Travel
Serena Williams, Aunjanue Ellis shine at Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon: 'She's killing it'
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BEVERLY HILLS — When a film you’re starring in is nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards, you keep mum when asked if you have a favorite contender.
“I don’t think we’re allowed to (answer) that,” joked Layla Crawford, who plays Williams sister Lyndrea Price in Oscar-nominated “King Richard,” the biopic chronicling Richard Williams’ efforts to make tennis champs out of his daughters Venus and Serena Williams.
The exuberant Crawford, 17, spoke to USA TODAY on Thursday during the gold carpet ahead of Essence magazine’s Black Women in Hollywood awards, sharing that “it means a lot” to be surrounded by women she’s looked up to in the industry coming up as a child actor.
After going virtual in 2021 because of the pandemic, Crawford and a star-studded list of celebrities basked in the sunny weather outside of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Bright colors, bold patterns and maskless faces bustled up and down the gold carpet Thursday morning. Celebs hugged, mingled and simply celebrated each other ahead of Oscars weekend.
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“King Richard” executive producer Serena Williams walked the carpet in a hot pink mini dress with her 4-year-old daughter Olympia Ohanian, who donned a checkered floral dress.
The woman of the hour, Aunjanue Ellis, nominated for best supporting actress for “King Richard” and an Essence honoree, wore a regal red pantsuit with a matching caped blazer fit for a queen. At the awards ceremony, Will Smith gave a speech introducing Ellis to the stage. “At the core of Aunjanue is a fierce, noble integrity,” Smith said.
Smith is also nominated for an Oscar, for his portrayal of the Williams patriarch. Crawford shared her excitement for the upcoming Oscars ceremony. “We’ve been waiting for the Oscars right since we wrapped filming,” Crawford says. “King Richard” is nominated for six awards total.
And because on Oscars week you’ve got to put your manifestation powers to work: Daniele Lawson, 17, who plays Venus and Serena’s older sister, says she knows “‘King Richard’ is going to win, but it’s just great to see the world loving our film.”
How to watch the 2022 Oscars: Everything you should know about Sunday’s Academy Awards
“We’re rooting for each other, Will, Aunjanue, our whole cast, and Beyoncé for her song, so really no matter what happens we’re just happy with the outcome,” Crawford adds.
Beyoncé is nominated for “Be Alive,” the theme song she wrote (with songwriter Dixson) for “King Richard,” and will perform it at the Oscars on Sunday. This is the “Lemonade” singer’s first Oscar nomination.
Crawford and Lawson also shared the impact Ellis has had on them.
“Miss Aunjanue has done so many movies and has had such an amazing career … for her to get the acknowledgment that she deserves, it’s amazing,” Lawson says.
They weren’t the only ones on the carpet Thursday singing her praises.
Snubbed! Ben Affleck, Jennifer Hudson, Lady Gaga, Leonardo DiCaprio miss out on Oscar nominations
‘I fell apart’: Venus Williams revisits ‘the match I should have won’ in ‘King Richard’
“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kandi Burruss says the work Ellis has been doing “is just incredible.” Ellis has appeared in Netflix’s “When They See Us,” the 2018 film “If Beale Street Could Talk” and HBO’s “Lovecraft Country,” and is currently working on AMC’s “61st Street,” set to premiere in April.
“I love her, she’s killing it,” Burruss adds.
“Glee” actress and singer Amber Riley spoke about inspiring other young Black women to chase their dreams and claim a seat at the table. “So many of the women that we’re honoring today, so many of the women that I’m seeing on the red carpet have been that person that I saw that made me feel like I could do it, so I really hope that when people see me fighting for these roles … that they see me and they get inspired,” Riley says.
Of Ellis, Riley adds: “I love her and I’m just so glad she’s getting her flowers because she deserves it.”
Other honorees at Thursday’s luncheon included the legendary Nia Long, “Abbott Elementary” star and creator Quinta Brunson, and “A Journal for Jordan” actress Chanté Adams.
Now, Riley was allowed to dish out her favorite Oscar-nominated film this season. But of course, it was “King Richard,” she says.
‘I got the heart of him’: Will Smith, Williams sisters break down what’s true in ‘King Richard’
Oscars 2022:Beyoncé to perform at Oscars; ‘King Richard’ producers Venus and Serena Williams to present award
Contributing: Anika Reed
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Travel
Razzies royally torch 'Diana' musical and 'Space Jam 2,' show love to Oscar favorite Will Smith
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In its proclamation of the worst films of 2021, the Razzies lambasted a critically reviled Princess Diana musical and LeBron James’ “Space Jam” sequel, but spread love instead of hate for Will Smith.
The Golden Raspberry Awards, annually announced the day before the Academy Awards, bestowed five dishonors on Netflix’s “Diana: The Musical,” a filmed production of the recent Broadway show that closed after 33 performances. “Diana” beat out “Infinite,” “Karen,” “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and “The Woman in the Window” for worst picture, plus picked up worst screenplay and worst actress for star Jeanna de Waal.
“New Legacy,” the live-action/animated hybrid basketball comedy featuring James hooping it up with Bugs Bunny and Co., earned three Razzie awards. James was named worst actor and also was saddled with worst screen couple – which went to James and “Any Warner Cartoon Character (or WarnerMedia Product) He Dribbles On” – while the movie snagged worst sequel.
How to watch the 2022 Oscars:Everything you should know about Sunday’s Academy Awards
“House of Gucci” star Jared Leto lost his Screen Actors Guild race for best supporting actor but nabbed the Razzie for worst. And Bruce Willis does so many VOD movies now that he received his own special category (worst performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 movie) that, to no one’s surprise, he won – for “Cosmic Sin.”
Smith, who’s expected to win the best actor Oscar Sunday for “King Richard,” received this year’s Razzie Redeemer Award for previous Razzie honorees who’ve come back with quality efforts. Recent winners include Ben Affleck, Sylvester Stallone, Melissa McCarthy and Eddie Murphy.
The full list of this year’s Razzie “winners”:
Worst picture: “Diana: The Musical”
Worst actor: LeBron James, “Space Jam: A New Legacy”
Worst actress: Jeanna de Waal, “Diana: The Musical”
Worst supporting actress: Judy Kaye, “Diana: The Musical”
Worst supporting actor: Jared Leto, “House of Gucci”
Worst performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 movie: Bruce Willis, “Cosmic Sin”
Worst screen couple: LeBron James and Any Warner Cartoon Character
(or WarnerMedia Product) He Dribbles On, “Space Jam: A New Legacy”
Worst remake, rip-off or sequel: “Space Jam: A New Legacy”
Worst director: Christopher Ashley, “Diana: The Musical”
Worst screenplay: “Diana: The Musical”
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Business
As more marijuana dispensaries get targeted by robbers, SAFE Banking Act lingers in Congress
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A bill that could allow electronic transactions at weed dispensaries nationwide is again make its way through Congress but the SAFE Banking Act might not be the cure-all that supporters envision.
In over a decade of operating cannabis shops in Washington, Shea Hynes never once worried about his stores getting robbed at gun point – until recently: In a span of three weeks, his stores were robbed three different times at gun point.
Reports of armed robberies at cannabis dispensaries like Hynes’ have nearly doubled in the first quarter of this year compared with all of last year, according to data maintained by the Craft Cannabis Coalition. The group, which represents more than 50 stores in Washington, has recorded more than 65 armed robberies so far this year, compared with 35 in 2021 and 29 in 2020.
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CHICAGO — In a ridiculous coincidence, the Saint Peter’s Peacocks wrote NCAA Tournament history on National Peacock Day with a thrilling upset of Purdue.
The mid-major became the first-ever No. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight, outdoing previous No. 15 seeds Oral Roberts (2021) and Florida Gulf Coast (2013). Exactly 0.8% of people picked the Peacocks to get this far, with the school from Jersey City, New Jersey, defying all odds. Is Saint Peter’s the best Cinderella of all time?
Meanwhile, the ACC is sitting pretty with three teams – Duke and now North Carolina and Miami (Fla.) – in the Elite Eight on the same day the Big Ten saw its last team go down.
A look at three key takeaways from Friday:
Saint Peter’s writes NCAA history
Coach Shaheen Holloway has this team playing inspired basketball, and now the Peacocks (22-11) are just one win from the Final Four. The best Cinderellas of the last two decades to reach Final Fours – George Mason in 2006, VCU in 2011, Loyola-Chicago (2018) all were double-digit seeded mid-majors. But none was as highly seeded as this Saint Peter’s team that’s now beaten No. 2 seed Kentucky, No. 7 Murray State and No. 3 Purdue.
WINNERS, LOSERS:Poised Saint Peter’s keeps the dream alive; bye-bye, Big Ten; hello, ACC
OPINION:Saint Peter’s embodies wackiness and uncertainty of this NCAA Tournament
ANALYSIS:Purdue’s loss leaves Big Ten shut out of Elite Eight. We could see this coming.
MORE:Legendary Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson: Coach K’s farewell tour ends Saturday
OPINION:Houston is leaving Phi Slama Jama in the 1980s for good
While other bracket-busting NCAA Tournament darlings of yesteryear have had flair (FGCU’s “Dunk City”) or a lovable fan (Loyola’s Sister Jean), this team from the MAAC is doing it with defense, namely with nine steals. In spite of being undersized against the Boilermakers, the Peacocks used aggressiveness and hustle to outduel their seemingly superior opponent behind 6-8 freshman Clarence Rubert and 6-7 junior Hassan Drame. Daryl Banks III (14 points) is the go-to scorer for Saint Peter’s, but Mr. Clutch has been guard Doug Edert (10 points) off the bench. One stat to note: a 19-for-21 clip from the free-throw line. What’s been most impressive is the Peacocks’ ability to stay hungry and poised under pressure, winning close games in all three NCAA Tournament matchups.
Blue-bloods show title potential
Duke and Villanova advanced on Thursday, and fellow blue-bloods Kansas and North Carolina will now join them in the Elite Eight. And yes, if both the Blue Devils and Tar Heels win Sunday, we could see them meet in the Final Four.
Ever since North Carolina embarrassed Duke in coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium, the Heels have been red-hot – knocking out No. 1 Baylor in the previous game in overtime. That continued against a UCLA team that reached the Final Four last year and seemed destined to get back. Caleb Love was brilliant again, finishing with 30 points off six three-pointers. Armando Bacot’s tip-in with 22 seconds left sealed the win in another impressive outing for coach Hubert Davis’ resilient team.
The last remaining No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament, Kansas stayed alive, escaping Providence by five points. It’s coach Bill Self’s ninth trip to the Elite Eight with Kansas and 11th of his career, as the Jayhawks (31-6) are one win from the Final Four. They’ve now won eight in a row and are looking like a title contender after entering the NCAA Tourney having won the Big 12 tournament.
The secret weapon for Kansas has been guard Remy Martin. For the third consecutive tournament game, Kansas got a jolt off the bench from the fiery Martin (23 points), the Arizona State transfer who has erupted in these NCAAs after playing a reserve role throughout 2021-22.
ACC > Big Ten
Despite garnering nine NCAA Tournament bids on Selection Sunday – the most of any conference – the Big Ten is out following Purdue’s stunning exit vs. Saint Peter’s. The league tanked in the first two rounds, with No. 5 Iowa – the conference tourney champ – getting upset by Richmond in the first round. No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 4 Illinois, No. 7 Michigan State and No. 7 Ohio State all lost in the second round. And now, with Michigan’s loss to Villanova, the overall underachievement is on full display. That’s a 9-9 finish in the tournament.
No Big Ten team has cut down the nets since 2000 (the Spartans), and it’s a depressing outlook for the league that posted the second-best NET score in 2021-22 and showcased several teams with Final Four potential.
The ACC, which finished with the sixth-worst NET score as a league, has Duke, North Carolina and Miami all in the Elite Eight. That’s after the Tar Heels, Hurricanes and Notre Dame were all bubble teams in early March. The NCAA Tournament is about matchups and pathways. No matter how well the Big Ten did in the regular season, much like the Pac-12’s surprising finish last year, the ACC is well-positioned with three teams still alive and two of them title contenders.
Follow college basketball reporter Scott Gleeson on Twitter @ScottMGleeson.
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