GoFundMe Launched For ‘Friday’ Star Anthony Johnson Who Was Found Dead At 55, Ice Cube Reacts
Anthony “AJ” Johnson who played an unforgettable role as a crackhead named Ezal in the cult-classic movie Friday, has died, TMZ reports.
According to the outlet, Johnson was found unresponsive in a store in Los Angeles earlier this month and was pronounced dead at an LA hospital. There’s no cause of death released as of yet.
Johnson tackled several memorable comedic roles and in 1990 he secured the role of E.Z.E. in “House Party.” He went on to tour and do comedy stints and landed other major roles too including parts in “Lethal Weapon 3” and “Menace II Society.”But most of his fans remember him from his 1995 breakout role playing Ezal in the comedy “Friday.”Johnson, affectionately known as A.J. appeared in nearly 50 films and TV shows from “Martin,” “Malcolm & Eddie,” “The Players Club” and “I Got the Hook Up” and its sequel and “Moesha.”The 55-year-old was also rumored to have been tapped to reprise his role in the upcoming “Last Friday,” according to the outlet. Fans and celebs took to twitter to send condolences.Ice Cube took to Twitter to send his condolences too.
Sad to wake up to the news about AJ Johnson passing away. Naturally funny dude who was straight outta Compton at the same time. Sorry I couldn’t bring your character Ezal back to the big screen in Last Friday… https://t.co/gKbYZDZ4Br
Johnson’s wife Lexis Jones Mason created a GoFundMe page Monday morning for funeral costs and to aid his children and grandchildren.
“We want to honor him the way he deserves,” the GoFundMe says.
According to Variety Magazine, LyNea Bell, a spokesperson for BH Talent which is the agency that represented Johnson, said about the comedian,
“He has left with us amazing memories of his laughter, dynamic acting skills, but most of all his enormous personality and heart of gold. We will be in constant prayer for his entire family including his wife Lexis, three children, brother Edward ‘Peanut’ Smith, sister Sheila, and lifetime manager and friend Mike D. Please give them the time they need to process and grieve such a huge loss.”
When you watched Black Movies, Stand-Ups and Black Sitcoms in the 90s and some films in the early 2000s , Anthony Johnson was there. He understood the assignment of his supporting roles and made sure you laughed each time. You will be missed AJ #RIP 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/4mmYEu4n4R
Country Music Star Mickey Guyton Opens Up About Running Away From Her Blackness
Black country music star Mickey Guyton enjoys a successful career—but says it took time to embrace being Black.
Guyton, 37, is having the best and biggest year of her career, after spending nearly a decade struggling in Nashville. She is now the first Black female artist to be nominated in the Grammys’ country category, the first Black female artist to perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards, and the first Black woman to host the ACM Awards ceremony.
She also released her full debut album, Remember Her Name.
With songs like, “Black Like Me” Guyton admitted she left behind her culture to fit in and tried to align herself with the standard of country music.
“I ran away from my Blackness. I ran away from everything that makes me different. Because I was trying so hard to fit into this tiny box that I just did not fit. I just didn’t,” Guyton said in an interview with Yahoo.
She continued, “And in doing all the events in Nashville and me trying to prove that I’m this girl-next-door, great-time kind of a person, that was a very toxic environment…And what do you do when you cope with things? For me, it was drinking. It was me drinking wine. That was definitely something that helped cope with where I was. And for a long time, I was in a pretty dark space, in that sense.”
Guyton recalls one specific “honest conversation” with her husband, attorney Grant Savoy, that made her embrace writing about being Black and change her career path,
“I just asked him, ‘Why do you think country music isn’t working for me?’ And he said, ‘Because you’re running away from everything that makes you different.”
Now Guyton has created music that focuses on being Black. “Remember Her Name” is a song where she talks about loving her hair.
“There was one situation where I saw a video on YouTube of this little girl, this little Black girl, being sent home from school because the school said that her hair was ‘distracting.’ And for me, that was just so triggering within my own world and how I felt about my own hair…There’s so many complex [feelings] that [Black women] have, growing up self-hating because society has made us feel like we don’t belong. And that was something that I really wanted to write about: a love song to our hair, no matter what it looks like, and no matter what you choose to do with your hair, that you love it. And I think it’s really touched a lot of people so far and it speaks to a lot of women, and I’m just so glad that I stuck with my guns.”
New Jersey Officer Catches Newborn Baby Thrown from Balcony By Unhinged Man
Authorities said that a New Jersey police officer caught and rescued a baby after a man threw a newborn from the building’s second-floor balcony.
Jersey City police officer,Eduardo Matute, was just in time as he rescued the one-month-old baby.
According to a statement from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, it happened as tense negotiations between police and an unidentified man broke down.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop later shared a photo showing Matute cradling the infant wrapped in a white blanket.
As a precaution, the baby was taken to a local hospital and discharged without injury.
“Thankfully, the baby wasn’t harmed physically,” Fulop said.
According to a city spokesperson, the incident began Saturday morning when officers on-post received a report of a man “dangling a baby over a balcony” on the second floor of a Rose Avenue building.
Officer Joseph Casey first arrived and, along with Matute and other officers, set up a perimeter and attempted to negotiate with the man, authorities said.
Although officers set up a perimeter, “eventually the man did throw the one-month-old baby from the second story of the building,” according to the mayor.
“The actor was immediately arrested and charges are pending,” spokesperson Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione told NJ Advance Media Friday evening. “This investigation is ongoing.”
Authorities credited police at the scene with saving the child’s life.
“Kudos to the JCPD and all the officers involved for their heroics and for bringing a safe conclusion to this dangerous situation,” Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said in a statement.
The suspect is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child, she said.
Survey: 1 in 5 Americans Have More Than $20,000 In Credit Card Debt Because Of Pandemic
If making financial ends meet was not already a big enough pain, COVID-19 has made matters worse. The dreadful crisis is now rearing its ugly head where it stings people the most: their wallets.
Since March 2020, 44% of Americans have incurred more credit card debt during the pandemic. Just as disturbing, 1 in 5 Americans have more than $20,000 in credit card debt. And 33% expect to spend at least two years paying it off, and 3% believe that they won’t ever erase it.
Those are among the jolting findings of a survey done in July 2021 of 1,000 people, as reported by Clever Real Estate, which reveals how drastically Americans have fallen into credit card debt. Respondents, including 10% that were Black, were asked how COVID has impacted their personal finances.
Dive into a few of the dire statistics: People who carry a credit card balance from month to month are 2.2 times more likely to say they have more debt now than before COVID. Some 40% haven’t been free of credit card debt since before 2018. Some 3% of Americans with credit card debt find it difficult to get ready for life events such as emergencies and retirement.
Clever Real Estate reports that global debt has reached record highs, with the pandemic extending into another year. That is a U-turn from the pandemic’s earliest days when broad lockdowns cut consumer spending. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, credit card debt steeply declined through May 2020 but began climbing again in August as emergency financial aid programs ended.
Further, the credit card snags came although roughly 51% and 49% of Americans, respectively, used their second and third federal government stimulus checks to pay off debt. COVID-19, illness or medical emergency, supporting a family member financially in the same household or outside of it, and job loss are among the top reasons why Americans are staying in credit card debt.
And to boot, this existing credit card debt issue could pose problems for Black Americans, primarily because they typically are impacted more than other groups when meltdowns occur.
Clever’s Francesca Ortegren, the report’s lead researcher, says typically, Black families have less credit card debt overall than white families but also tend to have fewer assets to offset the debt.
She says the implication here is that Black Americans are more likely to carry credit card balances from month to month and have more difficulty paying down debt over time.
Ortegren added that carrying credit card debt can easily snowball as interest adds up and minimum payments get larger with higher balances in many cases. If someone can’t cover the minimum payment (or misses a payment, additional fees and penalties can add to the ever-increasing balance.
“Over time, this can be detrimental to Black families’ ability to build wealth and pass wealth on to future generations,” she says.
To help credit card users better manage or erase the debt, Ortegren suggests paying at least the minimum monthly payment to avoid fees and paying extra when financially possible. She recommends contacting your lender. Many of them are willing to work with their customers to ensure repayment by setting up repayment plans that minimize additional fees, for example.
Credit card users might do well to apply these tips from experts. Pay higher interest rates cards first. Never pay a card late as this could bring a higher interest rate and a late fee. It could add more debt to your account and reduce your chances of getting a lower-rate card in the future. Use online apps to track your accounts better, know the available credit you can use for purchases, and most importantly, remind you when the bill is due.
‘Advancing Diversity Week,’ A Virtual Conference For Media Professionals, Runs Sept. 20-23
For the first time ever, the “Advancing Diversity Week” conference will occur Sept. 20-23 this year.
The four-day virtual conference will include over 80 leaders from the media, advertising, and entertainment community tackling topics ranging from advancing diverse talent retention to recruiting young minorities — including Black Americans — into the industry. They will conduct provocative conversations on advocacy, activism, equity, and belonging during an inaugural series of events.
The event, called “From Inclusion to Belonging,” is being hosted by MediaVillage.com and AdvancingDiversity.org.It will consist of an HBCU Virtual Tour Bus, a GenZ Community Town Hall Assembly, panel discussions, and a job fair for professionals and students.
The seven-figure function will be sponsored by many high-profile backers, including Disney Ad Sales, the CW Network, Twitter, ViacomCBS, Warner Media, the NBA, and the USA Today Network.
Panelists will discuss the power of belonging and convey how it is integral to meaningful transformation. Another topic will be recreating workplace culture in post-pandemic world across in the media and advertising business.
“This is a pivotal moment in the history of our industry,” stated Philip McKenzie, Executive Director for AdvancingDiversity.org. “We are ushering in a new spirit of belonging. The media and advertising industry is on a transformational journey to advance diversity from advocacy to activism and we are pleased to be leading the community on this vital voyage.”
Plus, MediaVillage will announce its 2021 Advancing Diversity Hall of Honor Inductees. They are:
4A’s (American Association of Advertising Agencies), Marla Kaplowitz, President and CEO.
4A’s Foundation, Simon Fenwick, Executive Vice President of Talent and Engagement
AAF (American Advertising Foundation, Steve Pacheco, President and Chief Executive Officer
American Family Insurance, Sherina Smith, Vice President and Head of Marketing
Citi, Tina Davis, Interim Chief Marketing Officer.
Entertainment Studios, Byron Allen, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Howard University, Gracie Lawson-Borders, Dean and Professor of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications.
MOBE (Marketing Opportunities in Business & Entertainment, Yvette Moyo, Founder
The CW Network, Mark Pedowitz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
“The inductee companies were chosen for their dedication to advancing diversity from advocacy to activism,” said Jack Myers, founder of MediaVillage and AdvancingDiversity.org. “We’re especially pleased to announce partnerships with Howard University and HBCUs, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Female Quotient (FQ), American Advertising Federation (AAF), 4A’s Foundation and the ANA’s American Educational Foundation (AEF), among other diverse groups.”
To register and for more details about the conference, visit here.
Alabama Mom Accused of Boarding School Bus, Beating Up 11-Year-Old Who ‘Bullied’ Her Child
An Alabama mother is behind bars after taking matters into her own hands, boarded a school bus and beat up an 11-year-old child that she suspected was bullying her child, according to reports.
Nannatt Waldrop, 37, was arrested and now faces a slew of charges including third-degree assault, trespassing on a school bus and disorderly conduct, jail records show, according to NBC News.
Waldrop reportedly fought the minor on a Jefferson County school bus last Tuesday around 7:18 a.m in Center Point. The altercation was caught on the school bus surveillance camera.
The mother got on the yellow bus and “confronted an 11-year-old student whom Waldrop suspected of bullying her child,” authorities said.
Waldrop was placed under arrest and is being charged with Assault 3rd Degree, Trespassing on a School bus and Disorderly Conduct. Her bond totals $10,500, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Waldrop made bond and was released Tuesday morning, the same day she was booked. It’s unclear if Waldrop has obtained an attorney.
“We are aware of the video circulating on social media of a fight that occurred on one of our school buses Tuesday morning,” Jefferson County Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin said in a statement about the incident. “I want to be very clear: This type of behavior is unacceptable, and it will not be tolerated.”
The district is reviewing the incident to find out why the dispute occurred. According to the superintendent, adults who are not employed by the district are prohibited from boarding the school bus.
“While this is now a law enforcement matter, let me just say what I saw on that video deeply disturbs me,” Gonsoulin said. “At no point is any type of violence acceptable, especially violence against students. We have been and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement.”
Making Money Moves: Cardi B Debuts New ‘Whipshots’ Deal with Starco Brands
Cardi B is on to another business venture and this time its oh so sweet.
The Grammy Award-winning rapper announcedshe is launching her own alcohol-infused whipped cream called “Whipshots.”
The rapper is partnering with Starco Brand. The company described Whipshots as a “playful shot of sophistication, indulgence and luxury to any drink or party.” It is also dairy free.
In a statement Card B said, “I’m so excited to join Starco Brands with this incredible opportunity. Whipshots matches my style—over the top, sexy, unique. Together we’re completely innovating whipped cream and giving it an extra pop. Whipshots is Cardi in a can.”
Whipshots does not have an official release date as of yet, but it is expected to be on store shelves in December.
Meanwhile, Cardi B is turning out to be quite the businesswoman, as she continues to launch successful brands.
Cardi B using her signature catchphrase “Okurr” debuted her partnership with Pepsi at the 2019 Superbowl and since has partnered with the brand to help it expand.
Cardi B also unveiled one of her latest clothing and sneaker collections with Reebok.The deal has now entered its second year and just recently relaased an NYC inspired collection dubbed ” Let Me Be…In My World.”
The rapper inked a deal for her own doll. Cardi celebrated strong women everywhere as the launched her own “Real Women” doll. The deal was a partnership with the Real Women Are, a brand that creates dolls that are inspired by influential women of color to give kids diverse and inclusivetoys.
Cardialso teamed up with Facebook for her very own variety show, #CardiTries on their Facebook Messenger app. In the series Cardi attempts to try something new, like teaching , ballet, stunt car driving and firefighting.
Cardi B recently welcomed her second child with husband Offset.
‘I Rolled Into 50 Like…’: Jada Pinkett Smith Celebrates Her 50th Birthday Throwback Style
Roll. Bounce. Rock. Skate. Jada Pinkett Smith rolled her way into her birthday with a retro-themed party at a roller rink.
The Red Table Talk hostess turned the big 5-0 and she celebrated her milestone birthday with family and friends over the weekend. Her husband Will Smith along with their two sons, Jaden and Treyalso attended her celebration, PEOPLE reported.
A number of celebrities also attended the festivities, including Jordyn Woods and her NBA player boyfriend Karl Anthony-Towns and actress Lauren London.
Jada’s daughter, Willow Smith, was absent from the festivities as she was set to perform at this year’s Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas. But the20-year-old musician made sure to celebrate her mom and took to Instagram to give her mom a big birthday shoutout.
“Happy Birthday Ma,” captioned Willow underneath a photo of Jada.
The birthday girl shared a few highlights from the party on her Instagram stories. In one video Jada posed under a neon sign that read“ Jada’s Rolling Rink.” “I rolled into 50 like…” Jada captioned the clip, Yahoo News reported.
In another post, Jada shared a beautiful photo of the rolling rink at night, citing that she “got to skate under Mother Moon for the first time” in her life.
Jada’s mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, made sure to wish her daughter happy birthday. On instagram she wrote, “so proud” of Jada for all that she has accomplished.
“50 years ago today @ 12:38pm you arrived weighing a whopping 7lbs 3 3/4 oz,” Bandfield-Norris began her heartfelt message.
“I was and still am so very proud. I thank God for the village of family and friends who helped me guide you over the years,” she continued. “I take very little credit for the incredible woman you have become. I am overwhelmed w gratitude. In this next season, I wish for you an abundance of love, laughter, health, wisdom, peace and just all the things as ordered by the divine. Life is short. Live yours to the fullest every day! You are my greatest pride, my beauty!! Happy birthday @jadapinkettsmith. I love you.”
Back in July, the Daytime Emmy Award nominee kicked off her birthday festivities early by preparing for the big milestone occasion with a buzzcut inspired by her daughter Willow.
Make Sure These 5 Items Are Handled Before Starting Your New Business
Getting a new business off the ground is no small task. It may actually end up being one of the most daunting professional challenges an entrepreneur will ever face.
If you’re going to make it to that point, you really better have your ducks in a row. Laying the groundwork for business success starts well before that business ever gets off the ground. These five steps can help new business owners figure out if they’re prepared to be in the race for the long haul – or destined to fall short.
1. Create a business plan
We feel like we shouldn’t even have to say this, but building a business without a business plan is like building a house without a blueprint. It might still work…but your odds of success are much, much lower. While a well-considered business plan will certainly outline initial projections of resources, costs, and other financial considerations, it’s a new business owner’s most tangible way of setting concrete early goals, determining the yardsticks for measuring those goals, and spotting the potential weaknesses before they become real-life weaknesses.
Of course, a well-defined business plan is also the calling card document that proves your idea is legitimate for the type of investors and future stakeholders you want to buy into your vision.
2. Build business credit
Unless you’ve got a deep-pocketed benefactor backing you up, building up your business credit is a critical step in helping any operation grow. A solid business credit score can help make it easier to bring on financing, boost the value of the business, and even safeguard your personal credit from any company stumbles. For the most part, building good business credit happens the same way it happens for an individual – by making smart decisions like paying bills on time, establishing a sound history of stable transactions, and keeping a close eye on your credit report to make sure everything checks out.
3. Separate your personal and business finances
Speaking of protecting your personal credit, this is a step many entrepreneurs neglect, then live to regret it. Even if you open up shop as a one-man band, it’s important to keep personal accounts personal, business accounts for business only – and never the two should meet. Along with making it easier to keep the personal and business sides straight come tax time, it’s also a vital stage in making sure a business loss doesn’t turn into a crippling personal financial loss as well. An attorney or tax accountant can help offer guidance on the specific steps for making sure you’re protected in the event your company doesn’t make it. It’s not planning to fail. It’s just good business sense.
4. Get Insured
Here’s another item that will absolutely help protect you in the long run. Business insurance is the backstop you need to secure yourself against the million factors that can creep up and wreck your new enterprise, often through no fault of your own. Lawsuits, equipment or manufacturing needs, or out-of-the-blue acts of mother nature can all come at a moment’s notice. The protection of business insurance can offer the peace of mind and reduced personal risk that might make all the difference if something horrible actually happens.
5. Get Life Insurance
Ok, we know we already said get insurance around your business, but if your operation takes off, life insurance can help make sure it continues to grow and prosper if something should happen to you.
Even though entrepreneurs have a lot of plates in the air at once, getting protected with a policy from an outlet like Bestow can help make sure the process is fast and easy enough not to distract from the business. Get a free quote after answering just six questions, applications can be completed in about 5 minutes, and a final decision on your coverage comes immediately.
Life insurance quotes provided by Bestow Agency, LLC dba Bestow Insurance Services in CA, who is the licensed agent. Term Life Insurance Policies offered by Bestow are issued on policy form LS181 and LS182, or state version including all applicable endorsements and riders, by North American Company for Life and Health Insurance®, Administrative Office, One Sammons Plaza, Sioux Falls, SD 57193. Products or issues ages may not be available in all jurisdictions. Limitations or restrictions may apply. Not available in New York. Our application asks about your lifestyle and health to avoid requiring a medical exam.
Enjoy $29 Off These Stylish Wireless Earphones That Rival Airpods
Apple has just wrapped up yet another event and unveiled a new Apple Watch, a refreshed iPad, a new version of iPad Mini, and of course, the most-awaited iPhone 13. While these new gadgets are exciting, many are scratching their heads as to why a new set of AirPods was nowhere in sight. The famous earpods are overdue for a fresh upgrade, so Apple fans were quite disappointed when it wasn’t announced at the event.
If you are looking forward to upgrading your audio gear with the release of new AirPods, you don’t need to wait for Apple to come through. The Urbanears Luma works just as great and looks even better than big-name brands. For a limited time, you can snag your own pair for $69.95, 30% off the MSRP of $99.
An integration of style and substance, Urbanears Luma was designed for the new generation. These 100% wireless headphones are engineered to move with you, with wear-detect sensors that automatically pause music when removed and then played when worn. Bluetooth 5.0 technology is built in to deliver seamless, stable, and clear wireless connection to devices, and noise-filtering dual microphones ensure crisp calls even in noisy environments.
The Urbanears Luma is also IPX4 water-splash-resistant, meaning no weather or workout will stop you from enjoying your favorite beats. And as far as batteries go, the pair lasts up to five hours on a single charge, which you can easily extend to 25 hours with the accompanying wireless charging case.
The AirPods don’t hold a candle to the Luma when it comes to aesthetics, either. These babies boast on-trend colorways, designed to make technology a part of your personal style. They usually retail for $99, but for a limited time, you can grab them on sale for only $69.95. You can take your pick from five colors: charcoal black, dusty white, teal green, ultra violet, and true maroon.
