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Rhea Ripley’s astonishing display of toughness and resilience at SummerSlam 2024 has taken the internet by storm. A clip capturing the moment she forcefully popped her dislocated shoulder back into place has become the most-watched WWE content from the event across all social media platforms.

The jaw-dropping footage, shared on WWE’s official Instagram account, has amassed a staggering 57 million views, a testament to the shock and awe inspired by Ripley’s incredible act. Fans worldwide have been captivated by the raw power and determination showcased by the WWE Superstar.

As the clip continues to circulate and gain traction, it’s clear that Rhea Ripley’s heroic moment has solidified her status as one of the most compelling and unforgettable figures in professional wrestling.

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A year ago, I answered President Joe Biden’s call to serve as the chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention. And on Tuesday, just 13 days before the convention kicks off here in Chicago, I was honored to officially recognize Vice President Kamala Harris as our next Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

It’s hard to overstate the significance of this moment, for the first time ever — a Black woman has secured the presidential nomination of a major party. But history doesn’t just happen — it’s made. And it’s important for us to remember how we got here.

Just over two weeks ago, President Biden made the courageous decision to put his country before himself. It was a painful and powerful moment that could have shaken us as a party, but the President did what he does best — he led us through that uncertainty with a steady, reassuring hand. He put his faith in Vice President Harris to pick up the torch, and he asked the American people to do the same.

What’s followed has been nothing short of remarkable.

Vice President Harris has not only stepped forward to accept that endorsement, but she has also worked day and night to earn it. She’s traveling across the country with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to speak directly with the American people as they fight to build upon the Biden-Harris record of delivering for all Americans. She has brought joy to the campaign trail and reminded us that our better days are ahead, not behind. Democrats from coast to coast coalesced around her candidacy, ushering in a groundswell of grassroots energy heading into the convention.

While the enthusiasm we’re seeing around the country is powerful, we aren’t taking anything for granted. Right now, Democrats are fanning out across the country to bring the Harris-Walz message to the American people, building momentum as we prepare to gather in Chicago to rally behind this historic ticket and chart a course to victory in November.

From inside the United Center, we will introduce our nominees to the country. We will hear directly from the people who know them best. We will showcase stories from Americans across the country whose freedoms hinge on this election. We will give Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz a stage to lay out their bold vision for the future. It’s a vision of hope, freedom, and possibility — and it stands in stark contrast with the vision that Donald Trump is trying to drag us back to.

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That is the choice we face in November: the future or the past, more freedoms or less. And if Donald Trump’s first term in office taught us anything, it’s that the decision we make at the ballot box will define not just the next four years, but the next 50.

The stakes are enormous, and Vice President Harris is the right candidate to meet this moment. She is capable, intelligent, and experienced, and she is committed to fighting for people, for our freedoms, and for our future. Her bold vision for our country will strengthen our democracy, protect reproductive freedom, and ensure every person has the opportunity to not just get by but to get ahead.

We’re standing on the precipice of something truly historic — electing the first woman president of the United States and showing the world what is possible when we come together as a country.

Every generation of Americans faces a defining moment, moments when we must choose who we want to be and what kind of country we want to live in. This is ours. As President Biden says, history is in our hands.

At the convention in Chicago, we will unite as a party and recommit to the work ahead. We will show the world who we are and what we stand for as Democrats, and in November, we will elect Kamala Harris as the 47th president of the United States, sending her and Gov. Walz to the White House to finish the job that she and President Biden started together.

Minyon Moore is the chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

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OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will return with a new season of its hit series, Love & Marriage: Detroit, premiering Saturday, September 7th at 9/8c. The highly anticipated series will follow the season finale of Love & Marriage: Huntsville at 8/7c before settling into its regular Saturday night timeslot at 8/7c beginning September 14th.

“Love & Marriage: Detroit” dives deep into the lives of successful African American couples with deep roots in the vibrant city of Detroit. The series follows Russell and Kolby Harris, Brandon and Kristina Bowman Smith, and Anthony and Dr. LaToya Thompson as they navigate love, family, and careers. This season promises to be even more emotional as the couples face difficult decisions and new dynamics are introduced.

Returning Couples Face New Challenges:

• Russell & Kolby Harris: This couple with a young daughter is expecting their second child. While Russell envisions a bigger family, Kolby may not be on the same page. Balancing parenting styles and their individual goals could create tension.






• Brandon & Kristina Bowman Smith: After 12 years of marriage, Brandon and Kristina are separated. Kristina, a dedicated wife and mother, grapples with life as a single mom while Brandon focuses on his music development program. Can they mend their broken relationship or move forward separately?






• Anthony & Dr. LaToya Thompson: The Thompsons, married for 15 years, seem to have it all. However, Dr.LaToya juggles her successful career with family life, causing her to question her work-life balance and battle perfectionism. Meanwhile, Anthony expands his men’s support group.

New Couples Join the Mix:

• Marcel & Kimberly Dobine: This young couple with two children is working on their communication and finding time for their relationship amidst a hectic schedule. Kimberly’s past friendship with Kristina could stir up trouble within the group.






• Bravo & Lakeita Samuels: High school sweethearts married for six years with two daughters, Bravo and Lakeita struggle with his demanding work schedule in the hospitality industry. Can they find a balance between his ambitions and her desire for more family time?

Love & Marriage Heats Up OWN’s Summer Lineup:

This season of “Love & Marriage: Detroit” follows the success of “Love & Marriage: Huntsville,” currently the #1 original series on Saturday nights across broadcast and cable networks for key African-American demographics.

Tune in for an explosive season filled with love, laughter, and tears as Love & Marriage: Detroit premieres September 7th on OWN!

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Tyler Perry has found the silver lining in his difficult past. 

The media mogul revealed in an Instagram post this week that he visited his “first apartment after being homeless” when he found out the building was being demolished 10 years ago. He reflected on his past during the visit, sharing that his eviction from the apartment building ultimately ended up being a “blessing.”

In the post, Perry shared that when he first moved into the apartment, he felt “so happy” to have a home, but also “anxious and scared that I wasn’t going to be able to pay the $425 rent every month.” He went on to write that he would “freeze” when his landlord knocked on the door to collect rent on the first of every month and “pray that he went away.”

“I was late on the rent every month. Man, this makes me tear up,” Perry alongside a series of photos of the apartment building, the apartment unit, and himself standing in front of the unit. “I was trying to get my plays off the ground and nothing was working. I had a job at UPS collections and was so depressed.” 

Perry added that he was “praying and praying for my change to come.” Eventually, he said that he started to make “a little money” from his play and “paid all the back rent,” adding that he was “so happy” he could do that. 

Perry said that he went away to do a play one weekend and came back to find an eviction notice on his door after he paid the landlord back. 

“I was so mad. He said I had been late too many times and I had been there too long and it was time for me to go,” he explained. “I was angry. I didn’t want to leave this one room that I had found comfort in. But I was forced out of that place. I was forced to leave even though I had met my obligation.” 

Perry added that he realized that he had lived in apartment No. 8, which had a special meaning.  

“Eight in biblical terms means a new beginning,” he wrote over an image of himself standing in front of his old apartment. “I now know that I was at my new beginning. I now know that if he had let me stay there I would have never left, because I had gotten comfortable.”

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Perry shared how he now realizes “just like stagnant water, being stagnant can kill your dreams,” adding, “I now know that you don’t get to the other side by staying comfortable.” 

“I now know, and I thank God that that man put me out of that place,” he continued. “I can hear his voice, ‘You have to go, you’ve been here too long.’ Looking back it’s easy to see the blessing in it, but going through it feels like you’re at the end.”

“But I choose to believe that you are at a new beginning. Don’t be afraid!” he concluded.

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The highly anticipated biopic Unstoppable has released its first look images, giving fans a glimpse into the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles. Starring Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, and Michael Peña, the film also features notable performances by Don Cheadle and Jennifer Lopez.

Unstoppable chronicles the remarkable journey of Anthony Robles (played by Jerome), who defied all odds to become a national wrestling champion despite being born with only one leg. The film, directed by William Goldenberg in his directorial debut, showcases Robles’s tenacity and perseverance. Goldenberg, an Academy Award-winning editor for Argo, brings his storytelling expertise to this powerful narrative.

Jerome underwent months of intensive training and worked closely with Robles to authentically capture the physicality and determination required for the role. Robles himself makes an appearance in the film as the ‘Anthony Robles Double,’ performing intricate wrestling stunts and contributing as a producer.

The film’s production, led by Artists Equity—the company founded by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon—ensured a safe and inclusive environment on set, with Accessibility Coordinators from IndieVisible overseeing the well-being of the cast and crew.

Unstoppable is based on Robles’s book, Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion, co-authored with Austin Murphy. The screenplay was penned by Eric Champnella, Alex Harris, and John Hindman.

The film is produced by Ben Affleck, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Anthony Robles, Andrew Fraser, Gary Lewis, and David Crockett. Unstoppable promises to be a compelling blend of biography, drama, and sports, and is rated PG-13.

Unstoppable

Unstoppable

Unstoppable

Unstoppable

Unstoppable

Unstoppable

Unstoppable

Mark your calendars for this emotional and empowering story of overcoming adversity and achieving greatness.

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Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

Every few years, I rewatch “The Wire,” the five-season show set in Baltimore that is often considered to be one of the greatest television shows ever made. The wire in the title refers to wiretaps set up by the Baltimore Police Department against various drug organizations in West Baltimore in hopes of bringing down major drug players and in season two, against the head of a union leader who happened to run afoul of a major in the Baltimore Police Department. 

“The Wire” gave us legendary characters like Stringer Bell (Idris Elba), Avon Barksdale (Wood Harris), Det. Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West), Bubbles (Andre Royo), Det. Kima Greggs (Sonja Sohn), Chris Partlow (Gbenga Akinnagbe) and Snoop (Felicia “Snoop” Pearson), among a litany of others. Truly, the show had a great many characters. Arguably the most legendary and iconic is Omar Little (Michael K. Williams), a gay man who didn’t curse unless absolutely necessary who robbed drug dealers and drug dealers only, whose legend in Baltimore was so large that drug corner kids would run in fear at the sound of his name. Even those who hated Omar — and there were many who hated him — respected him. 

Despite the number of people who wanted Omar dead and the extremely dangerous line of work he chose for himself, Omar managed to make it through all of the seasons of the show. At the end of season four, he retired from “the game” and moved to Puerto Rico but was pulled out of retirement when Chris and Snoop — the muscle for Marlo Stanfield’s  (Jamie Hector) West Baltimore drug organization — tortured Omar’s friend and confidante, Blind Butchie (S. Robert Morgan) to get him out of hiding for robbing Marlo at a poker game. It worked, of course. The season five storyline that follows Omar is him trying to get at Marlo, Chris and Snoop as they’re trying to get at him. 

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In one absolutely insane scene, after being ambushed by Chris, Snoop and their trainee, Michael (Mack Wilds), Omar jumps from (I believe) the seventh-floor balcony of an apartment building and disappears into the night. Marlo finds it hard to believe that Chris and Snoop lost him to some superhero shenanigans, but we come to find that Omar somehow got into a storage closet and has a broken (or fractured) leg. Omar then moves around West Baltimore, calling out Marlo by name, referring to him as everything but a child of God trying to get him out. As he’s doing this, he runs up on corner boys and on one corner, Michael’s, he’s limping with a makeshift crutch. A young corner boy named Kennard (Thuliso Dingwall) sees this, and after all of the stories he’s heard about Omar, seems less than impressed with this broken man who is so feared in the streets of Baltimore. Kennard eventually follows Omar into a corner store and shoots him in the end, bringing an end to the legend of Omar. 

When the episode where Omar dies (season 5, episode 8, titled “Clarifications”) aired, I remember the conversation around it; some of us felt like the death was too anticlimactic for such an important character; others thought it did in fact show just how anticlimactic a death can be on the street, even for a legendary figure. Omar was killed by a kid for no other reason than he had Omar in his sights. Just … because. I was incensed. I don’t know how I thought he should die but it was definitely more than getting shot in a corner store by a kid with absolutely no dog in the fight. 

I wanted it to be a shootout where Omar went out on his own terms. Omar wasn’t meant to live a long life — when he died at 34, he’d lived much longer than I think most folks expected, including everybody in the police department who knew him. I was waiting for an epic showdown between him and Chris. So was Chris, who was almost as disappointed at hearing the news that Omar was killed as I was seeing it onscreen. Chris had an adversary, one who he needed to kill but who he had some kind of insane respect for considering their shared line of work. Chris (who would end up in prison for life) and Omar were like two top killers in a videogame, destined to meet to determine the GOAT. Omar dying at the hands of Kennard felt unjust. It felt wrong. 

That’s exactly how I felt watching “The Wire” again. Every single time I watch this series, I get to that point and get upset. In the confines of the show, sure, it worked. The writers, creators and actors of “The Wire” made it all work so effortlessly. But it’s Omar. Omar Little. Omar was not only a fan favorite but the most complex character on the show for any number of reasons. Omar was a part of almost every other story. And to see him shot and killed in such an ordinary (for the world of “The Wire”), just-another-day in Baltimore fashion always gets me. It’s fine, though. “The Wire” is one of the greatest shows for a reason; plus, his death created ANOTHER reason to talk about the show, even 16 years later. 

Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio and host of the award-winning podcast, “Dear Culture” on theGrio Black Podcast Network. He writes very Black things, drinks very brown liquors, and is pretty fly for a light guy. His biggest accomplishment to date coincides with his Blackest accomplishment to date in that he received a phone call from Oprah Winfrey after she read one of his pieces (biggest) but he didn’t answer the phone because the caller ID said “Unknown” (Blackest).

Just days before the domestic leg of the Lauryn Hill and The Fugees tour was set to begin, dates were quietly removed from the Ticketmaster site, with ticket holders receiving notifications about refunds, as Variety reported.

Naturally, the cancelation upset responses from fans who rightfully have their feelings about Hill’s complicated relationship with live performances. As Variety points out, this is the third year in a row that Hill and the group have “canceled some or all of their tour dates.”

One fan wrote, “ITS SO DISHEARTENING BEING A FAN OF LAURYN HILL. Last October, a hour before the show in Dallas, it was cancelled with no warning.”

Another wrote, “At this point if you purchase Lauryn Hill tickets, it’s on you,” referring to Hill’s tendency to delay and sometimes altogether cancel shows.”

Hours after the cancelation news, Hill took to social media with a statement to clarify, seemingly blaming the media for spinning a narrative around her.

“Last year, I faced an injury that necessitated the rescheduling of some of my shows,” Hill wrote in the post. “Regrettably, some media outlet’s [sic] penchant for sensationalism and clickbait headlines have seemingly created a narrative that has affected ticket sales for the North American portion of the tour. The trust and faith I have in my intentions and my commitment to my art seem to have been overshadowed by this unfortunate portrayal.”

The post goes on to say that the U.K. and Europe dates are still on for the upcoming tour and are “moving on as planned.”

“Performing for my fans is a profound exchange of energy and emotion that excites me every time. Every show is a piece of my expression and testament to our connection and shared love of music. I can assure you that no one is more disappointed about not being able to perform than I am,” she wrote.

Hill’s statement led to another flurry of frustrated responses from her fans, many of whom have dealt with live performance issues from the Grammy winner at some point. Some wrote of Hill’s apparent “lack of accountability,” while others said they don’t even know if she “is going to show up” when purchasing tickets.

It begs the question: is it fair for Hill to blame the media for “creating a narrative” around her performance record when many outlets have simply reported her many delays, late appearances or cancellations over the years? Her contributions and talent are indisputable, which is exactly why fans still hold on to hope in seeing both her and The Fugees year after year and are often met with disappointment.

Perhaps instead of blaming the media for low ticket sales, more transparency could go a long way in rebuilding trust with some of her fans, who are still willing to spend their hard-earned money to see one of the greatest artists in the game take the stage.

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MGM+ has unveiled the first look at Rome Flynn in his highly anticipated role as the up-and-coming crime boss Frank Lucas in the hit drama series Godfather of Harlem. The series, now in its third season, has garnered critical acclaim for its gritty portrayal of Harlem’s underworld during the 1960s and 1970s. Flynn’s portrayal of Lucas is particularly notable, as he steps into a role previously held by Denzel Washington in the 2007 film American Gangster.

The image released by MGM+ showcases Flynn embodying the complex mix of charisma and menace that defined Lucas during his rise to power. The addition of Lucas as a character signals the show’s continued exploration of Harlem’s turbulent history, intertwined with the civil rights movement and the fierce struggle for control of the city’s streets.

Created by Chris Brancato and the late Paul Eckstein, Godfather of Harlem tells the story of the infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson, played by Forest Whitaker. After serving 11 years in prison, Johnson returns to a neighborhood he no longer recognizes, now fraught with new threats and shifting power dynamics. The series deftly weaves together the criminal underworld with the political landscape of the era, offering a compelling narrative set against the backdrop of one of the most tumultuous times in American history.

In the upcoming fourth season, Bumpy Johnson’s fight for dominance in Harlem intensifies as he battles the New York Mafia families. Complicating matters further is the emergence of Frank Lucas, a new and formidable rival whose ambition threatens Bumpy’s control over the neighborhood. As Bumpy navigates this dangerous power struggle, he also faces personal turmoil following the assassination of Malcolm X (Jason Alan Carvell) and the growing radicalization of his daughter Elise (Antoinette Crowe-Legacy), who becomes increasingly involved with the Black Panthers.

Rome Flynn’s entry into the series as Frank Lucas promises to bring new energy and tension to the already riveting storyline, making the upcoming season of Godfather of Harlem a must-watch.

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