Trevor Jackson Defends Chloe Bailey, Says ‘Swarm’ Sex Scene Is ‘Art’
Chloe Bailey fans were definitely up for a “Surprise” in one of her newest roles.
The award-winning singer and actress has her fans bothered after unfolding a sex scene in Donald Glover‘s new series, Swarm. But actor TrevorJackson thought his Grown-ish costar was simply portraying “art.”
Jackson told TMZ his perspective on Bailey’s scene when he was spotted at LAX on Monday. He said Bailey, in her right as a grown woman, is expressing her artistic freedom and she has his full support.
Bailey, who plays Marissa Jackson in the series, recently opened up about the fear she had when she learned she would be doing the scene with costarDamson Idris, who plays her boyfriend. She told Deadline that Idris made her feel really comfortable and relaxed on set.
“We were making a joke out of it so it took all the nervousness away from that,” Bailey said. “I have to give a lot of kudos to [Damson] as a man, for making me, as a woman, feel comfortable.”
Chloe Bailey on how Damson Idris made her comfortable filming her first love scene in ‘Swarm’ #SXSWpic.twitter.com/jKhKmlTHj4
The scene between Bailey and Idris sent Twitter into complete shock, following the scene’s airing. Twitter users picked the scene apart so much it even sparked a conversation about colorism, where actress Halle Berry was dragged into the matter.
Halle Berry was an established actress and had a long professional career and body of work before she took that role. Chloe is to thirsty starting her acting career off that way, she’s trying too hard.
According to one Twitter user who decided to drop a little history on the conversation, Bailey, 24, is around the same age as other prominent actors when they were featured in love scenes earlier in their careers.
“A reminder Pam Grier was 24 in “Coffy,” Jada Pinkett-Smith was 23 and Allen Payne was 25 in “Jason’s Lyric,” Larenz Tate was 21 and Nia Long was 25 in “Love Jones,” Taral Hicks was 24 in “Belly,” and so forth. I don’t see the big deal about her #Swarm scene,” the user wrote.
The First! FAMU Alumna Dr. Tamia Potter Matches with Vanderbilt As First Black Woman Neurosurgery Resident
Future med students will know her as a history-maker in the field.
2018 FAMU graduate Dr. Tamia Potter has made history after becoming the first African American neurosurgery resident to train at the Vanderbilt University College of Medicine, Department of Neurological Surgery in its 148-year history.
The Florida native found out the exciting news last week during “National Match Day,” the third Thursday of March, where medical students all over are matched to a specialty and residency for training.
“Today on March 17th, 2023 I was blessed to be selected as the first African American female neurosurgery resident to train @VUMC_Neurosurg,” Potter wrote on her Twitter page to accompany videos and photos of her special day.
My first job was a certified nursing assistant at 17 years old in 2014.
Dr. Chelsea Mooreland extended her congratulations to Potter on Instagram.
“I could not be more proud of my amazingly talented and brilliant mentee who just so happens to be a Beta Alpha Soror and FAMU Alumnae,” Mooreland wrote in a post.
VUMC Neurosurgery posted a short message to its Twitter account welcoming the young doctor and its other newest residents to its family. “We are thrilled to announce our new Vanderbilt Neurosurgery residents! Congratulations- we are so excited to have you on our team!” the tweet read.
We are thrilled to announce our new Vanderbilt Neurosurgery residents! Congratulations- we are so excited to have you on our team! pic.twitter.com/6tVLmtHGZi
According to Rattler Nation, Potter completed her bachelors in chemistry at FAMU, where she was also an initiate of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. The young scholar then went on to receive a full scholarship to attend Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine in Ohio. During her time studying at CWRU, Potter had 17 research publications, 12 citations, and 262 reads.
Businesses Prowess: Black Women Are Powering the U.S. Economy
Black women are the answer.
Various studies have found that Black women’s contributions to the U.S. economy as consumers, entrepreneurs, and employees play a key factor in the stability and success of the U.S. economy.
Black women are trendsetting consumers:
As trendsetters, brand loyalists, and early adopters, Black women have enormous influence as consumers. Setting valuable trends across mega industries such as music, television, fashion, and beauty, their standards even influence people’s buying decisions from other communities. Predictions from NielsenIQ show that by 2024, the buying power of the U.S. Black population is set to reach $1.8 trillion. Additionally, statistics estimate that by 2025, Black shoppers will have become an ever-growing consumer group as the population of Black people is expected to reach a 21% growth increase compared to the predicted 18% decrease in the non-Hispanic white population.
Black women continue to dive deeper into self-care, and when they find products that satisfy their demands, they put up the money. Data found that 38% of Black women say they will fork out more money for haircare products sold by Black-owned brands.
Markets are taking notice of these statistics, especially in industries such as Beauty and Haircare, which, according to the data analytics company, is a top category for Black consumers bringing in estimates of $2.29 billion in annual sales, and a total of approximately $7.42 billion in combined annual sales of beauty and skin.
Black Women are the highest-growing group of entrepreneurs:
Black women pursuing entrepreneurship has been a hot topic for several years. Unshackling themselves from workplaces and policies that weren’t made for their economic growth, Black women are finding niches in different markets and developing their own products that are of value to their community.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have reported that Black businesses surged due to Black women becoming the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs. According to the latest female entrepreneurship data (2019), statistics on Black female entrepreneurship found that Black women account for 2.7 million or 21% of all women-owned businesses in the U.S., showing the highest growth in female-owned businesses with a 49.8% increase.
Employment participation rates rank over any other group:
Although spending and business ownership are significant factors in Black women powering the U.S. economy, their role in employment is a contributing component that should not be overlooked.
National Partnership for Women & Familiesreported that recent data on the women’s labor force found Black women’s participation rates remained the highest of any group since data collection started 50 years ago. January 2023 statistics showed Black women’s labor force participation was 62.6%, the highest compared to all other groups of women.
Economic progress is increasing thanks to Black women:
Bottomline, Black women may be the answer to economic recovery. Despite the long span of adversity they’ve faced in their financial position, decision-makers are coming to understand the benefit of ensuring Black women are well-represented and supported.
As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Goldman Sachs made a major contribution in 2021, centering Black women business owners around its investment strategy. The investment company committed $10 billion in direct investment capital and $100 million in philanthropic support to advance economic progress for approximately one million Black women across the U.S.
“Our newly published research, Black Womenomics, suggests that no investment could have a bigger impact than unlocking the economic potential of Black women,” said David M. Solomon, chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs, in a press release. “In the face of significant disparities, they’ve shown admirable resilience, especially as they’re starting businesses faster than anyone else in the U.S. Building on our 20-year history of investing in female entrepreneurs and underserved communities, we are now proud to partner with Black female-led organizations and an outstanding advisory council to invest in opportunities to unlock their economic and leadership potential.”
Research from the leading global financial institution found that reducing the earnings gap for Black women could generate over 1 million jobs in the U.S. and potentially increase the annual U.S. GDP by $300-450 billion in current dollars.
“Black women are at the center of this investment strategy because we know that capital has the power to affect change, and we know that Black women have the power to transform communities,” said Margaret Anadu, Global Head of Sustainability and Impact for Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
“If we can make our economy work for Black women, we all benefit,” Anadu added.
Maybe Earl Stevens should change his stage name to Entrepreneur-40 as he releases his latest product, Tycoon Vodka.
According to Complex, Stevens, known as hip-hop recording artist E-40, has introduced a new vodka line named Tycoon Vodka. The vodka, which is distilled six times, is named after one of his singles, Tycoon, which he released in 2016.
E-40 previewed the announcement last month on his Instagram account with a video showcasing the new product being packaged.
Last Thursday, March 16, the hip-hop legend announced that he had released Tycoon Vodka through a distribution deal with Southern Glazer’s.
The vodka is the newest liquor from his collection of spirits in the Earl Stevens Selections. His collection has various liquor brands, including more than 15 different still and sparkling wines; a golden lager beer, E. Cuarenta Cerveza; E. Cuarenta Tequila; Tycoon Cognac; Kuiper Belt Bourbon; Kuiper Belt Gin; as well as a range of pre-mixed cocktails.
The vodka can be purchased for $44.95 at Uptown Spirits.
Almost 10 years ago, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported the launching of Earl Stevens Selections.
“I’m trying to do it in a category of my own,” says Stevens in 2013. “I don’t know too many hip-hop artists with their own wine. I wanted to make sure I put my name on there. If they can have wines called Kendall Jackson, why can’t I have Earl Stevens Selections? I’ve been in the beverage business before. I had my own enhanced water, like Vitamin Water, except it was called 40 Water. I’m also the face of a Cognac called Landy Cognac. I get paid by the case of that, but as far as owning something…this Earl Stevens Selections is what I’m doing.”
His business has grown since then.
Just last month, E-40 donated six figures to his alma mater, Grambling State University, and the HBCU honored him by naming a campus recording studio after him.
Nick Cannon Praises ‘Remarkable’ Ex-Wife Mariah Carey: ‘She’s A Gift From God’
Five baby mamas later, Nick Cannon still has nothing but positive things to say about his ex-wife and first baby mama, Mariah Carey.
The Masked Singer host recently opened up about why he still considers Mariah to be the love of his life.
“Like the greatest? I mean, I always talk about that. Then, it goes viral and all her fans get mad at me,” he toldThe Shade Room.
“I was 12 years old with Mariah Carey pictures on my wall, and that becomes my wife,” he recalled. “And the fact that she’s the coolest person I ever met. She’s just always happy, always doing for others. No matter what’s happening in life. I’m like, ‘Wow, a person can really operate like that and don’t allow negative energy into they space.’ ”
“When I found that out about how remarkable she was, that woman is not human. She’s a gift from God,” he added.
The Wild N’ Out creator even credited his ex-wife for being a huge part of the upbeat bubbly personality that’s helped to continue his success in television.
“I get a lot of this delightful disposition from her,” he said.
Cannon and Carey share 11-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan. They parted ways in 2014 and officially filed for divorce the following year, E! Newsreported. The divorce was finalized in 2016.
Since calling it quits, the NCredible owner has welcomed 10 more children with five different women. Cannon also shares son Golden, 6, daughter Powerful Queen, 2, and son Rise Messiah, 5 months, with Brittany Bell; twin sons Zion and Zillion, 21 months, and daughter Beautiful Zeppelin, 4 months, with Abby De La Rosa; son Legendary Love, 8 months, with Bre Tiesi; daughter Onyx Ice Cole Cannon, 6 months, with LaNisha Cole; and daughter Halo Marie, 3 months, with Alyssa Scott.
Cannon’s first child with Scott, Zen, died of brain cancer in December 2021 at 5 months old.
Jordan Peele Has Two New Films Coming Fall & Christmas 2024
Jordan Peele fans have double the excitement coming their way in 2024 as Universal confirmed the release of two new films from the thriller filmmaker.
On Monday, Universal announced the release of two new Peele films, one horror film set for September 27, 2024, and another scheduled to open on Christmas day, Deadlinereported. While the horror film is a creation from Peele’s Monkey Paw imprint, the second film will just be directed by the Get Out creator.
There is no word on who will write and direct the September 2024 film, but the second film slated for a Christmas release date will be Peele’s fourth director project after his 2017 Oscar-winning hit Get Out, the 2019 horror movie Us, and 2022’s sci-fi thriller Nope.
Peele’s last film, Nope was released in July 2022 and brought in $44.3 million during its opening weekend. The film went on to gross $123.2M domestically and $171.2M worldwide.
His film coming on Christmas day 2024 will have some tough competition as the flick comes five days after Avatar 3 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. But Peele has proven successful in a day when it’s become harder to lure audiences into movie theaters.
Since inking his five-year deal with Universal in 2019, he has released two thrillers that grossed over $150 million, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter. The former Key and Peele comedy star has expressed his passion for filmmaking and getting movie lovers to continue the legacy of enjoying films in movie theaters.
“Everyone was saying that movie theaters as we know them might be gone — for me, the theatrical experience is everything,” Peele toldThe New York Times last year.
“It’s my link to myself and other people in so many ways and has taught me to love film. So I just wanted to make a movie that people would have to go to the theater to see.”
End of Gentrification In Black Neighborhoods? “First of its kind” Ordinance In Louisville May Jump Start This Movement
Developing legislation in Louisville, Kentucky, could put an end to gentrification.
The Louisville Courier Journalreports the legislation, called the Historically Black Neighborhood Ordinance, may put a stop to developers coming into Black neighborhoods and kicking residents out. The law would create an assessment to determine whether developments proposed in certain communities would lead to resident displacement.
If the answer is yes, projects would be denied, with an overall goal of counteracting racist policies leading to Black neighborhoods being stripped of resources and high rates of poverty.
One neighborhood in question is Smoketown, which is one mile from downtown Louisville. Known as a historically Black neighborhood since the Civil War, former and current residents say they barely recognize it anymore with the rise of rent and home prices.
“It’s a back-and-forth cycle where people are trying to move back, but they can’t,” Louisville Tenant Union member, Jessica Bellamy, told the Courier Journal.
“After Smoketown lost hundreds of residents due to remodeling of Shepherd’s Square, both non-profit and for-profit organizations started inflating the cost of living in Smoketown.”
Bellamy is one of many in favor of the legislation. Sponsoring the ordinance is Metro Councilman Jecorey Arthur. Arthur has been working with locals for two years on this and is hoping to file any day now.
There is no rush in what he calls “first-of-its-kind in the country, we got to get it right. The people who have lived experiences are well aware of the issue. It seems straightforward and a no-brainer that council people would support something they already admitted to before I joined Metro Council,” Arthur told WAVE 3.
The lack of affordable housing options is a growing problem in Louisville and its surrounding neighborhoods. According to the U.S. Census, since 2021, the average household income increased 120%, jumping from $17,875 to $39,760, as more people with higher salaries have moved in.
6LACK Signed A Record Deal For $5,000—Split Between 4 People
It seems that throughout the years and probably for years to come, recording artists have signed bad deals. A notable Atlanta artist revealed his bad contract story recently.
6LACK, who pronounces his name “Black,” has a certified platinum project in his catalog. His 2016 debut album, Free 6lack, was the beginning of his successful singing career as his second album, East Atlanta Love Letter, was certified gold. His third album, Since I Have a Lover, will be released next Tuesday.
The recording artist discussed how much he made on his first contract on Angela Yee‘s new midday radio show, Way Up with Angela Yee. He recalled the early stage of his burgeoning career.
From 2011 to 2016, what he called his “starving artist phase,” 6LACK said he dropped out of school and started working on his craft “and in that process, it’s not having money and not having a job.
“And not because I couldn’t technically get a job if I wanted one, but it was more so I know that is my job and I know that it could pay for whatever I needed it to pay for. I just have to put in the work necessary.”
But the money didn’t necessarily match the effort. 6LACK told Yee that he signed a recording contract that was split between four people.
“And through that, I signed like bad record deals,” he said. “Everybody does it. It was me and three of my friends. We in the room, the contract gets pushed across the table, no lawyer present. They’re like, ‘If you wanna be down, go ahead and sign that.’ And we’re looking at each other like, ‘Let’s do it.’ We split like $5,000 between like four of us.”
He mentioned that the deal was supposed to be $10,000 and it mysteriously “disappeared.”
Slight Shade: Chris Rock Makes ‘Slap’ Joke About Nancy Pelosi’s Husband Paul During Kennedy Honors: ‘Just You and Me, Paul’
Comedian Chris Rock is still on a tour promoting the infamous “slap heard around the world.”
But this time he wanted to make some other people the butt the joke. During the Mark Twain Prize ceremony, honoring his close friend, comedian Adam Sandler, Forbesreported Rock joked about how “Paul Pelosi, the only guy who knows how I felt,” Rock said. “Just you and me, Paul.”
Pelosi and his wife, former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, attended the ceremony and were met with thunderous applause after the joke concluded. Last October, Paul Pelosi was viciously attacked with a hammer in his San Francisco home. He recently had surgery to treat a fracture to his skull. Others in attendance, like actors Jennifer Aniston, Pete Davidson, and Drew Barrymore seemed to get a kick out of the joke – but of course he didn’t stop there.
In anticipation of Donald Trump’s arrest, the 58-year-old took the time to highlight how he felt it wouldn’t do anything but make him more popular. He compared it to rapper Tupac getting arrested. “He’s just gonna sell more records,” Rock joked. “Are you stupid?”
The indictment brings federal charges for $130,000 in payments his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, sent to porn star, Stormy Daniels, around the end of Trump’s 2016 campaign. The Daily Mailreported prosecutors said the payment violated campaign finance laws, and was made to silence Daniels about the affair she had with the former President.
Rock is still recuperating after actor Will Smith slapped him during the 2022 Academy Awards. Shocking the world, Smith reacted after Rock made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Shortly after, Smith received the Oscar for Best Actor in his role of Richard Williams, tennis coach and father of Venus and Serena Williams, in King Richard. Rock continues to laugh at his pain in his recent Netflix stand-up special, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage.
Ja Morant Suspension is Over – Eligible to Play Next Game on Wednesday
The suspension of Memphis Grizzlies star player, Ja Morant, is officially over and the team is “hopeful” to have him on the basketball court on March 22 for a home game against the Houston Rockets
According to ESPN, the All-Star point guard rejoined the Grizzlies on Monday after completing the eight-game suspension he received for his recent behavior at a Denver strip club several weeks ago. He was seen on his Instagram account, waving a gun while shirtless, after playing the Denver Nuggets.
“We’re hopeful for Wednesday, so long as everything medically clears out,” coach Taylor Jenkins said before Monday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Morant did not play in Monday’s game although he was eligible. The Grizzlies decided to give him an extra game so he could get his conditioning up, since he has been away for two weeks. Morant was not allowed to work out with the team during his suspension.
The All-Star point guard addressed his teammates as well as the coaching staff when he returned on Monday. Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks did mention that Morant apologized to each teammate separately.
After Monday night’s victory over the Mavericks, Dillon said, “He’s holding himself accountable. He’s made some changes in his life. … He’s taking ownership of it, which is just a great thing for his growth, for his basketball career, for everything. You’re going to see a different Ja out there who’s going to be consistent every single night and who’s going to give us that energy that we need to be that top team in the West.”
Last week, it was reported that Morant checked himself into a counseling program, with no timetable for his return to the basketball court. But, less than a week later, he is back on the team.
