“Nobody likes having their name salvestized!” Will Smith gets some interesting advice via FaceTime

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Following his infamous Oscar-night slap of Chris Rock, Will Smith has said he’s been seeking advice from others in an effort to work on the issues that led to the incident.

However, one piece of counsel appeared to befuddle the star so much that he posted it to Instagram, along with his respectfully confused reaction.

Smith was apparently FaceTiming with an unidentified older woman, who advised, “I’m trying to tell y’all, don’t worry what people say about you.”

At this, Smith nodded thoughtfully. But he cocked his head in confusion as the conversation continued.

“They’re gonna try to belift [sic] you,” the woman said.

“They’re gonna try to satalize [sic] your name. They’re gonna try to satisvize [sic] your name. They’re gonna just do anything to sestroy you. To sestroy you.”

Whatever she meant, Will apparently took the advice to heart, captioning the video with, “Nobody likes having their name salvestized!”

The post has gone viral, bringing some much-needed levity to Will’s situation.

His pal, famed Philly music promoter Charlie Mack, was quick to chime in in agreement, with a comment that was followed by a collection of crying laughing emoji:

“Will I’ve been telling you this for some time now!!!!!!!!! You’ll listen to me one of this day. Until then, they’ll keep Salvestizing your name!!!!”

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Jury awards $31M in trial over Kobe Bryant helicopter crash site photos: Report

Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

A jury awarded Vanessa Bryant $16 million in her invasion of privacy trial against Los Angeles County over photos taken at the scene of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed her husband, basketball star Kobe Bryant, and their 13-year-old daughter, according to ABC Los Angeles station KABC.

The jury also awarded $15 million to Chris Chester, an Orange County financial adviser who had also sued the county over photos taken of his wife and daughter, who were killed in the same crash, according to KABC.

The jury deliberated for several hours before reaching the verdict.

The federal trial began on Aug. 10, with the jury hearing from those in law enforcement, first responders and the family of the victims, including Vanessa Bryant and Chester. Attorneys gave closing statements on Tuesday and Wednesday after nearly two weeks of testimony.

Vanessa Bryant filed a lawsuit several months after the 2020 crash against Los Angeles County, alleging that first responders took graphic photos of human remains at the scene as “souvenirs” and shared them with others. She claimed she suffered emotional distress and sued for an undisclosed amount of damages for negligence and invasion of privacy.

In July, U.S. District Judge John Walter decided to consolidate Vanessa Bryant’s and Chester’s cases into one trial.

Kobe Bryant and their daughter, Gianna, were headed to a basketball game at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks along with others connected to the basketball program on Jan. 26, 2020, when the helicopter they were traveling in crashed in Calabasas. All nine people on board were killed.

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Jury awards $31M in trial over Kobe Bryant helicopter crash site photos: Report

Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

A jury awarded Vanessa Bryant $16 million in her invasion of privacy trial against Los Angeles County over photos taken at the scene of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed her husband, basketball star Kobe Bryant, and their 13-year-old daughter, according to ABC Los Angeles station KABC.

The jury also awarded $15 million to Chris Chester, an Orange County financial adviser who had also sued the county over photos taken of his wife and daughter, who were killed in the same crash, according to KABC.

The jury deliberated for several hours before reaching the verdict.

The federal trial began on Aug. 10, with the jury hearing from those in law enforcement, first responders and the family of the victims, including Vanessa Bryant and Chester. Attorneys gave closing statements on Tuesday and Wednesday after nearly two weeks of testimony.

Vanessa Bryant filed a lawsuit several months after the 2020 crash against Los Angeles County, alleging that first responders took graphic photos of human remains at the scene as “souvenirs” and shared them with others. She claimed she suffered emotional distress and sued for an undisclosed amount of damages for negligence and invasion of privacy.

In July, U.S. District Judge John Walter decided to consolidate Vanessa Bryant’s and Chester’s cases into one trial.

Kobe Bryant and their daughter, Gianna, were headed to a basketball game at his Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks along with others connected to the basketball program on Jan. 26, 2020, when the helicopter they were traveling in crashed in Calabasas. All nine people on board were killed.

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‘House of the Dragon’ star Steve Toussaint responds after backlash from critics on his casting

HBO

In a new interview in Men’s Health, Steve Toussaint is addressing critics who have commented about his casting in the new House of the Dragon series.

Toussaint plays Lord Corlys Velaryon, the head of House Velaryon and the richest man in Westeros.

To the magazine, he shut down critics who have suggested his casting doesn’t match what is portrayed in author George R. R. Martin‘s Fire & Blood novel, from which House of the Dragon is adapted.

“So many people are basing their idea of the history of this country [England] on a few films and stuff that were made in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, which don’t bear any resemblance to the truth,” Toussaint said.

“Historically, people of my hue and your hue, we didn’t just turn up here in the ’70s or the ’60s…”

“There are street names that tell you there were people who looked like us in this country even then, but for some reason, it seems to be very hard for people to swallow,” Toussaint added.

“They are happy with a dragon flying. They’re happy with white hair and violet-colored eyes, but a rich Black guy? That’s beyond the pale.”

House of the Dragon debuted over the weekend and marked the largest series premiere in HBO history, with nearly 10 million viewers.

Despite the casting criticism that Toussaint faced, he said it’s been “great” to know that there are people excited about the show.

“What has been wonderful is for every toxic person that has somehow found their way into my timeline, there have been so many others who have been so supportive and been like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t wait, this is going to be great!'” he said.

“Even when we were doing certain scenes, there would be supporting artists who would come up and go, ‘It’s great to have this representation.'”

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Meghan Markle debuts new podcast with special guest Serena Williams

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Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, released the premiere episode of her long-awaited podcast Tuesday and did so with the help of a celebrity friend.

Meghan’s first Archetypes podcast episode features the duchess in conversation with tennis superstar Serena Williams, a longtime friend who attended Meghan’s wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.

The two talked about ambition, and the stereotypes and criticisms they’ve faced as women in the public eye — the focus of Meghan’s podcast — and chatted about how they became “fast friends” after meeting at the 2014 Super Bowl.

“We have a lot in common,” Williams said of their friendship.

“So much,” said Meghan. “… you experience behind closed doors the pain that I’m going through and vice versa.”

Meghan, 41, and Williams, 40, spoke about Williams’ recent announcement that she plans to “evolve” away from professional tennis. The duo also revealed that Meghan’s husband, Harry, helped counsel Williams as she considered her next career move.

“He was trying to knock some sense into me and I’m just like, ‘Uh,'” said Williams.

“I think, you know, I think both of us, or the three of us, really know that sometimes the right decision isn’t the easiest decision,” said Meghan. “It’s a hard decision. And it takes a lot of thought, and a lot of counsel and a lot of support to just go ‘uh uh uh’ and then just make the choice.”

Harry and Meghan made the decision to step down from their roles as senior working royals in 2020, and now live in California with their children Archie and Lilibet.

Meghan’s next episode of Archetypes will feature a conversation with Mariah Carey and is set to be released next week.

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Watch the trailer for Tyler Perry’s Netflix film ‘A Jazzman’s Blues’

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Tyler Perry is giving fans a sneak peek of his upcoming Netflix film, A Jazzman’s Blues.

Set in the deep South during the 1940s, the movie follows “a sweeping tale of forbidden love” between young Black couple Bayou (Joshua Boone) and Leanne (Solea Pfeiffer), a wealthy Black woman whose mother would prefer she find a mate within her class.

Released Tuesday, the trailer — soundtracked to Ruth B‘s “Paper Airplanes” — captures the hardships the star-crossed lovers face as outside parties try to break them up and teases a promising end with the words “true love will guide you home.”

A Jazzman’s Blues has been in the making since 1995, when Perry met playwright August Wilson at a party after attending one of his shows. After 27 years, he is now “ready for the world to see it.”

“I feel like it’s all that I wanted it to be and more,” Perry told Variety earlier this month at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. “I’m excited about the world seeing a different side of me.”

The movie — set to premiere next month at the Toronto International Film Festival — features songs arranged and produced by Grammy-winner Terence Blanchard, music from Aaron Zigman and choreography by Debbie Allen. It also stars Amirah VannAustin ScottMilauna Jemai JacksonBrent AntonelloBrad BenedictKario MarcelLana Young and Ryan Eggold.

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Keke Palmer explains her desire to play Whitney Houston in a movie

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If there’s one person Keke Palmer would love to play in a film, it’d be the late Whitney Houston. Her desire comes from wanting to do the singer some justice and tell her full story, unlike the projects that mainly discuss her highly publicized lows.

“I think that with Whitney’s story, a lot of times people exploit just the more sensational aspects in terms of her relationship with Bobby or the conversations around drug use,” Keke said in an interview with E! News. “I think there’s so much to Whitney that has not been explored in terms of just her family and her relation to the kind of music she did and how that was accepted culturally.”

“There’s just so many other nuanced aspects of who Whitney Houston is and the barriers that she broke, that I think have not been as explored,” she continued. “When I think about her story, I just would want to show her truly as the sweetheart that she was and everything that she did that changed culture forever.”

Keke’s wish to portray the “I Have Nothing” star is not far-fetched, at least not in the eyes of social media users. Last week, a fan sharing a compilation of funny Whitney clips tweeted, “Keke Palmer and Whitney Houston act exactly the same.”

Keke replied, “Let’s get the movie made y’all. I’m ready to ACK, we abt to weep in the theaters.”

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NeNe Leakes shares touching birthday tribute to late husband Greg

ABC/Paula Lobo

NeNe Leakes remembered her late husband Greg on what would have been his 67th birthday.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the Real Housewives of Atlanta alum shared a photo of the two in which she embraces him from behind.

“Missing the man that always had a plan!” she captioned the snapshot. “Today is a tuff one…every year on this date we would be out celebrating you! I can’t believe we are wishing you a heavenly Birthday today. I feel like you went somewhere and you’ll be back.”

“I miss you everyday Gregg!” she added. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH.”

Greg died in September 2021 of colon cancer. At the time, a representative for the couple told ABC News that Gregg “passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by all of his children, very close loved ones and wife NeNe Leakes.”

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Adrienne Bailon welcomes son Ever James with husband Israel Houghton: “We are so in love”

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation

Surprise! Adrienne Bailon and her husband Israel Houghton are officially parents!

Taking to Instagram Tuesday, the couple announced that they welcomed a baby boy via surrogacy named Ever James.

Alongside a heartwarming black-and-white photo of the trio snuggled in bed together, they wrote, “Ever James / For this child we have prayed / Just to hear our baby cry / Skin to skin and face to face /Heart to heart and eye to eye.”

“Our baby boy is here & we are so in love! If you have followed our love story… you know that our journey to baby has been very challenging – But God is true to His word and His promises,” the post continued.

Bailon and Houghton, who wed in 2016, continued, “We have quietly prayed while sitting on this most magnificent secret for the last 9 months. He is worth every tear, every disappointment, every delayed prayer, every IVF cycle, every miscarriage. Everything.”

The new parents shared that they feel “joy and overwhelming love & gratitude” after welcoming their son and thanked those who “have stood with us over 5 years on this journey.” 

“He’s here and we have never been happier to lose sleep!” the post concluded. 

The couple was flooded with congratulatory messages in the comments section, including from celebrities like Khloe Kardashian

“I am so beyond happy for you A!!! He is the luckiest little boy to have you both as his parents,” the reality star wrote. “You are going to be the most incredible mommy! I love you! Enjoy every second.”

Country singer Mickey GuytonReal Housewives of Atlanta alum NeNe Leakes and others also sent the couple well wishes.

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First trailer debuts for Oprah Winfrey-produced Sidney Poitier doc

Apple TV+

Apple TV+ has debuted the first trailer for Sidney, a documentary on the late legendary actor Sidney Poitier.

The documentary, produced by Oprah Winfrey, explores Poitier’s journey from his early life in the Bahamas to becoming a successful Hollywood actor and civil rights activist. It features interviews with Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Robert Redford, Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand, Spike Lee and more – as well as Poitier himself, filmed before his passing in January 2022 at age 94.

Poitier became the first Black man to win an Academy Award for best actor in 1964 for his role in Lilies of the Field. He also starred in films including To Sir, with Love; Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner; and In the Heat of the Night.

Sidney will premiere in select theaters and globally on Apple TV+ on September 23.

 

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