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

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Samuel L. Jackson, John David and Malcolm Washington on ‘The Piano Lesson,’ Family and Legacy

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.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Claudette Colvin and Other Black Stars We Lost in 2026

Claudette Colvin and Other Black Stars We Lost in 2026

We are honoring all of the Black stars who left us in 2026 …
Here's All You Need to Know About Why Our HBCUs Are So Beloved

Here’s All You Need to Know About Why Our HBCUs Are So Beloved

As concerns that Black youth aren’t exposed to HBCUs fester, here are some interesting facts about historically Black colleges that you probably didn’t know …
Why Druski's Megachurch Skit Has the Black Internet's Feathers All Ruffled!

Why Druski’s Megachurch Skit Has the Black Internet’s Feathers All Ruffled!

Druski’s viral parody of flying preachers and their designer drip has the internet debating the fine line between megachurch ministry and performance …
5 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Sisters!

5 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Sisters!

These five powerhouse women are shaking up Hollywood, politics, and culture, carrying forward Delta Sigma Theta’s legacy of excellence and impact! …
The Bizarre Story of Why a Chicago Convicted Murderer Will Get Paid MILLIONS After Dismembering Her Landlord

The Bizarre Story of Why a Chicago Convicted Murderer Will Get Paid MILLIONS After Dismembering Her Landlord

Despite dismembering her landlord after she was evicted, a Chicago woman was just awarded a $3 million taxpayer-funded payout …
Mathew Knowles Is Defending Beyoncé's New Billionaire Status

Mathew Knowles Is Defending Beyoncé’s New Billionaire Status

While haters and detractors of Beyoncé may form their own opinion about her new billionaire status, her father Mathew Knowles is setting the record straight …
Martin Lawrence Sets The Record Straight About Those Alleged 'Colorism' Jokes On His Iconic Show

Martin Lawrence Sets The Record Straight About Those Alleged ‘Colorism’ Jokes On His Iconic Show

Martin Lawrence is finally weighing on the chatter involving his popular past show and the alleged colorism-laced jokes that weew present in the series! …
The Smithsonian Faces White House Deadline TODAY— Here's How Black History Could Be at Risk

The Smithsonian Faces White House Deadline TODAY— Here’s How Black History Could Be at Risk

The Smithsonian is facing a White House deadline today to prove its exhibits don’t contain “improper ideology,” with the National Museum of African American History and Culture caught in the crossfire …
Who's This White Lady Who Joined a Famous Black Sorority? Her Badass Story Will Inspire You!

Who’s This White Lady Who Joined a Famous Black Sorority? Her Badass Story Will Inspire You!

Joan Mulholland wasn’t just trying to wear paraphernalia. She was about the movement …
Nicole Richie’s Teen Daughter Looks JUST Like Her and the Internet is Obsessed!

Nicole Richie’s Teen Daughter Looks JUST Like Her and the Internet is Obsessed!

Reality star Nicole Richie just posted some vintage photos of her now-18-year-old daughter– and the internet is loving it! …
Teyana Taylor Finally Addresses Criticism Over Her 'Hypersexual' Role in 'One Battle After Another'

Teyana Taylor Finally Addresses Criticism Over Her ‘Hypersexual’ Role in ‘One Battle After Another’

Teyana Taylor’s Golden Globe-winning ‘One Battle After Another’ performance has garnered mixed reactions. And now, she’s finally addressing the criticism! …
Baton Rouge Teen Was Blocked on TikTok by the Woman She Was Dating, So She Allegedly Did the Unthinkable

Baton Rouge Teen Was Blocked on TikTok by the Woman She Was Dating, So She Allegedly Did the Unthinkable

Paulasia Banks is accused of the unthinkable after Kassidy Jackson, a woman she had been dating, allegedly blocked her on TikTok …
Listen Up, Golden Globes – These Black Podcasts Need to Be On Your Radar

Listen Up, Golden Globes – These Black Podcasts Need to Be On Your Radar

Now that the Golden Globes have added a Best Podcast category, there are more than a handful of Black pods that deserve to be in the conversation! …
NYT Just Confirmed Why The Left Was Right About Trump Being a Fascist

NYT Just Confirmed Why The Left Was Right About Trump Being a Fascist

After much debate on whether Trump is a fascist, we finally break it down for you …
Heartbreaking New Update in Missing Chicago Teacher Case Linda Brown

Heartbreaking New Update in Missing Chicago Teacher Case Linda Brown

Just over a week after Chicago special education teacher Linda Brown went missing, the search for her reached a heartbreaking conclusion Monday …
'One Battle After Another' is a Well Made Movie... With Racist Themes

‘One Battle After Another’ is a Well Made Movie… With Racist Themes

OPINION: Paul Thomas Anderson is married to a Black woman. He should know better than to make a movie like this …
Employees Say They're Not Getting Paid While Diddy Is Behind Bars. Now He's Speaking Out

Employees Say They’re Not Getting Paid While Diddy Is Behind Bars. Now He’s Speaking Out

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ employees are looking for their money, but his people are saying there’s nothing to worry about. Let’s break it down! …
A$AP Rocky Reveals the Major Way His Kids Changed Him

A$AP Rocky Reveals the Major Way His Kids Changed Him

A$AP Rocky rarely misses a moment to talk about his three children, but this latest revelation might be the sweetest one yet! …
Why These 2 Comedians Owed Rep. Jasmine Crockett the Biggest Apology EVER

Why These 2 Comedians Owed Rep. Jasmine Crockett the Biggest Apology EVER

Black folks are still dragging two non-Black comedians after they called for folks NOT to support Rep. Jasmine Crockett in her bid for Senate …
New Development In Drew Dixon's Longstanding Legal Battle With L.A. Reid

New Development In Drew Dixon’s Longstanding Legal Battle With L.A. Reid

Music exec Drew Dixon is speaking out about her years-long legal battle with her former boss L.A. Reid, whom she accused of sexual assault in 2023 …