ESSENCE’s highly anticipated Black Women In Hollywood issue has arrived, starring the women of Sinners, and the ladies are strikingly beautiful in black. The annual cover coincides with the legacy brand’s illustrious Black Women In Hollywood luncheon. This year’s theme, “Off Script,” speaks to the Black women blazing unconventional paths in Hollywood. The cover features Zinzi Coogler, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Ruth Carter, Autumn Durald Arkapaw, Shunika Terry-Jennings, and Hannah Beachler.

In the cover story, penned by Brande Victorian, the dynamic group opens up about the cultural significance of ‘Sinners’ and the profound thought that went into production.

For Zinzi Coogler, Sinners was “deeply personal.”

“We knew everyone was pouring so much of themselves into every detail and craft. We needed the environment to enable the cast and crew to feel creative and free, but also safe spiritually and physically.

Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth Carter says it’s her responsibility to “honor the essence of the character as written.”

She elaborated,

“Annie was never defined by her size. On the page, she was not described as “plus-size.” She was a hoodoo priest, a spiritual protector, Smoke’s lover, his wife—a woman who carries a profound aura. That is how I approached her. Annie’s power is spiritual. It’s ancestral. It’s rooted in knowing. So her wardrobe had to reflect that authority and that grace. Her garments are layered—cottons, textures, sacred pouches—each element chosen to suggest history, ritual and protection.”

Wunmi Mosaku’s character came to life with Carter’s vision.

“The way Ms. Ruth works is such a layered process that I liken to the Michelangelo quote: “The sculpture is already complete within the marble block, before I start my work. It is already there; I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.” I felt like we started with so many ideas and layers and chiseled away down to her core, and in that process of chiseling, I found her. She became clearer and clearer the more we took away. Annie’s hair felt really organic using a reference picture of the era. One woman really stood out to us, and she became the basis of where we began with Annie.”

Jennings, who was the mastermind behind the Academy Award-nominated hair and makeup team, revealed Michael B. Jordan got a texturizer to soften his hair. Miles Caton combed out his locs for a haircut, and Delroy Lindo wore a wig.

“Those were some of the most significant transformations that altered natural patterns and silhouettes, and each one required intention and care to protect the integrity of their hair. Everyone valued and respected our approach. The transformations were never about forcing a look. They were about serving character while keeping hair healthy and honoring texture. I was deeply honored by the faith they placed in me and my hair team.”

Lawson, who came to set a blonde, said she felt deep trust for Jennings’ leadership in the beauty department.

“I just knew I was in good hands from the moment we met. I was blonde at the time and was not trying to color my hair! Shunika was so collaborative. She came with so many references, but really gave me a say in helping to create Pearline’s look. I didn’t have to worry about showing up and getting my edges snatched from me, any heat damage—none of that. She made it easy. So, all I had to focus on, which is all we should ever have to focus on, was my job. In this industry, that is still a rare gift.”

Hannah Beachler who is nominated for Best Production Design, revealed her favorite set from the movie was the church and Annie’s store.

“I love Annie’s store, but I love the church as well.  I think Annie’s store, for me, was really this mystical place that delved into the spiritual, but she was also a cook and someone the community would go to for healing and nurturing.  So, it was a lot of fun to dig into what that could be and how to create her world. The church was special because I wanted it to both look and feel grand while remaining simple and small, and that was a fun challenge to create that juxtaposition.”

The women of Sinners will be honored with the Luminary spotlight award at the 2026 Black Women In Hollywood ceremony.

Read the full cover story here.

Hit the flip for more.

The post So Stunning: ‘Sinners’ Stars, Kerry Washington, Chase Infiniti & LaTanya Richardson Jackson Slay ESSENCE’s Black Women In Hollywood Issue appeared first on Bossip.

Legendary Atlanta hitmaker, Ludacris, is celebrating 25 years of HITS at this year’s star-studded Jazz in the Gardens (JITG) Music Festival taking over Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens this weekend, March 7-8, 2026. 

In its 19th year, JITG Music Fest (which was named one of the nation’s top festivals by Newsweek) is bringing together some of music’s biggest acts (and legends), including The Isley Brothers, Nelly & Ashanti, Jhené Aiko, Ella Mai, GloRilla, Mýa, and more for two dynamic days in the gardens. 

Check out the full lineup below:

Known for her soul-soothing melodies, Jhené Aiko will align chakras, elevate energies, and possibly inspire some women to un-block (or re-block, depending on the song) their ex as the closing headliner on Saturday night, March 7.

On Sunday, March 8, guests will be treated to three consecutive icons: El DeBarge, The Isley Brothers, and Stephanie Mills, with heart-eyed hitmakers Nelly and Ashanti closing things out with back-to-back sets.

And, as always, a time will be had during the D-Nice & Friends set with appearances by SWV, Case, Donnell Jones, Robin Thicke, Sunshine Anderson, and host Kenny Burns.

Hosted by the City of Miami Gardens and produced by the Black Promoters Collective (BPC), the feel-good festival continues to grow into a cultural phenomenon with viral moments like Doechii’s powerhouse performance during Lauryn Hill’s iconic set last year.

“Our community looks forward to Jazz in the Gardens every year because it brings people together in a powerful, joyful way,” said Mayor Rodney Harris.

“This festival is a celebration of art, culture, and connection, and we are thrilled to welcome visitors from near and far for another incredible weekend in Miami Gardens.”

Guaranteed to be a good time, you can still buy JITG tickets here ahead of the festival this weekend.

The post You Don’t Have Jazz In The Gardens Tickets? That’s Ludacris! Legendary Atlanta Hitmaker Is Bringing His 25th Anniversary Set To The Famed Music Festival This Weekend appeared first on Bossip.

A high school athlete has leveled accusations of sexual abuse and racial abuse against his former school, the principal, his team, and one of his former teammates.

“The racial abuse and sexual abuse was a daily basis thing,” he said. “It happened in nearly every training; it would happen many times daily, sometimes outside of the pool. So, it was certainly a difficult experience.”

He continued:

“The abuse was not spontaneous. It was part of a years-long culture in which violence and humiliation were normalized and facilitated through the school’s coaching staff and administration.”

Romain says that he was regularly addressed as the n-word and was also physically assaulted as if he were a “slave.”

“The complaint walks through a myriad of allegations of racial abuse ranging from Aidan being called the N-word to being literally whipped with exercise bands in the weight room supposedly re-enacting slavery,” said attorney Daniel Watkins, who represents Romain in the lawsuit.

The post Water Polo Player At Elite LA High School Claims He Was Sexually And Racially Abused appeared first on Bossip.

Porsha Williams recently took a dream getaway trip with her girlfriend, Patrice “Sway” McKinney. On March 4, the Real Housewives of Atlanta star shared photos and videos from their romantic trip to Bali, Indonesia, where the couple reportedly stayed in a lavish Boeing passenger jet villa that costs around $3,000 per night, according to The Sun.

Here’s what was inside Porsha Williams and Sway’s Bali jet-turned-villa.

On Tuesday, Porsha, 44, posted highlights from the luxurious escape on Instagram, revealing that the trip along Bali’s coast was arranged by travel company Rush Escape. In the video, Porsha and Sway are seen stepping out of the massive jet-turned-villa before sharing a few kisses beside their private infinity pool overlooking the beach.

The romantic getaway didn’t stop there. The couple also enjoyed a fireworks display under the night sky and gave followers a peek inside their unique accommodations, which included a cozy living room area and a scenic deck with sweeping coastal views. In a follow-up post, other photos captured Porsha and Sway sharing affectionate moments, including one shot of Sway lifting the reality star into the air as they soaked in the luxury of their over-the-top stay.

Porsha said she had never “ever experienced” anything like the jet villa in her caption, where she also praised Sway for being an incredible partner.

“I love you baby @sway_thepro ! We lived in the moment so much we haven’t even posted lol but now y’all bout to be sick of me lol,” she penned, adding that Bali was just the first stop on their couples adventure. “Big thank you to @rushescape for making this trip amazing by creating our itinerary & adventures.”

Patrice “Sway” McKinney called the trip “something special.”

Sway also shared her own recap on Instagram, describing the destination and the overall experience as unforgettable. The master barber and Encore Salon Suites founder wrote that Bali was “truly something special.”

“From the incredible ocean views in Uluwatu to the peaceful forest and jungle scenery in Ubud, every place felt beautiful in its own way. The landscapes were breathtaking, the people were so kind, and the whole island had such a calm, welcoming energy. I loved it!” She added, “Feeling really blessed to have experienced it all… and even more grateful to share it with my girlfriend @porsha4real. What an amazing trip and a place we’ll never forget.”

Fans were also impressed by the stunning getaway and some were even more pleased to see the housewife living a “soft life” post-divorce.

“One thing Porsha gone do, is live her life,” wrote another.

When did Porsha and Sway start dating?

Porsha first hard-launched her relationship with sales entrepreneur Patrice “Sway” McKinney in November, just months after finalizing her divorce from her ex-husband, Simon Guobadia. During a Dec. 11 interview with PEOPLE, the reality star said she was happy to be “living in her truth” while building a meaningful connection with Sway.

Reflecting on her decision to go public with the romance, Porsha explained that she didn’t want to hide any part of her life.

“I felt if I did hide it and it had to be caught somewhere, it just wouldn’t feel authentic,” she shared. “I want to live in my truth, and so in doing that, I have found someone who I really enjoy getting to know, and it’s been great.”

When discussing what initially drew her to Sway, Porsha said their natural connection made the relationship feel easy.

“I think the best thing is when you find someone that you can see yourself in, and you guys match, and everything is comfortable, it’s warm.” She added, “You definitely want to be with someone warm who you can enjoy — and family. So I’m very blessed.”

What do you think of Porsha Williams and Sway’s Bali retreat? Thoughts?

RELATED: Block-Spinning Sweeties: Porsha Williams’ Girlfriend Sway Says She Met The Housewife 8 Years Ago

The post Bali Baecation Booed Up: Porsha Williams & Her Honey Sway Enjoy $3K A Night Vacay, Sweetly Say They’re In Love appeared first on Bossip.

A pretty perturbed Mathew Knowles is considering legal action after an interview where he questioned how much Tina Knowles contributed to Destiny’s Child’s success leaked. Meanwhile, Beyoncé’s superstar mom is offering a perfectly timed reminder of her extensive résumé.

As previously reported, Mathew’s irritation ties back to a January 30 chat with PIX11’s Kendis Gibson for “Kandid With Kendis.” The interview was framed as a promo moment, where Mathew could talk about legacy, Destiny’s Child history, and a Destiny’s Child tribute concert/tour he’s been pushing.

Now weeks later, a clip resurfaced showcasing Gibson giving Mathew his flowers while crediting Tina Knowles as part of the foundation that shaped Destiny’s Child behind-the-scenes.

Apparently perturbed by that, Mathew immediately pushes back with a question that made the room go cold: “What work did she put in?”

Gibson starts listing specifics like the hair, the clothes, the styling/costumes, and Mathew agrees before abruptly ending it with a quick “We’ll stop now” and a walkout.

That’s the uproar in a nutshell: online, many folks heard that first question as Mathew trying to downplay Tina’s role in Destiny’s Child — and that’s a sensitive lane because Tina’s contributions to the group’s look and early branding have been talked about for years. In the past, Tina has shared a story about the name “Destiny’s Child” coming to her (and Mathew adding “Child”), which is part of why people felt the shade so loud. So once the clip hit the timeline, it turned into a debate about credit, ego, old family wounds, and who really helped build what in those early Houston days.

While Mathew was catching heat, Tina’s energy was way more “I’m not about to argue with y’all on the internet” — but she still made her point.

Instead of a direct clapback, a post started circulating that basically gave her flowers and highlighted her résumé: not just as “Beyoncé’s mom,” but a designer, philanthropist, and a real architect of the group’s image/branding in those early years — the kind of subtle response that says her “uncrowned queen” work speaks for itself.

After it went viral, Mathew tried to reframe what happened, explaining that the interview was supposed to be about the tribute concert and that the conversation had been steered into Tina-related territory.

According to PageSix, Mathew is stunned by how people took it, saying it’s been “a complete misrepresentation,” and he even said he’s “evaluating all legal remedies” as he sees it as a situation that was spun the wrong way. He also made a point to say he doesn’t even like calling Tina his “ex-wife,” preferring “former wife,” because he considers “ex” a negative label and says he’s always been respectful about her publicly.

So what happens next? Realistically, this could go a few ways: the clip will keep doing numbers for a while, Mathew will keep doing damage control (and possibly push the “legal remedies” talk if he feels it was edited or presented unfairly), and fans will keep arguing in circles about intent vs. impact.

But the bigger thing is this: when a family’s history is this public — and Destiny’s Child is this iconic — one awkward moment can turn into a whole cultural conversation overnight. Whether Mathew meant shade or not, the internet already decided how it felt, and that’s usually the part you can’t un-viral.

RELATED: Don’t Say Her Name, Say Her Name: Beyoncé’s Father Mathew Knowles Abruptly Ends Interview After Tina Knowles Mention

The post Mathew Knowles Considering Legal Action After Tina Knowles Question Clip Leaks, Tina Timely Shares Resumé Reminder appeared first on Bossip.

That’s exactly what happened on a special live episode of Mind the Game in Hollywood, where LeBron James, Steve Nash, and Timothée Chalamet got together for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to excel at the highest level.

The episode blended hoops talk with Hollywood insight, as Chalamet—a lifelong basketball fan—compared the craft of acting with the discipline and preparation that elite athletes bring to the court.

Competition, Creativity, and Finding the Balance

Early in the discussion, Nash posed an interesting question: how does someone in a creative field balance ambition with artistry?

“In sports… you have to balance the ego and the team,” Nash explained. “You have to reconcile your own individual wants needs growth within the team landscape. I’m interested from your perspective how do you reconcile the competitive side of being career driven with the artistic side?”

Chalamet said the competitive side actually helps keep him grounded.

“Well, the competitive side is keeping me grounded, I feel like,” he said. “And to that extent, I mean, how many road maps in front of me are really healthy to look at? I would say few.”

The actor explained that while Hollywood has plenty of examples to study, not all of them end well — something that motivates him to carve out his own path.

“I could see a lot of road maps, you know, heroes of mine that don’t end in a particularly put together form,” he said with a laugh before jokingly dodging Nash’s request to name names.

He also admitted that he sometimes envies the camaraderie that comes with team sports.

“I feel like again that’s why I’m envious in sports because you have the camaraderie of the locker room,” Chalamet said. “The high pressure stakes of Hollywood and you see people crack… it’s almost like people are anticipating that sometimes.”

For him, staying focused on goals — rather than indulgence or paranoia about losing success — is the key to navigating that world.

“I see two traps,” he explained. “One is a life of indulgence… The other trap is like paranoia. Like I’m going to hold on to what I have for dear life because I don’t want to. But I’m in the middle path… I want to keep shining and building and going forth.”

Acting Like an Athlete

Later in the conversation, Nash asked a question that any sports fan might wonder about: how exactly does an actor train the way athletes do?

“Take me back to like you get the role and now like how do you become Bob Dylan?” Nash asked. “What does trying to add something to your game look like for an actor?”

Chalamet said the process isn’t as simple as watching other movies for inspiration.

“It’s less looking at movies and more looking at real life,” he explained. “Jack Fisk… says he never pulls from another movie because you’re already pulling down. You’re pulling from watered down life.”

Instead, the real challenge — especially between projects — is maintaining the discipline to stay mentally and physically healthy.

“I feel like the offseason for an actor is you don’t destroy yourself,” Chalamet said bluntly. “That’s how low the requirement is and how high the stakes are.”

The actor admitted that taking care of himself hasn’t always been easy, but moving to Los Angeles and adopting a healthier routine helped him lock in on his work.

“I’m really like I got this rare gift… to be working on projects at the highest level,” he said. “So I want to seize it.”

Kobe’s Influence and Going All-In

Chalamet also pointed to the legendary work ethic of Kobe Bryant as a major inspiration for how he approaches his craft.

“That Kobe stuff doesn’t happen with him partying,” he said. “And that’s why I took that approach on Marty Supreme, too.”

The actor explained that when everyone involved in a project is sacrificing to make something special, it only makes sense to go all out.

“If we’re all taking pay cuts to be here, we might as well like really go extremely hard and be very intentional about what we’re doing.”

Hoops, Movies, and a Full-Circle Moment

The episode also featured some lighter moments. Chalamet geeked out about the NBA, talked about growing up a fan of the New York Knicks, and even broke down a scene from Dune: Part Two while the group watched it together.

At one point, he also reflected on how surreal it was to be sitting across from LeBron — someone he’s admired for years.

“LeBron’s been to me my whole career, my whole life, you know,” he said.

For fans watching the live taping in Hollywood, the crossover between sports and film turned out to be surprisingly natural. Whether they were talking about championship runs or character preparation, the underlying message was the same: greatness — in any field — takes obsession, discipline, and a willingness to keep evolving.

And judging by the conversation, all three of them are still very much in that process.

The post Dream Big: Timothée Chalamet Joins Basketball Legends LeBron James & Steve Nash For A Special Episode of ‘Mind the Game’ appeared first on Bossip.

Back at it again with this week’s hottest thirst traps that dropped during an eventful week dominated by T.I.’s ongoing feud with 50 Cent, Cardi surprising her Houston crowd with a Megan Thee Stallion pop-up, Mathew Knowles shutting down interview over Tina Knowles mention, the Wayans brothers returning in bonkers new Scary Movie trailer, and more.

As promised, we’ve compiled swoon-worthy stunners (and our thirst-trappin’ celebrity faves) with Porsha Williams making her return to the series after sharing sweet photos and videos from her romantic Bali baecation with girlfriend, Sway.

The couple reportedly stayed in a lavish Boeing passenger jet villa that costs around $3,000 per night, according to The Sun.

Basking in opulence, the couple also enjoyed a fireworks display under the night sky and gave followers a peek inside their unique accommodations, which included a cozy living room area, poolside breakfast, and scenic deck with sweeping coastal views.

“From the incredible ocean views in Uluwatu to the peaceful forest and jungle scenery in Ubud, every place felt beautiful in its own way,” she wrote on Instagram.

The landscapes were crazy, literally breathtaking , the people were so kind, and the whole island had such a calm, welcoming energy. I loved it!

Feeling really blessed to have experienced it all… and even more grateful to share it with my lady @porsha4real. What an amazing trip and a place we’ll never forget. ”

This week’s thirst trap compilation also features Ari Lennox along with La La Anthony and Kehlani giving what needs to be gave.

There’s also big baddie energy from Heather Sanders, Dess Dior, 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. 134 appeared first on Bossip.

Season 17 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta is set to premiere in April, and for newcomer K. Michelle, the moment has been a long time in the making—at least according to Bravo boss Andy Cohen. During the March 4 episode of his Radio Andy show on SiriusXM, the Bravo exec shared that the singer once slid into his DMs years ago with hopes of eventually earning a peach. Well, dreams really do come true because she’ll be joining the cast next month alongside Slutty Vegan founder, Pinky Cole.

Andy Cohen Said He Missed A DM From K. Michelle Years Ago About #RHOA

During the show, Cohen admitted he had “never seen one frame of Love & Hip Hop,” the VH1 reality series K. Michelle appeared on for several seasons between 2012 and 2019. However, it didn’t take long for him to see why she’d be a great fit for the Bravo franchise once she joined RHOA.

“Now, once we started filming and I was reading hot sheets from Atlanta, I DM’d K. Michelle to say, ‘You’re so great. I’m so glad you’re on the team,’” Cohen told his co-hosts Jordan Fazio and John Hill.

While revisiting their messages, Cohen discovered something he had missed at the time.

“What did I find but a DM from K. Michelle from like 2023 or something beling like, ‘I need a peach. This is the show that I belong on.’ Somehow, I had missed this.”

Cohen went on to tease what fans can expect from RHOA season 17, sharing his excitement about K. Michelle joining the franchise and pointing to her undeniable star power. Hill even described the “V.S.O.P.” singer as a “superstar.”

“She… oh my God. And in the interview chair! Are you kidding me?” he gushed. 

The Bravo Exec Also Declared That This Season’s Cast Is What Fans Have Been “Waiting For”

Andy Cohen also brought up another new addition to the cast, Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole, explaining that both she and K. Michelle already have connections with the group. K. Michelle and Pinky are reportedly already friends, while Phaedra Parks has known Pinky for more than a decade. According to Cohen, the dynamic makes the season feel especially authentic and like a “real group.”

As for the season’s premiere episode, Cohen said it had him “cackling,” describing it as “a delight” and boldly declaring that this cast is exactly what fans have been “waiting for.”

As previously reported, Bravo confirmed the season 17 cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta in February 2026. The new season marks the return of fan favorites Porsha Williams and Phaedra Parks, while singer and former Love & Hip Hop star K. Michelle joins the franchise.

Returning full-time housewives also include singer and actress Drew Sidora, Angela Oakley, Shamea Morton, and Kelli Ferrell. Meanwhile, Cynthia Bailey will return in a “friend of” role.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta season 17 premieres Sunday, April 5, at 8 p.m. /7 p.m. C on Bravo and will stream on Peacock the following day. Will you be watching?

RELATED: Unbothered Pinky Cole Copiously Cackles At Plant-Based Bankruptcy Buzz Ahead Of #RHOA Debut—’Damn, That’s Crazyyyy’

The post Bravo Boss Blessings: Andy Cohen Says ‘Superstar’ K. Michelle DM’ed Him Years Ago About #RHOA, Calls Cast ‘What Fans Have Been Waiting For’ appeared first on Bossip.

Megan Thee Stallion wasn’t the only special guest at Cardi’s Little Miss Drama Tour stop in Houston. On Wednesday, March 4, Stephanie Diggs had an NFL mom’s night out with DeAndre Hopkins’ mother, Sabrina Greenlee, attending Cardi’s sold out show at the Toyota Center.

Taking notes from Cardi’s schoolgirl theme, Diggs wore matching red-plaid hat, white collar shirt, and skirt combo while posing alongside Sabrina—who was also on theme for the night out. Alongside the photo dump she posted on Instagram, Stephanie wrote, “Ready to party.”

Sabrina shared the same few flicks from inside the venue, writing on her own Instagram post, “Cardi B Little Miss Drama Tour China Doll & British Star Class in Session.”

Stephanie excitedly attending Cardi’s concert comes amid speculation that Cardi and Stefon ended their relationship a few days before the Super Bowl. Neither Cardi nor Diggs—who was released from the New England Patriots on March 4—have spoken out about the status of their relationship, but the rapper has thrown a few subs onstage.

As BOSSIP previously reported, during her tour stop in San Francisco on Feb. 27, the Bronx native seemingly sent a message to the New England Patriots player, insinuating that he didn’t respect her during their relationship.

“It’s called the principle. You can’t be out here playing with a b***h like me. There’s n****s out here praying for a b**h like me. You hear me?” she declared onstage, as seen in a video shared online. “I’m too sexy to be lonely and too grown to be played with.”

The rapper continued, “You ain’t never had a bad b****h like this, n****. Never in your mother****in’ life! None of them b****es ain’t f**in’ with me!”

However, after that rant went viral, Cardi took to X to set the record straight, claiming the intros she gives onstage don’t necessarily have a connection to her personal life.

“Dear blogs, when I perform a song I always introduce the song with a lil razzle dazzle,” Cardi wrote in a post on March 2. “Not everything is a shot or personal. I’m actually repeating lyrics from the songs…Relax.”

Still, reports claim Cardi broke things off with Diggs “a few days” before his team, the New England Patriots, were defeated by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2026 Super Bowl. The Grammy winner reportedly broke up with the athlete because he had allegedly “betrayed her so many times,” per Us Weekly.

“Her friends have been trying to show her that he is not right for her and that she deserved better,” a source told the mag last month. They added that Cardi is now “single and putting herself out there again. She feels free.”

Now that Diggs’ mother is cozying up to Cardi, though, it seems like their split might not be as contentious as fans previously thought.

The post He Broke, I’m Up: Stefon Diggs’ Mom Attends Cardi B Concert Despite Reports The Rapper Dumped Her Son appeared first on Bossip.

On Wednesday, March 4, Cardi performed for a sold-out crowd at Houston’s Toyota Center. While fans were just excited to see Little Miss Drama herself, she treated BardiGang to a big surprise, bringing out thee Houston hottie herself: Megan Thee Stallion.

The beloved rap duo took the stage together to perform their No. 1 hit “WAP,” which—unsurprisingly—had the crowd going wild. The performance began with Cardi rapping the first verse while seated on the stage in a sparkly red outfit. Then, she stood up to announce, “Ladies and gentlemen, your very own, Houston’s finest, Megan Thee Stallion!”

That’s when Megan rose up out of the stage floor via a trap door in a sparkly tartan mini skirt and matching top, jumping right into her verse on the 2020 hit song. Cardi hopped right back on the mic as Meg twerked, with Cardi playfully slapping Thee Stallion’s famous rear-end. Both of them dropped it low as shirtless male dancers tossed stacks of cash around the stage, making the crowd go wild.

After the show, Megan took to social media to post a picture of the two backstage, making kissy faces at the camera as they pushed their faces against one another. Cardi reposted the sweet picture on X and added the message, “I love you so so so so so soooooo much!! thank you for coming.”

This reunion comes a little over a year after fans were convinced Megan Thee Stallion was keeping her distance from Cardi due to Cardi’s relationship with Meg’s ex, Parison Fontaine.

Pardi was a writer on the Bronx rapper’s 2018 debut album, Invasion of Privacy. He went on to date Meg in 2020, which ended with a messy split in 2023 with allegations that he’d cheated on her.

Fast forward to February 2025, Pardison posted a snippet of an unreleased collab with Cardi that he was gearing up to drop, writing: “It’s BEEN 8 YEARS @iamcardib. GET THIS SONG OFF MY HARD DRIVE!!! N THEY KEEP ASKING FOR THIS!!!”

The second this news made its way online, Megan’s fans immediately came for Cardi, claiming she was doing her friend dirty. In response to all the chatter, the former Love & Hip Hop star took to X Spaces to make it clear that she’s friends with both of them and she’s not picking a side.

“I wanna make this very clear. When I f**k with two people and I like two people, I stay away from their s**t,” she said. “Because when it comes to relationships, some bulls**t will always happen and one thing about me—I’m gonna stay neutral and I’m gonna stay the f**k out of it. And both of y’all can attest to that that’s how I really am.”

She continued,

“I don’t wanna hear nothing because I f**k with both of y’all and God forbid some s**t happen, I don’t want to be in the middle of nobody s**t. None of that s**t is my f**king business. So stop f**king harassing me, stop calling me a f**ked up person, stop calling me a f**k b***h because that’s not what I am.”

Cardi and Pardi did end up dropping the song, “Toot It Up”—but judging from Meg’s surprise appearance at Cardi’s tour, it seems like there’s no hard feelings.

The post Hometown Heroics: Cardi B Surprises Fans In Texas With An Appearance From Thee Houston Hottie, Megan Thee Stallion appeared first on Bossip.

“If you don’t tell them to call this [expletive] off and if they try and come up these stairs, I’m blowing the child’s brains out, and I’m blowing mine out. You won’t have neither one of us,” he threatened.

Despite this warning that points to Baker’s unhinged and potentially violent state of mind, Pate says that the officers made no attempt to de-escalate the tensions and keep her son safe. Ultimately, Quinn Baker and Kentre Baker were killed when police opened fire. The preliminary investigation concluded that the young child died after suffering two gunshots at close range. These officers were either not qualified to be handling a firearm, too reckless with their deployment of said firearm, or both.

“I called for help, and when the help got there, they disregarded the situation. They disregarded the update. They came there with the intent to do something that shouldn’t have never happened,” said Pate.

Pate’s legal counsel is requesting that all evidence in this case be released to the public for the sake of transparency in the face of how this tragic shooting has been described by the department.

“That includes body cam footage, 911 calls, all of the officers that were at the scene, investigating officers, everybody that was involved,” attorney Ofelia Markarian said. “Every single piece of evidence is extremely important to piece this whole story together. But the story that is being portrayed out to the media, to the public, is not the complete and true story.”

BOSSIP will continue to follow this story.

The post Take Everything: Black Mother Plans Lawsuit Against Las Vegas Police After 3-Year-Old’s Fatal Shooting appeared first on Bossip.

The death of Caleb Wilson is incredibly sad and also very infuriating. BOSSIP previously reported that Wilson dropped dead during an off-campus Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. event after allegedly being intensely hazed. In the aftermath of his death, Caleb McCray, Kyle Thurman, Isaiah Smith, Winston Sanders, and Jadyn Landrum were all arrested and charged with felony hazing and obstruction of justice. Additionally, McCray was handed the most severe charge of manslaughter as he stands accused of punching Wilson numerous times before he collapsed. Omega Psi Phi revoked each individual’s membership, and each former member was expelled from Southern University.

“Today, Southern University and A&M College pauses to remember Caleb Wilson, a beloved member of the Jaguar Nation whose presence we continue to miss deeply,” reads an official statement from the university.

“Caleb’s vibrant personality, warm spirit and steady determination left a lasting impression on classmates, professors, and friends. An engineering major, he approached his education with focus and purpose, committed to building a future that reflected both his ambition and his heart. As a dedicated member of the Southern University “Human Jukebox” Marching Band, he carried himself with pride and discipline, embodying the tradition and excellence that define Southern.”

It has been almost one year since Wilson died, and his family is still undoubtedly grieving. Receiving this posthumous degree will likely be extremely difficult.

In a publicly released statement from 2025, the family said:

“His passion for life, his dedication to his studies, and his love for music and the Southern University “Human Jukebox” Marching Band were just a few of the many qualities that made him an extraordinary person,”

Rest in peace, Caleb Wilson.

The post Caleb Wilson: Southern University To Award Posthumous Bachelor’s Degree To Student Who Died After Alleged Fraternity Hazing Incident appeared first on Bossip.

During a recent appearance on The Ebro Laura Rosenberg Show, T.I. opened up about his family’s involvement in his ongoing tension with 50 Cent.

While speaking on the subject, the rapper made it clear that he didn’t push his sons to get involved—but he did understand why they felt the need to defend their family name. The Grand Hustle Records founder went on to say he took pride in seeing his family stand together during the public back-and-forth.

“The one thing that I am proud of out of all this is that the women and children in our family see that it’s a line of men that’s here against who-the-f**k-ever,” T.I. said.

Still, he admitted there was one moment that went too far for him. His son, King Harris, was spotted wearing a shirt featuring a photo of 50 Cent’s late mother, Sabrina Jackson, which he thinks crossed a line.

“I said that’s enough when I seen that da*n T-shirt,” Tip explained. “I said, ‘Man, chill out.’ I’m big on treating people the way I want to be treated…So I don’t want to see my children doing others…”

For the Atlanta native, respect still matters, even when emotions are running high. He stressed throughout the conversation that certain personal boundaries shouldn’t be crossed, no matter how heated a feud becomes.

The friction between T.I. and 50 Cent has been building for years, largely fueled by social media jabs, interviews, and differing opinions on hip-hop culture, business, and loyalty. In recent months, the rivalry reignited after both rappers exchanged shots online, with 50 Cent taking aim at T.I.’s family and personal life, and Tip firing back in defense.

As is often the case with hip-hop beef, the back-and-forth quickly spilled over into memes, fan debates, and viral moments. That escalation is what eventually led to T.I.’s sons stepping into the spotlight, something he says he never intended.

During the interview, host Ebro Darden floated the idea that the renewed drama could be helping promote T.I.’s upcoming project, Kill the King. Tip immediately shut down that suggestion, saying: “I don’t give a f**k about that, man. I don’t give a f**k about that, bro.”

He persistently denied that the conflict was ever about marketing or attention and says he wouldn’t exploit personal issues for album sales.

According to T.I., the situation has now cooled off. He says he’s focused on putting the drama behind him and turning his attention back to his music and the next phase of his career.

The post T.I. Speaks On 50 Cent Feud, Says Son King Harris Needs To ‘Chill Out’ After Wearing Shirt With 50’s Mom On It appeared first on Bossip.

Keke Palmer pulls back the curtain and keeps it real on the upcoming episode of Uncensored, and you know “your girrrrrrrl” isn’t holding anything back. The multi-hyphenate star sits down for a candid conversation about love, career pivots, and the very public moments that tested her strength on Thursday (March 5)’s episode airing at 8 p.m. E/7 p.m. C on TV One.

In the episode, Keke opens up about how she once envisioned her child’s father, Darius Jackson, as her future husband. She imagined a life that felt stable and aligned, only for things to unravel publicly when Jackson criticized the outfit she wore to a Usher concert. Keke said she proudly showed off her “Jessica Rabbit” curves in the Givenchy dress and even asked her friend for assurance about the outfit.

“B***, you look good!” her friend told her about her post-baby curves.

Despite that, her boo at the time, Darius Jackson, was less than impressed and famously tweeted, “It’s the outfit tho–you a mom.”

Amid backlash, he doubled down, saying;

“We live in a generation where a man of the family doesn’t want the wife & mother to his kids to showcase booty cheeks to please others & he gets told how much of a hater he is.”

He added,

“This is my family & my representation. I have standards & morals to what I believe. I rest my case.”

The comments quickly went viral and shifted the public narrative around their relationship. Palmer admits the fall-out disrupted her image at a time when she was navigating motherhood and personal growth. Ultimately, she shares that she had to choose herself.

“If someone is not meeting me where I deserve to be met, then I have to move on,” she explains in the episode.

Beyond her personal life, Palmer also reflects on the complicated transition from beloved child star to an adult actress.

In another clip, she discusses how difficult it was aging out of certain roles while not quite fitting into others. She recalls questioning whether she should follow some of her peers, like Disney stars Dylan and Cole Sprouse, down more conventional paths like college. Instead, she listened to her intuition. Something in her told her that was not her route. She stayed the course, leaned into digital media, embraced comedy, and carved out her own lane.

That pivot eventually led to major opportunities, including hosting Saturday Night Live a decade later. This is a full-circle moment she essentially manifested through consistency and self-belief.

If this preview is any indication, it is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates honesty, growth, and a woman choosing her peace.

KeKe Palmer’s episode of Uncensored airs Thursday, Mar. 5 at 8 p.m. E/7 p.m. C on TV One.

RELATED: The Gag Is…Keke Palmer Candidly Claims She’s ‘Almost 100% Sure’ She’s Asexual—’I Have No Interest In Anyone’

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As reported by People, the plant-based restaurant founder filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Mar. 2 in the state of Georgia. Court documents show she owes approximately 1.2 million to the U.S. Small Business Administration, tied to a COVID-era Economic Injury Disaster Loan, along with nearly $192,000 to the Georgia Department of Revenue. The total debt listed exceeds $ 1.3 million.

For those unfamiliar, Chapter 11 allows a business owner to reorganize debt while continuing operations. It doesn’t completely shut down the business. It is more of a restructure, which is why Georgia residents can still enjoy their Slutty Vegan, and the original has pivoted to a new business called Voagies.

Cole’s filing comes after a rocky year for her viral plant-based chain. In early 2025, the company entered into an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, a state-level alternative to bankruptcy. Cole temporarily gave up ownership before buying back the brand and its intellectual property weeks later. The move signaled both financial strain and fierce determination.

While some social media users followed closely, Cole addressed the chatter head-on. In a video shared by 11 Alive News, she appeared calm and confident, explaining that restructuring is part of entrepreneurship and growth. She made it clear she is still standing and still building.

Meanwhile, a post shared by Pinky added fuel to the online conversation, with the entrepreneur laughing off the situation.

In it, the entrepreneur is seen leaving her mansion with her dog and suitcases in tow.

“What people think happens after you file for bankruptcy,” she wrote over the video.

“Damn that’s crazzzzzzyyyyy,” she captioned the post.

Slutty Vegan, founded in 2018, exploded in Atlanta before expanding nationwide and reportedly reached a $100 million valuation at its peak. Rapid growth brought major overhead, and Cole previously told Forbes that corporate expenses once totaled $10 million annually.

Now, with six locations still operating and a reorganization plan due in June, the entrepreneur is betting on resilience.

Bankruptcy headlines may trend for a moment. But if Pinky Cole has shown us anything, it is that she knows how to turn controversy into conversation and conversation into coins.

RELATED: Lying King’ Conundrum: K. Michelle And Drew Sidora Trade Shade After #RHOA Trailer Teases Their Songstress Skirmish: ‘No Power, No Truth’

The post Unbothered Pinky Cole Copiously Cackles At Plant-Based Bankruptcy Buzz Ahead Of #RHOA Debut—’Damn, That’s Crazyyyy’ appeared first on Bossip.

The actress, host, and singer spoke about her upbringing during a recent interview with Variety, describing her early life in a small Illinois suburb that she described as a low-income “food desert.”

Palmer started her acting career early, becoming famous as a child following breakout roles in the 2006 film, Akeelah and the Bee, and the 2008 through 2011 Nickelodeon sitcom, True Jackson, VP.

“Being an artist became a way out for my family,” she told the outlet.

However, once she found that success and started making money for her family, she noticed the pressure to be “a product” rather than an artist.

“Being a kid entertainer on networks such as Disney and Nickelodeon, there’s no machinery more dehumanizing than that, and I say ‘dehumanizing’ completely without sadness,” she explained. “It’s just—you’re a product.”

Keke continued, “Once you see the difference between poverty and not poverty, you’re not going to go back. Even if you’re tired,” she told the outlet. “And once you know you have the capacity, you just keep on taking on s**t.”

The multi-hyphenate has had a stable career throughout her life, but Palmer admitted that it wasn’t until recently that she began taking on fewer projects.

“And I realized in the last couple of years what that meant and what it cost me,” she told Variety.

In 2025, Palmer spoke to People about advice she’d give to her younger self, saying, “I think that my younger self needed to hear that it’s really okay to be angry, and it’s really okay to be sad.”

“I think growing up, I felt that I always had to like—I had deep feelings and I felt like, ‘Oh I just need to make it easier for everybody,’ because I didn’t want to put it out there,” she said. “But as I’ve gotten older, I realized somebody just needed to tell her, ‘You deserve to be angry sometimes. You deserve to be sad. Those are real emotions.'”

That same year, Keke opened up about the pressures of being the breadwinner for her family after she was cast in True Jackson VP, which caused her entire family to move to Los Angeles as her career took off.

During an interview with Shannon Sharpe, Palmer said, “My parents—at their best—made $40,000 a year growing up. A year. I was making that a show.”

“We are family, and everybody sacrificed for me to be where I’m at,” she said. “My dad gave up his pension… My mother, she gave up everything so she could travel with me.”

“I would do it again for my family,” Palmer insisted about her early career. “I could be sad—but why? Look what I gained. I gained so much more than what I sacrificed.”

The post Keke Palmer Admits Being A Child Star On Disney And Nickelodeon Felt ‘Dehumanizing’: ‘You’re A Product’ appeared first on Bossip.

A certain MÅD HÅTTĒR is reaffirming that marriage is not his ultimate goal. During a recent appearance on the Talk Les Show podcast, Cam Newton, once again, made it crystal clear that wedding bells were not in his playbook. “Find where the ring was in the bible,” said the former football star.

Cam Newton slams marriage once again, says he doesn’t want to make anyone feel like a “hostage.” 

Newton, who shares nine children with three different women, explained that marriage just isn’t for him. Not because he’s anti-love or anti-commitment. The Funky Friday host explained that he just doesn’t want to make anyone feel like a “hostage.”

“I want to be around who want to be around me,” Cam, 36, told host Courtside Les during their interview on Feb. 26 when asked if he would marry multiple women at once. “So if it’s five [women], if it’s six, if it’s one. I like volunteers. I don’t like hostages.”

That wasn’t all. When asked to reiterate his thoughts, Newton doubled down with the calm confidence of a quarterback reading a defense:

“I don’t think it to be anything. I like volunteers, not hostages. I want people around me who want to be around me, and I want them around me.”

To be fair, he also made it clear that he doesn’t want to be anyone’s captive either. Equality matters. At the end of the day, Newton shared that he just wants to be in a relationship with someone who truly makes him “happy.”

“I just want you to be happy. And if I’m the person that’s bringing you happy, you can have marriage with no commitment. And you don’t have to have marriage to have a commitment,” the former football star said.

The former NFL star added that he would be fine without getting married as long as he had his “life partner.”

Before switching to another topic, Courtside Les pondered if Newton would ever regret never getting married, and of course, the podcaster made it clear, again, that he would be just “fine” if he never walked down the aisle, as long as he had his “life partner,” by his side, which he has appeared to have found with longtime girlfriend, comedian Jasmin Brown. 

“People always try to make that weird to understand,” he said of having a longtime partner with no marriage commitment.

Now, in case you’re wondering whether this is just talk, Newton’s life suggests he’s fully committed to his philosophy. He recently welcomed his ninth child—and second with Jasmin Brown—in October 2025. The couple’s firstborn arrived in March 2024.

Back in August, on his Funky Friday podcast, he admitted to wanting more children, but marriage? That’s another story. At the time, he shared that his hesitation boiled down to one very relatable fear: divorce, a comment that drew backlash on social media.

“I just want God to bring them,” Newton explained during his 2024 episode with Dr. Cheyenne Bryant. “My point is this: my desire to get married is lower than my fear of divorce. As you would say it—you said it, I didn’t say it, I will agree—I’m just taking my time.”

Despite the former athlete’s fears, Jasmin appeared to show support for her man amid the drama, telling fans in an Instagram Story video that year that she loved being “a servant.” 

“I love being a servant, I love to serve,” Jasmin said to the camera in part. “It just brings me joy. I love it. I love serving…I don’t give a damn…”

He also shared some interesting thoughts about wedding rings during the Talk Les Show.

But wait—there’s more. Cam Newton also tackled the hot topic of engagement rings during his Talk Les Show appearance, and let’s just say, he had some interesting thoughts. The podcaster argued that wedding rings weren’t necessary.

“I want you to listen and play this back because this is how most women sound, ‘I just want a ring, I just want a ring, I just want a ring.’ Well, why? ‘Because of marriage, ’cause of marriage’… Find where the ring was in the Bible,” he said.

He continued,

“I’m not going to be bullied into giving a gift because that’s what it sounds like. It sounds like you’re trying to corner a cat.”

At this point, Cam Newton’s stance on marriage isn’t exactly breaking news—but he’s certainly consistent.

What are your thoughts on his latest thoughts?

RELATED: Nclecta, Please! Cam Newton DØŪߣĒŠ DØ₩Ñ On Viral Word Usage, Eclectically Explains His RÅÑDØM RÏDÏÇŪŁØŪŠÑĒŠŠ–‘I Make A Lot Of Stuff Up’

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“The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world. We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.

Former Hawks player Al Horford co-signed Luke’s conservative grandstanding and reposted his statement in full on social media.

The post 10 Toes On The Stilettos: Atlanta Hawks Have No Plans To Cancel ‘Magic City Monday’ Game Despite Baller Backlash appeared first on Bossip.

The ladies return to the Werk Room, and they’re reeling after Athena Dion’s elimination.

Juicy is especially sad after sending her Drag Mother home and promises to make her proud.

“I’m grateful to still be in this competition, regardless of the fact that I had to send a close friend home,” says the Miami stunner who’s the only one left from her drag family in the competition.

The ladies praised her for standing strong and urged her to make herself proud.

“F**k trying to please all these other people,” says NiNi Coco. “Do what the f***k you wanna you do because you’re a f***g star!”

The attention then turns to the winner of the Rusical, Jane Don’t.

Jane says she feels affirmed after finally landing her second win, and also praises Myki Meeks for coming close to another win.

“I feel galvanized,” says Meeks, who didn’t “squabble the opportunity,” in the words of Briar Blush.

Kenya PleaseHer is also especially happy because she soared to the top…

and Discord Addams chimes in, noting that she thought she deserved a top spot as well.

Myki and Jane drag her back to reality and say they thought she’d be in the bottom and sent home instead of Athena —but Discord’s undeterred, noting that her confidence is her strength.

“It has gotten me all the way here and has kept me in the top in my head,” says the queen.

The ladies then reflect on being the Top 7 before it’s time for a new mini challenge—and it’s a big one!

RuPaul announces that the library is officially open!

Darlene is first up, and she’s got a read for NiNi Coco and her drag closet, which has “a lot of a variety but no flavor.”

Then it’s NiNi’s turn for payback, and she likens Darlene to a computer—without any gigs.

The reads continue with Kenya being likened to the “brick road” in the Wizard of Oz, NiNi having a face that only Casey Anthony would love, and Jane Don’t being on all-sex diet—and gaining 18 pounds.

Juicy then tries to read and gets absolutely zero laughs, but Jane Don’t soars.

She likens Discord to Lurch from the Addams family and notes that, “It’s safe to say that Kenya PleaseHer is one of the most talented girls in the competition.”

“It’s not true, but it’s safe,” says Jane.

Ultimately, Myki comes out on top, and she’s gagged and $2,500 richer.

Ru then names all of the eliminated queens, leaving the remaining queens confused—before saying “that doesn’t mean that they can’t come back to haunt you.”

The clip ends on a cliffhanger with a mysterious door being opened as we wait to see which queens are coming back!

Who do YOU think is back to haunt the queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race?

Take an exclusive look below!

Watch an all-new #DragRace – FRIDAY at 8 p.m. on MTV!

The post ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Exclusive Clip: The Library Offically Opens—But Are Eliminated Queens Coming Back?! appeared first on Bossip.

The father of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles walked out of an interview early after his ex-wife was brought up. The interviewer, PIX 11 anchor Kendis Gibson, mentioned Tina’s name in relation to the work both she and Mathew did with Destiny’s Child. “What work did she put in?” asked the former manager of DC.

When Gibson referenced the work that both Tina and Mathew—who were married for more than 30 years—put into the girl group, Knowles interjected, “What work did she put in?”

Kendis, clearly caught off guard by Matthew’s response, answered by mentioning how Tina used to style the group’s hair and design their costumes in the early days of their career.

Once those aspects were mentioned, Mathew agreed that Kendis was “absolutely right” about Tina’s involvement in the group–which consists of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams—via their “styling” and “imaging.” However, quickly after agreeing, Matthew got up from his chair and said, “We’ll stop now.”

Kendis laughed at the uncomfortable situation before asking, “Sorry, did I say something wrong?”

“No, no, no,” Mathew insisted, shaking the reporter’s hand. “We’re good.”

After the interview aired, Mathew told Page Six that there were multiple questions about Tina “when the interview was supposed to be about” an upcoming Destiny’s Child tribute concert. He also claimed Gibson arrived to the sit-down 15 minutes late, saying, “How it starts is how it ends. It started on a bad note, and obviously ended on a bad note for him.”

“I politely ended the interview, shook his hand, and took a photograph,” he told the outlet.

It’s certainly not surprising that Matthew’s previous marriage seems to be a sore spot. Over the years, Tina has been open about her rollercoaster relationship with the record exec, which ended in 2009 after she discovered he’d fathered a child outside of their marriage. While they briefly rekindled their romance after that, they broke up for good in 2011.

Tina details their on-again, off-again romance in her 2025 memoir, Matriarch, writing about how she and Mathew “were so good half the time” that it made it difficult to leave.

“He would cheat or act up, and I would say I’d had enough,” she wrote. “He’d beg for forgiveness, crying and promising to get better.” And though he would get better, “the same thing would happen again. But this is what married people did, I told myself.”

She mentioned that Mathew was a “wonderful father,” but also noted that “He had issues that did not make for a good husband then.”

Now that more than a decade has passed since the end of their relationship, Tina says there are no hard feelings.

“We are on good terms because we did a good job,” Tina told Gayle King on an April 2025 episode of her Sirius XM Gayle King in the House podcast. “We did some really good stuff.”

She continued, “What I’ve said over and over is that yes, I had some really tumultuous, terrible times with Matthew, but I never questioned whether he loved me or my kids.”

The post Don’t Say Her Name, Say Her Name: Beyoncé’s Father Mathew Knowles Abruptly Ends Interview After Tina Knowles Mention appeared first on Bossip.

That has changed.

“I’ve been waiting all week until the dust settles after the weekend at the BAFTAs in London,” he wrote. “I would like to thank each and every one of you who have shown love, support and solidarity towards myself and the rest of the Tourette’s Community.”

“Your kind words and support have got me through a very difficult week,” Davidson continued.

Honestly, he could have just kept this. The thing that people issuing “apologies” seem to consistently fail at miserably is naming the specific harm and naming the specific people harmed. Any statement of contrition is worthless and disingenuous if those two things are not present. Of course John Davidson doesn’t have to apologize for having Tourette’s and people who have been diagnosed with the disease should be respected and protected. However, that doesn’t exonerate them from accountability.

Meanwhile, Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo have been feeling the love from on stage to another starting at the NAACP Awards where they presented the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Film alongside Sinners director Ryan Coogler. Lindo took a moment to address the elephant in the room and to give thanks for the support since the BAFTA incident.

“I’d just like to officially say, I appreciate, we appreciate all the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend. It means a lot to us,” said Lindo.

Thanks but no thanks, John Davidson. Be well.

The post Sorta Sorry? BAFTA Bigotry Bloke John Davidson Issues Insufficient Statement appeared first on Bossip.

Having a conversation with Bessie Akuba Winn and Terri J. Vaughn, discussing their upcoming project, felt like the latter.

It’s called Our Kind of Women, a love letter defined as a multi-platform visual storytelling project documenting Black women over 40 in what Bessie calls their era of becoming. Through photography, audio reflections, and intentional questioning, the project captures women not as relics of legacy but as living, evolving history.

For Bessie, the timing was not accidental.

“Society Was Making Them Seem Invisible”

What was the catalyst?

“Well, it was several things,” Bessie said. “As I was approaching 40 about five years ago, I started seeing that Black women that I was witnessing evolve, my mentors, my peers, Black women that I’ve just been admiring from afar, I noticed that they were blooming and evolving in ways, but society was making them seem like they would be invisible.”

Instead of accepting that narrative, she decided to counter it with art.

“So I wanted to use art to capture them in not a non performative way, but in the way that I could capture their essence, tell their stories, hold their stories, and document their evolution after 40.”

The project was three years in the making before cameras even lifted. Bessie began photographing women last January now she’s at over 100.

This is not a trend piece. It is an archive.

The Shoot That Changes You

Terri admitted she initially said yes out of instinct.

“Being a huge advocate for us, meaning Black women, and all of our essence, everything that we’re about… photographs of women 40 and over, celebrating who they are. That’s a yes for me.”

But the real understanding came during the shoot.

“I didn’t really understand the project until I actually went in for my session,” she said. “Once I experienced the shoot with Bessie and her intention behind it, her love of us, it so matched how I feel.”

The experience is carefully curated but not staged. When women arrive, Bessie invites them to choose from handwritten questions that function more like journal prompts than interview cues.

“The question in itself is the most important thing, not the answer,” Bessie explained. “Because the answer will change. The question will linger with you.”

Terri described the vulnerability that followed.

“You open up, and you become super vulnerable,” she said. “I feel safe, and I get emotional and all the things. When we’re seen like that, and we’re acknowledged like that, and we’re honored and just really embraced like that, it lets us let all our guards down.”

After capturing authentic movement and expression, Bessie shifts to a posed image.

“Then we go on to doing a few posed images for their hero shot, which every woman needs.”

Every woman needs a hero shot.

Let that sit.

Redefining “Prime” And Unlearning Boxes

The cultural narrative that women peak early is one Bessie intentionally disrupts. In industries from entertainment to broadcast news, ageism remains a quiet barrier.

Terri refuses to subscribe to it.

“I really wanted to unlearn all the things that I was taught,” she said. “There is no way to be a wife except for the way that you are a wife. There is no way to be a mother or a grandmother, except for the way it is for you.”

She cited women who modeled expansive living.

“When I think of somebody like Diana Ross…that’s not the typical image of a mother, but she was her kind of mother.”

That distinction matters. Her kind.

For Bessie, the idea of becoming has evolved alongside the project. After moving back to Atlanta, navigating divorce, and raising two children, becoming initially meant rebuilding. Now it means something broader.

“I have learned about 92 of those ways to become through every single woman that I’ve met,” she said. “Becoming is spiritual evolution. Becoming is community. Becoming is defining what sisterhood is.”

She paused.

“It has been a divine assignment.”

A Love Letter To Be Seen

When I asked what she hopes women walk away with, Bessie did not hesitate.

“That she’s seen,” she said. “That her life is not just a performance, and that she is seen by other women.”

Then she named it plainly.

“This is a love letter. This is an ode to Black womanhood.”

Terri’s answer was just as direct.

“I felt powerful. I felt like a bad a**. That’s what I want: every woman to watch and see all of this and experience like they are the s***.”

She laughed, but she meant it.

“Can you imagine if we all walked around this earth knowing we are the s***? We’re not in competition. We’re not in… we are just amazing.”

In a climate where Black History and Women’s History is debated, minimized, or erased, Our Kind of Women stands as visual proof. Photos cannot be argued away. They cannot be rewritten.

They simply bear witness.

www.ourkindofwomen.com

@ourkindofwomen + @Bessieakuba

Almost…Halfway There With 100 Black Women

Our Kind of Women: On The Language of Our Bodies

The post ‘Our Kind Of Women’ Bessie Akuba Winn & Terri J. Vaughn Redefine Black Womanhood After 40 With Moving Multi-Platform Project [Exclusive] appeared first on Bossip.

“This is crazy,” he says.

Despite the former Tony! Toni! Toné! frontman’s claims that “It Never Rains in Southern California,” on an uncharacteristically dreary morning, the clouds bearing down on Los Angeles are doing exactly that. Undeterred, he offers a mea culpa:

“It doesn’t rain, it like—storms here. Lucky I wore some boots though,” says Saadiq.

If his calm demeanor in the midst of chaos comes as a surprise, it shouldn’t. With Ryan Coogler’s Sinners taking Hollywood by, well, storm during awards season, Saadiq’s lone contribution to its soundtrack, the spellbinding “I Lied to You,” is up against Diane Warren, KPop Demon Hunters, and others vying for Best Original Song at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards.

It’s the type of sonic immortality that, after nearly 40 years in this business, honestly feels inevitable.

So, in between flash flood warnings and accolades for his executive production work on Brent Faiyaz’s latest album, Saadiq and I discussed all things Sinners, the tragic loss of his “brother” D’Angelo, and how his grandmother instilled in him the importance of Black History Month.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Jay Connor: Sinners is easily one of the most culturally profound movies in recent memory—if not ever. How did you become involved in such an impactful project?

Raphael Saadiq: I got a phone call from Ryan Coogler. We’re both from the Bay Area, both born and raised in Oakland. We never met in person, but we knew of each other. I also got a call from [Grammy Award-winning composer] Ludwig Göransson, who scored the movie. They invited me over and gave me a rundown.

Connor: Ludwig is a beast.

Saadiq: Yeah, he’s a beast.

Connor: He’s no joke. And with him using blues as the lifeblood of this soundtrack, what was the creative process like with “I Lied to You”?

Saadiq: I spoke to Ryan [Coogler] on FaceTime as he was getting ready to start shooting. He told me the history of his uncle, who was really into blues. His uncle gave him the history of the relationship between the blues and church, and the complications that blues players faced: that if you played the blues, you were going to hell. So there was this tug-of-war between church and the blues. I knew that story all too well, growing up in Oakland around a lot of Pentecostal, Church of God in Christ—people like Sly of Sly and the Family Stone. His dad was a pastor. He would come to our church and preach sometimes. He’d see us playing music, and he’d look at us like, “Don’t get out there in the world and get turned out.” So I lived Preacher Boy’s story.

Connor: Oh, wow.

Saadiq: So once Ryan gave me his uncle’s interpretation of that, we got off the phone, and Ludwig and I grabbed our guitars and jammed for an hour. We came up with the main guitar licks, then off the top of my head, I just started singing the lyrics. It just sort of came out.

The way Ryan explained what he wanted to me, it made me think about blues musicians like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf—just to name a few. That’s what I was pulling from. That was my inspiration. And I guess the ancestors came down because it fit the film so perfectly. Just that lyric, “I lied to you.” I don’t even know why I said it, but it matched the film. It had to be something spiritual that happened, because the kid who was singing it, Miles Caton, he has this big voice—

Connor: Yeah, his voice is crazy. He sounds like a grown-a** man.

The post ‘Sinners,’ ’ I Lied To You’ Set To Make Black History appeared first on Bossip.

Buying your troubled child a rifle AFTER police investigated him for making violent threats is textbook parental malpractice but the elder Gray’s defense attorneys attempted to make the nonsensical make sense.

The father’s defense team argued the father bought the son the rifle to shift his focus from computers and gaming and get him interested in the outdoors, hunting and target shooting.

As stupid as that is, why was this barely-teenaged boy able to access the firearm so easily? Apparently, father Gray doesn’t have a good answer to that question either…

On Day 4 of his trial, prosecutors showed jurors a Barrow County Sheriff’s Office deputy’s body camera video. The deputy showed up at the father’s home after the school shooting, and when the father came out of the home, he said “I knew it.”

At this time, there has been no sentencing date for Colin Gray and no trial date set for his son, Colt Gray. However, we, and we’re sure the Apalachee community, are hoping that both father and son are sentenced to the maximum time in accordance with the law.

The post Apalachee School Shooting: Father Of Shooter Found Guilty Of 27 Criminal Charges Including Murder appeared first on Bossip.