PHOTO : BET

Noir Nation; season nine of Tyler Perry hit original series #SistasOnBET is giving fans a gut-check on how Black women’s pain is often dismissed inside hospital walls and the harsh consequences of medical neglect!

💔 KAREN’S DELIVERY TURNS DEADLY

During a tense episode airing mid‑July 2025, Karen officially goes into labor. She’s weak, bleeding, has a high fever, and is continuously throwing up. Instead of being offered immediate assistance, a white tenured, and arrogant male doctor, Dr. Cruz gaslights her. He insists everything is fine and that she is over exaggerating her symptoms.

Meanwhile, a Black doctor provides a more hands-on evaluation and discovers Karen’s life as well as her babies is on the line.

It’s a terrifying moment. One that mirrors the exact experiences too many Black women have faced in real hospitals, not just scripts.

🧠 FACT CHECK: THIS IS REAL LIFE FOR US

This isn’t just TV drama—it reflects a real, racialized crisis in maternal health:

📌 Black women in the U.S. are nearly 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.

📌 The CDC reports that 84% of these deaths are preventable.

📌 Studies show that Black patients’ pain is often ignored or underestimated by medical professionals.

🖤 BLACK WOMEN. ADVOCATING FOR BLACK WOMEN.

While the hospital fails, Karen’s tribe refuses to back down. From Fatima and Andi to Sabrina and Danni, her girls demand answers, raise hell, and push to transfer care to the one doctor who believes something is wrong.

But the trauma takes a toll: Karen flatlines before the surgery begins. And even after resuscitation, the grief is heavy—she wakes to learn she lost one child, while fighting to survive for the other.

✊🏽 TYLER PERRY SAID WHAT NEEDED TO BE SAID

Say what you want about Tyler Perry’s writing style—but this time, he tapped into something deeply urgent and culturally relevant. Sistas used its platform to spotlight a truth that’s often buried in statistics and overlooked headlines:

Black women are dying. Not from lack of resources—but from lack of respect.

🎯 BOTTOM LINE FOR NOIR NATION:

This episode hit different. It made us cry, it made us angry—and it made us remember how often our pain is ignored, silenced, or explained away. Karen’s survival wasn’t just plot—it was what happens when Black women speak up, show up, and fight for one another.

Because if we don’t advocate for us… who will?

🗣️ SOUND OFF:

Have you or someone you know experienced neglect during labor? Drop a comment or DM us—we’re opening up space for stories that matter.

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The internet is collectively clutching its pearls and biting its knuckles after adult content creator Ari Kytsya and rapper Yung Gravy confirmed they are, in fact, an item, and fans are losing their minds in the most unhinged, beautiful way.

When Adult Content and Cloud Rap Collide

In what some are calling a match made in chaotic, horny heaven, Ari Kytsya and Yung Gravy have gone public with their relationship, and social media is in shambles. Known for her unfiltered, sex-positive persona and OnlyFans success, Kytsya is no stranger to internet fame. Meanwhile, Yung Gravy, the TikTok-happy, MILF-loving rapper behind hits like Betty (Get Money), has cultivated a dedicated fanbase of meme-lords and ironic heartthrobs.

Now, with the two colliding in a full-blown public romance, timelines everywhere are flooded with giddy disbelief and wholehearted approval.

“The concept of Yung Gravy having a girlfriend and her being Ari Kytsya is crazy to me but also makes a lot of sense idk,” one X user wrote, accurately capturing the vibe of a nation stunned but satisfied.

A Timeline Flooded with Praise, Envy, and Lust

While the internet has a long history of meme-fying celebrity relationships, the overwhelming consensus around Ari and Gravy is one of admiration and obsession.

“Unfortunately I’m kinda obsessed with Ari Kytsya and Yung Gravy like the pairing is immaculate 🤌🏻,” said one fan.

“Yung Gravy publicly dating Ari Kytsya makes me ❤️‍🩹,” wrote another, summing up what many described as a rare case of a public relationship that just feels right.

Some are already ready to risk it all for a glimpse:

“Considering going to a Yung Gravy concert solely for the slightest chance I will get to breathe in the same vicinity as Ari Kytsya.”

And for others, the glow-up narrative is the real win:

“Ari Kytsya going from getting constantly shamed for making adult content by her ex and then him cheating on her, to now being with Yung Gravy is the best relationship glow-up I can imagine for her. She deserves this. Good for you girl.”

A Bop and a Rapper: Their Freak Just Matches

Ari Kytsya, who describes herself in posts as a “bop” and “mattress actress,” has been known for her NSFW content as much as her viral “get ready with me” videos and couple-y content with Gravy. In a now-viral Instagram Reel that’s surpassed 5 million views, she filmed herself next to the rapper while saying, “Got clapped every day for 3 weeks might come on his whole tour,” as Gravy drove them around, unfazed.

Their dynamic? Unbothered, horny, and hysterical.

One fan wrote what many were thinking:

“Ari Kytsya and Yung Gravy being a couple makes so much sense, that it seems more illogical it wasn’t a thing before. Like their freak’s just match.”

Another added:

“Need a love like Ari Kytsya & Yung Gravy.”

From FYP to OTP

The couple has made multiple joint appearances on TikTok, Instagram, and most recently in a viral “Couples Quiz” episode hosted by Tiffany Baira on the Street Hearts series. In the clip, the duo’s chemistry is undeniable, with Ari giddily teasing and Yung Gravy effortlessly charming with his laconic drawl and unexpected sweetness.

Their videos are now flooding TikTok FYPs everywhere.

“Yung Gravy and Ari Kytsya are all over my FYP and I’m here for it,” someone tweeted.

Another wrote, bluntly and truthfully:

“I only know who Yung Gravy is because of Ari Kytsya & I think that’s such a beautiful thing.”

Is This the Internet’s New Favorite Couple?

In an online culture constantly plagued by performative PR relationships, the Ari-Gravy pairing feels like a breath of fresh, chaotic air. It’s authentic. It’s absurd. It’s undeniably horny. And it’s working.

Whether you’re a stan, a skeptic, or someone just now Googling “who is Ari Kytsya,” it’s impossible to deny the cultural moment this couple is having. What started as a few playful posts has morphed into a full-blown internet obsession, and for once, the comments aren’t dragging.

“If you’re not chronically online I don’t think you’d understand but Ari Kytsya and Yung Gravy are hanging out and I’M SCREAMING,” tweeted one user, who speaks for a very specific, very online demographic.

Whether this love story lasts or burns fast and bright, one thing is certain: in the circus of modern internet romance, Ari Kytsya and Yung Gravy just stole the main act.

And honestly? We’re here for every second of it.

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No matter the time on Martha’s Vineyard, a shimmering glow will be powered by the star presence of Black filmmakers, actors and tastemakers like Issa Rae, Mara Brock Akil and Michelle Obama who are shaping culture on their own terms.

For two-plus decades, the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival has been a cultural reunion, a summer sanctuary and a safe haven where some of the industry’s most influential voices converge in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. This week marks the return of the 23rd annual nine-day celebration, which kicks off Friday with a stacked slate that includes appearances from singer-actor Jennifer Hudson and Hall of Fame basketball player Dwyane Wade, screenings like Spike Lee ‘s “Highest 2 Lowest” and intimate conversations with figures such as the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Over the years, the festival has drawn the who’s who of Black Hollywood — including Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, Tyler Perry and Regina King. The Obamas made a surprise appearance in 2022.

“It’s a moment when so many of us converge and gather in a location that has historically received us incredibly well,” said Tracee Ellis Ross, who will screen her new Roku Channel series “Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross.” The three-episode show follows Ross as she embarks on solo journeys to unplug, indulge and reconnect through Morocco, Mexico and Spain.

Ross said traveling solo is a way of life. She said sharing her project at MVAAFF felt right, noting that the Vineyard-set episode of Akil’s “Forever” captures the spirit and beauty of the picturesque island.

“It felt like the perfect location to kind of share,” she said. “The timing was perfect from when the show came out.”

What makes MVAAFF a must-stop?

Set on the campus of the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center and the Vineyard Lounge, the festival has grown from a grassroots gathering into a premier destination where Black creatives can find inspiration, connection and support.

Akil paid homage to festival founders Stephanie and Floyd Rance, crediting them for building a creative pipeline where stories rooted in Black culture live and are seen.

“They know the value. They know the need,” said Akil, who will screen “The Vineyard” episode from the Netflix series “Forever” at the festival. “Regardless of what the institution or systems of Hollywood sees as valuable, we claim the value of our stories. We have a chance to celebrate them, complete them, tell them, view them and share them with an audience. It allows for the completion of the story, so that we can move on to many, many, many more stories that need to be told.”

Floyd Rance described MVAAFF as a vital part of the entertainment ecosystem, offering a platform where Black voices and stories are given the spotlight they deserve.

“It’s always good to have somewhat of a convergence for folks of like mind in the arts and entertainment to gather, coalesce, share ideas, rekindle friendships and fellowship,” said Floyd, who along with Stephanie said they did not expect their festival to become such a main attraction.

“Despite the political climate and what’s going on in entertainment, it’s always a good time for birds of a feather to flock together.”

In addition to the panels and screenings, Stephanie Rance said this year’s festival centers on the theme of joy, focusing more on celebration than struggle. She’s especially excited for attendees to experience a range of conversations, from little-known moments in Black history to a panel on Ralph Lauren’s Oak Bluffs collection with Morehouse and Spelman.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture will host a discussion on Black dandyism, paying tribute to fashion icon André Leon Talley.

“The community at large on the Vineyard and the folks that come from all over the world to the festival really embrace the filmmakers,” she said. “Everybody loves the studio and the streaming content and the talent that comes in. But we really are a filmmakers’ film fest at heart.”

What else is happening on the Vineyard?

This year’s festival is delivering a dynamic slate that blends star power, conversation and creative insight.

Spike Lee will unveil exclusive clips from his upcoming film “Highest 2 Lowest” starring Denzel Washington. Courtney B. Vance is set to lead a panel on Black storytelling, diving into how content creation can retain cultural authenticity.

Jennifer Hudson will open up about her Emmy-nominated daytime talk show, while Dwyane Wade will participate in a men’s luncheon with industry leaders to discuss leadership, legacy and capital in today’s evolving media space.

Joy Reid is hosting a fireside chat on power and purpose. Issa Rae returns with a preview of part two of her documentary “Seen & Heard,” continuing her exploration of visibility for Black creatives. And Debbie Allen will be honored with a tribute to “A Different World,” celebrating the force the show continues to be decades later.

The screenings will showcase a wide range of Black storytelling, including Starz’s “Magic City: American Fantasy,” the Tyler Perry-produced “Old Mary Mare,” HBO Max’s “The Gilded Age,” and Ryan Coogler’s critically acclaimed “Sinners.”

On the final day, Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson will hold a live taping of their podcast that’ll include an interview with Teyana Taylor.

For returning filmmakers like Andre Gaines, the festival has become a cultural home to showcase work. This year marks his third screening at MVAAFF, where he’ll show “The Dutchman,” a bold reimagining of Amiri Baraka’s searing 1964 play.

“It’s great to show our stories in front of our people and get this visceral and genuine reaction when it comes to things that we’re familiar with,” said Gaines, who’s also collaborating with MVAAFF founders Stephanie and Floyd Rance on a documentary about the late ESPN anchor Stuart Scott.

Gaines said the festival affirms the value of Black storytelling in a way that mainstream spaces often overlook.

“Some people look at our festivals, media or award shows as being less than what the mainstream or our white contemporaries might consider them to be, but they aren’t,” he said. “That’s the beauty of this festival. We talk to each other and herald the filmmakers that came before us and the ones currently working. We get this grand opportunity to come together in that form.”

PHOTO: Getty Images

Coach Deion Sanders just dropped a powerful truth — one that’s been hidden behind the scenes for months. The iconic NFL Hall of Famer turned head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes revealed that he quietly battled bladder cancer earlier this year… and WON.

🩺 A SILENT FIGHT BEHIND THE SCENES

In a press conference that caught everyone off guard, Sanders shared that he underwent major surgery to remove his bladder after doctors discovered a malignant tumor during routine scans. The condition, if left untreated, could have taken his life.

“That was a fight. But we made it,” he said, visibly emotional.

Sanders admitted he even wrote a will in May, preparing for the worst, but didn’t tell his sons Shedeur or Shilo (both now in the NFL), so they wouldn’t be distracted from chasing their dreams.

🗣️ RAW. REAL. RELATABLE.

Coach Prime got vulnerable, opening up about:

Losing 25 pounds during treatment. Having a new bladder made from part of his small intestine. Learning to walk, eat, and function again post-surgery. Wearing adult diapers and saying candidly, “I depend on Depends.”

This wasn’t just a physical battle — it was a mental, emotional, and spiritual war. And he came out swinging.

⚠️ BLACK HEALTH MATTERS

Black men are often diagnosed later and treated less aggressively when it comes to cancer. Coach Prime’s transparency could save lives by pushing others to get checked early and listen to their bodies.

His doctors say he’s “cured” — a word they don’t throw around lightly.

🏈 BACK ON THE FIELD — AND BACK TO BUSINESS

Coach Prime is stepping into the 2025–26 college football season with new energy and a new mission. This will be his first season without his sons on the team, but don’t get it twisted — he’s focused.

He’s already back at training camp, leading the Buffaloes into a new chapter. His third season kicks off August 29 against Georgia Tech, and if you think he’s slowing down… you haven’t been paying attention.

✊🏽 STRENGTH. FAITH. LEGACY.

At NoirOnlineOrg, we salute Coach Prime — not just for the wins on the field, but for standing in his truth off the field. From Florida roots to NFL greatness, and now a cancer survivor… Deion Sanders is living proof that Black men’s health, faith, and fight matter.

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If you thought modern romance in New York was hard, wait until you see Love, Brooklyn, a sharp, soulful indie that blends the heat of entangled relationships with the chill of rapid neighborhood change. The official trailer for the Sundance-premiering drama just landed, teasing a textured, character-driven portrait of Black love, artistic ambition, and the heartbeat of a city in flux.

Directed by Rachael Abigail Holder (I Love Bekka & Lucy) and written by Paul Zimmerman, Love, Brooklyn stars the ever-commanding André Holland (Moonlight, High Flying Bird) as a writer caught between his past and his present. On one side, there’s his ex, an art gallery owner played by the always-regal Nicole Beharie (The Morning Show). On the other, DeWanda Wise (She’s Gotta Have It) steps in as his current partner, a newly single mother whose emotional world is still taking shape. Anchoring the emotional core is Roy Wood Jr. (The Daily Show), Holland’s best friend and voice of reason, delivering some necessary levity with philosophical edge.

A Brooklyn Love Story That’s More Than Just Romance

This isn’t your typical love triangle. It’s a love quadrilateral, maybe even a love pentagon, with Brooklyn itself as a moody fifth character. The borough’s shifting skyline, brownstone stoops, corner bodegas, and encroaching high-rises act as both setting and metaphor. Like the relationships on screen, Brooklyn is in transition, yearning to hold onto what’s real while constantly being asked to evolve.

The trailer, laced with dusky jazz and subtle neo-soul, gives us vignettes of lingering stares, late-night walks, and heated apartment arguments. The cinematography balances grit and glow, think Barry Jenkins meets Spike Lee, with a lens that clearly adores Black skin, city textures, and intimate gestures.

An Indie Powerhouse Team Behind the Camera

The film is backed by an impressive lineup of producers and executive producers, including Steven Soderbergh who continues his streak of championing bold, underrepresented voices in American cinema. André Holland also steps into a producing role, further deepening his commitment to complex Black storytelling.

Joining the central cast are Cassandra Freeman (Bel-Air) and newcomer Cadence Reese, adding even more emotional depth to an already loaded ensemble. With a tight 97-minute run time, Love, Brooklyn promises a compact but potent emotional journey, free from bloat and full of lived-in authenticity.

Angelika Premiere and Nationwide Rollout

True to its indie spirit, Love, Brooklyn will open exclusively at New York’s Angelika Film Center on August 29, before expanding to theaters nationwide on September 5. It’s the kind of small movie with a big heartbeat, a rare cinematic gem that speaks to the urgency of now while tipping its hat to the timelessness of complicated love.

If Before Sunrise and In the Mood for Love had a child that grew up in Bed-Stuy, it might look something like this. Introspective, culturally rooted, and emotionally precise, Love, Brooklyn is already shaping up to be one of the fall’s most quietly explosive films.

Whether you’re in it for the romance, the representation, or the irresistible texture of Brooklyn streets at golden hour, this one demands your ticket and your heart.

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Shannon Sharpe and ESPN’s partnership has ended. The sports network told The New York Times’ “The Athletic” that it has officially cut ties with the NFL Hall of Famer. 

The decision, announced Wednesday, comes weeks after Sharpe reportedly settled a $50 million lawsuit that accused him of sexual assault. When the legal accusations first emerged in April, Sharpe announced his plans to step back from his appearance on the network. 

“At this juncture, I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties,” he stated, as previously reported by theGrio. “I will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me.”

At the time, Sharpe also shared plans to return to the network at the beginning of the NFL season. The former NFL star, who played for the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens, appeared regularly on ESPN’s sports debate show, “First Take.” In 2024, Sharpe signed a new contract with ESPN, expanding his work with the network to include features in more of its programming. 

Earlier this month, the former NFL tight-end settled his lawsuit with Gabriella Zuniga, the Jane Doe who alleged sexual assault, harassment, battery, rape, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Zuniga’s lawyer, Tony Buzzbee, announced news of the settlement via X: 

JANE DOE V. SHANNON SHARPE

On April 20, 2025, The Buzbee Law Firm filed a complaint in Nevada making several allegations against Shannon Sharpe on behalf of our client. Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship. After protracted and respectful…

— Tony Buzbee (@TonyBuzbee2) July 18, 2025

Both parties acknowledged they were in a “long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship.” Sharpe, who maintained his innocence, has maintained a fairly low profile, postponing his anticipated “Nightcap” tour and only releasing two new episodes of his podcast “Club Shay Shay.”  

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Shannon Sharpe, the ESPN commentator and Hall of Fame tight end, weighed in after he was dismissed by ESPN after a court fight and public barrage. Perched on his Nightcap show, Sharpe described his tearful response to the news to listeners, his family, and the media. “Obviously, I’m sure everybody’s heard by now that I won’t be returning to ESPN,” Sharpe said, officially confirming the end of his time with the network. But in spite of the turmoil, Sharpe said he wasn’t bothered by the decision.

Shannon Sharpe’s Tearful Appeal: A Family Matter Clouded by Public Scandal

Sharpe was upset by the timing of his dismissal, indicating that he had wished that information could have waited. He was particularly distressed that the timing happened to coincide with the induction of his brother into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I just ask, could we have waited until Monday?” Sharpe implored. The timing, he explained, was especially hard because of the magnitude of the moment for his family. “I did not want this news dominating all that he’s spent his entire life building,” Sharpe continued to explain, adding that he had wanted to focus on his brother’s achievement.

Sharpe’s brother, the recipient of the Hall of Fame induction ceremony honor, gave him a heartfelt message of support. “Bro, quit apologizing already. You don’t have to apologize. I love you regardless,” Sharpe recalled his brother having said, describing his response. Despite his own personal pain, Sharpe’s brother reassured him: “We all do something dumb every now and then. We’re family.”

As Sharpe provided a second on-air apology, it was clear that the embarrassment of stealing all that attention from such a big moment for his brother weighed upon him. “You’ve been my hero, my role model, and I apologize for upstaging you,” Sharpe clarified, thanking his viewers for being along with him throughout his career.

Lawsuit and Controversy: The Legal Battle That Led to Sharpe’s Departure from ESPN

Shannon Sharpe’s abrupt departure from ESPN follows a dramatic personal and professional career, topped by a highly publicized sexual assault and battery lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by his ex-girlfriend in April 2025 after a viral clip of a phone call between Sharpe and the woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” leaked. During the call, Sharpe allegedly admitted choking her when they were dating. The tape, and other accounts of violent sex, created a media firestorm.

Sharpe moved quickly on the accusations, taking an oath on videotape that the entire episode was a “shakedown.” He insisted the relationship was consensual, and vehemently denied allegations of violence, accusing the lawyer for the woman, Tony Buzbee, of attempting to extort him.

While the allegations were serious, no criminal charges were laid against Sharpe. Nevertheless, the civil suit, accusing Sharpe of two acts of sexual assault in 2024 and 2025, did severely damage his professional reputation. The lawsuit was subsequently dismissed after a settlement between the two in mid-July, terms of which are not disclosed.

ESPN’s Decision to Release Shannon Sharpe

Sharpe’s exit from ESPN was confirmed following rumors that lasted weeks. Sources indicate that the network chose not to bring back Sharpe after the lawsuit ended, despite Sharpe publicly stating he would be returning to ESPN for the 2025 NFL training camp. His firing came less than two weeks after the settlement, leading many to believe ESPN’s move was a response to negative publicity of the court case.

The timing of the news, which came at the beginning of the NFL season, added to his exit being more controversial. While Sharpe himself was not charged with crimes, ESPN surely decided that the ongoing legal saga and public relations damage were too much for the network to handle, especially with the start date of the NFL season looming.

Life After ESPN: Sharpe’s Present Media Projects and Future Plans

Even though his stint at ESPN is up, Shannon Sharpe is still not out of the media game. He still produces content for his Club Shay Shay video series, in which he interviews celebrities, musicians, and athletes, and his Nightcap podcast, which he shares with NFL phenomenon Chad Ochocinco. Both podcasts are produced under Colin Cowherd’s media company, The Volume, which made news for its hip sports programming.

Despite his setback with ESPN, Sharpe’s ventures outside of the traditional sports broadcasting space appear to be thriving. “I’m grateful for the opportunity ESPN gave me, but now I’m focused on what’s next,” Sharpe said in his Nightcap show. “I’ll always cherish the moments, but I’ve got a lot more to do.”

Whether Sharpe will attempt to re-enter the world of mainstream media in another role remains to be seen. But for now, he seems committed to carrying on with his programming on Nightcap and Club Shay Shay, and his audience is eager to see where this will lead.

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