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BEST MOMENTS IN ABE
THIS PAST WEEK
MORIBA CUMMINGS | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR | MORIBACUMMINGS@YAHOO.COM
‘SCHOOL DAZE’ SEQUEL IN THE WORKS?
MICHAEL B. JORDAN FIRES BACK AT RACIST CRITICS
I t's not everyday that an alumnus of our institution goes on to create a heavily iconic film that predicates the foundation
of HBCU life. However, when his name is Spike Lee, anything's possible.
Lee's classic Black college film "School Daze" turned 25 last year, and with such a milestone of iconicity being acquired
from a project that is still relevant in contemporary times, fans of the film began to question if there will ever be a follow-up. Speak
ing with Black&Sexy TV, Lee confirmed that a script for the movie's sequel is completed and ready to go.
"I had the script for ‘School Daze,’” he said. "But, what people have to understand is that it’s a contemporary version. So
it’s the same school, Mission College, 25 years later."
The famed director went on to elaborate on his plans for casting characters for the film, which is loosely based on his
experiences here at Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University.
“Hopefully, I can get Laurence Fishburne to play Dap," he said. “He'll be the president now of the school. And we would
deal with issues around Historically Black Colleges today."
BEYONCE ROLLS UP THE ‘PARTITION’
While “Drunk In Love” is being remixed by rappers past and present, Beyonce is pushing things
along, choosing the next single from her platinum-certified album "BEYONCE." The entertainer has
chosen the sexy, bass-heavy fan favorite "Partition” as the next offering from the hugely successful LP.
Though most have already seen the intensely seductive music video through purchasing the
album, it officially premiered on VEVO on Tuesday.
Currently, the singer is taking the UK by storm as she revamped her highly grossing tour for 2014
with brand new performances of tracks including “Drunk in Love," “Blow,” "Haunted,” “***Flawless,”
and "Partition,” to name a few.
AFRICAN AMERICANS CONTINUE TO MAKE HISTORY
Though Black History Month is slowly winding down, African-Americans are continuing to rewrite the history books in the
fields of media and sports.
This week, Tamron Hall and Jason Collins, two of the biggest names in daytime TV and sports, respectively, made strides in
their particular fields.
Hall was announced as the first Black woman to co-anchor the Today show on Monday morning. Speaking with Essence,
com about the big news, she revealed her excitement in a few words: "I thought, wow, these big moments at NBC News and now
I’m a part of this for women, for Black women, for all of us ... I can’t even describe to you how it feels."
Also making history this week, professional basketball player Jason Collins became the first openly gay athlete to play in
one of the Unites States’ four major professional leagues when he hit the court for the Brooklyn Nets.
Collins made headlines when he "came out" in an open letter published in Sports Illustrated magazine last year.
CNN CANCELING ‘PIERSMORGAN TONIGHT’
Notoriously outspoken CNN personality Piers Morgan is soon to be out of a job as both he and the network
have agreed to terminate the production of his primetime show “Piers Morgan Tonight."
According to the New York Times, Morgan said that he and CNN president Jeff Zucker had discussed
“Piers Morgan Tonight's” “failure to connect to the network’s audience,” and had ultimately decided to cancel it
closer to March.
"I am a British guy debating American cultural issues, including guns, which has been very polarizing, and
there is no doubt that there are many in the audience who are tired of me banging on about it,” he said. “That's
run its course and Jeff and I have been talking for some time about different ways of using me."
Morgan has hosted the show since January 2011. There is no word yet on who will replace him.
RIHANNA FAN ADMITS TO FAKING HOMOPHOBIC IG POST
Bajan pop star Rihanna is notorious for her brash and sometimes offensive comments, but homo-
phobic is not a word that has been used to describe the artist’s demeanor in past publicized encounters.
One of Rihanna's fans sought out to prove otherwise last week after he doctored up a homo-
phobic comment allegedly written by the “Pour It Up" singer. The fan, who goes by the screen name
Benvoy Seals, posted what looked like one of Rihanna's “RIHplies,” telling him he’s going to hell for being
gay.
Before Seals could stir the pot of mess any further, he admitted to his pointless scheme, telling
TMZ, “I lied, I don’t know why. I just did."
During the fabricated hoopla, Rihanna was unbothered, posting sexy selfies on Instagram while
on her birthday trip in Aspen.
"Fruitvale Station" has catapulted Hollywood newcomer Michael B. Jordan into new heights as he is currently gearing
up for his highest-profile role yet. Jordan is set to portray Johnny Storm (Human Torch) in the reboot of “Fantastic Four." While this is
indeed a sweet moment for the actor, many have taken to social media to express their distaste for him fulfilling the super hero role
citing their disappointment with the fact that the comic book’s version of the character is not Black.
"Why is it okay when a Black actor is hired to play a white character, but they’d NEVER hire a white actor to play a Black
character,” one fan said on Twitter. Another added, “I’m not racist, but don’t cast a Black guy to play a white super hero. [It’s] just
not right."
When asked of his opinion of the unwarranted backlash, Jordan kept it short and sweet: “Eh, they're still going to see it
anyway,” he said.
‘FANCY’ DISSES BEYONCE... THEN RETRACTS
When the BeyHive attacks, there’s no turning back. Actress Garcelle Beauvais, best known for her role as
Fancy on “The Jamie Foxx Show,” learned this the hard way when she revealed her distaste for Beyonce’s sexy im
age to HelloBeautiful.
“I love Beyonce. But I think there has to be a fine line where you have to take responsibility for what you
do," she said. “I think it’s good to be sexy ... It doesn't have to be everything showing out grinding, all of the time.”
The actress, who posed fully nude for Playboy magazine in 2007, quickly retracted her statement after be
ing brutally attacked by Beyonce’s legions of fans on social media.
“I love Beyonce! What I said was taken out of context, and of course I support women being sexy,” she
tweeted.
LUDACRIS BLAMES CHILD SUPPORT TROUBLES ON PAUL WALKER'S DEATH
Atlanta-born rapper Ludacris has been in hot water lately as it was recently announced that he has a 2-month-
old daughter who was conceived outside of his relationship with longtime girlfriend Eudoxie Agnan. Failing to pay child
support for his infant daughter, he was summoned to court on Feb. 19 where he revealed that his payments have been
delayed due to the untimely passing of his “Fast & Furious 7" costar Paul Walker.
According to TMZ, Luda appeared in court alongside Tameka Fuller, the mother of his infant daughter, to lay out
his financial woes. The rapper wants to pay $1,800 a month, and argued that he cannot cover Fuller’s monthly demand of
$15,000 as he was relying on a paycheck from the highly anticipated movie, which is now pending due to Walker's pass
ing.
The judge agreed to cut the child support payments down to $7,000 a month until his financial record have been
reviewed.
BIG WINS AT THE NAACP IMAGE AWARDS
The 45th annual NAACP Image Awards recently wrapped up its early broadcast with winners ranging from Be
yonce to Lupita Nyong’o.
Hosted by comedian Anthony Anderson, the show was indeed a star-studded affair with attendees including
Oprah Winfrey, who honored the late Nelson Mandela: Lupita Nyong’o who won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “12
Years A Slave"; Kevin Hart, who won Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in BET'S “Real Husbands of Holly
wood”: and Gabrielle Union, who won in the category of Outstanding Actress for her role in “Being Mary Jane.”
On the music front, Beyonce and John Legend won top honors for Female and Male Outstanding Artists of the
Year; K. Michelle was awarded the trophy for Best New Artist; and Robin Thicke, T.I., and Pharreil dominated the category of
Outstanding Duo or Collaboration for “Blurred Lines.”
LILY ALLEN NAMES NEW ALBUM ‘SHEEZUS’
In what may be considered either the cleverest or the most peculiar musical decision of the year
thus far, pop star Lily Allen revealed on Feb. 21 that her third album will be called “Sheezus” as a nod to
Kanye West's latest LP.
While visiting The Graham Norton Show in the UK, Allen explained her rationale for this decision.
"it's a confident title choice and a little nod to Kanye West,” she said.
The British singer has released three singles from "Sheezus” thus far: “Somewhere Only We Know,”
Air Balloon,” and the controversial “Hard Out Here.” An official release date for the album is yet to be an
nounced.