What's The 411 QUICK TAKES: Howard Stern on Wendy Williams; Michael Jackson's family may sue the producers of Leaving Neverland and more

In this episode of What's The 411’s Quick Takes, award-winning journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean are talking about Wendy Williams and her admission that she has been staying in a Sober House; radio shock-jock, Howard Stern who went in on Wendy Williams after she says he’s gone Hollywood and lost his edge; actor, filmmaker and businessman, George Clooney, put his protective shield around Ms. Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, as he believes the British press is treating her like it treated Princess Diana, and; the late Michael Jackson’s children, Paris Jackson; Prince Jackson, and; Prince Michael Jackson; may sue Wade Robson and James Safechuck, and the other producers of Leaving Neverland.

K. Michelle brings up her old flame, Idris Elba; sex dolls are back, and this time with artificial intelligence; Meghan Markle's husband wants to cash in on Ms. Markle's celebrity

In this episode of What's The 411, journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean are talking about:

In Quick Takes, the duo is giving a rundown of the following news stories:

• It’s official. Television producer, Kenya Barris, is following in the footsteps of Shonda Rhimes. He is leaving his overall pact at ABC, which terminates in August. Sources state that Barris will remain an executive producer on all of his shows, Black-ish on ABC; Grown-ish and the upcoming Besties on Freeform. He will continue to work on the ABC Studios projects he has in development, and his Netflix deal is expected to be substantial.

• Tamron Hall is on her way back to daytime! She has inked a deal with Disney for a new Daytime talk show, and she stated in a press release:

“I’m so thrilled to partner with Disney ABC to create a daytime television show that’s unconventional, fun, intimate and sometimes even raw. My new partners appreciate and respect the relationship I’ve built with my audience and know that if we create television worth watching, they’ll join us for the ride. I’m so grateful and excited for this next chapter. The landing makes the leap of faith so worth it."

• Actor and rapper, Will Smith, announced in a video on Instagram that he is teaming up with self-help author Mark Manson to write a book. Smith said:

• “We’re going to be meeting with five publishers… we’re gonna pick one. And if I had to take a guess, I feel very confident that we’re gonna go with the highest bidder… I’m just saying.”

• We talked about Meghan Markle’s father and sister doing everything possible to cash in on the celebrity of the Duchess of Sussex. Now, Meghan Markle’s ex-husband, Trevor Engelson, wants in, too. He’s planning to put all of their business on Front Street.

• And, in case you missed it, Beyoncé will be on the all-important September issue of Vogue magazine. Beyoncé’s photos were shot by Tyler Mitchell, the first Black man to shoot a Vogue cover.

• Singer K. Michelle fondly remembers her romance with actor Idris Elba, she told Hollywood Unlocked that “they split up because he wasn’t ready to settle down. “He told me he would never be committed to one woman. He said I would be taken care of, I would be fine, but he would never commit to one woman.”

WHAT’S POPPIN' – RACE and CULTURE

KIZZY: There is a huge debate going on right now about the unequal treatment of Black people subjected to gun violence vs. White people. Recently, actress Anne Hathaway, who is white, shaken by the death of Nia Wilson at the hands of a white man, challenged white people to wake up and pay attention. Hathaway said in part, White people DO NOT have equivalence for this fear of violence.”

Even David Hogg one of the survivors of the Parkland H.S. massacre in Florida said he would use his “white privilege” to also address the often overlooked gun violence in black and brown communities.

Q. Now, granted, Black people are not monolithic, but the response to these overtures have been mixed, ranging from it’s about time that white people are recognizing the inequality to, no I am not afraid and only Black people can help Black people. Where do you stand on this issue?

WHAT’S POPPIN' – RELATIONSHIPS

ONIKA: Recently, Meagan Good’s husband, DeVon Franklin, in an effort to separate dating from marriage posted on Instagram:

“There’s a time to act like husband and wife, but if doesn’t come until you’re actually married—until you have that indelible commitment to each other.”

Q. Do you like this idea? What happens when people choose to live together minus the marriage nuptials?

WHAT’S POPPIN' – RELATIONSHIPS

ONIKA: Speaking of marriage, ‘The Daily’ host Michael Barbaro, splits from his husband and is now dating a female producer on another show at The New York Times.

Q. I know that we live in a fluid society, but would you date man who was married to a man?

WHAT’S POPPIN – FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

KIZZY: If you are a regular viewer of What’s The 411, you know we have talked about sex dolls at least twice before. Well, sex dolls are back in the news! And, this time because the manufacturers in China are now including artificial intelligence in the dolls. So they will be able to hold short conversations.

Q. Where are we headed with this? Is this good for society?

Shonda Rhimes Lists 8 New Shows for Netflix; Living while Black; family of Duchess Meghan (Markle) trying to cash in; and Michelle Williams coping with mental illness

In this video, journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean are discussing relevant stories of the week.

In Quick Takes, the duo is giving a rundown of the following news stories:

• Kim Kardashian’s latest round of Kimoji fragrances—Kimoji Cherry, Kimoji Peach, and Kimoji Vibes—made $5 million in just five minutes. There’s no verification, but it’s Kim, so nearly anything is possible.

• Talking about the Black Girl Magic of Pat McGrath, we have learned that Black-owned cosmetics line, Pat McGrath Labs, which is a staple at Sephora, was recently valued at $1 Billion.

• ‘Love & Hip Hop’s’ Jessica Dime recently posted a photo of her 3-month-old daughter, Blessing Briel’ Williams, on Instagram for the first time, and she is beautiful.

• Showrunner, Shonda Rhimes, just released a list of eight shows to the NY Times, which includes The Warmth of Other Suns, and Pico & Sepulveda, a series set in Mexican California at the start of the Gold Rush in the 1840s.

• Comedian Shiggy, who came to fame impersonating, ESPN’s star host, Stephen A. Smith on Instagram, is back in the news in another video showing him pushing aside, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback at that, so he can take a photo with Ciara at the ESPYs. And, in case you don't know, Ciara is Russell Wilson's wife.

• Gospel singer Cissy Houston, is battling dementia, according to sources close to the Grammy winner. Cissy Houston is the mother of the late pop singer, Whitney Houston. We send our best wishes to the Houston family.

WHAT’S POPPIN – HEALTH

Recently, designer Kate Spade, and Anthony Bourdain, a celebrity chef and cultural curator, both committed suicide. Michelle Williams, formerly of Destiny’s Child, is choosing life and is taking another approach. For years, Williams has been coping with mental illness and decided to check herself into a mental health facility to get help.

Q. What do you think it will take for Americans, and particularly, Black Americans, to embrace mental health in the way that we embrace physical health?

WHAT’S POPPIN – POLITICS

Jeanine Pirro, a former Westchester County District Attorney, and now a Fox News host was on The View to promote her new book, Liars, Leakers and Liberals: The Case Against the Anti-Trump Conspiracy and things went left when Pirro told The View's host, Whoopi Goldberg, that she is suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome.

Q. Why do conservatives feel the need to call people names when they have a legitimate issue with Trump?

WHAT’S POPPIN – CULTURE

Rolling Out reported that a white woman in Berkeley, CA. started harassing a group of Black people, yelling at them saying you don’t belong here. When the police arrived, a white female witness backed up the black family’s account of the story. The police arrested the white woman not because she was harassing people, but because she had a parole violation.

Q. What is it going to take for law enforcement to take these complaints more seriously and for there to be more consequences?

WHAT’S POPPIN – FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

The family of the Duchess of Sussex, better known as, Meghan Markle, is doing everything to extend its 15 minutes of fame. According to Page Six, Markle’s half-sister, Samantha Grant, is reportedly being lined up to appear on the British version of Celebrity Big Brother. The network is theming this summer’s reality hit as The Eye of The Storm and is expected to introduce housemates that have all been caught up in their own media controversies. Even her father is turning up on various television shows.

Q. Should Meghan Markle's family be in the business of trying to cash in on her royal status?

Meghan Markle’s family is still attempting to cash in on her celebrity

The family of the Duchess of Sussex, better known as, Meghan Markle, is doing everything to extend its 15 minutes of fame.

According to Page Six, Markle’s half-sister, Samantha Grant, is reportedly being lined up to appear on the British version of “Celebrity Big Brother”. The network is theming this summer’s reality hit as “The Eye of The Storm” and is expected to introduce housemates that have all been caught up in their own media controversies. Even her father, Thomas Grant, is turning up on various television shows.

What do you make of this? Markle’s family didn’t do any of these things when Markle was “just” an actress in Hollywood.

Do you think this is a disrespectful teardown, or, is this a case of capitalizing on an opportunity to improve their situation?

VIDEO DISCUSSION: Ryan Coogler could not start directing Panther until he visited Africa; Halle Berry turns heads on the NAACP Image Awards red carpet; Ava DuVernay wins big

What's The 411 hosts Kizzy Cox and Onika McLean are talking about Halle Berry at the NAACP Image Awards; the name of Kim and Kanye West's new baby; kid CEO, Gabby Goodwin; Black Panther director Ryan Coogler; Ava DuVernay winning Entertainer of the Year at the NAACP Image Awards; Jordan Peele's Academy Award nomination for Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay; Daniel Kaluuya's Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, and the upcoming Lifetime movie about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

VIDEO CONVERSATION: Angela Rye is getting death threats for dating rapper Common; Tyrese child custody case settled for now; Congrats to Cardi B., and more

In Episode 119 of What’s The 411, journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean are talking about the following:

QUICK TAKES:

Political commentator, Angela Rye has received death threats reportedly for dating rapper/actor Common.

Karreuche Tran and her manager, Jacob York, were on the Angie Martinez Show on Power 105FM. When the topic of Karreuche’s appearance on Iyanla Vanzant’s Fix My Life came up, York said it was good for Karreuche to be on the show, but as far as Ms. Vanzant is concerned, ‘she’s fake’!

RZA files trademark lawsuit against a Brooklyn dog walking company, ‘WOOF-TANG CLAN’.

Rapper Snoop Dogg is not one to mince any words. He clapped back at Donald Trump and cussed him out in a video in defense of Lavar Ball, the father of the UCLA basketball player who was arrested in China for shoplifting, and football player Marshawn Lynch, who recently took a knee during the National Anthem. If you check out the video, be sure to not to watch it at work.

Congratulations to Jordin Sparks she got married to Dana Isaiah in a secret ceremony in July, and she is now pregnant with her first child. The baby is due next spring.

In more baby news, congratulations to Kevin Hart and wife Eniko Parrish Hart on the birth of their son, Kenzo Hart.

Producer/director, Jordan Peele, says golfer Tiger Woods is in the ‘sunken place’ for golfing with Donald Trump.

And, Nigerian women are set to make history as the continent of Africa’s first African Olympic bobsled team is all women. The Nigerian women's bobsled team will be competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics to be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb 9th – 25th, 2018. 

Shout out to rapper Cardi B for her historic Grammy nomination. Cardi B is the first female rapper to be nominated in the Best Rap Song category.

WHAT’S POPPIN’ - CULTURE

The floodgates are open. Since the sexual abuse allegations from women against Harvey Weinstein, women’s sexual abuse claims against powerful men are now being taken more seriously. Even Terry Crews has opened up about being groped by another man.

Q. Kizzy, why do you think people now believe women now?

WHAT’S POPPIN – FILM AND POLITICS

Actor Denzel Washington places blame for black incarceration with parenting, according to several news reports. During a reporters’ press briefing about his new film, Roman J. Israel, Esq., Washington stated:

“It starts at the home…It starts with how you raise your children. If a young man doesn’t have a father figure, he’ll go find a father figure…So you know I can’t blame the system. It’s unfortunate that we make such easy work for them.”

Q. Is Denzel Washington right, is he overstating the issue, or do you think he is missing underlying issues?

WHAT’S POPPIN – RELATIONSHIPS

It’s a whole new world. Prince Harry (UK) proposed to American actress Meghan Markle. The royal wedding is scheduled for Spring 2018.

WHAT’S POPPIN – RELATIONSHIPS

As you probably know, singer/actor Tyrese Gibson and his former wife Norma Gibson, have been engaged in a brutal custody battle over their 10-year-old daughter. Well, according to TMZ, the judge in the case ruled Tyrese will have his daughter for Christmas and New Year’s, and both Tyrese and his former wife, Norma Gibson, will get 50/50 joint custody beginning in January.

Q. What do you think about the judge’s ruling in this case? Did the judge get this custody battle right?

PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

Our Photo of the Week is a wedding photo of professional tennis player, Serena Williams and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, one of the co-founders of Reddit.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

Our Motivational Quote of the Week is:

“You can’t win in life, if you’re losing in your mind. Change your thoughts, and it’ll change your life.”

A quote from Tony Gaskins, and posted by Raqiyah Mays on LinkedIn.