It’s Thursday and we’ve got some good news coming your way.
Obama is making a return to politics, Cardi B keeps winning, and Gucci Mane is living his best life. Check out all this and more in today’s news round-up.
– Barack Obama’s spokeswoman, Katie Hill, has confirmed that the former president is making a low-key return to politics. Obama will maintain a low profile while being more politically active through endorsements and campaigning. (Chicago Tribune)
– Lupita Nyong’o is writing a children’s book. Called Sulwe, the book tells the story of a young girl in Kenya who grapples with her dark skin and colorism. The book will be released through Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in January 2019. (NY Times)
– Lena Waithe is set to guest star on an upcoming episode of This Is Us. The actress and Emmy winner will play a super cool Los Angeleno helping Kate adopt a pet. (Vulture)
– Gucci Mane is truly living his best life. The rapper announced Wednesday that he has plans to turn his New York Times best-seller The Autobiography of Gucci Mane into a biopic and hinted at possibly starting his own production company. (Twitter)
– The University of Alabama has expelled a student after she posted racist videos on social media. Harley Barber was recorded going on a racist, n-word laden rant about water, leading to her expulsion and removal from her sorority. The school says it is investigating her remarks. (NY Post)
– Kendrick Lamar has joined the long list of performers at this year’s Grammys. The rapper, who is up for seven awards, is reportedly set to open the show. (Billboard)
– Dennis Rodman is entering rehab following a DUI arrest in California. Rodman’s agent, Dennis Prince, stated, “Dennis decided it was time to get help for his issue with alcohol and finally get to the underlying root before it’s too late.” (People)
– Cardi B keeps winning, this time inking the first movie deal. The rapper is reportedly set to beginning film a project in March. (TMZ)
– The Mark Gordon Company has acquired the feature film rights to an upcoming book about Aaron Hernandez, the late football star charged with murder in 2013. Hernandez was found guilty in 2015 and sentenced to life in prison, Hernandez was found dead in his cell after committing suicide. (Variety)
– The Pop Culture Collaborative announced Wednesday that Issa Rae and Reza Aslan are part of its 2018 class of grantees. The grants will be used to harness the power of pop culture to reach social justice goals. (Colorlines)
– Page Six TV, featuring Bevy Smith, has been renewed for a second season. The show averaged four million weekly viewers its first season and tied for number one new first-run series. (Page Six)