Bad Boys: Ride or Die, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, soared at the box office in its opening weekend, proving that even a “bad boy” in real life can get a second chance. Smith, who returned to his iconic role of Detective Mike Lowrey in the fourth installment of the cop buddy franchise, stunned the world when he stormed the stage at the live broadcast of the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, and slapped Chris Rock across the face. The comedian had made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Along with being banned from attending any Oscar-related ceremony for the next ..read more

Before I watched Queenie, I hadn’t heard of the novel it’s based on. I did not know what to expect going in—all I knew was that some thought it was controversial. Within minutes of the first episode, however, I was hooked. To be fair, I am a little biased: I am rapidly approaching 25, and as a mixed woman, I also straddle two worlds and struggle with belonging in both. to top it all off, I spent a significant portion of my childhood living in South London (big up Crystal Palace!). I saw so much of myself in Queenie and her anger at the world around her, to the point where it felt like the wri ..read more

Before I watched Queenie, I hadn’t heard of the novel it’s based on. I did not know what to expect going in—all I knew was that some thought it was controversial. Within minutes of the first episode, however, I was hooked. To be fair, I am a little biased: I am rapidly approaching 25, and as a mixed woman, I also straddle two worlds and struggle with belonging in both. to top it all off, I spent a significant portion of my childhood living in South London (big up Crystal Palace!). I saw so much of myself in Queenie and her anger at the world around her, to the point where it felt like the wri ..read more

It’s no secret that Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s chemistry is unmatched. The two star actors showcased their unmatched chemistry at the blue carpet premiere of the highly anticipated ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ film on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Hollywood. The event was star-studded, and EBONY had the opportunity to attend the premiere to capture all the action. As the stars of the film, Smith and Lawrence undoubtedly made a grand entrance onto the carpet. They walked down the carpet to the beat of a live marching band and arrived on a float. Engaging with fans for at least 10 minutes before ..read more

Juneteenth is a day to honor the best of the Black community, from civil rights trailblazers to iconic athletes. Black creatives have come together to document the triumphs and highs of African Americans who brought their own seats to the table and changed the nation forever. EBONY has gathered some of the most exciting premieres on TV this month to celebrate Black excellence and freedom to count down the days to June 19, 2024.    The Real Red Tails June 3 on National Geographic Abbot Elementary‘s Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph narrates this documentary, which celebrates the story of ..read more

Present. Open. Fun. This is the type of mom Candiace Dillard Bassett, singer, actress and 2013’s Miss USA, tells EBONY she wants to be. Into the second trimester of her first pregnancy at age 37, Bassett is happy and grateful for the entire experience. During our conversation, she says, “It’s been such a long journey to get here and I’m so sure about where I am right now that everything–even the not-so-great parts–is great.” Bassett and her husband announced their pregnancy to the world on April 15th, 2024, and for the first time, it hit her that she was about to be a mother. Having wrestled ..read more

Black people are a diverse and vibrant community, a fact often overlooked in the portrayal of Black representation on reality TV. While these shows are not inherently bad, they usually fail to capture the full spectrum of Black expression and its cultural significance, instead opting for a narrow, often whitewashed view. Elements of Bravo’s Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard are a prime example of this. Martha’s Vineyard has deep historical roots, specifically in the Oak Bluffs area. Charles Shearer opened Shearer Inn in 1912 as one of the limited options Black travelers had as safe spaces durin ..read more

Since joining Saturday Night Live in 2018, Ego Nwodim has embodied characters on the long-running late-night sketch comedy series that have become iconic—just ask anyone from Temecula! On the Mother’s Day episode that aired May 11, 2024, we met Nwodim’s Nigerian mom, who seemed prouder than ever to be delivering a one-liner next to her daughter. “My mother was ultimately very supportive. But it was like a sort of coming out, if you will, where I had to share the news: ‘I’m going to disappoint you, I’m not going to be a doctor,’” the actress shares with EBONY over her decision to go into comed ..read more

Black westerns, and westerns featuring Black actors in general, are an important part of American cinema. They challenge the traditional, often white-washed view of the Wild West, highlighting the underrepresented role Black cowboys played in taming the American frontier. Black actors have portrayed these heroes and complex characters, some based on real-life individuals, for decades, bringing imagery rarely seen in the American landscape back to the forefront. These films allow Black audiences to see themselves reflected in a genre where we have been erased, living Western lives that haven’t ..read more

The unimaginable but very true tale of Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, and his escape to Cuba in the 1970s comes to life in the new series The Big Cigar. On October 28, 1967, Newton was involved in an altercation that left one police officer dead and him charged with a felony crime. While out on appeal, Newton fled to the country with the help of Hollywood producer Bert Schneider, who fabricated a movie project to give Newton a reason to travel.  André Holland and Alessandro Nivola in The Big Cigar. Image: AppleTV+. “I didn’t know anything about that, and ..read more