And Just Like That….the day after the Academy Awards announced that her husband Will Smith has been banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years, Jada Pinkett Smith, was front and center on the red carpet on April 9, at the star-studded opening of the Rhimes Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. Glittering in a gold evening gown, Pinkett-Smith posed for photos alongside Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, Debbie Allen, Samuel L. Jackson and his wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson. The new 24,000 square foot venue will reportedly host the renowned Debbie Allen Dance Academy and feature several studios including one named for the Smiths, according to Broadway World. Meanwhile, Roger Friedman of Showbiz 411 reported that Will is in Dubai.
Hip-Hop music producer DJ Khaled received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 11. The four-time Grammy nominee was joined by Fat Joe, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z, who were among the many well-wishers at the ceremony held at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard, next to Amoeba Music. Combs and Fat Joe were featured on a 2010 remix of Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win.” According to NBC News, Khaled told the crowd, “This right here, my star, I want my star to represent the light, the love that shines on everybody. “Khaled’s star is the 2,719th star on the Walk of Fame.
Flo Anthony.
According to Variety, Whoopi Goldberg was added to the cast of “Anansi Boys” last week and is currently filming in Scotland. The Emmy/Grammy/Oscar/Tony winner will portray the villainous Bird woman otherwise known as the dangerous God of Birds who’s looking to enact revenge on protagonist Anansi. On April 11, Joy Behar revealed on The View: “If you’re wondering where Whoopi is, the girl’s got a movie she’s making and she will be back when she finishes whatever she’s doing. So she’s gone for a while.”
Businessman and philanthropist Robert F. Smith recently launched the Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Bus in the Harlem section of New York City. April is National Minority Health Awareness Month. Smith was joined at the ribbon cutting by celebrities who included comedians Chris Tucker and Cedric the Entertainer, along with several doctors. In a speech at the launch of the bus, Smith told onlookers, “As a community we have faced and still do face a number of disparities in resources, access and information. It’s important that we -which is why I brought all these beautiful Black men here to support what we do – educate each other and we bring resources to bear to help our community, not just to survive but to thrive,” reports Essence.
