Entertainment
Will Smith is BANNED, T.I gets a slice of humble pie, Bennifer is BACK and Hot New Shows
BY JANIECE CAMPBELL
Will Smith banned from attending Oscars for the next 10 years
In case you missed it (though it’s nearly impossible that you could have), viewers and attendees of the 94th Academy Awards were rattled after witnessing Will Smith slap Chris Rock following an insensitive joke made about Jada Pinkett-Smith. In the subsequent days, Smith resigned from the academy and apologized to Rock, calling his own behaviour “unacceptable and inexcusable.”
Recently, the academy announced that Will Smith would be banned from attending the Oscars and other related events for 10 years. In a statement, the academy’s president, David Rubin and its CEO Dawn Hudson deemed Smith’s actions “unacceptable and harmful,” but the decision has sparked reaction amongst online users who think otherwise.
With many reflecting on the past indecent actions of other academy members without any repercussions, there are some that seem way more unjustifiable in comparison to the open-handed smack. Several examples have arisen such as Woody Allen marrying his adopted daughter, Mel Gibson facing accusations of antisemitism and domestic violence, and Casey Affleck who won an Oscar after being accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Many have chalked up the academy’s harsh decision to blatant racism, and an attempt at making an example out of a Black man.
Despite the attendance ban, Smith is still eligible to be nominated and win Oscars.
Perhaps the one person everyone would love to hear from is Chris Rock, but he’s publicly said that he refuses to break his silence on the matter until he’s compensated for his account.
I. gets booed of stage days after a verbal clash with another comedian
Atlanta rapper T.I.’s recent venture into the world of comedy has had its ups and many downs lately.
Taking the stage amongst a heavy-hitting lineup at Power 105.1’s April Fools Comedy Jam, circulating videos on the internet show T.I. getting booed on multiple occasions throughout his set. In one clip, he tells a joke about determining whether or not a date is “for the streets.” It doesn’t go over well with the crowd and is met by boos and silence. Later on, he tells a joke about having sex with someone’s mom. The crowd didn’t respond well to that joke either.
This situation comes only days after getting in a heated exchange with a female comedian during an open mic comedy event. Footage shows T.I. getting irate after comedian Lauren Knight mentioned the sexual assault allegations against T.I. and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris. She claims her bringing up the allegations was a direct result of the rapper repeatedly heckling her during her set, calling her expletives and telling her to take her wig off.
A day later, a video surfaced of T.I. offering Knight a million dollars if she has proof of the alleged heckling, specifically when he apparently calls her a “bitch.” Sure enough, Knight indeed posted a video in which he appears to do exactly that.
The following day, T.I. posted a caption with a renewed energy, promoting Knight’s work and later posting a 9-minute video where the two appeared to settle their differences. Though the beef is squashed, Knight notes that she never received that $1M.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are engaged – again!
There’s a saying that goes “absence makes the heart grow fonder.” This may prove true for Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. After nearly twenty years apart and several relationships later, the two are engaged once again!
Lopez announced the engagement in a short video via her fan newsletter, On the JLo, in which she tearfully admires the green-hued diamond ring on her finger.
The couple first started dating in 2002, and were affectionately dubbed “Bennifer” by fans and the media. Within the year, Affleck has proposed to her with a 6.1 carat pink diamond worth $2.5M. Unfortunately, excessive media attention led to the couple postponing and eventually cancelling their wedding. In early 2004, Lopez completely called off the engagement, and subsequently married singer Marc Anthony by June of the same year.
Affleck also moved on, marrying Jennifer Garner in 2005.
However, both of their marriages eventually ended in divorce.
Their engagement announcement comes a year after Lopez’s called-off engagement to former baseball player Alex Rodriguez. Affleck smoothly swooped in and reconnected with the singer, both getting a second chance at their love story. The pair have been going strong since their 2021 reunion and have even purchased a $50M Bel-Air mansion together.
Let’s cross fingers and hope they make it down the aisle this time!
What’s on TV? Upcoming shows that should be added to your list!
Feeling like you’ve watched everything on TV? Well, there are quite a few shows and movies coming soon to your big screen that you should tap into!
- Choose or Die (premieres April 15) is described as the tale of a broke student who plays an obscure 1980s survival computer game in pursuit of an unclaimed $100,000 prize. Following a series of unexpectedly terrifying moments, she soon realizes that she’s no longer playing for the money, but for her own life.
- Selena (premieres April 17) is the re-release of the 1997 biographical film about the life and career of Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla, following her rise to fame and tragic death at the age of 23. The release is to commemorate what would have been her 51st birthday one day prior.
- Selling Sunset: Season 5 (premieres on April 22) is a reality show about the day-to-day life of real estate agents selling high-end homes within the elite Los Angeles market. The series focuses on how cutthroat it can be to fight over rich and famous clients and expensive properties, and it showcases the drama within the real estate group.
Oprah + Viola: A Netflix Special Event (premieres on April 22) is a 48-minute special centered around former talk show host Oprah Winfrey and Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis. The special will discuss Davis’s upcoming new memoir, Finding Me, and will give fans an inside look into the actress’s upbringing, career and more.