What’s up folks? We’re back at it again with another edition of our Black Hollywood Wrap Up where we highlight some fun news from our faves that you might have missed this week.
We’re gonna kick things off with some mega-star power that sees “The Color Purple” collaborators Colman Domingo and Oprah teaming back up for the audio adaptation of his acclaimed play Wild With Happy.
Winfrey joins previously announced cast Abbott Elementary’s Tyler James Williams, Sharon Washington and Alex Newell.
The play’s description per Dramatsist Play Services: “Gil, an actor who’s struggling to carve out his own new life, finds his worlds colliding when his mother dies and he decides to have her cremated. But where should he scatter the ashes? And can he make a fairytale ending for her in the one place that made her WILD WITH HAPPY?”
“Reuniting with Sharon Washington and welcoming Oprah Winfrey, Alex Newell, and Tyler James Williams to this ensemble is a dream come true.
Wild with Happy is about everything that is absurd yet comical about life and death. These themes are perfect to explore in the intimacy of audio, and I’m thrilled to be adapting my play for this medium with the visionary team at Audible. Just as audio is a space for limitless possibilities, so too is the desire to be ‘wild with happy,’ and I can’t wait for listeners around the globe to join us on this surreal ride.”
Megan Thee Stallion, the Houston Hottie herself, surprised her fans last night with the announcement of her new self-titled album, ‘MEGAN,’ set to drop on June 28. The reveal came during her highly anticipated “Hot Girl Summer” show in Atlanta, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Taking to Instagram shortly after her performance, Megan shared the exciting news with her millions of followers. “SURPRISE HOTTIESSSS!!!! My New Album “MEGAN” will be coming out JUNE 28,” she wrote. “Click the link in bio to PRE-SAVE NOW!” The announcement post quickly went viral, garnering thousands of likes and comments within minutes.
The concert itself was a night to remember, featuring a powerhouse performance from Megan Thee Stallion and a special appearance by fellow rapper Latto. The duo ignited the stage with a fiery rendition of their hit ‘Sunday Service (Remix),’ much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd.
— The King of Reads (@TheKingofReads) June 3, 2024
To add to the excitement, Camila Cabello’s new album will be released on June 28, setting up a thrilling chart battle. Fans of both performers are anticipating what promises to be a watershed moment in the music industry.
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Mike Tyson’s fight with Jake Paul has been postponed after the 57-year-old Tyson fell ill on a flight last weekend.
Tyson and Paul said Friday that they will announce a new fight date next week. They were scheduled to meet July 20 in Arlington, Texas.
Tyson became nauseous and dizzy during the final hour of a flight from Miami to Los Angeles last Sunday, and his plane was met by first responders who attended to the former heavyweight champion. Tyson’s camp attributed the episode to an ulcer problem.
“During a follow up consultation on Thursday with medical professionals on his recent ulcer flare-up, the recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations,” the fight’s promoters said in a statement.
Tyson hasn’t fought professionally since June 2005, but he has been training regularly for several years. He fought Roy Jones Jr. in an entertaining exhibition in Los Angeles in November 2020.
Mike Tyson, left, and Jake Paul, right, face off during a news conference promoting their upcoming boxing bout, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. The fight is scheduled for July 20. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
“My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s, and I will be back to my full training schedule soon,” Tyson said in the statement. “Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good. I appreciate everyone’s patience and can’t wait to deliver an unforgettable performance later this year.”
Texas boxing officials have sanctioned Tyson’s meeting with Paul as a legitimate bout with eight 2-minute rounds and unusually heavy gloves. Tyson will turn 58 before the fight, which was scheduled to be streamed on Netflix in what’s likely to be a massive payday for both fighters.
Tickets already purchased for the fight, which was to be held at the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium, will be honored on the new fight date, promoters said. The rescheduled fight is also expected to be in Arlington.
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The 27-year-old Paul is a YouTube star who has forged a successful prizefighting career mostly by taking on mixed martial artists and journeymen boxers.
“I fully support postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night,” Paul said. “My fans know I don’t want to face Iron Mike at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake: When he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish.”
Several former Sean John and Blue Flame employees have accused music tycoon Sean “Diddy” Combs of creating a poisonous and abusive work environment, according to The Daily Beast. Anonymous interviews with these ex-workers portray a distressing image of Diddy’s unstable and aggressive conduct, with allegations that he criticized, grabbed, and threatened his subordinates.
One female ex-employee recounted a particularly troubling incident, describing an altercation where Diddy grabbed her face during a disagreement. “He puts one hand on both sides of my cheeks and says, ‘Stick out your tongue,’” she recalled. “Then he squeezes my face harder and yells at me.” The incident left her shocked and uncomfortable, prompting her to seek other employment opportunities immediately.
These allegations are part of a broader narrative from former employees who detailed multiple instances of Diddy’s aggressive behavior. They described a ‘culture of fear’ within the workplace, exacerbated by Diddy’s unpredictable temper. Many stated that these episodes typically occurred when Diddy felt challenged, with one employee comparing the work environment to the television show ‘Game of Thrones,’ where they constantly felt on edge due to his volatile behavior.
Despite these serious accusations, there are conflicting accounts from former employees who had positive experiences working with Combs. However, the predominant narrative in The Daily Beast report points to a pattern of alleged abuse and intimidation from Diddy, casting a shadow over his professional dealings.
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PARTYNEXTDOOR at Billboard Presents The Stage at SXSW held at the The Four Seasons on March 14, 2024 in Austin, Texas.Photo: Christopher Polk/Billboard (Getty Images)
Who: PartyNextDoor, Sorry, I’m Outside Tour
After seven years, PND is back and ready to see his fans all over the world with his “Sorry, I’m Outside Tour.” The upcoming event coincides with the release of his recently released album, PARTYNEXTDOOR4.
“This album was full of self reflection, being a good guy, tryna to stick to my mother’s morals while having my way for so long, being in lust, being in love & being heartbroken, dealing with friends and family passing away. being empathetic but revengeful & never looking back,” he explained on X/Twitter.
Tamika Davis couldn’t nap on her couch during cancer treatment. She kept worrying one of her toddlers would wander over and pull out the needle delivering chemotherapy.
Friends and family watched her kids when they could during her treatment last year for colon cancer. But Davis had gaps with no help because she couldn’t afford child care and didn’t know where to look for assistance.
“I did not have the strength nor the energy to try to navigate these things myself,” the San Antonio, Texas, resident said.
Patients are not getting enough help dealing with a healthcare system that is growing increasingly complex, according to researchers and other experts in care delivery. They say more frequent insurance complications, doctor and drug shortages, and a lack of communication all make life harder for people with serious or chronic illnesses.
“Just about anything you can think of, it’s now harder to get it done, basically,” said Elisabeth Schuler, founder and president of Patient Navigator, a business that helps people get through the system.
Tamika Davis, right, poses with three of her children, from left, Shanara, 3, Matthew, 11, and Lionel Jr., 2, at MLK Park in San Antonio, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
More care providers and employers are offering help guiding people, a practice the federal Medicare program has started to cover. But that assistance has limits.
Patients with serious or chronic illnesses face a web of challenges. They include:
Coordinating doctor appointments and tests, often while working or undergoing treatment.
Dealing with coverage denials or care delays due to insurer pre-approval requirements.
Figuring out how to fill a prescription if they can’t get coverage or their medication lands on a growing list of drugs in shortage.
Acting as a go-between for doctors and specialists who don’t talk to each other.
Paying medical bills and getting help with rent or utilities. That assistance has been harder to find since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Beth Scott of the non-profit Patient Advocate Foundation.
All of this can be compounded for patients who don’t speak English or have no experience navigating the health care system, noted Gladys Arias, a policy principal with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Davis, the San Antonio cancer patient, said she was in the hospital when she asked for help finding community resources.
She said a case manager set a book of available resources on her bedside table and did nothing else. Davis, a nursing professor, found the book confusing. The programs it detailed had different qualifications based on things like income or diagnosis. The 44-year-old wound up losing her car and leaving her home after care bills piled up.
“I feel like there was some type of help out there for me,” she said. “I just didn’t know where to look.”
Ali DiGiacomo said she wishes that she learned in college how to deal with insurance companies. She often has to do that while coping with side effects from rheumatoid arthritis treatments.
The 30-year-old personal trainer said she’s spent years trying to get a diagnosis for bouts of intense chest pain, which doctors think may be tied to her condition. That requires imaging tests that insurers often decline to cover.
“Dealing with them with brain fog and fatigue and being in pain is just like the cherry on top,” DiGiacomo said.
DiGiacomo said her formulary, or list of covered drugs, has changed three times. That can force her to hunt for a place that carries the newly covered drug, which puts her behind on her medication schedule.
She figures she talks to her insurer at least four times a month.
“I have to hype myself up,” she said. “Then you talk to a million different people. I wish I just had like one person that helped me deal with all this.”
Tamika Davis, right, poses with three of her children, from left, Shanara, 3, Matthew, 11, and Lionel Jr., 2, at MLK Park in San Antonio, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Care delays due to insurer pre-approval requirements have grown more common, many experts say. More plans also have made it challenging to get coverage outside their networks of doctors and hospitals.
A typical appeal for a denial can easily involve 20 to 30 phone calls between the patient, the insurer and the doctor’s office, said Scott, director of case management for Patient Advocate Foundation, which helps people with chronic or debilitating illnesses.
She said some patients give up.
“Sometimes you are sick, and you don’t want to fight it anymore,” she said.
Case managers at hospitals are often overworked, which limits how much help they can provide, noted Schuler, who became a patient advocate about 20 years ago after her 2-year-old daughter went through cancer treatment.
Overall, help for patients is “very patchy everywhere,” according to Harvard Medical School researcher Michael Anne Kyle.
“I think we have a lot of Band-Aids that are necessary,” she said.
Many cancer centers offer patient navigators who can help coordinate appointments, get answers to coverage questions, find rides to the doctor and provide other support. Some insurers provide similar assistance.
And more employers are offering navigation or advocacy help for people on their insurance plans, according to the benefits consultant Mercer.
But these services still aren’t widespread. Alzheimer’s disease patients and their caregivers lack consistent access to such help, said Sam Fazio, a senior director with the non-profit Alzheimer’s Association.
“People are having trouble finding their way,” he said.
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Making the system better for patients requires big change, said Dr. Victor Montori, a Mayo Clinic researcher who studies care delivery.
He said the system must focus more on minimally disruptive medicine, which makes care fit into patient lives. That means things like cutting unnecessary paperwork and surveys, making appointments more flexible and giving patients more time with doctors.
He noted that the burden that falls on patients is not just the time and effort they spend navigating the system. It’s also what they give up to do that.
“If you waste people’s time on silly things, you are being unkind to (their) main purpose, which is to live,” he said. “We have to stop thinking of the patient as a part time employee of the healthcare system that we don’t get to pay.”
A few stars in Hollywood have shone brighter than Will Smith. Smith, known for his charisma, adaptability, and overwhelming box office appeal, has established what many perceive to be an unbeatable track record. From his early days as the Fresh Prince to becoming one of Hollywood’s most bankable actors, Smith’s career exemplifies his enduring appeal and talent. Let’s look at the numbers that confirm his standing as a Hollywood legend.
Box Office Dominance
Will Smith’s films have consistently performed phenomenally at the box office, amassing billions of dollars worldwide. Here are some of his most notable successes:
Bad Boys (1995): $141,407,024
Independence Day (1996): $817,400,891
Men In Black (1997): $589,300,000
Enemy Of The State (1998): $250,400,876
Wild Wild West (1999): $222,110,000
Men In Black II (2002): $440,800,000
Bad Boys II (2003): $273,300,000
I, Robot (2004): $353,100,000
Shark Tale (2004): $374,600,000
Hitch (2005): $371,600,000
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006): $307,000,000
I Am Legend (2007): $585,000,000
Hancock (2008): $620,000,000
Men In Black 3 (2012): $654,000,000
Suicide Squad (2016): $749,000,000
Bad Boys For Life (2020): $425,000,000
Aladdin (2019): $1,540,000,000
A Historic Streak
One of Will Smith’s most impressive accomplishments is being the only actor in Hollywood history to have eight consecutive films generate more than $100 million at the domestic box office. This extraordinary record demonstrates not only his popularity, but also his consistent ability to captivate audiences across all genres.
A Closer Look
Independence Day: This 1996 blockbuster was a cultural phenomenon, catapulting Smith to superstardom with its massive $817.4 million haul.
Men In Black: Another iconic franchise, with the first film grossing $589.3 million in 1997, establishing Smith as a staple of summer blockbusters.
Hancock and I Am Legend: Both films showcased Smith’s ability to lead in high-concept narratives, combining action and emotional depth, grossing $620 million and $585 million respectively.
Aladdin: In 2019, Smith took on the iconic role of the Genie in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Aladdin, which soared to $1.54 billion globally, marking one of his highest-grossing films to date.
Legacy and Impact
Will Smith’s unparalleled success has set a new standard in the industry, exhibiting a distinct combination of box office attraction, critical praise, and audience appeal. His ability to move between genres—from science fiction and action to poignant dramas and family films—demonstrates his versatility and broad appeal. As Hollywood evolves, Smith’s box office record stands as a testimony to a memorable era in cinema.
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In plenty of schools around the country, students have been reading the same books for decades. Besides being just plain boring, we can’t ignore that most of these books, which are often considered classics, don’t exactly reflect Black people’s lived experience in America.
Although some US schools are attempting to add diverse titles into the mix, conservatives are working overtime to ban books that talk about slavery or anything else that might make them feel uncomfortable.
And while you won’t catch us telling anyone to ban these books completely, we wanted to make an impassioned plea to educators to take another look at their required reading lists and add Octavia Butler and Zora Neale Hurston along with J.D. Salinger and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Check out our list of books we’d like to see more students read.
U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., spoke exclusively to theGrio on the 34-count felony conviction of former President Donald Trump. During a special edition of “The Hill with April Ryan,” the progressive congresswoman, who refers to Trump as “the former occupant of the White House,” said the ruling is “one step in the right direction of accountability.” However, after the conviction handed down in a New York courthouse, Trump called the verdict “disgusting” and “rigged” in multiple instances while talking to the press. Several Republican leaders have defended the Republican presidential candidate, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. A former Obama Justice Department official, who spoke to theGrio anonymously, called their remarks an “attack in essence on the rule of law,” adding that it was “dangerous.”
“Donald Trump is not someone being politically persecuted. Give me a break,” Pressley adamantly offered. Sentencing for Trump is slated for July 11 — days before the Republican National Convention, where he is expected to receive the party’s nomination officially. In the meantime, Trump vows to appeal the jury’s decision. As Trump supporters express outrage over his conviction, many say they are concerned about potential violence, particularly after the Jan. 6 insurrection. Congresswoman Pressley, who was inside the Capitol during the insurrection, tells theGrio of her memory that day: “I am always concerned about the rhetoric of Donald Trump — who it insights and emboldens.”
BIA has responded to Cardi B’s recent diss on the ‘Wanna Be Remix’ with a scathing diss track of her own. The tensions between the two artists reached new heights when BIA played her retaliatory track, “GOING OFF,” on Instagram Live, targeting Cardi B with some hard-hitting lyrics. The Boston rapper even went on to upload the diss track titled “SUE MEEE?” on her YouTube channel.
BIA’s diss track features lines such as, “put it on your hubby since you lying on your vows… B*tch you ain’t for the culture you just tryna ride the wave… put that on yo kids you love yourself… C-A-R-D-I cry on IG, catch another tude cause she couldn’t catch the beat… am i battling you or Pardi… you been scrapping songs since 2019.” These incendiary lyrics appear to challenge Cardi B’s authenticity and commitment to the culture, while also questioning her loyalty to her husband, Offset.
This lyrical salvo comes hot on the heels of Cardi B’s Instagram Live session, where she delved into the history of her beef with BIA. Cardi didn’t hold back, revealing a recorded phone conversation and playing an unreleased diss track by BIA. During her livestream, Cardi B expressed her frustration with BIA and mentioned she is considering legal action against her for allegedly spreading false information about her personal life, including claims of infidelity.
Cardi B’s decision to potentially sue BIA centers around accusations that BIA lied about Cardi B’s intimate life, specifically alleging that she cheated on Offset. Cardi B made it clear that such accusations were unacceptable and damaging, hinting at the possibility of a lawsuit to protect her reputation and family.
The feud between the two rappers has captured the attention of fans and the media alike, with many eagerly watching to see what the next move will be. Both artists have significant followings, and their beef has sparked widespread discussion on social media.
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