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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Bakari Sellers Names the Most Effective Ways for Black Americans to Organize and Make a Change

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

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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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Inside the Unnecessary Renovations Trump Is Making to the White House

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Here’s all of the changes Trump’s made to the White House in his second term, including his controversial ballroom construction …
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The Highs and Messy Lows of R&B Group En Vogue

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Brandy Says She Had a Relationship With a Boyz II Men Star When She was 16

Brandy Says She Had a Relationship With a Boyz II Men Star When She was 16

Brandy Norwood is finally opening up about the relationship she shared with Boyz II Men member Wanya Morris. And the details are as eye-opening as you’d expect! …
White Influencer's Bizarre Defense After She Was Caught Editing Her Face on Black Model's Photo

White Influencer’s Bizarre Defense After She Was Caught Editing Her Face on Black Model’s Photo

You’ll never guess what Lauren Blake Boultier, a white influencer, blamed after she allegedly stole a Black model’s photo in a bizarre Photoshop fail …
Olandria's New Sports Illustrated Feature & Red Carpet Slayings Prove She's Here to Stay!

Olandria’s New Sports Illustrated Feature & Red Carpet Slayings Prove She’s Here to Stay!

Olandria Carthen may have gained fame from ‘Love Island,’ but she’s clearly here to stay for a long time. Let’s talk about it! …
NAACP LDF Head: Trump's Birthright Citizenship Challenge Is a Danger to Black Americans

NAACP LDF Head: Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Challenge Is a Danger to Black Americans

The Root spoke with the president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund on what Black Americans should brace for ahead of the Supreme Court’s case on birthright citizenship …
New Study Links 'Everywhere Chemicals' Found in Plastics to 2 Million Premature Births

New Study Links ‘Everywhere Chemicals’ Found in Plastics to 2 Million Premature Births

In a study covering more than 200 countries, researchers traced two plastic-based chemicals to approximately 2 million early births and 74,000 infant deaths in 2018 alone …
Black NJ Congresswoman Speaks On Facing 17 Years in Prison for Visiting ICE Detainees

Black NJ Congresswoman Speaks On Facing 17 Years in Prison for Visiting ICE Detainees

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. LaMonica McIver, who is facing up to 17 years behind bars stemming from a legally protected visit to an ICE detention facility”, speaks to The Root …
Inside FKA Twigs, Shia LaBeouf's Relationship Drama

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Amber Rose Wants White People to Be Able to Say the N-Word Without Consequence...Here's Why

Amber Rose Wants White People to Be Able to Say the N-Word Without Consequence…Here’s Why

Amber Rose says she allows her kids to curse because they have free speech, AND that white people should say the N-word…and the backlash was swift …
Why 'Paradise' Season Two Finale Has Fans So Shook!

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The season two finale of Sterling K. Brown’s ‘Paradise’ has folks all over social media talking—and for good reason. Let’s get into it! …
NBA Player Fired Over Anti-LGBTQ Pride Month Comments Sparks Free Speech Debate

NBA Player Fired Over Anti-LGBTQ Pride Month Comments Sparks Free Speech Debate

In a heated debate over religion vs. policy, the Chicago Bulls just waived Jaden Ivey for speaking out about the NBA’s pride nights …
Why Every Black American Must Watch the Birthright Citizenship Fight This Week

Why Every Black American Must Watch the Birthright Citizenship Fight This Week

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on President Trump’s attempt to axe the 14th Amendment, guaranteeing citizenship for the descendants of slavery …
Tisha Campbell Explains Why She'll Always 'Protect' Martin Lawrence, But the Internet Has Questions

Tisha Campbell Explains Why She’ll Always ‘Protect’ Martin Lawrence, But the Internet Has Questions

Tisha Campbell may have more positive feelings for her former costar Martin Lawrence now, but some folks online aren’t buying it. Let’s get into why! …
House Democrat Seeks Reparations for Immigrants Impacted By Trump's Policies

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Rep. Pramila Jayapal calls for reparations for immigrant families tramatized by Trump’s mass deportation policy …
Black Virginia Family Finds Army Discharge Papers That Unlock a Mother's Secret WWII Legacy

Black Virginia Family Finds Army Discharge Papers That Unlock a Mother’s Secret WWII Legacy

Stacy Brown and her family had no idea that her mother was one of more than 800 women assigned to the only all-Black female battalion during World War II …
What it Cost My Family to Find My Cousin in a Country That Often Forgets Black Women

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For Black people, uncertainty in America is a frequent state of existence because we are categorically less safe …
Rihanna Home Shooting Suspect Did This Wild Thing Just Months Before Allegedly Committing Crime

Rihanna Home Shooting Suspect Did This Wild Thing Just Months Before Allegedly Committing Crime

More information about the woman charged with shooting at Rihanna’s home have been released and it’s truly disturbing! …
Florida’s Rooney Rule Challenge is Rooted in White Supremacy – and Legal Fiction

Florida’s Rooney Rule Challenge is Rooted in White Supremacy – and Legal Fiction

OPINION: The ongoing legal challenge to Florida’s Rooney Rule, a policy designed to promote diversity in the hiring of state college coaches and athletic directors, must be understood not as a legitimate legal argument, but as an act of legal fiction rooted in white supremacy …
Top 5 Black Disney TV Shows, Movies That Deserve Anniversary Specials

Top 5 Black Disney TV Shows, Movies That Deserve Anniversary Specials

While many fans are happy about the recent ‘Hannah Montana’ anniversary special, let’s take a look at some Black Disney shows that are deserving of one, too! …