Tiffany Haddish is speaking out about an explicit sketch she was featured in that is now at the center of a sexual misconduct lawsuit.
In an Instagram post on Monday, the actress said she “deeply regrets” agreeing to act in the comedy sketch six years ago alongside comedian Aries Spears. The Girls Trip actress added she wanted to shed more light on the matter but couldn’t due to the ongoing legal case.
“I know people have a bunch of questions. I get it. I’m right there with you,” Haddish says in her statement. “Unfortunately, because there is an ongoing legal case, there’s very little that I can say right now.”
Haddish continues, “But, clearly, while the sketch was intended to be comedic, it wasn’t funny at all — and I deeply regret having agreed to act in it. I really look forward to being able to share a lot more about this situation as soon as I can.”
This acknowledgement comes after a lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court last week, alleging the two comedians groomed and coerced two siblings, aged 7 and 14 at the time, to take part in sexually explicit skits on two separate occasions. According to the lawsuit, the seven-year-old appeared in a sketch titled “Through A Pedophile’s Eyes,” as reported by The Daily Beast.
Attorneys for Haddish and Spears, have dismissed the explicit lawsuit as a shakedown. This story is still developing.
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New Jack City will be revived on stages around the nation by theatrical hitmaker Je’Caryous Johnson thirty years after its initial debut.
The Met in Philadelphia will host the world premiere of Johnson’s traveling stage version of the Warner Bros. cult favorite on Nov. 4. Johnson wrote, directed, and produced the stage edition, which is presented by Je’Caryous Johnson Entertainment. During its run, the play will make visits to a number of cities, including Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Detroit, Charlotte, North Carolina, Atlanta, Brooklyn, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. Up until the spring of 2023, more cities are expected to be added.
The cast of Johnson’s NEW JACK CITY LIVE includes critically acclaimed actor Allen Payne, who will reprise his role as “Gee Money,” legendary rapper “Treach,” who will be “Nino Brown,” legendary rapper “Big Daddy Kane,” who plays “Stone,” and actor Flex Alexander, who will take on the role of “Pookie.”
While experiencing classic theater storytelling through the culturally astute lens of Je’Caryous Johnson, NEW JACK CITY LIVE will give audiences across the nation the opportunity to relive all their favorite, intense, heart-pounding moments from the blockbuster movie.
NAACP Image Award nominee Serayah (“Empire,” “BMF”) will star in the upcoming action-thriller Takeover, alongside Rap star and actor Quavo (“Atlanta,” Wash Me in the River) and Billy Zane (“The Boys”).
In the film, Serayah plays “Lt. Keisha Jenner,” the leader of a special task force assigned to apprehending jewel thieves. Level-headed and always by the book, she’s disgusted by Sheriff ‘Herc’ Hitchens’ willingness to play outside the lines. Keisha also is the childhood friend of Guy Miller (Quavo), a recent parolee who’s attempting to rehabilitate his life when circumstances propel him back into Atlanta’s dangerous takeover scene.
The feature-length film is produced by Trioscope in partnership with Quality Films (Ice Cold, How High 2), the expanded film unit of premier music management and Hip Hop mega-label Quality Control Music.Takeover is written by acclaimed and world-renowned action screenwriter Jeb Stuart (Die Hard, The Fugitive, The Vikings) and Brandon Easton (Marvel’s Agent Carter). Takeover is directed by Trioscope Chief Creative Officer Greg Jonkajtys, who directed The Liberator.
Takeover began filming earlier this month in Atlanta, and hasn’t been set with a release date as of yet.
LeBron James and Drake are being sued for allegedly stealing the rights to a movie about a segregated hockey league. Billy Hunter, the former head of the NBA players union, claims he holds the exclusive rights to produce any movie about Canada’s old Colored Hockey League, an all black hockey league founded in 1895.
The lawsuit states Lebron and Drake used their production companies to go behind Hunter’s back and sign a deal with the authors of a book their Black Ice documentary is based on.
The authors, George and Darril Fosty, are also listed as defendants, citing breach of contract for allegedly violating the agreement. However, the authors say no one violated any agreements because a documentary is different from a movie.
The lawsuit says Hunter paid the authors a total of $265,000 for the movie rights to the story. Hunter is asking for a cut of Lebron and Drake’s profits off their documentary and an additional $10M in damages.
James and Drake’s documentary, directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Hubert Davis, is being showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 10.
Representatives for LeBron James and Drake haven’t made any comments on the allegations.
Comedians Tiffany Haddish and Aries Spears are being sued for allegedly grooming two children. A lawsuit filed against the two from a 22-year-old woman, Jane Doe claims they groomed the two siblings.
The filing alleges child sexual abuse when the 14-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy, were convinced into performing sexual acts for comedy skits that were video taped.
The John Doe in the suit also claims Spears and Haddish molested him while filming a “Funny or Die” video titled “Through a Pedophile’s Eyes.” In the sketch, Haddish allegedly played the boy’s mother and Spears portrayed a pedophile.
Haddish’s attorney says the lawsuit is nothing more than an extortion attempt, and that the plaintiffs have been trying to assert the claims for years.
According to the New York Post, the attorney for Spears, said the comedian “isn’t going to fall for any shakedown.”
Funny or Die said it immediately removed the video after it became aware of it. “We were not involved with the conceptualization, development, funding, or production of this video. The platform said they viewed the video “absolutely disgusting and would never produce such content,” according to TMZ.
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You know, this may be an intense spooky season. A.A. Milne’s iconic character Winnie the Pooh became public and is now in a slasher film. This edition of the bear is to not be confused with the loveable honey-guzzling bear of Disney.
On Wednesday (Aug. 31), the trailer for Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey were released, reimagining the children’s comic into a horror film where Pooh is strangling, slashing, and smashing a group of teens.
The film is about Pooh and Piglet on a rampage after being abandoned by Christopher Robin. Film director Rhys Waterfield told Variety said the two stars are going back to their animal roots after they have to fend for themselves after Robin goes to college.
Regina Hall has been quite active since we saw her co-hosting the 2022 Oscars. Her latest project is the comedy/satire Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul, (Sept. 2 on Peacock), which premieres in theaters this weekend. The 51-year-old comedian, plays Trinitie Childs, the first lady of a megachurch, who’s husband is Sterling K. Brown, who plays pastor Lee-Curtis Childs. Hall’s character supports her husband and the church as they rebrand after being involved in a scandal that upsets their congregation.
The famed actor and director who is known for her roles in Black Monday, Girls Trip, the Best Man and cult classic Scary Movie franchise recently partnered with CÎROC for #CIROCStands for Black Businesses at the 20th annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival. A mission that highlights effort and ongoing commitment to celebrate the powerful voices and people within the Black community that are depicting excellence and igniting change.
The DC native and Me Time (Aug. 26 on Netflix), cast member who also stars in the limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Dec. 22 on Peacock), spoke with Kim SoMajor of The Source and dished on her new partnership with #CIROCStands, having ownership in Hollywood, starting her production company Rh Negative and more.
What sparked you to take on your latest film project, “Honk for Jesus. Save YourSoul.”
I really enjoyed the script when I read it and then I met with Adamma and Adanne and although they were young, I had seen their short film and knew they had a vision for what they had in mind. I hadn’t worked with Sterling before so when he joined, I was excited to work with him and couldn’t imagine creating these characters with anyone else.
What’s your role and intention set to accomplish with your partnership with CÎROC?
As a Black woman, I of course support female, Black owned businesses which is part of why I appreciate what #CIROCStands is accomplishing for the community. It’s that shared mission that drew me to them. Being at Martha’s Vineyard and being on a panel with such amazing women was truly inspiring. There’s such a rich history and roots in the culture there and I loved celebrating that!
How does the association align with everything that you’re doing as a businesswoman?
Like #CIROCStands, I believe it’s important to highlight people of different backgrounds. There are smart, talented people from varied pasts and to find them and give them a space to create and tell really good stories is part of why I was inspired to start producing.
As a business owner, starting Rh Negative production company- What has been adefinitive moment for you that reaffirmed that you made the right move in launching?
Producing is a process that involves many people and I love the sense of collaboration involved in developing a project from beginning to end. It brings me joy every time I’m able to facilitate the success of a project and enable other people’s dreams coming true.
With your production company, you are providing an opportunity for many creatives.How important is it for black women to have ownership in Hollywood or entertainment ingeneral?
We live in a diverse world and it’s important that diversity be seen on screen, which means it must exist behind the scenes. Everyone has different life experiences, and that varied history creates well-informed decisions that positively influence each project and inherently the industry as a whole.
How did you know that was the next move for you?
I’ve wanted to produce for several years. I felt like I had worked and gotten to a place where I had enough knowledge to be able to produce. It wasn’t an overnight thing, despite what people think, it took years, hard work, and a will for it to happen.
Can you share 5 tips on balancing asuccessful entrepreneurial lifestyle and home life of wellness?
More of a balance is always the goal, although it’s not always easy. I would say what helps me is good friends, an incredible team, fun, rest, and a quiet place where my imagination can roam.
What’s in store for you in the last quarter of 2022?
We’re of course excited for Honk for Jesus to be released and then we have TheBest Man coming out just in time for the holidays! Then a few other things that are soon to be announced. I work with two organizations called Scleroderma Research Foundation and Solutions Project and hope to partner with them on a few things too.
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Jordan Peele is teasing a sequel of his sci-fi film Nope.
According to IMDb, Michael Busch plays the uncredited character “Nobody” in the Jordan Peele summer blockbuster. Fans took notice that “Nobody” was shown in the movie’s first official trailer but did not make the final cut.
The writer-director was clearing up theories with the New York Times, and Peele said he’s not over telling “all of these stories” and fans are doing a lot of “interesting detective work” from things he’s read online.
He added, “The story of that character has yet to be told, I can tell you that. Which is another frustrating way of saying, I’m glad people are paying attention.”
Bassett Vance Productions, owned by Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, and MTV Entertainment Studios announced a renewal of their overall deal. This collaboration is the outcome of Paramount’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative, a global initiative to enhance content development for a new generation of BIPOC and female leaders in front of and behind the camera.
“Angela and Courtney have masterfully brought to the forefront events from our history in order to tell exhilarating and dramatic stories that resonate with global audiences,” said Nina L. Diaz, President of Content and Chief Creative Officer, Paramount Media Networks & MTV Entertainment Studios. “It’s a privilege to continue our fruitful creative relationship and shared commitment to amplify diverse creators and new voices.”
Bassett Vance Productions is currently filming Heist 88, the first feature from the overall agreement. One Thousand Years of Slavery on the Smithsonian Channel and a limited series on the Tulsa Race Massacre, both expected for release in 2023, are previously announced projects from the collaboration between MTV Entertainment Studios and Bassett Vance Productions.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with MTV Entertainment Studios,” said Bassett Vance Productions Head of Development, Lynnette Ramirez. “We are looking forward to developing more films together beyond our current active slate, which includes the drama Heist 88 and the shared vision for our upcoming four-part event series based on The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.”
Heist 88, which is currently filming in Chicago, reunites two-time Emmy® Award-winning actor Vance with Bentley Green and Keesha Sharp, who most recently appeared with Vance in AMC’s 61st Street. Keesha Sharp played “Dale Cochran” in the acclaimed limited series The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Heist 88 is an amazing account of one of the biggest bank robberies to take place in the history of the United States, inspired by actual events.
In the film, criminal mastermind Jeremy Horne (Vance), who has a natural capacity to persuade people to do nearly anything, intends to complete one final operation before being sent to prison. In an audacious and daring attack on the US banking system, he enlists four young bank employees to steal about $80 million. The events of Heist 88 occurred before widespread computerization and the sophisticated cybersecurity of the present.
“I have always been drawn to characters that are multi-layered, regardless of whether they’re a savior or a villain. This character is inspired by a man who was able to convince a small group of young people who were at the lowest rungs of their bank to join him in committing one of the biggest crimes against the US banking system in this country’s history,” says Vance. “At its core, it’s an unapologetically compelling story, which will be told through the lens of a powerful cast, that when the American Dream is not accessible to everyone, decisions are often made based on those inequities. I anticipate that Heist 88 will be a must-watch, particularly in light of the fascination with and popularity of true crime stories on today’s streaming and network TV landscape.”
Heist 88 will also star Keith David, Xavier Clyde, Nican Robinson, and Precious Way.
After 45 years, the most lauded, respected horror franchise in cinematic history comes to a harrowing, epic climax as Laurie Strode battles Michael Myers, the personification of evil, one last time in an intense showdown never before seen on film. One of them will make it.
Icon For the last time, Jamie Lee Curtis will reprise her role as Laurie Strode, the first “final girl” of horror and the one that made her famous. Laurie has been portrayed by Curtis for more than 40 years, making them one of the most enduring actor-character combinations in movie history. Halloween broke box office records when the franchise was rebooted in 2018, becoming the series’ highest-grossing installment and setting a new mark for the largest opening weekend for a horror movie starring a woman.
The film’s logline reads:
Four years after the events of last year’s Halloween Kills, Laurie is living with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) and is finishing writing her memoir. Michael Myers hasn’t been seen since. Laurie, after allowing the specter of Michael to determine and drive her reality for decades, has decided to liberate herself from fear and rage and embrace life. But when a young man, Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell; The Hardy Boys, Virgin River), is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.
Halloween Ends co-stars returning cast Will Patton as Officer Frank Hawkins, Kyle Richards as Lindsey Wallace and James Jude Courtney as The Shape.
