine, Logan Miller and more. The movie is about a group of individuals who are chosen to participate in an extreme escape room for their chance to win a million dollars. However, there is a lethal twist to these rooms and they all find out that attempting to escape comes with a huge price. When we talked to Jay Ellis about “Escape Room” in October, we asked the star to choose three celebrities he’d take into an escape room with him. He chose: Idris Elba  because he’s strong, chiseled and smart. These are all great things you’d want in someone you’re trusting your life with. John Legend  is also very smart. They don’t call him the Legend for nothing. Niecy Nash  will keep things fun and she’s very motivating. Motivation is key when trying to figure out puzzles and complete obstacles in an escape room. Niecy Nash is an amazing choice. When asked who he absolutely would not take on his Escape Room adventure, Jay Ellis says he’ll need to leave  Neil Brown Jr.  aka Chad from Insecure , at home. According to Jay, it’s much too risky. He and Neil are real live friends and they’d probably spend the entire time goofing off with each other to really get anything done. As an update to our Escape Room question, we got the chance to sit down with Jay Ellis and his co-star, Deborah Ann Woll to ask them which of the film’s characters they would have liked to participate in an escape room with. Deborah Ann Woll was the first to answer. She tells Global Grind,  “I’d pick Mike (Tyler Labine). I mean, obviously you pick Zoe (Taylor Russell) because Zoe is going to get you out alive, but I think Mike’s character is good because he keeps the levity. When things feel like you’re all going to die, it’s nice to be able to have a laugh.” Jay Ellis also chose which character(s) he’d like to do an escape room with. His answer was a little different from Deborah Ann Woll’s but he had very good reasons. Press play on the video above to check out his answer and make sure you watch “Escape Room” when it hits theaters on Friday, January 4th.

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Jay Ellis And Deborah Ann Woll Reveal Their Ideal “Escape Room” Partners

The Real MVP: Questlove Clarifies Why He Declined Participating In ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ Docuseries

Source: Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Questlove Explains His Decision To Not Be In R. Kelly Doc Questlove  is doing his part to send a clear message: He is not trying to protect R. Kelly and he never has. The Roots member is facing some mild backlash this week for declining to appear in  Surviving R. Kelly —the Lifetime docuseries centered on Kelly’s sexual abuse allegations. Executive producer and showrunner, Dream Hampton, recently told  Shadow and Act  that a number of prominent artists had turned down interviews for six-part series–which is why so many people praised John Legend for his participation. Hampton  previously elaborated saying her team reached out to celebrities who had either collaborated with the disgraced R&B star or who were critical of him. “John Legend was the only one [who participated],” she told  Shadow and Act . “I asked Jay-Z, I asked Mary J. Blige, I asked Lil Kim, Erykah Badu, Dave Chappelle […] I mean, most people just don’t want to touch it. I remember Ahmir [“Questlove” Thompson] was like, ‘I would do anything for you but I can’t do this.’ It’s not because they support him, it’s because it’s so messy and muddy. It’s that turning away that has allowed this to go on.” Fans were quick to jump on social media,  immediately expressing their disappointment in celebrities and their noncooperation–of course including Questlove. While it’s safe to assume that some of these musicians or former collaborators declined to be in the doc because they support Kelly, Quest insists that is not the case. “I always thought Kels was trash. My reason for declining the RKelly docu that I support 10000000 percent is I didn’t wanna be in the ‘good times’ portion of the doc, like stanning for his ‘genius,’” Questlove wrote in a now-deleted Twitter. “I was asked to talk about his genius. I do not nor have I EVER stanned for him” He continued on to say, “Just wanna make that abundantly clear in a non ‘he doth protest too much’ way. That quote makes it look like I’m protecting him. I’m thinking ‘damn I don’t wanna be the one guy I always am in documentaries fawning over someone I detest.’ So make ZERO mistake on my positioning.” Questlove deleted his tweets shortly after Hampton responded, where she insists she didn’t ask the Roots percussionist to talk about R. Kelly’s musical prowess. She quoted Quest’s tweet responding, “I didn’t ask you about his “Genius.” I’ve never thought he was a genius. I asked you to come on camera and say the same thing you said on Twitter. I told you I need Blake male allies.” Though the stories here don’t seem to add up completely, it seems like Questlove was taking his precautions since he usually takes the role of “talking about (insert name here’s) musical genius” and didn’t want to come off the same way in this instance.

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The Real MVP: Questlove Clarifies Why He Declined Participating In ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ Docuseries

Suspect Sketch Released In 7-Year-Old Jazmine Barnes’ Murder

A suspect sketch and clearer video of the man police believe shot and killed 7-year-old Jazmine Barnes on Sunday has been released and the nation as well as Harris County deputies want the man found. In a meeting with the media on Thursday, Jazmine’s mother LaPorsha Washington provided a new description of the suspect. She said he was a white man with blue eyes, wearing a black hoodie and looked “sick” and skinny. Washington also said that the man did not have on glasses and did not have a beard, which was previously reported. Celebrities such as Gabrielle Union, Ava DuVernay, Bun B and more have called on people to help solve her murder. Shaquille O’Neal and DeAndre Hopkins are set to cover Barnes’ funeral costs. Jazmine died after investigators say someone in a red, four-door pickup truck pulled alongside her mother and three sisters as they sat in a car near a Walmart along the east Beltway and Wallisville Road and fired. The truck has yet to be found. A Justice for Jazmine rally has been planned for Saturday at noon in the parking lot of the Walmart on the East Beltway. On Tuesday, January 8, a viewing is planned for Jazmine at 10 a.m., followed by a public funeral at noon to be held at Green House International Church at 200 W. Greens Rd. Purple balloons will be released to the sky in honor of Jazmine and all murder victims in Houston and Harris County following the service. For any information regarding this case, call Crime Stoppers at 713-221-6000 or 713-222-TIPS RELATED: Shaquille O’Neal, Houston Officer To Cover Cost Of Jazmine Barnes’ Funeral RELATED: DeAndre Hopkins Pledges Playoff Game Check To Help With Jazmine Barnes’ Funeral Costs RELATED: $100,000 Reward Offered For 7-Year-Old Jazmine Barnes’ Killer IMAGE CREDIT: HSCO

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Suspect Sketch Released In 7-Year-Old Jazmine Barnes’ Murder

Jussie Smollett Fights To Save Bennett College From Losing Accreditation

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T here are several historically Black colleges and universities across the country that have experienced financial woes , and celebrities are stepping up to save them. After learning that Bennett College—an all-women HBCU—was on the brink of losing its accreditation, actors Jussie Smollett and his brother Jake Smollett stepped in to help the institution, Essence reported. A total of $5 million is reportedly needed by February 1, 2019 in order to keep the school in good standing: https://t.co/oV1sFmPDll — ESSENCE (@Essence) December 24, 2018 According to the news outlet, the school—which was founded in 1873 and became a women’s institution in 1926—needs to raise $5 million by February 2019 to stay afloat. The Smolletts took it upon themselves to use their platforms to spread awareness about what’s happening at Bennett College and motivate individuals to pitch in and help save the school. Jussie posted a photo of both him and his brother donning shirts that read “Stand With Bennett” accompanied with a caption that read “In the 1930s we had 121 #HBCUs now we’re at 101. Don’t let us be down to 100 if #BennettCollege, who has made the education of black women a priority since 1926, closes its doors.” Bennett College President Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins hopes that they can raise enough money to not only save the college from closing but keep the college’s doors open so that they can continue to educate, empower, and inspire leaders for generations to come. “We look forward to working with partners who understand that their investment supports the education of deserving young women whose potential is only limited by the opportunities we give them,” said Dawkins in a statement, according to the news outlet. “Our challenge is great. Our time is short. Our resolve is mighty.” The Smolletts aren’t the only celebrities who are showing their support for HBCUs and their students. Beyoncé generously donated thousands of dollars to fund scholarships for HBCU students. Most recently, the cast of “A Different World” presented a $100,000 check from Ford to Southwestern Christian College in Texas. SEE ALSO: Beyoncé Awards Eight HBCU Students With Scholarships ‘A Different World’ Cast Presents HBCU With $100K Scholarship Check [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3838831″ overlay=”true”]

Jussie Smollett Fights To Save Bennett College From Losing Accreditation

Bre Payton, Fox News Commentator, Dies at 26

Bre Payton, a writer for the Federalist and a contributor for Fox News, died on Friday in San Diego. She was 26 years old. Details are still coming in and the exact cause of death is unknown at the moment. “Bre Payton, our beloved staff writer for The Federalist, passed away on Friday in San Diego, California, following a sudden illness,” the online magazine wrote in a statement published on its website last night. The publication added that it was “heartbroken and devastated” over the news, continuing: “Bre brightened the lives of everyone around her,” this same statement said. “She was joyful, hard-working, and compassionate, and she leaves behind friends and colleagues for whom she brought nothing but sweetness and light. Payton also worked for One America News, a conservative outlet on which she would occasionally fill in as a guest host. Discussing the details surrounding Payton’s death, California-based congressional candidate Morgan Murtaugh said she found Payton unresponsive on Thursday and called 911. She then learned the fate of her friend the following day. “Thank you everyone for your prayers,” Murtaugh tweeted, adding: “It is with a heavy heart that I type this. Unfortunately Bre has passed. Please send prayers to her family. Rest in paradise you beautiful soul.” Prior to her passing, Payton was battling the flu and “possibly meningitis,” according to a profile on CaringBridge.org, USA Today reported. Following the tragic news of her death, a number of political figures expressed their sympathy on social media. Here is Meghan McCain, for instance: Ben and I are absolutely gutted and horrified by this news. Our prayers for @Bre_payton and her family. We are less vibrant without her— in every possible way. A wonderful, fearless, vibrant, intelligent young woman. Sending prayers to all of her family and friends during this darkness. Fox News host Shannon Bream also spoke out on Payton’s death writing, “I cannot believe this” and expounding as follows: @Bre_payton was such a beautiful light, smart and funny and kind and talented. Please pray for her broken hearted loved ones, who are undoubtedly reeling. She was far too young. Payton graduated from Patrick Henry College in 2015 with a degree in journalism, according to The Federalist. She joined the news outlet shortly after and quickly moved up to a political commentator featured on Fox News Channel, Fox Business Channel and OANN. The late journalist is survived by her parents George and Cindy Payton as well as her siblings James, Jack, Christina and Cheekie. May she rest in peace. View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2018: In Memoriam

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Bre Payton, Fox News Commentator, Dies at 26

Kathryn Dennis Celebrates Christmas Morning Alone With Kids

Disgraced former Southern Charm star Thomas Ravenel will stand trial for sexual assault , and he is also being sued for the same incident. His baby mama and ex, Kathryn Dennis, is making the best of Christmas for their two very young children. She even shared a series of sweet Christmas photos. See them for yourself: “Real life,” Kathryn Dennis captioned this short series of pictures. In the pictures, she poses alongside her very young children. Her daughter, Kensington Calhoun Ravenel, is four years old. Her son, Saint Julien Rembert Ravenel, is is only two. As you can see, both are decked out in festive attire for the occassion. Kathryn also put the photos into context and sent a message with her tags. “#Christmasfamilyphoto,” Kathryn writes. “#reality.” She is a star of reality television, but Kathryn places herself among a growing number of reality stars who use social media to share this message: Reality television is not real life. Not for the first time, Kathryn is reminding her fans and followers that what they see on camera is just that. It’s entertainment. Her real life — her reality — revolves around her two precious children. Of course, there are other, less pleasant parts of Kathryn’s life these days. She is engaged in a court battle for primary custody of Kensie and Saint. According to Kathryn’s court filings, Thomas goes through “periods of impulsive and uncontrollable bouts of anger.” That is something that matches up with what multiple people, including his own friends and former castmates, have said. Kathryn’s court documents say that Thomas struggles with “extreme narcissism and anger management problems.” Per the court accusation, she also accuses him of relying “upon the use of full-time nannies.” And that is not the end of it. Court documents allege that Thomas “has drunk alcohol to excess, mixed with prescription drugs, that has caused him to be impaired.” Partying on your own time is fine, but she says that Thomas has done this “during periods of time in which he had custody of the children.” That might be mitigated if he is relying upon full-time nannies, but ti’s not exactly encouraging. Combined with everything else, including the two accusations of sexual assault, and it doesn’t paint a pretty picture of Thomas as a man or as a father. Thomas, however, hit back. Thomas argued that Kathryn made these court arguments “in bad faith.” He went on to argue that Kathryn did so “for the purpose of garnering media attention.” Thomas even alleged that Kathryn was bent toward “creating material for her storyline on  Southern Charm  and ensuring her marketability as a ‘reality TV star.'” Kathryn’s priority is her children. Everything else is secondary. Because celebrity court battles are so very public, it is not uncommon for one party to argue that the other is just trying to feed a media frenzy. Sometimes, the men who make these arguments are just bad dudes. One thing that we should point out about these Christmas photos is that we don’t know who took them. It could be anyone — hired help, a friend, or any family member. It could also be Thomas Ravenel himself. Sometimes, parents set aside their differences on holidays, especially when young children are involved. That said, it appears that Thomas and Kathryn held separate Christmases for their children at separate homes. A wise decision. View Slideshow: Southern Charm Season 6: Everything We Know About the Return of Reality TV’s Most Scandalous Show!

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Kathryn Dennis Celebrates Christmas Morning Alone With Kids

Celebrities Who Died in 2018: In Memoriam

Below is a tribute to celebrities we have lost in the year 2018. These entertainers are gone, but will never be forgotten by their fans. May they rest in eternal peace. 1. Anthony Bourdain Anthony Bourdain, world traveler, celebrity chef and CNN journalist, was found dead at the age of 61 in June. There was perhaps no greater star in the food world, and no more unique an individual around. 2. Aretha Franklin Arguably the greatest singer EVER, Franklin died in August after a brave battle against cancer. 3. John McCain The heroic U.S. senator lost his battle with brain cancer at the age of 81. May he rest in peace. 4. Kate Spade Kate Spade is pictured here back in 2008. The designer very sadly killed herself years later at the age of 55. 5. Mark Salling Mark Salling took his own life. The Glee star was 35. 6. Jerry Van Dyke May Jerry Van Dyke rest in peace. The actor, pictured here in 2002, has died at the age of 86. View Slideshow

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Celebrities Who Died in 2018: In Memoriam

Bird Box Memes Hilariously Take Over Twitter

Bird Box took Netflix by storm over the holidays. In the film, Sandra Bullock is one of the survivors of a worldwide phenomenon in which treachurous entities inflict madness upon people who see them. To survive, she and the others — including two children — blindfold themselves almost all of the time. She also takes a box of birds small birds with her. The birds alert her when the entities are nearby. Viewers were haunted by what they saw. Even celebrities were not immune. Others were merely perplexed or critical. And a lot of them were downright thirsty. Take a look: 1. Let’s start with the Crowned Queen of Twitter Chrissy Teigen could just as easily have had this nightmare after watching Netflix’s The Dragon Prince, if fan theories are correct, but she makes it very clear that this deeply anxious dream came from Bird Box. 2. She watched the film as a mother Children in peril can be a powerful motivator for audiences — thoughs some see it as a cheap and manipulative tactic, others see it as a vital component of telling a good suspense story. 3. Chrissy’s no stranger to horror, either Even devoted horror fans have their weaknesses, and Bird Box got to Chrissy. 4. There’s a lot to process Sometimes examining a story for what appears to be problems with worldbuilding can be a welcome distraction from absolute terror. For Zelda Williams and John Legend, it’s also just part of consuming media. 5. Movies can stay with you Clearly, Chrissy is still recovering. 6. But enough about terror; let’s talk about THIRST Trevante Rhodes played Tom in Bird Box. As a fellow survivor, he and Malorie end up forming a close bond … before he sacrifices himself to save her and her children. View Slideshow

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Bird Box Memes Hilariously Take Over Twitter

Alien Invasion? People Are SHOOK After What Happened In NYC Last Night [Video]

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Source: Anadolu Agency / Getty Last night, NYC was completely freaked out when the dark sky suddenly turned blue. All of a sudden we were in our own special episode of The Flash , wondering if Dr. Wells’ particle accelerator exploded, hoping the end result would be super speed—while non-superhero fanatics simply thought “the aliens” were taking over. It turns out, there’s a simpler explanation, as the New York Police Department confirmed the sky’s color change was due to a transformer explosion at a Con Edison facility. So this fire(?) is turning the sky blue in #NYC #UES pic.twitter.com/tnBdD83erm — Ferny Acevedo (@MrClimaCool) December 28, 2018 “ADVISORY: The lights you have seen throughout the city appear to have been from a transformer explosion at a Con Ed facility in Queens. The fire is under control, will update as more info becomes available,” the NYPD tweeted on Thursday, December 27. Con Ed also reached out via social media, tweeting “There was a brief electrical fire at our substation in Astoria which involved some electrical transformers and caused a transmission dip in the area. We’re currently investigating the cause of the incident. AQ.” As of late last night, the NYPD was still advising everyone to stay away from the area. “Transformer explosion was determined to be a non-suspicious equipment malfunction. Please continue to avoid the area due to keep traffic clear. Thank you,” they wrote in a follow-up tweet just before midnight. Hit the flip for the funniest responses (celebrities and all) and to get another look at the turquoise blue sky…people are not at all satisfied with the “transformer explosion” explanation. And just for the record, we too, definitely think the aliens have landed.

Alien Invasion? People Are SHOOK After What Happened In NYC Last Night [Video]

Kandi Burruss Pays Tribute To Aunt That Passed Away

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Source: FayesVision/WENN.com / WENN Text “RICKEY” to 71007 to join the Rickey Smiley Morning Show mobile club for exclusive news.  ( Terms and conditions ). Losing someone isn‘t easy and over the past several weeks we‘ve heard about the passing of several known celebrities. Kandi Burruss always shows off her family on social media and on “ Housewives of Atlanta .” Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Close Thank you for subscribing! Please be sure to open and click your first newsletter so we can confirm your subscription. Email Submit According to Bravo TV , the singer took to social media to ask fans for prayers as her Aunt Hazel passed away. She said, “I lost my Aunt Hazel this morning. Why does it always seem like we lose loved ones around the holidays? Please keep my family in your prayers.” I lost my Aunt Hazel this morning. Why does it always seem like we lose loved ones around the holidays? Please keep my family in your prayers. https://t.co/ovPjdMMDUZ — Kandi Burruss (@Kandi) December 27, 2018 Kandi didn’t provide any information as to how she passed, but we will keep her and the family in our prayers. See photos of Kandi below. ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : Trina Braxton’s Ex-Husband Gabe Solis Dead At 43 He Put A Ring On It: Safaree Proposed To Erica Mena With This Massive Rock [PHOTOS] Report Claims Wendy Williams’ Husband May Be Expecting Child With Another Woman [ione_media_gallery src=”https://rickeysmileymorningshow.com” id=”1948067″ overlay=”true”] Follow @TheRSMS

Kandi Burruss Pays Tribute To Aunt That Passed Away