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Halle Berry Apologizes for Considering Playing Transgender Man for Film Role
Halle Berry issued a statement of apology on Monday after backlash for discussing her intentions to play a transgender man for a film she was pitched. She revealed she was considering the role during an Instagram Live session with hairstylist Christin Brown over the weekend. “As a cisgender woman, I now understand that I should…
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Did We Stutter? A Spinoff of The Office Centered Around Stanley is Gaining Attention
Fans of the NBC series The Office are getting in their last viewings before it disappears from Netflix in 2021, when the beloved show moves to NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock. While many are waiting to hear if the Peacock launch will come with a reboot of the show, one cast member is aiming to keep…
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Pharrell to Executive Produce Netflix Docuseries Centered Around Gospel Music
As if it were possible, it appears that Pharrell is in an even more creative space than usual. The music and entertainment mogul confirmed on Sunday at the virtual Essence Festival program “Get Lifted” that he will be teaming up with Netflix to present Voices of Fire. The show is billed as a docuseries centered…
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Small Minnesota Town Becomes Home of Life-Sized Prince Statue
Henderson, Minn., is the new home of a life-size bronze statue of the one and only Prince, a fitting memorial considering the tiny town was made famous after appearing in the late musician’s film Purple Rain. Prince fans may recognize Henderson from one of the scenes in Purple Rain where Apollonia Kotero (who portrayed Prince’s…
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John Legend Discusses Hollywood's Social and Moral Responsibilities (and His Verzuz Two-Step) With The Root
Ahead of Sunday’s 2020 BET Awards, the network’s annual ceremony celebrating the best in Black culture, nominee John Legend sat down with The Root to discuss some hot-button topics. The EGOT winner is up for “Best Collaboration” and “Video of the Year” honors for “Higher,” his song with DJ Khaled and the late Nipsey Hussle.…
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Aloe Blacc Releases New Song, Announces Next Album All Love Everything
Grammy-nominated musician Aloe Blacc returns to the music scene with his latest song, “My Way,” which will be featured on his forthcoming album All Love Everything. The LP is slated to drop on October 2. Blacc’s first full-length project in seven years will find him detailing his experiences and journey as a father, as well…
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Beyoncé to Receive 2020 Humanitarian Award at the 2020 BET Awards
At Sunday night’s BET Awards, Beyoncé will be the recipient of the 2020 Humanitarian Award, which will be presented virtually. According to a press release obtained by The Root, outside of her successful music career, Beyoncé has a proven philanthropic track record which demonstrates her ability to “give back to the world at large.” Some…
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Okayplayer/OkayAfrica CEO Resigns Amidst Toxic Workplace Allegations by Black Female Employees, Questlove Shares Company Statement
Several Black female employees and former employees came forward via Twitter to detail their experiences with a toxic working environment under Abiola Oke, the CEO and Publisher of the Okayplayer and OkayAfrica brands. A letter shared by the women who came forward—which includes former Music Editor Ivie Ani, former Marketing Manager Oyinkan Olojede and former…
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Opting to Stay Inside? There Are So Many Virtual Events to Check Out
The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and COVID-19 is still a thing. If you’re still planning on staying indoors regardless of whether your state began to open back up, social media is chock full of entertainment at your fingertips. The Root is here with options to keep occupied while socially distancing. Not only…
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Kerry Washington Says Hollywood's Diversity Commitment 'Still Centers Whiteness'
The country is experiencing a racial awakening in response to the police brutality protests that are still taking place after George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s deaths. Anti-racism books are flying off of shelves, streaming services have dedicated blocks of programming to Black shows and movies, and general interest in Black stories has risen for weeks.…