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The Real Reason Timothée Chalamet Lost to Michael B. Jordan

Sandra Rose
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The Real Reason Timothée Chalamet Lost to Michael B. Jordan
Photo of Timothée Chalamet, Michael B. Jordan
BACKGRID, Getty Images

Actor Timothée Chalamet was the fan favorite to win his first Oscar Award for his role in A24’s Marty Supreme (2025).

He was nominated three times for an Oscar in his career.

Fans were surprised when Timothée lost the Best Actor Oscar to veteran actor Michael B. Jordan for “Sinners.”

Timothée’s Oscar momentum stalled after he insulted ballet dancers and opera singers.

Insiders said his loss was simpler than campaign momentum. According to Rob Shuter, of Naughty But Nice, Timothée lost because Oscar voters “just didn’t like him.”

Sources tell Naughty But Nice that after speaking with 7 Academy voters, only one cast a ballot for the “arrogant” actor.

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

“Timothée is incredibly talented,” one voter told Rob. “But he’s very difficult.”

“Michael B. Jordan is the opposite,” the voter says. “Kind, polite, respectful — and everyone loves working with him.”

Another Oscar voter was more blunt. “Being on set with him isn’t a positive experience,” the voter said. “He’s arrogant.”

ALEXJR / BACKGRID

The voter said Timothée’s smug attitude doesn’t serve him well.

“The more voters got to know him, the less they liked him. There’s no love lost for Timmy.”

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Timothée, 30, is best known for dating Kylie Jenner, 28.

Some observers tried to blame his relationship with Kylie for the voter backlash — but insiders say she had nothing to do with the voters snubbing her boyfriend.

“This had nothing to do with Kylie,” one voter says. “She’s actually more liked than he is.”

One insider said Kylie can laugh at herself, while Timmy cannot.

“He has zero sense of humor,” the insider says. “At this point he’s become the joke.”

Swizz Beatz’s baby mama accused him of exposing their daughter to drugs

Sandra Rose
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Swizz Beatz’s baby mama accused him of exposing their daughter to drugs
Cobra Team / BACKGRID

Music producer Swizz Beatz, who is married to pop star Alicia Keys, allegedly threatened his baby mama with a gun in 2019.

Jahna Sebastian, the mother of Swizz Beatz’s only daughter, Nicole Dean, 17, took to Instagram to share an old post from 2019 that accused Swizz Beatz of threatening her with a gun.

Jahna, a 39-year-old singer who lives in London, recently accused her ex of exposing Nicole to drugs when she visits him and Alicia in the United States.

“Nicole just crossed the biggest line. She just hit me,” Jahna wrote in an Instagram post on March 13. “In the name of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats [sic] who have been alienating her from me.”

She continued:

“Do you think it’s OK to hit your mother? In the name of money, fame and drugs? She said she hates me, my mom, my friends. Nicole got addicted to drugs and vapes in the US while in their care. This is why she is acting like this. It’s not normal teenage stuff. I’m trying to save her from further destruction. I’ve spoken to her dad so many times about it. They ignore everything.”

Photo of Nicole Dean, Jahna Sebastian
Instagram/@jahnasebastian

Jahna said she’s forced to go public to save her daughter from “spiraling out of control and publicly dying from an overdose in a bath tub like Whitney Houston’s daughter.”

In a follow-up post on March 13, Jahna wrote:

“I’ve had years of struggling with them. They are the opposite of what parents should be! She goes there and there is no structure, no regime, just meeting celebrities and partying on the yachts with billionaires. Her dad always brings her late for school breaching the court order. I’m so tired of people assuming that they are so ‘holy’ because of the money! We have to save children from Hollywood ‘parents’. Most of these kids are on drugs and everyone applauds them. Everyone should stop worshipping celebrities. People need to have a grounded life. These celebrities are connected to Epstein, have no boundaries.”

Photo of Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz and family
Instagram/@aliciakeys

In addition to Nicole, Swizz Beatz, 47, also has two sons with Alicia, 45, and 2 sons from prior relationships.

The Oscars issues statement after security shoved Teyana Taylor

Sandra Rose
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The Oscars issues statement after security shoved Teyana Taylor
Photo of Teyana Taylor
illustration

The Academy Awards issued a statement on Monday after Oscar nominee Teyana Taylor was shoved by a security guard following the live broadcast on Sunday.

In a statement to Variety magazine, The Academy said,

“We were extremely upset to learn about the experience endured by Teyana Taylor at the end of the Oscars ceremony last night. We have worked with Teyana over the last several months during awards season, and she has been nothing short of remarkable, supportive, kind, and all about community.”

The statement continued:

“Though the incident was with our outside security firm SIS, the experience of every single guest is our responsibility. We have made it clear to them that this behavior is not acceptable. We want to thank Teyana for showing remarkable grace, and we are taking the appropriate measures to ensure this does not happen again.”

Teyana thanked The Academy in a post on X.com, writing, “Thank you to @TheAcademy. I really appreciate your unwavering love & support.”

The security firm that employed the guard also issued a statement on Monday, according to TMZ.

“During that interaction, there was incidental contact and we regret that the situation escalated. This is not the standard of professionalism we expect from our team, and we have addressed the matter internally to help ensure situations like this do not happen again.”

The public backlash over Teyana’s behavior continued on Tuesday. She put “One Battle After Another” director Paul Thomas Anderson in a headlock as he made his way to the stage to accept his Oscar for Best Picture.

Teyana snatched an Oscar out of presenter Nicole Kidman’s hands. It was not Teyana’s Oscar Award to take. She was nominated for Best Leading Actress, but she didn’t win.

The producer who actually won the Oscar Award was forced to make her acceptance speech without her trophy.

Insiders say Teyana’s embarrassing behavior set Black actors back 50 years.

There is never an excuse for bad behavior, but Teyana made excuses anyway. She said she was showing “real sportsmanship” by clapping for winners. Teyana claimed people who criticized her had “miserable hearts”.

“The world holds so much misery that miserable hearts forget the face of happiness,” she wrote on X.

Photo of Teyana Taylor post

‘Showtime at the Apollo’ Host Kiki Shepard, Dead at 74

Sandra Rose
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‘Showtime at the Apollo’ Host Kiki Shepard, Dead at 74
Guillermo Proano/WENN.com

Kiki Shepard, beloved host of “Showtime at the Apollo,” died suddenly in Los Angeles on Monday. She was 74.

LaShirl Smith, Kiki’s rep, tells TMZ, Shepard suffered a massive heart attack in Los Angeles on Monday, March 16.

Guillermo Proano/WENN.com

Kiki was known as “Queen of Fashion” at the famed Harlem theater. She was also known for her elegance, big smile and warm personality.

Black girls and women aspired to be as graceful, poised and cultured as Kiki Shepard.

MediaPunch / BACKGRID

Before Showtime at the Apollo, Shepard performed in several plays including “Porgy and Bess” and “Your Arms Are Too Short to Box with God.”

Shepard became the face of Showtime at the Apollo from 1987 to 2002. She shared the stage with a revolving roster of comedic emcees including Steve Harvey, Sinbad, Mo’Nique, Rudy Rush, Mark Curry and Rick Aviles. Shepard helped introduce aspiring performers at the iconic Harlem theater.

Over the years she made guest appearances on television shows including “A Different World,” “Baywatch,” “Baywatch Nights,” “NYPD Blue,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Mind Your Business.”

Her film credits include “A Rage in Harlem,” “Miss Evers’ Boys,” “Dolls of Voodoo” and “Blackjack Christmas.”

Variety via Getty Images

Shepard joined her friends Sheila E. (Left) and Kym Whitley (center) at Sherri Shepherd’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony on November 03, 2025 in Los Angeles.

In 2006, Shepard founded The KIS Foundation to raise awareness and educate the public about Sickle Cell disease.

Celebrity stylist Elgin Charles (Jackée Harry’s ex-husband) confirmed Shepard’s death on Monday. He said in a post on X.com, “Kiki was more than a cultural icon and the soul of Showtime at the Apollo; she was my sister in spirit. She was the definition of genuine—a woman of immense grace who championed the fight against Sickle Cell with the same passion she brought to the stage.”

Mary J. Blige is Unrecognizable at the Oscar Awards

Sandra Rose
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Mary J. Blige is Unrecognizable at the Oscar Awards
Daniele Venturelli/WireImage

Mary J. Blige was unrecognizable at the 98th Oscar Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 15, in Hollywood, California.

The 55-year-old singer/actress caused photographers to do a double take on the red carpet.

In a post-Oscars interview, the R&B songstress said her favorite part of the night was when Michael B. Jordan won his first Oscar for his role in Sinners.

“Every time Sinners won something, it was just awesome,” she told Variety magazine.

Fans noted Mary gained a few pounds while all of Hollywood takes Ozempic to lose weight. Still, Mary’s fans said she looked great!

A fan on a manosphere board wrote: “She’s a little heavier but she still looks great. I think it’s just more of a surprise than anything since we’ve all only ever seen a smaller version of her but it’s not like she let herself go.”

Another manosphere member wrote: “She damn near 60…. what y’all mothers looks like?”

BACKGRID

Mary was thick and lovely in May 2025 when she performed during halftime of Game 1 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks on May 21, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Tyler Perry Sells BET+ stake to Paramount, BET+ Shuts Down

Sandra Rose
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Tyler Perry Sells BET+ stake to Paramount, BET+ Shuts Down
PGP / BACKGRID

BET+ will be folded into Paramount+ after Tyler Perry sold his equity stake in BET+ to Paramount Skydance.

BET+ was an online streaming service with over 2,000 hours of Black television and movie content.

Paramount Skydance bought out Tyler Perry Studios’ equity stake in BET+. About 1,000 hours of BET+ content will begin migrating to Paramount+ in June 2026.

Photo of Tyler Perry's All the Queen's Men TV series

The content includes Tyler Perry-produced “All the Queen’s Men”, “Sistas” spin-off “Zatima”, “The Ms. Pat Show”, “Average Joe”, and the mystery comedy drama “Diarra From Detroit.”

Jen Lowery/MEGA

The terms of the buyout weren’t disclosed, but it solidifies Tyler’s status as a billionaire.

“This powerful next step ensures the stories we champion, the creators we support and the culture we represent go further than ever before,” Louis Carr, president of BET Networks, wrote to colleagues.

“Paramount+ will bring global fans over 1,000 hours of iconic series, films, originals and cultural touchstones that reflect the full spectrum of the Black experience, including hits like The Ms. Pat Show, All the Queen’s Men, Zatima, Average Joe, and Diarra From Detroit,” Carr wrote. “Our celebrated Black storytelling will live alongside Paramount’s premium series, sports, specials, and films, where it will be clearly branded, prominently featured and easy to find in the BET Hub.”

Carr explained that Black Entertainment Television (BET) is not shutting down. BET remains “an essential part of Paramount’s portfolio and long-term content strategy.”

“BET remains strong because of you, your creativity, your resilience and your unwavering belief in the power of our stories,” Carr told his colleagues. “This moment is about growth and about ensuring BET’s voice continues to shape culture at an even greater global scale.”

Teyana Taylor criticized for putting director in a headlock

Sandra Rose
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Teyana Taylor criticized for putting director in a headlock
Photo of Teyana Taylor and Paul Thomas
Screengrab

Teyana Taylor is the “it” Hollywood actress in 2026, but she lost cool points for her behavior at the 2026 Oscar Awards on Sunday.

Teyana, 35, showed her exuberance after her movie, One Battle After Another won the Best Picture Oscar.

As director Paul Thomas Anderson headed to the stage, Teyana put him in a headlock. Paul, 55, nearly lost his balance and face-planted.

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Paul is married to SNL alum Maya Rudolph, daughter of the late R&B singer Minnie Ripperton. Maya and Paul share 4 children.

One X.com user wrote, “Teyana gotta learn how to read the room! This is not the BET Awards.”

In a post-Oscars interview, Teyana said she warned Paul that she was going to celebrate if they won Best Picture.

“I told him, I said listen, when you get that best picture [award], I’m telling you now I’m gonna gift you a helmet… I’m such a sports girl so I’m just like yeahhhh, you know? It’s our little inside joke. So he already knew that headlock was coming.”

Another X.com user expressed her disappointment when Teyana snatched an Oscar award out of presenter Nicole Kidman’s hands.

A third commenter wrote: “She’s so damn annoying, borderline disrespectful.”

Insiders whisper that Teyana’s antics may be the reason why a security guard was heavy-handed with her after the show.

Teyana was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in OBAA, but she lost the trophy to Amy Madigan.

Blaxploitation Actress Judy Pace Dead at 83

Sandra Rose
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Blaxploitation Actress Judy Pace Dead at 83
Photo of Judy Pace
Screengrab

Pioneering actress Judy Lenteen Pace died from natural causes on March 11, in California. She was 83.

Pace’s daughters, attorney Shawn Pace Mitchell and actress Julia Pace Mitchell, said their mother “died peacefully in her sleep” on March 11 while visiting family in Marina Del Rey.

Pace was known for her roles in blaxploitation films in the 1970s, including Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970), Cool Breeze (1972), and The Slams (1973).

She also starred in the 1971 ABC Movie of the Week Brian’s Song, a biopic about former Chicago Bears star Brian Piccolo who had terminal cancer. Pace played former Chicago Bears star Gale Sayers’s wife, Linda. Gale was played by Billy Dee Williams.

Pace guest starred in the TV series That’s My Mama (1974), Sanford and Son (1974), Good Times (1975), Peyton Place (1968–1969), The Mod Squad (1968), I Dream of Jeannie (1967), and Days of Our Lives.

Variety magazine called Pace “the most beautiful black actress in Hollywood.”

Photo of Judy Pace

In 1972, Pace married actor Don Mitchell. They had two daughters together before their divorce in 1984. He is best known for appearing alongside Raymond Burr in the NBC TV series Ironside (1967–1975). Don died on December 8, 2013 at age 70.

Pace married former baseball player Curt Flood in 1986. They stayed together until his death in 1997.

Her family requested donations be made to the NAACP in her memory.

Keke Palmer shuts down SXSW proposal with grace, “I’m sorry, I don’t know you”

Sandra Rose
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Keke Palmer shuts down SXSW proposal with grace, “I’m sorry, I don’t know you”
Image Press Agency / BACKGRID

Keke Palmer was on stage at the SXSW Music Festival & Conference when a man interrupted her panel to propose to her.

The incident was caught on video while Keke hosted a panel for her “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer” podcast on Sunday.

The man got down on one knee and asked Keke to marry him, but she rejected him.

“I can’t marry you, I don’t know you. I’m so sorry,” she told the fan.

A female security guard quickly approached the man and attempted to lead him away from the stunned star.

Keke’s “I Love Boosters” co-stars, Demi Moore, Taylour Paige, Naomi Ackie, Poppy Liu and Eiza González, looked as shocked as she did.

“Is this a prank?” someone on the stage asked.

Eventually, a man in plainclothes walked out on stage and physically removed the man after he refused to leave. The crowd erupted into applause.

“Sorry guys. Let’s just take a deep breath,” Keke said, before telling the man, “Much love to you, brotha.”

“Prove it!” the man yelled, as he was being escorted out.

SXSW attendees noted the man seemed to be unstable earlier.

“He was doing some weird stuff earlier,” one woman said off-camera. “She needs security,” another fan added.

BFA.com / BACKGRID

Keke, 32, is a single mom of one son. She previously said she won’t live with her husband if she ever marries.

Keke said she doesn’t mind if her husband lives just around the corner from her. But she wants her whole house to herself for privacy.

“Around the corner would be great… You can be in the guest house… At best separate rooms,” she said.

Keke also revealed she’s sexually fluid – meaning she doesn’t limit herself to just men.

“Yeah, I like whoever loves me. Love is defined by the individual, and what I feel today is not what I necessarily may feel five years from now,” she told Wendy Williams in a 2017 interview. “I don’t want to limit myself to one feeling or one idea of anything.”

E! correspondent calls Chase Infiniti’s braids “undone hair”

Sandra Rose
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E! correspondent calls Chase Infiniti’s braids “undone hair”
Screengrab

A fashion correspondent for E! News called Chase Infiniti’s ethnic braids “almost undone” at the 98th Oscar Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 15, in Hollywood, California.

The “One Battle After Another” star graced the red carpet in a custom lilac Louis Vuitton gown adorned with cascading ruffles. She accessorized with waist length boho knotless braids extensions styled by celebrity hairstylist Coree Moreno.

The Grosby Group / BACKGRID

Chase, 25, was one of the many Black stars to wear braids on the 2026 Oscars red carpet on Sunday night. “Sinners” director Ryan Coogler showcased his man braids on the red carpet.

However, E! News fashion correspondent Zanna Roberts Rassi chose to insult Chase for wearing “undone hair.”

“Let’s think about this awesome, almost like undone hair with the done dress. Actually, it’s mirroring the ruffles on the dress, that beautiful hair,” Zanna said during the Oscars broadcast.

“It is intentional,” Chase told Essence magazine on the red carpet.

“I’m in this very fortunate place where I have an incredible team around me, and we can showcase curls in their full beauty and also show that, like, they can be dressed up, and you don’t have to show up with a silk press to every event because that’s what is, I guess, palatable for people. So I think it’s important to showcase our hair and the versatility of our hair, because we can do so much with it, like even getting to do braids today.”

Zanna, who is white, is a British born, New York-based journalist and businesswoman. She is a co-founder of Milk Makeup and is currently the Fashion-Editor-at-Large for Marie Claire, as well as fashion correspondent for E! News.

Social media users were quick to point out the similarities between Zanna’s statement and Giuliana Rancic describing Zendaya’s faux locs during the 2015 Oscar Awards.

Giuliana faced backlash for saying Zendaya’s hair looks like it “smells like patchouli oil or maybe weed.”

Photo of my niece Lolly

Young Black women, such as my niece Lolly (pictured) embrace their natural hair as an expression of freedom from wigs and hair extensions. Lolly washes and conditions her natural hair at home. Her friends also celebrate and embrace the beautiful texture of their natural hair following reports that synthetic hair weave contains petroleum products that cause cancer.

Black women wear their natural hair to work, play, and even weddings. But they risk resentment and jealousy from other Black women who despise the natural hair movement.

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