Songs, Movies & Moments: January 2024

A Look at Entertainment

by T.J. Moore –

In “It’s Just A Movie” news, actor Deon Cole took to X—formerly known as Twitter—to share a story about a woman who wasn’t too pleased with his role as Alfonso, the abusive stepfather of Fantasia Barrino’s Celie and Halle Bailey’s Nettie in The Color Purple.

According to the 51-year-old comedian and Chicago native, he sat beside the female audience member as she complained.

Deon Cole talks his favorite memory with Oprah on the set of ‘The Color Purple.’

“This woman I was sitting next to said to herself after my scene, not knowing I was sitting next to her, ‘They should come together and kill him!” Cole posted, “I slowly turned and looked at her, then I switched seats.”

The angry woman wasn’t the only one who hated Cole’s character. Others on X were just as heated and shocked to see Cole step out of his comedian persona.

One poster commented, “If you can’t understand why she said that after watching yourself play that role onscreen, yes, you should have moved.” #shewasntwrong.

Another chimed in, “They definitely should’ve went upside ’ya head at least once with a chair or something for the culture.”

Catch Cole in The Color Purple in theaters now.

Is Beyoncé heading to Vegas in ’24?

Dangerously in love, Beyonce, Las Vegas, NV 2023

According to a New York Post article two months ago, talks were happening between Beyoncé’s team and James Dolan, the owner of Sphere, to bring the icon’s ‘one-of-a-kind stage presence’ to the $2.3 billion venue.

Jay-Z and Tina Knowles reportedly toured the venue on separate occasions.

Sphere, which opened its doors in September reportedly hopes Beyoncé will do a residency after U2 wraps up their concert series in February.

Actress Taraji P. Henson’s emotional comments about unfair pay for Black women in Hollywood pulled the heart strings of many last month.

Taraji P. Henson May Quit Acting Over Pay, Treatment in the Entertainment Industry

Now, she reflects on the enormous reception her candor and authenticity inspired.

According to Decider, Henson opened up about her most recent viral moment while attending the Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards recently. She revealed that the response surprised her.

“It’s because I’ve been saying it for years,” Henson shared to Entertainment Tonight. “If you go and do research and look at any women of color in the industry, they said the same thing.”

Henson continued, saying that she doesn’t know “why people decided to hear the words now.”

“Maybe it was the emotion attached to it but like I said in the interview, I’m just tired of us having the same conversation. Something’s got to give,” she said.

The Grambling State University Lady Tigers basketball team set a new record after the first game of the season ended in a mollywhopping victory.

Grambling State Women’s Basketball: In The Moment.

The Lady Tigers defeated the College of Biblical Studies 159-18, setting the record for the most significant victory margin (141 points) in Division I women’s basketball history.

According to ESPN, among the eight players to score in double figures in the win, Arianna Mosley led the way with 27 points; Kahia Warmsley finished with 20 points. DeMya Young and Amanda Blake combined for 30 points.

The visiting Ambassadors didn’t score until the final minutes of the first quarter. By halftime, they were down 82-10.

The blowout on Jan. 2 broke Savannah State’s record for margin of victory in women’s college basketball, which they set in 2018 after defeating Wesleyan of George by 139 points.