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Denzel Washington on Black Incarceration; and more | What’s The 411 Ep. 119

VIDEO CONVERSATION: Angela Rye is getting death threats for dating rapper Common; Tyrese child custody case settled for now; Congrats to Cardi B., and more

In Episode 119 of What’s The 411, journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean are talking about the following:

QUICK TAKES:

Political commentator, Angela Rye has received death threats reportedly for dating rapper/actor Common.

Karreuche Tran and her manager, Jacob York, were on the Angie Martinez Show on Power 105FM. When the topic of Karreuche’s appearance on Iyanla Vanzant’s Fix My Life came up, York said it was good for Karreuche to be on the show, but as far as Ms. Vanzant is concerned, ‘she’s fake’!

RZA files trademark lawsuit against a Brooklyn dog walking company, ‘WOOF-TANG CLAN’.

Rapper Snoop Dogg is not one to mince any words. He clapped back at Donald Trump and cussed him out in a video in defense of Lavar Ball, the father of the UCLA basketball player who was arrested in China for shoplifting, and football player Marshawn Lynch, who recently took a knee during the National Anthem. If you check out the video, be sure to not to watch it at work.

Congratulations to Jordin Sparks she got married to Dana Isaiah in a secret ceremony in July, and she is now pregnant with her first child. The baby is due next spring.

In more baby news, congratulations to Kevin Hart and wife Eniko Parrish Hart on the birth of their son, Kenzo Hart.

Producer/director, Jordan Peele, says golfer Tiger Woods is in the ‘sunken place’ for golfing with Donald Trump.

And, Nigerian women are set to make history as the continent of Africa’s first African Olympic bobsled team is all women. The Nigerian women's bobsled team will be competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics to be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb 9th – 25th, 2018. 

Shout out to rapper Cardi B for her historic Grammy nomination. Cardi B is the first female rapper to be nominated in the Best Rap Song category.

 

WHAT’S POPPIN’ - CULTURE

The floodgates are open. Since the sexual abuse allegations from women against Harvey Weinstein, women’s sexual abuse claims against powerful men are now being taken more seriously. Even Terry Crews has opened up about being groped by another man.

Q. Kizzy, why do you think people now believe women now?

 

WHAT’S POPPIN – FILM AND POLITICS

Actor Denzel Washington places blame for black incarceration with parenting, according to several news reports. During a reporters’ press briefing about his new film, Roman J. Israel, Esq., Washington stated:

“It starts at the home…It starts with how you raise your children. If a young man doesn’t have a father figure, he’ll go find a father figure…So you know I can’t blame the system. It’s unfortunate that we make such easy work for them.”

Q. Is Denzel Washington right, is he overstating the issue, or do you think he is missing underlying issues?

 

WHAT’S POPPIN – RELATIONSHIPS

It’s a whole new world. Prince Harry (UK) proposed to American actress Meghan Markle. The royal wedding is scheduled for Spring 2018.

 

WHAT’S POPPIN – RELATIONSHIPS

As you probably know, singer/actor Tyrese Gibson and his former wife Norma Gibson, have been engaged in a brutal custody battle over their 10-year-old daughter. Well, according to TMZ, the judge in the case ruled Tyrese will have his daughter for Christmas and New Year’s, and both Tyrese and his former wife, Norma Gibson, will get 50/50 joint custody beginning in January.

Q. What do you think about the judge’s ruling in this case? Did the judge get this custody battle right?

 

PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

Our Photo of the Week is a wedding photo of professional tennis player, Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, one of the co-founders of Reddit.

 

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Our Motivational Quote of the Week is:

“You can’t win in life, if you’re losing in your mind. Change your thoughts, and it’ll change your life.”

A quote from Tony Gaskins, and posted by Raqiyah Mays on LinkedIn.

  • Published in Episodes

Weinstein’s Sexual Harassment Allegations Exposes Hollywood

Eminem drops freestyle diss of Donald Trump and crickets from Trump; 50 Cent Claps back at Wendy Williams; Tyrese’s legal battle with ex-wife and; more

QUICK TAKES:

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and quite frankly, every day should be Breast Cancer Awareness Day especially for Black women. So don’t ignore any irregularities with your breast and make sure that you or any woman you know gets her baseline mammogram at age 35 and every year after your 40th birthday, no excuses. In NYC, there are health facilities that provide free and low-cost mammograms, so no excuses!

By now, we all should have seen the movie, Hidden Figures, where Taraji P. Henson played the role of mathematician Katherine G. Johnson, also known as the human computer. As you know, Ms. Johnson did the mathematical calculations that helped the U.S. beat Russia into space. Well, the $30 million, 40,000-square-foot Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility named in her honor finally opened!

Shonda Rhimes is among the 2017 Television Academy Hall of Fame inductees.

FOX orders five additional episodes of STAR for the current Season 2, and TV ONE’S BOBBI KRISTINA premiered #1 in its time slot among African-American households.

Aisha Hinds and Rockmond Dunbar join Angela Bassett in Ryan Murphy’s Fox Series 9-1-1; LHHATL’S Waka Flocka Flame and Tammy Rivera land a spinoff reality show, MEET THE FLOCKAS; Peter Gunz and his wife, Amina Buddafly are taking their relationship issues to MARRIAGE BOOTCAMP REALITY STARS and; Jordan Peele surprised a UCLA class inspired by Get Out. The class is taught by celebrated author and educator, Tananarive Due.

In not so good news, NeNe Leakes was fired from the XSCAPE REUNION TOUR over a rape joke she stated while on stage. Nene later apologized for the joke and after a few days said she ‘had a real breakdown’ after rape joke backlash.

And, the bad news keeps pouring in for Megyn Kelly. Unfortunately, celebrity publicists are bailing on NBC’s Megyn Kelly Today, so the show is having difficulty getting high-profile guests. Also, Megyn Kelly Today is not a good lead-in for Hoda Kotb and Kathy Lee Gifford’s show as it is dragging down the ratings of that show.

WHAT’S POPPIN'

Harvey Weinstein and Rape Culture In America

After journalist Ronan Farrow’s 8,000 word story, in which, 13 women made detailed allegations against film executive, Harvey Weinstein’s decades of sexual abuse against women ran in the New Yorker, all hell broke loose. Women who were abused by Weinstein now feel emboldened to speak up and a number of men are ducking for cover.

Are you surprised that Harvey Weinstein is getting the Bill Cosby treatment?

EMINEM is BACK!

Hip-hop rapper, Eminem, slammed Donald Trump with his freestyle rap at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Although Eminem received widespread praise, everyone is not happy. Rapper YG feels like chopped liver because he and Nipsey Hussle released F--k Donald Trump in 2016, to some praise, but not nearly as much as the amount of praise that Eminem is receiving. YG posted his displeasure on social and then deleted it.

Judge Says Tyrese Gibson’s Daughter Can Testify

It’s been reported that since singer Tyrese Gibson remarried, he and his former wife and mother of his child, Norma Gibson, have been in an ongoing feud. According to TheBlast.com, a judge has given Tyrese’s ex-wife, the option of calling their 10-year-old daughter Shayla to the stand if she chooses.

Is this a good strategy for Norma Gibson to call her 10-year-old daughter to testify in court?

50 Cent Claps Back at Wendy Williams

Talk show host, Wendy Williams, is used to people clapping back at her, but none like 50 Cents' hurtful barbs.

Fifty announced a party to celebrate the end of his court-ordered child support payments.

Wendy responded to 50-Cent’s announcement saying, “You’re 42. You got a 21-year-old son. Get your life.”

Fifty was not happy and he posted on Instagram what many perceived to be very hurtful responses to Wendy Williams.

Wendy’s fans seem to think 50 Cents went too far? Agree?

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Our Motivational Quote of the Week is:

“When a black voice is raised in protest to oppression, those who are comfortable with our oppression are the first to criticize us for daring to speak out against it.” – Harry Belafonte

 

  • Published in Episodes

Reaction to Donald Trump's P-Word Fiasco is Swift and Fierce

Most Americans find Donald Trump's so-called "locker room" offensive and unacceptable for a U.S. presidential candidate; Billy Bush under Fire 

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, finally apologized for something. But, his latest outburst, which happened 11 years ago and just came to light, may have moved the "Undecideds" and Independents over to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee. And, in case you don't know what we're talking about, Trump was caught on tape talking to former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush about how he put the moves on a married woman, who used to be Bush's co-star. Trump went further and said that the soap opera star that was coming to meet them might let him grab her p-word because when you are a star, women will let you do that.

 

Barbra Streisand Slays Donald Trump with Remake of Send in the Clowns

Barbra Streisand mocks Trump at fundraising event for Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton

At an LGBT-focused New York fundraising event for Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Friday, singer/songwriter/actress/filmmaker Barbra Streisand, performed Stephen Sondheim's Send in the Clowns re-named, Who Needs This Clown? and the special lyrics "slayed" the Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

On the video you can hear the audience going crazy; and according to a source, Barbra received 9 standing ovations during her performance.

The lyrics to Barbra's Who Needs This Clown? are really clever:

VERSE 1
Is he that rich?
Maybe he's poor?
'Til he reveals his returns
Who can be sure?
Who needs this clown?

VERSE 2
Something's amiss
I don't approve
If he were running the free world,
where would we move?
Name me a town?
Just who is this clown?

BRIDGE
And when we thought we'd heard it all
Huffing and puffing about his big fantasy wall
Making his entrance on stage...
He just shoots from the hip
He's full of bull
He's lost his grip!

["Since Putin likes me, I like him! Sounds like a 4-year old!"]

VERSE 3
And if by chance
he gets to heav'n
even up there he'll declare...
Chapter Elev'n!
Who'd hire this clown?
This sad vulgar clown...
"You're fired" you clown!

BRIDGE 2
Hillary's kind...
Smart that is clear
While she is giving us hope...Trump is selling us fear
Look how he changes his views every time that he speaks
It's lie after lie
can't take eight more weeks!

VERSE 4
This is no farce
Maybe he's broke?
Is this "the art of his deal"
or some awful joke?
You've got to admit...
This silly half-wit...
Is so full of ¬_ _ _ _!

The event took place at Cipriani Wall Street and benefits the Hillary Victory Fund which will be distributed to Hillary for America, the Democratic National Committee, and state parties.

Other performers in addition to Barbra Streisand were Rufus Wainwright, and Laverne Cox (who introduced Hillary Clinton). Chelsea Clinton introduced Cox.

The host reception committee included a long list of bold-faced names: Erich Bergen, Andy Cohen, Sharon Gless, Donna Karan, Debra Messing, Kathy Najimy, Cynthia Nixon, Mary Louise Parker, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells, Michael Doyle, Richert Schnorr, Marissa Tomei, Michael Urie, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and B. D. Wong.

Other notables in attendance included Donna Brazile, Barry Diller, Harvey Weinstein, Diane Von Furstenberg, Huma Abedin, Marty Erlichman, Ken Sunshine, Richard Jay-Alexander and many, more.

A Special Conversation about the Killings of Alton Sterling, Philandro Castile, Dallas Police, and More

VIDEO DISCUSSION: A dialogue about policing, politics, black economic development and empowerment

In this special episode of What's The 411, the panel of Kizzy Cox, Courtney Rashon, Onika McLean, and Sydney Wayman are discussing the events of the past week regarding the shooting deaths of two unarmed black men, Alton Sterling and Philandro Castile by police officers in Baton Rouge and Minnesota respectively; as well as the shooting deaths of five police officers in Dallas, Texas. They are also discussing the presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and the need to pay attention to their rhetoric; the need for people to take their civic responsibilities more seriously; and the WhereU App to find Black-owned businesses across the country.

On the entertainment side, The Wilsons, Russell Wilson and Ciara, are now married, and in-studio, we have an interview with Samirah Horton aka DJ Annie Red, a 7-year-old rapper, musician, athlete and painter.

 

What's The 411 Episode 87: Prince, Donald Trump, Kerry Washington, and more

Cosmetics entrepreneur Vera Moore will speak at the Essence Festival; actor Jussie Smollet will return to Empire; Tamar Braxton fired from The Real; actress Blake Lively finds out she's Becky and a whole lot more

What's Poppin' Quick Takes

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that the iconic pop artist, Prince, may have been dead for hours before he was found unresponsive in an elevator in his Paisley Park home.

Tamar Braxton has been fired from The Real.

The world of media has gained two new Black superstars. Elaine Welteroth has been named Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue; Aaliyah Williams is now the Vice President of Digital Content and Production of MACRO, a company started by African-American talent rep Charles King.

Actress Blake Lively stirred some controversy, when she posted a picture of herself on Instagram, posing at a recent gala in a gold gown with the caption "LA face with an Oakland booty."

Actor Jussie Smollett will return to Empire. Smollet posted on Instagram: "Listen 2 my words, I'll see ya'll season 3.

The television network, ABC, announced that Scandal will return for its sixth season in 2017, due to Kerry Washington's pregnancy.

What's Poppin'

Donald Trump is having difficulty raising money

Campaign contributions from some of the Republican Party's major benefactors may be hard to come by for the party's nominee, Donald Trump. Most notable is Stanley Druckenmiller, a New York-based investor who gave big bucks to John Kasich's campaign. Druckenmiller told Reuters that he won't donate saying, "Not sure why anyone would give money to Mr. Trump since he asserts that he is worth $10 billion."

The continuing saga that has become Bill Cosby's life

Bill Cosby's lawyers are again asking the state supreme court to have his criminal sexual-assault case thrown out. The issue is whether a current prosecutor has to live up to the promise made by a former prosecutor to not charge actor/comedian/philanthropist Bill Cosby for the alleged assault. Apparently Bill Cosby used that promise to provide certain testimony in another case and now his words are being used against him. We'll know shortly whether the case will be thrown out.

In-Studio Interview

Cosmetics entrepreneur Vera Moore will speak at Essence Music Festival

Vera Moore, President and CEO, Vera Moore Cosmetics; will be a panelist on the beauty panel at the upcoming Essence Music Festival in July. As we listen in on an impromptu conversation between Vera Moore and What's The 411TV CEO Ruth J. Morrison, we are pulled into Ms. Moore's journey from integrating the Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, NY, in the early 1980s with a kiosk to selling her brand of cosmetics in 53 stores through Walgreens, the largest drug retailing chain in the United States. The Vera Moore Cosmetics brand can be found nationally at Walgreens in New York City, New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Puerto Rico among others, as well as internationally in Shanghai independently.

Under the Radar

Black-ish Writer Damilare Sonoiki initiates a new comedy based on African immigrant experience

Black-ish writer, Damilare Sonoiki, is creating a brand new comedy, this one about the African experience. It's called African Booty-Scratcher!" Sonoiki, a Nigerian-American named it that after an insult he heard kids using to refer to African kids. I remember hearing it growing up too. He told the Grio:

"The biggest thing I've learned from 'Black-ish,' like the central premise...is that you're taught to give your kids more than you have but in giving them more, what do they lose? The immigrant story is that exact same situation."

New film, Loving is generating Oscar buzz at Cannes Film Festival

From the Cannes Film Festival comes word that Jeff Nichols' film Loving, generated tremendous Oscar buzz. The film is the real life story of the efforts of Richard Loving, a white man, and Mildred Loving, a black woman, to have their marriage deemed legal. In 1958, the couple was arrested in their bedroom for being married. At the time, Virginia law made interracial marriages illegal. The couple had to take their fight all the way to the Supreme Court which rendered a unanimous decision ruling the couple's arrest unlawful and all state prohibitions against interracial marriage.

Additionally, the hubbub is that actress Ruth Negga's performance as Mildred Loving makes her a favorite for Best Actress Oscar.

Upcoming Events

• Actress Niecy Nash is set to join the cast of the upcoming TNT's dramedy, Claws, a dark-comedy revolving around five diverse nail salon employees and organized crime. Claws is currently in production.

• Filmmaker Carl Franklin has signed on to do a film remake of the 1948 William Faulkner novel Intruder in the Dust. The original film was produced in 1949, and the new film is currently in production.

• If all the Fetty-Waps, Drakes, and Nicki Minaj's of the world have got you feening for some Mase, Puff Daddy, and Lil' Kim, your '90s prayers have been answered because The Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour is coming to a city near you! The Lox, 112, Total, Carl Thomas, Mario Winans, and French Montana will also perform on the tour. Brooklyn already got a taste recently when they performed at the Barclay's Center where our own Onika McClean got crunk! The official tour starts on August 25, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio.

• Comedian Wanda Sykes will join fellow comediennes Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn in a new Fox comedy special, Mother/Daughter. The comedy will air October 21st on FOX television.

In Memoriam

Journalist, Morley Safer, one of the original correspondents of the CBS News Magazine, 60 Minutes, has passed away at age 84. Safer had just retired from CBS a week prior. May he rest in peace.

 

 

Donald Trump is Beating Up on Mexicans

Donald Trump's Mexican Problem is Wreaking Havoc on Republicans

 

In this Quick take on What's Poppin segment, hosts Kizzy Cox and Glenn Gilliam are discussing the hot water that Donald Trump is in for bashing Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, and by extension, Latinos in general.

Trump is going so far to the right that he is creating a real problem for the Republicans with the latino community; voters they had hoped to start courting in 2016.

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