At a recent Harlem Row Fashion event, supermodel Naomi Campbell found herself in the spotlight for more than just her runway prowess. During the event, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour presented Campbell with an award, but not without a remark that raised eyebrows. Wintour began her speech by saying, “I am a very punctual person, and I have the honor of presenting tonight to someone who is often late.” The comment, aimed at Campbell, quickly went viral, with many perceiving it as a thinly veiled jab. Although the supermodel wasn’t present at the time of the remark, the exchange set off a flurry of online chatter.

Wintour’s speech continued with praise, acknowledging Campbell’s fearless advocacy for equality throughout her career. “Naomi is honestly one of the most fearless people I know… she began to speak the truth about inequality and injustice when it was not so common to do so,” Wintour said. However, any further interaction between the two powerhouses was cut short when Wintour left the event before Campbell’s arrival, reportedly due to other commitments. Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Samira Nasr ultimately presented the Fashion Icon Award to Campbell, who later took the stage with her own brand of sharp wit.

In her acceptance speech, Campbell graciously thanked Wintour for attending, while also subtly addressing the editor’s earlier comment. “Everything’s meant to work out the way it’s meant to work out,” Campbell said, adding, “I’d much rather have this.” The model, known for her unapologetic attitude, remarked on her commitment to speaking the truth, acknowledging both the professional support Wintour had offered her over the years and the complex dynamics of their relationship. Social media lit up following the exchange, with fans celebrating Campbell’s “legendary” clapback while reigniting discussions about Wintour’s fraught history with diversity in the fashion industry.

Jill Scott’s Blues Babe Foundation celebrates 16 years helping youth make dreams come true, showing kids more so they want more!

A packed group of supporters then entered the auditorium to learn more about the Blues Babe Foundation as Dr. Val Gay, member of the Board of Directors, who happens to be a classically trained soprano, came on stage sharing with the audience all of the dynamic things the foundation has been doing for underserved children in the Philadelphia and Camden area that begin from grades 4th through 7th.  She went on to share the foundation keeps track of the participants all the way through High School. Another member of the BBF Board of Directors, Branden Pankey, Vice President Live Nation Urban, then came on to discuss how the BBF is sensitive to the needs of the community and how thankful they are for the community along with the  corporate supporters including the fantastic work that along with the financial resources, Pepsco, has provided.  

Last week, a Georgia man stated that his wife was struck in her head through their bedroom wall as the two slept. On Monday, she passed away. Now, police officers are investigating the incident as a homicide.

According to The Telegraph, Mac Ellison, a pastor in DeKalb County, found his wife, Lashunda Heath-Ellison, with a headshot wound when he woke up during the night last week. The pastor announced on his Facebook page that LaShunda passed away on Monday, Oct. 10.

“My wife Lashunda Heath-Ellison gained her wings. I believe to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Please give us a moment to process this. My Perfect Angel is gone but forever in our hearts.”

Ellison, who is a pastor at Temple of Faith Ministries, posted a video on Facebook Live on Oct. 9 stating that his wife was hit in the back of her head as she slept last week on Wednesday, Oct. 5. The incident occurred at the couple’s Decatur, Georgia residence.

Fox News reported that a police official said, “It was determined that a projectile entered the residence from the outside and struck the victim. Since the start of the investigation, Lashunda Heath-Ellison has passed away. No one is in custody at this time. The investigation is ongoing at this time.”

The Dekalb County Police Department will now investigate this as a homicide. Police officers stated that the bullet entered the bedroom through the back of the home. She was sleeping when the bullet struck her. Her husband said he was asleep and heard LaShunda breathing heavily. Initially, he thought she was just snoring, but as he turned on the lights, he noticed something wasn’t right.

Source: Pastor’s Wife Dies After Husband Found Her With Gunshot Wound in Head

Grace came up to perform and fully disclosed that she was Franklin’s granddaughter. She explained that she often traveled with Franklin when she was little but didn’t fully grasp just how famous she was. To her, “she was always just Grandma.”

After performing “Killing Me Softly” and her grandmother’s “Ain’t No Way,” judges Katy Perry and Lionel Richie debated which route Grace should go in. Richie said, “I’m gonna talk to you now as Uncle Richie and your grandmother talkin’ to me. Her line was, ‘If you’re not ready for me, baby, don’t come near me.’ What we need is time and work to get it up to par.”

Embid and Harden Slam Knicks

Perry suggested they vote. Luke Bryan gave his vote first, which was a “no.” Perry said, “Grace, I think you have stardust and sparkle all over you. You are beautiful and if you’ll trust us, if you’ll listen to us and you put in the work, I think we can find that next level with you. You’re a ‘yes’ from me.”

When it was Richie’s turn, he said, “Grace Franklin, I love you. And I think the best thing for you in life is to take a shot at going backwards. Go back and get a running start and come back at this again.”

As he gave his vote of “no,” Perry stared at him in shock.

Richie said, “Are you putting pressure on me?” To which Perry exclaimed, “Listen, she’s got stardust! Give her a shot! Give her a chance! I’m sure Aretha wasn’t Aretha when she first walked into the room, but someone said, ‘Yes, I wanna work with you. I wanna develop you. You’ve got somethin’. She’s got stardust on her!”

Source: ‘She’s Got Stardust All Over Her’: Aretha Franklin’s Granddaughter Grace Franklin Auditions for ‘American Idol’

As Black History Month comes to a close, actress Kerry Washington is rounding out her month-long series of image recreations of iconic Black women in history. Thus far, there have been three posted under her hashtag in use, #BlackHERstory. The first she posted on Instagram was in honor of fashion maven and entrepreneur, Beverly Johnson. Washington posed in a yellow dress with a 70s style blowout, and in the second image within the carousel, converted the shot to black and white and featured it alongside a picture of Beverly Johnson herself.

“I want to celebrate and honor Black HERstory and embody my sisters who have paved the way for putting magic into the world. First up, is model, actress, singer, advocate, business woman and all around goddess – Beverly Johnson. She was the first Black woman to be on the cover of Vogue Magazine in 1974 (swipe to see!),” she captioned the carousel posted on February 7th.”

African Students Struggling To Flee Ukraine Spotlights Racial Bias Amid Growing Refugee Crisis

Next up was her depiction of Olympian Wilma Rudolph. Washington sports Rudolph’s signature short crop with a wig, a USA athletic fleece, and a gold medal around her neck, symbolizing just one of “The Black Gazelle’s” three.

“YEP. She wasn’t the first Black athlete or the first female athlete to win three gold medals,” Kerry wrote. “She was the first ATHLETE. Wilma ran (literally!) so that Black athletes and Olympians could run too. And show the world our magic, our talents, and our determination. Thank you Wilma!!!!!”

In what just may be the final installation in the actress’ Instagram installation, Washington honored none other than civil rights legend Rosa Parks, in what looks like her most elaborate costume yet. The Emmy award winner wears a plaid blazer, glasses, and an iteration of a dutch braid in the same style Rosa Parks was photographed in in her 1955 mugshot.

Source: Kerry Washington Honors Black Women In History With Instagram Photo Series

Pennsylvania teens among students nationwide protesting book bans on stories of color

Most everybody except her fiercest fans are calling her out for her far too late mea culpa and dramatic exit.

Born Nora Lum, the Queens native copped pleas, years after the fact. After years of what many consider the mocking of Black culture via her liberal use of African-American vernacular English (AAVE), she offered up some quaint words of explanation, including her love of Hip-Hop and where she grew up.

“As a non-Black POC, I stand by the fact that I will always listen and work tirelessly to understand the history and context of AAVE, what is deemed appropriate or backwards toward the progress of ANY and EVERY marginalized group,” tweeted the Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings star in a lengthy statement.

She added, “But I must emphasize: to mock, belittle or to be unkind in any way possible at the expense of others is: Simply. Not. My. Nature. It never has, and it never was.”

Mind you, she never actually addresses or apologizes for her use of AAVE, a blaccent, or whatever you choose to called it. But later in her statement, she chalked up to where she grew up, and Hip-Hop.

“I think as a group, Asian Americans are still trying to figure out what that journey means for them, what is correct and where they don’t belong,” she continued, “And though I’m still learning and doing that personal work, I know for sure that I want to spend the rest of my career doing nothing but lifting our communities. We do the first by failing, learning, acknowledging, hearing and empathizing and I will continue tirelessly to do just that.”

Source: Awkwafina Quits Twitter After Suspect Blaccent Non-Apology, Slander Continues