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Harry Belafonte, an elegant actor, talented singer, and activist, has died according to still-developing reports. Belafonte was best known for his dashing good looks and golden voice, but he was also devoted to eliminating the struggles of Black people worldwide.
Harry Belafonte was born March 1, 1927, in New York, NY., and was raised in Harlem by his Jamaican-born parents. Belafonte began his singing career in the late 1940s and found fame in the 1950s, with his signature track, “Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” exploding onto the charts and remains a timeless classic to this day.
Belafonte is survived by his wife, Pamela, who was by his side when he passed, and his children Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer, Shari Belafonte, Gina Belafonte, David Belafonte and two stepchildren Sarah Frank and Lindsey Frank. Belafonte also leaves behind eight grandchildren.
Now a word from Belafonte’s publicist:
Known globally for both for his artistic ingenuity and humanitarian ideals, Belafonte became an early, vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, a confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and financial backer of countless historic political and social causes and events, including the anti-Apartheid Movement, equal rights for women, juvenile justice, climate change and the decolonization of Africa. He was one of the organizers of the 1963 March on Washington and led a delegation of Hollywood luminaries including his best friend Sidney Poitier, as well as Paul Newman, Sammy Davis, Jr, Marlon Brando, Rita Moreno, Tony Curtis, James Baldwin, Burt Lancaster, Joanne Woodward, Diahann Carrol, Bob Dylan, Mahalia Jackson, Peter, Paul and Mary and Joan Baez, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis and Tony Curtis.
To try and capture all the amazing things Belafonte did in his lifetime would nearly be impossible but what should be noted is that Belafonte never tired of seeking justice for his people and all those oppressed around the world.
Belafonte was also decorated heavily within the arts, winning three Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement trophy, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. Belafonte also won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2014, completing the coveted EGOT honor.
Beyond the stage, film, and music, Belafonte also guest-starred on several television shows and his final film role occurred via Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman in 2018.
Harry Belafonte was 96.
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Photo: Getty
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Tucker Carlson, he of slanted opinions and owner of one of the most punchable faces in America, is now out of a job. According to rapidly developing reports, the longtime Fox News host has agreed to part ways amicably with the network, or that is what allegedly happened.
Tucker Carlson, 53, has been a Fox News media team member since 2009 after a three-year stint with MSNBC. Carlson has hosted the Tucker Carlson Tonight show on Fox News since 2016.
Via a statement that was first reported by the Associated Press, Fox News said that they “agreed to part ways” with Carlson, and this announcement comes just after the network settled a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems and how the network reported on the 2020 election.
Carlson, whose show was one of the most popular on the network, aired its last episode this past Friday (April 21).
“We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor,” added the press release from Fox News.
Carlson has attracted plenty of attention as one of the leading voices in so-called conservative media, and also for his on-air gaffes and outward support of former president Donald Trump. Carlson’s departure from Fox News likely wasn’t over the $787 million settlement the network has to pay Dominion Voting Systems However, Carlson did question the network’s coverage of the election and privately stated that he was not a true fan of Trump.
On Twitter, the news of Tucker Carlson leaving Fox News is starting to bubble with reactions from most rubbing a bit of salt in the wound. Given the rise of podcasts that lean right of center coming out, Carlson should be working again in no time.
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Photo: Getty
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Chance The Rapper became a viral hot topic after video footage of him dancing suggestively on women at Jamaican Carnival went wide. On Twitter, the Chicago rapper’s marriage was called into question with some folks acting completely clueless about the nature of these events
Jamaica Carnival wrapped on Tuesday (April 18) with revelers and dancers hitting the road and representing in style. Chance The Rapper was among several celebrities on the island taking in the festivities and one video, in particular, showed Little Chano having a blast behind a beautiful woman. As it stands, this manner of suggestive dancing is normal and even expected during these types of gatherings.
In our search, Chance The Rapper performed the same whine and grind move on other women aside from the video that had everyone talking and questioning the devotion he has to his wife. Some folks on Twitter are clearly clutching their pearls after seeing the footage while some are explaining that these things happen and it shouldn’t be taken for more than what it is.
Thankfully, several people understand what transpired is simply just a dance. Sure, it’s sexually suggestive and over the top, but have you seen what men and women wear at Carnival? Exactly. It’s just good fun at the end of the day.
We’ve got reactions to Chance The Rapper living it up in Jamaica from all sides listed out below.
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Photo: Getty
Alexa, play “Barbie Girl” by Aqua.
Barbie has been a longtime inspiration in pop culture, ever since the first doll revolutionized the toy industry back in 1959. From music to TV and film, the doll’s blonde hair and striking fashion sense has remained a constant in entertainment.
Flash forward to 2023, and a live-action Barbie movie is hitting theaters on July 21. The Greta Gerwig-directed film is set to star Margot Robbie as the iconic Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, and will feature appearances from Dua Lipa, Hari Nef, Emma Mackey, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera and more. The official synopsis notes that the film will follow the tale of the titular doll on a quest to find happiness “after being expelled from Barbie Land for being a less than perfect-looking.”
In celebration of the upcoming Barbie film, we’ve compiled a list of musicians who have dressed up as the doll at one point or another in their careers. See the photo gallery below.
Nicki Minaj
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Nicki Minaj is a huge fan of Barbie (her fans are even called the Barbz), and she channeled her love for the iconic doll in her “Barbie Tingz” music video.
Amy Poehler & Britney Spears
Image Credit: Mary Ellen Matthews/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GI
During a 2002 SNL skit titled “Inside Barbie’s Dreamhouse,’ Amy Poehler appeared as Barbie alongside Britney Spears’ Skipper.
Dolly Parton
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo
Dolly Parton’s 2008 track “Backwoods Barbie” included an accompanying cover photo in which the country superstar is seen lounging in hay in the back of a pickup truck, dressed in a cheetah print mini-dress and pink chiffon robe.
Trixie Mattel
Image Credit: Albert Sanchez
As her name suggests, drag superstar Trixie Mattel is not only a Barbie collector, but also uses the doll as inspiration for her famous look.
Paris Hilton
Image Credit: Venturelli/WireImage
Paris Hilton dressed in theme while attending Jeremy Scott & Moschino Party with Barbie in 2014, with her blonde hair making her a real-life version of the doll.
Kacey Musgraves
Image Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/GI for The Met Museum/Vogue
Kacey Musgraves opted for life in plastic for the 2019 Met Gala theme, Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion.
Rita Ora
Image Credit: David M. Benett/GI
In 2014, Rita Ora wore a Barbie-inspired look for ‘Death Of A Geisha’ hosted by Fran Cutler and Cafe KaiZen with Grey Goose, complete with a pink tiara.
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Jonathan Majors continues to experience a spectacular fall from grace in the wake of an alleged domestic violence incident between the actor and his reported girlfriend. Adding to his woes, both the actor’s talent manager and his PR firm dropped Majors as a client this week.
According to an insider who spoke exclusively with Variety, Jonathan Majors will no longer be repped by Entertainment 360, which served as his talent manager. This comes after PR firm the Lede Company reportedly dropped Majors as a client around a month or so.
All of this comes just as Majors was enjoying the fruits of his acting career along with star turns in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the supervillain Kang The Conqueror and a role in the Michael B. Jordan-directed hit, Creed III. Majors held prominent roles prior to the aforementioned acting gigs and it appeared he was elevating himself to a higher stratosphere.
Majors, 33, was arrested in New York on March 25 after an alleged domestic dispute with a woman reported to be his girlfriend ended in the actor being charged with assault and harassment. Police responded to a 911 call that night with Majors being led away in cuffs. The woman suffered minor injuries to the head and neck according to police accounts.
The legal team for Majors immediately denied the reports of domestic violence and criminal defense lawyer Priya Chaudhry shared a series of texts from the woman that was meant to clear Majors’ name but instead shed more doubt on his innocence according to some.
With the news of Entertainment 360 and Lede Company dropping Jonathan Majors as a client, many on Twitter are seemingly vindicated in assessing the incident as domestic violence and are further condemning the man.
We’ve got those reactions listed down below.
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Photo: Jeff Kravitz / Getty
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Ahmad Jamal, a legendary Jazz pianist who released a bevy of songs heavily sampled in the Hip-Hop sphere, has died after combating prostate cancer according to reports. Ahmad Jamal remained an active and curious musician well into his 80s, including a Kennedy Center set he expertly performed two years ago.
Ahmad Jamal (formerly Frederick Russell Jones) was born on July 2, 1930, in Pittsburgh, Pa. According to biographical accounts, Jamal began playing piano at the age of 3 and became a professional player at 14. Shortly after high school, Jamal’s touring career began and his travels led him to Islam, thus changing his name to Ahmad Jamal and keeping with the Muslim traditions of prayer.
In 1951, Jamal’s recording career would officially begin, culminating in his touring nationally and around the world behind the success of the At the Pershing: But Not for Me album. Jamal was also known as a prudent investor and used his fortunes to make investments across Africa. In 1962, Jamal stepped away from music for more than two years, returning to recording with the release of three albums in 1965, including the acclaimed Extensions album.
In 1973, Jamal released an instrumental version of the theme song for the 1970 film M*A*S*H*, a song originally known as “Suicide Is Painless” by The Mash and featured on the film’s original soundtrack.
The American Jazz Masters award, National Endowment for the Arts gave Jamal an American Jazz Masters award in 1994. In 2007, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts named Jamal a Living Jazz Legend. In 2017, Jamal was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award by The Recording Academy.
Jamal’s music was famously sampled by Hip-Hop acts such as De La Soul, Pete Rock, Nas, 9th Wonder, Earl Sweatshirt, and countless others over the past two decades and more. Jamal’s last official recording was 2019’s Ballades album.
According to a report from the Washington Post, Jamal’s daughter, Sumayah Jamal, confirmed the passing of her father.
Ahmad Jamal was 92.
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Photo: MARTIN BUREAU / Getty
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Netflix, already skating on thin ice with some subscribers for its increased pricing and other issues, found themselves trending on Sunday (April 16) for less than favorable reasons. The popular unscripted series Love Is Blind was expected to air a live reunion episode on Netflix, but technical difficulties held up the show with folks on Twitter frying the streamer for wasting their time.
For those who live away from modern technology or just simply don’t care, Love Is Blind is the brainchild of Nick and Vanessa Lachey and puts together a collective of individuals who go on dates inside pods that obscure what they look like in order to foster a connection of the mind between two people. The social experiment is wildly popular and one of the top series on Netflix due to not only the premise of the show but the participants themselves.
The episodic drama of Love Is Blind built to a fever pitch this past Friday (April 14) with the airing of the wedding episode. We won’t offer spoilers here but a lot of the drama played out much as many expected with the usual twists and turns that the program is known for.
On Sunday, Netflix was supposed to air at 8 PM ET but the hiccups were evident from the start. This prompted the streamer to issue a statement and share that the episode will air today (April 17) at 3 PM ET.
To everyone who stayed up late, woke up early, gave up their Sunday afternoon… we are incredibly sorry that the Love is Blind Live Reunion did not turn out as we had planned. We’re filming it now and we’ll have it on Netflix as soon as humanly possible. Again, thank you and sorry.
The statement sparked a ferocious and often hilarious wave of snark and slander that we’ve captured below. Keep scrolling for those tweets.
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Photo: Getty
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Frank Ocean remains one of the music industry’s most beloved acts as evidenced by the stir he causes on social media at even a mere mention of music or a performance. The singer and songwriter graced the Coachella stages over the weekend but fans on Twitter were miffed because of the lacking livestream options.
Frank Ocean was the headlining act on Coachella’s mainstage on Sunday (April 16) but unlike every other performance before it, the event would not be aired on YouTube or any other streaming platform. The announcement of an actual livestream was teased on Twitter by YouTube but that tweet was deleted and replaced with the tweet below.
On Twitter, disappointed fans aired out their grievances and questioned why Coachella or Ocean would make a decision given that he is rarely seen onstage these days.
Fans in attendance did attempt to capture footage of the performance but some were shut down by security guards and the like. Further, a security guard working the front of the stage ended up becoming a social media hit due to his energetic dancing.
Reports on the ground also revealed that Ocean gave a loving tribute to his late brother, Ryan Breaux, who died of injuries after an automobile accident in 2020 at the age of 18.
Adding to the issues with the livestream, some fans who did catch glimpses of the set were left underwhelmed while others hailed the performance as Ocean’s big return to the masses.
Frank Ocean will headline Coachella again for its upcoming second weekend. No word yet if the performance will be streamed or not.
Keep scrolling to see the reactions from Twitter below.
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Photo: WWD / Getty
1. Hit the quote tweets. People were upset.
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Bow Wow, a former Hip-Hop prodigy and child actor, has taken lumps over the course of his career to the point some believe the Snoop Dogg and Jermaine Dupri protege to be a struggle rapper. A Twitter user posted a meme this week featuring fellow alleged struggle rappers, prompting some on Twitter to come to the defense of Bow Wow.
In a tweet merely designed to throw not-so-subtle shade at rappers not known for their lyrical ability, Twitter user @polo_man404 shared a meme featuring the images of Ice Spice, Bow Wow, Blueface, and Lil Yachty among others, and captioned the image with, “You got a 8-hour trip & can only listen to 1.”
It should be noted that RaphouseTV took a swipe out of @polo_man404’s playbook and retweeted the same meme to millions of views, which is actually kind of foul but whatever.
These types of Twitter memes typically garner a lot of engagement because everyone rushes to pile on with jokes or terrible takes. However, something happened that the user probably didn’t intend. In some of the responses, fans of the rapper born Shad Moss began to shoot down Bow Wow being lumped together with rappers who haven’t achieved as much as he has.
In all fairness, Bow Wow definitely earned the right to be distanced from the rappers on the aforementioned meme considering he has a number of gold and platinum plaques on his walls. The 36-year-old star and father of one didn’t exactly help himself after some ill-advised social media choices but what can’t be stricken from the record is the fact this man has made hit tracks.
Check out Twitter standing up for Bow Wow below.
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Ice Spice already has a number of TikTok-ready hits that landed her on the charts and she’s still cooking up more joints for the masses in her still-growing career. After getting a strong salute from Nicki Minaj, the hit-making Queens native hopped on the remix for Ice Spice’s buzzing “Princess Diana” track, and the fans are loving the collaboration.
The original “Princess Diana” appears on Ice Spice’s Like…? EP and features the Bronx star talking heavy as she’s known to do over bouncy, club-ready production. Many may try to front, but Nicki Minaj is back in top form using all of her vocal dexterity to full effect on the remix, even dropping her voice to lower registers and adopting Spice’s Drill flow.
We’re not exactly sure of the timeline but Minaj showed her support of Spice by retweeting the “In Ha Mood” star’s cover shoot for Dazed magazine, writing in the caption, “Gag. The People’s PRINCESS [crown emoji]. catch it!!!” which Spice retweeted writing back, “ya heard da QUEEN [crown emoji] [red heart emoji].”
Fans speculated that a collaboration would be in development and those wishes were answered with the drop of the remix on Friday (April 14).
Below, we’ve captured reactions to the “Princess Diana” remix and listed them out below.
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Photo: Getty/@starthestar