• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · News

Coffee Talk: Zoe Saldana Says She 'Wasn't Right' for the Part of Nina Simone in Upcoming Biopic

Plus: Tyrese Gibson and Rev Run are getting a talk show on OWN, the number of police-related deaths in 2015 has reached 500, a female rapper is coming to 'Empire,' and more!

By · June 12, 2015October 27, 2020
01
Zoe Saldana Admits She ‘Wasn’t Right’ for the Part of Nina Simone

Remember the backlash that Zoe Saldana received after she signed on to play Nina Simone in an upcoming biopic (critics said that her complexion was too light to play the dark-skinned Simone)? Well, the actress is speaking out now and admitting that maybe she wasn’t right for the part. “I didn’t think I was right for the part, and I know a lot of people will agree, but then again, I don’t think Elizabeth Taylor was right for Cleopatra either,” she said in the July issue of InStyle. “An artist is colorless, genderless… It’s more complex than just ‘Oh, you chose the Halle Berry look-alike to play a dark, strikingly beautiful, iconic black woman.’ The truth is, they chose an artist who was willing to sacrifice herself. We needed to tell her story because she deserves it.” [Huffington Post]

Jeffrey Mayer/ Getty
02
Tyrese Gibson and Rev Run Are Getting a Talk Show on OWN

Tyrese Gibson and Rev Run are coming to daytime TV! Following the success of their bestseller, Man-ology, the long-time friends have signed on for an eight-episode love and relationship talk show, to debut early next year on OWN. The unnamed series will sit down with celebrity guests to chat about all things relationships—no-holds-barred. Will you be tuning in? [Variety]

Getty Images
03
The Number of Police-Related Deaths in 2015 Reaches 500

Will it ever end? The number of reported police-related deaths that have occurred in 2015 have reached a staggering 500, which works out to nearly three per day. Twenty-eight percent of the victims have been Black. What’s more appalling? Police departments aren’t required to submit the deaths that occur in their custody. The FBI’s program, which tracks the deaths, is completely voluntary, which means that there might be more unreported deaths. [The Guardian]

Andrew Burton/Getty Images
04
Rick Ross Was Arrested on Marijuana Charges

Oh no! It doesn’t sound like Rick Ross is having a great week. The rapper was arrested earlier this week on marijuana charges after a Georgia police officer pulled him over for a tinted-window violation and found five joints in his car. He was taken into custody, and remains in a county jail. [People]

05
A Female Rapper is Coming to ‘Empire’

Might there be a hot new MC on her way to Empire next fall? All signs seem to point to yes thanks to a leaked plotline. Empire recently put out a casting call for the character of Better Barz, a female teenage rapper who has won “more rhyme battles and girls’ hearts than the best male vets on her block.” We can’t wait to hear Betty’s rhymes come September. [Complex]

Fox

Read More

Lifestyle
Shop These Valentine's Day Gifts By Black-Owned Brands
News
My VP Looks Like Me: These Inauguration Day Tribute Photos W...
Black Celeb Couples
Black Love: Barack and Michelle Obama's Love Through the Years
Entertainment
‘Bridgerton’ Is Getting A Second Season
Health & Wellness
Tiffany Haddish Unveils Her Slimmed Down Figure After 30-Day...
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now