OSCARS

Jay-Z’s Oscars Afterparty Venue Is The Site Of A Boycott Over Employee Mistreatment

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jay z oscars afterparty
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Jay-Z has received plenty of criticism for his capitalistic stances in the past few years, and this week, he’s catching flak for crossing a union picket line with his upcoming Oscars afterparty, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The venue for the party is the hotel Chateau Marmont, to which the party returns after a lavish event in 2020, before pandemic-related lockdowns over safety concerns. However, the hotel is currently the site of a boycott by the hotel workers’ union over the mistreatment of staff, leaving Jay-Z’s party caught between a venue booked months in advance and workers fighting for their rights.

The union claims racial discrimination and sexual harassment against the hotel’s management and a growing roster of celebrities has spoken out in support of the boycott, including Quinta Brunson, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay, Spike Lee, Issa Rae, Robin Thede, and Gabrielle Union. The co-president of Unite Here Local 11, Kurt Petersen, said in a statement to THR, “For Jay-Z to choose the Chateau Marmont for their Gold Party is shockingly insensitive. They must move their event and choose an afterparty hot spot that treats its workers, especially Black women, with dignity and respect. Jay-Z has a responsibility to do better.”

A picket line will begin the same night of the Oscars at 8 pm to draw attention to the boycott, which centers around former employee Thomasina Gross, who sued the hotel, saying she was sexually harassed and passed over for promotions in favor of white people, who she then had to train. In her own statement, she said, “I’m a huge fan of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, so working at their Gold Party year after year was such an honor and pleasure. They made it a point to acknowledge our hard work and treated us like human beings, not just servers. They said our presence meant a lot to them in terms of helping their party be a success. … I can’t help but think if Jay-Z knew how Chateau treats their workers, they wouldn’t ignore this fact and continue to throw parties there.”

Meanwhile, the Oscars proper face their own protest during the show on behalf of several technical awards being cut from the broadcast.

JAY-Z Faces Backlash for Hosting Oscars After-Party at Hotel Amid Boycott

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All that glitters isn’t gold.

JAY-Z is once again set to host his annual Oscars after-party, dubbed the Gold Party, at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood on Sunday. This comes amid an ongoing boycott of the famed Sunset Strip hotel over its alleged treatment of employees, including claims of racial discrimination and sexual harassment. The boycott, led by the hotel workers’ union, has received the backing of Hollywood unions and celebrities including Gabrielle Union, Spike Lee, and Issa Rae.

“For JAY-Z to choose the Chateau Marmont for their Gold Party is shockingly insensitive,” Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, told The Hollywood Reporter. “They must move their event and choose an after-party hot spot that treats its workers, especially Black women, with dignity and respect. JAY-Z has a responsibility to do better.”

Added Petersen, “We hope JAY-Z joins Gabrielle Union, Spike Lee, Issa Rae, Robin Thede, Quinta Brunson, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay, Ashley Nicole Black and Samira Wiley in boycotting Chateau Marmont.”

A 2020 investigation, published by The Hollywood Reporter, documented the Chateau’s “culture of prejudice,” including its treatment of Black and Latino visitors who were stopped and questioned on arrival at a higher rate than their white equivalents.

Thomasina Gross, a former server at the hotel who is Black, sued the Chateau for racial discrimination and sexual harassment in 2021, alleging that she had been repeatedly passed over for higher-paying roles in favor of white hires.

“I’m a huge fan of Beyoncé and JAY-Z, so working at their Gold Party year after year was such an honor and pleasure. They made it a point to acknowledge our hard work and treated us like human beings, not just servers,” Gross said. “As I allege in my lawsuit I faced sexual harassment as a Black woman while working other events at Chateau. I can’t help but think if JAY-Z knew how Chateau treats their workers, they wouldn’t ignore this fact and continue to throw parties there.”

The Gold Party is set to be held at the Chateau’s lounge space that was once home to Bar Marmont. Rihanna, Diddy, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, and Travis Scott attended the 2020 event, which was held in the hotel’s parking garage.

The union plans to organize a picket line outside of the party on Sunday at 8 p.m.

Beyoncé is slated to open Sunday’s Oscars telecast with her Oscar-nominated song “Be Alive” from King Richard. The performance will reportedly take place at the Compton tennis courts where a young Venus and Serena Williams practiced with their father, Richard.

Beyoncé in Talks to Perform at Oscars From Compton Tennis Courts

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Beyoncé will reportedly perform at the Oscars.

The superstar is in talks to open Sunday’s show with her Oscar-nominated song “Be Alive” from King Richard, reports Variety. The satellite performance would be taped live from the tennis courts in Compton where Venus and Serena Williams practiced with their father, Richard, when they were young.

The idea just took form in the last week, according to individuals with knowledge. One possible scenario is that Will Smith, who stars as Richard in the film, appear onsite with Beyoncé before heading to the ceremony in Hollywood where he is nominated for Best Actor.

However, several insiders say that it’s possible Beyoncé could scrap the concept entirely if her plans were revealed.

Beyoncé received her first Oscar nomination this year for Best Original Song for “Be Alive,” which is nominated alongside “Dos Oruguitas” (Lin-Manuel Miranda), “Down to Joy” (Van Morrison), “No Time to Die” (Billie Eilish & Finneas O’Connell), and “Somehow You Do” (Diane Warren).

This wouldn’t be Queen Bey’s first Oscar performance. In 2007, she sang a Dreamgirls medley alongside Jennifer Hudson and Anika Noni Rose and joined host Hugh Jackman in a montage celebrating movie musicals in 2009.

The 2022 Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 27, on ABC.

Beyonce May Perform At This Year’s Oscars From The Compton Tennis Courts Named After The Williams Sisters

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Beyonce 2021 Grammys
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Ahead of Sunday’s telecast of the 94th Academy Awards, Variety is reporting that Beyonce is planning to perform at this year’s Oscars via satellite. Beyonce, who is nominated for Best Original Song for “Be Alive” from King Richard is reportedly planning to perform the song live from tennis courts in Compton, California.

Compton is where Venus and Serena Williams honed their tennis skills, encouraged by their father, Richard, played by Will Smith in King Richard. In 2016, The Lueders Park courts were officially rebranded as the Venus and Serena Williams Court of Champions.

According to Variety, “One possible scenario would have Will Smith…appear onsite with Beyonce and then presumably head north to Hollywood in time to take his seat for the announcement of the best actor category.”

In an interview with Vanity Fair, songwriter Dixson revealed Bey had reached out to him to collaborate on a song for King Richard. Dixson, who had been trying for a while to send demos and song ideas to Beyonce’s team, said of their collaboration, “I wanted to just give her the bones of the song first because what I don’t think people talk about a lot is Beyonce’s ability to craft a song. A lot of it happens in her vocals and her delivery, but she’s also a great songwriter and an amazing producer.”

The Oscars will air Sunday, March 27 on ABC.

Billie Eilish, Beyonce, Questlove, And Other Music Stars Picked Up 2022 Oscars Nominations

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On March 27, actors and others in the film industry will be honored at the 94th annual Academy Awards. Ahead of then, the full list of Oscar nominees was revealed this morning and some folks from the music world made their mark.

Perhaps the most obvious music-related category is Best Original Song, and competing there are Beyoncé and Darius Scott (for “Be Alive” from King Richard), Billie Eilish and Finneas (for the No Time To Die theme), Lin-Manuel Miranda (for “Dos Oruguitas” from Encanto), Van Morrison (for “Down To Joy” from Belfast), and Diane Warren (for “Somehow You Do” from Four Good Days).

As for Best Original Score, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood earned a nomination for his work on The Power Of The Dog. In the category, he’s competing against Don’t Look Up (Nicholas Britell), Dune (Hans Zimmer) Encanto (Germaine Franco), and Parallel Mothers (Alberto Iglesias).

Meanwhile, Questlove’s Summer Of Soul movie is up for Best Documentary Feature. Elsewhere, the Alana Haim-starring Licorice Pizza fared well, as it’s up for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Director (for Paul Thomas Anderson). The Lady Gaga-led House Of Gucci got a nomination, too, for Best Makeup & Hairstyling.

Check out the music-related Oscars nominations below and find the full list of all nominees here.

Best Original Song
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Darius Scott — “Be Alive” (King Richard)
Lin-Manuel Miranda — “Dos Oruguitas” (Encanto)
Van Morrison — “Down To Joy” (Belfast)
Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell — “No Time To Die” (No Time To Die)
Diane Warren — “Somehow You Do” (Four Good Days)

Best Original Score
Don’t Look Up (Nicholas Britell)
Dune (Hans Zimmer)
Encanto (Germaine Franco)
Parallel Mothers (Alberto Iglesias)
The Power Of The Dog (Jonny Greenwood)

Best Documentary Feature
Ascension
Attica
Flee
Summer Of Soul
Writing With Fire

Now That HER Has An Oscar To Go With Her Grammys, She’s Going After The EGOT

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HER is only 23 years old, but she’s already racked up four Grammy Awards and picked up an Oscar last night, as she got the Best Original Song win for her Judas And The Black Messiah track “Fight For You.” This puts her halfway towards an EGOT (winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award), on which she has now set her sights.

Speaking with ET after her win, HER said, “Oh, there’s absolutely going to be an EGOT in my future, hopefully. But yeah, I’m also super passionate about acting as well, so you may see me up here as an actress also. And I love musicals, me and Brandy have been talking about it a lot. She’s inspired me since she did a musical [Cinderalla]. Honestly, I cannot believe that we’re here. […] I’m still speechless, I feel like the Oscars are happening tomorrow and I’m dreaming right now. I’m still pinching myself, so I have no words.”

Only 16 artists have ever achieved EGOT status, although four of those artists finalized the feat in just the past few years. In 2018, John Legend, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Tim Rice simultaneously EGOT’ed after collectively winning an Emmy for producing Jesus Christ Superstar Live In Concert. Alan Menken also got his EGOT by picking up an Emmy last year.

If HER pursues an EGOT in earnest, she has a shot at becoming the youngest person to ever do it. The current record-holder is Robert Lopez, who is known for his work on projects like Frozen and The Book Of Mormon and was 39 years old when he completed his EGOT. Legend is a close second, as he was 39 years and 8 months old when he got the EGOT.

Find the full list of this year’s Oscar winners here.