For Black women, rage is rarely afforded the same complexity as grief, love, vulnerability, or even joy. But in Is God Is, writer-director Aleshea Harris delivers something far more radical: a revenge-fueled fever dream that centers Black women not as victims, but as architects of their own justice.

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That energy was palpable at the Brooklyn premiere of the highly anticipated film at Brooklyn Academy of Music, where the cast and creatives gathered to celebrate a project many believe will leave a permanent mark on Black cinema. Adapted from Harris’ acclaimed stage play, Is God Is follows twin sisters on a surreal journey of vengeance after being tasked with confronting the father responsible for their family’s devastation. The film stars Mallori Johnson, Kara Young, Erika Alexander, Vivica A. Fox, Sterling K. Brown and Janelle Monáe, with Tessa Thompson serving as a producer.

“I read the script and my mind was blown,” Monáe told MadameNoire Managing Editor Danica Daniel on the red carpet. “When I say a phenomenal script—I’m crying, I’m laughing. And the film, she just took it to another level.”

Alexander echoed that enthusiasm, calling Harris “a powerful person” whose work is poised to reshape the medium. “It’s going to change cinema,” she said before describing her character, Divine, as a woman trapped between healing and heartbreak. “A lot of women, when they get hurt, they don’t move on. They get stuck.”

For Thompson, the urgency behind bringing Is God Is to audiences was simple. “Because it’s an incredible, wildly entertaining, singular kind of one-of-one piece,” she said.

But perhaps the film’s greatest impact lies in what it offers Black women. “This film does such an amazing job of giving Black women an opportunity to hopefully have some release and some catharsis,” Johnson explained. Young agreed, adding, “We’ve never seen ourselves like this on camera. We don’t have this in the cinema canon.”

And if anyone needed a reminder of what kind of ride audiences are in for, Fox summed it up best with a grin: “Girl power. Yeah. But revenge—a dish best served cold.”

Above, the cast and creatives behind Is God Is tell MadameNoire why this haunting meditation on sisterhood, survival, and revenge is unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Is God Is is in theaters now. Alliance Entertainment, in association with MGM, has announced that it will release Is God Is on Blu-ray on July 28.

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The post ‘Make Your Daddy Dead’ — Why ‘Is God Is’ Is The Black Woman Revenge Fantasy Hollywood Has Been Too Afraid To Make [Exclusive Video] appeared first on MadameNoire.

The gruesome discovery of 16-year-old Juliana Nzita’s lifeless body hanging from a tree on the property of the United House of Prayer for All People Church in Charlotte, N.C., on May 8, has left a community heartbroken and forced us all to revisit America’s shameful past.

Juliana, who recently migrated to North Carolina from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lived with her family, was reported missing on April 28, according to The North Carolina Beat, an independent local news outlet. For nearly two weeks, loved ones and supporters searched for her while online posts and tips spread across social media.

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Sadly, the search ended in tragedy on May 8, when Kenneth “Mufasa” Tolbert, a volunteer with Brothers Helping Brothers, found Juliana’s corpse hanging from a tree on the church’s property while walking his dog. According to accounts of the discovery reported by The North Carolina Beat, Tolbert alerted church personnel and then contacted authorities.

“I alerted nearby church members first, then police, and later continued on because I was on my way to the courthouse and under a filing deadline,” he told The North Carolina Beat.

Additionally, he provided the outlet with disturbing video footage taken right after finding the corpse, which showed a small plastic blue chair under a tree with a rope hanging above it and Juliana’s feet grazing the ground. In the video, a church member mentioned checking the same area the previous day, but “didn’t see anything.”

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers responded to the scene, and later, a police report officially ruled Juliana’s death a suicide, stating, “On 05/08/2026 at 12:40 p.m., the listed victim was pronounced deceased at this location. This occurred in the 4200 block of West Sugar Creek Road.”

The post Another Black Child Hanging From A Tree? — Why Juliana Nzita’s Death Is Stirring Fears Of A Modern-Day Lynching appeared first on MadameNoire.

Growing out a relaxer is all about learning how to care for two different textures at the same time: your natural new growth and your relaxed ends, which can feel like an extreme battle. So how do you grow out your relaxed hair without causing further damage? Here’s what experts say.

The post The Relaxer Grow-Out Struggle Is Real — 4 Expert Tips To Survive The Awkward Phase Without Losing Your Hair appeared first on MadameNoire.

An email notification from AncestryDNA arrived with the quiet thud of an unexpected inheritance, carrying a message that would forever alter the story of my life. For weeks, my intuition had whispered to me that something was off, a lingering gut feeling that only deepened as my processing results went through lengthy delays. When the screen finally showed me a list of unknown close relatives in my DNA matches, the truth revealed itself as a total restructuring of my identity.

I was staring at a Non-Paternity Event, or an NPE—a clinical, sterile acronym that fails entirely to capture the psychological disorientation of realizing the man whom you thought was responsible for your skin tone and demeanor is not your biological father. In that transformative moment, my understanding of my own ethnicity, my ancestral lineage, and the very concept of kinship fractured, plunging me headfirst into an adult identity crisis that demanded I reconstruct the meaning of family from the ground up.

The emotional fallout was an immediate, overwhelming storm of shock, frustration, and deep-seated anger, born from the painful realization that such a truth had been in the shaadows for three decades. As the eldest sibling in a household where adoption was an openly discussed and embraced reality, I believed I possessed a sophisticated, mature understanding of non-traditional family structures; yet, applying that framework to my own self felt entirely different. It is a unique kind of vulnerability to realize that you are the keeper of a secret you were never intended to know, balancing the preservation of maternal dignity against your own hunger for clarity.

Within the experience of Black womanhood, this particular revelation carries a distinct, heavy cultural stigma, frequently weaponized by a society eager to reduce our intricate family stories into reductive caricatures of brokenness. “Your daddy ain’t your daddy” ceases to be an abstract cultural trope or a punchline, transforming instead into a sharp, intimate mirror that forces a woman to reexamine every mirror reflection, every curl of her hair, and every foundational memory she holds dear.

RELATED CONTENT: African Ancestry’s Dr. Gina Page On The Importance Of Black People Discovering Their Roots

The post ‘Your Daddy Ain’t Your Daddy!’ — How Learning I Had Three Fathers Turned Father’s Day Into An Identity Crisis [Op-Ed] appeared first on MadameNoire.

The boob-maxxing trend has been gaining traction worldwide, driven by a growing fixation on enhancing breast size, boosting cleavage, or creating the appearance of a fuller bust. While some people turn to simple styling tricks, others are going to much greater lengths in pursuit of a larger chest.

In 2023, YouTuber Melody Jacobs tested the viral BOOMBA inserts, adhesive cups designed to lift the breasts and enhance cleavage for a fuller appearance. After trying the product, Jacobs said it gave her an “instant breast lift” without the need for expensive plastic surgery.

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On the more extreme end of the trend, plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn shared a video in 2025 featuring a woman undergoing a non-invasive breast enlargement treatment using EveBra. The device relies on suction cups to stimulate tissue expansion and increase breast size.

The post Big Rack Energy? Inside The Wild World Of ‘Boob-Maxxing’ appeared first on MadameNoire.

Daphne Joy, who’s been the talk of the town lately, performed a little striptease for us in her selfies. Former Love Island star Cinco gave us a taste of what he’s been packing on in the gym. Ari Fletcher let her buns get a little tan in the Turks and Caicos sun.

But you know we can’t give it all away. Here’s the rest of volume 30!

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1. Shenseea, 29

Source: Ari Fletcher/IG: @therealkylesister

Shenseea girl….what’s all that you carrying back there? The “Shen Yeng” singer looked ethereal in her white dress and faux locs.

The post Fine AF Fridays, Vol 30! Ari Fletcher Has A Bootylicious Beach Day Roasting Her Buns In Turks And Caicos appeared first on MadameNoire.

The newborn child of 17-year-old Jariah Edwards has died nearly a week after the teen was fatally shot by her boyfriend, identified as Trevon Williams, in late May. Reports from People, NBC 7, and AZ Family indicate that Edwards, who was 32 weeks pregnant, delivered her baby via emergency C-section following the shooting on May 30.

“The child was in critical condition with minimal brain activity,” representatives from the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) stated in a press release, according to NBC 7. 

Tragically, the baby was removed from life support on June 7 after sustaining a severe hypoxic brain injury.

What happened to Jariah Edwards?

The SDPD outlined the shooting in a press release. According to the department, around 1:10 a.m., San Diego Police Dispatch received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a shooting on the 4900 block of Gardena Avenue. Officers arrived within minutes and found Edwards unresponsive, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. They immediately began life-saving measures for both her and her unborn child. Paramedics transported Edwards to a nearby hospital, where doctors performed an emergency cesarean section. At the time, the newborn remained in critical condition. 

Despite life saving efforts, Edwards later died at the hospital. Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation and have since discovered that Edwards and several family members were visiting San Diego from Arizona, staying in a short-term rental. Williams, also from Arizona, had traveled separately to San Diego and shot her outside the rental.

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According to People, Williams allegedly lured Edwards outside the family’s rental with a flower delivery before shooting her. He “fled on foot to a nearby canyon,” but was apprehended around 3 a.m., per the SDPD. Officers recovered a semiautomatic handgun at the scene. While the SDPD identified Williams as 19 in their press release, online jail records reviewed by People list him as 21.

“He was literally a monster and he ran into somebody with a pure soul,” Jamila Corley, Edwards’ friend, told KNXV. “There’s nothing she could have done that made him act like this.”

The post ‘Literally A Monster’ — Pregnant Teen Shot Dead After Ex-Boyfriend Allegedly Lured Her Outside With Flowers appeared first on MadameNoire.

The Knicks walked into Game 4 with a lot more than a 2-1 NBA Finals lead on their shoulders. Just two nights earlier, San Antonio handed New York its first loss in 14 games, snapping the Knicks’ wild 13-game winning streak and quieting Madison Square Garden just enough to remind everybody that Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs were not here for a cute Finals cameo. Add in the Trump drama from Game 3 — the boos, the extra attention, the “curse” jokes, all of it — and Game 4 already had the energy of a must-watch New York event before the ball even tipped.

Then the actual game somehow topped the hype. The Spurs had the Knicks looking cooked, building a 29-point lead and threatening to snatch complete control of the series. But New York turned the Garden into a pressure cooker, storming all the way back before OG Anunoby tipped in the go-ahead bucket in the final seconds to seal a ridiculous 107-106 win. Jalen Brunson led the way with 36 points and seven assists, Anunoby added 33, and the Knicks left Game 4 with a 3-1 series lead and one win standing between them and their first championship since 1973.

Of course, this being the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, the scene was bigger than basketball. Just like Game 3, Game 4 turned into a full-blown celebrity roll call, with everyone from longtime Knicks fixtures to Hollywood A-listers and pop culture heavyweights packing the building. Taylor Swift pulled up with Alana and Este Haim, Spike Lee was right where he always is, and names like Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Mariska Hargitay, Hailey Bieber, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Fat Joe and more helped make Celebrity Row feel like its own red carpet.

By the end of the night, though, everybody in the building had the same face: shocked, stressed, excited and completely flabbergasted by what they had just watched. The stars didn’t just show up for a photo op — they got a front-row seat to one of the wildest comebacks in NBA Finals history, the kind of game where even the celebs forgot to play it cool. From courtside reactions to Knicks-themed fits, Game 4 had more than enough famous faces to fill a gallery, and we’ve rounded up all the celebs spotted at Knicks vs. Spurs below!

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Charles Barkley Jokingly Calls Cardi B’s Crown Jewels ‘Cardi D’s’ At NBA Finals Game 3 & Fans Love It

The post Jordyn Woods, Her ‘Lucky’ $125 Bag And All The Knicks Vs. Spurs Game 4 Celebrity Sightings appeared first on MadameNoire.

One of the most interesting mysteries in early 2000s pop culture has officially been solved, and the answer is less scandalous than you may think.

Michelle Williams pulled up to Keke Palmer’s Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast this week and addressed the viral 2001 Destiny’s Child interview that has had fans convinced for a quarter of a century that Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle were faaaar from sober during it.

If you’ve never seen the clip in question, the X post from @Yubbie007 will catch you right up. The three women are giggly, a little loopy, and giving answers that feel just slightly disconnected from the questions being asked. In one of the most iconic moments in the entire clip, Beyoncé announces with complete sincerity that if she could be any animal, she would be a whale.

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The post ‘We Were Delusional!’ — For 25 Years, Fans Swore Destiny’s Child Was High In This Interview — Michelle Williams Says The Real Story Is Much Wilder appeared first on MadameNoire.

Tyla continues to show the world that she’s exactly who she says she is.

The South African superstar just announced that she is joining the cast of Toy Story 5, lending her voice to a brand-new character in the Disney and Pixar beloved franchise. The singer shared the news alongside Disney Africa on Instagram before giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the experience in a YouTube video.

The 24-year-old artist will voice the Inflatable Flamingo, a playful new character created for audiences across Sub-Saharan Africa. The addition marks Tyla’s Disney debut. We love that for her.

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The post From ‘Water’ To Woody — Tyla Joins The Cast Of ‘Toy Story 5’ appeared first on MadameNoire.

While Rihanna is the star of EE72’s summer cover, she had some adorable company behind the scenes that totally stole the show.

Just a few weeks after appearing alongside her daughter Rocki on the cover of W magazine’s Pop Issue, the Grammy-winning singer gave fans another glimpse of her youngest child during her latest photoshoot. In a behind-the-scenes video shared by both Rihanna and EE72 creative director Edward Enninful, the 9 month old can be seen spending time on set with her mother, including one sweet moment where she reaches for and plays with Rih’s necklace.

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The post Only Girl (In The World) — Rihanna Gives Fans A Rare Glimpse Of Baby Rocki In New Behind-The-Scenes Video appeared first on MadameNoire.

Summer movie season is officially here, and if you have been paying attention, 2026 has been quietly building toward one of the strongest runs of Black cinema in recent history. Check out the Black-led films you need to see in theaters and on streaming this summer inside.

This is not about one or two films that the culture will flock to and then forget about by Labor Day. We are talking about a sustained, genre-spanning, director-driven wave of storytelling that covers psychological thrillers, horror, action comedies, prestige dramas, sci-fi and epic mythology, all with Black talent at the center. The cinema is about to become a destination again and the people delivering that energy are ours.

From May all the way through the end of summer, there is something dropping nearly every month that was made for us, by us and absolutely deserves our dollars and our conversation. The streaming era has its place but the films on this list were built for the big screen experience and that distinction matters.

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The post Black Cinema Is Outside! 9 Must-See Movies Dominating Summer 2026 appeared first on MadameNoire.

Disco and soul legend Candi Staton is experiencing a remarkable resurgence thanks to TikTok, where her 1976 anthem “Young Hearts Run Free” has found a new generation of fans. The classic track has become a popular soundtrack for videos across the platform, inspiring everything from dance clips to heartfelt covers. As the song enjoys renewed attention during Black Music Month and Pride celebrations, many listeners are unaware of the shocking and deeply personal story behind the hit.

The Shocking Inspiration Behind “Young Hearts Run Free”

In the 2024 PBS documentary Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution, Staton revealed that the song was born from a terrifying near-death experience involving a “dangerous” former husband.

The singer recalled the final night of a Las Vegas engagement where she was opening for Ray Charles. Instead of remaining backstage, Staton chose to sit in the audience and watch the legendary performer’s set. Her decision angered her then-husband, who had been searching for her throughout the venue.

RELATED CONTENT: Dear Black Music Month: A Love Letter To The Healing Power Of Songs

“That’s the night when he went completely nuts,” the now 86-year-old singer said in the film, according to a clip obtained by People.

After the show, Staton said her husband confronted her and became increasingly violent.

“My suite was…way up on the 20th-something floor and he pushed me….was pushing me all the way through the lobby to the elevator,” she recalled.

Once they reached their hotel room, the situation escalated.

According to Staton, her husband told her, “I’m gonna kill you tonight” before adding, “I’ll tell you what I’m gonna do, I’m gonna throw you off the balcony.”

The singer demonstrated how he lifted her over the balcony railing, leaving her convinced she would not survive the night.

“I said, ‘You know, you’re in this hotel, and it’s owned by the mafia….we’re in Las Vegas now,'” Staton remembered in the documentary.

Trying to appeal to his sense of self-preservation, she continued: “I said, ‘you gotta get out of here. You gotta walk out of here. How are you going to feel with my body splattered at the bottom and my name is on the marquee.'”

“And I said, ‘You won’t make it out of Vegas,'” she added.

According to Staton, her warning gave him pause and he eventually “brought” her back in.

The post Black Music Month — Her Husband Allegedly Held Her Over A Vegas Balcony, Then Candi Staton Turned The Nightmare Into A Disco Classic appeared first on MadameNoire.

Serena Williams doesn’t owe tennis another point, another serve, another comeback, or another reminder. She already gave the sport more than enough. Twenty-three Grand Slam singles titles, four Olympic gold medals, 319 weeks ranked No. 1, countless iconic fits, unforgettable finals, and a whole generation of Black girls who got to see themselves as powerful, dominant, stylish, emotional, competitive and still worthy of being called great.

That’s why her return at 44 feels different. It’s not about chasing history, silencing doubters, or trying to prove she can still hang. Serena has already done all of that. This comeback feels like a woman walking back into a room she built, not because she needs permission, but because she felt like showing up.

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The post 44, Two Kids Later And Still The GOAT: Serena Williams’ Return To Tennis Has Everybody In Their Feelings appeared first on MadameNoire.

Chris Brown is pushing back against Diamond Brown’s bid for full custody of their 4-year-old daughter, Lovely Symphani Brown, filing his own legal response to protect his parental rights. This move comes amid Diamond sending shade to a “bunch of b*****s” ahead of Father’s Day.

According to Complex, the singer has flatly rejected Diamond’s custody request, which sought to relegate him to standard visitation rights rather than a shared parenting agreement. Instead, Chris is asking the court for a formal joint legal and physical custody arrangement. Chris’s custody battle will focus heavily on giving both parents equal legal rights and shared daily responsibilities when it comes to raising Lovely, who was born in 2022.

Beyond the physical custody arrangements, the financial dynamics of the split are also being contested. While Diamond’s initial filing requested that Chris be legally ordered to pay for her entire legal team and cover all court costs associated with the case, Chris has pushed back. He requested that the judge order each party to be entirely responsible for their own legal expenses throughout the duration of the dispute.

The legal friction comes after months of animosity between the former couple, which has routinely spilled over into the public eye via social media. Earlier this spring, Diamond took direct aim at Chris on Instagram, publicly accusing the father of four of attempting to actively interfere with her new romantic relationship. While Chris chose not to address the social media shots directly, the situation quickly escalated when his current girlfriend, Jada Wallace, publicly accused Diamond of actively blocking Chris from spending time with Lovely.

RELATED CONTENT: Chris Brown’s New Baby Reveal Sparks Questions: Who Is Jada Wallace—And Why Is Everyone Watching?

The post Chris Brown Seeks Joint Custody Of Daughter As Battle Gets Nasty With Ex Diamond Brown appeared first on MadameNoire.

It is 2 in the morning. Your phone is in your hand. You have been staring at a name in your contacts for the last twenty minutes and your thumbs are dangerously close to doing something your future self is going to have to regret. Put the phone down, press play and let these songs process whatever you are feeling, so you do not have to send that text and explain yourself in the morning. Check out our 2AM playlist for when you know you absolutely should not text.

We have all been there and we are not here to judge you. We are here to redirect you. There is something about late-night R&B that hits completely differently than it does in the daylight. The same song that sounds like background music at noon becomes a full emotional experience at 2AM when the house is quiet and you are alone with your thoughts, your feelings and your recent call history. 

As Rated R&B has long documented, the best R&B of this generation was built precisely for these moments — the ones where you are not quite over something and you need the music to say what you cannot bring yourself to say out loud.

This playlist is not meant to make you feel better immediately. It is meant to make you feel everything properly so you can actually move through it. So make yourself comfortable, put on your headphones and let these songs take you exactly where you need to go tonight.

RELATED CONTENT: Dear Black Music Month: A Love Letter To The Healing Power Of Songs

The post 20 R&B Songs To Play At 2AM Instead Of Sending That Text You’ll Regret In The Morning appeared first on MadameNoire.

When the cameras pan across the crowd at a New York Knicks game, they often find more than celebrities and superfans. They sometimes land their gaze upon the gorgeous Shannon Hart, the stylish wife of Knicks guard Josh Hart, who is always serving looks while supporting her husband from the sidelines.

While Josh has earned a reputation as one of the NBA’s hardest-working players, bringing hustle, defense, and energy to every game, Shannon has quietly become a fan favorite among Knicks supporters. The couple’s love story dates back to high school, and throughout Josh’s rise from college standout to NBA champion and now a key piece of New York’s playoff success, Shannon has remained by his side.

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The post NBA WAG Shannon Hart’s Courtside Fashion Game Is The New York Knick’s Fiercest Rival: The Style MVP’s Top 5 Looks appeared first on MadameNoire.

Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York City was one of the worst days New Yorkers experienced in recent history. Not only did city officials shut down foot traffic in Midtown to accommodate the arrival of the human jinx known as Donald Trump, but the world watched as referees basically handed the San Antonio Spurs the victory in what many felt was blatant favoritism throughout the game.

That being said, Cardi B’s halftime performance did give New Yorkers something to enjoy as even Charles Barkley couldn’t help but notice the Bronx rapper’s obvious assets. Watching the 33-year-old Bronx bomber take to half court to perform her hit “Bodega Baddie” for thousands in attendance, the 63-year-old NBA Hall of Famer seemingly enjoyed the view as he told his co-hosts, “I don’t know if those B’s. Those might be Cardi D’s!”

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The post Charles Barkley Jokingly Calls Cardi B’s Crown Jewels ‘Cardi D’s’ At NBA Finals Game 3 & Fans Love It appeared first on MadameNoire.

An Alaska man was sentenced to 150 years for murdering his wife and their daughter after the young girl reported sexual abuse to police on March 30, 2022. However, according to the Anchorage Police Department, the 14-year-old would not disclose the perpetrator. The primary suspect was her father, Jalonni Blackshear.

During a welfare check, Raechyl Blackshear, 35, and her daughter, identified by authorities only as J.B. at the time, were discovered fatally shot in an Anchorage residence on April 15, 2022, according to statements from the Anchorage Police Department.

J.B. was not publicly named in the statement, but was later identified by local news outlet KTUU as Jayla Blackshear, the teenage daughter of the married couple.

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Black Women’s Lives Matter: America Has A Femicide Problem & We Need To Talk About It [Op-Ed]

The post ‘Terrorized Into Silence’ — Former Corrections Officer Gets 150 Years For Killing Wife & Daughter, 14, Who Reported Sexual Abuse To Police appeared first on MadameNoire.

National Iced Tea Day is all about serving something refreshing. If we are being honest, celebrity interviews have been pouring out the hottest tea all year long. Check out 15 celebrity interviews that have us gagged this year in honor of National Iced Tea Day. 

From relationship revelations to reality television receipts, 2026 has delivered no shortage of viral moments that sent social media into a frenzy. Whether it was a headline-making confession, an unexpected reunion bombshell or a celebrity finally addressing rumors that had the internet talking for months, these conversations had timelines buzzing.

RELATED CONTENT: From Mysterious Siren To Bohemian Dreamer — Here’s Your Coachella Style Guide Based Off Your Zodiac Sign

In honor of National Iced Tea Day, we are looking back at 15 interviews and televised sit-downs that had us grabbing our cups and asking for a refill.

The post National Iced Tea Day — The 15 Biggest Tea-Spilling Moments Of The Past Year appeared first on MadameNoire.

Another week, another Women Crush Wednesday!

Pride Month is still in full swing, with barriers being broken and expression of love and living in truth sitting bolder than ever before.

Madamenoire’s Women Crush Wednesdays has been a space of celebration since its inception, and this week things hit just a little different when we see our bisexual queens like Porsha Williams leaning fully into her love for the ladies, or women like Choyce Brown being admired aloud by her lover Janae Sims.

We’ll even take it a step further, with this year’s Tony Awards. Qween Jean made history as the first openly trans person to receive a Tony thanks to her win in the Costume Design category for her work on Cats: The Jellicle Ball.

We love to see our people take pride in advocating and holding dear space for the ones they love.

Check out 50 of the hottest queers queens this week below.

RELATED CONTENT: #WCW — 50 Queer Queens Who Are Making Pride Month Hotter Than Ever (Wait Until You See Tiara Kelly!), Vol. 25

The post #WCW — Porsha Williams, Kehlani & 48 More Queer Queens So Fine They Deserve Their Own Pride Parade, Vol. 26, Vol. 26, Vol. 26 appeared first on MadameNoire.

Looking for fresh ways to show off your colorful side this Pride season? These pride inspired nails ideas range from subtle and sophisticated to bold and attention-grabbing, making it easy to find a look that matches your personality. Whether you’re heading to a parade, festival, or simply celebrating your authentic self, these nail art designs are guaranteed to make a statement.

1. Rainbow Micro-French Tips

Give the classic French manicure a Pride-worthy upgrade by swapping traditional white tips for thin rainbow lines. Paint each nail tip a different neon or pastel shade for a chic, modern look that’s playful without being over the top.

RELATED CONTENT: 10 Nail Colors And Trends That Perfectly Embody Springtime Soft Life Aesthetics

The post Rainbow, Rhinestones And Runway Energy! 8 Pride-Inspired Nail Trends We’re Obsessed With appeared first on MadameNoire.

Now this new sex trend is absolutely shocking. A new form of sensation play called electrostimulation or “e-stim” is growing in popularity. This pulsating practice occurs when horny individuals use e-stim toys to send electrical pulses to their genitals or throughout their body to stimulate nerve endings and heighten muscles for intense sexual pleasure, sexologist Becky Crepsley-Fox told Metro in an interview published June 1.

When it comes to electrostimulation, the sexpert explained that the appeal isn’t exactly a one-size-fits-all situation. According to sexologist Crepsley-Fox, men and women often enjoy the sensation for different reasons.

“For people with penises, increased engorgement can create a sensation of greater firmness,” she explained. “The testicles are particularly responsive — the skin is thin, nerve endings are densely packed, and many people find even low-level current there produces an intense sensation.”

RELATED CONTENT: Introducing Temperature Play —The Fun And Exciting Way To Heat Up The Bedroom

Women, meanwhile, report their own reasons for enjoying the buzzy bedroom trend. Part of the appeal is that the stimulation can be hands-free, allowing users to focus entirely on sensation. In a world where convenience is king, some people are apparently bringing that same energy into the bedroom.

The post Move Over Vibrators! This Electrifying New Sex Trend Is Sending Pleasure To Shocking New Levels appeared first on MadameNoire.

Community members are mourning the loss of 17-year-old Deon Wiley III, who died May 22, according to his eulogy. Wiley was expected to graduate from Saginaw United High School on May 26. Instead, the beloved teenager’s life was tragically cut short just days before commencement when he was fatally shot following an after-prom gathering. The shooting occurred hours after Wiley attended his senior prom at the SVRC Marketplace, 203 S. Washington Ave., on Thursday evening, according to MLive.

“My son had a bright spirit, he lit the room up,” Precious Sherman, Wiley’s mother, told WNEM during a vigil held in his honor on May 25.

RELATED CONTENT: Teen Says Principal Withheld Her Diploma After She Dropped Into A Twerking Split On Graduation Stage

Deon L. Wiley III shooting: What happened?

According to Saginaw Police Deputy Chief Matthew Gerow, Deon L. Wiley III, 17, suffered a fatal gunshot wound during a parking lot gathering at the Quick Stop, 2034 S. Washington Ave., around 12:15 a.m. Friday, May 22, per MLive. Another teenage male was also shot and later arrived at a local hospital in a personal vehicle, where he was admitted in stable condition.

His mother Precious Sherman walked across the stage at his graduation in late May.

Although Wiley was unable to attend graduation, his presence was deeply felt during the ceremony. His mother, Precious Sherman, walked across the commencement stage on his behalf. Video obtained by MLive captured the emotional moment as Sherman received a standing ovation while crossing the stage and shaking hands with faculty members. The crowd of 262 graduates and their families responded with heartfelt applause as she accepted recognition for her son.

According to MLive, Wiley’s name appeared in full in the commencement program, listed among the 263 graduates as Deon Louelle Wiley III.

The post His Seat Was Empty, But His Mother Walked For Him — Precious Sherman Accepts Diploma Days After Son Was Killed After Prom appeared first on MadameNoire.

Niasia Boykin, founder and lead talent manager of The Brownstone Collective, an influencer management company, has come forward with serious allegations against swimwear brand Cupshe. On June 4, Boykin shared a screenshot on Threads of an email she allegedly received from a brand representative. In the message, the representative claimed that the brand wouldn’t be working with Black people for an upcoming campaign.

“We would not collab with black people this campaign,” the email allegedly read.

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The post ‘WTF Is This?!’ — Swimwear Brand Cupshe Under Fire After Talent Manager Shares Alleged Email Saying Brand Wouldn’t Work With Black People appeared first on MadameNoire.

Cardi B is all about the Bronx – and the Bronx is all about Cardi. The “Bongos” rapper showed her New York pride, taking center stage during Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Cardi performed during halftime at Madison Square Garden as the New York Knicks faced the San Antonio Spurs. She ran through several songs, including “Bodega Baddie,” and had the crowd on its feet.

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The post The Knicks Lost, But Cardi B Won Game 3 With A Snatched Surprise NBA Finals Halftime Performance appeared first on MadameNoire.

Love Island USA Season 8 kicked off on Tuesday, June 2, and the new cast is already the talk of the town for OG fans of the show and newcomers alike.

The Peacock reality television series centered around a group of single contestants, known as islanders, who live in an isolated villa on Fiji Island, where they are under 24/7 video surveillance on a quest to find love. To advance through the rounds on the show, contestants are expected to couple up based on love, friendship, or strategy.

Anyone who remains single after a recoupling is eliminated and dumped from the island, but the overall goal is to win the public’s vote to be crowned the most compatible couple to take the grand cash prize home, which is typically $100,000.

Ever since contestants like Serena Page and JaNa Craig took the show by storm in its sixth season and diversified it, many newcomers have begun to tune in, quickly attaching themselves to islanders, falling in love with them, questioning their decision-making, and everything in between. 

Despite not being the final winner in Love Island USA Season 7, Olandria Carthen still managed to captivate the hearts of many, continuing to lean into her natural star power and landing brand deals with everyone from Poppi to Amazon, Yves Saint Laurent, Sephora, and more, putting the I into IT girl.

Like many spaces, reality television doesn’t always hold proper room for Black women, and Love Island has had its fair share of controversies in its handling of Black women on-screen.

With week one of Love Island USA Season 8 coming to a close, here’s everything you need to know about the Black women islanders gracing our screens 

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The post Looking For The Next Serena, JaNa Or Olandria? Meet The Black Women Of ‘Love Island USA’ Season 8 appeared first on MadameNoire.

Actress Theresa Randle boasts a stellar resume, featuring roles in notable films such as King of New York, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, CB4, and Beverly Hills Cop III.

But many people remember the Gary, Indiana native best as Martin Lawrence’s wife in the first three Bad Boys movies. She played Theresa Barnett, who was married to Lawrence’s Marcus Barnett.

But by the fourth film in 2024, Bad Boys Ride or Die, she’d been mysteriously replaced by actress Tasha Smith. It was rumored that Randle, 61, had retired. A video circulating the internet showed a noticeably thinner Randle in a wheelchair. Fans speculated about her physical and mental health, but Randle never responded. She has not made a TV or film appearance since Bad Boys for Life.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Whatcha Gonna Do?’ — ‘Bad Boys’ Actress Theresa Randle Arrested For Domestic Violence

The post ‘Bad Boys’ Star Theresa Randle’s Ex Accuses Her Of Stalking & ‘Smoking Crack’ With His Dog appeared first on MadameNoire.

The 47th annual BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! festival returns to Prospect Park this summer, bringing an exciting lineup of music legends and contemporary stars to one of New York City’s most beloved outdoor stages. Headlining this year’s season is the legendary “Godmother of Soul,” Patti LaBelle, alongside celebrated performers including Sheila E., Liz Phair, and many more.

Presented in partnership with Prospect Park Alliance and NYC Parks, the landmark free outdoor festival officially launched on June 4 and will continue through Sep. 19, offering Brooklyn audiences a summer filled with music, culture, and community.

Patti LaBelle will headline on June 26.

One of the season’s most anticipated events is Patti LaBelle’s June 26 Benefit Show. The iconic singer, whose powerful voice has defined generations of American music, will make a special appearance in a performance that marks a major milestone for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!. It is the first time the festival has booked an artist of her stature directly, without the support of a corporate promoter. Best known for classics such as “If Only You Knew,” “New Attitude,” and “Stir It Up,” LaBelle personally invited fans to attend through a video message shared on the BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Instagram page on June 6, adding even more excitement to a season that is already off to a remarkable start.

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The post ‘Radical Joy!’ — Patti LaBelle, Sheila E. & More Black Women Lead A Soulful Summer At BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! 2026 appeared first on MadameNoire.

Qween Jean made history at the 2026 Tony Awards—and she did it in full pink glamour.

The award-winning costume designer became the first openly trans woman to win a Tony Award, taking home Best Costume Design of a Musical for Cats: The Jellicle Ball. The moment is major, signifying visibility and legacy. Qween Jean is a Broadway creative taking up space exactly where she belongs.

“This experience has been monumental,” Qween Jean said while accepting her award. “We are here for the legacy of queer people, trans people.”

She continued, “We are taking up space in ways we have to take up space. We have to shift the paradigm.”

RELATED CONTENT: Tony Awards Red Carpet 2026 — Black Hollywood Brought The Drama, The Drip And The Broadway Glam

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