• Women

by Stacy Jackson

October 19, 2022

Slutty Vegan Founder Has Filed Trademark Applications to Run Her Business in the Metaverse

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Companies are exploring new methods of business and diving into the metaverse, a virtual reality that is rapidly becoming the norm across various industries.

Slutty Vegan’s founder Aisha “Pinky” Cole has filed trademark applications to run her business in the metaverse, a virtual reality that combines aspects of the digital and physical worlds.

The Black woman-owned company is a vegan restaurant that launched in 2018 in Atlanta to provide vegan options and food awareness to the community.

According to Atlanta Business Journal, Cole submitted trademark documents to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in preparation to join the virtual world.

The trademarks reportedly cover areas including online retail services, virtual food and beverage products, and online ordering services providing take-out and delivery options. Additional coverage comprises mobile applications, customer loyalty programs, and virtual rewards that will reportedly be available virtually and in real life.

Trademarks covering digital media include digital collectibles, digital tokens, non-fungible tokens [NFTs], and digital art.

Sources report that the company received venture capital back in May for $25 million from New Voices and Enlightened Hospitality Investments. Cole has partnered with companies like Steve Madden to produce a vegan sneaker line, The Lip Bar to launch vegan lipstick, and a variety of other mega brands.

With five locations in Atlanta, Birmingham, Alabama, and New York City, the restaurant owner is no stranger to expanding her business. Although ‘digital eatin’ is not yet possible, Slutty Vegan will join other mega establishments in the metaverse to venture through new channels of engagement.

NFT News Today reported that franchises like McDonald’s and Panera Bread already filed trademark applications to open virtual restaurants in the metaverse earlier this year.

“Food in the Metaverse is taking various forms as food companies explore how to integrate the virtual world into the consumer food experience,” the outlet wrote.

• Education

by Eric Moody

October 19, 2022

28-Year-Old British Rapper Launches New Initiative To Offer Aid for Black Students To Attend Oxford University

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British rapper, AJ Tracey, launched a path to provide Black students a financial opportunity to attend Oxford University.

Tracey, 28, announced an initiative called The AJ Tracey Fund that’s geared towards offering financial support in the amount of £40,000 (roughly $45,062 in U.S. currency) per year for the first three years.

Potential candidates will also have the opportunity to be mentored.

The development of the new fund is in partnership with St. Peter’s College, which is known for being one of the few Oxford colleges to have accepted Black undergraduates since 1929.

https://twitter.com/ajtracey/status/1581594850549329920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

“I think, in general, for anyone who doesn’t understand why Black people who have managed to become successful want to help Black kids, it should be self-explanatory,” he said in an interview with The Guardian.

“We’re just trying to level the playing field by helping Black kids.”

Tracey goes on to say he didn’t see himself as someone who’d attend a university such as Oxford or Cambridge, despite growing up with good grades and wanting to become a lawyer.

He stated during his interview that those goals seemed out of reach, given the circumstances he grew up in surrounding his neighborhood in Western London.

“I truly believe that I had the potential to go [to Oxford or Cambridge],” he mentioned in his interview.

“But it was just understood that if you’re from an impoverished upbringing or ethnic background it’s very hard to get in. Even if you’re intelligent, even if you know you can get those grades, it just feels out of reach. Unfortunately, the society that we live in, you know, it doesn’t favor people from a background like me. It’s not a sob story, it just is what it is.”

That experience motivated Tracey to provide an opportunity that he once felt was impossible to achieve.

by Stacy Jackson

October 19, 2022

Tyler Perry Fired His Accountants After Finding Out the IRS Owed Him $9 Million in Return

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Filmmaker Tyler Perry shared a past experience where he had to face the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), except he revealed to be on the receiving end after an audit revealed the IRS owed him $9 million in return.

The philanthropist shared the information with attendees at the 2022 Earn Your Leisure Conference where he talked about his successful career journey along with some of the challenges and learning experiences he faced along the way.

“Money isn’t something that I had and nobody taught me that taxes had to be paid,” he shared. “I didn’t go to college, but I paid for Harvard many times over in the mistakes that I made.”

 

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The situation with the ‘Madea’ actor where he was allegedly being audited by someone from the IRS was one of the stories he told to the sold-out audience. The outlet revealed that this particular agent from the IRS was supposedly obsessed with what Perry was doing with his money.

“So this audit went on for three years,” Perry said. “I’m spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in accounting with accountants for the audit and I am getting so mad, and so frustrated.”

“We get to the end of the audit and they, the IRS, owed me $9 million,” he shared.

Perry shared that although his team of accountants were elated about the return, the actor made an executive decision to fire the team responsible for his accounting, wondering how they missed him paying $9 million.

“Everybody gone! I had to stop going to H&R block for my taxes at some point,” he joked with the conference’s audience, according to Finurah.

“I learned in progress and it’s okay,” Perry said.

“Listen to me: In business, it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay to learn. You have to learn, but don’t let it keep happening over and over again. That’s one thing about me. I’ll let you make a million mistakes, but you can’t do the same thing over and over again.”

“That’s how I run my business. Here’s the mistake. Let’s fix it; let’s move forward,” he said.

Reportedly, Perry got the agent from the IRS removed from the case and replaced with one of his superiors.

• Entrepreneurship

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 19, 2022

Black-Owned, Victor George Spirits Signs Multi State Deal With the Nation’s Second Largest Distributor

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Victor George Spirits (VGS) announced they have entered into an agreement for its portfolio of brands to be distributed by Republic National Distributing Company, the nation’s second-largest distributor. Initial states include California, Georgia, Arizona and Kentucky.

VGS is one of the fastest-growing Black-owned spirits companies in the United States. Its award-winning Victor George “VG” Vodka is currently distributed in 45 states and its Fort Mose’ 1738 Bourbon has been picked up in seven states in less than four months since its initial launch.

Having only had distribution in Florida for the first part of 2020 and then the call to action to support Black-owned brands, Victor George Vodka quickly became requested and rapidly expanded across the country.

“We took this as an opportunity to research those really committed to this type of support and wanted to work with those companies,” said Victor G. Harvey, CEO of Victor George Spirits.

“RNDC is one of those companies who is not only committed but has a clear vision for creating successful partnerships with Black owned brands, we are grateful for this opportunity.” 

In June of this year VGS released its first bourbon whiskey, Fort Mose’ 1738 named after the first settlement in the United States allowing Black people to live freely. Fort Mose’ was offered exclusively online for the first week and has made sales every day since its release. This online demand quickly caught the attention of distributors and retailers across the United States.

This month VGS released its first flavored vodka, Victor George Caramel Vodka. This flavorful brand extension makes the perfect choice for those looking to add unique cocktails to their menus.

Harvey added, “Our goal is to be the largest Black owned Spirits Company in the United States by 2025.”

“We have our work cut out for us but we are up for the challenge and with great distribution and retail partners we know we will achieve our goal.”

In November of 2021 Harvey was awarded $2.45 million dollars by the Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency to build Fort Lauderdale’s first Black owned distillery. Project plans have been expanded to an 18,000 square foot building housing a distillery, restaurant, cigar lounge and rooftop patio and lounge. Groundbreaking will be by the end of this year.

Victor George Vodka is carried by most major retailers across the U.S. such as Total Wine, Kroger, Trader Joe’s and others. Retail price is $19.99 for 750ml and $28.99 for 1.75L. Fort Mose’ retails for $44.99.

For more information about Victor George Vodka, please visit www.victorgeorgevodka.com or follow the brand on Instagram @vgvodka. 

For more information about Fort Mose’ 1738 Bourbon, please visit www.fortmosewhiskey.com or follow the brand on Instagram @fortmosewhiskey.

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 19, 2022

N.O.R.E. Publicly Apologizes to George Floyd’s Family for Ye’s Comments On Drink Champs

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Drink Champs podcast host, N.O.R.E., publicly apologized to the family of George Floyd for comments hip-hop artist Ye made about Floyd’s death.

N.O.R.E., of the hip-hop group Capone-N-Noreaga (C-N-N), appeared on The Breakfast Club earlier this week to speak about the controversial episode that was posted over the weekend before being taken down.

“I apologize to the George Floyd family,” N.O.R.E. said during the interview. “I apologize to anybody that was hurt by Kanye West’s comments.”

The Superthug rapper also took responsibility for not checking Ye when he was discussing the Floyd documentary produced by Candace Owens. Ye alleges that Floyd did not die at the hands of police officer Derek Chauvin, but due to having fentanyl in his system, despite a viral video showing Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes.

“I just wanna be honest, I support freedom of speech. I support anybody, you know, not being censored. But I do not support anybody being hurt. I did not realize that the George Floyd statements on my show was so hurtful. And you gotta realize, it was the first five minutes of the show. When he walked in, he told my producer, he said that if he’ll stop filming, he’ll walk out.”

Owens pushed back on social media earlier this week when social media users said that she should be sued for what was stated in her documentary that Ye was referencing on the Drink Champs episode. The recently released documentary is titled, The Greatest Lie Ever Sold.

George Floyd’s family didn’t even stop by his house to collect his belongings. They left his car and personal items abandoned in his house.
Now they’re mad my documentary TELLS THE TRUTH about the fatal levels of fentanyl discovered in Floyd’s autopsy. https://t.co/6M1M0FMhG7

— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) October 17, 2022

• Lifestyle

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 19, 2022

Beyond the Binary: Why Pronouns Matter. Black Public Media’s Be Heard! Campaign To Release Three Short Films on Gender Affirmation

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Black Public Media (BPM) is going beyond the gender binary and weighing in on the pronoun debate with a short film series — part of its latest BE HEARD! social media campaign, which tackles pressing social issues.

The Harlem-based national media arts nonprofit dedicated to creating and producing media content about the Black experience has commissioned Feral Films and Sophia Clark (they/them) to direct I Am Who I Say I Am, a three-part series of micro-documentaries with feel-good stories of gender affirmation. Films will be released biweekly on Thursdays beginning Oct. 6 during LGBT History Month as a lead-up to Transgender Awareness Week (Nov. 13-19).

Black Public Media has partnered with social media influencers and celebrities Big Freedia, Eva Reign and the Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis to support the series.

The micro-documentaries include: How to Learn Someone’s Pronouns, releasing Oct. 6, which introduces Janelle “Jei” Lawrence (they/them), a multidisciplinary artist and educator who discusses the use of gender-affirming pronouns in a work setting; Discussing Gender Identity with Family, releasing Oct. 20, which sees Sharon Kidd-Fryer (she/her) and Brit Fryer (he/him), a mother and son, explore familial acceptance; and Why Your Patient’s Pronouns are Important, releasing Nov. 3, which brings viewers into the world of Dr. Maya Thompson (she/they), a pediatric dentist discussing gender as a part of holistic care. These films are available on Black Public Media’s YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages, with additional resources on gender affirmation available online.

“With Black transgender and nonbinary people facing marginalization at alarming rates, it is crucial that we view these issues through a Black lens,” said BPM Executive Director Leslie Fields-Cruz (she/her), who is also the parent of a nonbinary child.

“With I Am Who I Say I Am we aim to help kickstart conversations that can lead to all members of our community being afforded their full humanity, beginning with gender affirmation.”

The effort comes as many Americans are having difficulty navigating the use of pronouns and as transgender people continue to face discrimination, demagoguery and violence, with Black transgender people bearing the brunt of it. Findings by the Pew Research Center show that 73% of Americans know someone who uses gender neutral pronouns, yet only 47% of Americans feel comfortable using them. At 26%, Black transgender unemployment is twice that of other transgender people and four times that of the general population. Bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country to curtail transgender rights.

“I Am Who I Say I Am aims to begin the process of changing hearts by first changing our habits, based on the fundamental belief that most people want to embrace and understand others, their differences and their potential to contribute to the greater good,” said Clark, the film series’ director.

“By showing the nuance in everyday experiences, these films are for anyone striving to open their mind beyond the binary.”

I Am Who I Say I Am is an extension of BPM’s work on LGBTQIA+ issues, including the inclusion of Luchina Fisher’s documentary on transgender pioneer Gloria Allen, Mama Gloria, in Season 13 (2021) of its AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange series, and its work to support LGBT filmmakers. Executive produced by BPM’s Director of Programs Denise A. Greene, the campaign was assisted by an advisory panel, which included Dr. Aymar Jean Christian of Open Television; filmmaker Carrie Hawks and writer, PBS digital series host and actor Kirya Traber.

BPM first launched BeHEARD! in 2020 ahead of the presidential election. Featuring actors Erika Alexander, Gabourey Sidibe, musician Big Freedia, writer Roxane Gay, comedian Brian Babylon, political commentators Jehmu Greene and Shermichael Singleton and legislator Nina Turner, the campaign stressed the importance of the Black vote.

Be HEARD! is made possible by the generous support of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

• Entertainment

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 19, 2022

New App for Creatives Gets 2 Thumbs Up From A-Listers

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tap., announced the official BETA release of its new app for iOS and Android mobile devices.

The BETA release of the mobile app showcases the company’s forward-thinking in developing the most innovative tools for entertainment professionals to network.

With a centralized database of more than 10,0000 representing Oscar-winning industry executives, film distributors, top billed actors and actresses, publishers and more, the BETA app is something new from an industry known for its exclusivity and challenges with connecting to real people. As the entertainment industry continues to grow with the inclusion of influencer marketing, tap. was created to provide a central global marketplace to help entertainment professionals collaborate and work together. Unlike other apps, tap. verifies user credentials to ensure that pros are who they say they are.

“The inspiration behind the creation of tap. was hearing the needs of entertainment professionals,” says Jean-Que Dar, founder and CEO.

“In the digital era, it’s not unlikely that pros have experienced catfishing or individuals impersonating others while navigating the entertainment industry, so our goal was to not just create an app to network, but also ensure that people are verified and legitimate.”

Through tap.’s biometric verification system and blockchain technology, which is the first of its kind in use for entertainment, it eliminates the challenge behind connecting and working with real people in the industry. For the first time, a biometrically verified user on tap. can build a profile of their portfolio credits using validated data from IMDb. Powered by the film and television credentials of IMDb, tap. is the new way to network and thrive in the entertainment industry.

Key features at BETA launch include:

• State-of-the-art technology. tap.’s mobile app includes a 360-degree view of every entertainment professional, profile user.
• Optimized newsfeed. Known as the “Access Feed,” tap.’s mobile app features a continuous thread of events, opportunities and news updates from creator profiles, prospect mentors and collaborators directly from industry insiders.
• Streamlined contact. tap.’s mobile app includes DMT, the Deal Message Thread, that conveniently organize messages and deals based on productions. Each production has a sub-thread where users chat, create and/or sign contracts, send and/or receive payment. The encrypted messages are immutable thus, cannot be cannot be manipulated or deleted, and are stored forever.
• Easier and faster access to everyone in entertainment. tap.’s mobile app provides a growing global database that helps professionals connect with any anyone, at any time — no matter the geographical location.
• Ability to staff an entire production immediately. tap.’s mobile app allows users to quickly hire talent, crew and a host of vetted professionals at the convenience of their fingertips. tap.’s geolocation feature helps to locate the best replacement available for last-minute, urgent needs from anywhere in the world. The goal is to reach the desired project needs in a timely manner, especially those with specific niche projects. This includes vetted financiers, producers, management, marketing, legal, talent, crew and so much more.
• Vetted Entertainment Pros. tap.’s mobile app has combined the best of both worlds, — social networking exclusively for entertainment pros and Hollywood insider access. With an extensive database of film financiers, studio executives, agents, managers, attorneys, producers and directors as well as the world’s most elite in entertainment, including Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony award winners; Credibility is at the fore-front for tap. users to access reputable professionals in entertainment.
• Protected payment and access. tap.’s mobile app will feature Tap. Pay, the unique mobile payment system that protects user information and escrow payments to ensure quality service is exchanged and performance is achieved.

tap. is a first of its kind mobile app to focus directly on entertainment professionals and allow connections to develop from staffing production teams through protected payment to faster access entertainment contacts. The app’s rollout of the BETA version is the first step of many new and innovative ways that the company expands on access to the global entertainment network. tap. is dedicated to transforming its organization to become a leader in entertainment professional networking.

To learn more about tap. formerly known as Artiste PRO, please visit https://www.artistepro.com. To download the new app and get verified, visit https://tap.ec/.

TV sports analyst Charles Barkley has agreed to a 10-year deal with Turner Network Television (TNT) that is expected to be well over $100 million and could approach $200 million, according to the New York Post.

Barkley’s current contract is paying $10 million per season with three years remaining.

But the outlet reports his current deal has the potential to coincide with TNT’s new agreement after the 2024-25 season once the original deal expires.

The NBA Hall of Famer could also potentially own the rights to work for another network or a digital platform if Turner no longer kept the NBA broadcasting rights.

Barkley, 59, who starred as a player with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns, could decide to retire before the deal ends as he previously made claims of retirement by the age of 60.

As for the network, TNT’s goal was to commit and keep the crew together after Shaquille O’Neal, analyst Kenny Smith, and host Ernie Johnson all inked new deals announced Monday.

“We’re all a big family—Ernie, Kenny and Shaquille are brothers to me—and I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for them and all the amazing people who work on our show,” Barkley said to the New York Post. “I’m not gonna lie, though, this is a life-altering deal…and I’m blessed to be able to do live television for a living.”

Kenny Smith added, “I’ve been on a few championship teams in my day, but there’s nothing quite like this one. I wanted to continue doing the show because of the basketball and cultural impact that our show has become. I’m excited for the season and many more to come.”

According to sources with the New York Post, Barkley will also produce documentaries and other projects to his portfolio with his production company Round Mound Media with Warner Bros. Discovery, TNT’s corporate parent company.

• Celebrity News

by Derek Major

October 19, 2022

Former Assistant For Tracee Ellis Ross Drops $300k Lawsuit Over Unpaid Wages

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A former assistant of actress Tracee Ellis Ross has dropped a $300,000 lawsuit against the former Black-ish star after claiming Ross failed to pay her the proper overtime wages.

Finurah reported that Samantha Wilkins accused Ross of forcing her to work substantial overtime and not paying her in a suit she filed in August. According to Wilkins’ lawyer, the actress owed “approximately $300,000.00 in wages and penalties.”

However, Wilkins has reversed course, dropping the suit against the actress, telling the court she is dropping all claims against Ross and her company, Joy Mill Entertainment. According to reports, Wilkins worked for the Black-ish actress from November 2019 through July 2021.

A month into the position, Ross classified Wilkins as an exempt employee, paying her a $70,000 salary. In early 2020, Ross gave Wilkins a raise, increasing her salary to $100,000. However, Wilkins said she was still classified as a non-exempt employee, which qualified her for overtime.

According to Wilkins, Ross had her regularly work more than 12 hours a day, seven days a week, adding that the actress denied her meal and rest breaks violating state labor laws.

The suit claimed by November 2020 Ross and Joy Mill Entertainment corrected her employment status and began paying her an hourly wage, “Therefore, from December 19, 2019, to November 24, 2020, defendants misclassified Wilkins’ employment and treated her as a non-exempt employee,” the lawsuit states.

Ross is most notably known for playing lead roles in two long-running Black sitcoms. The daughter of Diana Ross was also on MTV’s Lyricist Lounge show in the late 1990s. Ross played Joan Clayton, a single lawyer living in L.A. on the UPN hit Girlfriends, which ran for eight seasons from 2000 through 2008.

In 2014, the actress starred opposite comedian Anthony Anderson on Black-ish where she played Rainbow, an anesthesiologist married to Anderson’s character. The show was an instant hit on ABC, running for eight seasons before the show’s finale in April. The show has also sparked two spin-offs, Grown-ish and Mixed-ish.