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The Root •

Idris Elba Reveals He's in Therapy to Break an “Unhealthy Habit”

When it comes to effortlessly moving through Hollywood and flipping that acquired fame to grow a brand across multiple entertainment platforms, Idris Elba immediately comes to mind.


It’s easy to forget that this dude was born in one of London’s most thorough neighborhoods in Hackney after he seamlessly took up the role of the brilliant, yet ruthless Baltimore gangsta Stringer Bell in HBO’s The Wire. Completely abandoning his native English accent, it seemed convincing audiences wasn’t a chall
The Root •

Is Ozy's Carlos Watson Pulling the Race Card or Is He Unjustly Being Persecuted for Fraud?

Being Black in America, you come to a fast realization that bias and racial discrimination exist all throughout society. That idea is even more true when it comes to the legal system. So when someone from the community wages allegations of inequity, it really isn’t all that hard to believe – especially when they are established and respected.

For Carlos Watson, founder and CEO of Ozy Media, this is the exact scenario he never wanted to find himself in. Prior to launching Ozy in 2012, Watson car
The Root •

Diddy Paid Millions for Kerry James Marshall’s Artwork, But That’s Not Why You Should Know Him.

Perhaps it’s a name you’re not quite familiar with, but it is one you should learn. Forget that he has been called the “most expensive Black artist” and try not to focus on the fact that a big Hip-hop star bought his work for $21 million.

Kerry James Marshall is renowned as one of the world’s greatest living painters and is ranked among the highest selling artisans today. And he’s pushing Black figures to the forefront of his work in an effort to boost their presence where it might otherwise be
The Root •

Chris Rock Has Something Else to Say About Jada Pinkett Smith's Recent Comments about Him

Chris Rock is apparently tired of being dragged into the Jada and Will Smith drama and I think I can speak for many people when I say WE ARE ALL TIRED.

The latest in the Rock-Pinkett-Smith drama comes from a slate of interviews Jada has done in the last week promoting her new book Worthy, which publisher Harper Collins describes as “gripping, at times painfully honest.” In a chat with Hoda Kotb on TODAY, Smith dropped a bombshell about her marriage that left all of us scratching our heads.

“I’
Cheddar News •

Omar Epps Talks 'Raising Kanan' Season 2, The Powerverse & His Favorite Roles

Omar Epps attends the Starz television series "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" season 2 premiere at the Bowery Hotel on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Since actor Omar Epps's breakout role in Juice premiered in theaters over 30 years ago he's left his mark in the world of film and television. As season two of Power Book III: Raising Kanan gets ready to hit Starz on August 14, Epps spoke to Cheddar News about the series and some of his beloved roles.

Thou
Cheddar News •

Erika Alexander, Whitney Dow on the Pursuit for Reparations in 'The Big Payback'

Erika Alexander, Whitney Dow on the Pursuit for Reparations in 'The Big Payback'

With Evanston's groundbreaking move in becoming the first U.S. city to begin distributing reparations to its Black residents this year, the film's debut under a national spotlight is fitting. The program in Evanston could help shape the framework for a federal program, according to Dow. He noted that local and state governments have to lead the charge if there is to be real movement on the issue of reparations.

"L
Cheddar News •

How Naomi Osaka, Advocacy Groups Normalize Conversations on Mental Health

Naomi Osaka of Japan attends her press conference during the Mutua Madrid Open 2022 at La Caja Magica on May 01, 2022, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)

The conversation became even more magnified as people around the world watched four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka pull out of the 2021 French Open after being fined for skipping press conferences that she said negatively impacted her mental wellbeing. The tennis star has since become a poster chi
Cheddar News •

Michael Beasley Says Mental Health Struggles Don’t Define Him

Michael Beasley #11 of 3's Company stares down Stacy Davis #5 of the Ball Hogs during BIG3 Week Six at Comerica Center on July 23, 2022 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images for BIG3)

After a few personal setbacks, former NBA star Michael Beasley is on a mission to return to competition at its highest level and he's looking to inspire a generation in the process.

Beasley, the 2008 number two overall draft pick, and his personal battles on and off the court have been well docume
Cheddar News •

CultureCon CEO Imani Ellis Eyes Community as Annual Conference Expands

Imani Ellis at CultureCon 2022 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, October 8, 2022. Credit: Wendy Ngala

CultureCon 2022 made its final stop in New York City last weekend and there was a ton of star power in the building to help close the conference tour with a bang.

The conference has blossomed into a multi-city tour with stops in Atlanta and Los Angeles earlier this year. It's propelled by a number of big name sponsors including Nike, HBO, and Google, but for Imani Ellis, the founder and CEO of Cultur
Cheddar News •

Martina Navratilova, Sloane Stephens Talk Mental Health Days Before U.S. Open

Former professional tennis player Martina Navratilova speaks during a women's health panel discussion at WTA's "Her Health Advantage" Event presented by Hologic at Chelsea Piers on August 25, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

When gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of the 2020 Tokyo Games, it shocked Olympic watchers. Not only was one of the top sports stars voluntarily pulling out in the middle of the games, but it was unnerving to realize that one of t
Cheddar News •

What Goes Into Executing the Perfect Music Festival

What Goes Into Executing the Perfect Music Festival

Earlier this year, as I strolled into the Broccoli City Festival at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, it wasn't just Don Toliver's Flocky Flocky blaring through the venue's sound system as he rocked the stage in front of 30,000 hip-hop heads that caught my attention. The giant ferris wheel and the sprawling layout of concessions, games, activations, and highly-Instagrammable photo booths energized me even more to get the weekend's festivities sta
Cheddar News •

'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Is a Touching Tribute to Chadwick Boseman: Review

This image released by Marvel Studios shows Letitia Wright in a scene from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." (Marvel Studios via AP)

Ryan Coogler knocked it out of the park and accomplished a near-impossible task with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It is a worthy sequel film that stands firmly on its own, so much so that it doesn't really feel like it's part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Black Panther was widely hailed as a success and accumulated piles of accolades, picking up three Osca
Cheddar News •

Nike Cracks Down on Reseller Bots, Threatens to Charge Restock Fees

Nike Cracks Down on Reseller Bots, Threatens to Charge Restock Fees

Nike, one of the largest apparel and footwear companies in the world, is seeking to put a dent in the massive second-hand sneaker market.

Now, any order that the company deems as being intended for resale could face penalties. Nike said it could cancel orders, restrict sales to accounts related to bulk buying, decline refunds, deny access to Nike stores, and even force buyers to pay restocking fees.

How Did It Get This Bad?
Cheddar News •

Betty White Auction Gives Fans a Chance to Snag 'Golden Girls' Memorabilia

Iconic actress and comedian Betty White passed away nearly a year ago but with the help of her estate and Julien's Auctions, fans of the entertainer will have the opportunity to snag a piece of her legacy.

Beginning September 23 and running through September 25, Julien's will host an auction featuring some of White's most prized possessions. More than 1,600 pieces of personal items will be available to bid on and according to Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien's Auctions, it was White's
Cheddar News •

Afterpay, Designers Offer Up New York Fashion Week Access With NFTs

Afterpay, Designers Offer Up New York Fashion Week Access With NFTs

Kim Shui attends the Afterpay, Cash App & TIDAL Front Row To NYFW Party on September 13, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for Afterpay)

New York Fashion Week, but make it an NFT.

Geoff Seeley, Afterpay CMO, told Cheddar News the goal of the program was to make New York Fashion Week more accessible to anyone who might not otherwise have access to the biggest runway shows.

"Our goal has always been to
Cheddar News •

How New York Fashion Week, Afterpay Are Expanding Public Access to the City's Trendiest Event

How New York Fashion Week, Afterpay Are Expanding Public Access to the City's Trendiest Event

Thousands of shuttering cameras, exclusive runway shows, tight security and limited access are just a few words that describe the chaos of New York Fashion Week. In an age when exclusivity can pique interest and even raise value, NYFW and fintech firm Afterpay are looking to do a 180-degree turn on the runway and open up access to all.

"As NYFW is traditionally a closed door industry event, Afterpay h
Cheddar News •

HBCU Benedict College Band Is Ready to Rock the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

HBCU Benedict College Band Is Ready to Rock the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

There are a few key indicators that Thanksgiving has arrived: the turkey is thawing, sides are being prepped, playlists with our favorite holiday hits are blaring, and maybe the biggest indicator, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is queued up on the television.

This year, the star performances, dazzling floats, and giant balloons will once again work their way through Manhattan along with tunes from 12 marching ba
Cheddar News •

A Billion Young People at Risk of Hearing Loss. How They Can Protect Themselves.

A Billion Young People at Risk of Hearing Loss. How They Can Protect Themselves.

Young woman with earbud headphones on city street corner with an illuminated billboard at night, London, UK. Credit: Caia Image via Getty Images

More than one billion young people across the globe could be at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices.

"Let's be honest, everybody associates hearing loss with the elderly," she said. "But when you look at the clinical data, one in four working age adult
Cheddar News •

AMEX, Break the Love Look to Make NYC Tennis Courts Accessible Ahead of U.S. Open

AMEX, Break the Love Look to Make NYC Tennis Courts Accessible Ahead of U.S. Open

With tennis and other racquet sports surging in popularity, Break the Love, a social sports platform that allows racquet sports enthusiasts of all levels to connect, learn, and play, is looking to open up access to New York City tennis courts to a wide range of people through a partnership with American Express.

Break the Love is an online platform that lets users search for clubs, find events, connect with other
Cheddar News •

Inaugural Japan Day and AAPI Parades Hope to Bring Unity, Healing to NYC

Inaugural Japan Day and AAPI Parades Hope to Bring Unity, Healing to NYC

The inaugural Japan Parade proceeds down Central Park West, Saturday, May 14, 2022 in New York. (Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Japan Day, Inc.)

In a city that has become renowned for its exuberant and lavish parades celebrating the diverse cultures found in New York, it may be a surprise that this month, the first-ever Japan Day and Asian-American Pacific Islander Cultural and Heritage parades were held just a day apart. For
Cheddar News •

Entrepreneurs Prove Fashion Doesn't Have to Be Wasteful

Entrepreneurs Prove Fashion Doesn't Have to Be Wasteful

In a world of convenience, committing to sustainable practices is no easy feat. Sure, we can all flick that light switch off when we leave a room, take shorter showers, and even walk more than we drive, but, frankly, we all could be doing more.

Green Tree Textile Recycling in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx is one of the privately-owned businesses that have partnered with the Sanitation Department to reduce the amount of waste from N
Cheddar News •

Soledad O'Brien Tackles Gender Wealth Gap With Financial Literacy, Empowerment

The gender wealth gap is a topic that has garnered public outcry and the attention of policymakers over the years, yet progress on leveling the playing field between men and women has been slow. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , women still make only 83 cents on the dollar — an improvement off just 6 cents from a decade ago — compared to men.

Everyday Wealth, which aims to help everyone of all genders become better money managers. With For the award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, and hos
Cheddar News •

Shaq's Daughter Amirah O'Neal Calls for Improved Gender Equity in College Hoops

Mimi O'Neal at The Pump Group Soiree at The Beverly Hills Hotel on August 19, 2021 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images)

March Madness, the ultimate college basketball tournament, tips off Tuesday for men and Wednesday for women. The NCAA will be closely scrutinized this Women's History Month following the influx of bad press during the 2021 tournaments that exposed disparities between the men's and women's resources.

For Mimi O'Neal, daughter of basketball Hall-of
Cheddar News •

Clubhouse's Fadia Kader on Opening Doors and Empowering Others in Social Media

Clubhouse's Fadia Kader on Opening Doors and Empowering Others in Social Media

It's pretty hard to imagine the world now without social media. Companies like Meta and Twitter allow people to share information, report breaking news stories, and connect with friends and family. For Fadia Kader, the global head of strategic and media partnerships at social audio app Clubhouse, it's about pushing culture forward and connecting people with the biggest and brightest stars in music and entertainment.
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