Source: NurPhoto / Getty If you’re still on the Kanye West roller coaster this week, you know it’s been non-stop random announcements , shallow proclamations and of course new music from him. One out-of-nowhere tweet included a picture of Kanye with a shaved head. He said that his new look was inspired by the Parkland shooting survivor and activist Emma González . my hero Emma Gonzalez pic.twitter.com/aSdFmraenU — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 29, 2018 inspired by Emma pic.twitter.com/TiZMthLK92 — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 29, 2018 However, despite the acknowledgement, Emma was not here for all the praise. Instead, she paid respect to another hero and managed to shade Kanye at the same time (whether it was her intention or not). my hero James Shaw Jr. pic.twitter.com/BRnuYEURdv — Emma González (@Emma4Change) April 29, 2018 That’s right, Emma showed love to James Shaw Jr. , the unarmed guy who stopped a gunman at a Tennessee Waffle House shooting . While Emma never responded to Kanye directly, her shifting the attention to James could be a dig at Yeezy who’s been openly proclaiming his “love” for Donald Trump . This is the same Trump who wants to arm teachers in the classroom and has yet to announce any major plans on gun control. But okay Kanye. Smh.
Source: Marvel/Disney / Marvel/Disney Avengers: Infinity War raked in $630 Million on opening weekend and it was the one thing your Twitter timeline couldn’t stop talking about. Unfortunately, there were still a ton of people who haven’t seen the film. Compare that to the ton of people who saw the film and wanted to talk through their mourning, it was almost impossible for the two groups to coexist on the timeline. The only solution was to drop spoilers on the timeline without actually spoiling the film for others. That’s how ‘Infinity Wars Spoilers Without Context’ became the weekend’s trending topic. Here’s an example: #InfinityWar spoiler with no context pic.twitter.com/xSH1ErTu0O — Niko. (@Niko_Shooow24) April 28, 2018 Flip through for even more spoilers with absolutely no context.
Source: Mike Marsland / Getty Letitia Wright isn’t new to dropping some rhymes whenever a freestyle session pops off. Now the Black Panther breakout star is going up against a rap legend and an experienced talk show host to test her true skillz. Watch her freestyle with Black Thought and Jimmy Fallon below to find out if she lives up to the challenge!
With the record-breaking successes of critically-acclaimed films such as Get Out, Black Panther, Creed and Moonlight, which not only boast black lead actors but also black directors, many believe that Black Hollywood has finally arrived. By “arrive”, they mean films telling stories about black people and created by black people with black lead actors prove can perform well at the box office both domestically and internationally. We sat down with actor, Laz Alonzo, one of the stars of the upcoming thriller film Traffik, and the film’s director Deon Taylor, to talk about how and if Black Hollywood has changed for the better. Check out the video above.
(Photo by Brian Stukes/Getty Images) Multi-Platinum selling R&B artist SAMMIE taps into TANK’S “When We” and delivers a ‘Remix to the Remix.’ In this explicitly-charged remix, Sammie turns up the heat on his bedroom behavior. The young lion was not afraid to express his sexual desires – and gets right to the point. Hit the button below to hear “When We,” a Remix to the Remix. What did you think?
Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images) Ryan Coogler Executive Producing ‘Creed II’ Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler JUST finished promoting ‘Black Panther’ together and now they are back together again working on ‘Creed II’ Jordan headed back into production on ‘Creed II’ this Monday alongside Tessa Thompson and Sylvester Stallone who are also reprising their roles in the Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures sequel. In case you missed the first film, Creed II is the continuation of the Rocky saga and sequel to the 2015 critically acclaimed and crowd-pleasing 2015 hit Creed, which took in more than $170 million at the worldwide box office. Coogler, who directed the first film, returns to the franchise as an executive producer on Creed II, while the new film is being directed by Steven Caple Jr., who helmed the acclaimed 2016 drama The Land. “When I wrote and directed Creed, I wanted to tell a human story about a family from a new perspective, while also paying homage to the Rocky characters we’ve all grown up knowing and loving. I’ve known Steven was an amazing filmmaker since our days at USC film school together, so I can’t wait to see what he, Sly, Mike and Tessa bring to this next chapter,” said Coogler. Caple Jr. said, “It’s an honor to be a part of the franchise and work with such a thoughtful team. I got involved because I’ve always been a Rocky fan and I enjoy stories with heart and substance. But when Ryan put his touch on Creed I felt another level of connection to the franchise. It started to feel personal for many different reasons. This next Creed is a tale beyond the boxing ring and dives deeps into family, legacy, and fears. I’m excited to share my view and collaborate with the talented cast and crew.” “Ryan and Steven are voices for their generation and their shared vision for Creed has brought the Rocky franchise to an entirely new audience. We know audiences will continue to embrace the legacy that Sly created so many years ago,” said producer Irwin Winkler. Here’s a synopsis of the sequel: Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history. Also reprising their roles from the first film are Tessa Thompson as Bianca, Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne, Wood Harris as Tony ‘Little Duke’ Burton, and Andre Ward as Danny ‘Stuntman’ Wheeler. The new cast is rounded out with Florian “The Big Nasty” Munteanu as Viktor Drago, Dolph Lundgren returning to the role of Ivan Drago, and Russell Hornsby as Buddy Marcelle. Creed II will be distributed theatrically in the U.S. by MGM on November 21, 2018, and Warner Bros. Pictures will distribute the film internationally. Caple Jr. directs from an original screenplay written by Stallone based on characters from the Rocky franchise. The film is produced by Irwin Winkler, Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Kevin King-Templeton and Stallone. Coogler, Jordan and Guy Riedel will executive produce.
The highly-anticipated comedic pairing of Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish is closer to becoming a reality, as the official trailer for their film Night School has finally arrived. Watch the trailer for upcoming @KevinHart4real – @TiffanyHaddish comedy film, 'Night School' https://t.co/adJ0ywQfFl pic.twitter.com/GQ62GbMrJc — Shadow and Act (@shadowandact) April 3, 2018 Tiffany Haddish is one of the most in-demand names in Hollywood these days, thanks to her scene-stealing and star-making turn in 2017’s hit Girls Trip . One of her first film projects since that film is the comedy Night School where she stars with funnyman Kevin Hart. Shadow and Act has the film’s synopsis, release date and the laughter-inducing trailer. Via Shadow and Act: The official trailer has been released for ‘Night School ,’ the comedy film starring Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish [hitting theaters in September.] Based on a story by Hart, the comedy from director Malcolm D. Lee and producer Will Packer follows a group of misfits who are forced to attend adult classes in the longshot chance they’ll pass the GED exam. Rob Riggle, Taran Killam, Yvonne Orji, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Ben Schwartz and Romany Malco join Hart on-screen for the film that Hart produces for his Hartbeat Productions, and Packer via his Will Packer Productions. It’s a re-teaming of Packer and Lee who also assumed the same roles for the blockbuster hit, ‘Girls Trip.’ Check of the FULL-LENGTH trailer BELOW: Night School arrives in theaters on September 28. Meanwhile, you can catch Tiffany Haddish this week in the premiere of her new TBS series The Last O.G. alongside comedian Tracy Morgan. Check out today’s Top Stories below: Suicide Rates On The Rise In Puerto Rico Following Hurricane Maria Meek Mill To Remain In Jail Following Bail Request Denial
It’s been a tough few months in the life of Ben Affleck. Come to think of it, it’s been a tough couple years for Beantown Benny, but for brevity’s sake, we’ll stick to the more recent misfortunes. The latest round of headaches that likely has been dejectedly vaping in a Dodge Charger somewhere has to do with Ben’s back tattoo . Now, this is a saga that’s been going on for years, but only came to a head this past week, when some candid shirtless beach photos confirmed that Affleck lied about the tattoo being “fake for a movie.” We may never know what possessed Ben to have a giant, colorful phoenix etched into his flesh, but it’s not hard to figure out why he decided to lie about it: The tattoo is a big ugly mistake – not unlike the film Gigli – and Ben quite understandably wanted to cover it up. Mistakes, we all make them – but that doesn’t mean we’re exempt from getting flamed on social media when we screw up. And more followers means more haters, a lesson Ben learned the hard way, as trolls came out of the woodwork to rag on his horrendous ink. To make matters worse, now those cronut-munching Niles Crane wannabes at The New Yorker are having a go at poor Ben. In a piece published last week entitled – we sh-t you not – “The Great Sadness of Ben Affleck,” columnist Naomi Fry roasted the Batfleck within an inch of his life. Was the article meant to be funny? We think so, but it’s hard to tell with The New Yorker – a publication which remains stubbornly convinced that sketches of wild animals complaining about oaky chardonnay are the stuff of droll hilarity. Fry critiqued the photos mercilessly, ragging on Ben’s “pooching” gut and the “blue-gray towel … wrapped protectively around his midsection—recalling a shy teen at the local pool.” Yes, like her magazine’s famous cartoons, Fry’s piece won’t make you laugh , necessarily, but if you’re a certain type of smug, you may find yourself tempted to share it on Facebook as evidence of your wit and sophistication. But hey, Ben’s able to laugh at himself, even when the jokes at his expense aren’t exactly Carlin-caliber. Affleck has dealt with a lot of criticism over the years but it seems he couldn’t resist letting the dwebs of the Upper East Side know that they’re rubber and he’s bat-glue. “@NewYorker I’m doing just fine. Thick skin bolstered by garish tattoos,” Affleck tweeted at the magazine today. Ben knows you have to hit these nerds where it hurts – right in the vocabulary. Very perspicacious of you, homey. View Slideshow: 27 Tattoos These Celebrities May One Day Regret
Black Panther Has Officially Broken U.S. Super Hero Box Office Record And now, the record of The Avengers shall be stripped ehweh. Black Panther continues breaking records, and this milestone is a huge one. Following another successful week at the box office, the Marvel film is now officially the top earning superhero film ever in North America, according to reports from The Hollywood Reporter . The beloved film achieved this milestone on Saturday, passing by Marvel’s The Avengers , which made $623.4 million at the domestic box office back in 2012. Ryan Coogler’s directorial masterpiece also boast the bragging rights of being one of seven movies ever to gross over $600 million domestically. T’Challa and his crew are doing great in the global box office, as well. Deadline reported on Thursday that Black Panther became the 14th movie ever to cross $1.2 billion internationally–it’s set to surpass Iron Man 3 ( which made $1.214 billion) to become the third highest grossing superhero movie ever worldwide, behind only The Avengers ($1.5 billion) and Avengers: Age of Ultron ($1.4 billion). Congrats to the whole cast and crew for their major achievements that just keep rolling in. Luckily for the film’s hoards of fans, we can catch some of Black Panther’s main characters in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War next month.
We know the above headline is likely to make you laugh. But this is a serious matter. This is the story of a real tragedy that took place in Great Britain. According to various news outlets, a 24-year old father named Ateeq Rafiq was seeing a movie in Birmingham, England on March 9 when he dropped his cellphone between two reclining seats. When Rafiq bent down to pick up the item, the footrest on the electrically-powered seat clamped down on his head, reports the Birmingham Mail newspaper. The horrific incident took place at Vue Cinema at Star City, the outside of which is pictured below. Said a spokesperson for the venue in a prepared statement: “Following an incident which took place on Friday 9 March at our Birmingham cinema, we can confirm that a customer was taken to hospital that evening. “We are saddened to learn that he passed away on Friday 16 March. “A full investigation into the nature of the incident is ongoing. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family who have our full support and assistance.” How could this possibly have happened? A source familiar with the situation described what transpired thusly when speaking to the aforementioned publication: “The Gold Class seats are electric reclining seats. He bent down to look for his phone. “At this point the leg-rest was in an upright position. But as he stuck his head underneath to have a look, the footrest clamped down onto his head. He was stuck. “His partner and staff tried to free him but couldn’t. The chair leg-rest was eventually broken free and he managed to get out.” From there, Rafiq was taken to a local hospital. He passed away several days later from injuries sustained in this freak accident. The victim’s family is devastated by the loss, says sister-in-law Fatima Arzo to The Daily Mirror. “We are grieving and completely in shock. My sister is in pieces,” she told the newspaper, adding: “We are grateful to everyone who tried to help him, and at the moment we are praying and trying to come to terms with the fact we lost a loved one.” The cinema complex at Star City where this took place features 25 screens, including three Gold Class rooms where the emphasis is on comfort and luxury. Reads the official website: “The Gold Class ticket price includes complimentary popcorn during your film and is strictly for over 18’s, offering luxury seating with a fully licensed bar and an enhanced viewing experience. “Gold Class customers are welcome to visit the Gold Class bar to enjoy a drink before and during the screening.” Our thoughts go out to the family of Ateeq Rafiq. May he rest in peace.
