Kelly Rowland
Netflix are reportedly moving ahead with their Building the Band reality series following the recent passing of judge Liam Payne.
News of Building the Band first broke in August 2024, with Netflix revealing they had recruited Payne as a judge for the show alongside the Pussycat Dollsâ Nicole Scherzinger and Destinyâs Childâs Kelly Rowland. The Backstreet Boysâ AJ McLean was also confirmed to host.Â
Planned to film over the summer, the seriesâ novel concept revolves around bringing together a number of talented singers and tasking them with crafting their own bands without ever seeing each other. Through the use of isolated booths, the singers would then have to select their bandmates based upon musical compatibility, connection, chemistry and merit.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
âAnd when the bands finally do meet, how will looks, choreography, and style come into play?â asked a press release. âExpect plenty of drama, next-level artistry, and unforgettable performances.â
Trending on Billboard
Following the untimely passing of Payne in October 2024, it was confirmed the seriesâ filming had wrapped in the U.K. earlier in August, though its future appeared unclear.
Now, Netflix have reported they will be moving ahead with the series as planned, The Hollywood Reporter confirms.Â
Though the streaming platform stated they never had announced plans to shelve the show, their issue instead revolved around how prominently Payne would feature in the aftermath of his passing.Â
Netflix reportedly hosted a âspecial presentationâ regarding the series in Los Angeles on Wednesday (Jan. 29), during which Netflix Vice President of Nonfiction Series and Sports Brandon Riegg explained that the platform had been involved in conversations with Payneâs family about how to handle his role in the show.
Currently, no premiere date for the series has been announced, though Riegg reportedly claimed there would be more to say about the matter in the future.
Payne passed away in Argentina on Oct. 16 following a fall from a hotel balcony. Earlier this month, a U.K. inquest into Payneâs cause of death returned a finding of âpolytraumaâ, which refers to multiple traumatic injuries to a personâs body and organs.
To date, five people have been charged in Payneâs death, including the January arrest of Braian Piaz, one of two men accused of supplying drugs to the singer. The others charged to date include CasaSur Palermo Hotel manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi and Payneâs friend Roger Nores, all of whom are facing manslaughter charges; hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra has also been charged with supplying drugs to the singer.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Kelly Rowland was the subject of Internet chatter after she was observed getting into it with an usher at this yearâs Cannes Film Festival. The singer and actress has since made a public statement after the incident, stating that she was standing her ground.
The image of Kelly Rowland pointing and having what appeared to be a loud discussion with the Cannes Film Festival usher went viral this week and even sparked some meme fodder. It wasnât understood at the time what happened but Rowland, speaking with the Associated Press, explained her side of events and even alleged that women [i.e. not Black] who didnât look like her were not treated the same.
âThe woman knows what happened. I know what happened. I have a boundary and I stand by those boundaries and that is it,â Kelly Rowland said to the AP at the Cannes Film Festival. âAnd there were other women that attended that carpet who did not quite look like me and they didnât get scolded or pushed off or told to get off. I stood my ground and she felt like she had to stand hers. But I stood my ground.â
From what was seen on video footage, Rowland was instructed twice by an usher to vacate the red carpet section at the Palais des Festivals and motioned her to take the stairs into the theater. Then a group of ushers swarmed her and essentially guided her to the stairs. At that moment, Rowland gave one of the ushers a piece of her mind.
Rowland observed a difference in treatment but stopped short of calling it race-related but the suggestion rings clear in her statment.
The video of Kelly Rowlandâs comments can be viewed below.
[embedded content]
â
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: Lionel Hahn / Getty
One thing to know about former Destinyâs Child singer Kelly Rowland is that she is not the oneâor the two, three, four or five. In fact, you might as well just stop counting.Â
Source: Stephane Cardinale â Corbis / Getty
On Tuesday, the Mea Culpa actorâwho let it be known in February that she wonât be hosting any networkâs little TV show if her dressing room isnât up to par and her needs arenât being metâalso let it be known that she wonât be treated any kind of way by a security guard at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
Hereâs what happened, according to HuffPost:
Unverified video showed what apparently riled up the âMea Culpaâ actor. Rowland, beaming in an eye-catching red dress, smiled, waved and played to fans and photographers.
Sheâs motioned by one crowd-control person to move on and Rowland continues to enjoy the attention. Again the guard motions for her to move forward.
Rowland climbs the stairs and takes the hand of a companion and turns back to wave to fans again. Two other security guards close in to hasten her ascent and Rowland appears to touch the shoulder of one of them as if to tell her to back off.
She then points at her and continues to reprimand her. Another security guard intervenes as Rowland appears to talk firmly and point. Finally, she enters the Palais.
On one hand, security guards do have a job to do, and if the crowd is getting moved along, celebrities shouldnât be exempt. On the other hand, they probably wouldnât have tried to do Beyonce like that while she was interacting with fans, and there are certainly a lot ofâhow should I say itâmelanin-deficient celebrities who security also would have likely been more accommodating for.Â
Alsoâcome on yâallâlook how fine she was in that red gown.
Nahâgo on and let Kelly strut, security.
Now, some people might be debating whether or not Rowland was out of line, but when it comes to the collection of digital Black voices formerly known as Black Twitter, there really is no debate. Kelly Rowland is just one of those people we donât play about.
Here are some of the best responses in support of Kelly. Yeah, we rock with Kelly over here. Yâall better stop trying her.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Penske Media / Getty
Gloria Carter, the mother of Jay-Z, married her long-time partner in front of a star-studded crowd of guests.
According to HipHopDX, Carter walked down the aisle with Roxanne Wilshire on Sunday night (July 2nd) in New York City. The â99 Problemsâ rapper and entrepreneur was in attendance front and center with Carterâs daughter-in-law, BeyoncĂ©. The pair were part of a glamorous guest list, which included actress and singer Kelly Rowland, Tyler Perry, Good Morning America host Robin Roberts, talent manager Corey Gamble (sans girlfriend Kris Jenner), and Tina Knowles. The ceremony and the reception reportedly lasted well into the night.
The wedding is another momentous step in Gloria Carterâs journey, which Jay-Z shed light on in the track âSmileâ from 4:44, released in 2017. Initially, she wasnât too pleased with the track according to Jay-Z in an interview on âThe Shopâ in 2021. âIt changed the dynamic of our relationship,â he shared. But she and her son talked and understood how vital the message in the song was for people to have a better understanding of the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community. âLiving in the shadow feels like the safe place to be. No harm for them, no harm for me. But life is short, and itâs time to be free. Love who you love, because life isnât guaranteed,â Carter said in the song about being a lesbian and the difficulties she faced.
Ms. Carter related the story while at the 29th GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) Media Awards in 2018. She was there to accept the Special Recognition award given to âSmileâ on behalf of her son, and introduced by Robin Roberts. She went into detail about her hesitancy about the situation, and how meeting Wilshire was a moment that helped her change her stance. âHere I am. Iâm loving. Iâm respectful. Iâm productive and Iâm a human being who has a right to love who I love,â she said to close the moving speech. âSo everybody â just smile, be free. Thank you and God bless.â
HipHopWired Radio
Our staff has picked their favorite stations, take a listen…
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty / BeyoncĂ© and Kelly RowlandÂ
Beyoncé is traveling the globe on her Renaissance Tour, but she is still taking time out to care for the less fortunate in her hometown of Houston with help from her sis, Kelly Rowland.
Spotted on HipHopDX, the Destinyâs Child members are coming together to tackle Houstonâs housing crisis and will assist in creating 31 permanent housing units that will live in Houstonâs Midtown area.
Per HipHopDX:
The Knowles-Rowland housing development will also receive funding â nearly $7,000,000 â from the American Rescue Plan.
âHarris County and the city of Houston, jointly with the coalition for the homeless, have reduced homelessness in the middle of the pandemic by 20 percent, and weâve been able to hold that reduction,â Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a press conference held on Tuesday.
She continued: âItâs initiatives like this one I certainly will be supportive of no matter whoâs behind it, but itâs especially interesting, I think, because there are these names of BeyoncĂ© and Kelly Rowland, who, of course, have been supportive of the community for a very long time.â
The website also reports that when BeyoncĂ© and her Renaissance Tour touches down in Houston, there will be an âeven bigger launch,â according to Hidalgo.
Housing will not be the only thing provided for future complex residents. They will also have access to âcase managers, peer specialists, service specialists, and support services, like transportation, mental health, physical and behavioral health support.â
Very dope.
BeyoncĂ©âs world tour wrapped in Warsaw, with the North American leg of the tour kicking off in Toronto before heading to Philadelphia (July 12). See the full list of tour dates by heading here.
â
Photo: Kevin Mazur / Getty
HipHopWired Radio
Our staff has picked their favorite stations, take a listen…
Audible is taking music contests and audio storytelling to a whole new level with Breakthrough, the first audio-only singing competition series developed and launched exclusively as a podcast.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The company revealed exclusively to Billboard on Wednesday (March 1) that Grammy-winning superstars Kelly Rowland and Sara Bareilles have joined Breakthrough as judges. On the show, the duo will guide the contestantsâ performances, as well as mentor the artistic development of five artists through a season of musical challenges. As expected with the âaudio onlyâ format, the physical appearance of the performers is concealed, so their music is the only thing to connect them to listeners (and the judges too).
Over the course of nine episodes, the artists will be challenged with covering tracks that mean the most to them, stretching to genres outside their comfort zones, and writing and recording hooks and full original songs â with one artist ultimately crowned the winner. Throughout the series, Daveed Diggs will guide listeners through the contestantsâ journeys as the host.
âI am so thrilled to be joining this group of wildly talented people for Breakthrough,â Bareilles said in a press statement. âI love that the creative team are on the same journey as our audience â getting to know these artists without seeing them â developing a sense of their artistry through only their music and storytelling. These five incredible souls showed up to each challenge with courage and vulnerability that invited us all into a remarkably intimate space, and I learned so much from them. No matter where you are in your career it is always inspiring to witness someone reach for the deepest parts of themselves and be willing to share that tender space.â
Rowland added, âI am so happy to be a part of this series that highlights and gives a voice to emerging artists. Audible is an ideal space for this and Breakthrough is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to up-and-coming musicians. Iâm rooting for them all!â
Breakthrough premieres June 1 on Audible. Before then, check out an exclusive audio teaser below.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: Variety / Getty / Kelly Rowland
The devil works hard, but Tyler Perry and his typewriter work harder. The Emmy and Honorary Oscar winner is hard at work on his next Netflix project, and itâs boasting some Black star power.
Spotted on Deadline, the next Netflix project written, directed, and produced by Tyler Perry, Mea Culpa, is coming. It will star Kelly Rowland (Think Like A Man), Trevante Rhodes (Moonlight, The Predator), Sean Sagar (The Gentlemen), Nick Sagar (The Princess Switch trilogy), and RonReaco Lee (Nappily Ever After).
The film follows an ambitious criminal defense attorney trying to become a partner at the law firm and takes on a case of an artist who possibly killed his girlfriend.
Mea Culpa is the fifth feature from Perry at the streaming giant. It follows Six Triple Eight, A Fall From Grace, A Madea Homecoming, and A Jazzmanâs Blues.
Six Triple Eight is a drama based on the true story of an all-Black, all-female, World War II Battalion that went into production last month and will see Kerry Washington star in the film and serve as an executive producer as well.
Kelly Rowland Is Back In Her Acting Bag
Rowland, a Grammy and Billboard Music Award-winning artist, has again caught the acting bug. She starred in Freddy vs. Jason, The Curse of Bridge Hollow, and Bad Hair. She was also in previous episodes of The Equalizer, L.A.âs Finest, A Black Lady Sketch Show, American Soul, and Empire.
Rhodes gained stardom after his stellar performance in Barry Jenkinâs Academy Award-winning film Moonlight and other films Bruiser, The United States vs. Billie Holiday, Bird Box, The Predator, and 12 Strong.
He was most recently seen in the controversial HULU series Mike portraying Mike Tyson.
â
Photo: Variety / Getty
Kelly Rowland is taking a moment to shout out her fans for always defending her.
During a Wednesday interview on Hot 97âs Ebro in the Morning With Laura Stylez and Rosenberg, Rowland was asked by Peter Rosenberg how it felt being compared to BeyoncĂ© while in and out of Destinyâs Child.
âEveryone who gets into the entertainment business gets into it to be the man,â Rosenberg said to Rowland. âIt does take an ego check, and you happen to be standing next to the brightest light on planet Earth. You think Big Boi from Outkast has it tough being next to AndrĂ© [3000]? Youâre with BeyoncĂ©, and not only did you not fight it, it seems like you really embraced the position that you were in and took it seriously.â
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Rowland had the perfect response, telling Rosenberg: âHereâs the thing. Light attracts light. I am light, so I am a beautiful brown shining light, so I donât think anybodyâs light dims anyone elseâs. I think that when other people start to compare you, I think that thatâs when it shows you how dim they are of themselves. So I donât take somebody else trying to dim my light anymore for anybody else. I love Bey, I know that sheâs a light, but I know that Iâm a light too.â
Rosenberg added: âItâs also created such an interesting role for you. You could have rested on your laurels and just been like, âHey, Iâm part of this iconic group. My best friend is the biggest star in the world. We kick aâ, weâre awesome.’â
âAnd her best friend-slash-sister is one of the big stars in the world too. People only see things one-sided ⊠we both shine together,â Rowland replied, explaining that there is a place for several Black women at the top of the game. âNow everybody is starting to take the hit of and starting to believe this thing where ⊠âOnly one woman can do this and they shine the biggest.â My sister has knocked down doors and made positions for so many women that look like her, that are a deeper shade than her, but specifically for Black women and put Black women in other places weâre grateful for. But also somebody else did that for her, and another group has done that for us. And I do it for other brown girls, so itâs a cycle and a space for all of us to open up doors for each other instead of compare. Donât be so limited.â
Following the interview, Rosenberg faced several negative comments via social media about his questions to Rowland, with many highlighting the singerâs talents outside of being in a group alongside BeyoncĂ©. Once Rowland caught wind of her fans defending her online, she tweeted on Thursday (Nov. 17), âHave The most amazing day Twitterville!!! Thank you all for your Love & support!  I know yaâll got my back! And that made me do a happy dance this am! Let me see your happy dance!! Hereâs mine!â
Rosenberg later tweeted out a personal apology to Rowland for his words on the program. âI messed up. Sorry @KELLYROWLAND ⊠wasnât remotely my intention but intentions donât always matter. I will take the L,â he wrote, adding that he will âstill [be] playing Nelly and Kelly at my wedding.â
Watch Rowlandâs interview on Ebro in the Morning With Laura Stylez and Rosenberg in the video above, and see the tweets regarding the matter below.
Have The most amazing day Twitterville!!! Thank you all for your Love & support! I know yaâll got my back! And that made me do a happy dance this am! Let me see your happy dance!! Hereâs mine! pic.twitter.com/rQHwTTPwFnâ KELENDRIA ROWLAND (@KELLYROWLAND) November 17, 2022
Kelly called him out to his face & he still didnât get it. Even, Marsai Martin caught it. Outside of Destinyâs Child, Thee Kelly Rowland is an international superstar, actress, author & businesswoman! Sheâs been in this industry 25+ years & in 2022 youâre still comparing? đ€ŠđŸââïž pic.twitter.com/1n2GjSXwhNâ Jerome Trammel, MBA (@MrJeromeTrammel) November 16, 2022
The whole asking Kelly Rowland about BeyoncĂ© is absolutely old and I need journalists and hosts to reallly get a grip and start asking Kelly about Kelly!â đđąđđ§-đđšđźđąđŹđ„ (@ratedRIAN) November 16, 2022
I want hosts to find another angle when interviewing Kelly Rowland. Weâve witnessed the âsecond fiddle to BeyoncĂ©â storyline for decades and itâs honestly redundant and highlights a lack of creativity when approaching interviews with someone over 20 years deep into their career https://t.co/qD6g7fpbNFâ Nicolas-Tyrell Scott (@iamntyrell) November 16, 2022
You know whatâs funny to me is I donât know anyone else whoâs wasnât the lead in there group who is a successful as Kelly Rowland my sister always has always been booked regularly and looks the exact same way she did in 01 glad she got him together! https://t.co/Fq4qqcFlB3â Cocolo Minaj (@evilrashida) November 17, 2022
Kelly Rowland joined Jennifer Hudson on the American Idol alumâs brand new talk show this week, and the duo took part in a fun rapid fire game.
Amid showing off her Toni Braxton impression, and a story detailing how nervous she was to perform in front of Muhammad Ali, Rowland shared which member of Destinyâs Child sheâd recruit to help her commit a crime.
After debating in her head for a minute, the âMotivationâ singer replied, âI mean, weâve seen Bey in a ski mask,â referring to BeyoncĂ© and her husband Jay-Zâs promotional video for their On the Run tour. âI believe her with the ski mask on.â
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Later on in the interview, Rowland recalled what she called a âbad parenting momentâ with her seven-year-old son Titan, when she took him to see The Curse of Bridge Hollow, a comedy horror film starring her and Marlon Wayans. âI thought since Iâm sitting right there with them weâre fine,â she explained. âBut thereâs a scene in a movie where mommy looks like sheâs about to go to the other side and basically Titan goes âMommy!â Like it was a whole release.â
Rowland said her son cried for a few minutes, as he believed it could be real. âI was like âYo, Iâm right here, Iâm right here. Iâm not going nowhere,â and he was like, âNo.â It was a whole moment,â she said. The singer went on to call Beyâs mom, Tina Knowles, who gave her some tough motherly love about the situation. âSheâs like, âWell, why the hell you do something like that?â She didnât understand why I even shot a movie,â she shared. âSheâs like, âItâs Halloween, baby, you donât do that no more.ââ
Watch below.
-
Pages