Singer D4vd is facing a life or death legal battle as the family of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez calls for the death penalty if he is convicted of killing their daughter.

According to NBCNews, Celeste’s parents made the demand in a statement released through their attorney on what would have been the teenager’s 16th birthday.

“If the death penalty were activated, it would be perfect for this kind of human being, devoid of feelings and emptiness inside, and without conscience, who only caused pain to our daughter, our family, and the world that supports our precious daughter,” the teen’s parents said in a statement Monday via their attorney.

D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and unlawful mutilation of human remains. Prosecutors allege Burke sexually abused Celeste after beginning a relationship with her when she was just 13 and he was 18. They also allege that he killed her after she threatened to expose their relationship.

As BOSSIP previously reported, the case became particularly horrifying when Celeste’s decomposed remains were discovered inside the front trunk of Burke’s Tesla at a Los Angeles impound lot in September 2025. Prosecutors have presented evidence alleging that her body had been dismembered. And because apparently this case needed another sick and twisted layer, investigators have testified that Burke purchased items including chainsaws and cadaver bags online after Celeste disappeared. Prosecutors contend those purchases were connected to efforts to dispose of her remains.

The family is now also pursuing a wrongful-death lawsuit against Burke and several people connected to him, alleging that members of his inner circle knew about his inappropriate relationship with Celeste and enabled or failed to stop the abuse.

In a separate statement, the family said they were “experiencing so many emotions” and “reliving unforgettable moments even though she is no longer here.”

“These are feelings that only a father and mother and her siblings can share, with a heavy heart. We will always remember every moment and every good time we spent with Celestita,” the family said.

To make matters worse, Burke’s high-profile defense attorneys withdrew from the case in August, and he is now represented by a Los Angeles County public defender after a judge determined he qualified for court-appointed counsel. That development has raised eyebrows because prosecutors have previously said Burke earned millions of dollars during his rapid rise to fame. Moreover, being repped by a public defender in a murder case is…not ideal to say the least. Hopefully, that increases the chance that Celeste’s family will actually receive justice.

The post Prison Ain’t Enough: Celeste Rivas Hernandez Family Requests Death Penalty For D4vd appeared first on Bossip.

Being biracial doesn’t mean choosing one side and pretending the other doesn’t exist. For many celebrities with Black and non-Black heritage, identity has been a lifelong conversation about family, culture, appearance, and the way the world sees them. Check out these biracial celebrities who proudly identify as Black.

From Hollywood heavyweights to Grammy-winning artists, athletes, and cultural icons, these stars have embraced their Blackness while also honoring the other parts of their heritage. As Buzzfeed’s roundup of mixed-race celebrities shows, stars including Yara Shahidi, J. Cole, Mariah Carey, Tracee Ellis Ross, H.E.R., Maya Rudolph, and Zendaya have spoken publicly about navigating their identities. Ranker’s list of famous people who are half Black also highlights other celebrities like Halle Berry, Rashida Jones, Dwayne Johnson, Kimora Lee Simmons, and others.

Scroll below for the list of biracial celebrities who identify as Black.

The post Biracial Celebrities Who Proudly Identify As Black appeared first on Bossip.

The family of 22-year-old Asia Bennett is demanding answers after a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officer shot and killed her during a domestic violence call, and ubiquitous civil rights attorney Ben Crump is now helping them push for transparency.

According to News4JAX, JSO officers responding to a reported dispute on Aug. 11 were told Bennett had a knife. Police say she refused commands to drop it and advanced toward an officer, who shot her. Authorities claim Bennett later tried to get up while still holding the knife, prompting a second shot. She ultimately died after being taken to a hospital.

But Bennett’s family and Crump are calling that account into serious question. Witnesses reportedly dispute the timeline, saying the second shot happened so quickly that Bennett could not have gotten back up and advanced toward officers as police claim. The family also says Bennett was a victim of domestic violence, not the threat JSO portrayed her as.

“We believe it was criminal how she killed Asia Bennett,” Crump said, referring to the officer. “But the breaking news is that she was shot in the back while she was on her hands and knees.”

According to JAX Today, Crump continued his comments:

“She was on the ground, not posing any threat,” Crump said. “The law is clear: Law enforcement cannot use deadly force unless the person poses an imminent threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer.

“How was Asia a threat while she’s on the ground on her hands and knees? How was Asia a threat if she was shot from her side in her back? … Courts have determined that force must stop the moment the threat is neutralized.”

Crump is demanding the release of body camera footage and questioning how a call involving an alleged domestic violence victim ended with her being shot twice. Now, the family wants the public to see exactly what happened. Because when police say one thing and witnesses say another, transparency should not be treated like a favor.

The post Asia Bennett: Family Demands Release Of Unedited JSO Bodycam Video Of Fatal Shooting appeared first on Bossip.

STARZ has confirmed that P-Valley will return for its third and final season on Friday, Dec. 4, bringing Uncle Clifford and the crew back to Chucalissa for one last round of drama, dancing, and plenty of messy situations.

The nine-episode final season will kick off with two new episodes, both directed by series creator, showrunner, executive producer, and Pulitzer Prize-winner Katori Hall. New episodes will then drop weekly on Fridays exclusively on the STARZ app and STARZ’s streaming and on-demand platforms.

One Last Trip To The Pynk

Along with the premiere announcement, STARZ released the first teaser for Season 3, giving fans a glimpse at what’s waiting for them when the lights come back on at The Pynk.

And, as expected, things are about to get complicated.

The newly opened Promised Land Casino is bringing plenty of money into Chucalissa, but the town’s newfound wealth comes with a whole lot of chaos. The official description teases that “mo’ money” will bring “mo’ mayhem” as dreamers, schemers, ballers, and shot-callers descend on the Mississippi Delta looking for their piece of the legendary bag.

Meanwhile, Uncle Clifford, played by Nicco Annan, has her eyes on expanding The Pynk empire. Roulette, played by Gail Bean, is also ready to build her own empire, even if that means breaking one of the club’s cardinal rules.

Lil’ Murda (J. Alphonse Nicholson) is dealing with gang ties that could threaten his future, while Keyshawn (Shannon Thornton) is still fighting to escape her circumstances and finally take control of her own life.

The teaser also features a brand-new track from Lil’ Murda, “Homegrown,” featuring FendiDaRappa. The song will be available to stream on all platforms soon.

Katori Hall Says Goodbye

Hall is also getting ready to close the curtain on the series she first began developing back in 2009.

In a heartfelt letter to fans, the creator reflected on the journey from her original play, “Pussy Valley,” to the television series that premiered in 2020.

“There comes a moment when every stripper must hang up her heels,” Hall wrote. “Seventeen years into this dance, that time has come.”

Hall said the decision to end P-Valley with Season 3 was intentional, giving her the opportunity to close out the story on her own terms.

“The rarest honor a showrunner can have in today’s industry is to end a series on her own terms,” she wrote. “This is why I chose to say goodbye with grace, grit and glitter, lowering the curtain on P-VALLEY at Season 3 with a farewell y’all truly deserve.”

She also thanked STARZ for giving the series a home and providing a platform for Black, queer, and femme talent.

“STARZ was the one network who said yes to this story—but sometimes one yes is all you need,” Hall wrote. “Endings often come with tears, but we all know Uncle Clifford Rule 24.5: ‘No cryin’ at the Pynk.'”

The Pynk Posse Is Coming Back

The final season will bring back many of the familiar faces fans have grown attached to, including Brandee Evans as Mercedes, Harriett D. Foy as Mayor Woodbine, Dan J. Johnson as Corbin, Psalms Salazar as Whisper, Morocco Omari as Big L, Dominic DeVore as Duffy, Jordan M. Cox as Derrick, Thomas Q. Jones as Mane, Bertram Williams Jr. as Woddy, Mea Wilkerson as Haiku, and Loretta Devine as Ernestine.

P-Valley has become one of STARZ’s biggest original hits since its 2020 debut. According to the network, Season 2 averaged 11.6 million multiplatform viewers, while the series has racked up more than 236 million hours watched since its launch.

Now, after three seasons of secrets, romances, rivalries, hustles, heartbreak, and unforgettable performances, The Pynk is preparing for its final last call.

And if Hall is right, the Pynk Posse might want to prepare for what could be the wildest season yet.

“May this last dance go down in history as our greatest season ever,” Hall wrote.

The post ‘P-Valley’ Is Back For One Last Dance: Season 3 Gets December Premiere Date & First Teaser appeared first on Bossip.

Kimora Lee is done letting everybody else hold the pen. The Baby Phat founder and former supermodel is stepping into a new chapter with her Lifetime documentary, Kimora Lee: On Her Own. Watch the trailer inside. 

Lee’s Lifetime documentary promises to unpack the glamour, family drama, business battles and personal heartbreak that have shaped her life. And yes, she is doing it without the Simmons attached to her name.

In an exclusive first look, People reveals an emotional trailer in which Kimora reflects on becoming a major fashion figure while still a teenager. She describes the glamorous side of her early career, including becoming one of Karl Lagerfeld’s youngest Chanel models, before acknowledging the darker experiences that came with growing up in an industry that could be anything but glamorous.

“I’ve seen the monsters,” Kimora says in the trailer.

And sis is apparently ready to tell us what she saw.

Kimora Is Reclaiming Her Name

Kimora famously became Kimora Lee Simmons after marrying Russell Simmons in 1998. The pair later separated and divorced in 2009 after building Baby Phat into a major fashion brand.

Now, she is simply Kimora Lee.

The decision feels intentional. Lifetime’s announcement describes the documentary as an intimate look at Kimora’s journey from teenage fashion model to entrepreneur, mother and cultural trailblazer. The film features interviews with her children, family, friends and collaborators while revisiting her marriages, divorces, motherhood and business career.

Kimora is also sharing that this is not another version of her story filtered through somebody else.

“Someone else always holding the pen. Not anymore,” she says in the Lifetime press announcement.

The Glamour Comes With Receipts

The trailer gets emotional as Kimora reflects on everything she has experienced publicly and privately. At one point, she breaks down and describes her journey as painful, asking to be left alone.

Her history with Russell Simmons has remained complicated in the years since their divorce, including public disputes and allegations against Simmons that he has denied. People also report that Kimora has faced a lawsuit from Simmons involving allegations concerning stocks.

But the documentary seems less interested in rehashing old headlines than in letting Kimora finally frame the story herself.

And after decades of being somebody’s model, somebody’s wife, somebody’s ex and everybody’s headline, she has apparently decided it is time to be Kimora.

As she puts it in the trailer, “When life gives you coal, press it into a diamond.”

Kimora Lee: On Her Own premieres September 20 at 8 p.m. ET on Lifetime.

Watch the trailer below:

RELATED: Kimora Lee Simmons Calls Funk Flex ‘Sassy AF’ After He Confusingly Claims ‘DaBaby Was Beating That’ Before Swapping His Story

The post Kimora Lee Drops The Simmons Name & Reclaims Her Narrative In All New Lifetime Doc ‘Kimora Lee: On Her Own’ appeared first on Bossip.

Phaedra Parks and Chris “CT” Tamburello’s unexpected romance may not have been on anyone’s 2026 bingo card, but the reality TV pair appears to be going strong, and their relationship is “the real deal,” according to a source close to the couple who opened up to Us Magazine on Sept. 9 about the duo’s budding romance. Their buzzing relationship has also earned a major stamp of approval from Andy Cohen, who recently shared his thoughts on the unlikely pairing.

A source says CT and Phaedra are “the real deal.”

Phaedra and CT made their red carpet debut as a couple on Sept. 5 at the Creative Arts Emmys in Los Angeles, instantly turning heads as they posed together. While plenty of fans were thrilled to see the two reality stars officially step out as a pair, others questioned whether their relationship was actually the real thing. According to someone close to the couple, there’s no need to wonder.

“It’s definitely the real deal, and they’re really smitten with each other,” a source told the outlet on Wednesday. “They became really close on The Traitors, but CT never thought he actually had a chance with Phaedra.”

The pair first crossed paths while filming Season 2 of Peacock’s hit reality competition series The Traitors in 2023. Their undeniable chemistry quickly caught viewers’ attention, especially after Phaedra affectionately dubbed her costar “castle daddy.”

Still, despite the flirtatious moments, their friendship remained platonic at the time.

“He always had a bit of a crush on her and was interested, but he really valued their friendship and never wanted to cross that line,” the source shares. “After his marriage ended, he and Phaedra started talking a lot more, and their relationship naturally grew from there.”

While their romance continues to blossom, CT is also dealing with a complicated chapter in his personal life as he navigates his ongoing divorce.

As BOSSIP previously reported, in an exclusive interview with TMZ published Sept. 7, CT’s estranged wife, Catalina White, whom he married in 2024, alleged that Tamburello has yet to sign off on their divorce paperwork. She is calling on her estranged husband to move the process forward and officially close out their marriage before he moves on with his Bravo beauty.

Amid the situation, the source says Phaedra has been “such a positive influence on him.”

Phaedra, who shares Ayden, 16, and Dylan, 13, with ex-husband Apollo Nida, and CT are also taking things slowly when it comes to their families.

“They haven’t blended families yet and are keeping that private,” the source shares. “Most of their relationship has been long-distance so far, but they have made it work and travel to see each other. CT and his ex are trying to resolve their split, and he hopes to close that chapter soon.”

Now, check that! Hit the flip to find out what Andy Cohen thinks of Phaedra and CT’s budding romance.

The post Phaedra Parks And CT Tamburello’s Romance Is ‘The Real Deal,’ Source Says appeared first on Bossip.

Back at it again with this week’s hottest thirst traps dropping during a buzzy week dominated by scheme King Todd Tucker documenting his divorce to Kandi Burruss, Megan Thee Stallion speaking on the Klay Thompson breakup, Taraji shutting down Nobu Los Cabos with baddie birthday behavior, the star-studded Why Did I Get Married Again? cast taking over LA, sporty stunners slaying at the US Open, and more.

As promised, we’ve compiled swoon-worthy stunners (and our thirst-trappin’ celebrity faves) with K. Michelle making her return to the series while promoting her highly anticipated Country debut, Jesus & Whiskey.

Produced by Kristian Bush, Jesus & Whiskey marks the first full-length exploration of K. Michelle’s authentic Country roots over the 9-track album that the press release describes as a “hypnotic fusion of timeless storytelling and Southern soul.”

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, K opened up about the buzzy project slated for a Oct. 16 release.

“Being a Tennessee girl, [Country] is my first genre of choice, and I was always told because of other reasons, I couldn’t sing that,” said Michelle, who previously released 6 R&B albums. “When it came down to it, I am a country singer. It’s new to the world, but to everyone around me, they know it’s my whole life, so it’s time to do what it is I do, and I’m really excited about it.”

This week’s thirst trap compilation also features Rihanna slaying, along with Chlöe Bailey and Olandria giving what needs to be gave.

There’s also big baddie energy from Love Island USA star Aniya Harvey, Megan Thee Stallion, Porsha Williams, Ice Spice, Coi Leray, and more, so we invite you to enjoy our latest collection of top-tier thirst traps on the flip.

The post Whew Lawd! The Hottest Thirst Traps Of The Week, Vol. 160 appeared first on Bossip.

The rapper is firing back at criticism over his new spot, No Knife Chicken & Waffles, which recently opened its doors in DaBaby’s native Charlotte. After customers made their way to the restaurant and posted pictures of the menu online, many social media users questioned the cost of several menu items–most notably, a $45 Soulfood Cornbread Waffle.

In response to this backlash, DaBaby did an interview with Positively Charlotte on Fox 46 Charlotte, where he explained the reasoning behind the high prices. He went into detail about what all goes into the menu items at his restaurant, citing things like homemade cornbread, collard greens with turkey, and fresh sweet potato folded into the batter of one waffle.

After explaining the $45 waffle in detail, he finished by saying, “this is really a $100 waffle!”

He also took the time to let more frugal customers know they can make their way to Waffle House, but he insists it’s not shade.

“Waffle House has something for you, you know what I mean? But if you want an elevated dining experience, if you want a waffle–Waffle House, I’m sorry, don’t let this come off as shade to you–this isn’t just flour and water,” he said.

No Knife Chicken & Waffles opened Sept. 6 on Atando Avenue and quickly drew attention online for its pricing. A plain waffle is listed at $15, flavored waffles cost $25, and the Soulfood Cornbread Waffle is priced at $45, with six wings available as a $10 add-on. The menu and restaurant logo also seem to be created with AI, but that’s a whole other conversation.

Coverage of the restaurant’s opening also revealed that the online backlash did not keep people away.

One Charlotte Observer reporter who attended the grand opening said he waited about three hours for his food, saying what he ordered was good, but still questioning whether the prices and wait were justified. While DaBaby was closely involved in developing the restaurant’s menu, he is not serving as its head chef.

The restaurant business is one of the most difficult to maintain, so the real question for No Knife Chicken & Waffles is whether it can maintain a customer base for years to come.

The post DaBaby DGAF: DaBaby Fires Back At Critics Complaining About The $45 Waffle At His New Charlotte Restaurant appeared first on Bossip.

The actress and singer recently announced the end of her engagement to Joey Bada$$ after welcoming their son in 2025 and building a life together. In a statement shared on Instagram, Serayah said she made the difficult decision to end their relationship after facing what she described as “repeated infidelity.”

Since then, Serayah has made it clear that she’s choosing herself and focusing on peacefully co-parenting their son.

And we fully support a season of healing, happiness, and minding her business.

BUT… whenever she’s ready to get back outside, we have a few suggestions.

From Hollywood heartthrobs to R&B baes, and a baller, here are 12 fellas we wouldn’t mind seeing shoot their shot with 31-year-old Serayah.

1. Jacob Latimore, 30

Now, if there’s anyone we’d like to see spin the block, it’s Jacob Latimore! The former couple dated for several years before calling it quits, and their longtime relationship clearly had fans invested. They’ve both grown since their split, and with Jacob sharing Serayah’s love for acting and music, we wouldn’t be mad at a second-chance romance. Sometimes an old flame deserves a new spark!

The post Single & Stunning: Swoon-Worthy Suitors We’d Love To See Shoot Their Shot With Serayah appeared first on Bossip.

Isaiah John returns to the beloved role with a quiet confidence and maturity that mirrors his own growth after nearly a decade of bringing Leon to life. With The Drop officially making its FX and Hulu debut, BOSSIP’s Liz Smith caught up with John about growing alongside his character, the trauma Leon is still carrying, his complicated connection to Wanda, and what it means to choose peace when you know firsthand what the streets can take from you.

We started by asking John whether he had to change anything internally to portray this older, calmer version of Leon. For the actor, the evolution came naturally because in many ways, he and Leon grew up together.

“You know, what I like to say is I booked the show when I was 20 years old, and the plus in that was I was able to grow and mature with this character, because Leon was, you know, a young man turning into a man as well,” John told Liz. “So I would say that, you know, life is imitating art, and art imitating life kind of thing.”

But maturity doesn’t mean Leon has left everything from Snowfall behind. John said he approached The Drop by thinking about just how much his character would still be processing when viewers reconnect with him in 1991.

“I try to just honor where Leon could be mentally with everything that he processed and everything that he experienced,” he said. “I mean, we’re starting the spinoff in ’91, and just prior, storyline-wise, Leon had just saw Franklin not even a year prior. And so I’m like, okay, this is a lot of trauma to unpack.”

Rather than having Leon explain all of that pain, John wanted viewers to be able to see its weight.

“It’s a lot of things that internally he’s processing. So how can I really focus on conveying that on screen without words? Because it’s really heavy, you know?”

That growth is also evident in the way Leon moves through his old neighborhood. He’s an OG now, and while the hood still respects him, he’s using that influence differently by pouring back into the community. We asked John what leadership means to Leon at this stage in his life.

“I mean, it’s everything,” John said. “You know, to a degree, for a while he was up under Franklin leadership. And so now that, you know, he decided to get married and take on this new, like, way of life, it’s everything.”

After spending years following Franklin’s lead, Leon now recognizes that a younger generation needs guidance of its own, something John said viewers will see explored in the new series.

“He sees that leadership is needed because, like, there’s a lot of, especially the youth that we’re gonna tap into a little bit in the spinoff, it’s, like, it’s a lot of misguidance,” John explained. “And so I think he’s really trying to find a way to, in a sense, lead, you know, and set an example and just do right in some kind of way.”

Now, don’t get it twisted. Mature Leon might be moving these days differently, but there were definitely a few moments in the screeners that reminded us the old Leon hasn’t gone anywhere. We asked John just how much of that version of his character is still lurking underneath all that newfound peace.

“I think it’s all there,” John said. “You know, he just manages it differently because the life experience is still there. Like, you know, under the right circumstances, you know.”

Basically, growth is growth, but don’t tempt Leon Simmons because he’ll still throw hands.

Of course, Leon’s growth isn’t the only thing that’s changed. His relationship with Wanda looks very different in The Drop, but one thing certainly hasn’t changed: when Wanda needs him, Leon shows up.

After watching him repeatedly come to her rescue, we had to ask the obvious question: Why doesn’t Leon ever let Wanda fall and figure things out on her own?

“Well, you know, we actually tapping into it as we watch the spinoff. So that’s the question, yeah,” John said before quickly catching himself to avoid giving too much away.

“I don’t want to say— like, there’s literally, like, I don’t want to say too much,” he continued. “There is something in this season that the fans will understand this dynamic and why it is the way it is. Like, we really, really tie it all together.”

We don’t want to give out any spoilers, but whatever continues to pull Leon back to Wanda, there’s clearly more to the story.

While Leon is building a new life, The Drop makes it clear that his past is never too far away. In one particularly quiet moment, Leon looks through old photographs, including one of his childhood best friend, Franklin Saint.

After everything that happened between the two men and where viewers ultimately saw Franklin’s story end in Snowfall, we asked John whether Leon has truly made peace with it all.

“No. I don’t think that he’s made peace with it, because I think he’s still confused by it all,” John said, before clarifying. “I mean, not confused, like he understands. Like he understands the process, but it’s just like that was, that was his brother, you know what I mean?”

For Leon, understanding how things fell apart doesn’t necessarily make accepting the loss of that relationship any easier.

“I don’t think that he’s, like, yeah, I don’t think he’s come to terms with that fully.”

And considering everything Franklin and Leon survived together, perhaps that’s one piece of his past that even a more mature and evolved Leon isn’t quite ready to put down.

Before wrapping up, John made sure to show love to the fans who have supported him, Leon and the Snowfall universe throughout the years. He encouraged longtime viewers and newcomers alike to tap into this next chapter and expressed his gratitude for everyone who has continued to ride with these characters long after Snowfall came to an end.

And judging by everything Leon is still unpacking, there is plenty more story left to tell.

The Drop: A Snowfall Saga airs weekly on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on FX and streams on Hulu.

The post Still Saint Scarred? Isaiah John Talks Leon’s ‘The Drop’ Evolution, Wanda & Unfinished Feelings About Franklin [Exclusive] appeared first on Bossip.

Some of the most iconic wildlife adventures in recent memory belong to Black celebrities who’ve traded the spotlight for the savanna, and the experiences they’ve shared have genuinely expanded how the culture thinks about travel. 

Oprah Winfrey, for example, has traveled to Tanzania’s Singita Grumeti Reserve, which sits along the northern boundary of the Serengeti. She documented game drives that put her within feet of buffalo, elephants, and lions, and a hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti plains at sunrise. She’s also stayed at Royal Malewane in South Africa’s Greater Kruger area, one of the continent’s most celebrated private game reserves.

The shift in who’s going on safari, and how they talk about it afterward, reflects something real. For Black Americans reconnecting with the African continent through travel, a wildlife safari carries meaning that goes further than tourism. The landscape, wildlife, and communities land differently when ancestry is part of the backdrop. 

What Do Celebrity Wildlife Safaris Actually Look Like?

The wildlife adventures that celebrities have shared publicly span multiple countries and property types across the African continent.

Lupita Nyong’o, as a WildAid global ambassador, has traveled to Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, where she witnessed lions, elephants, and giraffes in the wild alongside researchers from the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, and visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s elephant orphanage in Nairobi. She also narrated the Discovery Channel’s Serengeti documentary series, showing a connection to the area that goes well beyond tourism and into active conservation advocacy. 

Tanzania: The Continent’s Most Celebrated Safari Destination

Tanzania consistently ranks as Africa’s most sought-after safari destination, and the reasons are specific. The Serengeti National Park alone covers 5,700 square miles and houses the highest concentration of large mammals on earth. The Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, functions as a natural enclosure where over 25,000 animals live year-round, including the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo.

For anyone planning a first wildlife safari, Tanzania offers the widest range of accessible experiences across different price points and group sizes. The team at Tanzania Safari specializes in connecting travelers with the right itinerary for their interests.

Kenya: Where the Maasai Mara Delivers Year After Year

Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve is the other half of the equation for anyone serious about East African wildlife. The Mara connects directly to Tanzania’s Serengeti, which is why the migration crosses the border at the Mara River each year in one of nature’s most dramatic sequences. Big cat sightings in the Mara are among the most reliable on the continent: lion prides are active throughout the year, cheetahs hunt openly on the short grass plains, and leopard sightings in the riverine forest are consistent enough that they no longer feel like luck.

Why Are African Safari Tours So Popular Among Celebrities?

The appeal is partly about scale. There is nowhere else on Earth where wildlife exists in the density and variety of the East African savanna, and experiencing it firsthand changes the reference point for what “nature” means. Game drives at dawn produce sightings that no zoo, documentary, or photograph can approximate, because the scale, sound, and proximity of open-wilderness wildlife are categorically different from any controlled environment. 

There’s also a cultural resonance for Black celebrities that goes beyond scenery. According to MMGY Travel Intelligence’s 2025 Black traveler report, covered by TravelAge West, Black travelers spent $145 billion on travel in 2023, and 87% express willingness to invest in premium upgrades such as luxury accommodations. Safari adventures fit naturally into that broader motivation, particularly for Black travelers who choose destinations that connect with ancestral heritage alongside nature and culture. 

What a First Wildlife Safari Looks Like in Practice

First-time safari guests typically underestimate how immersive the experience actually is. A standard day begins before sunrise with a game drive that runs until mid-morning. After a break during the hottest part of the afternoon, a second drive goes until after dark.

Experienced guides read animal behavior, track movement patterns, and position the vehicle for sightings most guests would miss on their own. The following experiences are among the most commonly cited highlights from first-time safari guests:

• Witnessing a lion hunt or kill, which happens on open terrain where the full sequence is visible
• Encountering an elephant herd at close range on a walking safari, where the absence of a vehicle changes the entire dynamic
• Watching the wildebeest river crossing during migration season, when thousands of animals plunge into crocodile-filled water in a matter of minutes
• Night drives that reveal nocturnal animals invisible during daylight hours, including leopards, hyenas, and aardvarks

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best Time of Year to Go on an African Safari?

The best timing depends on your priority. For the wildebeest migration in Tanzania’s Serengeti, July through October puts you at the river crossings in Kenya’s Mara. For general wildlife viewing with less rain, June through September is considered peak season across East Africa. The dry season concentrates animals around water sources, making sightings more reliable even outside migration windows. Tanzania and Kenya both offer excellent game viewing year-round.

Is Tanzania Safe for Black American Travelers?

Tanzania is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most stable and traveler-friendly countries, with a long history of welcoming international tourism. The safari tourism infrastructure is well-established, and the country receives millions of visitors annually without significant safety incidents in tourist areas. Standard travel precautions apply: purchase comprehensive travel insurance, register with the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program before departure, and book through established operators with verifiable track records.

Understanding Wildlife Adventures

The wildlife adventures that Black celebrities have shared from across Africa have made the African safari feel like a real option rather than an abstract aspiration for Black travelers who’ve never seen themselves in that context before. The Serengeti and the Mara are places where the scale of nature resets your sense of what’s possible, and they’re more accessible than the highlight reels suggest.

Keep reading for more travel content, celebrity culture, and lifestyle coverage that’s worth reading.

The post Wildlife Adventures That Black Celebrities Have Experienced appeared first on Bossip.

BOSSIP’s Liz Smith caught up with Bean ahead of the premiere and started with the significance of this moment. After years of bringing Wanda’s complicated journey to life on Snowfall, has it finally set in that she, a successful Black woman, is now leading the next chapter of the saga?

“It has not set in. Every day I’m like, wait, what?” Bean told BOSSIP. “When they first broke the news that I would be the number one, I said, I’m sorry, excuse me? Because even— it’s so crazy, even in 2026, when they told us back when we were shooting season six of Snowfall, in my mind I just thought, Oh okay, Leon and Wanda getting a spinoff. He gonna be number one, I’m gonna be number two. Which is crazy that even in the world today, that’s not the first thought of, like, that I could ever be the lead. That they would put a Black female as the lead.”

That responsibility extends beyond simply being No. 1 on the call sheet. BOSSIP told Bean that her performance seemingly raises the bar for everyone sharing a scene with her and asked whether she feels a responsibility to set that tone on set.

“100 percent. 100 percent. I feel I have to lead by example,” Bean said. “I’m always making sure that I come prepared, know my lines, I’m on time. I don’t want to be the leader that says, but the leader that does.”

For Bean, that also means doing the work beyond what’s written in the script.

“They know I have a good time, but [I’m] taking it serious as far as doing my own personal research outside of just what’s on the page or in the room, and truly bringing this character to life and showing that we have a responsibility to do these characters justice, tell real stories.”

That leadership is also met with plenty of support from her castmates, something Bean said reminds her of growing up with five older brothers.

“What I do love with all the guys, they’re so overprotective of me, ’cause I’ve had that forever because I have five older brothers,” she told BOSSIP. “But seeing how serious they take it and how supportive they are of me, and they tell me, they’re like, ‘No, you did a good job.’ So, yeah.”

From there, BOSSIP dug deeper into the woman at the center of The Drop. After watching Wanda spend much of Snowfall trying to find herself again, we asked Bean what it felt like to finally play a version of Wanda who knows exactly what she wants and believes she’s found her purpose.

“To have a Wanda who is now more sure of herself now more than ever, very confident, it just feels like she’s becoming a woman. Like she’s evolving,” Bean told Liz. “You know, us as Black women, we’re constantly trying to find our purpose, and then when we find it, you know. You know when you hit that moment of, ‘Oh, this is what I’m supposed to be doing. This is who I am. This is my purpose.’”

Bean compared Wanda’s evolution to the feeling of finally recognizing something, or someone, that’s meant for you.

“It’s like when you searching for your mate, right? And you don’t know you found your husband until you’re like, ‘Oh, this is what it feels like.’ So I felt like in Snowfall, she was just enjoying life, you know, not really knowing, not seeing a means to an end, but just, ‘Oh, life is fun. It’s cute. I’m having a good time.’ And now she’s like, ‘Oh, this is my purpose.’”

Now, we couldn’t just let that “husband” example slide by without asking a little follow-up! The Atlanta native sounded mighty confident about knowing what finding your husband feels like, so we playfully questioned whether she might be speaking from a little real-life experience.

With a smile, Bean simply responded, “Yes ma’am!”

Speaking of love, we couldn’t talk about Wanda’s next chapter without getting into the love story Snowfall fans have been invested in for years. Wanda and Leon fought hard to find their way back to each other, but without giving too much away, The Drop finds the two navigating a very different space. We asked Bean what she thought when she first learned where the writers were taking their relationship.

“Without spoiling it, you know what? ’90s love is a lot different than how we see love displayed today,” Bean explained. “Also at the time where a lot of times people didn’t talk about stuff in relationships. Certain conversations were taboo. It was just, it was complicated.”

And while Bean isn’t giving away whether Wanda and Leon will ultimately find their way back to each other, she admitted she’s enjoying the push and pull between the two.

“We don’t know where they’re gonna end up at, but I do like watching Wanda and Leon be in this place of tug of war with one another.”

Wanda’s newfound purpose doesn’t stop with her own dreams. The Drop introduces her younger cousin Lamar, played by Asante Blackk, and Wanda quickly recognizes talent and potential in him that others aren’t quite ready to see. According to Bean, that’s partly because Wanda isn’t just ambitious; she’s a visionary.

“Wanda is a visionary. So she sees something so clear in Lamar without a shadow of doubt,” Bean told BOSSIP.

But Wanda’s determination to believe in Lamar also comes from a much deeper place. Bean explained that the cousins share a bond rooted in childhood and similar feelings of abandonment, even if viewers don’t get their entire backstory this season.

“You know, you have your favorite cousin that’s kind of like your cousin-sibling? So that’s what they are,” she explained. “She’s known him for so long. Obviously she was there when he was born, you know? And it’s like you kind of take that cousin under your wing and you feel like they your sibling. “I think she just knows what it’s like to have a dream and nobody support you.”

Before wrapping up the conversation, Bean had one more message for viewers: tune in and show up. She encouraged fans to turn on those TVs, stream the series, and help push the viewership numbers because supporting The Drop means helping create more opportunities for Black stories to be told from Black perspectives.

It also means showing up for a Black woman leading a major television series, an opportunity Bean acknowledged earlier in our conversation is still far too rare.

The Drop: A Snowfall Saga airs on FX and streams on Hulu.

The post From ‘Snowfall’ To Superstar: Gail Bean Steps Into Her Power As ‘The Drop’s’ Leading Lady [Exclusive] appeared first on Bossip.

The sports world is buzzing over the star-studded US Open which attracted the finest (and flyest) tastemakers, culture-shifters, and stars including Simone Biles, Travis Scott, Colman Domingo, Mariah The Scientist, Yung Miami, Kayla Nicole, Karrueche, Latto, and more to the glamorous affair in the heart of Flushing Meadows, NY.

Buzzier than ever, the starry-eyed affair served winning looks, signature Honey Deuce cocktails, and exquisite vibes curated by a bevy of brands including Cadillac (the official vehicle of the Open), Moët & Chandon, Grey Goose, Sephora, Dove, and many more.

At the center of the chicness was doubles champion Taylor Townsend who stunned while celebrating the kickoff of US Open SZN with her exclusive 40Love Party.

The tennis star brought together friends, family and notable guests, including Brandon Blackwood, Malika Andrews and J. Bolin to toast to her upcoming run at the Open and the sport’s growing cultural impact.

Bustling with good vibes, guests enjoyed specialty Grey Goose cocktails, including Espresso Martinis, Rouge Royales, and the iconic Grey Goose Honey Deuce at Manhattan hotspot, Sei Less.

Is attending the US Open on your must-do list? Tell us down below and enjoy our gallery of sporty stunners who served winning looks at the US Open on the flip.

The post Pretty Girls Love Tennis! A Gallery Of Fly Girlies, Honey Deuce Hotties & Sporty Stunners Serving Winning Looks At The 2026 US Open appeared first on Bossip.

Todd Tucker isn’t letting his divorce from Kandi Burruss quietly fade into the reality TV archives. Instead, he’s documenting their divorce, and Kandi fans think THIS is the true “scheme that Todd set up.”

The former Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member/accused serial scheme King released a two-minute trailer for his upcoming project, Til Divorce Do Us Part. Fans got a glimpse of his side of the split and the emotional aftermath of his marriage ending. The documentary film follows Tucker around the time his divorce from Burruss was finalized and features familiar faces from the couple’s orbit, including Porsha Williams’ ex Dennis McKinley, Kandi’s friend Fatum Alford, Drew Sidora’s ex Ralph Pittman, and Kandi’s hairstylist.

The trailer opens with Tucker meeting with his divorce attorney and ultimately signing the paperwork. He then removes his wedding ring, setting the tone for what appears to be a very personal look at the end of the relationship.

And Todd is not exactly keeping things surface level.

The trailer touches on accusations of infidelity, marital problems, and Tucker’s mental health struggles following the breakup. At one point, he discusses having experienced thoughts of self-harm during the aftermath of the divorce. He also agrees to take a polygraph test when questions about whether he had sex with another woman come up.

Fatum Alford also suggests in the trailer that there was an incident Tucker admitted to that contributed to Burruss wanting the divorce. Tucker questions why his own struggles and pleas for help were not given more attention.

Meanwhile, Kandi has already publicly addressed the end of their marriage from her perspective. In June, she said she had no regrets about the marriage, explaining that it was good while it lasted but ultimately did not work.

Social Media Reacts To Til Divorce Do Us Part

Now that Todd is putting his version on screen, social media is already doing what social media does best: giving unsolicited reviews before the premiere.

Some viewers were not exactly rushing to buy a ticket. Some comments from fans under the post include: 

“He’s looking old.”

“DUDE NOBODY F*CKIN CARES!!!”

“is this AI?”

Another Instagram commenter bluntly wrote, “We won’t be watching, Todd.”

But not everybody is against Todd telling his story.

One commenter defended the project, writing that “Men get shunned, and no one wants to hear them out” and arguing that Todd has the right to tell his side and make money from it.

Another dubbed it a “smart scheme that he set up.”

So, whether folks are ready for Til Divorce Do Us Part or ready for Todd to simply let the divorce rest, he has decided to turn the aftermath of his marriage into content. Well, he does call himself a film producer, so can it be deemed creative freedom? 

Judging by the comments, the audience already has plenty to say.

RELATED: ‘Not The Same’: Riley Burruss Gets Real About Relationship With Todd Tucker Amid His Split From Kandi Burruss

The post Accused Serial Scheme King Todd Tucker Documents His Divorce From Kandi Burruss, Enlists Dennis McKinley & Ralph Pittman For Film Trailer appeared first on Bossip.

Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Again? held its Los Angeles screening Tuesday night, Sept. 8, at Harmony Gold Preview House, providing a first look at the highly anticipated return of the beloved franchise. More than 15 years after the previous installment brought the cast together in New York, the stars reunited on the red carpet to celebrate the next chapter.

Perry, who wrote, directed and produced the film, was joined by returning favorites including Taraji P. Henson, Jill Scott, Richard T. Jones, Tasha Smith, Michael Jai White, Lamman Rucker and Sharon Leal.

This time around, the franchise is mixing its longtime favorites with a new generation of talent. Armani Greer, Everett Osborne, Da’Vinchi, Laya DeLeon Hayes, Jaden Michael, Charles L. Smith II, Derrick A. King and Sydney Winbush are among the newcomers joining the cast.

The stars in attendance weren’t only from the movie, though; There were a couple of surprise arrivals that had Love Island USA fans paying attention. Season 8 couple Kuman “KC” Chandler and Tierra “Titi” Davis stepped onto the red carpet, giving Islanders another reason to tune into the star-studded event.

The pair, who won over fans during the latest season of the hit reality show, added some reality TV star power to an evening already packed with Hollywood heavy hitters.

Kenya Moore also made an appearance at the Los Angeles screening, bringing some serious reality TV glam to the festivities.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star was among the celebrity guests turning out to support the new installment, proving that the Why Did I Get Married? franchise still has plenty of crossover appeal more than a decade after the last movie.

The fashion was just as much of a moment as the star power.

Eva Marcille and Crystle Stewart embraced the sheer trend in stunning gowns, while Tasha Smith served some skin in a black dress featuring dramatic side cutouts.

Henson went in a different direction with a striking black-and-white Rick Owens look, proving once again that she knows how to make an entrance.

Michael Jai White kept it classy in an all-black suit.

And Derrick A. King followed suit, leaving his jacket open for a sultry moment.

The new movie picks up with the beloved couples reuniting to celebrate as Marcus and Angela’s daughter prepares to walk down the aisle.

But getting everyone back together also means old habits, old wounds and plenty of relationship drama are bound to resurface. After spending years apart, the couples quickly discover that while plenty has changed, some things really haven’t.

And now that their children have grown up, the group is forced to look at the examples they’ve set and wonder whether their kids are following in their footsteps a little too closely.

With Perry back behind the camera and much of the original cast returning alongside a new generation of stars, Why Did I Get Married Again? is shaping up to be another messy, emotional and entertaining trip down relationship lane.

The post Stunning & Star-Studded: The ‘Why Did I Get Married Again?’ Cast Understood The Assignment At Glam Los Angeles Screening appeared first on Bossip.

Could Love & Marriage: Huntsville alum Melody Shari be earning herself a peach soon? That’s the question making its way around the internet after the 40-year-old reality star was spotted filming with the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta over the weekend during Atlanta’s Black Pride festivities. According to a video obtained by The Gworls Are Fighting on Sept. 8, Shari was seen onstage while the RHOA ladies were also filming at the event, dancing and having a ball.

And, of course, the internet noticed.

The sighting immediately had The Real Housewives of Atlanta fans wondering whether Shari’s appearance was simply a fun crossover moment or a hint that she could have a much bigger role in the upcoming 19th season. More on Melody Shari after the flip!

The post From Alabama To Atlanta? ‘Love & Marriage: Huntsville’ Alum Melody Shari Stirs Peach-Possession Rumors After Being Spotted With #RHOA Cast appeared first on Bossip.

The search for answers in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells is getting even more serious, as his mother, Christine Wonsley, is going straight to court to demand the digital receipts surrounding her son’s final days.

According to ABC News, Wonsley’s legal team has issued subpoenas to several major social media and technology companies as the family continues investigating what happened to Nolan, whose body was found on July 6 after he disappeared during a Fourth of July celebration on Horn Island, Mississippi. BOSSIP previously reported on the potential for these subpoenas as Nolan’s family continued questioning what happened to his phone and what information might have been deleted from it.

The subpoenas seek records from Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok and Life360. The family is seeking messages, photos, videos, GPS location data and timestamps that could potentially help reconstruct Nolan’s movements and interactions before his death.

Each company has 21 days from the receipt from the subpoena “to produce and permit inspection and copying of all documents, electronically stored information, records, and tangible things designated below, and to deliver, mail, transmit, or make available for inspection said materials to counsel for Petitioner Christine Wonsley,” the court documents state.

This move could prove significant because Wonsley previously told ABC News’ Good Morning America that when she and her sister finally obtained Nolan’s phone, they noticed that some messages and Snapchat content appeared to be missing.

Wonsley said Nolan had two Snapchat accounts, but there was essentially nothing on them. Considering Snapchat content can disappear after a limited period, the absence of videos and pictures raised an obvious question for the grieving mother. Meanwhile, authorities have maintained that there was initially no indication of a crime and suspect Nolan drowned, though the investigation remains ongoing. The official autopsy and toxicology results are still pending.

The family’s independent autopsy determined Nolan’s cause and manner of death as “undetermined pending investigation,” adding another layer of uncertainty to a case already filled with unanswered questions.

For Wonsley and her family, this legal fight is not about internet speculation, social-media sleuthing, or playing armchair detective. It is about finding out exactly what happened to her son. And after weeks of questions, inconsistencies and missing information, she clearly isn’t waiting around for somebody else to connect the dots.

The post Nolan Wells: Mother Christine Wonsley Subpoenas Major Social Media Seeking Evidence For Justice appeared first on Bossip.

Megan Thee Stallion is opening up about her split from Klay Thompson and getting real about what she learned from the relationship.

The rapper addressed her recent breakup with the NBA star in a new cover story for InStyle, where she reflected on a difficult period in her personal life, finding herself again, and the relationship standards she refuses to compromise on.

“It was very rough,” Megan told the outlet. “What’s meant for you is always going to work out. And if something is constantly making you feel uncomfortable, just on edge all the time, you probably are not supposed to be there.”

Megan went on to say that she believes God has a way of making you uncomfortable when you’re somewhere you’re not supposed to be.

“I think I just kept trying to make pieces fit that didn’t belong, trying to fit myself into someone else’s life,” she continued. “I was losing myself a little bit. I am now in the space of finding me again.”

For the Houston native, being in a relationship doesn’t mean putting her career, personality or independence on the back burner.

“I cannot be disrespected. I cannot be a person who is not gonna be me. I cannot not go to work,” she said. “I’m going to be Megan Thee Stallion… You will not disrespect me. And you will be thankful. Period.”

She also kept it very real about how she’s been feeling while navigating everything post-split.

“I’m trying my best,” Megan said. “I feel like I’ve been put through the washing machine and the dryer with tins, shovels, and a cactus.”

She also made it clear that she knows exactly what she needs from a partner moving forward.

“Trust, fidelity, and respect are non-negotiable for me in a relationship and when those values are compromised, there’s no real path forward,” Meg said.

The rapper explained that she’s never going to be the type to shrink herself to make a relationship work.

“I love being me. I love rapping. I love interacting with my fans. I love shooting music videos,” Megan said. “I’m not a person who is in the house 24-7. I’m never going to be that.”

“She’s her own person. She’s her own boss. I cannot be minimized. I will not be behind any man,” she continued. “I will have a partner. I will be equals with my partner. I’m never gonna take the backseat to anything.”

The Houston hottie said the experience has helped her get much clearer about what she will and won’t accept in a relationship.

“So just going forward, I think I’ve just learned this is the type of person that I want to be with, this is what I will tolerate, this is what I won’t tolerate,” she explained. “And if you can’t take that, we just gotta respectfully go our separate ways.”

The Grammy winner also shared an important reminder for anyone who’s been hurt by infidelity.

“People cheating on you, that doesn’t have anything to do with you,” she said. “You’re not less attractive. You’re not less of a good person.”

Megan acknowledged that cheating can still leave you questioning yourself and wondering what you did wrong.

“Even though it might feel like that. Oh my gosh, why me? Why am I not enough?” she said. “Cause it could definitely feel like, ‘Why am I not enough?’”

The post Hot Girl Grievances: Megan Thee Stallion Speaks On Klay Thompson Breakup, Candidly Confesses: ‘I Was Losing Myself A Little Bit’ appeared first on Bossip.

BOSSIP can exclusively confirm that the network is premiering We Belong Here: The Story of Team Dream, an OWN Spotlight documentary about the all-Black women’s professional volleyball team that competed in the USA Volleyball Open National Championship, premiering Saturday, Sept. 26, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Directed by Bianca Barnes-Williams and produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, a Banijay Americas company, the documentary follows the women of Team Dream as they recount making history while navigating a sport where Black representation remained limited.

We Belong Here: The Story Of Team Dream Celebrates Black Women Making Volleyball History

A press release reports that Team Dream’s story began in 2018, when 12 Black women came together with limited practice and an unwavering belief in one another to compete in the USA Volleyball Open National Championship.

In the trailer, the players recall how what began as a simple plan to compete became something much bigger.

“Every year, USA Volleyball does an adult national championship. We wanted to compete, and so we created a team,” Haley Eckerman says. “We said, ‘Let’s go and ball out.’ We’re like, ‘Let’s just have fun.’ So, we just started naming our friends.”

Before long, she realized that their team looked considerably different from the rest.

“Probably after about five or six people, I’m like, ‘This is all Black folks,’” she recalls. “This is gonna piss everybody off.”

The moment’s significance becomes even clearer as the women reflect on their own experiences playing volleyball and rarely seeing athletes who looked like them.

“For years, volleyball in America was seen as a predominantly white sport because it was created by predominantly white people,” one player says in the trailer. “We don’t see a lot of color at all in our sport.”

Led by NCAA champion Haley Eckerman and featuring professional players including Khat Bell and Kaz Brown, Team Dream ultimately turned that shared experience into a history-making moment as the first all-Black women’s professional volleyball team.

Still, the players knew their decision to compete together would draw attention—and not all of it would be positive.

“Once people got wind of what we were doing, we knew there was going to be criticism,” one of the women says in the trailer.

Told entirely through the voices of the athletes themselves with no external narrator, We Belong Here explores that scrutiny alongside their love of volleyball and the systemic challenges they encountered while pursuing the sport professionally.

The documentary also celebrates the resilience, joy, humor, friendship and pride that bonded the women as they broke barriers together.

“Team Dream’s origin story is a powerful reminder of what happens when Black women step into their strength together,” said Tina Perry, president of OWN, in a statement. “The way these women united shows their power, their joy, and their unwavering belief in one another, which embodies the spirit of OWN Spotlight.”

“We can’t wait for audiences to hear their story in their own words as we celebrate the legacy they started and continue to build,” she added.

Check out the trailer for Team Dream’s history-making story below.

We Belong Here: The Story of Team Dream premieres Saturday, Sept. 26, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on OWN.

The post Serving, Spiking & Shattering Barriers: OWN’s ‘We Belong Here’ Celebrates Team Dream’s Black Volleyball History [Exclusive] appeared first on Bossip.

1000-LB Roomies Exclusive Clip

In an exclusive clip from tonight’s new episode airing on TLC at 10 pm ET/PT, we see Nesha taking a trip to the beauty supply store.

“A beauty supply to a Black girl is like a liquor store to an Alcoholic, we get up in here, and we just want to go crazy!” she says.

She then has some fun trying on wigs, even wearing one that she likens to the President’s, before breaking down her love of wigs with Jaz.

Everybody need a little wig collection,” she says. “You could be whoever you want at any time!” she says, likening her wigs to Poison Ivy and Lil Kim.

Jaz meanwhile introduces us to one of her favorite wigs, Porneesha.

“She be giving off like that Farrah Fawcett come screw me hair! When I put Porrneesha on, get your man! Get your man!”

Jaz & Nesha Tell BOSSIP About 1000-LB Roomies Season 2

During an exclusive interview with BOSSIP’s very own Lauryn Bass, the roomies opened up about returning for Season 2 of the TLC series. From navigating public criticism, Jaz stepping into her “soft girl era,” and Nesha going full-on boss lady hosting, their friendship continues to anchor them through it all.

For Nesha, describing this chapter of their lives requires looking at the full picture.

“I think that’s the beautiful part about me and Jazz’s journey in a whole. It’s our emotional trauma. It’s our childhood trauma. It’s so many different aspects to like what we have going on,” she said. “So, it definitely has been a roller coaster.”

Jaz agreed, noting that even with the ups and downs, it is a ride worth taking.

“It’s definitely a roller coaster. It has its ups and its downs, but you still want to get back in line and get on it,” she said.

Jaz & Nesha Say They’re Ready For The Commentary This Time Around

Opening their lives to television also means opening themselves to opinions from people who only see a portion of their reality.

Nesha said both women already understood social media attention because of their platforms before 1000-LB Roomies, but television amplified it.

“I feel like we’re vets now,” Nesha said. “They’re just spectators, just watching 45 minutes of what they feel like is our life. You know what I mean? But it’s just so much more to everything.”

Jaz said their first season taught them not to give outside commentary too much power.

“We have learned from the first season to just, like Nisha said, let the spectators talk,” Jaz said. “Let them say whatever it is that they want to say, because when it’s all said and done, only we know what it’s like for us to walk in our shoes.”

Still, both women said one change in attention has been particularly meaningful: the support they now receive from women.

Nesha said their modeling platforms previously attracted a largely male audience, while 1000-LB Roomies has introduced them to women who connect with their stories.

“The outpour and love from all of the women just-it’s just a totally different energy,” she said. “It’s a totally different vibe. It just-it makes you feel so much more empowered.”

Jaz agreed, saying that encouragement gives their vulnerability a greater purpose.

“It honestly makes what we’re doing worth it,” she said. “It just makes us even more want to continue doing what we’re doing because of the love that we’re receiving.”

Jaz Is Entering Her ‘Soft Girl Era’ & Opening Herself Up To Love

For Jaz, Season 2 includes reclaiming her independence while allowing viewers to see her without the polished image she once felt pressured to maintain as a model.

“Being completely free, being myself,” Jaz said of what independence means to her now. “I want to be able to be me unapologetically. I want to be able to experience, have my experience, and just live in my soft girl era.”

That freedom also means accepting that vulnerability does not make her less deserving of love.

“It’s okay if I’m hurting. It’s okay if I’m going through this. It’s okay if I don’t have it all together,” she said. “Everything is all right.”

When it comes to dating, Jaz isn’t interested in waiting until her life looks perfect before allowing someone into it.

“I feel like if you can’t want me and love me at my lowest point right now, I feel like this is my lowest point, and me being completely vulnerable. If you can’t accept that, then you damn sure can’t accept me when I get back here,” she said. “You seeing me with the bandaid off is nothing.”

Luckily, her best friend is firmly in her corner, even if Nesha admits she’s also “nosy.”

“We all deserve to be unconditionally loved,” Nesha said, explaining that romance can also offer moments of joy when life becomes consumed by difficult circumstances. “Sometimes you don’t want to always think about the bad that’s going on with you. Like, let me have my little, you know, flirty and this and that. We’re still women.”

Nesha Steps Into Her Boss Era With Event Planning & A Speed-Dating Venture

Nesha’s evolution this season also includes exploring another entrepreneurial venture through event planning.

Calling herself a “serial entrepreneur,” Nesha says that her professional background has ranged from working as a celebrity makeup artist for more than a decade to photography, baking, hair and helping run a daycare with her mother.

Event planning felt like another natural extension of that creativity.

“I love to create. I’m a creative,” she said. “It came natural, and I just-I don’t know. It’s just something I was like, okay, let’s see, let’s try it.”

Her interest in bringing people together also extends to romance. Although Nesha said finding love isn’t currently her own focus, she leaned into her host side by creating a speed-dating experience for other women.

“I believe in love for everybody, even though right now love is not you know what I’m even focused on,” she said. “I still believe in love for everybody else. So I just wanted to create a space and have somewhere for you know other women to come and find love.”

Season 2 also goes deeper into Nesha’s past and what she described as growing up in a religious cult. For Nesha, addressing that history remains connected to the larger work she’s doing for herself.

“You’re never ready for stuff like that, right?” she said. “But for me, I knew that if I didn’t take care of that and that mental block first, my weight loss journey was gonna be another just try it diet.”

She also revealed that her mother remained after Nesha left, creating tension between them.

“My mom, she still stayed even after I left,” Nesha said. “So that put a strain in our relationship.”

Ultimately, she said she had to turn inward before she could move forward.

“I had to put the mirror in my face, and I had to say, Nisha, in order for you to really get to the point where you are going to make a lifestyle change and you’re going to do better, you have to tackle what’s really wrong with you,” she said. “That was at the core of everything.”

Their Health Journeys Aren’t About A Quick Fix

As both women continue pursuing their health goals, Jaz said one of her biggest realizations has been that transformation doesn’t have an endpoint.

“You never really stop changing,” she said.

For Jaz, losing weight is only one part of the work. Maintaining changes, accepting imperfect days and continuing after setbacks are equally important.

“It’s not something that happens overnight, and it’s definitely not something that is a one quick shop and done,” she said. “You got to keep going at it day to day, day to day, day to day, and accept that you gonna have your moments where you mess up too.”

The friends also try to give themselves room to enjoy food without abandoning their larger goals.

“We hold each other accountable, and we support one another,” Jaz said. “When we have our moments where it’s like, ‘Hey, you know, today ain’t a good day. I’m craving some nachos or tacos or something,’ we allow ourselves to have that because we know it’s gonna be other days where it’s salads, where it’s high protein.”

Nesha, meanwhile, isn’t pretending she has discovered a universal formula for health.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” she said when asked what healthy looks like for her now. “I’m still figuring out what healthy looks like for me personally, because my journey is my journey and it’s not anyone else’s.”

Season 2 captures her experimenting with physical activities and discovering what she can realistically incorporate into her life.

“Is walking for me? Or is this for me? Or should I try yoga?” Nesha said. “I’m just in a space to where I’m like, hey, YOLO, I’m willing to do anything.”

The pair are also finding ways to make healthier meals enjoyable. Nesha shared one household favorite: grilled chicken thighs, ribeyes and shrimp paired with roasted vegetables and a Laotian fish sauce she makes called Geo Sub.

Jaz & Nesha Say Their Bond Goes Beyond Friendship

Despite the transformations happening individually, Jaz and Nesha’s friendship remains at the center of 1000-LB Roomies.

Nesha said the two are so familiar with each other’s emotions that communication doesn’t always require words.

“We understand each other to the core,” she said. “We understand when we need space. We understand when we don’t need space.”

Jaz described the same instinctive connection, saying they can exchange a look across a room and immediately understand what the other is thinking.

“We don’t have to say nothing, and we automatically know,” she said.

That closeness also comes with fierce protectiveness.

“I could say what I want, you can’t,” Jaz joked about their relationship. “We have our moments where we are mad at each other, but I could be mad, but you can’t.”

For Jaz, what audiences are watching isn’t simply the story of two friends trying to lose weight.

“It’s not just about friendship. It’s about womanhood. It’s about gaining our independence, and it’s about our journeys with weight loss,” she said. “It’s just about just opening up all the way across the board and just really being vulnerable.”

1000-LB Roomies airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on TLC, with new episodes available to stream on HBO Max the following day.

The post Beyond The Scale: ‘1000-LB Roomies’ Jaz & Nesha Talk Silencing Spectators, Tackling Trauma & Celebrating Vulnerable Victories [Exclusive] appeared first on Bossip.

The ladies of The Real Housewives of Potomac are back in full bloom for Season 11, but there’s trouble growing in the garden thanks to mounting legal drama, marital turmoil, a fresh face who’s being called “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs” and a surprising fracture between longtime friends.

On Tuesday, Bravo released the #RHOP Season 11 supertease, offering a stacked preview of what’s ahead.

Bravo reports that the new season kicks off seven months after the end of Season 10 and finds Karen Huger attempting to move forward following her release from prison after she was found guilty of driving while intoxicated.

Robyn Dixon, who returns as a friend after two seasons away, notes that Karen is “very different” from the woman she once knew. Robyn’s revelation might prove to be true as The Grand Dame drops a bomb;

“I’m going to live separately from Ray,” Karen tells her castmates about moving on from her husband who crassly jokes that “non-sober Karen might’ve been more fun.”

As it turns out, Karen might have already left as she’s spotted walking alongside another man, who’s clearly not her husband of nearly 30 years.

“Y’all getting it on?” Gizelle Bryant asks.

Karen’s marriage isn’t her only relationship on shaky ground.

The trailer also features second-season housewife Tia Glover tearfully revealing that someone (presumably her husband) admitted to being on dating apps. During a double date with the Osefos, Wendy asks if any infidielity occure to which Tia responds,

“From what he says, no.”

The Green-Eyed Bandits Are Beefing

Elsewhere we see that the Green-Eyed Bandits (Gizelle Bryant and Robyn Dixon) aren’t seeing eye-to-eye.

“I’m not with the bulls—,” Robyn tells her former frenemy Wendy in a scene before dropping a bomb about her longtime bestie.

“Gizelle talked s— on our podcast,” she tells the group.

The revelation is much to the excitement of Karen.

“Robyn is holding Gizelle accountable,” she says. “I personally like it.”

Wendy & Eddie Osefo Face Their Toughest Season Yet

For Wendy, the stakes are much more serious and far from a laughing matter.

Bravo reports Season 11 arrives nearly a year after Wendy and husband Eddie Osefo were arrested in Westminster, Maryland, in October 2025. The couple faced 16 charges, including seven felonies related to alleged false or misleading information fraud exceeding $300. Their joint fraud trial is scheduled for January 2027.

Those legal troubles loom large in the trailer as Wendy’s seen meeting with what appears to be her legal team. Wendy is told that, from the outside looking in, it seems someone doesn’t “believe her.”

The pressure also appears to weigh on her marriage. In one particularly tense moment, Eddie asks his wife, “Do you still love me?” while Wendy’s mom questions whether the Happy Eddie entrepreneur’s circumstances might have been different had he not married Wendy.

Tia Glover & Stacey Rusch Trade Serious Accusations

Legal issues aren’t the only real-life struggles unfolding in the season 11 tease.

Stacey Rusch enters the season after remarrying husband Thiemo Rusch, with the show documenting their vow renewal.

The trailer also captures a lighthearted moment when Stacey seemingly considers a BBL—with fat taken from cadavers.

After laughing off the plastic surgery consultation, things take a turn when Stacey faces off with Tia. Just like last season, the two just can’t seem to get on the page.

“You’re full of s—,” Tia tells her.

“You asked me to tell you the truth,” Stacey responds.

“You f—ed everybody’s husband!” retorts Tia.

New Housewife Courtney Ajinça Joins The Potomac Crew

Amid the returning faces and rekindled feuds, Potomac is also welcoming some fresh blood.

Event designer Courtney Ajinça joins Season 11 as a full-time Housewife. A minister and self-described prophetess, Courtney is married to Alexis Ajinça, an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards.

The trailer shows the newbie practicing a sermon and advising her social media followers to preserve their fruits and vegetables, among other moments that quickly catch her castmates’ attention.

“She’s a little cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs,” says Ashley Darby about the newbie.

The season also sends the ladies across the pond as Tia hosts a cast trip to London and things get downright explosive between Gizelle and Karen with Karen telling her on-again/off-again friend that she’s “dead to her.”

The Real Housewives of Potomac Season 11 premieres Sunday, Oct. 11, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo, with episodes streaming the following day on Peacock.

See the ladies’ official cast bios on the flip.

The post The #RHOP Season 11 Trailer Teases The Osefo’s Legal Woes, Karen & Ray’s Separation, Robyn’s Return & A Green-Eyed Bandit Beef appeared first on Bossip.