Exclusive - Blaqly https://blaqly.com Latest Black News and Gossips Thu, 17 Jul 2025 20:19:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 From ‘Dreamgirls’ To ‘Hell’s Kitchen’—Tony Award Winner Kecia Lewis On 41 Years Of Shaping Broadway [Exclusive] https://blaqly.com/sub/from-dreamgirls-to-hells-kitchen-tony-award-winner-kecia-lewis-on-41-years-of-shaping-broadway-exclusive/ https://blaqly.com/sub/from-dreamgirls-to-hells-kitchen-tony-award-winner-kecia-lewis-on-41-years-of-shaping-broadway-exclusive/#respond Thu, 17 Jul 2025 20:19:20 +0000 https://blaqly.com/sub/from-dreamgirls-to-hells-kitchen-tony-award-winner-kecia-lewis-on-41-years-of-shaping-broadway-exclusive/ Source: Brandon Rashad Since age 18, Kecia Lewis has left an indelible mark on Broadway, and with each role, she’s making way ...

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Source: Brandon Rashad

Since age 18, Kecia Lewis has left an indelible mark on Broadway, and with each role, she’s making way for the Black women who follow her.

Destined for greatness, Lewis’ Broadway debut was performing in the legendary original company of Dreamgirls; other theater credits include Big River, Once on This Island, Chicago, Cinderella, and a host of different titles, including the off-Broadway productions of The Skin of Our Teeth, Mother Courage, and Marie and Rosetta.

Beyond the stage, Lewis has appeared in recurring roles on numerous television series, including Law & Order: SVU and The Blacklist, but her heart has always remained with theater.

RELATED CONTENT: Black On Stage: Denzel Washington, Phylicia Rashad & Adrienne Warren Lead 5 Must-See 2025 Broadway Shows

Marc J. Franklin

“I have been in the business, this past June 15 made 41 years, and I’ve been doing Broadway and film and television for all these years,” she told MadameNoire. I have always considered myself a gifted actor, but wasn’t necessarily celebrated in the way I expected, especially in my younger years when I was a lot less humble. It was like, can’t they see I’m fabulous, but as the years go by, I figured out, it’s not about that. “I didn’t get into this to be fabulous. I got into this because I’m passionate about it.”

In 2024, Lewis joined the Broadway production of Hell’s Kitchen, where she continues to shine as Miss Liza Jane. The role has earned her numerous accolades and praise, including a 2024 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical.

“I’ve been told many times that my character is the heart of the story,” she said. “That Miss Liza Jane represents someone that we all, practically everyone in the world, have had, which is a mentor. She is someone who cares about our leading lady, Ally, our protagonist in the show, and she wants to see her excel. She wants to see her utilize the gifts and talents that she has and not waste them. She also wants her to be aware of all those who have come before her, and how important it is for her to be conscientious about her gift, and that she is part of a long line of Black women who have contributed…in this way.”

“It’s a privilege to play Miss Liza Jane. I’ve had so many Miss Liza Jane’s in my life and Mister Liza Jane’s, if you will, that it is an absolute privilege to be able to represent that for so many people. No matter who you are, no matter where they come from, people just identify with her.”

Like many industries, Black women continue to fight for equality and better treatment within the world of theater. Recently, Lewis demanded better behavior from fellow thespian Patti LuPone after she referred to Hell’s Kitchen as “too loud.”

The jukebox musical features music and lyrics by Alicia Keys and is loosely based on the singer’s life, and LuPone’s comments came about when she starred in The Roommate stage play, which shared a wall with Hell’s Kitchen.

Ultimately, LuPone issued an apology after Lewis called out the fellow Broadway veteran for being “offensive, rude, and racially microaggressive,” but admits that comments like these barely touch the surface of the prejudices Black actors face both on and off the stage.

The post From ‘Dreamgirls’ To ‘Hell’s Kitchen’—Tony Award Winner Kecia Lewis On 41 Years Of Shaping Broadway [Exclusive] appeared first on MadameNoire.



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‘The Chi’ Exclusive Clip https://blaqly.com/sub/the-chi-exclusive-clip/ https://blaqly.com/sub/the-chi-exclusive-clip/#respond Thu, 17 Jul 2025 16:49:10 +0000 https://blaqly.com/sub/the-chi-exclusive-clip/ A new episode of The Chi streams this Friday, July 18, and BOSSIP has an exclusive clip of Reg enlisting his new ...

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A new episode of The Chi streams this Friday, July 18, and BOSSIP has an exclusive clip of Reg enlisting his new shooter for a heist.

Source: Chris Lowe

After shooting Emmett, a seemingly carefree Reg settles in at Candice’s house and beats Keith at Connect Four. He says he enjoys the kids’ game because it “forces you to pay attention,” even as Keith accuses him of cheating.

Source: The Chi / The Chi

Source: The Chi / The Chi

Reg then shifts the conversation and tells his new shooter, Jackie, that he has a lead on a jewelry store job, thanks to a friend who works security. He estimates there’s $50,000 in the safe, and Jackie immediately demands half.

“No,” says Reg.

“I’m not your little bro,” Jackie retorts. “I’m worth the money, trust me.”

“You better be,” Reg replies.

Source: The Chi / The Chi

Take an exclusive look below.

About The Chi Season 7

In the seventh season of The Chi, the women of the South Side are stepping into the spotlight with Alicia leading the charge, reclaiming their power amidst rising tensions, tested loyalties and fierce new rivalries—all in pursuit of a single, coveted crown that promises high stakes and heavy consequences.

This season welcomes powerhouse talent to the cast, including Tony Award winner, Phylicia Rashad, NAACP Image Award winner, Wendy Raquel Robinson, and Emmy Award winner, Karrueche Tran, in guest-starring roles. They join the show’s dynamic ensemble, featuring Jacob Latimore, Lynn Whitfield, Yolonda Ross, Shamon Brown Jr., Michael V. Epps, Birgundi Baker, and Luke James. Fan favorites Kadeem Hardison, Chris Lee, Brett Gray, Rotimi, Jackie Long, Jill Marie Jones, and others also return. Created by Emmy winner, Lena Waithe, and executive produced alongside Justin Hillian, Jewel Coronel, and Academy Award winner, Common, the new season promises powerful storytelling that continues to reflect the heart and hustle of Chicago.

An all-new episode of The Chi streams at midnight on Paramount+ with Showtime!
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‘TIME II’ Isn’t Just a Sequel—It’s A War Cry For Black Families Still Caught in the System [Exclusive] https://blaqly.com/sub/time-ii-isnt-just-a-sequel-its-a-war-cry-for-black-families-still-caught-in-the-system-exclusive/ https://blaqly.com/sub/time-ii-isnt-just-a-sequel-its-a-war-cry-for-black-families-still-caught-in-the-system-exclusive/#respond Wed, 16 Jul 2025 16:08:51 +0000 https://blaqly.com/sub/time-ii-isnt-just-a-sequel-its-a-war-cry-for-black-families-still-caught-in-the-system-exclusive/ Source: Courtesy of Fox and Rob Rich On Juneteenth 2025, the story that shook audiences to their core in the Oscar-nominated documentary ...

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Source: Courtesy of Fox and Rob Rich

On Juneteenth 2025, the story that shook audiences to their core in the Oscar-nominated documentary TIME found its continuation in a new film, TIME II: Unfinished Business. Directed by Sibil Richardson—known widely as Fox—the follow-up to Garrett Bradley’s acclaimed 2020 work is bigger than a sequel. It’s a cinematic campaign, an archive, and a political call to action.

This new chapter follows Fox and her husband, Robert Richardson (Rob), as they return to the battleground of Louisiana’s carceral system. While TIME chronicled the family’s 21-year fight to bring Rob home, TIME II confronts the heartbreak, resistance, and strategy that emerge in their mission to free their nephew and co-defendant, still imprisoned in the same system that tried to steal Rob’s life.Ontario, the couple’s nephew, was arrested alongside Rob during the same incident in 1997. While Rob was granted clemency in 2018 after serving 21 years, Ontario remains incarcerated—serving an even longer sentence under Louisiana’s notoriously harsh sentencing laws. His continued imprisonment is at the heart of TIME II: Unfinished Business, which reframes the narrative from personal victory to collective accountability. “When Rob came home from prison, we had no idea how we would be able to secure [Ontario’s] freedom,” Fox said. “But we knew it would be imminent.

RELATED CONTENT: The Gate Of The Exonerated Is Justice Realized

(L to R) Ontario and Rob / Source: Courtesy of Fox and Rob Rich

“This film… we consider it a movement,” Fox told MadameNoire in an exclusive interview. “Unlike many documentaries that you see when others are telling our stories, one, this film is led by the formerly incarcerated. It is my directorial debut. This was an opportunity for us to tell our story.”

Freedom ain’t a fairytale.

Fox and Rob’s story is deeply personal. In 1997, financial devastation pushed the couple to make a desperate decision: they robbed a credit union in an attempt to recover the savings lost when a business deal collapsed. Rob was sentenced to 61 years, despite agreeing to an 18-year plea deal. Fox, newly released from a short prison stint herself, picked up a camera and began documenting the moments their children would otherwise have to navigate without their father.

That raw footage became the emotional foundation for TIME, a project that catapulted their story to global attention. But Fox was clear in our interview: TIME II was necessary because the fight wasn’t over.

“When many people thought that what had happened already was enough,” she explained, “for me as the director on this project, it was about really… we owe [audiences] to share how did we get Rob out? How did he come home? How did his liberation come about?”

What the sequel makes plain is that liberation isn’t passive. “Freedom is not a fairytale, and freedom ain’t free,” Fox emphasized. “It was about really being able to show people what we did with freedom.”

That understanding became the heartbeat of the film and the engine behind the couple’s latest mission: the #TimeIIWatch campaign. They set out with a goal to mobilize 1 million people to watch the film and engage in a new movement for freedom.

Louisiana, the carceral capital.

In the national conversation about mass incarceration, Louisiana is a far cry from a footnote. It’s a headline.

As of 2022, Louisiana had the highest rate of imprisonment in the U.S., housing more than 27,000 people in its state prisons—a 4.7% increase from 2021, and significantly above the national average according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Black people made up nearly 32% of the national prison population, despite being only 13% of the general population.

Fox and Rob’s home state is emblematic of the problem. The U.S. may hold just 5% of the world’s population, but it cages nearly 25% of its prisoners according to the Prison Policy Initiative. Within that, Black Americans are incarcerated at nearly five times the rate of white Americans according to The Sentencing Project.

So when Fox says that TIME II is a call to action, she means it in every sense. “We garnered an understanding that to be free is to free others,” she said. “To launch this Campaign for Freedom—this movement, which is more than just a film—we put together these tools from our 30 years of being justice involved.”

Through their nonprofit, Rich Family Ministries, Fox and Rob provide participatory defense training, empowering families to advocate in courtrooms and communities alike. “We practice a model called participatory defense,” Fox said. “That model is 1 out of 40 hubs across the country doing this work of teaching justice-involved families legal awareness as a best form of defense.”

Truth-telling as resistance.

There are creative risks, and then there are risks that come with telling the truth—especially when you’re still under surveillance.

“Our risk came from what we were exposing,” Fox admitted. “When you begin to be a truth-teller and speak truth to power… you put yourself in harm’s way.”

That danger is not abstract. Rob is still on 40 years of parole. Yet, both are unapologetic about their storytelling. “We took that and we flipped it and said, no, I’m gonna serve as a warning sign,” Fox said. “As a symbol of what freedom really means.”

Their filmmaking is about legacy. “I hope that my voice would resonate on to other generations through this media that lasts into perpetuity,” Fox told MadameNoire. “So today we’re looking at 30 years, and another 30 years, I’ll be 85. That’ll be 60 years of archiving the new form of slavery in America through one family’s journey.”

The post ‘TIME II’ Isn’t Just a Sequel—It’s A War Cry For Black Families Still Caught in the System [Exclusive] appeared first on MadameNoire.



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‘Love & Marriage Huntsville’ Exclusive Clip: Trisha Wonders ‘Who Invited Marquez?!’ https://blaqly.com/sub/love-marriage-huntsville-exclusive-clip-trisha-wonders-who-invited-marquez/ https://blaqly.com/sub/love-marriage-huntsville-exclusive-clip-trisha-wonders-who-invited-marquez/#respond Wed, 16 Jul 2025 15:52:11 +0000 https://blaqly.com/sub/love-marriage-huntsville-exclusive-clip-trisha-wonders-who-invited-marquez/ OWN’s top-rated reality hit, Love & Marriage: Huntsville, returns Saturday for its milestone 10th season, and we’ve got an exclusive clip of (even ...

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OWN’s top-rated reality hit, Love & Marriage: Huntsville, returns Saturday for its milestone 10th season, and we’ve got an exclusive clip of (even more) drama brewing between Tricia and her ex.

Source: Love & Marriage: Huntsville / OWN

Premiering Saturday, July 19 at 8/7c, the long-running series that keeps Huntsville in headlines is ready to shake the table with fresh faces, fiery confrontations and emotional growth. Once again, the series follows a lively group of longtime friends and frenemies with strong personalities and strong opinions who live in Huntsville, Alabama. This season marks the first without Melody Rogers, who announced her departure in January.

Returning this season are Martell Holt…

Source: Love & Marriage Huntsville / OWN

Source: Love & Marriage Huntsville / OWN

Destiny Payton…

Source: Love & Marriage Huntsville / OWN

Source: Love & Marriage Huntsville / OWN

Nell and Chris Fletcher…

Source: Love & Marriage Huntsville / OWN

Kimmi and Maurice Scott…

Source: Love & Marriage Huntsville / OWN

Source: Love & Marriage Huntsville / OWN

LaTisha and Marsau Scott…

Source: Love & Marriage Huntsville / OWN

Source: Love & Marriage Huntsville / OWN

and LaTricia and Ken.

Source: Love & Marriage Huntsville / OWN

Source: Love & Marriage Huntsville / OWN

This season is serving real stakes, real relationships, and real-deal drama—with OWN once again dominating Saturday nights as the #1 cable network (non-sports) among African American women 25-54.

In fact, Love & Marriage: Huntsville was the #1 original cable series on Saturdays across key Black demos, proving fans still can’t get enough of these Southern storylines.

As always, the show is produced by Kingdom Reign Entertainment and ITV America, and is executive produced by Carlos King, Jordana Hochman, Andrew Hoagland and Markus Burns.

Check out the official trailer below.

 
Love & Marriage Huntsville Exclusive Clip
 
In an exclusive clip from Saturday’s premiere, Tricia gets an unexpected visitor. As she vents to her friend Sharon about her pending divorce, her estranged husband Marquez casually walks into her house unannounced, right in the middle of the conversation.
After a tense exchange of (not so) pleasantries, Marquez questions Sharon’s energy toward him, sparking an awkward back-and-forth that visibly irritates Tricia.

“Have you met me before?” Marquez asks.
“You have not met me before,” Sharon replies. “Why is this relevant?”

In a confessional, Tricia reflects on the moment and admits that the surprise visit and the argument unfolding in her living room triggers her.

“Marquez is going back and forth with Sharon, and it’s starting to piss me off,” says Tricia, “How dare you, you don’t know her, she doesn’t know you, and you’re sitting here arguing with a grown a** woman in my house that you walked into without being invited.”

Tricia adds that she’s nearing her breaking point and is almost ready to go toe-to-toe with Marquez herself.

“He’s not gonna like it,” she says. “No one in his family will like it, but at this point, I’m not gonna care.”

Take an exclusive look below.

Tune in to Love & Marriage Huntsville when it returns on Saturday, July 19 at 8/7c.

The post ‘Love & Marriage Huntsville’ Exclusive Clip: Marquez Shows Up Uninvited To Tricia’s House–‘How Dare You’ appeared first on Bossip.



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‘Black Women Aren’t Broken. The System Is’ —How Dr. Que English Is Leading The Movement To Save Black Mothers [Exclusive] https://blaqly.com/sub/black-women-arent-broken-the-system-is-how-dr-que-english-is-leading-the-movement-to-save-black-mothers-exclusive/ https://blaqly.com/sub/black-women-arent-broken-the-system-is-how-dr-que-english-is-leading-the-movement-to-save-black-mothers-exclusive/#respond Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:28:26 +0000 https://blaqly.com/sub/black-women-arent-broken-the-system-is-how-dr-que-english-is-leading-the-movement-to-save-black-mothers-exclusive/ Source: AndreyPopov When Rev. Dr. Que English speaks, it feels like a call to reimagine community. A call to rebuild trust. A ...

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Source: AndreyPopov

When Rev. Dr. Que English speaks, it feels like a call to reimagine community. A call to rebuild trust. A call to save lives.

The founder and CEO of Elev8 Health Inc. is leading the 2025 National Thrive Maternal Health Tour, a 20-city initiative transforming how we address maternal health in Black and Indigenous communities. At a time when the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed nations—and Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, according to the CDC—Dr. English is sounding the alarm and offering a blueprint.

“When you think of the village, you think of what it’s going to take to improve our outcomes among Black women,” she told MadameNoire in an exclusive interview. “That village has to be doulas, midwives, mental health care specialists, OBGYNs, WIC programs, Healthy Start programs, even housing support.”

The Thrive Tour is both a movement and a reawakening of communal care. Each stop includes a community baby shower and an ecosystem of support that meets expectant mothers, fathers, and caregivers where they are—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Events include expert-led panels, resource sharing, on-site screenings, and wellness checks, all structured to empower families and elevate outcomes.

“Suicide and substance use disorder are the leading causes of death for women postpartum,” Dr. English explained. “We have to have mental health providers in that village, because that’s a part of the solution, too.”

Rooted in cultural competence

Dr. English, a Bronx native with Harlem roots, brings grassroots wisdom to every policy table she sits at. Before founding Elev8 Health, she served as the Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She’s also the founder of the 100 Million Reach Collective, a coalition of African American faith leaders committed to addressing the social determinants of health in underserved communities.

Still, she makes it clear: “I’m grassroots. Yes, I worked for Health and Human Services. Yes, I was top of the food chain. But everything I do is community-driven.”

That community-first approach is why cultural competency is a pillar of the Thrive Tour. During her prior M.O.M.S. Tour, she helped certify nearly 600 culturally competent Black doulas. That foundation is being expanded through Thrive.RELATED CONTENT: How Losing His Wife Hours After She Gave Birth To Their Second Son Inspired Charles Johnson’s Fight For Maternal Justice

“When I think about bringing our doulas to the forefront to engage with Black women, they are Black doulas,” she said. “Because we understood that if we are going to break the stigma and build trust, they have to look like us.”

The use of doulas and midwives is a strategy backed by evidence. Studies show doulas and midwifery services improve maternal health outcomes—lowering C-section rates, increasing breastfeeding success, and reducing maternal mortality risk. However, many families still see birth workers as a luxury.

Dr. English is working to change that mindset.“We don’t need to treat doulas like a bonus. For me, they should be the baseline,” she added. “Every mother deserves support, not just the ones who can afford it.”

Additionally, “There are many states that have expanded Medicaid coverage to cover the cost of doulas,” she emphasized. “It’s a lifeline. It’s not a luxury. It’s a necessity.”

The post ‘Black Women Aren’t Broken. The System Is’ —How Dr. Que English Is Leading The Movement To Save Black Mothers [Exclusive] appeared first on MadameNoire.



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Seen On The Housewives Scene: Porsha Pops Peachy Partnership With Altos Tequila For Margarita Season [Exclusive] https://blaqly.com/sub/seen-on-the-housewives-scene-porsha-pops-peachy-partnership-with-altos-tequila-for-margarita-season-exclusive/ https://blaqly.com/sub/seen-on-the-housewives-scene-porsha-pops-peachy-partnership-with-altos-tequila-for-margarita-season-exclusive/#respond Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:10:16 +0000 https://blaqly.com/sub/seen-on-the-housewives-scene-porsha-pops-peachy-partnership-with-altos-tequila-for-margarita-season-exclusive/ Porsha Williams, best known for her reign on The Real Housewives of Atlanta and her unapologetically peachy personality, officially topped off “Margarita ...

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Porsha Williams, best known for her reign on The Real Housewives of Atlanta and her unapologetically peachy personality, officially topped off “Margarita Season” with an exclusive, pastel-peach party with Altos Tequila.

Hosted in partnership with Olmeca Altos Tequila at Atlanta’s Mission + Market, the event was part glam, part garden, and fully curated to match Porsha’s energy: bold, beautiful, and just a little bougie.

This wasn’t just a casual pop-out; this planned event is a part of a curated marketing strategy. In a recent feature with Forbes about her new business endeavor, Williams dished on initially preferring Hennessy before finding her love for tequila with the creation of “Peach Please.”

Olmeca Altos is a premium 100% agave tequila brand made in Jalisco, Mexico. Known for its smooth taste and bartender-approved blends, Olmeca Altos is crafted using traditional methods. And yes, BOSSIP was there for it all—florals, fizz, and a one-on-one with Porsha herself.

“Peach Please!”

Williams described her signature summer cocktail, Peach Please, while toasting with friends, invited guests, and fellow peach lovers.

“It’s cute, fun, fresh, tasty… and it gives you that vibe. When it comes to a margarita, it’s got to be cute, fun, fresh, tasty, and like, give you that vibe and set you up for summer,” Porsha said during her speech. “And I feel like that’s exactly what Altos has done with this new peach.”

Guests sipped the newly launched Peach Please cocktail—crafted with Altos Blanco tequila, peach preserves, and a Tajín rim—or opted for other tequila-based offerings like a classic Paloma, which proved to be a crowd-pleasing alternative among several attendees. (I personally chose one to toast Porsha myself on Instagram.) Whether you were sipping her signature or switching it up, the energy remained festive.

Peachy Perfection in Every Detail
Source: Altos Tequila / Altos Tequila

Upon arrival, guests were greeted with trays of chilled margaritas, fresh florals, and a buzzy Atlanta crowd ready to toast under the golden hour sun. The indoor-outdoor venue was styled to match the drink’s Southern sweetness: peaches in full bloom, pastel décor, custom signage, and cocktail stations flanked the space.
Source: Altos Tequila / Altos Tequila

Altos kept spirits high with a curated hors d’oeuvres menu that included:

Crab fritters with pickled peach salsa

Beef sliders with American cheese, tomato, pickles, and Mission + Market sauce

Mediterranean hummus with blistered red peppers and grilled pita

Fry farm kale and artichoke dip with cashew cream and crispy pita

Margarita and pepperoni pizza

Guests mingled between bites and photo ops, including a branded 360 Photo Booth activation presented by Olu Kemi of 360 Photo Celebration.

A Toast to Partnership

Midway through the night, Porsha took center stage to thank attendees and share her excitement over the Altos collaboration.
Source: Altos Tequila / Altos Tequila

“I already was a fan of Altos, so the marriage was just natural,” she said. “If you’ve had [Peach Please] already, I know you love it—I’ve been drinking them all day!”

She encouraged guests to grab a take-home cocktail kit—each featuring a bottle of Altos Blanco, peach preserves, and Tajín seasoning—to recreate the margarita magic at home.

A Quick Sip with BOSSIP

In an exclusive moment with BOSSIP’s very own, Lauryn Bass, Porsha shared how the drink came to life.
Source: Altos Tequila / Altos Tequila

“I got one of their cocktail couriers and some of their base, and we curated this drink from our green season,” she explained.

When asked to describe the event in one word, she didn’t hesitate.

“Beautiful. I love the floral.”

As for what’s next?

“Absolutely more curated drinks. They have so many different flavors.”

Source: Altos Tequila / Altos Tequila

The Summer Vibe Atlanta Didn’t Know It Needed

With her signature confidence and peach-perfect aesthetic, Porsha made it clear: she’s stepping into her beverage era. Between the photo ops, the curated cocktails, and the signature ATL energy, this celebration marked more than a drink launch—it was a mood, a movement, and a moment you had to be there for.
 

The post Seen On The Spirits Sippin’ Scene: Porsha Pops Peachy Partnership With Altos Tequila For Margarita Season [Exclusive] appeared first on Bossip.



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WWE Returns To Atlanta & Queen Of The Ring Royalty Jade Cargill Leads The Charge [Exclusive] https://blaqly.com/sub/wwe-returns-to-atlanta-queen-of-the-ring-royalty-jade-cargill-leads-the-charge-exclusive/ https://blaqly.com/sub/wwe-returns-to-atlanta-queen-of-the-ring-royalty-jade-cargill-leads-the-charge-exclusive/#respond Sat, 12 Jul 2025 17:42:36 +0000 https://blaqly.com/sub/wwe-returns-to-atlanta-queen-of-the-ring-royalty-jade-cargill-leads-the-charge-exclusive/ The lights are back on at State Farm Arena, and this time, all eyes are on the women. WWE is pulling up ...

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The lights are back on at State Farm Arena, and this time, all eyes are on the women. WWE is pulling up to Atlanta this weekend for a back-to-back event takeover featuring Saturday Night’s Main Event on July 12 and the all-women’s WWE Evolution on July 13. Among the headliners commanding that ring is Jade Cargill, the Queen of the Ring, a history-making powerhouse who calls Atlanta home.

Source: Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena / Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena

This weekend is personal for Jade. It’s not just another match—it’s a moment of alignment. “I live here,” she told BOSSIP’s Lauryn Bass. “This is home.”

As WWE Evolution unfolds inside the city’s iconic arena, Jade isn’t just showing up—she’s showing out.

Booked, Busy, and Built for This

When BOSSIP asked what the biggest challenge of WWE life is, Jade didn’t sugarcoat it.

Source: Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena / Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena

“The constant travel,” she said, eyes focused. “I just got home, got up at four o’clock in the morning, and I’m here right now. Tomorrow I have to travel to Tennessee, then Orlando, back to Tennessee for a show Friday, come back here for a meet and greet… and then we have Evolution on Sunday at 6:30.”

The schedule is relentless, but Jade’s mindset is solid.

“Before I came in here, I had to take a deep breath,” she said. “When I’m in my hotel, I take time to just breathe, take in the energy of the room before I go out there. Because as soon as you leave your hotel, it’s game on.”

Still, she finds joy where she can—vacations to St. Lucia and Turks and Caicos, holiday trips to the Botanical Garden with her daughter, meals at her go-to Atlanta spots like Umi, and relaxing in nature at Piedmont Park.

Source: Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena / Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena

A Queen With a Crown and a Calling

Jade isn’t just a WWE superstar; she’s a symbol. Since signing with WWE in 2023, her presence has captivated fans worldwide, racking up over 20 million views and solidifying her as a real-life superhero for a new generation.

“I know who I am,” she said. “I had a very supportive family growing up… regardless of what everybody thinks about me, it’s what I think about myself. I have a little girl at home, and she needs to know she can do any and everything she puts her mind to.”

That’s not just talk—it’s stitched into her gear.

“I wear broken glass because I’m here to break glass ceilings.”

Black Women in Sync: The Power of Partnership

Her tag team with Bianca Belair wasn’t just a flex; it was a cultural reset.

Source: Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena / Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena

“Rather than everybody thinking we’re going to work against one another, we’re like, ‘Let’s shock the system and work with each other,’” Jade said. “We did something that’s never been done with those tag team titles—and we lifted them.”

She also paid homage to Naomi for setting the tone.

“Why not do that for the next generation?” she said. “We’re just here to create footsteps.”

Evolution Isn’t Coming—It’s Here

This weekend’s Evolution event is a milestone moment for women in wrestling. Jade will be sharing the card with legends like Trish Stratus and Nikki Bella, and she’s not intimidated—she’s inspired.

“We’ve had the Four Horsewomen—phenomenal women in their own right,” she said. “But we have so much more to go. This is just the beginning. We’re going to continue to demand more.”

Source: Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena / Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena

When fans fill State Farm Arena Sunday night, she says they should expect nothing short of greatness.

“Loud, proud, and powerful. You’re going to see beautiful attire, women holding their head high, owning their crown. I am the 2025 WWE Women’s Queen of the Ring.”

From ATL to Everywhere: Jade’s Story Comes Home

Even with a movie on the way—True Threat, starring Jonathan Majors—Jade’s priority is clear.

Source: Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena / Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena

“Right now, I just want to dig deep into wrestling and make this my foundation. Everything else will come, God-willing.”

She is currently preparing to stand in the ring in Atlanta, in front of a roaring crowd, under arena lights that once felt far away. But, she’s not just wrestling.

She’s fulfilling prophecy.

Catch Jade Cargill live at WWE Evolution this Sunday, July 13 at 6:30 PM inside State Farm Arena. Tickets for all weekend events are available now at Ticketmaster.com.

Source: Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena / Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena
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‘This Is How America Was Built’ — Dr. Alaysia Black Hackett On The Real Reason DEI Is Under Attack [Exclusive] https://blaqly.com/sub/this-is-how-america-was-built-dr-alaysia-black-hackett-on-the-real-reason-dei-is-under-attack-exclusive/ https://blaqly.com/sub/this-is-how-america-was-built-dr-alaysia-black-hackett-on-the-real-reason-dei-is-under-attack-exclusive/#respond Fri, 11 Jul 2025 16:08:51 +0000 https://blaqly.com/sub/this-is-how-america-was-built-dr-alaysia-black-hackett-on-the-real-reason-dei-is-under-attack-exclusive/ Source: unknown In the present political moment where diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are being openly challenged at the highest levels ...

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In the present political moment where diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are being openly challenged at the highest levels of government, Dr. Alaysia Black Hackett is offering something rare: clarity, context, and a path forward. With more than two decades in the trenches of cultural strategy and inclusive leadership, she has witnessed firsthand how the language around equity work shifts–even as the core issues persist. Her new book, The Diversity Illusion, cuts through the noise and provides the kind of unflinching analysis that both practitioners and skeptics alike need right now.

What’s Really Happening to DEI Work

“What we see happening is what I consider to be a rebranding of the work,” Dr. Hackett tells MadameNoire. “It is the exchange of acronyms or language used to describe the work that has been done for so many years.”

She isn’t new to this. Her career spans eras of “Multicultural Affairs,” “Urban Affairs,” and “Intercultural Affairs,” long before DEI entered the mainstream lexicon. Today, Dr. Hackett says, the backlash against DEI is less about a true ideological shift and more about optics. “Some corporations or organizations are definitely rolling back their DEIA initiatives. Others are rebranding it or removing it from sites so that they can continue the work but not necessarily be scrutinized.”

That scrutiny has escalated since the death of George Floyd, when companies rushed to signal allyship. “Everybody wanted to talk about diversity,” she recalls. “You saw it on their websites really loud. Some of those initiatives were not as in-depth; they were performative. And so it was easy to just roll back and say, ‘Oh, we’re not gonna do this anymore,’ because it never got to the structure of how the power is in those organizations.”

RELATED CONTENT: ​​Trump’s DEI Ban: A Setback Or A Secret Win? [Op-Ed]

Not Everyone’s Rolling Back—But Everyone’s Watching

Still, she warns against assuming every company is guilty of performative allyship. Without naming specific corporations, Dr. Hackett notes that public perception often misses the nuance. “I know for sure [an internationally recognized brand] hasn’t cut back,” she clarifies, referencing firsthand insights from colleagues still embedded in DEIA departments. Instead of blanket boycotts, she urges deeper inquiry: “Are they really rolling back, or are they rebranding? Are they expanding in a way that is not the same? It doesn’t look the same, but it actually has the same type of measurable outcomes?”

“I Am Exhausted:” The Toll on Black Women in DEIA

Source: andreswd

Those measurable outcomes matter, especially to Black women who often find themselves recruited for visibility but excluded from real influence. When asked about the exhaustion many Black women feel being the public face of inclusion efforts, Dr. Hackett doesn’t hesitate.

“The first thing as a Black woman who was in a position—I am exhausted,” she says candidly. “And so I definitely understand the sentiments of women and colleagues all over who’ve been doing this work tirelessly, most of the time without the necessary resources or staff.”

Despite the fatigue, she is not deterred.

“I know that this work… is resilient. There have been so many iterations of what this work has been called—civil rights, urban affairs, multicultural affairs—but the work continues because we have to.”

Even in exhaustion, Dr. Hackett sees a mandate: “We continue to advocate because we know that this is the moral and ethically right thing to do. And it’s okay to take a break, to take a breather, to do some self-care… but also know that this work is resilient and we are resilient. And so we have to continue.”

Who DEIA Really Serves

Part of what makes Dr. Hackett’s voice so powerful is her ability to reframe the conversation. Where others see DEI as a niche concern, she sees it as foundational to American life. “Right now, the narrative is DEIA equals Black people, Black communities, Black hire—and that’s not what it is in its totality.”

She goes on to name the groups included under the DEIA umbrella: “Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, Asian Americans, Latino/Latinx individuals, veterans, youth, those with disabilities, rural communities, and people who are formerly incarcerated.”

She underscores this point with a real-world example: “Let’s think about the bipartisan infrastructure law. When we had COVID-19 and students were in their homes trying to do their schoolwork, we realized that rural communities…did not have access to internet. That is a marginalized community, and they are DEIA.”

For Dr. Hackett, almost everyone in America falls under the reach of DEIA principles, whether they realize it or not. That is exactly why the stakes are so high. “Rolling back and saying that these initiatives aren’t needed means it’s going to negatively affect somebody in your life—and that person may be you.”

​​What To Do About It

She also knows that soundbites can’t change systems. That’s why she wrote The Diversity Illusion.

“It is heavily researched, but it is not a heavy read,” she says. “It gives language to understand what [DEIA] is, what it is not. It talks about the illusion and how corporations have taken advantage of DEIA and not changed the power structures.”

According to Dr. Hackett, real progress requires more than optics. “It’s not just to hire a diversity officer. It’s not just to change your website to include diverse people on your publicity page, but to really look at your policies, procedures, and why it’s important.”

America’s Systems Are Doing Exactly What They Were Designed To Do

Source: momcilog

When asked if this moment represents a regression or a revelation, she pauses before offering a sobering truth: “I don’t think the country is losing its way. I believe it’s how the country has always been.”

She traces the current political climate back to America’s founding documents. “The Constitution of the United States was signed by a group of people… and that was of a white, straight male Christian. All of the systems in our country… were written from the vantage point of a white Christian, straight male. And therefore, our systems are operating exactly how they were created to do.”

Yet, she still believes in possibility. “We are more diverse than we ever have been. Therefore, we should want to balance out the narrative of the systems to ensure that everyone is inclusive.”

That kind of systemic change isn’t flashy, but it lasts.

“You can’t just, again, change on the surface. It has to be baked into your systems, into how you do the work.”

Dr. Hackett’s work offers both a mirror and a map. The reflection might be uncomfortable, but the direction is clear. As she writes in The Diversity Illusion, the future of equity work requires more than belief. It requires infrastructure, language, and the courage to face what has always been there.

To learn more about The Diversity Illusion or Dr. Hackett’s work, visit alaysiablackhackett.com.

RELATED CONTENT: Anti-Blackness And The Reason People Fight DEI The Way They Do

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‘It Means Everything’ — ‘The Old Guard 2’ Star KiKi Layne Talks Black Women Owning The Action Genre [Exclusive] https://blaqly.com/sub/it-means-everything-the-old-guard-2-star-kiki-layne-talks-black-women-owning-the-action-genre-exclusive/ https://blaqly.com/sub/it-means-everything-the-old-guard-2-star-kiki-layne-talks-black-women-owning-the-action-genre-exclusive/#respond Fri, 11 Jul 2025 05:24:05 +0000 https://blaqly.com/sub/it-means-everything-the-old-guard-2-star-kiki-layne-talks-black-women-owning-the-action-genre-exclusive/ Director Victoria Mahoney is preparing to unveil her bold vision for The Old Guard 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2020 ...

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Director Victoria Mahoney is preparing to unveil her bold vision for The Old Guard 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2020 Netflix action hit originally helmed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. This next chapter reunites the film’s core cast—including Charlize Theron and KiKi Layne—as they return with a renewed sense of purpose, battling dark outside forces that could threaten mankind’s existence. 

Ahead of the film’s July 2 premiere, MadameNoire caught up with Mahoney and leading star KiKi Layne to discuss the making of the sequel, their experiences navigating the industry as Black women, and what audiences can expect from this thrilling new installment.

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

Speaking at the Netflix Presents Black Excellence Brunch during the American Black Film Festival on June 13, Layne shared how “amazing” it felt to reimagine her role as Nile Freeman for the second time. The 33-year-old star told MadameNoire that she was honored to bring a fresh and powerful presence to the action genre, a category of film that “hasn’t always centered” Black women. For Layne, The Old Guard 2 is more than just a film, it’s a moment of representation and creative evolution.

“It means everything to me,” the Hollywood standout shared. “I’m always thinking about how we are being seen and how I am representing us in every project that I do. To be the lead of an action film, and to do that alongside Charlize Theron and Uma Thurman, these women who have kicked down so many doors for women in action. Now I get to take it to the next level and represent for Black women in action. It’s amazing.”

Source: John Parra

RELATED CONTENT: KiKi Layne, Rick Ross, Leslie Jones & All The New And Not So New Faces In The Coming To America Sequel

As Nile, Layne plays the role of the youngest and newest member of the immortal mercenaries, a Marine-trained warrior who proves she can hold her own among seasoned superheroes. The film demanded intense physicality, with Layne taking on several challenging stunts. While she admitted it was tough at times, the Ohio native described the experience as “physically exciting” and “fun,” embracing the thrill of pushing her body to the limit.

One of the most daunting moments came during a scene where she had to leap from a high balcony onto a flag. Fear crept in, and the crew was moments away from calling in her stunt double. But Layne dug deep, faced her nerves head-on, and made the jump herself—delivering a powerful, adrenaline-fueled performance.

“I said, ’No, today is the day, the cameras are rolling. Oh, I’m about to make this jump.’ And I got into my gear and I did it!,” she gushed with pride. 

The power of filmmaking is in the details, shared Mahoney
Source: John Parra

Mahoney was thrilled to bring her sharp visual instincts to The Old Guard 2. For the award-winning filmmaker, storytelling lives in the details—every scene, every movement, and every action was meticulously crafted to add depth and nuance to the film. It’s an approach she honed through years of studying theater and working off-Broadway, where precision and intentionality are essential.

Mahoney shared that she worked closely with Layne and the rest of the stellar cast to fine-tune every aspect of their on-screen presence, from how they walked and moved to the subtleties of each scene. This careful “calibration,” she explained, was crucial to creating a layered, immersive, and visually captivating experience for viewers. She’s excited for fans to see it all come together when the film premieres on Netflix July 2.

“Everything from props to location to camera angles to lens, which lens, why we’re close to you, why we’re far from you, what we want the audience to feel and what we don’t want the audience to feel—all the tools that are built to elicit emotion, I enjoy calibrating,” Mahoney said. ”Not only that, [but] sort of getting each aspect to then hit some crescendo or magnum opus. I have a clear visual beat.”

Source: Courtesy of Netflix

Leading a major action franchise as a Black woman comes with its own set of obstacles, but Mahoney remains confident, committed to standing in her power, and leading with strength, clarity, and creative vision. She acknowledged that while the industry is still “catching up” when it comes to equitably representing filmmakers of diverse backgrounds and identities, she’s focused on pushing boundaries and creating space for more inclusive storytelling to open up doors.

“One must know oneself so well that you are equipped in the face of any circumstance that reduces your greatness,” the director said bluntly. “So, if people standing around you do not see what your full capability is, you have to have an unwavering sense of your greatness and what you have to give that isn’t greater than the person standing next to you, but it’s great in the capacity of all that you have to give on planet earth with your time and your life and your talents and your skills.”

Watch our full interview with Victoria Mahoney and KiKi Layne on The Old Guard 2 above. 

RELATED CONTENT: Halle Berry Questions Her Best Actress Oscar 23 Years Later As The Lone Black Winner—‘Did It Matter?’

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Black Brilliance: ‘Beyond The Gates’ Cast Celebrates Renewal & Refreshing Representation At Essence Fest [Exclusive] https://blaqly.com/sub/black-brilliance-beyond-the-gates-cast-celebrates-renewal-refreshing-representation-at-essence-fest-exclusive/ https://blaqly.com/sub/black-brilliance-beyond-the-gates-cast-celebrates-renewal-refreshing-representation-at-essence-fest-exclusive/#respond Fri, 11 Jul 2025 04:29:34 +0000 https://blaqly.com/sub/black-brilliance-beyond-the-gates-cast-celebrates-renewal-refreshing-representation-at-essence-fest-exclusive/ Under the bright lights and bold beats of this year’s 2025 Essence Fest, CBS’s newest soap shone bright. Beyond The Gates, the ...

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Under the bright lights and bold beats of this year’s 2025 Essence Fest, CBS’s newest soap shone bright. Beyond The Gates, the sumptuous saga of secrets, status, and the sprawling Dupree dynasty, has already been renewed for a second season, a swift and significant win for a show that only debuted in February.

Source: Robin L Marshall / Getty

The first daytime soap with a predominantly Black cast in more than 35 years, Beyond the Gates weaves its stories around an elite Maryland family whose power and passion extend far beyond their gated community. Created by acclaimed writer Michele Val Jean and executive produced by Sheila Ducksworth, the show has helped revitalize CBS’s daytime block, with viewership gains and industry buzz to match.

At Essence Fest, where Beyond the Gates felt perfectly at home amid a weekend celebrating culture, community, and creativity, BOSSIP caught up with cast members Tamara Tunie and Karla Mosley, along with executive producer Sheila Ducksworth.

Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images

“It feels terrific,” Ducksworth told BOSSIP when asked about the show’s season two renewal. “It’s another season to bring you all the happenings of everything Beyond The Gates and with the Dupree family. It’s just something that we just love more than I can even say to have the opportunity five days a week to tell these stories with these characters and really show us a side of America that people haven’t seen before.”

Five days a week of fierce family drama is no small feat, and one of its most talked-about characters is the fiery and fearless Dani Dupree, portrayed by Karla Mosley. Dani is the firecracker of the Dupree family who never backs down from a fight (or a suckerpunch), especially if it involves herself or her relatives.

Source: Robin L Marshall / Getty

“Yes,” Mosley said when asked if Dani is a fighter. “And I think that’s the thing. Everything she does comes from love. She just can’t help it, she says, and she acts first, and then she doesn’t really think that much about the repercussions, she just keeps going, but it all comes from a place of love and truth, and just wanting justice.”

That blend of raw emotion and righteous energy is matched by Tamara Tunie’s portrayal of Anita Dupree, the commanding yet compassionate mother at the heart of the show. Known for playing strong women across stage and screen, Tunie effortlessly pumps power and poise into her role as the Dupree matriarch.

Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images

“Who does she worry about the most? Anita worries about all her children,” Tunie told BOSSIP. “The two sisters (Dani and Nicole) are very different. Nicole is much more calm and steady, and Dani’s a little more impulsive, you know, but she loves them both. And she loves them in different ways, because she meets them where they’re in need, and she fills that.”

The family dynamics are rich and real, but at the center of it all is a constant current, Black excellence. BOSSIP asked each cast member to define it in their own words, and the answers painted a vivid portrait of purpose and pride.

Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images

“I mean, it’s something that it was always expected and always was in my life. So for me, it’s the norm, you know?” said Tunie. “But it’s great to be able to represent it on television, and I’m not saying Black excellence is only about wealth or money or material things. It’s about what’s happening in here,” she added, placing her hand over her heart. “And how you are moving through the world. Whether you are the garbage man, the postman, or a doctor, it’s how you are moving through the world and what you represent and what you’re bringing and putting into the world. That’s what Black excellence is, to me.”

Mosley agreed, reflecting on her personal experiences while filming in the peach state’s celebrated capital city, ATL.

“I think that’s so beautifully put,” she said. “And you know, it’s exciting for me to be on the soap, but also to live in Atlanta, to be here in New Orleans, to be in the South around so many more Black people, and where it’s the norms and just show up as you as fully as you are, and where children are encouraged to speak their minds, and that what they have to say is important and valued, and our innovation is celebrated. I think that’s really what it is all about.”

Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images

Then Ducksworth brought it all home with clarity and conviction.

“It’s about being the best that you can be, whatever stage of your life that you’re in with being the best that it can be,” she told BOSSIP. “When I first went to put the show together, it was really about something that inspires, and something the people can aspire to. And that’s exactly what this show delivers on. It’s all about just being the best that you can possibly be.”

As Beyond the Gates heads into its second season, its success isn’t just a win for CBS, it’s a triumph for storytelling that centers and celebrates the richness of Black identity. With each episode, the show redefines what daytime drama can look like, and at Essence Fest, the cast reminded us why representation means absolutely everything from inside the gates and beyond.



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