Denzel Washington and Viola Davis stars in the movie Fences. The movie is nominated for an Academy Award.
For the Oscars, it's going to be a tad bit diverse. After two consecutive years of all-White nominees, the Academy Awards has decided to get things right.
The Academy nominated 10 black actors and filmmakers. It also has six-African American themed films, an Indian adventure, and Pacific Islander-themed movie.
Name recognition goes to Barry Jenkins, who scored a nomination for Moonlight. Ava DuVernay's 13th was nominated for her documentary as well as Raoul Peck's I Am Not Your Negro and OJ: Made In America from Ezra Edelman.
The black themed movies for Best Picture include Moonlight, Fences and Hidden Figures.
Denzel Washington, Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis, Ruth Negga, Mahershala Ali, and Naomie Harris were nominated for an Oscar.
Birth of Nation was snubbed. Nate Parker's hit movie was scarred by allegations of rape being brought to light.
Hollywood is trying to make strives in diversity. Of course, during the 2014-15 session, #OscarsSoWhite became a lightening rod in the entertainment industry. Many actors of color denounced the awards for not advocating diversity.
Janet Jackson and Wissam Al Mana welcome their first child.
The junk food media is also reporting that Damita Jo bore a son. The 50 year old media mogul and singer and her husband Wissam Al Mana told the news through her publicist.
They named the boy Eissa Al Mana.
When she was on tour, Janet Jackson abruptly stopped it citing personal reasons. She hopped on social media to make news about being a family. It led to speculation the singer was pregnant.
The singer was promoting her last album Unbreakable. The singer's personal business was leaked by brother Tito in an interview with Andy Cohen.
Jackson gave birth on Tuesday.
Jackson semi-retired from music and may have converted to Islam.
"Janet had a stress-free healthy delivery and is resting comfortably."
Jackson has a total of 11 albums and is a seven time Grammy award winner.
She was married to James DeBarge and Rene Elizondo, Jr. She dated Jermaine Dupri, the former CEO of So So Def Recordings. She married Wissam in 2012. He is a Qatari business man and billionaire.
The year 2016 ends with the passing of William Christopher. He was best known for playing Father Mulcahy on the 1970s hit comedy series M.A.S.H.
Even on New Year's Eve, a major entertainer passed away. We just learned that William Christopher the legendary actor who played Father Mulcahy on the hit series M.A.S.H. passed away of lung cancer.
He was 84, and died in Pasadena according to his family.
Born in Illinois in 1932, William got his start as a stage actor in the 1950s before taking on the roles in television and film. He held a variety of shows during his life. Shows like The Patty Duke Show, the Andy Griffith Show, The Men from Shiloh and Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. were notable.
He even had a role on Hogan's Heroes.
But William's best role was playing the calming Father Mulcahy. He took the role after the actor who originally played the part wasn't available. He would become a mainstay throughout the 11 seasons of M.A.S.H.
He even reprised his role in the spin-off After M.A.S.H.
William was an advocate for autism. He has a son named Ned that was autistic. He spend a portion of his time devoting to the National Autistic Society and recording PSAs.
To end the year with the death of an iconic actor. We will miss you.
British pop star George Michael who had numerous hits as a solo artist and his then group Wham! passed away at the age of 53.
"It is with great sadness that we confirm our beloved son, brother and friend, George passed away at home over the Christmas period," his publicist said in a statement.
Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, he was best known for the post-disco, dance-pop songs of the 1980s and 1990s. He had hits like "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "One More Try", "Careless Whisper" and "Freedom 90!" and "Last Christmas".
As a solo artist his album Faith, sold over 20 million copies and secured his name as a legend in pop music.
He was also known for being busted in the 1990s for soliciting for sex at a Beverly Hills park. He was caught up in a sting when he wanted to have sex with an undercover cop.
He was forced to publicly address his sexuality after the cop told his story to the junk food media.
Michael had troubles with drugs. He was open about his addiction to pain killers, marijuana and cocaine. He was struggling throughout his life trying to overcome addiction.
Michael hasn't sung a live performance in five years. The rumors were a comeback tour.
In tribute to George Michael, we'll do a Late Thread.
America's TV Dad Alan Thicke passed away. He is the father of R&B/pop singer Robin Thicke.
One of America's famous TV dads passed away. The junk food media confirms that Alan Thicke passed away. Alan Thicke was a famous TV dad. He played Dr. Jason Seaver on the ABC hit sitcom Growing Pains. He was a Canadian-born actor, game show host, talk radio host and pitchman for Optima Tax Relief. The actor was playing hockey with his son Carter when he suffered a fatal heart attack.
He just posted on social media five hours ago before he passed away. He said that he was going to be on an episode of Fuller House, the sequel to Full House.
Thicke was born in Ontario, Canada. He started his career as a daytime talk show in Canada, and later hosted a late-night show called "Thicke of the Night" for an American audience, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Thicke a lifelong hockey fan, first rooting for the Montreal Canadiens and then the Los Angeles Kings after moving to California. He was a familiar face at NHL events over his life, performing at the league's award ceremony and also playing in a 2014 Celebrity Game.
TMZ confirmed that he passed away at the St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank.
Thicke was also involved in the music industry. He wrote theme songs for Hello Larry, The Facts of Life, Diff'Rent Strokes, Wheel Of Fortune and voice acted on television.
He was the "charming, witty, talented, icon".
He was the father of R&B singer Robin Thicke and voice actor Brennan Thicke. He passed away at 69 years old.
Now I expect his former castmates will send condolences soon.
Alan Thicke, Kirk Cameron, Joanna Kerns, Tracey Gold, Jeremy Miller, Ashley Johnson, and Leonardo DiCaprio were the stars of Growing Pains.
Alan Thicke, thank you for the years of laughs and charm. You will be missed.
Thomas Mikal Ford (left) passed away. He played a starring role in the 1990s sitcom Martin. The cast Ford, Tisha Campbell Martin, Martin Lawrence, Carl Anthony Payne and Tichina Arnold.
Thomas Mikal Ford, best known as playing in the 1990s sitcom Martin had passed away in an Atlanta area hospital after complications from a ruptured aneurysm in his abdomen.
Ford was best known as Tommy in the Martin Lawrence comedy. He had appeared in shows such as A Different World as Jaleesa's (Dawnn Lewis) ex husband Lamar. He appeared on The Jamie Foxx Show, The Parkers, and the Kid 'N Play movie Class Act.
TMZ confirms that Ford passed away with his family present. They decided to take him off the lifeline.
His wife Gina confirmed this tragic news.
Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Tichina Arnold, Garrett Morris and Carl Anthony Payne hit the social media to express condolences.
My heart is heavy with the loss of my brother @BigTommyFord May he Rest In Peace 🙏🏿
We were friends way b4 the Martin show & showed tru friendship on-screen. You brought a lot of love 2 the world & you'll be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/lBpmPFVWOE
I know I've grown up watching Martin. Matter of fact, I was hearing talk of a reboot (minus Tisha Campbell-Martin). The Fox network was hoping to gather the cast together for a reunion episode.
Zendaya will play Mary Jane Watson in the Sony movie, Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Actress and singer Zendaya is best known for playing the Disney's sitcoms Shake It Up and K.C. Undercover. She is a slated to play Mary Jane Watson, in the upcoming movie Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Marvel Entertainment and Sony Pictures will reboot the Spider-Man franchise with a movie slated for release in 2017 with British actor Tom Holland playing the role of the Spider-Man.
Also in the movie Robert Downey, Jr., who will reprise his role as Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) and Marisa Tomei who will play May Parker. Tyne Daly of Cagney and Lacey fame will have a role in the movie as well.
The actress confirms that she will be one of the love interest of Peter Parker (aka Spider-Man). At least one draft has clues that Zendaya playing the role of Mary Jane Watson.
In the beginning, she was supposed to play Michelle, a classmate of Peter's. They changed that role and promoted Zendaya to play Mary Jane.
Stan Lee, the legendary creator of Spider-Man and co-founder of Marvel Comics said Zendaya will do "great" in the role.
"Homecoming" tells the story of Peter Parker as he deals with life as a crime-fighter and an ordinary high school student in Queens.
Sony once again taking a gamble. The Interview and Ghostbusters were controversial movies were epic disasters at the box office.
The Interview was a controversial movie from Seth Rogen,James Franco and Randall Park. The country of North Korea hacked into the Sony accounts and shamed the executives. The CEO of Sony America was forced to apologize to President Barack Obama after it was revealed that she had said some racially offensive comments about him. The North Korean government warned the actors to never show their faces in the country.
The Ghostbusters remake was released this year. The movie was sponsored by Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig. The movie reboot had females leading the role. It flopped at the box office. Hackers got into co-star Leslie Jones. It led to the actress being hit with racial attacks and nude pictures being leaked.
Zendaya is coping with her parents divorcing. Her mom Claire Stoermer and father Kazembe Coleman have filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.
She took to social media to confirm the news. "My parents ain't been together for a long time, y'all didn't know cause we private+still homies. #lateassnews".
Any thoughts on Spider-Man: Homecoming having a Black "Mary Jane Watson"?
The entertainment world lost a very talented artist in comedy. The legendary Gene Wilder passed away today in Connecticut at the age of 83. Born Jerome Silberman in Milwaukee,
It was reported that he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He kept his conditions secret and retired from acting in 2003.
If you haven't heard of him, you better get to know him. He is most famous for playing Willy Wonka in the movie Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. It's based off the novel Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. The movie has a strong cult following and it spawned the Willy Wonka Candy Company soon after. Nestle owns the company.
Gene was also in the cult classics The Producers,Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles. These critically acclaimed movies were produced by legendary comedian/writer Mel Brooks.
Gene teamed up with Richard Pryor to make Silver Streak, Stir Crazy and See No Evil Hear No Evil.
He was married to famed comedian Gilda Radner. Radner a fellow comedian fell in love with him the moment she saw him on the movie set. They were married briefly.
Radner had suffered from stage IV ovarian cancer. Her doctors would not be able to save her and she died in 1989.
Gene was heartbroken and dedicated his life to charity. He would marry his acting coach who trained him to read lips. Gene played the role of a hearing impaired man in the See No Evil, Hear No Evil movie.
He would later marry Karen Boyer and the two would settle in Connecticut.
Gene was a talented actor, writer, painter and community activist.
The animation community is mourning the loss a great talent. Janet Waldo, the voice behind The Jetsons' oldest daughter Judy has passed away after having being diagnosed with a benign brain tumor.
She passed away on Sunday at the age of 96.
Janet was born in Washington in 1920. She was given her an uncredited role at age 18. She participated in the 1938 movie Coconut Grove.
She also had time on the radio dial doing voice overs for commercials and television.
She appeared on I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show and Get Smart. Janet's breakout role was the Hanna-Barbera animated primetime sitcom The Jetsons.
She would do voice overs for the series from 1962 to 1963 and the revival in 1985 to 1987. Janet also lent her voice to the TV movie Rockin With Judy Jetson and the cult classic Jetsons: The Movie.
The Jetsons was an iconic television series. The characters George Jetson, Jane, Judy, Elroy, Astro the dog and Rosey The Robot Housekeeper.
Tiffany, the famed pop singer was trained to voice Judy. Janet had to finish the role of Jane Jetson.
Mind you that George O'Hanlon, Penny Singleton and Mel Blanc passed away long before the movie came out. Penny played Jane Jetson before her passing.
Aside from appearing on the future-set cartoon, she voiced the role of Josie, the lead of Josie and the Pussycats. She also played the damsel in distress Penelope Pitstop in the Wacky Races and Perils of Penelope Pitstop.
World News Today send our condolences to the family of Janet Waldo. She will be missed. Her iconic voice gave young girls inspiration.
Late word that Detroit's Gordie Howe passed away in Toledo, Ohio. The Canadian born Howe was known as Mr. Hockey and is one of the greatest legends in the NHL. He was an icon with the Detroit Red Wings.
Born in the town of Flora, Saskatchewan, Gordie was born into the game.
The Hockey Hall of Famer had had health struggles in recent years, suffering a stroke in 2014. A statement from the Howe family said he passed away peacefully Friday morning with his family by his side.
As a six-time league MVP, Howe arguably was one of the sport's greatest players, scoring 801 goals in his 26 years in two stints in the National Hockey League.
"All hockey fans grieve the loss of the incomparable Gordie Howe," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.
"A remarkable athlete whose mastery of our sport was reflected by the longevity of his career and by his nickname, 'Mr. Hockey,' Gordie's commitment to winning was matched only by his commitment to his teammates, to his friends, to the Red Wings, to the city of Detroit and -- above all -- to his family."
In 1963, Howe became the NHL's all-time leading scorer, a record Wayne Gretzky later broke. Gretzky idolized the older player, wearing No. 99 as a tribute to Howe, who wore No. 9.
Gretzky called in Friday to "The Dan Patrick Show," saying Howe would be "sorely missed."
"To me, he's the greatest hockey player who ever played," said Gretzky, who is known as "The Great One."
A prolific scorer, Howe was feared and revered, famous for his flying elbows. But perhaps, biggest of all, he was an iconic name that a casual and non-hockey fan would know.
Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch said Howe "embodied on and off the ice what it meant to be both a Red Wing and a Detroiter. He was tough, skilled, and consistently earned success at the highest level. His achievements are numerous and his accomplishments immeasurable. It is truly a blessing to have had him both in our organization and our city for so many years. He will be deeply missed."
Howe signed his first professional contract at age 18 in 1946 with the Red Wings, where he spent 25 years and won Stanley Cups in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955. In 1971, Howe announced his retirement and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame a year later. But two years after hanging up his skates, he returned to the ice for the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association. Remarkably, he played with his sons Marty and Mark.
In 1980, Howe retired for the second time at age 52 after playing for the Hartford Whalers. By the time of his retirement, Howe would own league records in assists, points and games played. To this day, he holds NHL records for most games played and seasons.
But Howe still wasn't done with hockey. Seventeen years later, the 69-year-old put on his skates one more time to play for the International Hockey League's Detroit Vipers.
"Gordie's greatness travels far beyond mere statistics; it echoes in the words of veneration spoken by countless players who joined him in the Hockey Hall of Fame and considered him their hero," Bettman said.
Howe, born March 31, 1928, was one of nine children. He met his wife, Colleen, in 1949. They were married for 55 years until her death in 2009.
Howe is survived by four children -- Marty, Mark, Cathy and Murray -- and nine grandchildren. Arrangements will be announced once they are finalized, the Howe family said.
"Gordie Howe was an incredible ambassador for the game of hockey," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "He was as fierce and competitive as they come but away from the rink he was truly engaging and personable and always enjoyed his interaction with the fans. ... We will miss Mr. Hockey, who was the greatest Red Wing of all time."
His funeral will be Friday and it's open to the public. It will be held in his hometown of Detroit at the Joe Lewis Arena. He will be buried in his birthplace of Flora.
They are naming the new U.S.-Canadian border bridge in Detroit and Windsor after him. The Gordie Howe International Crossing Bridge is currently being worked on. It will connect Interstate 75/96 with Ontario Highway 401 which is being extended to cross the Detroit River.
World News Today sends our condolences to the family of Gordie Howe. We will miss Mr. Hockey.
Down in Louisville, the nation celebrates the life and legacy of the greatest. Muhammad Ali will be buried in his hometown today and the junk food media is covering it.
Ali passed away of respiratory failure and complications from his Parkinson's Disease.
His funeral will be in traditional Sunni and many of the interfaith community will aid in a proper burial of the charismatic boxer and activist.
A man who stood his ground and never backed down.
Billy Crystal, Bryant Gumbel, Bill Clinton, Will Smith and Ali family will participate in the funeral.
President Barack Obama couldn't attend because Malia is graduating from high school. He and First Lady Michelle Obama have called the Ali family on Wednesday to have formal conversation with the family about the passing. Valerie Jarrett will be there for the president.
Thousands will be attending this event.
President Barack Obama: Muhammad Ali was the greatest, period.
His motorcade will start from southeast Louisville. His motorcade will travel the Watterson (Interstate 264) and exit off to Interstate 65 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway). It will travel through central Louisville and exit off towards Interstate 64 in downtown. It will proceed through downtown and down towards the Muhammad Ali Center. Then the motorcade will exit Ninth Street and head towards Muhammad Ali Boulevard. Then it was going to through central Louisville and towards the Cave Hill cemetery for a private session.
The event will begin at 2:00 pm and it's being livestream by many media outlets.
World News Today send our condolences to the family of Muhammad Ali. He inspired millions and changed the world forever. He will be missed among those who know him or never had an opportunity to met him.
Muhammad Ali passed away at the age of 74. The Associated Press confirms the American boxing legend died of pneumonia and complications from Parkinson's disease. President Barack Obama was notified of Ali's death tonight.
Ali who was considered the greatest boxer of all time fought through racism, his personal struggles, his conversation to Islam and Parkinson's disease.
Beloved by many for being fast on his feet, fast on his fists and fast on his wits.
Legally known as Cassius Clay, Ali converted to being a Muslim through the Nation of Islam. He rejected his birth name after an awakening. He and his family grew up being in a strict Baptist family.
Ali rejected the Christian teachings on grounds of violence and intolerance. He chose Islam as a spiritual path to happiness. He stood firm in those beliefs and it riled up people.
He won an Olympic medal for boxing. When he returns to the United States, he saw racism in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
It was said that he threw his medal in the Ohio River.
He was arrested for dodging the draft. He was opposed to the Vietnam War. He believed that he shouldn't fight for White imperialism. He was stripped of his World Boxing Association championship. It took three years for him to win the right back into the ring.
His bouts with George Foreman, Smokin Joe Frazier and the career win against Sonny Liston made him a legend. The most iconic image of Ali was the one where he took on Sonny Liston and knuckled him in a first round bout.
He was born in Jan. 17, 1942 in a segregated South. He started his career as a boxer when he got his bicycle stolen at age 12.
He won a Gold medal in Rome at age 18. He defeated Polish boxer Zbigniew Pietrzykowski in a light heavyweight final.
Regarded as the most charismatic sportsman of the modern generation, Ali kept his victories on top and his critics at the bottom. He was the first boxer to win the world heavyweight title three times.
He retired in 1981 with a record of 56-5 with 37 knockouts.
He was known as the most recognizable person on the planet. Outpouring of sympathy is coming from politicos, celebrities and athletes worldwide.
Me and S. Baldwin thank Muhammad Ali. May peace be with you and the spiritual Allah. Ali told us to stand up and fight for what's good for the world. He was never afraid to speak his mind. He never let the critics weigh him down with the negativity. He fought the battles and came out forever a champion.
World News Today send our condolences to the family of Muhammad Ali.
I will continue to post more on this story as soon I get info....
Legendary singer Billy Paul passed away on Sunday.
The Associated Press reports that Billy Paul has passed away at the age of 81 years old. The famed singer was known for the 1972 hit single "Me and Mrs. Jones."
Paul passed away from pancreatic cancer in his New Jersey home.
Paul was a part of the Philadelphia Sound. The sound that brought a genre of soul music characterized by funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements, often featuring sweeping strings and piercing horns. The subtle sound of a vibraphone can often be heard in the background of Philly soul songs. The genre laid the groundwork for disco and what are now considered quiet storm and smooth jazz by fusing the R&B rhythm sections of the 1960s with the pop vocal tradition, and featuring a slightly more pronounced jazz influence in its melodic structures and arrangements.
Known by his beard and large glasses, Paul was one of many singers who found success with the writing and producing team of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, whose Philadelphia International Records also released music by the O'Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and Lou Rawls.
"Me and Mrs. Jones" was an extramarital confession and a characteristic Gamble and Huff production, setting Paul's thick tenor against a lush and sensuous arrangement. Many fans best remember the moment when Paul's otherwise subtle vocals jump as they reach the title words, stretching out "Me" and "And" into multiple syllables and repeating "Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones." (Paul himself was married to the same woman for decades).
Paul's voice made him "one of the great artists to come out of Philly and to be celebrated worldwide," Gamble and Huff said in a statement late Sunday.
"Our proudest moment with Billy was the recording of the salacious smash 'Me and Mrs. Jones.' In our view, it is one of the greatest love songs ever recorded," they said.
The song was one of the top singles of 1972 and brought Paul a Grammy the following year for best male rhythm 'n blues performance, with runners-up including Ray Charles and Curtis Mayfield. Paul remained identified with the song for the rest of his life.
Paul continued to perform live until he fell ill and his manager said he had been lining up numerous appearances at the time of his death. Among his favorites in concert was a cover of Prince's "Purple Rain." (Prince died last Thursday).
He was born Paul Williams but later agreed to his manager's suggestion that he change his name to Billy Paul to avoid confusion with songwriter Paul Williams and other musicians with the same name. A Philadelphia native, he sang much his life, performing with such jazz stars as Charlie Parker and Dinah Washington and being featured on a handful of singles while still in his teens.
Paul was drafted into the military in his early 20s, and found himself on the same base in Germany with a couple of famous show business names, Elvis Presley and Gary Crosby, Bing Crosby's son.
"We said we're going to start a band, so we didn't have to do any hard work in the service," he told bluesandsoul.com in 2015. "We tried to get Elvis to join but he wanted to be a jeep driver. So me and Gary Crosby, we started it and called ourselves the Jazz Blues Symphony Band."
By the mid-1960s, the Beatles had inspired him to incorporate more rhythm 'n blues into his singing and he had found a new home for his recordings after meeting Gamble at a Philadelphia music shop. His early albums with Gamble and Huff, including "Ebony Woman" and "Going East," sold modestly, before "Me and Mrs. Jones" briefly made him a superstar.
He will be missed.
Paul faced numerous obstacles following his biggest hit. Radio stations resisted his more socially conscious follow-up song, "Am I Black Enough for You" and the Rev. Jesse Jackson was among those who objected to the explicit "Let's Make a Baby."
Years later, Paul sued Gamble and Huff and other industry officials over unpaid royalties and was awarded $500,000 by a Los Angeles jury in 2003.
Paul is survived by his wife, Blanche Williams, with whom he had two children. Although he endured many difficult moments with Gamble and Huff, he would look back on those years as a lost golden age.
"It was like a family full of music," he told bluesandsoul.com. "It was like music round the clock, you know. And I reminisce and I still wish those days were here."
World News Today send our condolences to the family of Billy Paul. His memorable song will forever etched in stone as one of the greatest soul hits.
It's reported by the Associated Press that Prince was cremated today. His funeral was held today with many of his close friends and relatives.
Publicist says Prince's remains have been cremated and a celebration of his life has been held.
Prince's death was shocking to the world.
The statement did not say where the service was held, but friends such as percussionist Sheila E. and bassist Larry Graham were seen Saturday entering Prince's suburban Minneapolis estate, Paisley Park. Prince's sister Tyka Nelson and brother-in-law Maurice Phillips also were seen on the grounds, as were catering trucks.
Hundreds of fans were gathered outside the estate, where a security fence was covered with purple balloons, flowers, signs and more honoring Prince, who both lived and recorded there. People emerged from the estate and handed out round purple boxes to some fans. Each box contained a handout with a color photo of the late musician and a black T-shirt with "3121" printed on it in white — the numbers were the title of a Prince album.
Prince was found unresponsive in an elevator Thursday at Paisley Park, and an autopsy was done Friday. But authorities have not released a cause of death and have said results could take days or weeks.
The publicist's brief statement repeated that the cause of Prince's death was unknown, and said autopsy results wouldn't be received for at least four weeks.
The statement said the "final storage" of Prince's remains would be private and that a musical celebration would be held at a future date.
"We ask for your blessings and prayers of comfort for his family and close friends at this time," the statement said.
Prince was last seen alive by an acquaintance who dropped him off at Paisley Park at 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson. The "Purple Rain" star, born Prince Rogers Nelson, was found by staff members who went to the compound in Chanhassen, about 20 miles outside Minneapolis, the next morning when they couldn't reach him by phone.
Emergency crews who answered the 911 call could not revive Prince, the sheriff said.
Celebrity website TMZ, citing unidentified sources, has reported that Prince was treated for an overdose of the powerful painkiller Percocet while traveling home from concerts in Atlanta last week. The site said his plane made an emergency landing April 15 in Moline, Illinois, where he was briefly hospitalized.
Representatives for Prince have not responded to requests from The Associated Press for comment on the reports of the emergency landing and overdose treatment, and Saturday's statement from his publicist did not address them.
Olson, the sheriff, and a medical examiner's office spokeswoman declined Friday to say whether prescription drugs were taken from the home after his death. Olson did say emergency workers did not administer Narcan, a drug they carry to counteract overdoses, when they responded to Paisley Park.
Prince's death came two weeks after he canceled concerts in Atlanta, saying he wasn't feeling well. He played a pair of makeup shows April 14 in that city, apologizing to the crowd shortly after coming on stage.
Early in the first show, he briefly disappeared from the stage without explanation. After about a minute he returned and apologized, saying he didn't realize how emotional the songs could be. He played the rest of the show without incident and performed three encores.
In the later show, he coughed a few times, though the show was again energetic.
Then came the reported emergency landing en route to Minnesota. The night after that, Prince hosted a dance party at Paisley Park, where some fans said he looked fine and seemed irked by reports of an illness. Prince didn't play except to tap out a few notes on a piano, and lingered only for a few minutes before disappearing.
Prince was slated to perform two shows earlier this week at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis but canceled last week because of health concerns.
Sheila E. has told the AP that Prince had physical issues from performing, citing hip and knee problems that she said came from years of jumping off risers and stage speakers in heels. But she said she hadn't talked directly with him in several months.
I am sadden by the news of Prince passing away today. The junk food media confirms the news that the legendary entertainer passed away at his home in Paisley Park, Minnesota.
I am still reeling over the news of two major celebrities dying at the same time. We just learned that former WWE wrestler Chyna (Joanie Laurer) passed away at the age of 45. The news of her death was really shocking. I was a huge fan. She was an iconic model, actress and wrestling superstar.
Now the news of Prince passing away will overshadow everything.
TMZ broke the news about 30 minutes ago. Prince known legally as Prince Rogers Nelson -- had a medical emergency on April 15th that forced his private jet to make an emergency landing in Illinois. But he appeared at a concert the next day to assure his fans he was okay. His people told TMZ he was battling the flu.
He was 57 year old. He canceled his shows after complaining about an illness.
The news is traveling across the world.
As expected, President Barack Obama, Minnesota Governor Jonathan Dayton, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) will be notified.
I know on a personal level that Prince was what I grew up on. I am an 80s baby. I am certainly amazed that I lived to hear such an iconic voice in our generation.
World News Today send our condolences to the family of this legend of rock, R&B, pop, and funk.
Heaven has a Prince. We will certainly miss him. His name will forever be etched in stone as one of the gods of music.
According to the junk food media, Prince was feeling extremely ill when he was finishing up a tour.
Prince Rogers Nelson passed away today. World News Today send our condolences to the family of this wonderful icon of pop/rock and R&B.
Prince was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actor and has been a major figure in popular music for over three decades. Prince is renowned as an innovator and is widely known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, and wide vocal range. He is widely regarded as the pioneer of Minneapolis sound. His music combines rock, R&B, soul, funk, hip hop, disco, psychedelia, jazz, and pop.
Prince was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and developed an interest in music at an early age, writing his first song at age seven. After recording songs with his cousin's band 94 East, 19-year-old Prince recorded several unsuccessful demo tapes before releasing his debut album For You in 1978, under the guidance of manager Owen Husney. His 1979 album Prince went platinum due to the success of the singles "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" and "I Wanna Be Your Lover". His next three records—Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982)—continued his success, showcasing Prince's trademark of prominently sexual lyrics and incorporation of elements of funk, dance, and rock music. In 1984, he began referring to his backup band as The Revolution and released Purple Rain, which served as the soundtrack to his film debut of the same name. A prolific songwriter, Prince in the 1980s wrote songs for and produced work by many other acts, often under pseudonyms.
After releasing the albums Around the World in a Day (1985) and Parade (1986), The Revolution disbanded and Prince released the critically acclaimed double album Sign "O" the Times (1987) as a solo artist. He released three more solo albums before debuting The New Power Generation band in 1991. He changed his stage name in 1993 to an unpronounceable symbol (), also known as the "Love Symbol". He then began releasing new albums at a faster pace to remove himself from contractual obligations to Warner Bros.; he released five records between 1994 and 1996 before signing with Arista Records in 1998. In 2000, he began referring to himself as "Prince" again. He has released 15 albums since then, including his latest, HITnRUN Phase One, which was first released exclusively on the Tidal streaming service on September 7, 2015 before being released on CD on September 15, 2015 by NPG Records.
Prince has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.
He has won seven Grammy Awards,a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the first year of his eligibility.
Rolling Stone has ranked Prince at number 27 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
Heaven's gift was a Prince. He leaves behind a son.
Will Smith, former New Orleans Saint was murdered by a cold blooded killer.
Former New Orleans Saint Will Smith was gunned down after an apparent road rage incident. It was sparked feverish talk across the junk food media about gun violence in New Orleans.
World News Today send our condolences to the family of Will Smith.
Smith was drafted by the Saints in 2004 after playing college football with Ohio State. The 6-foot 3-inch (191 cm) defender played a decade with the Saints before he was injured in 2013 and his contract was terminated in 2014.
“This is such a tragic loss of life,” National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
Ignorant murderer.
Saints fans and current and past players took to social media to mourn the death of the father of three children.
“Tragedy! Doesn’t even describe the terrible news of the Nola legend Will Smith! Praying for the Smith family! Rest in Love Will!” tweeted Saints’ offensive tackle Terron Armstead.
“In our community he was an important contributor to numerous charitable causes to benefit those in need,” Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis said in a statement.
During the Saturday night incident, his wife Racquel was shot in the legs and taken to the hospital, the police statement said. The Times-Picayune newspaper identified the woman as Smith’s wife.
The shooting came during a New Orleans food and music event, the French Quarter Festival, which Smith attended with his wife. Hours before he was killed, Smith posted a photo of himself and his wife on Instagram, saying “Having a blast at the #fqf2016.”
The shooting occurred in a neighborhood along the Mississippi River, adjacent to the French Quarter, known for art galleries, restaurants, bars and historic buildings.
Will and his wife Racquel were shot by an ignorant murderer. Will was killed on sight and Racquel was injured badly.
Police said the suspect stayed on the scene after the incident and that they recovered the weapon used.
Smith was an American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Ohio State and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft, where he played for the entirety of his career.
The suspect, 28 year old Cardell Hayes, was arrested, and the handgun was recovered. After an investigation, the New Orleans Police Department charged Hayes with second degree murder.
Smith was a four year letterman at Ohio State from 2000-2003, he helped lead the Buckeyes to the 2002 BCS National Championship, and he was named a first-team All-American the following year.
The suspect is innocent until proven guilty. He could face the GAS if found guilty of capital murder.
No disrespect to Chris Rock, I choose to not watch the 88th Academy Awards show. I am not interested in that stuff. I don't find no interest in watching entertainers show off their dresses, their new relationships, their new baby bumps or the social media buzzing about what happened.
I tend to be very reclusive when it comes to the social media and what people do. I get jealous of people bragging about their successes. Hollywood is a part of that.
Many others who struggle to get acting roles are often shunned because of their race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, political and disability. Some say it's the talent that judges you!
But given that some of the most critically acclaimed movies being shunned, I figured that I wouldn't watch this regardless. Even if a Black comic who addresses racial issues hosted it, I find no interest in awards shows. I just going to summarize it and give an honest take to what happened.
The country's most notorious racial agitator splashed this on his conservative Criagslist today.
Chris Rock's performance at the Academy Awards was good. I mean it was brutally honest. It opened up a discussion to why no person of color being nominated for an Oscar for a second time in a row.
The comedian's monologue and skits were so funny and yes really straight to the point.
The junk food media was talking about it all morning. They were picking apart every skit. They had praised Rock for being upfront about the Academy Awards being inclusive.
He took on #OscarsSoWhite.
He took jabs at fellow comedians such as Kevin Hart.
He took jabs at Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. The Smiths were boycotting the event after Jada took to the internet to protest the nomination. She and Spike Lee became the most visible faces of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.
Leonardo DiCaprio won an Academy Award for the first time.
"What happened this year? People went nuts. Spike [Lee] got mad. Jada went mad. Will [Smith] went mad. Everyone went mad!" Rock said about all the celebs wanting to protest the Oscars. "Jada said she's not coming. I was like, ‘isn't she on TV show?' Jada's gonna boycott the Oscars? Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna's panties. I wasn't invited!"
People gasped and laughed at the joke. But when Rock when back to monologue, he sympathizes with Jada and Spike Lee's grievance.
"Her man Will was not nominated for Concussion. I get it. You get mad. It's not fair that Will was this good and didn't get nominated. You're right," he said. "It's also not fair that Will was paid $20 million for Wild Wild West!"
Chris opened his monologue with a jab at the montage that played at the beginning of the show, featuring all the movies the Academy is celebrating during the show.
"I counted at least 15 black people in that montage!" he laughed. "Well, I'm here at the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the White Peoples Choice Awards."
"You realize if they nominated hosts, I wouldn't even get this job. Y'all be watching Neil Patrick Harris right now….I thought about quitting. I thought about it real hard. But I realized, they're going to have the Oscars anyway. They're not going to cancel the Oscars because I quit," Rock reasoned. "And the last thing I need is to lose another job to Kevin Hart!"
Rock was also quick to point out that a lack of diversity among nominees has always been a problem, long before this year's Oscars.
"Why this Oscars? It's the 88th Academy Awards, which means this whole 'no black nominee' has happened like 71 other times. You gotta figure it happened in the ‘50s, in the ‘60s...and black people didn't protest. You know why? Because black people had real things to protest at the time. Too busy being raped and lynched to care about who won Best Cinematographer. You know, when your grandmother is swinging from a tree, it's hard to care about Best Documentary Foreign Short."
"This year, things are going to be a little different at the Oscars," he promised. "This year in the In Memoriam package, it's just going to be black people who were shot by the cops on their way to the movies."
He also had a pretty easy solution for getting more nominations for black actors.
"If you want black people every year at the Oscars, just have black categories, like 'Best Black Friend.' And the winner for the 18th year in a row is Wanda Sykes!" Rock quipped, before finally turning serious. "What I'm trying to say is, it's not about boycotting. We want opportunity. We want the black actors to get the same opportunities as white actors. That's it! Not just once."
Chris Rock brought on Girl Scouts to sell cookies to some of the entertainers. That drew high the biggest applause of the night.
Well I heard that Leonard DeCaprio finally got his Oscar for the performance in The Reverent. From the days of being a teen actor, Leo has dreamed that day would come. He was nominated over five times and never earned an Oscar for them. Today, he is finally an award winner.
Leo's is a devoted environmentalist who believes that the time is now to get things done about climate change. And yes, he devoted his Oscar to those who struggled for this opportunity.
Vice President Joe Biden was there in attendance. He had an opportunity to introduce Grammy award winning/Oscar nominated singer/actress Lady Gaga.
Vice President Joe Biden gives message to America about sexual abuse.
Biden was pressing the audience to address sexual abuse on college campuses. This was a prime issue among the vice president and President Barack Obama.
“Despite significant progress over the last few years, too many woman and men on and off college campuses are still victims of sexual abuse,” the Veep told industry power players and the tens of millions watching on TV. “Tonight, I’m asking you to join millions of Americans including me, President Obama, the thousands of students I’ve met on college campuses and the artists here tonight to take the pledge.”
“The pledge says I will intervene in situations where consent has not or can not be given,” Biden said. “Let’s change the culture, we must and we can change the culture.”
Lady Gaga’s performance of the performance of Best Original Song nominee “Til It Happens To You” from the documentary The Hunting Ground.
Whoopi Goldberg was mistaken for Oprah Winfrey by Total Beauty.
She performed the song with victims of sexual and child abuse.
Total Beauty did the digital dash. Of course, they couldn't tell the difference between Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey.
Goldberg is an Oscar award winning actress who is the host of The View. The beauty brand company noticed that Whoopi is heavily tattooed. They expressed surprise that the person who they thought was in the photo, talk show host and actress Oprah Winfrey, had tattoos.
They said: “We had no idea @Oprah was #tatted and we love it.”
Social media went brutal on Total Beauty. The Independent reports that the hashtag “ThatsNotOprah” quickly went viral.
The mix-up prompted anger and frustration on twitter, with one user saying: “Are you fucking kidding me?!? The ONE black woman at the #Oscars and you fuck it up.”
Many people also took to social media to jokingly post pictures of white actors and deliberately name them incorrectly.
Total Beauty quickly went to social media to apologize for the error.
We’d like to apologize to Oprah and Whoopi, as well as everyone we’ve offended. It was our error, and there are no excuses. We’re sorry.
Goldberg will likely address this controversy on The View as well as her former friend who turned into a conservative agitator.
Washed up actress Stacey Dash puts her two cents into the Chris Rock performance. The actress who is also political commentator came onto stage shocking many in the audience. People didn't even recognize her. She was a part of the Rock skit for "minority outreach".
"I cannot wait to help my people out," Dash announced to a baffled audience. "Happy Black History Month!"
The reaction, both in the live audience where even Oscar nominated/Grammy award winning singer The Weeknd was like "What the fuck!"
While many panned her for even showing up, Dash basically laughed it off. "When they added ME to increase the diversity, I'm sure many Black people rolled their eyes. I'm not 'Black enough', they say. But guess what? I've heard that all my life. I would rather be a free thinking Black than a cookie cutter Black who thinks and votes---just like all my friends".
Well here's a clue for the "Clueless". Dash, you're the cookie cutter and you're baked!
Anyway when the Nielsen ratings come out, we'll find out if the viewership is high or low!
The creator and star of the hit ABC comedy black-ish went there. Anthony Anderson is the star, co-executive producer of the Kenya Burris show about a Black upscale father trying to get his suburbanite children hip to the "Black experience".
Anderson took a shot at his former friend in the entertainment industry after she made some stupid ass comments last month. And the actress clapped back at him.
Washed up actress and political agitator Stacey Dash once again stirred the pot of shit and cause another controversy.
There's a movie that's going to have a White actor play the role of Michael Jackson, sparking outrage among entertainment industry. British actor Joseph Fiennes. The movie (Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon) is facing harsh scrutiny.
Dash on the other hand, applauded the notion of a White guy playing the iconic pop star. By the way, Michael Jackson is Black and he's always identified himself as such. Although his antics were much tabloid sensation, Michael had a legacy and people respected it. Some will always judge him as a molester of children and a wack-a-doodle.
But his own children will judge him as a great father and a humanitarian to the world.
Most of Black America views Stacey Dash as "clueless".
Anderson had enough of Dash acting "clueless". So at the NAACP Image Awards, Anderson clapped at her. “Everybody give a round of applause for Stacey Dash,” the host joked on Friday. “What the hell is she doing? Doesn't she know that the Fox network is using her? She's just an Ann Coulter dipped in butterscotch.”
“Baby, don't let 'em use you,” he continued. “Come back to the black people and get back to work on some of those beautiful C-movies that you used to do!”
Anderson also made several pointed jokes about the diversity in the audience, a not-so-thinly veiled reference to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy.
“Look at all of these beautiful shades of people in the audience. Hollywood needs to know that this is what diversity is supposed to look like,” he said during his opening monologue. “I love seeing all these faces; black people working.”
“Everybody keeps saying it’s a comeback,” he added. “But hell, don't call it a comeback — we've been here for years.”
He also addressed Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, who made waves when they announced a boycott of the Oscars.
“Will and Jada are in the audience tonight,” Anderson quipped. “Hell, they better be here after all this ish they started.”
As for Dash, she shot back at Anderson on Twitter on Friday night, saying, “Well it’s funny how woman who weighs 105 wet! Can get grown a– men to act like llittle girls! Haha.”
Well it's funny how woman who weighs 105 wet!
Can get grown ass men to act like llittle girls! Haha
Actor Nate Parker directs and produces a movie based on the life of rebellion leader Nat Turner. The Birth of A Nation is coming to theaters and it's already getting praise. Given the situation surrounding the Oscars and the lack of diversity in the entertainment industry, many see this movie as a perfect timing.
The movie was not inspired by the KKK-theme movie produced by D.W. Griffith.
Parker who plays the role of slave-turned Baptist leader Nat Turner. Turner lead a revolt across Virginia killing White slave owners and led many slaves to the North. The Southampton revolt (known as the Nat Turner Rebellion) in August 1831. Led by Nat Turner, rebel slaves killed anywhere from 55 to 65 people, the highest number of fatalities caused by any slave uprising in the Southern United States. The rebellion was put down within a few days, but Turner survived in hiding for more than two months afterwards. The rebellion was effectively suppressed at Belmont Plantation on the morning of August 23, 1831.
There was widespread fear in the aftermath of the rebellion, and White militias organized in retaliation against the slaves. The state executed 56 slaves accused of being part of the rebellion. In the frenzy, many non-participant slaves were punished. At least 100 African Americans, and possibly up to 200, were murdered by militias and mobs in the area. Across the South, state legislatures passed new laws prohibiting education of slaves and free black people, restricting rights of assembly and other civil rights for free black people, and requiring white ministers to be present at all worship services.
Turner eluded capture by hiding in the woods until October 30, when he was discovered by a farmer named Benjamin Phipps, where he was hiding in a hole covered with fence rails. While awaiting his trial, Turner confessed his knowledge of the rebellion to attorney Thomas Ruffin Gray.
Nate Parker plays the role of Nat Turner, the rebellion leader of the Southampton massacre.
On November 5, 1831, he was tried for "conspiring to rebel and making insurrection", convicted and sentenced to death. Turner was hanged on November 11 in Jerusalem, Virginia. His body was flayed, beheaded and quartered. Turner received no formal burial; his headless remains were either buried unmarked or kept for scientific use. His skull is said to have passed through many hands, last being reported in the collection of a planned civil rights museum for Gary, Indiana, despite calls for its burial.
In the aftermath of the insurrection there were 45 slaves, including Turner, and five free blacks tried for insurrection and related crimes in Southampton. Of the 45 slaves tried, 15 were acquitted. Of the 30 convicted, 18 were hanged, while 12 were sold out of state. Of the five free blacks tried for participation in the insurrection, one was hanged, while the others were acquitted.
Soon after Turner's execution, Thomas Ruffin Gray took it upon himself to publish The Confessions of Nat Turner, derived partly from research done while Turner was in hiding and partly from jailhouse conversations with Turner before trial. This work is considered the primary historical document regarding Nat Turner.
The film The Birth of a Nation will be released to select theaters. The 2016 film uses the same title as "the title of D.W. Griffith's 1915 KKK propaganda film in a very purposeful way", said The Hollywood Reporter. Nate Parker said his film had the same title "ironically, but very much by design".
It's gotten praise for the graphic and historical take on Turner's rebellion. It is written, produced, and directed by Nate Parker, who also stars as Nat Turner. Parker wrote the screenplay and petitioned financiers to invest in the film. It ultimately had a $10 million production budget and was filmed in the U.S. state of Georgia in May 2015. Along with Parker, the film features Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earle Haley, Penelope Ann Miller, and Gabrielle Union.
The film premiered in competition at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2016. Fox Searchlight Pictures bought worldwide rights to the film in a $17.5 million deal, the largest deal at the film festival to date.
