Wendy Williams Guardianship Outrage May Help New York, What Happened At A$AP Rocky’s Gun Trial, MLK’s Family Reacts to Trump Releasing Assassination Files, Kemba Smith Pradia Gets A Second Chance And More

The Root’s most important and viral stories from the week.

Outrage Over Wendy Williams’ Guardianship May Do Some Good in New York

Wendy Williams attends the ceremony honoring her with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame held on October 17, 2019 in Hollywood, California. Photo: Getty Images Michael Tran/FilmMagic

If you’ve been paying any attention the recent news about Wendy Williams and the puzzling intricacies surrounding her longstanding guardianship and financial struggles, then this news will hopefully bring you some levity. – Shanelle Genai Read More

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Bakari Sellers: Why Elon Musk Should Scare Everyone

President Biden’s Record-Breaking Pardons Gives Kemba Smith Pradia a Second Chance

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 12: Kemba Smith and actress Testa Cooper during the premier of Kemba at St. Louis International Film Festival on November 12, 2023 in St Louis, Missouri. Photo: Getty Images Dilip Vishwanat

Former President Joe Biden has officially left the White House to make way for President Donald Trump 2.0 and his administration. But before leaving office, Biden made a host of pardons, setting the record for most pardons and sentence commutations by a president in a single term. – Angela Johnson Read More

Interesting Facts That Happened at A$AP Rocky’s Gun Trial This Week

ASAP Rocky is seen at the Superior Court of Los Angeles on January 22, 2025 in Los Angeles, California Photo: Getty Images DUTCH

Things are revving up for rapper A$AP Rocky and his ongoing criminal trial. The Root previously reported the MC, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is facing serious charges in connection to a 2021 incident in Hollywood where he allegedly shot at a former friend and A$AP mob member. – Phenix S Halley Read More

King Family Reacts to Trump’s Order to Release Files Related to MLK’s Assassination

Dr. Martin Luther King addresses some 2,000 people on the eve of his death. The former founder and Chairman of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was slain by an unknown assailant on April 4, 1968. Photo: Getty Images Bettmann

Less than a week into his first term, President Donald Trump has been on a roll signing more than 20 executive orders and actions on Inauguration Day, according to USA today. And he is showing no signs of slowing down, signing a January 23 executive order calling for the release of files connected to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. along with former President John F. Kennedy and former Senator Robert F. Kennedy. However, while Trump says “all will be revealed” when the information is made public, the family of Dr. King says they would like the chance to see the files before they are shared publicly. – Angela Johnson Read More

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

The Most Unhinged Moments from 'The Tyra Banks Show'

The Most Unhinged Moments from ‘The Tyra Banks Show’

“America’s Next Top Model” wasn’t the only Tyra Banks-led series that had completely unhinged moments! Now, her daytime talkshow is in the hot seat …
Exclusive: Wunmi Mosaku, More Black Leaders, Celebs Share Life-Changing Lessons

Exclusive: Wunmi Mosaku, More Black Leaders, Celebs Share Life-Changing Lessons

The Root Exclusive Series: Black History Month was established 100 years ago, in February 1926. To commemorate this momentous occasion, 100 Black thought leaders and creators share their collective wisdom and insight for the culture in this ongoing series …
Trayvon Martin and Other Black Men, Women Unjustly Killed

Trayvon Martin and Other Black Men, Women Unjustly Killed

14 years after Trayvon Martin was killed, these other Black men and women were also murdered in shocking similarity …
How Teyana Taylor's Daughter Stole the Entire Show at the 2026 Actor Awards

How Teyana Taylor’s Daughter Stole the Entire Show at the 2026 Actor Awards

While Teyana Taylor may have been the one nominated at the 2026 Actor Awards, her five-year-old daughter Rue was the one everyone kept their eyes on! …
The Real Reason This Black Candidate for Governor Could Receive Zero Black Votes in November

The Real Reason This Black Candidate for Governor Could Receive Zero Black Votes in November

It seems aligning himself with MAGA and Trump is costing Mich. Rep. John James crucial support from the Black community …
Everything You Were Never Told About the Enslaved Woman Who <i>Actually</i> Sparked the Salem Witch Trials

Everything You Were Never Told About the Enslaved Woman Who Actually Sparked the Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials began in March 1692 with a coerced confession— but the true story of the enslaved woman at the heart of it all is far more complex …
Don Lemon Slapped With Another Lawsuit as Minneapolis Churchgoer Claims His Protest Coverage Violated Her First Amendment Rights

Don Lemon Slapped With Another Lawsuit as Minneapolis Churchgoer Claims His Protest Coverage Violated Her First Amendment Rights

Ann Doucette alleged she was left with “severe emotional distress, fear, anxiety, and trauma” after Don Lemon and others covered a Minneapolis church protest …
All the Best Black Moments You Missed at the 2026 Actor Awards

All the Best Black Moments You Missed at the 2026 Actor Awards

There was a whole lot of Black excellence at the 2026 Actor Awards! In case you missed it, catch our breakdown …
Black Girls: Here's Why A $3.99 Trader Joe's Tote Could Be The Most Valuable Thing In Your Wardrobe

Black Girls: Here’s Why A $3.99 Trader Joe’s Tote Could Be The Most Valuable Thing In Your Wardrobe

A Black British writer observes a new fashion phenomenon across the pond: Trader Joe’s tote bags have become a coveted status symbol, echoing the appeal and exclusivity once held by the iconic Hermès Birkin bag …
You’ll Never Guess What 1990s Halle Berry Film Inspired Iman Shumpert to Invest in Uber

You’ll Never Guess What 1990s Halle Berry Film Inspired Iman Shumpert to Invest in Uber

Iman Shumpert opened up on ‘Club Shay Shay’ about how a ’90s Black film inspired him to invest early in Uber — and what he learned after cashing out too soon …
'Sinners' Star Jayme Lawson Breaks Silence Over BAFTA N-Word Incident

‘Sinners’ Star Jayme Lawson Breaks Silence Over BAFTA N-Word Incident

“Sinners” actress Jayme Lawson broke down why the BBC’s failure to censor the 2026 BAFTA broadcast was “careless” and lacked protection for Black talent …
Latino Man Threatens To Call Trump On Black Family For Being At Their Home

Latino Man Threatens To Call Trump On Black Family For Being At Their Home

After a Latino man harassed a Black family for moving into the neighborhood, social media is pointing out that Black folks will always be the most targeted by White Supremacy …
2026 NAACP Image Awards Best Moments and Surprises

2026 NAACP Image Awards Best Moments and Surprises

The 57th annual NAACP Image Awards went off without a hitch and was truly home to some much-needed blackity-black surprises and highlights! Let’s get into it! …
Why the 2026 Awards Season Is So Exciting for Black People

Why the 2026 Awards Season Is So Exciting for Black People

Withv the 2026 NAACP Image Awards, the Actor Awards (f.k.a. the SAG Awards) happening back to back to close out February and welcome in March, respectively, and then the Oscars on March 15—let’s take a quick look back on some of this seasons Blackest moments …
The 5 Saddest Revelations About Lamar Odom's Addiction

The 5 Saddest Revelations About Lamar Odom’s Addiction

Two-time NBA champion Lamar Odom has a storied relationship with substance addiction. He digs into it all in a new documentary …
We All Hate Tipping Culture, But Did You Know It's Rooted in Slavery?

We All Hate Tipping Culture, But Did You Know It’s Rooted in Slavery?

Wealthy American started the tipping culture in the mid-1800s, beginning a restaurant culture that remains steeped in the roots of slavery …
New Development After White NYC College Professor Makes Racist Comments on Work Zoom When She Thought She Was on Mute

New Development After White NYC College Professor Makes Racist Comments on Work Zoom When She Thought She Was on Mute

Allyson Friedman has identified herself as the college professor caught spewing racist language during a virtual council meeting …
A Full Timeline Of Singer D4vd's Mysterious Case of Celeste Rivas' Death

A Full Timeline Of Singer D4vd’s Mysterious Case of Celeste Rivas’ Death

D4vd was named a “target” in the investigation into the death of Celeste Rivas. Now, we’re catching you up on everything you might’ve missed until now …
Teyana Taylor Just Hit Another <i>Major</i> Milestone

Teyana Taylor Just Hit Another Major Milestone

Teyana Taylor keeps cementing her status in Hollywood and this year’s awards season. And this latest accomplishment from TIME Magazine is further proof of that! …
Black Folks Respond to the Clintons' Epstein Testimonies, and Phew!

Black Folks Respond to the Clintons’ Epstein Testimonies, and Phew!

After President Bill Clinton was named in the Epstein files, him and his wife were called before Congress …