Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige are ready to ease on down the road! The two stars have joined the cast of NBC’s upcoming live action remake of The Wiz. Queen Latifah will be stepping into the shoes of the Wiz (!!), and Mary will play the one and only Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West. They join Stephanie Mills, who was cast as Auntie Em. The production is coming to a small screen near you on Thursday, Dec. 3. [Entertainment Weekly]
Tyler Perry, long-time friend of both the Houstons and the Browns, has been at Bobbi Kristina’s side since she was placed in a coma in January. Perry has remained quiet since the 22-year-old died on Saturday, but yesterday, he broke his silence in a heartbreaking tweet. “I’m a writer with no words…. Bobbi Kris,” he wrote. Our prayers go out to both he and Bobbi Kristina’s family. [People]
On the tail of the release of his newest album, Black Rose, Tyrese is coming after mainstream media for being racist. “I don’t appreciate mainstream radio not playing my song,” he told TMZ. “When I think about Sam Smith, Robin Thicke and Justin Timberlake when they’re singing R&B soul, their songs are being played on all formats of radio, including urban radio. We don’t say because they’re White, they should only be played on the White stations.” [The Root]
Shutting down rumors that Sandra Bland was dead upon arrival, the Waller County Jail has released surveillance video showing Bland walking around the facility, making phone calls, filling out paperwork, being taken in and out of her jail cell and having her mug shot taken. “Sandra Bland was alive and well,” a Waller County judge said at a press conference. [MSN]
Everyone’s favorite Lyon patriarch is in some legal messiness. Terrence Howard is being sued by his ex-wife for both assault and defamation. According to a complaint filed by Michelle Ghent, Terrence attacked her and threatened to kill her. She also claims that Terrence made false claims and accusations against her to the public. Stay tuned on the next chapter of this lawsuit. [Hollywood Reporter]
The creator of Black-ish is bringing you a much-needed reboot of our favorite 1970s protagonist, Shaft. New Line Cinema just announced that Kenya Barris has signed on to write the upcoming remake of Shaft. Who would you like to see play the iconic role? [IndieWire]
