WHAT UP DOE!
Today is International Women’s Day– a day to celebrate and honor women across the world. Do you have any plans to celebrate with family or friends?
I wrote an article featuring 10 quotes from Detroit women professionals. You should read it and share your thoughts about the special day, too!
Here are five highlights from the week for today’s #FridayVibes:
- Gayle King Did an Amazing Job During Her Interview with R. Kelly
- Yara Shahidi, Naomi Osaka, Adwoa Aboah, and Other Inspiring Women Honored with Barbie Shero Doll
- Heartbreaking News: Beverly Hills, 90210 actor Luke Perry’s Shocking Death (My inner teenage self is crushed.)
- Did You Know There’s An Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace Film?
1. GAYLE KING DID AN AMAZING JOB DURING HER INTERVIEW WITH R. KELLY
It’s been quite a week at @CBS & RIGHT NOW producers , editors,writers,reporters, directors basically the whole damn team are getting ready for TONITE… it really does take a village ….thank YOU best team in tv … pic.twitter.com/J3PouSf6Nz
— Gayle King (@GayleKing) March 8, 2019
Have you seen the R. Kelly interview with Gayle King? It aired on Tuesday (March 6th) on CBS This Morning.
During the interview, King asked R. Kelly questions about the documentary film Surviving R. Kelly; on his relationship with Jocelyn Savage and Azriel Clary; and about the sexual abuse charges against him.
It wasn’t easy for me to watch for two reasons.
1) I used to love R. Kelly’s music when I was a teen. I even went to one of his concerts when I was about 15. It’s very upsetting to know a music artist I used to like has been “allegedly” hurting other women.
2) Reading or watching anything about R. Kelly is an emotional trigger for me. I can only take so much of it. (I didn’t even watch the
Kelly’s behavior during the interview was also questionable. At one point, he had an explosive outburst. King kept her calm composure, though, and she remained seated, not commenting on Kelly’s outburst.
Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5W Public Relations & Crisis Management on Gayle King’s Professionalism:
“Gayle King was absolutely fantastic during the interview. She was extremely professional in a trying time. She kept her composure and came equipped to battle. This R. Kelly exclusive interview brings the Gayle king brand to another level.
Even during Kelly’s explosive bursts, she kept her composure and continued to steer the interview back on track. That’s not an easy thing to do and it’s very impressive. This was a big interview for her, as she was given the exclusive shot to hear Kelly’s story and ask him the hard questions. She played a huge role in exposing a side of Kelly that viewers might not have seen before up-close. It couldn’t have been easy for King to keep her cool and be as graceful as she was. She also confronted Kelly to his face, telling him that his account lacked credibility. I think she’s very brave and a true professional.”
If you haven’t seen the interview yet, you can watch it here if you like. WARNING— it can be
2. YARA SHAHIDI, NAOMI OSAKA, ADWOA ABOAH, AND OTHER INSPIRING WOMEN HONORED WITH BARBIE ROLE MODEL DOLL
Black-ish and Grown-ish star Yara Shahidi, tennis champion Naomi Osaka, and model Adwoa Aboah were just a few of the women who were recently honored with a Barbie Role Model doll.
According to EBONY magazine, one dollar from every doll sold will go toward the Dream Gap Project. It’s an initiative Mattel founded to “level the playing field for girls”.
3. YOU GUYS– MY INNER TEENAGE SELF IS JUST CRUSHED RIGHT NOW!
When I received the news of Luke Perry’s death, I was on my computer doing some work. A news alert popped up and I read the headline. I gasped and just kind of sat frozen for a few moments.
It was so shocking to me. I felt like I found out one of my old high school friends had passed away.
When I was a teen, I LOVED watching 90210. It was one of the T.V. shows my friends and I loved to watch together and talk about at school. Sometimes I’d even watch an episode while chatting on the phone with my best friend.
I WILL FOREVER BE TEAM BRENDA!
I even have a couple of 90210 seasons on DVD. I also introduced my own teen daughter to Beverly Hills, 90210 and she instantly fell in love with it! Later, she found out Luke was on Riverdale and she exclaimed, “Hey! It’s Dylan!”
I know I didn’t know Luke personally and I never had the opportunity to meet him, but knowing he died really hurts my heart. It saddens me and my heart goes out to his family and friends. I can only imagine how hard this is for them.
You’ll be missed, Luke! Rest in peace and prayers to the Perry family and Luke’s friends.
4. ARETHA FRANKLIN’S AMAZING GRACE FILM WILL BE IN THEATERS APRIL 19TH
I read this article in the Detroit Free Press about the Queen of Soul’s Amazing Grace film is coming out soon. I didn’t even know she had this film! Did you? I need to get tickets!
According to writer Brian McCollum, the film documents the recording of Aretha’s best-selling album Amazing Grace. Franklin recorded the album with the Southern California Community Choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972.
Detroiters will have the opportunity to watch the film early. There will be a promotional screening tour coming to Detroit before the film’s national release date.
You can read more about the film details here. You can also watch the trailer here.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND! ~ JENNIFER XOXO
Feature image of me taking a selfie in a mirror that reads “What Up Doe” by artist Tiff Massey. Location: MOCAD in Downtown Detroit, 3/7/19
[…] our phone interview, the singer fondly recalled her mother playing Aretha’s famous gospel album Amazing Grace every weekend on Saturdays, the day Sheléa’s family would go to […]