24

Award-winning British singer-songwriter Mabel returns with her highly anticipated new single, “Chat.”

Fresh from a captivating performance at Notting Hill Carnival, “Chat” showcases Mabel’s signature vocal prowess and infectious afro swing production. The track explores the beauty of genuine connection and the importance of meaningful conversation in relationships.

Accompanying the single is a visually stunning visualizer, directed by Toby Haygarth, that captures the vibrant energy and romantic spirit of Notting Hill Carnival.

Mabel shared her inspiration for the song, stating, “Chat is a celebration of simple, uncomplicated love. In a world that often feels overwhelming, finding someone you can truly connect with is a special gift.”

Following the success of her empowering anthems “Look At My Body Pt.II” and “Female Intuition,” Mabel continues to solidify her position as a leading voice in contemporary pop music. Her latest releases have garnered critical acclaim and solidified her status as a rising star in the UK music scene.

Earlier this week, Mabel surprised fans with a surprise performance at Notting Hill Carnival, where she treated the crowd to a mix of new and old favorites. This performance follows a series of successful festival appearances throughout the summer, including BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Primavera Sound, and Open’er Festival.

Stay tuned for more exciting news from Mabel as she continues to captivate audiences with her unique sound and undeniable talent.

Related

Oprah Winfrey is diving deep into the world of artificial intelligence. 

The media mogul has been tapped to host and executive produce an ABC special on AI, titled “AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special,” which will premiere on the network on Sept. 12, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The special will “provide a serious, entertaining and meaningful base for every viewer to understand AI, and empowers everyone to be a part of one of the most important global conversations of the 21st century,” according to ABC, per THR. 

Winfrey will speak with leaders in the artificial intelligence and technology space, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates, OpenAI head Sam Altman, technologist and YouTube tech reviewer Marques Brownlee, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, in the special. 

Altman “will explain how AI works in layman’s terms and discusses the immense personal responsibility that must be borne by the executives of AI companies. Gates will lay out the AI revolution coming in science, health and education, and warns of the once-in-a-century type of impact AI may have on the job market. Brownlee will walk Winfrey through mind-blowing demonstrations of AI’s capabilities,” according to the release, per Deadline. 

Winfey will also chat with figures who are skeptical of the new technology in the hour-long special, THR reported. Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin, co-founders of the Center for Humane Technology who warn against the dangers of AI, will appear in the special. The duo “will walk Winfrey through the emerging risks posed by powerful and superintelligent AI — sounding the alarm about the need to confront those risks now,” the press release read, per Deadline.

Recommended Stories

Author Marilynne Robinson, another skeptical voice in the tech space, will reflect “on AI’s threat to human values and the ways in which humans might resist the convenience of AI,” according to ABC, per THR. 

“AI and the Future of Us: An Oprah Winfrey Special,” which is produced by Winfrey’s Harpo Productions, is the second special Winfrey has hosted this year. The “Color Purple” actress previously hosted an hour-long special on the growing popularity of Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and other weight loss drugs in March. 

15

The highly anticipated Peaky Blinders film is set to expand its star-studded cast with the addition of acclaimed actor Barry Keoghan. Joining Cillian Murphy, who reprises his iconic role as Tommy Shelby, Keoghan brings his distinctive talent to the epic gangster saga.

The film, a continuation of the popular television series, will delve deeper into the world of the Shelby family, exploring their criminal activities in the lawless streets of Birmingham during the early 20th century. Steven Knight, the creator of the original series, has penned the screenplay and will also serve as a producer alongside Caryn Mandabach, Cillian Murphy, and Guy Heeley.

Directed by Tom Harper, known for his work on Heart of Stone and Wild Rose, the film will go into production later this year. With Keoghan’s addition to the cast, which also includes Rebecca Ferguson, the Peaky Blinders film promises to deliver a thrilling and intense cinematic experience.

Related

Betty A. Bridges, an actress who starred in shows like “Good Times, “ER,” “Hill Street Blues,” and “Charlie’s Angels” during her 40-year career, has died at the age of 83. 

Bridges died at her son Todd Bridges’ home in Phoenix, where she was in hospice care, according to her rep, Elizabeth Much, per Deadline. No cause of death was given, the publication reported. 

Born on Aug.1, 1941, Betty Bridges began her career in the 1970s guest starring on TV shows such as “Police Woman,” “Charlie’s Angels” and Norman Lear’s “Good Times” and “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” according to Deadline. She continued to pursue television roles for the next 40 years, appearing in hit series like “Wonder Woman;” What’s Happening!!,” “Quincy, M.E.,” “CHiPs,” “Lou Grant,” “Hill Street Blues,” “Dallas,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Ally McBeal,” “The Practice,” “NYPD Blue,” Scrubs,” “2 Broke Girls,” and “Diff’rent Strokes,” which she appeared in alongside her son, actor Todd. 

Betty Bridges also made a name for herself in the film industry, starring in movies like “A Night at the Roxbury,” “Rooster,” and “The Concrete Jungle,” among others. Her sons Todd and Jimmy Bridges wrote and directed the 2000 short film, “Building Bridges,” which she appeared in. 

After several years in the industry, Betty Bridges became an acting coach and prominent Hollywood manager. She co-founded an acting school, Kane Bridge Academy, where she was a popular teacher, according to Deadline. She often worked with children, particularly students of color, and taught several prominent actors, including Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, Marcus Chong, Shashawnee Hall and sisters Regina King and Reina King, her family shared, per Deadline.

Recommended Stories

A loving mother of four, Betty Bridges played an active role in her son Todd’s recovery from addiction, providing “tough love and unwavering support,” the family added.

Betty Bridges is survived by her son Todd and his wife Bettijo Bridges, son Jimmy Bridges, daughter Verda Bridges Prpich, adopted son Zerondrick Hubbard and grandchildren Penny Bae Bridges, Brooke Marie Bridges, Raei Bridges, Mikai Emanuel Bridges, Paxton Isaiah Bridges, Radd Prpich, Bo Bridges, Spencir Bridges, Attalie Anne, Piper Hirschi, Modette Hirschi and Rockwell Hirschi.

8

Pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter made history as she has become a part of music history for creating an unrivaled dominance on the charts. While her latest album “Short n’ Sweet” debuted at number one on the Official UK Albums Chart, topping number one, two, and three on the singles chart simultaneously.

It has been Carpenter’s milestone in a rapid rise into fame in the music industry. She gets to produce hit after hit, keeping her audiences worldwide fascinated by how talented and versatile she is.

“Short n’ Sweet” really showed the growth and maturing of Carpenter’s art; from a catchy tune with touching words to a really contagious energy, it had it all. The resonation that had taken place between fans and critics allowed Carpenter to retain her status as one of the front-runners in the modern pop world.

Complementing her album performance, Carpenter’s singles “Taste,” “Please Please Please,” and “Espresso” all returned to the top 10 of the UK singles chart. “Taste” debuted at #1; it was Carpenter’s third #1 hit in just 120 days, a feat that bettered the previous best mark held by Ariana Grande and underlined just how great Carpenter has been at the top of the chart.

Related

In her first sit-down interview since becoming the Democratic Party presidential nominee, Kamala Harris notably did not lean too much into the conversation about her race and gender.

When asked about the historic nature of her candidacy by CNN’s Dana Bash, who noted Harris did not “explicitly” mention her identity as a Black and South Asian woman during her DNC speech, the vice president said, “I am running because I believe that I am the best person to do this job at this moment for all Americans, regardless of race and gender.” 

A viral photograph of Harris’ grand-niece watching her deliver the DNC acceptance speech sparked euphoria among women and communities of color who see Harris’ historic candidacy for president as a pivotal turning point in American political history.

Harris said she was “deeply touched” by the sentimental photograph, adding, “It’s very humbling in many ways.”

Harris filmed the CNN interview during her visit to Savannah, Georgia, for a rally. It marked the first time since the 1980s that a presidential candidate visited the diverse coastal city in the Peach State.

Tolulope Kevin Olasanoye, executive director of the Georgia Democratic Party, notes that Harris does not need to focus much attention on her racial and gender identity, telling theGrio, “very clearly she is a Black woman.”

“We can see that. You see her. Despite whatever Donald Trump says,” said Olasanoye, referencing her Republican opponent’s suggestion that Harris, the daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father, decided to “turn Black” for political expediency.  

When asked about the Trump insult, which he said in response to a question about Harris being called a “DEI hire” at the National Association of Black Journalists convention, the vice president was short and to the point: “Same old, tired playbook. Next question, please.”

Political analyst Anthony Coley said Harris’ response reminded him of former first lady Michelle Obama’s famous phrase, “When they go low, we go high.” 

“She’s bigger than Trump and his politics of personal destruction. She’s rightly focused on policies to improve people’s lives. And that’s what people want: someone who’s focused on them,” Coley told theGrio.

Focusing less on her identity as a Black woman – and the attacks that come along with it – and more on her ability to do the job is something Democrats believe is the best message to voters. 

During her DNC speech last week, Michelle Obama dismissed Trump’s “narrow view of the world,” evidenced by his attacks on the racial identity of her husband, former President Barack Obama, and most recently, Harris. Mrs. Obama said Trump was “threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black.” In what is now a viral line, Obama added, “Who’s going to tell him that the job he is currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?”

“Michelle Obama [was] right,” said Olasanoye. “I would hope that we have gotten to a place in our body politic where there’s no such thing as a Black job and that a Black job, quote, unquote, could be any job, up to and including the presidency of the United States.” 

He said Harris not leaning into her identity is “less about not wanting to acknowledge the whole historic nature of it and more about normalizing it.” 

Olasanoye said that the more the country spends time talking about Trump’s “old, recycled” attacks, the less time there is for discussing the “future of this country” and where Harris and her vice presidential running mate Tim Walz want to take it.

During her prime-time interview, Harris disparaged Trump for instigating a decade-long era of what is “contrary to where the spirit of our country really lies” and blamed issues related to the economy and high costs on the “mismanagement” of Trump during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And while she acknowledged that Biden-Harris administration economic policies have led to America recovering faster than “any wealthy nation around the world,” Harris acknowledged that prices for essential goods are still too high and that her policy agenda will further bring down costs. 

“She’s right to acknowledge that some people are still hurting and feel the very real impacts of inflation,” said Coley, a former official in the Biden-Harris Department of Justice. “It’s also important to remind voters of how bad the economy was that she and Biden inherited and that even though it’s not what we want it to be, it’s improved vastly because of their stewardship.”

“Donald Trump is the only president in almost 100 years who has walked out of the Oval Office having created less jobs than he had in the economy when he showed up,” said Olasanoye, who noted that one million Americans died during the pandemic when Trump “was telling us to drink bleach … to make COVID go away.”

Olasanoye said Harris was “effective” when discussing the economy. He noted that as the Federal Reserve prepares to cut interest rates, which will relieve millions of Americans, Democrats must continue to “attack this cost thing in a real way.” 

He added, “She’s got a plan to do that … she’s got to go out and sell that plan.”

Recommended Stories