These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Tuesday. Against a backdrop of the news of Giorgio Armani’s death, Hedi Slimane posted on his personal Instagram account that he hoped Celine would “brilliantly reinvent its advertising campaigns as well as its corporate image” so that it …
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August 30 will officially be known as “New Edition Day” in Boston.
The acclaimed, pioneering R&B sextet celebrated the honor along with a street naming ceremony in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where the the group was founded. “New Edition Way” will be housed at the corner of Ambrose and Albany Streets near Orchard Gardens (formerly Orchard Park Projects).
“It’s prestigious without a doubt,” Johnny Gill told VIBE of the feat. “To just know that 42 years of what we’ve done here as a group […] there’s a level of contribution that has been made from each and every one of us. When you look at this type of prestige, it’s written in stone. [Our impact] can’t be erased […] The hard work that’s been put in here has paid off in a great way.”
Michael Bivins, who was raised in those housing projects, reflected on a fonder, full circle memory. “The center where it’s going to happen at, that’s where we met,” he shared. “We used to eat in that center. We would get a free meal if you was in the gym […] and a lot of us was taking trays if food was left over.”
He continued, “To have the street [renaming] is one thing, but to have [it] right in front of the gym is another thing.”
Ronnie DeVoe praised his uncle, Brooke Payne, for being the true visionary behind New Edition and laying the foundation for their longevity. He noted, “It’s a testament to the gifts that God gave us and the talents that God gave us and Uncle B honing those skills to the point where the rough turned into the diamonds that we are today. To connect to our city and be recognized with something that’s going to be there forever is truly amazing.”
Not only did the men discuss the present commemoration like the community block party and giveaways, but also pondered how New Edition Day would be celebrated in the future. Considering it’s so close to their group anniversary (Sept. 9), they agreed that the celebration will be “ongoing” and most likely, combined— but not in a traditional sense.
Bivins spoke the different neighborhoods within the city of Boston that most people stay away from and confessed that his goal is unity across the board with New Edition at the forefront.
“There’s people in certain hoods that don’t go to certain places and it’s just what it is. It’s been that way for years. If we could find neutral zones to celebrate, that’s what I hope we do with years to go,” he explained.
For those unfamiliar with Boston territories, Bivins compared his neighborhood to New York City. “Roxbury is considered like Harlem. Queens is like Dorchester and Brooklyn is kind of considered like Dorchester [or] Mattapan.”
Despite Ricky Bell, Bobby Brown, and Ralph Tresvant not being present for the conversation, Gill, Bivins, and DeVoe confessed that New Edition still has new dreams that they want to see come true— like getting inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame among other things. They also just want to continue to remain in good health and spirits.
Bivins added, “I think that’s so important for us because of the taxing that it takes to be New Edition and the commitment that it takes. The fact that we’re living to talk to each other is just so important. Those are the things that I think are in front of us that keeps us being unique and trendsetters and just being special.”
Overall, similar to Jermaine Dupri’s recent praise of New Edition, they all agree, “It’s about time.”
In 2008, filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor directed Rock On!!, a musical drama that continues to be celebrated for its songs, feels, and deep characters. Having received critical acclaim, the film celebrates its 17th anniversary today, and Kapoor marks this occasion by talking about his directorial journey and how the audiences continue to connect with it even after 17 years.
Celebrating 17 years of the cult classic, Abhishek Kapoor says, “I can’t believe Rock On!! has come 17 years far! Time truly flies so fast! It’s incredible, and the fact that the viewers continue to return to it to relive its freshness is an achievement in itself. The joy of creating this film, directing it and bringing together some of the most talented actors and crew was magical. Rock On!! is a multi-character film, and I’m glad it all came together at the end.”
Filmmakers create films for the box office, audience and more, but what makes Abhishek Kapoor a standout creator is that he makes films for himself. He creates films that could leave an impression. By touching the nooks and corners of emotions, friendships, passion, talent and self-discovery, Abhishek Kapoor curates spectacles that stay, with emotions that linger and a message that remains long after the credits roll!
Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Purab Kohli, Luke Kenny and others came together to blend the music of life into the fabric of a film. Being at the receiving end of critical acclaim, Rock On!! proved to be the perfect litmus test to showcase Bollywood’s maturity. In 2010, Rock On!! was honoured with two National Film Awards, including Best Feature Film in Hindi and Best Supporting Actor (Arjun Rampal).
For more news and updates from the entertainment world, stay tuned to Bollywood Bubble.
Robert Townsend wanted to blindly hire Beyoncé to star as Carmen Brown in the MTV film, Carmen: A Hip Hopera, and watched Queen Bey “blossom” right before his eyes.
In conversation with Lena Waithe for Legacy Talk, Townsend reflected on the singer’s audition for her acting debut in the 2001 film.
“I didn’t know Beyoncé […] I knew of her and I was like, ‘Wow, she has a striking look.’ You know, she’s a beautiful, young girl, but I could see that she had something special. ‘Cause [with] my director eyes, I go, ‘Something’s going on with her. She’s got something,’” he remembered. Townsend felt Bey was perfect for the role, but the studio demanded that she audition for it.
With this being her first audition ever, Townsend could tell that Bey was “really nervous” and used her team to strengthen her performance.
“I have an arsenal when it comes to getting performance or making somebody comfortable,” he explained before detailing he told her bodyguard and the label executive who accompanied Bey to be part of the scene as well.
Ironically, Townsend admitted, “They started to sweat and really get nervous and then she was watching them get nervous and she got stronger. I said, ‘Oh, there it is.’” Bey was so excited and asked to repeat the scene a few more times and even requested to do the “death scene.” (For those who haven’t seen Carmen: A Hip Hopera, yes, her character dies.)
CARMEN: A HIP HOPERA
Carol Kaelson / ©MTV / courtesy Everett Collection
Townsend was clearly impressed and later praised Beyoncé, her tenacity, and star power.
“Watching her blossom into the superstar that she has become, I saw it in that room because there’s certain actors/actresses’ first audition, they wouldn’t go all the way there. She went all the way there,” he said proudly.
The full conversation can be viewed here; check out the Bey snippet above.
Ashlee Simpson-Ross experienced an “insane” level of “bullying” after her infamous performance on Saturday Night Live.
Ashlee Simpson-Ross faced a backlash after her 2004 SNL performance
The 40-year-old singer became the first musician to walk out of a performance on SNL back in 2004 when her single Pieces of Me incorrectly began to play before she raised her microphone to perform Autobiography, sparking a huge backlash.
And Ashlee – who returned to the show before the credits rolled to try and explain her decision to lip sync was due to a flare-up of acid reflux – isn’t sure she’d have faced the same level of criticism if something similar happened today.
Speaking on Pod Meets World, she said: “I think it’s a different era … I think during that time, I mean, the bullying was insane.”
Ashlee has felt the need to repeatedly explain herself to people.
She said: “But then my whole life, I had to tell people, ‘Oh, but I perform every night.’ My fans know. I had to know that in my heart.
“Yes, I’ve had ups and downs just like every other human.”
The former Melrose Place actress – who has Bronx, 15, with ex-husband Pete Wentz and Jagger, eight, and Ziggy, three, with spouse Evan Ross – thinks the way the internet responds to public mistakes has evolved “but also it hasn’t in some ways”.
She added: “I think it’s different now. For us, we had the magazines and this. Now everything’s kinda more fleeting.”
At the time, the SNL backlash felt like it was on her “shoulders forever”.
But she added: “And I think now everything is, like, a little bit more fleeting and fast.”
Ashlee has previously spoken of how “cruel” the world felt in the wake of the SNL ridicule.
Speaking on her Ashlee + Evan reality show in E! in 2018, she said: “The world hated me for this SNL moment I had.
“I was such a young girl, and the world can be a cruel place. But I learned at that time in my life to believe in my work and in my album and to get up and keep fighting and carrying on.”
“I had amazing fans that stood by me. And I learned to be strong and stand up for yourself.”