Here’s all the news you need to know:
Lena Waithe continues to collect her hardware for her incredible work in television and the big screen. MTV announced that The Chi creator is set to receive the 2018 MTV Movie & TV Trailblazer Award at this year’s ceremony on June 18. Amy Doyle, general manager of MTV, says Emmy award-winning writer “is shaking up Hollywood and breaking cultural boundaries through her innovative and authentic storytelling.” (VIBE)
Since Sunday, fans have speculated why Paris Jackson was absent during her aunt Janet’s 2018 Billboard Music Awards performance. The 20-year-old took to Instagram stories to clear up the rumors, citing family trauma and her need to handle family business privately. “Every family has their moments of trauma, heartbreak, separation, love, oneness, tribe, pain, everything. EVERY FAMILY. My family, specifically, and a good number of others…well, our drama is broadcasted worldwide through media. But that doesn’t mean our family issues are any different from yours. Ours are just made public.” (The Shade Room)
A female Baltimore County police officer was shot in the line of duty on Monday afternoon. According to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, she was responding to a report of a suspicious vehicle. A 16-year-old male has already been arrested in relation to the homicide. An official manhunt for three remaining suspects is underway. (Fox News)
A Black woman was left brain dead after a cosmetic surgery that went wrong. Bride-to-be Icilma Cornelius, 54, visited a Georgia medical spa for Botox but was persuaded to receive an additional procedure by Dr. Windell Boutte that would flatten her stomach in time for her wedding. After eight hours of surgery, Cornelius’ heart stopped and paramedics were called. Injuries sustained during surgery and transportation to the hospital left her in an unresponsive state. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
At 43, Kimora Lee Simmons graduated from Hartford University. The supermodel and fashion designer quietly enrolled in March and earned a business degree from the Barney School of Business. Standing with her son, Kenzo, she showed off her graduation gown on Instagram, writing “Passing the torch!” (Page Six)
Ana Suda and Mimi Hernandez were detained by Border Patrol for speaking Spanish. The U.S. citizens made a convenience store run around midnight in Montana near the Canadian border when the agent stopped them. After asking for their ID, Suda began recording. “Ma’am, the reason I asked you for your ID is because I came in here, and I saw that you guys are speaking Spanish, which is very unheard of up here,” the agent said on the video. The American Civil Liberties Union is looking into the unlawful incident. (Washington Post)
Cardi B released a music video for her chart-topping single, “Be Careful.” In her new vid, Cardi doubles as blushing bride-to-be and, soon after, a vengeful widow. Things may not end well for her on-screen relationship, but each of her looks are to die for. (Vulture)
Ava Duvernay will executive produce The Last Amazon, a mythical drama series that follows two Amazon queens Hippolyta and Antiope as they “campaign against Ancient Greece.” Written by Rafe Judkins and produced by Narcos‘ Gene Stein, the series will live on Atrium TV. (Shadow and Act)
More melanated faces will be on your TV. According to Variety, out of 88 key roles for the 2018-2019 season, 42 percent are characters of color and 42 percent are women. Also, of those women, 18 percent are women of color. The numbers show that broadcasts are inching much close to inclusion and equality. (Shadow and Act)
