Phylicia Rashad Honors Late ‘Cosby Show’ TV Son, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, In Emmys Tribute
Rashad starred as Warner's TV mom on 'The Cosby Show' for eight seasons.
Phylicia Rashad honored her late The Cosby Show television son, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, in a tribute at the Emmys.
Rashad, who starred alongside Warner in the hit pioneering ’80s sitcom that ran for eight seasons, Rashad paid tribute to Warner during the awards show’s “In Memoriam” segment.
BET reposted footage of the heartfelt moment.
Phylicia Rashad standing beside Malcolm-Jamal Warner hits differently now. 🤍
“He was a beloved teenager in an iconic television series who the world watched grow into manhood. And like all our friends and colleagues who transitioned this past year, Malcolm-Jamal Warner remains in our hearts,” Rashad said.
Warner played Theo Huxtable, the only son of the fictional family, earning an Emmy Award nomination for his performance. As Rashad introduced the emotional memorial segment, she reminded viewers and audience members of the legacy of these late industry professionals.
“Tonight, as is tradition at the Emmys, we remember them,” Rashad said. “Not just for their immense talent, but also for the way they’ve made us believe in something bigger, the best that is within us.”
Warner, 54, died July 20 after he accidental drowned on family vacation in Costa Rica. His unexpected death shocked fans and colleagues. Fellow Cosby Show actors also paid tribute to their on-air brother, such as his TV sister, Keisha Knight Pulliam.
“A week ago, I lost my big brother, but I gained an angel…,” shared Knight Pulliam, who played Rudy Huxtable, according to People. “I love you…I miss you…We got our girls.”
Warner’s talent and impact on screen remain and his widow, Tenisha Warner, recently launched the Malcolm-Jamal Warner Foundation in his honor.
“And even though they may no longer be here with us, we can all smile knowing that their impact will remain, knowing that their lasting impressions will continue to live on through story, knowing that they touched our lives,” added Rashad.
The “In Memoriam” segment honored fellow late actors, producers, and creatives in television, including John Amos and Quincy Jones.
The build-up to the mega fight at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 13 was filled with trash talk. With the victory, Crawford became the first undisputed male three-weight champion in the four-belt era, taking Alvarez’s super middleweight crowns along with his WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF belts and titles.
In a remarkable display of sportsmanship, Crawford approached Alvarez after the post-fight press conference and returned the belts to the former champion. A clip of the heartfelt moment has gone viral on social media, with fans praising Crawford’s G.O.A.T. status and the mutual respect shared between the two fighters.
Terence Crawford gave Canelo his belts back at the post fight press conference!
Crawford will retain the titles and is reportedly having new belts made, but he publicly honored the former champion who had held them for nearly five years.
“All-time greats appreciating each other. All-class,” one fan wrote. “Both have handled the win and defeat like the champions they are.”
“Black excellence,” said another.
Alvarez returned the respect, remaining gracious after his defeat by giving Crawford full credit and even ranking him above undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
Now fans are wondering if Crawford will retire at the top or accept another challenge. The Omaha native stopped short of saying he would retire after the fight, but with so little left to prove, all eyes are on Crawford’s next move.
“I’m not going to rub it in everyone’s face,” Crawford said while pointing at his belts. “I have all the proof I need right here on this table.”
Colorado Football’s Rocky Start Leaves Deion Sanders At ‘Loss For Words’
Sanders is off to a rocky start in his third season as the Buffaloes' head coach.
When Deion Sanders became head coach of the University of Colorado Boulder’s football team in 2023, he catapulted the football team into the mainstream. The stands were packed with students and celebrities poured in from all over to support Coach Prime.
The team remained among the bottom of the Big 12, but the first season under Sanders tracked better than the previous year’s 1-11 record. Last year’s team split its last eight games in 2024.
This year’s team has little to write home back.
After a 36-20 loss to Houston over the weekend, the Buffaloes are at 1-2, leaving fans and Sanders frustrated with the team’s performance. He expressed his disbelief in a post-game locker room talk.
Coach Prime comments to team after loss to Houston:
“It takes adversity, and felt like we would overcome it,” shared the 58-year-old. “Right now, to be honest with you, I’m lost for words, because there’s no way anybody could have told me that we were going to come down here and get our butts kicked.”
Sanders urged his players to reflect on what they could have done better to win.
“But you need to self-analyze yourself, and don’t point fingers at others, but look at yourself first and see what you could have done so that we could’ve come out victorious,” he added. “I still believe in you, we still love you. We still appreciate you. We still feel like we’re going to have a winning season, and I know we are, because we like that. You just gotta believe that.”
According to Outkick the Coverage, the Buffaloes have not had an easy time with recruitment as well. Colorado has a smaller numbers of enrollees compared to bigger football programs. The team has yet to make a long-lasting dent in the Big 12, making this third season considered a “make or break” for both parties.
On Sept. 15, the Department of Education announced it would allocate $435 million in previously discretionary funds to HBCUs, UNCF reported. Combined with existing congressional appropriations, this brings the total funding for fiscal year 2025 to $1.38 billion, a 48% increase over the previous year.
“This additional funding is nothing short of a godsend for HBCUs,” said Lodriguez V. Murray, UNCF’s senior vice president for public policy and government affairs. “We are grateful to have worked with the Trump Administration, Secretary McMahon, and her Department of Education team in achieving this one-time infusion of grant funding.”
The funding will support several HBCU initiatives, including the Strengthening HBCUs Program, the Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions Program, and the HBCU Master’s Degree Program. The funding boost comes after Trump’s April executive order aimed at promoting excellence and innovation at HBCUs. The order created a White House Initiative on HBCUs to strengthen their ability to provide high-quality education to an increasing number of students.
“When President Trump released his executive order for HBCUs during his first 100 days of this term, many said that it did not produce funding,” Murray said. “That is no longer the case. His order called for strengthening HBCUs by adding fiscal stability. These funds will begin that process.”
Although funding for HBCUs has increased, the UNCF highlights that significant disparities with Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) persist. Studies show that states have underfunded HBCU land-grant universities by $13 billion over the past three decades.
Public HBCUs have endowments per student roughly half the size of those at public non-HBCUs, while private HBCU endowments average only about 21% of those at private non-HBCUs. These funding gaps force many HBCUs to rely more heavily on tuition and fees, impacting low-income students pursuing higher education at an institution where they feel represented.
“However, no one should be confused: HBCUs are currently and have been underfunded since their inception,” Murray notes. “While we are grateful for these funds, we are still under-resourced. With the right investment and partners, our past, and present, does not have be our future. We hope the private sector will see this as a prime opportunity to invest in our going enterprise.”
Teyana Taylor Takes Over As ‘The Aunties’ Lead Creative Direction For NBA YoungBoy Tour
Taylor helps with multiple facets of NBA YoungBoy's arena tour.
Teyana Taylor has booked another artist for her creative direction, lending her talents to NBA YoungBoy for his tour.
Taylor’s own production company, The Aunties, is helping YoungBoy bring his “Make America Slime Again” tour to cities across America. The “Gonna Love Me” singer spoke on Kai Cenat’s livestream about the opportunity as she expands her creative enterprise.
“Well, you know I have an all-female production company called The Aunties,” she said. “Me and my partner Coco started that company and we creative direct. We creative direct, choreograph, style. It’s like the whole 360, we do everything. So we jumped on the creative for YB.”
As creative director, the 34-year-old oversees nearly every aspect of the tour, including choreography and styling of the show experience. Taylor is no novice to this work, having led creative direction for several other artists like Summer Walker and Lil Baby. Now, she’ll help the 25-year-old rapper as his tour hits arenas, with guest performers such as Offset, NoCap, and more.
The singer and aspiring chef stepped into this new role after initially retiring from making music. However, she reappeared with her own work, the visual album Escape Room, this August. The album featured a short film as well, co-starring her new boyfriend, actor Aaron Pierre.
As news of their coupling made headlines, Taylor shared more insight into their relationship. However, she also wants to protect what they are building with one another, while also supporting each other creatively.
“People are preying on the health that you are building,” detailed Taylor while on Hot97. “What me and Aaron have is very healthy, gentle, soft, and very kind, sweet, warm, and one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. It’s so safe, and I don’t want us to be robbed of that. I am so grateful for him and everything that comes with him.”
While Taylor and the Aunties help out NBA YoungBoy on his grandest tour to date, she continues to find her own lane in several sectors of the industry.
‘Job-Hugging’ Is A New Norm In The Weak Labor Market
Job-hopping is out—today’s shaky market has workers "job-hugging," clinging to roles they don’t necessarily want.
Amid an uncertain job market, “job hugging” is on the rise as employees hold onto positions out of necessity rather than passion.
A ResumeBuilder.com survey of more than 2,200 U.S. workers found that 46% qualify as “job huggers”—those who keep their jobs out of fear they won’t find new work. Of those, 95% cite concern about the job market as their main reason for holding back.
Industry experts say the post-COVID era of “job hopping” has ended, giving way to “job hugging,” as workers hold tight to their roles amid layoffs, slowed hiring, and the rise of AI.
“A few years ago, workers were quick to leave for sizable pay bumps,” Matt Bohn, senior client partner at the global consulting and talent management firm Korn Ferry, told Newsweek. “Now, with paychecks stretched by rising costs, many are clinging to stability even if they’re dissatisfied.”
“That instinct makes sense, but it has consequences: With fewer people chasing new opportunities, wage growth slows, and innovation can stall,” he added.
The latest Employee Retention Index from Eagle Hill reveals that most U.S. workers plan to stay in their current jobs for the next six months. Worker optimism, however, has taken a sharp hit to its lowest level since tracking began in 2023. At the same time, U.S. Department of Labor data show that quit rates remain near pandemic lows and well below the peaks of the 2021–2022 surge.
“It completely stands to reason that as the job market slows, and layoffs continue to make headlines, partly fueled by the potential for AI/robots to do parts or all of some jobs, we would squeeze our jobs even more tightly than normal,” said Anthony Klotz, professor of Organizational Behavior at UCL School of Management in London.
Multiple surveys show workers are increasingly disengaged on the job. Gallup’s latest employee engagement poll found levels have dropped from their pre-COVID peak, with many employees now “emotionally detached” from their workplaces. Experts say this mix of low enthusiasm and rising pessimism about new opportunities has fueled the trend of job hugging.
“When there are lots of alternative jobs available, these disengaged employees are better able to switch jobs in search of more engaging work,” Klotz said. “But when the job market is slow, these disengaged workers become what researchers call ‘reluctant stayers.’”
As “job hugging” gains momentum, the labor market is shifting from the era of the “Great Resignation” to the dawn of the “Great Stay.”
Though Money Mayweather is already a millionaire, he is a known gambler. On Sept. 13, Mayweather dropped $50,000 in support of Crawford against the former super middleweight champion, Canelo Alvarez.
Mayweather clearly saw the potential in Crawford, who was not favored to win. Crawford entered the fight as a +148 underdog and moved up two weight classes to fight Canelo. The match earned Mayweather $124,000, according to the winning ticket he posted to Instagram. While the masses may have been surprised by the victory, Mayweather’s expertise in the sport most likely gave him valuable insight into the capabilities of his pick.
Crawford is now considered a historymaker. He is the first undisputed champion at three weight classes in the four-belt era. His current record stands at 42-0. According to reports, his purse for the fight is $50 million. After the 40-year-old boxer’s big payday, he may be making his way to retirement much like Mayweather.
In a post-match conference, Crawford was asked about whether he would go for the fourth belt. He quickly shut down the notion. When asked if he would drop his weight to 154lbs to fight the man who trained Canelo, he immediately declined.
Whether the champion fights again remains to be seen. Still, there is nothing more for Crawford to prove. His name is already being mentioned in the conversation with Floyd Mayweather, who ended his career with a multitude of accolades, including multiple world championships, an Olympic bronze medal, multiple Golden Glove wins, and more.
When the media asked Crawford to compare himself to Mayweather, he refused. Crawford remained confident in his greatness while paying homage to those who came before him.
“Floyd is the best in his generation. I’m the best in my generation,” he said at the conference.
Let’s Get It! Jeezy’s Electrifying ‘TM:101’ Tour Finale In Detroit Ends With Upcoming Album & Las Vegas Residency Announcement
Jeezy was intentional about the evening being an elegant black-tie affair, and it wasn’t lost on his Motor City fans.
Twenty years ago, Jeezy’s major-label debut, Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, blazed a new trail for hip-hop. On Sept. 13, at Detroit’s Fox Theatre, the “Snowman” proved that legacy isn’t just about looking back, but about leveling up.
Jeezy closed out his groundbreaking 20th anniversary tour with a performance that fused the gritty, raw energy of trap with the charismatic, lush classical sounds of a 25-piece orchestra. And they went in.
A Return to the Motor City
Jeezy was intentional about the evening being an elegant black-tie affair, and it wasn’t lost on his Motor City fans. The Color of Noize Orchestra, conducted by the masterful Derrick Hodge, was tasked with taking the musical direction of the raw, street-certified anthems to an elevated, gritty–yet still refined edge for the Snowman’s tracks.
The addition of strings made the title song, “Thug Motivation 101,” feel even more menacing, while the guitar and drum licks that peppered Jeezy’s other tracks gave the swag of Lenny Kravitz’s rock God status and the soul of a G, who’s been through some things and lived to tell the tale.
Jeezy delivered an almost hour-and-a-half performance with the commanding presence of a man who knows how far he’s come to stand on that famous Fox stage in Detroit. The show, livestreamed globally on his YouTube channel, saw him blaze through 12 tracks from the original album, followed by a final set of crowd favorites.
His choice to end the tour in Detroit was a deliberate one, a tribute to a city that has always felt like a second home to the rapper.
“I wanted to finish this tour in Detroit, Michigan, for a lot of reasons,” Jeezy warmly told the audience. “It’s very personable.”
The connection between Jeezy and the city was electrifying. The evening was about more than just a performance; it was a reunion. He gave a special shout-out to Detroit mayoral candidate Mary Sheffield, offering an early congratulations and endorsement. He also visited Detroit’s Cass Tech High School, which further proved his personal investment in the community.
This sentiment was echoed in a moment of pure catharsis during the song “Put On,” where fans in the Fox Theatre filled in every word of Kanye West’s verse, a beautiful, collective moment that seemed to capture the bond between Jeezy and the city perfectly. It was this authentic connection that he wanted to share with the world, which is why the entire performance was live-streamed.
“I wanted people to see the connection that I have with this great city and the connection that they have with me,” he said. The Detroit show marked the end of a triumphant run of 23 sold-out shows, a for sure testament to the longevity of his music and the dedication of Jeezy’s fanbase.
Emerging from his dressing room after a quick change from a mint-green tuxedo into a classic “Snowman” T-shirt, Jeezy’s throwback energy seemed to ignite the theater even more. He dove into snippets of favorites like “Dey Know” and “I Luv It” before hitting the crowd with a series of bombshell announcements.
He confirmed a new project with DJ Drama, titled “Still Snowin’,” dropping on his birthday, Sept. 28.
“It’s one of my favorite projects ever,” he said, signaling that his creative passion remains undiminished. “I feel like I got my second wind.”
Then, he dropped the biggest news of the night. After fielding calls about not hitting the West Coast, he announced a monumental residency at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, an undertaking so grand it will feature a staggering 101-piece orchestra.
“I don’t even think Frank Sinatra took a 101-piece orchestra out there,” Jeezy expressed, referencing the famous Rat Pack entertainer who kept Sin City on lock, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the move.
The residency will be split into two themed runs: a “Masquerade” for the October dates and a “Nutcracker” theme for December.
“If you don’t call that excellence and leveling up, I don’t know what it is,” he said, signaling that his career is entering a new, stratospheric phase, one that combines his street-certified anthems with a scale of performance rarely seen in the genre.
In his spectacular finale at Detroit’s Fox Theatre, Jeezy didn’t just celebrate two decades of Thug Motivation 101; he cemented his legacy as a forward-thinking artist.
The blend of trap anthems with a live orchestra highlighted his music’s depth. At the same time, his series of major announcements—a new project and an ambitious Las Vegas residency—signaled an enlightening, exciting creative rebirth.
He is moving with a newfound energy, proving that for a true artist, every ending is merely the beginning of something bigger and better.
New Report Reveals Gen-Z Still Loves Job-Hopping, But Not Out Of Disloyalty To Employers
Gen Z continues to seek other roles out of a need for job fulfillment.
A new report is getting to the heart of why Gen-Z cannot stop job-hopping.
Prior to the current state of the job market, the youngest cohort of the workforce jumped at the opportunity to secure better offers and bigger titles. Many Gen-Z employees began leaving their jobs after a year to find better roles elsewhere, and often did so.
The move resulted in pay raises and career advancement, but has stalled in recent years as the job market has become even more competitive. Despite the lucrativeness of job hopping, Gen Z is still staying with one company for a shorter amount of time.
According to research released by Randstad, a recruitment company, the average job stint for a Gen-Z employee is a little over one year. This generation has the shortest longevity at one place, especially in comparison to baby boomers and millennials. Those age groups typically stay for roughly three and two years, respectively.
However, this unwavering trend does not stem from generational disloyalty to employers. Instead, Gen Z employees chase professional development and fulfillment in their early careers. With entry-level job opportunities on the decline, many feel like their place in the workforce is shrinking.
“In the wake of this, tenure is shrinking: today’s young workers are changing jobs faster than any previous generation,” detailed the Randstad report. “While employers may perceive this as a lack of loyalty, our findings suggest it’s a reaction to unmet expectations and a keen desire for progression.”
The motive is less about the money, with new slumps in pay bumps for switching over. On the other hand, companies are rewarding loyalty with raises to those with longevity.
Despite the consistent job switches, this does not signal that Gen-Z is not putting their best efforts into their current roles. However, a level of dissatisfaction remains, with only slightly over half of early-careerists feeling that their job fulfills them. Specific industries, such as high-paying finance and tech fields, are slowly closing off early-career opportunities.
Not all Gen-Z employees are suffering, though, with healthcare still standing strong with new job opportunities. Given that the industry’s lesser reliance on AI, another factor troubling the job market, it has emerged as a stable career path. However, Gen Zers want to work and gain their footing despite an uneasy job market.
“Gen Z is not a challenge to manage or a problem to solve. In a workforce being reshaped by AI and ambition, they offer a new blueprint for what work can become,” the report continues. “For employers, the takeaway is clear: Gen Z is eager to grow and adapt but needs support that’s accessible, inclusive, and aligned with their ambitions.”
While still ambitious and hardworking, entry-level employees are willing and able to pivot to better opportunities for their long-term goals.
Social Media Erupts After Black Servicemen Made To Honor Charlie Kirk In New Video
The video was met with backlash from people who felt it politicized the military.
Social media critics had much to say after the U.S. Secretary of Defense made a video with Black servicemen to honor Charlie Kirk.
Sec. Pete Hegseth posted a new video honoring the slain conservative activist, who was fatally shot during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University Sept. 10. In the clip, Hegseth led a prayer for the deceased Kirk featuring many Black servicemen.
Hegseth praised Kirk and his controversial legacy, calling him “an incredible American” in the viral clip. Notably, Kirk does not have any record of serving in the military, leading to public confusion about the soldiers’ appearance.
“If you knew him, you love him. His name is Charlie Kirk. Taken by an assassin’s bullet,” expressed Hegseth. “Unfathomable. The only assurance I can take is that I know he is with his Lord and Savior right now.”
However, many social media users expressed their disapproval over the video, noting the optics of including the majority Black servicemen. Before his death, Kirk built a platform for promoting Christian Nationalist and white supremacist talking points. He vehemently opposed the Black Lives Matter movement, while also ridiculing the death of George Floyd and degrading the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Given that his opinions were considered outright racist, some felt that the video forced the Black servicemen to honor the alt-right influencer. Naysayers believe the video was also an act of politicizing the military, using Black members of the military to honor the man. Others felt it overshadowed the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks as well.
“The fact that you have a vastly diverse military and you command and demand they recognize their oppressor is diabolical,” shared one commenter.
“This is disgusting. Absolutely sickening. Kirk was a civilian who spread hateful rhetoric to the masses. These men and women in uniform deserve better. So much better,” wrote another.
Commenters continued to bash Sec. Hegseth for essentially making service members bow their heads in prayer for the controversial speaker. The Trump administration has taken several steps to honor Kirk’s death as if he were a political hero. The President also authorized putting flags at half-staff while allowing Kirk’s body to be transported on Air Force Two.
However, seemingly tokenizing Black service members struck a chord with many, given that military personnel should not express party alignment while in uniform.
“Disgusting politicizing this while in uniform,” another commenter shared. “So we can’t show allegiance to political parties in uniform, but our service members can be forced to hear politicized speeches while in uniform.
The move further emphasizes how Trump officials are promoting Kirk as a patriotic martyr, glossing over his legacy of anti-Black, homophobic, and prejudiced stances.
