Stars React To O.J. Simpson’s Death, Billy Dee Williams Gets Cringey, R. Kelly’s Wife Spills More Tea and More

A collection of The Root’s best posts of the week in entertainment

Photo: Josh Burkholder Photography

R. Kelly’s Ex-Wife Drea Kelly Reflects on Alleged Physical, Financial Abuse—What Else Does She Know?

Photo: Josh Burkholder Photography Photo: Josh Burkholder Photography

R. Kelly’s ex-wife Andrea “Drea” Kelly is speaking up and shedding light on her alleged physical and financially abusive marriage to the disgraced R&B singer. – Shanelle Genai Read More

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Dreaming of NYSE? Adopt an Entrepreneurial Mindset First, Loren Douglass says

Celebrities React to O.J. Simpson’s Death, And It’s Not Pretty

Screenshot: Screenshot taken from X Screenshot: Screenshot taken from X

News of O.J. Simpson’s death after battling cancer sent shockwaves across the country, with many stars sharing their thoughts on his polarizing legacy. – Candace McDuffie Read More

Black Twitter Reacts to Sudden Death of O.J. Simpson and … They Ain’t Sad

Photo: Wikicommons Photo: Wikicommons

I audibly said, “Wait, what?!” when I looked down at my phone to see the notification.

“O.J. Simpson dead at 76,” a headline read.

Orenthal James Simpson was arguably America’s most sensationalized human being. He was an NFL star for 11 seasons but his stardom was stained by his widely controversial trial on murder charges in connection to the death of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend, Ron Goldman. – Kalyn Womack Read More

WTF?! Billy Dee Williams Is About to Piss Everyone Off With These Blackface Comments

Photo: Getty Images Ethan Miller/FilmMagic Photo: Getty Images Ethan Miller/FilmMagic

Billy Dee Williams, 87, has been giving outspoken interviews left and right since the release of his memoir, “What Have We Here?: Portraits of A Life,” in February. But his latest comments about the use of blackface in acting might get him into a whole lot of trouble with Black Hollywood. – Shanelle Genai Read More

K. Michelle Caught Debating Homosexuality and Religion on Social Media, And She Made a Big Point

Photo: Getty Images Jeff Hahne Photo: Getty Images Jeff Hahne

Singer K. Michelle wants people to know that while she considers herself a Christian, she’s not going along with people who use the Bible as an argument against homosexuality. – Angela Johnson Read More

A Judge Ruled on Jonathan Majors’ Fate, but Will Hollywood Allow Him to Return?

Photo: Getty Images Robert Smith/Patrick McMullan Photo: Getty Images Robert Smith/Patrick McMullan

On Monday, Jonathan Majors learned his legal fate with regard to the domestic dispute trial in which he was convicted of third degree reckless assault and harassment back in Dec. 2023. – Shanelle Genai Read More

Rihanna Just Gave the Best Interview, But Some Can’t Get Past the Cover Photo

Screenshot: YouTube Screenshot: YouTube

Rihanna just gave fans the next best thing to new music – a revealing magazine interview and photoshoot. RiRi is the cover girl for the Spring 2024 issue of Interview magazine where she talks about everything from how she met her partner A$AP Rocky to what she keeps in her diaper bag. And while fans usually love to soak up every bit of the “Rude Boy” singer they can, this time, some online have a lot to say about her look. – Angela Johnson Read More

People Are Not Feeling Jerrod Carmichael’s Sexual Slave ‘Jokes’ With White Boyfriend

Photo: Getty Images Rich Polk Photo: Getty Images Rich Polk

Comedian Jerrod Carmichael’s new HBO show may be lauded for making folks necessarily uncomfortable, but there was nothing necessary about his latest quip about allegedly engaging in “slave play” with his white boyfriend. – Candace McDuffie Read More

Wendell Pierce Is Hyped About His New Show ‘Elsbeth’, Reminisces on His Iconic Roles

Pierce, who gained notoriety in ‘The Wire’ and ‘Waiting to Exchale’, is starring in the new CBS drama whose titular character was spun-off from ‘The Good Wife.’

‘The Walking Dead’ & Other Top TV Shows Released in 2024 You Should Be Watching

Slim pickings on new shows this week so we’ve compiled the top 3 shows featuring some of our favorite Black characters and actors.

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The Essential Luther Vandross Playlist of His Best Songs

The Essential Luther Vandross Playlist of His Best Songs

The late Luther Vandross is still a trending topic thanks to the 2026 Grammys. So what better time than now to take a look at some of his best songs! …
'Sinners' Star Delroy Lindo's Best Movies, By the Box Office

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Veteran actor Delroy Lindo is now a first-time Oscar nominee! In honor of his achievement, let’s take a look back at his impressive filmography by box office numbers! …
NFL Star Russell Wilson Shuts Down Rumors After His Name Appears in Epstein Files

NFL Star Russell Wilson Shuts Down Rumors After His Name Appears in Epstein Files

Russell Wilson responds after being name-dropped in the Epstein files …
You'll Be Shocked at How Much These Black TV Actors <i>Really</i> Get Paid...

You’ll Be Shocked at How Much These Black TV Actors Really Get Paid…

Black actors have notoriously gotten underpaid and now Melvin Gregg and Danielle Brooks are pulling back the layers on how little they earned when first starting off! …
Why Some Wendy Williams Fans are Shading Sherri Shepherd Over Her Show Cancelation

Why Some Wendy Williams Fans are Shading Sherri Shepherd Over Her Show Cancelation

Fans of talk show host Wendy Williams are not being shy about how they feel about the news that Sherri Shepherd’s show has been cancelled …
The Victim of R. Kelly's Infamous Sex Tape Finally Breaks Her Silence -- and Reclaims Her Identity

The Victim of R. Kelly’s Infamous Sex Tape Finally Breaks Her Silence — and Reclaims Her Identity

EXCLUSIVE: The world knew about the infamous R. Kelly sex tape, but they’ve never heard from its victim…until now …
BHM 2026: Why Gen Z Should Watch These Classic Black Shows This Black History Month

BHM 2026: Why Gen Z Should Watch These Classic Black Shows This Black History Month

From “The Jeffersons” to “All That,” here are 13 Black TV shows that Gen Z and millennials should absolutely watch this Black History Month …
Why Black Folks Need To Remain Alert To New Powers ICE Agents Have Been Granted

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Pastor and leader of the digital faith community, The Faith Community, Kristian A. Smith, is laying out the reasons why Black folks need to pay attention to what ICE is doing …
Don Lemon Describes the Moments of His Arrest by FBI Agents

Don Lemon Describes the Moments of His Arrest by FBI Agents

Don Lemon finally reveals the shocking moments of his arrest by federal agents last week …
The One, Hilarious Thing Keke Palmer Refuses to Do In Relationships

The One, Hilarious Thing Keke Palmer Refuses to Do In Relationships

Keke Palmer is never scared to share her opinions on love and relationships. But her latest revelation is both frank and hilarious! …
Bernice King Chimes In After Shaboozey's Grammy Speech Takes an Awkward Turn 

Bernice King Chimes In After Shaboozey’s Grammy Speech Takes an Awkward Turn 

After Shaboozey’s Grammy speech caused a stir online about Black Americans and immigrants, Dr. Bernice King has responded …
Why It's Finally Time for Everyone to Mute Cam Newton

Why It’s Finally Time for Everyone to Mute Cam Newton

Cam Newton’s popular ‘Funky Friday’ podcast may have an audience, but his absurd opinions have started to …
Famous Pastor Reveals the Biblical Truth About 'Submissive Wives' That Social Media Ignores

Famous Pastor Reveals the Biblical Truth About ‘Submissive Wives’ That Social Media Ignores

As red pill rhetoric reshapes conversations about marriage and gender roles, the Brooklyn pastor breaks down what biblical submission actually means — and why it’s been so widely misunderstood …
Elon Musk Threatens Boycott of 'The Odyssey' After Black Actress Chosen As World's Most Beautiful Woman

Elon Musk Threatens Boycott of ‘The Odyssey’ After Black Actress Chosen As World’s Most Beautiful Woman

Elon Musk is causing a stir online after rumors of an Oscar-winning actress joining the cast of “The Odyssey” began circulating online …
Breaking Down Pat McGrath Lab's Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing

Breaking Down Pat McGrath Lab’s Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing

While some are worried that her Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing means the end for another Black-owned beauty brand, Pat McGrath says she’s not going anywhere …
How a Snow-Packed 'Stolen' Parking Spot in Pittsburgh Turned Into a Viral, and Hilarious, TikTok Series

How a Snow-Packed ‘Stolen’ Parking Spot in Pittsburgh Turned Into a Viral, and Hilarious, TikTok Series

It’s an unwritten rule in some cities: don’t park in spaces you didn’t shovel. But one Pittsburgh driver found out the hard way in TikToks that’s going viral! …
Everyone's Saying the Same Thing About Pharrell Williams' Grammys Speech -- and It's Not Cute

Everyone’s Saying the Same Thing About Pharrell Williams’ Grammys Speech — and It’s Not Cute

Pharrell Williams accepted the Dr. Dre Global Impact Awards at the 2026 Grammys on Sunday, but his speech has got the internet annoyed and offput. Let’s get into why! …
Michael Jackson's Newly Released Recordings About Children Might Creep You Out

Michael Jackson’s Newly Released Recordings About Children Might Creep You Out

A new four-part docuseries about the 2005 trial of Michael Jackson includes disturbing new audio recordings of the singer talking about his relationship with children …
The Humiliating Reason a Tuskegee University Coach Was Handcuffed, Escorted From Rival Morehouse Game

The Humiliating Reason a Tuskegee University Coach Was Handcuffed, Escorted From Rival Morehouse Game

Tuskegee University is speaking out after its coach was handcuffed and escorted away after a rival basketball game against Morehouse …
All the Grammys 2026 Stars Who Called out ICE and Trump On Air

All the Grammys 2026 Stars Who Called out ICE and Trump On Air

Kehlani, Bad Bunny, Shaboozey and more stars who spoke out against ICE and President Trump at the 68th Grammy Awards …