They say you can’t choose your family but if you’re Taraji P. Henson, maybe you can. The Empire star knows exactly who she wants to play her parents on season 2 of the hit show.
“My wish would be for Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams to play my parents,” she said. “I have no idea [who it will be]. I want Oprah too. I want the world! I want everyone on the show. Bill, Hillary [Clinton]—come on! Everybody!” We hope you get your wish, Taraji! [Huffington Post]
Empire is getting a lot of love from viewers all over the world but not everyone is a fan of the show. At the 2015 Produced By Conference in Los Angeles, show creator Lee Daniels revealed that he and star Jussie Smollett have received death threats over the homosexual story lines. “Jussie and I get death threats because of the statements we are trying to make” Daniels said. “I have to relate to these people. That trash can scene? It happened.” News One]
Legendary artists Lauryn Hill, Grace Jones, Lenny Kravitz and Kelis will take the stage at this year’s Afropunk Festival. The festival, themed “Revival,” will take place August 22 to 23 in Brooklyn, New York. If you can’t get a ticket, don’t worry. Fans have an opportunity to volunteer for the festival in exchange for a ticket. Get more information here.
Ciara and Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson have been spotted out and about again this time spending the day with the young patients at the Seattle Children’s Hospital. The couple spent a philanthropic afternoon cheering up and cheering on the kids whose lives are on the line. That’s our idea of an awesome date! [Popsugar]
The Oprah Winfrey Network decided to pull the plug on the upcoming docu-series following Jay Williams, the man who fathered 34 children with 17 different women.
“OWN has decided not to move forward with the Jay Williams docu-series,” the network said in a statement. “The intention was to help Jay work to establish new connections with his family, his children and the mothers of his children. Production has ended and the series will not air.”
Williams came to fame after a controversial episode of Iyanla: Fix My Life where Iyanla Vanzant tried to help him put his life in order. [The Grio]
Got a business idea and don’t know where to start? Why not take it to the African American Festival in Baltimore, Maryland where they’re holding their second annual Best Pitch Comepetition. They’re looking for five finalists to pitch their best business idea. The deadline to enter is June 8. Get more details at BlackEnterprise.com.
We’re crazy about Michael Ealy even when he’s being crazy. Ealy is set to play a deranged, psycho stalker in a new film The Perfect Guy co-starring Sanaa Lathan and Morris Chestnut. Ealy will play the love interest of Lathan who over-protective way go a little too far. The Perfect Guy comes out September 2015. It looks like a must-see. [Necole Bitchie]
