Coffee Talk: Queen Latifah to Host Nobel Peace Prize Concert

There’s a lot of Coffee Talk today. Grab your mug and let’s get right into it.

Queen Latifah will host the Nobel Peace Prize concert, a musical celebration in honoring the year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureates, in Oslo, Norway on Dec. 11. “I’m thrilled to be a part of this year’s concert and to help celebrate such amazing individuals who have each worked so hard on behalf of children’s rights to education,” Latifah said in a statement to ESSENCE. The concert will honor Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai—the youngest recipient of the prize—for “their struggle against the oppression of children and young people, and for the right of all children to education.” 

Bills Cosby’s lawyer is firing back at model Janice Dickinson, the latest woman to come forward with a rape accusation. Cosby’s attorney, Martin Singer, sent a letter to Buzzfeed after they reported on Dickinson telling them not to repeat her story. “If you recklessly publish the story instead of checking readily available information demonstrating its falsity all those involved will be exposed to very substantial liability,” Singer wrote. “You proceed at your own peril.” [Buzzfeed]

A few of our favorite stars will be reuniting for some upcoming thrillers. Morris Chestnut has signed a three-picture deal with Screen Gems as an actor and producer. As part of that deal, he’ll appear in The Perfect Guy with Sanaa Lathan and Michael Ealy, and another psychological thriller, When The Bough Breaks, co-starring Regina Hall. [Deadline]

Comedian Dave Chappelle and former NFL player Michael Sam featured on two covers of GQ’s “Men (and Women) of the Year” issue.  Inside the issue, Chappelle shares his childhood dream of performing at Radio City Music Hall. “When I was 19, I used to walk up to 6th Avenue and look at the marquee of Radio City. I’d be like, ‘Man, I just want to…Radio City!’” The comedian wrapped up a series of shows at Radio City just this summer. [GQ]

The upcoming American Black Film Festival is expanding to include television writers and workshops in hopes of increasing diversity in both the film and television industries. “With renewed prestige of mainstream television…the ABFF will now feature more television-related content that networks can draw on to…promote programming to African American viewers,” said founder and CEO Jeff Friday in a statement to ESSENCE. The four-day event will take place from June 11-14 in New York City. [ABFF]

Mary J. Blige was just added to the already sizzling list of performers at this year’s A Very GRAMMY Christmas, scheduled to air December 5 at 9 p.m. ET. The London Sessions singer will join Pharrell Williams, Big Sean, and host LL Cool J. It’s gearing up to be a hot show. [Grammys]