Eddie Murphy Signs Three-Picture & First-Look Film Deal with Amazon Studios
We should be seeing a little more of comedy legend Eddie Murphy.
After a successful showing of one of the most anticipated movie sequels in recent years, Murphy’s Coming 2 America, the comedian has signed a three-picture and first-look film deal with streaming giant Amazon.
We’re very excited to announce that Amazon Studios has closed a three-picture and first-look film deal with the one and only Eddie Murphy! pic.twitter.com/VGPb8s8g6z
According to Deadline, Coming 2 Americawas the most-watched movie on Amazon Prime when it debuted on the opening weekend of March 5. Amazon stepped in to pick up Coming 2 America from Paramount during the pandemic in October 2020 for a reported $125 million.
With this deal, Murphy is slated to star in three films for Amazon Studios and develop original film projects for Prime Video and Studios that may star Murphy. “Eddie is a legend both in front of and behind the camera,” Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios, said in a written statement.
“With undeniable comedic and dramatic genius, he consistently delivers entertaining, original stories, and characters to audiences around the world. We could not be more excited to help carry on the tradition and to officially welcome Eddie into the Amazon family.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Coming 2 America was the most streamed title in the United States the week that it came out, according to data obtained by Nielsen. The sequel had totaled approximately 1.4 billion minutes of total viewing for the week of March 1 to 7 among viewers in the United States, per Nielsen’s SVOD content ratings estimates.
Earlier this year, another honor was bestowed upon Murphy. The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) inducted the comedy superstar into its NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.
Murphy has been a comedy superstar since his breakout run on Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s. His box office hits include 48 Hours, Beverly Hills Cop, The Nutty Professor, and Shrek.
No Charges for South Carolina Dad Whose Twins Died After He Left Them in Car
A South Carolina father, whose infant sons died from heat exposure when he forgot to drop them off at daycare and left them in his car, will not be charged.
Brycen and Brayden McDaniel, 20-month-olds twins, were found dead inside a car outside the Sunshine House Early Learning Academy location in Blythewood, SC, on Sept. 1.
During a news conference on Tuesday, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said that the boys’ fatherwill not be identified because no charges were filed.
Police say the father worked at a manufacturing plant in the area and had been under duress at his job prior to the accident.
“The father was under some intense pressure at work that really had his mind somewhere else that day,” Lott said. “In his mind, he really believed he dropped the two boys off at daycare. There was no doubt in his mind that he’d done that.”
After work, the father drove to the daycare to pick up the boys and was told they were not there. That’s when he found them lifeless in the backseat of the car, Lott added.
He tried to perform lifesaving measures on the twins, but it was too late, according to the sheriff.
“He didn’t mean to do it. God, he didn’t mean to do it. He’s got to live with that the rest of his life,” Lott said.
The heat index in the car was 120 degrees on Sept. 1, Richland County Coroner Nadia Rutherford said Tuesday, adding that “it didn’t take long” for this tragedy to occur.
The twins manner of death was ruled accidental, and their cause of death is listed as hyperthermia.
Lott recalled the father’s interview, which he said was “one of the [most] heart-wrenching interviews you ever had to see.”
“The pure emotion that came out was not something you could fake,” Lott said.
‘We’re Doing It Bigger And Better’: Daymond John Announces 2nd Annual Black Entrepreneurs Day And $250K NAACP Powershift Grant
Like most business owners and entrepreneurs, 2020 forced Daymond John to pivot. Again.
And he believes the ability to pivot is one of the most important tools in any entrepreneurs’ tool kit. When the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd led so many to discussions about how to combat injustices and racial inequality both politically and in the business world, the answer for John was empowerment. He and his team came up with Black Entrepreneurs Day as a platform to aggregate a wealth of information that will help entrepreneurs launch and grow their business; to get in a position to make their own decisions and not be at the mercy of others.
“As soon as we came up with it, it was like a no-brainer,” the Shark Tank co-host tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“Everybody was like, ‘Thank you, why didn’t we think of that.’ And all these great sponsors and celebrities came in wanting to support and we just kept moving forward. So many sponsors came in and not just with a check, but saying ‘I wanna be side by side with you on the marquee; I want people to know that we stand for this. This is a worthy cause and this is long overdue.'”
Among those partners was JP Morgan Chase, which returns as the presenting partner for the Black Entrepreneurs Day 2021, set to take place on October 14th at 7pm at the Apollo Theater.
“When small businesses succeed, our communities are stronger,” says Brian Lamb, global head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at JPMorgan Chase. “
He continued, “As a firm, we’re committed to supporting Black entrepreneurs by helping them get access to the critical resources they need to start, grow and scale their businesses. We’re proud to be a part of Black Entrepreneurs Day and celebrate Black business owners who have faced extraordinary challenges yet continue to inspire us all.”
While this year’s event will take place in front of a live studio audience, it will also be streamed globally via Daymond John’s Facebook page, allowing the program to once again reach millions of viewers across the globe.
While he knew he was bringing something of great value to the market, John says he never anticipated to win awards for the programming he and his team presented to over 7 million viewers last year.
“I didn’t even know what the Webbys were until people started telling me I was nominated and should encourage people to vote,” he reveals.
Black Entrepreneurs Day took home two 2021 Webby Awards for Best Virtual & Remote, Business & Finance.
In addition to JP Morgan Chase, The General has also recommitted as a Black Entrepreneurs Day sponsor, helping to power the event’s “Game Changer Conversations,” which will find Tyra Banks, Marcus Samuelsson, Kevin Hart, Rev Run, Michael Strahan and Janice Bryant Howroydsharing pivotal moments in their career.
Black Entrepreneurs Day (screenshot)
The event will also find Kevin Hart leading a special edition of his Hart Felt Conversations, and a performance by rising R&B star Khalid. Other corporate partners include Facebook, Salesforce. Shopify, T-Mobile, and Johnson & Johnson, which brings the important conversation on health equity to the forefront.
“Being a business person is about learning something new every day,” says John. “A lot of Black people are not coming from generational wealth, where their grandparents or great-grandparents had businesses and were taught those things; or even access to great education in our communities. Even today, one of the biggest issues in the digital divide is lack of broadband. I think it’s important to see other people who have overcome the same obstacles and are still optimistic; to see them getting grants and sharing information. To see there are people who look like you who are successful.”
In addition to fostering dialogue about a variety of entrepreneurial topics, Black Entrepreneur Day will also welcome the next class of NAACP Powershift Grant recipients.
From now through September 28th, entrepreneurs and small business owners can apply for a chance to win one of ten $25,000 grants funded by event partners JPMorgan Chase, The General, T-Mobile, Salesforce, Johnson & Johnson, Shopify, Quickbooks, Klaviyo, and Logitech.
“Applicants will stand out because they feel that there’s a lot of value that they’re adding to somebody,” John shares. “I always tell people: business is not charity. Nobody has to support your business. Your business exists because you created something at the right price that adds value to somebody else. That’s what we want to see from the recipients: number one, they add value, they know they’re serving people. They also know where they’re short, where they may need a bridge or they may need help. They have to be very in tune with their customer and the needs of the business.”
Ultimately, Daymond John hopes the key takeaway from this year’s Black Entrepreneurs Day will be the same thing he hopes many learned in 2020: the value in being able to pivot.
“There’s only two things that you’re ever gonna be in control of,” he explains. “The lens you look at something through, and the actions you take. And the lens you look through becomes broader and broader as you educate yourself further. We can’t predict what’s gonna happen tomorrow. But if we’re more educated about what’s going on and we know how to take affordable steps and remember that there are other opportunities and resources out there, that will help us pivot when hard times come.”
Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump and Lawrence Blackmon File Federal Lawsuit Against the United States Marshal Service Over Abuse of Black Teen
On Wednesday, Attorney Lawrence Blackmon and National Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump announced that they will be filing a federal lawsuit against the United States Marshal Service and other law enforcement agencies.
The decision came as a result of a video that circulated from a ring camera which shows Kevin Harris, a 17-year-old minor who was struck in the face by a member of a U.S. Marshal Task Force while detained. Blackmon is passionate about this case and seeking justice for the victim based on the continuous abuse perpetrated by officers against Black persons in their custody.
“When the abuse is not caught on camera it becomes much harder to prove, because they will lie endlessly and spend unimaginable amounts of money to shift the blame to the victim and to protect themselves and their fellow officers,” said Attorney Blackmon. “That’s why whenever civil rights violations by officers are caught on camera, it is a must that we circulate that footage to make it known to the public that there are more than just a “few bad apples” in the bunch, and we must vigorously pursue all avenues of criminal and civil recourse, to make it known to officers that they can no longer assume that they are going to get away with this type of flagrant abuse.”
He believes several of the victim’s legal rights have been violated during his arrest including his right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, pursuant to the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, his right to equal protection of the laws of the United States of America, pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment, his right to procedural and substantive due process, pursuant to the fifth and fourteenth amendments of the U.S. constitution and the basic human rights to be free from assault and excessive use of police force.
“There’s a long-standing culture of racism within Local and Federal law enforcement agencies and the absence of fear of repercussions by officers within those agencies,” said Attorney Blackmon. “Many of them believe that they are above the law and untouchable. They will put their hands on you because they don’t like what you said to them or how you looked at them. If civilians behaved the same way they would be charged with assault. I want my clients to receive adequate financial compensation and we want the offending officers criminally charged in both state and federal court.”
The View Host Sunny Hostin Rebuked Biden Administration’s Mishandling of Haitian Migrants
Sunny Hostincondemned the U.S and its failure to properly handle the Haitian migrant crisis.
During an episode of The View, Hostin took the time to address the disturbing images of Haitian asylum seekers being assaulted at the Texas border by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers on horseback.
Haitian migrants are looking for safety amid unrest in the country following a Presidential assassination and a massive earthquake.
Hostin commented on Biden’s response to Haiti saying,” “Well I think the reason that we’re not seeing more help- if I’m gonna be frank about it- is because they’re Haitian.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a47QAazZ-Y&t=13s
“I think that is the history,” she continued, referencing the legacy of crisis era relations between the United States and Haiti.
“We saw it when it first came to the demonizing of Haitians when it came to the AIDs crisis and then we saw it continuing.”
Hostin described the violence as part of the continuation of “the punishment of Haiti for becoming the first Black free nation in our hemisphere.”
“I think that U.S. policy towards Haiti has always been corrupt and it doesn’t have to be that way because we know that the United States can do it, there is a way to do it, there’s just no will to do it.”
“The United states and the White House has promised to bring ninety-five thousand Afghans here – and I’m not saying they shouldn’t be brought here – they should be that is the promise of this country but if you can send ninety-five thousand Afghans here why are you sending eight-six Haitians back on an airplane to a county that has been devastated?”
Hostin went on to explain how she is personally connected to the story.
“I take this personally because my husband is Haitian and I have been to Haiti many many times,” she said.
“It is a beautiful country with a rich culture and beautiful people and they should not be treated like this.”
A Rising Number of Travelers Are Using Crypto To Pay For Trips, Yet Those Transactions Can Be Risky
Cryptocurrency is gaining traction as a way to pay for many types of transactions, including travel.
In fact, companies are now looking to attract crypto holders globally, and booking travel with the digital currency is growing, Travelnoire.com reports.
Despite the surge, people should be aware of the risks that come with such activity. For the most part, there are no consumer protections when you pay for travel with a cryptocurrency, observers say.
Some 22% of Americans are booking travel with cryptocurrency or eyeing it to pay for part of their next trip, a Travala.com survey showed. The online travel firm says 75% of the roughly $3.4 million of its bookings made in August used crypto. The included accommodations, flights, activities, and integration fees.
In general, Crypto can be used to buy goods and services globally. Such notable currencies include Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Ether. Famous investors reportedly include Tesla CEO Elon Musk and rapper Snoop Dogg,
Cryptocurrency transactions “will really matter for travel” and his firm is looking at accepting other coins going forward, Johannes Reck, CEO and co-founder of GetYourGuide, told CNBC recently.
“People want to put their crypto back into the system [and] travel is one of the biggest categories there is,” he stated. “We take dogecoin now into the real world; you can apply it and actually get a real-world, kinetic experience.”
CheapAir.com is among a few travel companies that accept bookings to be paid in crypto, Travelnoire.com reported. It revealed Travala.com allow you to now book over 3 million travel products worldwide. Travel giant Expedia has engaged into Bitcoin through a partnership with Travala.com, which allows booking 700,000 hotels from the website’s listings with over 30 different cryptos, including Bitcoin.
The avoidance of exchange fees is among the top perks for travelers using crypto, experts say. They say another benefit is you have price stability in countries where currencies are unstable.
On the beware side, use of crypto can be volatile and unpredictable depending on market conditions.
And different from credit cards where you can debate charges under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you have no such rights when paying with crypto, USA Today reported. It reported the Federal Trade Commission got so many consumer complaints that it issued a warning a few years ago about paying with Bitcoin.
Melvin Van Peebles, Godfather of Black Cinema Dies at 89
Melvin Van Peebles, the groundbreaking and innovativefilmmaker, writer, and musician known as the Godfather of Black Cinema, has died at 89.
Van Peebles’ family issued a statement announcing he passed Tuesday evening at his home in Manhattan.
His son, Mario Van Peebles said, “Dad knew that Black images matter. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what was a movie worth?” Mario Van Peebles said in a statement Wednesday. “We want to be the success we see, thus we need to see ourselves being free. True liberation did not mean imitating the colonizer’s mentality. It meant appreciating the power, beauty, and interconnectivity of all people.”
Van Peebles is perhaps best known for his influential 1971 film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, a feature film in which he wrote, produced, scored, directed and starred in.Van Peebles released the film independently as no studio would finance the film, so he funded it himself. The movie told the story a wrongfully accused ladies man on the run from racist cops.
“All the films about Black people up to now have been told through the eyes of the Anglo-Saxon majority in their rhythms and speech and pace,” Van Peebles told Newsweek in 1971, the year of the film’s release.
“I could have called it ‘The Ballad of the Indomitable Sweetback.’ But I wanted the core audience, the target audience, to know it’s for them,” he told The Associated Press in 2003. “So I said ‘Ba-ad Asssss,’ like you really say it.”
Made for around $500,000 (including $50,000 provided by Bill Cosby), it grossed $14 million at the box office despite an X-rating, limited distribution and mixed critical reviews. The New York Times, for example, accused Van Peebles of merchandizing injustice and called the film “an outrage.” Hollywood, would later go on to try to duplicate and capitalize off of the genre.
Following the announcement of his passing the Criterion Collection issued a statement:
“In an unparalleled career distinguished by relentless innovation, boundless curiosity and spiritual empathy, Melvin Van Peebles made an indelible mark on the international cultural landscape through his films, novels, plays and music,” the statement from the Criterion Collection read.
We are saddened to announce the passing of a giant of American cinema, Melvin Van Peebles, who died last night, at home with family, at the age of 89. In an unparalleled career, Van Peebles made an indelible mark on the international cultural landscape. He will be deeply missed. pic.twitter.com/HpciXXVoYo
Van Peebles’ body of work, includes movies like The Story of a Three-Day Pass, Watermelon Man, and Don’t Play Us Cheap,. His work would influence directors like Spike Lee, John Singleton, and Quentin Tarantino.
His landmark film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, will be screened at the New York Film Festival this week in his honor of The Godfather of Black Cinema.
EXCLUSIVE: Entrepreneur and Social Media Influencer Jayda Cheaves Officially Launches Waydamin Merch Line
Popular model, entrepreneur, and social media influencer Jayda Cheaves is officially expanding her service line to include her very own Waydamin merch line.
The launch comes after years of Cheaves strengthening her net worth and following through with her relatability and brand appeal. With nearly 6 million Instagram followers and an ambassador position with Pretty Little Thing, now is the perfect time for Cheaves to scale her product line with her own fashion pieces.
In celebration of her 24th birthday, the young mogul is releasing her first official apparel company as a gift to her fans. Last month, she dropped a teaser video promoting the merch line’s upcoming release.
A highlight post from the Waydamin Instagram page highlights some of the inaugural collection. Pieces include bodysuits, shapewear, sweatsuits, two-piece sets, and swimwear.
Fans often see influencers getting paid to promote other companies. Jayda has secured brand ambassador deals with some of the top fashion labels on social media.
But after years of helping others secure their bottom line, Jayda is ready to expand her own empire. Much like what has been done by the Kardashian-Jenner family, there are many Black influencers with just as much star power and reach. Now Jayda is breaking away from the typical paid postings on social media and will now be sporting some of her own designs.
“The boss @jaydacheaves in our nude version sweatsuit who’s ready? Drop a “🖤” if you are,” Waydamin captioned one post of Jayda sporting one for their signature sweatsuits.
Swarms of her fans flooded the comments with black heart emojis sharing their excitement for the new ensemble pieces.
“Can’t waitt to get thissss,” said one supporter. “I’ll buy this now,” added another.
Jayda has her sights set on moguldom and she’s well on her way one business launch at a time. Her fans no longer have to “Waydamin” to get their hands on her official apparel line.
Meet The Two Black Women Behind The Virtual Nutrition Coaching Platform Culina Health
We all want to live healthier lives. But implementing the necessary lifestyle changes is where the challenge lies.
Introducing Culina Health the virtual nutrition coaching platform that offers personalized dietician services that meet the unique needs of its users. Founded by Black Registered Dietitians, Tamar Samuels and Vanessa Rissetto, the two accredited health professionals are debunking diet fads with realistic approaches to nutrition that redefine what healthy eating really means for each person.
“At Culina Health, we know that getting healthy is a multifaceted and oftentimes difficult journey,” Samuels and Rissetto told BLACK ENTERPRISE.
“That’s why our coaching program combines evidenced-based nutrition with health coaching techniques to help you understand and overcome the physical, mental, environmental, and behavioral challenges getting in the way of reaching your goals instead of just focusing on following a diet.”
At a time when more people are moving towards remote living, Culina Health helps users through their virtual coaching services.
“We help our clients achieve realistic and sustainable results by collaborating with our clients to create a personalized plan that works for each person’s unique lifestyle,” the founders said.
“We give our clients trustworthy nutrition education and resources, unwavering support, and real-life tools for success. We’re here for you every step of the way with personalized nutrition and supplement recommendations, practical meal planning guidance, and strategies to heal your relationship with food and adopt healthy habits.”
Unsafe dieting trends can find those looking for nutrition information online. With all the unverified and unhealthy resources in the market, Samuels and Rissetto shared their take on diets to avoid.
“Honestly, I recommend avoiding most diet trends as they rarely get sustainable results and tend to promote disordered eating, and can sometimes have a harmful effect on metabolic health,” they said.
As it turns out, juicing isn’t the best option when it comes to dieting and losing weight.
“Some of the worst out there are the juice cleanses,” the Culina Health founders said. “Despite popular opinion, juice cleanses can do more harm than good when it comes to managing your blood sugar.”
“Since juicing takes away the fiber found in fruit and vegetables, we’re missing out the power of produce to be able to stabilize our blood sugar, which is important for regulating our appetite, supporting our gut health, and regulating our hormones.”
Among the current dieting fads include the keto diet, a potential weight-loss strategy due to the low-carb diet craze, as noted by a Harvard School of Health review. It’s one current dieting trend that Samuels and Rissetto say can be effective, but not long-term.
“Keto is effective at promoting weight loss while preserving muscle mass and may improve insulin sensitivity,” they said. “The high amount of fat in the diet can help dieters feel full for longer, making keto easier to stick to in the short term. However, as with any overly restrictive diet, keto is likely not sustainable long term due to the exclusion of so many foods.”
“Sticking to a moderate calorie-restricted diet that includes a variety of healthy foods from all 3 macronutrient groups while getting plenty of exercise is just as effective and more sustainable in the long term.”
Keyword, “plenty of exercise.” If you’re feeling overwhelmed or interested in implementing a healthier way of life, book a virtual nutrition coaching session with one of the experts at Culina Health.
Tap Into New Skills With Screen-Free E-Learning Courses
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This master class of sorts offers expertise in habits, job success, self-care, productivity, leadership, and many other areas to help enhance your personal and professional lives. It’s been featured on TechCrunch, The Tim Ferriss Show, Robinhood Snacks, and Fortune, and it’s been recognized on the App Store as “New Apps We Love.” Currently, 32 verified purchasers have given this product a sterling five stars.
All that’s needed to unlock this knowledge powerhouse is a mobile device with iOS 13 or later. Knowledge is power, and for a limited time, you can boost your mental muscles with this deal. Purchase it today while it’s available at its discounted price $59.99.
