A multi-part documentary about the journey of Colin Kaepernick directed by legendary filmmaker Spike Lee for ESPN is being shelved by the network, according to a statement from ESPN, shared with Reuters. 

“ESPN, Colin Kaepernick and Spike Lee have collectively decided to no longer proceed with this project as a result of certain creative differences,” said the statement. 

Spike Lee was asked about the documentary’s fate on the red carpet for the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation dinner, in Beverly Hills, last week and said, very forthrightly, “It’s not coming out. That’s all I can say.” When pressed further, he dropped a bit of legalese into the mix. 

“I can’t. I signed a nondisclosure. I can’t talk about it.”

Well, I guess that’s ‘that’ on that, as they say. Kaepernick’s representatives said the athlete had no comment on the matter.

The documentary, commissioned in 2020 and which began production in 2022, was intended to be a “first person account,” interview-style film that documented Kaepernick’s journey. Colin Kaepernick became a lightning rod for controversy after he started kneeling for the national anthem in 2016 as a silent, peaceful protest of police brutality in America. His weekly protest drew both praise and condemnation from nearly every part of the country and became fodder for sports media, cultural media, and news media on nearly a weekly basis. By 2017, President Trump (who’d been elected in November 2016, succeeding President Barack Obama) had very choice negative words for NFL players who continued Kaepernick’s protest, going so far as to suggest that fans leave stadiums if they saw players kneeling.

In 2016, Kaepernick was the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers but by 2017, he was out of the league and unable to find a new home after opting out of his contract with the 49ers. The prevailing thought around the league was that his political activism would be too much of a distraction to the fan base of the most popular league in America. In 2019, he settled a lawsuit with the NFL, claiming that owners colluded to keep him out of the game.

In September 2024, Puck News ran a story titled, “Da Saga of Spike Lee, Colin Kaepernick & ESPN”—the documentary was reportedly titled “Da Saga of Colin Kaepernick”—noting several issues with the project, claiming that Lee’s scheduling issues and differences over the creative direction of the project stifled its progress. At the time, Puck even claimed that ESPN was allegedly open to shopping the 7-episode series elsewhere.

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Hulu’s new limited series, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, is stirring up a lot of buzz as it nears its August 20 premiere. In an effort to explore the heavy weight, humanity, and passion of this story, we at Where Is The Buzz had the unique honor of speaking with series lead stars Grace Van Patten, who plays Amanda Knox, and Giuseppe De Domenico, who plays Raffaele Sollecito. What follows is an open, insightful, and surprisingly warm conversation on topics of accountability, chemistry, and the art of dramatizing one of the most famous cases of our century.

Grace Van Patten spoke about playing Amanda Knox, saying, “It was a blessing and a huge responsibility.”

Acting the role of someone like Amanda Knox goes beyond the scope of a normal acting project; it becomes a cultural lightning rod. The case held headlines for over a decade, and during that process, Amanda’s humanness oftentimes got lost behind sensationalism. Grace Van Patten did more than play the role; she inhabited it.

“It really was a blessing to have Amanda on our staff,” Grace told Nakia. “Her honesty and frankness were impressive, and I have to say, I was surprised at how much the media had influenced her story. The fact that she trusted me with her story was such a huge privilege.”

Her focus was not on revisiting the courtroom drama that had long been open to the public eye; instead, Grace wanted to present audiences with something they hadn’t seen before: Amanda’s complex inner life. “The media never revealed her real feelings,” Grace explained. “I wanted everybody to see how she was really dealing with it emotionally and, hopefully, get some sympathy for her.”

Giuseppe De Domenico talked about creating a bond with Grace, calling it “a gift.”

For actor Giuseppe De Domenico, who played Amanda’s ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, filming required precision and a very personal connection. First on his mind? The chemistry between those two characters. But looking back now, he says, that chemistry came easily with Grace.

“It was a gift. A true gift,” Giuseppe grinned, his face shining with warmth. “We came from opposite ends of the earth, practiced different professions, and still, from the very initial moment we practiced together, it seemed we had an emotional attachment. An attachment.”

Grace interrupted, remembering how their on-screen chemistry had been instantaneous. “It was immediate. This romance was the turning point in the middle of the script, and working with Giuseppe was like we’d been doing it all along. Particularly when we filmed that last scene in episode eight—it’s still one of my favorites to look back on.”

The commitment of the couple to portraying Amanda and Raffaele as beings outside the boundaries of tabloid caricature gives the series a deep, human resonance. Instead of reducing them to simply notorious figures defined by the crime, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox shows them as two young hearts caught in a storm that forever changed the direction of their lives.

Redefining the Narrative: Shifting from Sensationalized Reporting towards the Human Story

The interview went beyond gossipy behind-the-scenes morsels of information. It attempted to restore a story diminished by gossip, sensationalized headlines, and unchecked speculation. Nakia stressed that, at the beginning of the case, the public had been denied a chance to really know who Amanda and Raffaele were beyond the melodrama of the courtroom. Grace and Giuseppe agreed; that lack was exactly what they wanted to fill.

“Human beings know the headlines,” said Grace, “but they ignore the human element. They ignore the trauma, the psychological cost. That’s what we sought to shed light on.”

The Hulu moment you just can’t miss.

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox defies the normal boundaries of true crime stories. It fearlessly re-examines a case that many thought they knew. Led by key players like Warren Littlefield (The Handmaid’s Tale), Monica Lewinsky, and Amanda Knox herself, this series carefully dismantles sensationalism around the events to find within it a story steeped in truth, trust, and lasting scars of unfairness.

Towards the conclusion of the interview, Nakia provided an insight that future viewers would definitely treasure: “We finally get to see the human side.”

Under the direction of Grace Van Patten and Giuseppe De Domenico, Hulu’s new limited series is more than entertainment; it becomes a deep cultural reckoning.

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox streams August 20, only on Hulu. See the full interview with Grace Van Patten and Giuseppe De Domenico:

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Noir Nation, the love was hella real for Chris Brown as he pulled off a major moment — packing MetLife Stadium for night one of the highly anticipated Breezy Bowl in New Jersey!

🙌 50,000 Strong — A Night for the History Books

With well over 50,000 loyal Team Breezy fans in attendance, this wasn’t just another stop on his sold-out tour — it was a cultural milestone. Fans who’ve been riding with him since day one filled every seat, every aisle, and every corner of the stadium, creating an electric energy that could be felt from the stage to the nosebleeds.

On a recent evening in Senegal ‘s capital of Dakar, an imam named Ibrahima Diane explained to a group of men why they should be more involved in household chores.

“The Prophet himself says a man who does not help support his wife and children is not a good Muslim,” the 53-year-old said, as he described bathing his baby and helping his wife with other duties.

Some of the 14 men chuckled, not quite sold. Others applauded.

Diane was taking part in a “school for husbands,” a United Nations-backed initiative where respected male community members learn about “positive masculinity” in health and social issues and promote them in their communities.

In Senegal, as in many other West African countries with large rural or conservative populations, men often have the final say in major household decisions, including ones related to health.

Women may need their permission for life-changing decisions on accessing family planning or other reproductive health services, along with hospital deliveries or prenatal care.

Following his sessions at the school for husbands, Diane regularly holds sermons during Friday prayers where he discusses issues around gender and reproductive health, from gender-based violence to fighting stigma around HIV.

“Many women appreciate my sermons,” he said. “They say their husbands’ behavior changed since they attended them.” He said some men have told him the sermons inspired them to become more caring husbands and fathers.

Habib Diallo, a 60-year-old former army commando, said attending the sermons and discussions with the imam taught him about the risks of home births.

“When my son’s wife was pregnant, I encouraged him to take her to the hospital for the delivery,” Diallo said. “At first, he was hesitant. He worried about the cost and didn’t trust the hospital. But when I explained how much safer it would be for both his wife and the baby, he agreed.”

No more barking orders

The program launched in Senegal in 2011 but in recent years has caught the attention of the Ministry of Women, Family, Gender and Child Protection, which sees it an effective strategy to combat maternal and infant mortality.

“Without men’s involvement, attitudes around maternal health won’t change,” said 54-year-old Aida Diouf, a female health worker who collaborates with the program. Many husbands prefer their wives not be treated by male health workers, she said.

The classes for husbands follow similar efforts in other African countries, particularly Niger, Togo, and Burkina Faso, where the United Nations Population Fund says it improved women’s access to reproductive health services by increasing male involvement, growing the use of contraceptives by both men and women and expanding access to prenatal care and skilled birth attendants.

Discussions for men also have focused on girls’ rights, equality and the harmful effects of female genital mutilation.

The program now operates over 20 schools in Senegal, and over 300 men have been trained.

In some communities, men who once enforced patriarchal norms now promote gender equality, which has led to a reduction in the number of forced marriages and more acceptance of family planning, according to Senegal’s ministry of gender.

Men join the groups after being recruited based on trust, leadership and commitment. Candidates must be married, respected locally and supportive of women’s health and rights.

After training, the men act as peer educators, visiting homes and hosting informal talks.

“My husband used to not do much around the house, just bark orders. Now he actually cooks and helps out with daily tasks,” said Khary Ndeye, 52.

Still too many dying in childbirth

While maternal and infant deaths in Senegal have declined over the past decade, experts say it still has a long way to go. It recorded 237 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in 2023, while 21 newborns out of every 1,000 died within their first month. The U.N. globally wants to reduce maternal deaths to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births and newborn deaths to under 12 per 1,000 by 2030.

One key problem was that many women have been giving birth at home, said El Hadj Malick, one of the Senegal program’s coordinators.

“By educating men about the importance of supporting their wives during pregnancy, taking them to the hospital and helping with domestic work at home, you’re protecting people’s health,” Malick said.

He said he still experiences difficulty changing mindsets on some issues.

“When we just talk to them about gender, there is sometimes tension because it’s seen as something abstract or even foreign,” Malick said. Some men mistakenly believe such talk will promote LGBTQ+ issues, which remain largely taboo in much of West Africa.

“But when we focus on women’s right to be healthy, it puts a human face on the concept and its becomes universal,” Malick said.

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Cherie DeVille has been running this industry longer than half of your favorite TikTokers have been alive. She’s got more than 1,500 credits to her name, exclusive deals with Brazzers, and an advocacy resume that would put most politicians to shame. The woman has earned degrees from the University of Hartford and the University of Saint Augustine, a board seat with the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee, and a dog-loving, Dungeons & Dragons-playing domestic life in L.A. And yet, here she is, still shaking trophies in 2025 with two brand-new XMA Awards for “Best Sex Scene.”

I spoke with Cherie for a no-bullshit conversation about porn’s politics, death, and why you’ll never kill an industry that people pretend to hate but can’t stop watching.

Age Verification Laws: The Fun Police Strikes Again

WTB: With the UK’s recent rollout of stricter age verification laws tanking site traffic, do you think the U.S. might pull a copycat move? How would that hit the industry in terms of money, viewership, and safety?

Cherie: “What will likely happen is that this will punish actors and companies who follow the laws. Anytime you push prohibition, you create a black market. Bad actors will emerge, often based overseas where the West lacks jurisdiction, and these groups will ignore the law. You already see this in U.S. states with age verification laws. Pornhub follows the law; XVideos doesn’t. These laws don’t stop minors from viewing porn, they just harm the legal porn world and reward criminals.”

Translation? Governments love to pretend they’re protecting kids while basically throwing a bag of money to pirates and shady overseas sites.

Clout Chasing or Sexual Liberation?

WTB: Lately, social media is frothing over extreme sex “challenges,” people bragging about sleeping with 1,000 men in one day. Is this liberation, or just dangerous clickbait?

Cherie: “So long as performers follow the law and everyone is safe, I believe they should be allowed to voice their free speech and create their stunts. The First Amendment protects everyone, including those I disagree with.”

So yes, if Bonnie wants to break her pelvis in a stunt marathon, that’s her right. But Cherie is clear: safety first, clout second.

Porn: Already Mainstream, Baby

WTB: With your University background and activist work, do you think porn will ever truly be accepted as art, or will moral crusaders always drag it into the gutter?

Cherie: “Porn has already gone mainstream. Bonnie Blue is on the cover of the Times of London magazine, the UK’s snootiest publication. Porn is here to stay, whether people like it or not.”

She’s not wrong. adult film stars aren’t just in the shadows anymore, they’re in your group chats, on your magazine covers, and being quoted in Rolling Stone. Respectability politics who?

Death, Stigma, and Survival

WTB: The adult industry has seen far too many performer deaths linked to suicide and overdose. What changes are most urgently needed to protect mental health in porn?

Cherie: “It’s true, there are mentally unwell people in the industry. But there are mentally unhealthy people in all industries. Because of the stigma associated with porn, every tragedy becomes symbolic of the entire industry.”

In other words, when a lawyer dies by suicide, nobody blames the law profession. But when a porn star dies, suddenly it’s proof the entire industry is broken. That stigma is the real killer.

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PHOTO : Getty Images

Noir Nation, the fellas of B2K just gave the internet a dose of early 2000s nostalgia — and we are living for it! Omarion, J-Boog, Raz-B, and Lil Fizz tapped in on Chris Brown’s viral TikTok ‘It Depends’ challenge… and they didn’t come alone. The gang rolled deep, bringing that signature B2K energy straight to our timelines.

📱 From TikTok to Trending

The ‘It Depends’ challenge, sparked by Chris Brown’s smooth R&B clip, has been taking social media by storm. But when B2K showed up, it wasn’t just a challenge — it was a moment. The synchronized moves, the brotherly chemistry, and the throwback charisma instantly sent fans into a frenzy, flooding the comments with praise and plenty of “they ate” declarations.