News

Ahead of its Oscar week events, Essence has announced the stars who will be participating in its fifth annual Hollywood House on March 8.

Hosted by A Black Lady Sketch Show star Skye Townsend in Culver City, the event will feature Bmf and All American‘s Da’Vinchi, The Color Purple‘s Phylicia Pearl Mpasi, actress, producer and host Osas Ighodaro and actress Laya DeLeon Hayes, as well as former Essence editor Mikki Taylor, costume designers Tanja Caldwell and Dominique Dawson, producer Datari Turner, Springhill executive in charge of production Cherisse McKenzie and producer Olivia Bernardez.

Essence Hollywood House is open to emerging and established individuals within the TV and film industry, including creators, actors, directors, producers, visual storytellers, agents and behind-the-scenes professionals. It invites conversation and networking with attendees both in front of and behind the camera, through programming including speed mentoring sessions, fireside chats and panel discussions. Yara Shahidi, Halle Bailey,...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for This Is About Humanity, the U.S. Open and Jaguar II‘s album release.

Jaguar II album release event

Cardi B, Kelly Rowland, Shenseea, JoJo, Lucky Daye and Quinta Brunson came out to celebrate the release of Victoria Monét’s second album Jaguar II on Aug. 25. The event was sponsored by Tres Generaciones Tequila and took place at La Mesa in Los Angeles.

Victoria Monét and Cardi B Quinta Brunson and Kelly Rowland

This Is About Humanity fifth-anniversary soirée

Lauren Sánchez was honored at This Is About Humanity’s fifth-anniversary event on Saturday, hosted at Henry Winkler’s home with support from Jeff Bezos, Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner and Eva Longoria. This Is About Humanity was founded by Elsa Marie Collins, Zoe Winkler Reinis and Yolanda Selene Walther-Meade...

On Tuesday morning, just before President Biden addressed the United Nations for the first time, more than 80 celebrities and entertainment figures issued an open letter to world leaders calling for them to end “the Covid-19 pandemic now.”

The letter, which mentioned the United Nations General Assembly Session specifically, was posted on the website of Care, an organization dedicated to ending poverty worldwide. It was signed by a raft of boldfaced names, including Eva Longoria, Debra Messing, Alyssa Milano, Anne Hathaway, Malin Akerman, Debbie Allen, Jordana Brewster, Connie Britton, Ciara, Peter Dinklage, Richard Gere, Dolores Huerta, Joel McHale, Iman, Edward James Olmos, Laura Linney, Julianna Margulies, Joel McHale, Idina Menzel, Ana Ortiz, Adam Shankman, Michael Sheen, Adam Shulman and Sarah Silverman. For a full list of signatories, see below.

Specifically, the letter calls Covid “a manmade pandemic of apathy.” It states that “Only 2% of people in low-income countries have received a single dose.

#40. Restless City - Andrew Dosunmu I falsely predicted that Restless City would be ready for last year's edition. The reason for this may have to do with the fact that Andrew Dosunmu appears to have a lot going on. A filmmaker whose entry into film was via photography, Dosunmu is a creative director for album covers, music video director for some big names in the music world, hence why this project dates back to 2005, when he workshopped what can be categorized as a drama with a strong music element at the Sundance screenwriting and directing labs. Written by Eugene M. Gussenhoven, the project follows a West African immigrant as he struggles to make ends meet and achieve his dream of becoming a musician in New York City. Danai Gurira, Anthony Okungbowa, Mohamed Dione, Osas Ighodaro and Lenore Thomas star. Look for this to be featured in the Dramatic Competition...and...