Red Lobster’s triumphant return to the cultural mainstream is owed squarely to Black America, whose love, nostalgia, and joy have reignited the brand’s popularity.

That’s according to CEO Damola Adamolekun, who recently told The New York Times that Black diners have played a pivotal role in the restaurant’s epic comeback. 

“Black Americans tell me it was a celebratory experience, and I think people were sad to lose that and want to get it back,” he told the publication.

For many, Red Lobster has always been more than a place for seafood. From being one of the first restaurants to welcome Black diners and workers with open arms in the late 1960s to becoming the venue for countless family dinners, graduation celebrations, and first dates, to even earning a mention in Beyoncé’s iconic song “Formation,” the chain has been deeply rooted in Black culture. Adamolekun is leaning into that legacy, restoring Red Lobster as a space for Black joy, connection, and celebration.

The 36-year-old Nigerian-American executive became Red Lobster’s youngest-ever CEO in August 2024, after successfully leading P.F. Chang’s out of the dark as its first Black chief. As he approaches his one-year anniversary leading Red Lobster, the results are already clear. Sales are up, the buzz is louder than ever, and the brand feels relevant again. Social media chatter has surged, influencers are raving, and pop culture is embracing the chain.

Earlier this month, after partnering with the BIG3 Basketball League, founded by Ice Cube, Red Lobster hosted a celebratory dinner with Adamolekun ahead of the league’s championship at a location in Orlando, Florida. Then Adamolekun joined top influencers for an event at the New York City’s Red Lobster location in Times Square, tapping tastemakers to help tell its comeback story. Days later, the brand hosted a surprise album release party for Ciara’s “CiCi” at the same location, Complex reported.  

The Grammy winner, joined by her husband Russell Wilson, turned the seafood staple into a hotspot complete with her own special off-menu item, CiCi’s Combo, featuring the Sailor’s Seafood Boil with Roasted Garlic and Cajun Butter.

 “Red Lobster has always been a go-to for me,” Ciara said, per Complex. “Russell and I even had one of our first dates there!”

Afterward, Ciara shared her gratitude with fans, writing, “The album release party at @redlobster was lit and the in-store signing was so beautiful. I am truly grateful!”

With nostalgia, cultural resonance, and community pride fueling the resurgence, Adamolekun is hoping this wave of momentum continues. 

His vision is clear: “I want Red Lobster to be a place where you celebrate big occasions and daily occasions.”

7

The Wayne Ayers Podcast has released a new episode that features A-listers Lili Reinhart and Joel Fry and there couldn’t be a more timely release: their new thriller American Sweatshop hit theatres today. Today, August 29th. Call off the weekend.

What Went Down During the Podcast?

Wayne Ayers has a way of summoning Tinseltown’s biggest names just before their most talked-about films drop, and this week was no exception. Reinhart and Fry drove by for a visit about their new movie, but what transpired was more than a promo tour roadstop, it was a glimpse into the mental turmoil at the center of American Sweatshop.

Talking on the pod, Reinhart admitted Daisy Morris, her content moderator character, is one of her most disturbing roles yet. And Joel Fry? He reiterated just how timely (and HORRIFYING) this film is in the age of bottomless scrolling. Get it in your queue. Now.

From Nightmarish Job to Obsession

We meet Daisy, a female working a nine-to-five watching the internet’s darkest corners. Don’t worry about memes and kitten videos, her day’s dose is hate rants, physical attacks, animal abuse, and child mistreatment. All for a buck and some change. No medical coverage. No sick leave. Trauma on the computer monitor. Period.

And then there’s the video that breaks her. A hammer-and-nail beating. Daisy faints. She reports it. The system shrugs. Now she’s not only deleting content, she’s out for it. From dark web to barroom fights, Daisy goes rogue and gets addicted to violence. And the most horrifying part? It makes her feel good.

Get To Know Minds Behind Madness

American Sweatshop is the feature directional debut of Emmy-nominated titan Uta Briesewitz, who applies a slick, gimlet eye to Matthew Nemeth’s script. Casting is highly impressive:

• Lili Reinhart (Riverdale) exchanging teen soap for genuine psycho-h.
• Joel Fry (Cruella, Game of Thrones) bringing understated grit.
• Daniela Melchior, Jeremy Ang Jones, Josh Whitehouse, Tim Plester, and Christiane Paul filling out.

Behind the scenes, some big names like Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana support the project, so this isn’t some indie shock humor, this is prestige nightmare fuel.

Why Everyone’s Talking

Because it’s not just a thriller. It’s a cultural punch in the face. American Sweatshop forces audiences to think about the unseen army of moderators scrubbing the internet clean while corporations rake in billions. These are the people keeping your feeds “safe,” and they’re breaking under the weight of humanity’s worst impulses.

The movie doesn’t just pose the “what if someone snapped?” question, it demonstrates what happens when they did. And it’s visceral.

The Big Dates Today, August 29, 2025: American Sweatshop opens in select theaters. September 19, 2025: The film shall be released on On Demand for the bold at heart that would rather have nightmares from their own home.

Related

Issa Rae has never been shy about telling the stories Hollywood once ignored — and now, she’s putting the entire history of Black television under the spotlight.

The Emmy-nominated creator is executive producing “Seen & Heard: The History Of Black Television,” a two-part HBO Original documentary that chronicles the evolution of Black visibility and storytelling on TV. Premiering Sept. 9 and 10, the project traces the ways Black creators have shaped the medium, and how they’ve had to fight to be recognized as more than stereotypes along the way.

In the newly released trailer, Rae sets the tone with a reminder that feels both obvious and overdue: “If you’re telling Black stories, then you need to have Black people create their own.”

That sentiment appears to pulse through every frame of the documentary. Heavy-hitters like Shonda Rhimes, Mara Brock Akil, Cord Jefferson, and Tracee Ellis Ross sit alongside cultural giants like Oprah Winfrey, who reflects on coming of age without seeing herself reflected on screen. “I grew up when there was nobody like me on TV,” she says, as vintage clips of her early career flash across the screen.

But the series doesn’t just spotlight struggle; it celebrates the joy, brilliance, and legacy that Black TV has built over generations. From trailblazers who cracked open Hollywood’s doors to shows like “Moesha” that made Blackness the blueprint, “Seen & Heard” captures the movement, not just the moment. “With Moesha, it was Black people everywhere: hair, makeup, wardrobe. It was Black joy,” one voice reflects.

And that joy is a throughline. Whether it’s the global success of Rhimes’ TV empire, the cultural dominance of “Abbott Elementary,” or the unapologetic creativity of Rae herself in “Insecure,” the documentary cements something we’ve always known: Black storytelling transcends entertainment. 

Directed by Giselle Bailey, who worked on “The Legend of the Underground,” and Phil Bertelsen, who worked on “Who Killed Malcolm X?”, the two-part series pulls back the curtain on how Black TV has challenged norms, created space where there was none, and redefined representation.

Watch “Seen & Heard: The History Of Black Television” on September 9 and 10 on HBO.

33

By the end of a conversation with Camilla Araujo, you’re either in tears laughing, reassessing your love life, or messaging your crush something intensely reckless. She’s that kind of destructive inspiration. With her uncompromising honesty and her keen sense of humor, Camilla doesn’t just speak it, she’s already in your DM’s pushing you to keep up.

While chatting with me, Camilla shared one of my favorite celebrity crush admissions in a while, and it perfectly captures why everyone is obsessed with her.

The Crush Heard Round the Timeline

When we asked her for any celebrity crushes, Camilla didn’t blink. “I’ll admit it, Kehlani is definitely a crush of mine,” she smiled at us in a don’t-judge-me-but-judge-me kinda manner.

But the humor is not simply that Camilla is in love with one of the coolest, naturally sexiest musicians on planet earth. It is that she went full-in. “I even once slipped into her DMs and just literally typed, ‘Let’s kiss,’”” she revealed, bursting into laughter.

Stop. No emoji. No sycophantic setup. No “big head” salutation. Just Let’s kiss. That’s it. Get up to it like a 2 a.m. tequila shot.

“I’m playful with it,” she shrugged. “I’m not the kind to sit around wondering what if. If I’m interested in somebody, I’m gonna make my move. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn’t, but at least I can say I made an effort.”

Related

After being announced by President Donald Trump as a recipient of this year’s Kennedy Center Honor, Federal Election Commission records show disco legend Gloria Gaynor donated to several MAGA and conservative political campaigns.

The 81-year-old star, whose 1978 hit song “I Will Survive” has been an undisputable LGBTQ+ anthem for decades, was named among five honorees who will receive the prestigious Kennedy Center honor. The honor has been awarded to entertainers of American culture since 1978.

“My hope is that in accepting this honor, I can continue with the inspirational phenomenon that began with ‘I Will Survive,’” said Gaynor, who is a two-time Grammy Award winner from Newark, New Jersey. The Dance Music Hall of Famer added, “Sharing my music and art on a global level to provide encouragement, hope, empowerment, inspiration, understanding, and unity is the core of my purpose.”

According to a report by MeidasTouch, Gaynor, real name Gloria Fowles, has donated nearly $22,000 to right-wing candidates and conservative organizations between 2023 and 2024.

Gaynor’s donations to Republican campaigns include the National Republican Senatorial Committee ($1,190.53), House Speaker Mike Johnson ($2,160.57), former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy ($356.15), U.S. Senator Josh Hawley ($1,242.28), U.S. Senator Ted Cruz ($476.18), and Trump’s now-Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio ($114.10).

MeidasTouch’s investigation of Gaynor’s campaign donations showed she wasn’t very political until 2016, when she donated $235.00 in support of Ben Carson, who ran for president and later became Trump’s secretary of Housing and Urban Development during his first term. The singer did not donate politically again until 2023.

Gaynor also donated to New Journey PAC, a group that targets Black voters in support of MAGA candidates, including Trump and U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds, who is now running for Florida governor.

MeidasTouch noted that while Gaynor exclusively donated to Republicans, records show she has not directly donated to Trump’s campaigns. However, she did contribute to the campaigns of some of Trump’s opponents in the 2024 election: Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy.

While delivering a speech at the Library of Congress in 2017, Gaynor told an audience, “I’m really not a political person.” However, she added, “It’s a safe bet that a lot needs to change.”

Tatyana Arrington

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Tatyana Arrington is an actress, entertainment reporter, social media influencer, entrepreneur, and co- author. Originally from Queens, New York, Tatyana’s career began as an infant model at Wilhelmina Agency and was featured in campaigns for Spiegel and Toys R Us. Her first professional acting job was in Mirandy and Brother Wind with Acting Up! Since graduating from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor’s in Communications, she completed an internship with The Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern. Post apprenticeship, she starred in Tavern shows A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, As You Like It, and Love’s Labour’s Lost. Tatyana has made television appearances on Homicide Hunter Lt. Joe Kenda and Fatal Attraction. Tatyana’s influencer work began in 2018 and since then she has worked global brands including Reebok, GoDaddy, Fab Fit Fun, Amazon, Tampax, Holiday Inn, Zaful, and Atlantis Bahamas on campaigns in front of the camera. In 2019 she began her journey as a digital host professional and has got to cover press events for Disney, Netflix, BET, Amazon, and Starz. In April 2020, Tatyana re-launched Stix Unlimited, a unisex streetwear clothing line founded by her late brother. Tatyana was named one of the “Resilience Rising” by People Magazine and U.S. Bank in honor of her efforts with STIX. In February 2021, Tatyana teamed up with with her mother, Vanessa and sister, Summer to write “The Adventures of Summer and Winter” inspired by her younger sister and puppy of the same name. The Adventures of Summer and Winter is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart.

Althea Gibson’s legacy is unmistakable at the 2025 US Open.

On Wednesday, August 27, the tribute to the late professional tennis star crescendoed with a stirring performance by Florida A&M University’s famed Marching 100, celebrating their alumna in high-stepping style, the Tallahassee Democrat reported.  

It was one highlight in a two-week celebration of the iconic player who broke barriers 75 years ago as the first Black player in what is now known as the US Open. The tributes have included Gibson’s image displayed throughout the stadium, a special tournament logo marking “75 Years of Breaking Barriers,” and short films about her career narrated by Venus Williams that air between matches. 

“The most important part is that we are celebrating it and recognizing it because Althea accomplished so much,” Williams said, per AP News. “A lot of it has not been given the credit it deserves and the attention and the praise.”

Speaking to the same outlet, fellow tennis champ Billie Jean King added, “Personally, I feel like everybody’s waited too long to really celebrate her.” 

She added, “She was the first, and when you’re the first, you should be celebrated the most.”

Gibson, born to sharecroppers in South Carolina before relocating to Harlem, was more than a champion; she was a trailblazer. After becoming the first Black player to compete in what is now considered the US Open in 1950,  she won 11 Grand Slam titles, including back-to-back victories at Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals in 1957 and 1958. 

Her victories didn’t stop on the tennis court. Later, she became the first Black competitor on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour. Her impact extended beyond sports into music and film, though her story too often slipped from the spotlight.

Today, her influence is alive in the many Black women who have picked up rackets since her reign. From household names like Williams or Coco Gauff to rising stars like Taylor Townsend and Hailey Baptiste, their presence underscores Gibson’s lasting legacy. 

Below, we break down each Black female player at this year’s US Open, where they stand, what’s next, and why they’re making headlines.

Venus Williams

At 45, many fans were excited to witness Venus return for a record-extending 25th US Open. However, her first-round defeat by Karolína Muchová (6-3, 2-6, 6-1) didn’t dim her moment. The crowd roared simply to see her back after 16 months away. Off the court, the buzz has remained about her fiancé, Andrea Preti, whose enthusiastic cheering turned their love story into a courtside subplot. 

Victoria Mboko

The 19-year-old Canadian phenom came in riding high, fresh off a stunning title in Montréal, where she toppled four Grand Slam champions. New York wasn’t as successful; she bowed out in the first round to Barbora Krejčíková, 6-3, 6-2. Still, Mboko’s fearless style and fast-rising ranking (No. 23) keep her in the conversation as one of the game’s next big names. 

Hailey Baptiste

At age 23 and ranked No. 47, Baptiste is having a breakout moment. She handled her opener against Kateřina Siniaková in straight sets (7-5, 6-3), setting up a blockbuster second-round clash with Naomi Osaka. While Osaka was the victor, Baptiste is playing herself into the spotlight.

Naomi Osaka

Always part tennis star, always part fashion event. Osaka started her campaign playing for Japan strong with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Belgium’s Greet Minnen. But it wasn’t the forehands that dominated headlines; it was her look. The 27-year-old stepped onto the court dressed in a red, crystal-studded skirt set with a matching jacket, Swarovski crystal-studded rose-adorned braids and headphones, and a bejeweled Labubu keychain swinging from her bag. Osaka is back, and she’s sparkling, literally.

Coco Gauff

Gauff, the No. 3 seed fresh off her French Open victory, survived a nervy, first-round clash with Ajla Tomljanović, eventually pulling out a 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5 win. Next up, the 21-year-old faces Donna Vekić. Already a US Open champion in 2023, she’s here to prove again she can handle the weight of being the face of the tournament.

Taylor Townsend

Ranked world No. 1 in women’s doubles and always a threat in singles, Townsend made noise with a fiery second-round upset of No. 25 seed Jelena Ostapenko. The real fireworks came after, however, when Ostapenko accused the 29-year-old of having “no class and no education.” Then, with a grin while discussing the matter later, she reminded everyone, “The thing I’m most proud of is that I let my racket talk.” She’ll meet No. 5 seed Mirra Andreeva in the third round, with plenty of momentum and a growing new legion of fans.