swarm

Did Beyoncé Shade Donald Glover During Her “RENAISSANCE” Opening Show? Twitter Thinks So

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Since turning his talents from making music back to television, Donald Glover has found plenty of success with shows like Atlanta and Swarm. The latter is the multi-talent’s most recent project, and it arrived on Amazon Prime Video a few months back. Starring Dominique Fishback and Chlöe Bailey, the short series tells the story of a young woman whose obsession with her favourite pop star takes her to some deadly places. After the show premiered, many couldn’t help but draw comparisons between the idolized vocalist on-screen, Nijah, and real-life superstar, Beyoncé.

The mother of three hasn’t publicly commented on Swarm – until last night’s debut RENAISSANCE World Tour performance, that is. At one point during her captivating set, Queen B adorned a bee costume. It in itself appears to be a nod to the fanbase in Glover’s show, seemingly referencing her actual audience, known as the BeyHive. When she sang into the microphone, “Swarm on these hands, n*gga,” however, Beyoncé made it pretty clear that she doesn’t have a positive opinion of the six-episode series.

Read More: Childish Gambino Drops “Swarm” EP With KIRBY To Accompany New Amazon Prime Video Series

Beyoncé Appears to Respond to Donald Glover’s Swarm

Regardless of what the B-Day songstress has to say about Swarm, critics on Rotten Tomatoes awarded it an impressive 86%. As for at-home audiences, they seem to fall closer to Beyoncé’s side of the fence, ranking it at just 72%. While it’s certainly been criticized (namely for Glover’s admitted failure to prepare his lead actress for her role), it also captivated viewers thanks to salacious moments such as Damson Idris’ sex scene with Bailey, as well as a noteworthy nude shot of Rory Culkin.

As for the 41-year-old’s opening night, things seemed to go off without a hitch. Her seemingly shading Childish Gambino was arguably one of the evening’s wildest moments, though she also borrowed some of Lil Uzi Vert’s dance moves, and called out those who have been begging her to drop visuals to accompany her latest LP, which arrived last summer. While she prepares to take the stage in Europe once again, Twitter has been lighting up with reactions to the rumoured beef between Bey and her co-star from The Lion King.

Read More: Blue Ivy & Jay-Z Support Beyoncé’s “RENAISSANCE” World Tour Debut In Sweden

Twitter Reacts

“To everyone that said, ‘Beyoncé loved ‘Swarm,’” one Twitter user wrote while retweeting a clip of Beyoncé at last night’s concert. Elsewhere, another asked if the “Telephone” hitmaker might have been upset over her mentee, Chlöe’s appearance in the hit series. Keep scrolling to read more social media reactions, and tap back in with HNHH later for more updates from the RENAISSANCE World Tour.

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Did Beyoncé Shade ‘Swarm’ During The ‘Renaissance Tour?’

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The Donald Glover-produced Amazon show Swarm was one of the most talked-about television/streaming events of the year so far. Fans were blown away by the Black woman anti-hero tale, from its controversial opening sex scene with Chloe Bailey to its guest starring turns from Billie Eilish and Paris Jackson to its mind-bending ending. But because it was so closely associated with Beyoncé, even the show’s creators were worried about its reception from the real-life Swarm analog, Beyoncé’s infamous fanbase, the Beyhive.

Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour just had its first show, and fans can’t help but wonder whether the queen herself responded to Swarm during the concert. Dressed as a bee and posted up next to one of those “on air” signs you see at movie studios and radio stations, Beyoncé seemingly shouts into the mic, “Swarm on these hands, n****!” — which is one of the top ten funniest things anyone has ever said. What does that even mean!?

Fans can’t help but wonder the same thing. The short, elusive clip above doesn’t really offer much context for the statement, and there appears to be some disagreement on just what Beyoncé is actually saying in it. For instance, she could be saying “Swarm on these Ms,” as in, millions, which would probably make more sense. But the Hive is feisty and loves a good internet fight, even if they have to reach and contort reality to get it — I mean, that’s what the show was about in the first place!

So, no, Beyoncé probably wasn’t shading Swarm or its creators, Donald Glover and Janine Nabers, but hey, if they need inspiration for season two, I’m sure they can wrangle something out of this. Now, that’s entertainment.

You can check out more about the Renaissance World Tour opener here, from the custom wardrobe to the setlist to the merch.

Donald Glover’s Best Roles, Ranked

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There are a few Hollywood personalities who can match the talent of Donald Glover. The California native has proven to perform at the highest level on any stage. Glover has built a name for himself in entertainment for his musical, comedy, and acting talents. Yet, his most critically acclaimed role is as a creator of hit shows like Atlanta and the critically acclaimed new Prime Video series Swarm.

Additionally, Glover has production and writing credits on hit TV series like 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live and films like Guava Island.  He has starred and featured in successful and critically acclaimed movies and TV shows since his career beginnings in 2006. Here are some of his most acclaimed roles.  

7. The Lion King (2019)

Glover was involved in a Disney franchise. He lent his voice to the character of Simba in the 2019 Jon Favreau-directed live animation film, The Lion King. Favreau was tasked to remake a live adaptation of the 1994 animated film of the same name. It follows the life of Simba, a young lion trying to figure out his life in the African savannah. Scar, Simba’s uncle, falsely accuses him of killing his father, Mufasa. Scar takes over as king of the Pride Lands after Simba runs away to exile.

Simba is eventually found by her childhood friend and his future queen, Nala. Beyonce Knowles-Carter voices Nala’s character. She convinces him to return to the Pride Lands to challenge his uncle as the rightful successor to his father. The movie later reveals that Scar was the one who killed Mufasa. The movie grossed over $1.6 billion at the box office, making it one of the most successful films of all time.

6. Guava Island (2019)

Donald Glover stars in the Guava Island musical film alongside fellow musician, Rihanna. He plays the character of Deni Maroon, a Cuban musician determined to throw a festival for his island community. Kofi Novia, played by Rihanna, is his love interest. Red (Nonso Anozie) is the antagonist. He tries to stop Deni from creating a local music festival. However, it all turns out well in the end, as Deni successfully hosts and plays in the festival.

The film features songs like “Summertime Magic,” “This Is America,” and “Feels Like Summer.” Glover produced the records and performed them in the musical. Hiro Murai, Glover’s long-time music director, directed the film. The screenplay was co-written by Glover and his brother Stephen Glover. The film currently has a 74% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

5. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Donald Glover’s inclusion in the popular franchise is a testament to his star power in Hollywood. The film tells the story of Han Solo, played by Alden Ehrenreich. Glover plays Lando Calrissian, a smuggler, gambler, and self-proclaimed sportsman on the rise in the galaxy’s underworld. Billy Dee Williams portrayed the character in previous Star Wars films.

The two actors met before shooting began, and Glover mentioned in the aforementioned GQ interview that Billy gave him advice on how to play the character of Lando best. The film debuted in May 2018. Glover’s portrayal of Lando was praised by critics despite underwhelming box office sales.

4. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Glover made a memorable cameo in the Marvel franchise that premiered in 2017. He plays Aaron Davis in the film. Spider-man confronts Davis, an illegal weapons criminal, in one of the scenes. Davis is alluded to be Miles Morales’ uncle. Miles is a character that Marvel has hinted to take up the mantel of Spider-man after Peter Parker (played by Tom Holland). The character of Miles Morales is also voiced by Glover in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series on the Disney XD channel.

3. Atlanta (2016 – 2022)

Donald Glover created and starred in the comedy-drama Atlanta. The plot follows the lives of Earnest Marks and Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles, played by Brian Tyree Henry. Paper Boi is a budding hip-hop artist, and Earn is his manager. The two are trying to navigate the ‘otherworldly’ portrayed Atlanta hip-hop scene.

Atlanta has a predominantly Black cast and a Black-only production crew. The show has a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Guardian ranked Atlanta at number 10 on its 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century list. The film has also won numerous awards, including a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Glover for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He also won Best Actor in a Television Series at the Golden Globe Awards for the role.

2. Childish Gambino (2008 – )

Donald Glover goes by the stage name Childish Gambino when pursuing his musical exploits. He has released four albums, including the Grammy-nominated, Awaken My Love. “Red Bone,” one of the lead singles off the album, won a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance. However, his most popular song is the Billboard No. 1 record, “This Is America.”

After its release, the four-minute visual was the most talked about topic in the entertainment industry. It featured a graphic portrayal of themes like gun violence, civil unrest, and the dark side of social media. The music video won the International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage Award for Best Cinematography in a Music Video. It additionally won a Grammy for Best Music Video in 2019.

1. Community (2009 – 2014)

Donald Plays Troy Barnes in the NBC sitcom Community.  The show aired from 2009 to 2014. Troy is a former high school star quarterback who lost his scholarship to a top-tier university when he separated both shoulders doing a keg flip. During the show, we discover that he actually did this on purpose to escape the pressures of his popularity. Troy initially portrays the stereotypical behaviors of a football player in the series. But, he eventually becomes comfortable with his nerdy and carefree side after becoming best friends with Abed, a character played by Danny Pudi.

The show has six seasons, with Donald Glover playing the character of Troy in the first five. Community was the most nominated TV show in the 2012 Critic’s Choice Television Awards and won Best Comedy Series. During a GQ interview, Donald confirmed that they are currently working on a movie version of Community.

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Chlöe Said She Is ‘Mentally So Much Clearer’ After Removing Social Media From Her Phone

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Chlöe is still hot off the release of her solo debut album, In Pieces. On the album, she balances confident bops with harrowing accounts of heartbreak and insecurity. Chlöe is no stranger to the spotlight, so sharing these emotions wasn’t difficult for her.

But she’s chosen to make everyday life easier for herself in little ways. In an interview on The Tamron Hall Show, she revealed that she has opted not to have access to her own social media accounts.

“For a minute, I removed all socials off my phone and I just turned it over to my team,” she said. “Of course I’d make the content, I’d come up with the captions and I would just send it to them, but I got rid of my social media because I realized the things people were saying.”

She continued, saying, “The negative things people were saying about me were affecting me, and I noticed if I’d go out on stage or ‘if I do this people are gonna say this,’ and I realized that I was changing myself for other people and their opinions and what they were accusing me of originally, which was not being myself and being forced, that’s what I was tuning into because I was so occupied with what people thought about me, but the second I deleted the apps off my phone, I was mentally so much clearer because you’re doing what makes you happy.”

As a result, she admitted that she had not seen much of the backlash in relation to her controversial sex scene on Swarm.

You can watch a clip from the interview above.

‘Swarm’ Actor Damson Idris Recalled Jay-Z Helping Him Get His Green Card: ‘He’s Always Supported Me’

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Damson Idris is quickly becoming a household name. The British actor has garnered much of a following through his roles on Snowfall, which is in its final season, and Prime Video’s Swarm.

Idris credits his success as an actor partly to the generosity of rapper Jay-Z.

Over the years, it has been rumored that Jay helped Idris get his green card. Idris clarified the rumors in an interview on the 360 With Speedy show, but noted it may not have happened as other fans imagined it.

“Hov didn’t offer that up. I had to ask him,” He said. “But he’s done many things for me over the years. He’s always supported me. He supports everyone. He supports so many people that you don’t even know. Like, genuinely I should tell everyone this right now: If you ever run into Jay-Z, just say thank you and keep it moving because he is definitely a pioneer of the culture, but of everything.”

While Idris didn’t share all of the details about how Jay helped him get his green card, he also used his airtime to thank other people who helped in the process. He also noted that he plans to pay their generosity forward in the future.

“I won’t tell you how it happened ’cause there’s a couple more favors that I’m gonna need in the future,” he said, jokingly, “but yeah, he hooked me up with that. Rich Paul did, too. Tommy Schlamme, Eric Schrier — a bunch people hooked me up. They’re people who just believe in me, believe this journey that I’m on and I’m gonna repay the favor to the people coming behind me, too.”

Check out the full interview above.

Chlöe Has Some Thoughts On Her NSFW Sex Scene In ‘Swarm’ And How It Was Received

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Chloe Bailey’s sex scene in the new Prime Video series Swarm had fans talking once they realized it was her. However, others have viewed it as too NSFW and pushed back. Chlöe herself recently responded to this debate on Big Boy’s Neighborhood podcast.

“I’m an actress and I feel like it’s about art,” she said. “It’s not about seeing me in the mirror of that scene. But I think because it’s me doing it, that’s what kind of makes it blow out of proportion.”

During her appearance, she was also asked if she thought her scene partner, Damson Idris, had received a similar discourse — as Bailey is barely seen for a split second.

“I don’t think so because he’s a man,” she answered. I was just doing my job and people got to remember that I’m an adult and I’m an artist and nothing was seen that they haven’t seen from me. You didn’t see nipple. When I first received the script, I was just like… It was just insane and gorgeous and I think people are forgetting the plot of that scene.”

Along with her acting crossover, she is gearing up to drop her debut solo album, In Pieces.

Chlöe Responds To Backlash Over “Swarm” Sex Scene

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Chlöe just responded to backlash over a sex scene in the TV show “Swarm,” where she acted with Damson Idris. Moreover, she spoke to Big Boy about the issue, who expressed confusion as to why people made a fuss over the moment in the first place. As the radio host rightfully points out, she barely appears in the scene, as the primary focus is on Damson. Furthermore, the Neighborhood icon brought up that the Bailey sister’s costar didn’t receive as much criticism for the scene as her, calling out gender standards. While she didn’t disagree, she said that she learned to focus on what made the project so compelling and dismiss undue criticism at face value.

“So I’m an actress, you know?” the artist began. “And I feel like it’s about art. When I first received the script, it was just insane and gorgeous. I think people are actually forgetting the plot of that scene. It’s not about seeing me in the mirror of that scene. But I think because it’s me doing it, that’s what kind of makes it blow out of proportion. But I’m barely seen for two seconds in that” Then, Big Boy asked whether Idris also received flack for the scene. “I don’t think so,” Chlöe replied, “’cause he’s a man.”

Chlöe Responds To Critics Of Her Sex Scene In “Swarm”

In fact, that’s a similar sentient to “Grown-is” costar Trevor Jackson’s defense of Chlöe and the scene in question. “I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s art,” he told TMZ when asked about the controversial scene. “And I support Chlöe in any and everything that she does. He added, “She’s an amazing person, and she’s an artist. She can do whatever she wants, whatever she feels led to do. It’s her life, and she’ll always have my support every time.”

Meanwhile, the “Body Do” singer said that she was very nervous about recording the intimate performance. “I was very scared because I haven’t had that many partners,” she revealed to Deadline. “I’m not like that, that sexual and open. Damson made it very comfortable, you know, there were limited people on set. We were making a joke out of it. I have to give a lot of kudos to him as a man for making me as a woman feel comfortable literally being raw and naked.” Regardless of your take, log back into HNHH for the latest on Chlöe.

Trevor Jackson Defends “Grown-ish” Co-Star Chlöe’s “Swarm” Sex Scene

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Donald Glover scored himself another successful hit with Swarm. Dominique Fishback is stellar in the lead role of Dre, an obsessed fan who embarks on a crazy journey as she stalks her favorite pop star. The series is said to be inspired by Beyoncé’s dedicated BeyHive fanbase, but that has been argued. Meanwhile, it isn’t just the cameos and star-studded cast that has caused Swarm to become a hot topic; Chlöe and Damson Idris’s raunchy sex scene made for naughty memes on social media.

In a scene, the singer and Snowfall star were having intercourse, albeit Chlöe was face down in a doggy-style position. Some found it amusing and cracked jokes, others were a tad hot under the collar, but a select few criticized the “Have Mercy” singer. Chlöe emerged with her sister Halle Bailey as songbirds who were Beyoncé’s muses. Critics believed Chlöe was straying from the ‘good girl’ persona she’s carried throughout her career. Despite the pushback, the singer’s Grown-ish co-star Trevor Jackson defended her against naysayers.

Chlöe & Damson Idris Were Performing Art

Fans may be taking things a bit too seriously, suggests Jackson. He was stopped by TMZ and questioned about the singer’s recent scene. “I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s art,” he said. “And I support Chlöe in any and everything that she does. He added, “She’s an amazing person, and she’s an artist. She can do whatever she wants, whatever she feels led to do. It’s her life, and she’ll always have my support every time.”

When Chlöe first began teasing her solo career, she faced backlash from people who believed she was being too sexy. Some saw it as performative, others thought she was trying too hard. However, the criticisms seemed more about how they saw the singer, not how she saw herself. Chlöe has repeatedly defended her forms of expression, and with each new sizzling release, she storms the charts. Further, she’s readying for the arrival of her debut solo album, In Pieces. The project is slated for arrival on March 31 through Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. Watch Trevor Jackson defend Chlöe above.