ESSENCE’s May cover star Shonda Rhimes is taking her empire beyond ABC and producing a new series for the FX network. With the help of Dee Rees, Rhimes is producing a series based on Isabel Wilkerson’s bestselling book, The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration. Rees, the director of Pariah, will write the screen adaptation. [Madame Noire]
Beyoncé’s banging body on the Met Gala red carpet is brought to you by veganism. The 33-year-old superstar’s personal nutritionist Marco Borge confirms that her slim, trim figure is thanks to her all vegan diet. Since joining his 22-day vegan diet regimen, Bey has lost a total of 65 lbs. But Bey’s veganism is more than just a trend, it’s a lifestyle.
“After having my daughter, I made a conscious effort to regain control of my health and my body. But I didn’t want to do a crash diet,” Beyoncé says. “If a Houston-born foodie like me can [go vegan], you can too.” [Necole Bitchie]
Rapper MC Lyte now sits on the board of trustees at Dillard University. The emcee plans to work with the HBCU to provide more scholarships through her Hip Hop Sisters Foundation, and to encourage more Black men to enroll as part of her new Dillard initiative “Educate Our Men.” [Black Enterprise]
Errol Brown, lead singer of the 70’s funk group Hot Chocolate, died Wednesday morning. He was 71. Brown wrote the Hot Chocolate’s biggest hit, “You Sexy Thing,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976. According to his manager, Phil Dale, Brown had been suffering from liver cancer. [Billboard]
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has implemented a series of #RealityTVCheck watch parties to examine images of women of color on reality TV. The service sorority is collaborating with the American Advertising Federation and Truth in Reality to determine whether the images on TV are helpful or harmful to women and people of color.
OWN has green-lit a new docuseries For Peete’s Sake following the lives of Holly Robinson Peete and her hubby Rodney Peete as they juggle their careers and family.
“Rodney and I couldn’t be more thrilled to call OWN our new TV home. We are excited to share our family’s chaotic bliss and zany journeys with OWN’s loyal and authentic audience,” said Holly Robinson Peete.
Their on-screen family will include Holly’s widowed mother Dolores, and the couple’s four children: twins RJ and Ryan Elizabeth (17), son Robinson (13) and their youngest, Roman (10).
