The products were sold in 242 Walmart stores The product, sold in 48-ounce family-sized cartons under the Great Value Chicken Broth label, was packaged in aseptic paper cartons that, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, may “compromise the […]
While most fans know RuPaul Andre Charles as the beloved creator of the Drag Race franchise, the media personality has contributed even more to the culture throughout his over thirty-year career. Particularly, RuPaul’s work to bring LGBTQIA+ representation to the mainstream cannot be overstated. Born and raised in San Diego, California, RuPaul’s talents led him to Atlanta, Georgia at an early age to study performing arts, where he also performed at the well-known Plaza Theater.
After moving to New York, he broke into the bustling nightlife scene, becoming a popular fixture. It seems that’s where his drag career took off, which would birth his future success. RuPaul’s net worth is a reflection of his determination and innovation within the entertainment realm.
The star gained national success in music
[embedded content]
Before releasing his own music nationally, RuPaul performed at local venues, which afforded him the opportunity to sing backup for Canadian country star Glen Meadmore. Aside from singing, he also showcased his good looks in music videos, making his first appearance in 1989’s Love Shack by B-52. While in New York, he continued showcasing his drag routine annually at the Wigstock Drag Festival. It’s unknown how much he was paid for these gigs, but they led to him recording music of his own.
In 1993, this vibrant artist released his debut album, Supermodel of the World, which included the hit dance single, Supermodel (You Better Work). The song became a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, becoming a staple within the music scene. RuPaul continued his music career with his next album, 1996’s Foxy Lady. The album wasn’t a huge success, though lad single Snapshot hit number four on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Other albums include Ho Ho Ho (1997), Red Hot (2004), and Champion (2009), among others. This helped RuPaul gain more stage opportunities, landing his biggest one in the form of a talk show.
His Television Career Took Off
[embedded content]
Following the success of his first album, RuPaul inked his first self-titled television slot. The VH1 talk show featured high-profile guests such as Diana Ross, Cher, and Mary J. Blige and ran for two seasons, airing 100 episodes. This popular series laid the foundation for his future work on television. After the show ended, he continued his music career, but in 2008, he began working on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Season one was introduced in the U.S. in February 2009, originally on Logo TV. The competition show set out to find the the next drag superstar. Thanks to his previous relationship working with MAC Cosmetics, the winner took home a lifetime supply of beauty products from the brand, $20,000 and more. The series was an instant success and by the 2013 season, when season five began. RuPaul was reportedly making $50,000 per episode. In 2017, the show transitioned to VH1 with season nine amid Logo’s issues maintaining viewership.
By this time, the cash prize for the winner had also grown to $100,000, with RuPaul’s salary ballooning to around $1 million per episode. By season 15, the show had moved to MTV, where it remains today with season 17 kicking off in January 2025. During his Drag Race run, he also launched multiple spin-offs including Drag U, Drag Race All Stars, and Drag Race U.K. In 2019, RuPaul got another talk show on Fox, though it was scrapped shortly after due to low ratings. Still, this has not done anything to hinder his $60 million net worth, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Those of you keeping up with the news regarding the business side of the entertainment industry may already be acquainted with Rashida Jones. The MSNBC network president, who shares no relation to the Parks and Recreation actress of the same name, announced this week that she’ll be stepping down from her role ahead of the previously announced Comcast spinoff. One of Jones’ closest allies at the network, Rebecca Kutler, is expected to serve as interim president in the coming months, as the network restructures to a publicly traded entity. Kutler previously served under Jones as the Senior Vice President of Content Strategy, meaning the staffing adjustment should be a fairly smooth transition.
Even if you’re not especially plugged into the industry, you may have become familiar with Rashida Jones over the years, as she previously made headlines for her excellent leadership at MSNBC. Having served as the network’s senior vice president during the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jones made history in 2021 by becoming the first Black woman to head up a major news network. Now, industry professionals are surely wondering what opportunities Jones will pursue after her time at MSNBC comes to a close. To get a full scope of Jones’ future prospects, let’s briefly run through her career and history as a successful executive, and see what we can learn about the revolutionary businesswoman.
Rashida Jones’ Early Life and Career Beginnings
Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Voto Latino
Long before Rashida Jones was steering a major news network through some of the most polarizing and tumultuous periods in modern history, she was born to a humble Pennsylvania family. In her youth, Jones’ family relocated to the Richmond, Virginia area, where she attended Henrico High School, and developed a passion for news media while assuming the role of editor at the student newspaper. After graduating, Jones took her talents to Hampton University, where she majored in broadcast journalism, and later took home a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media Arts. Jones made connections with prominent media outlets while working toward her degree program, and eve landed a job as a morning show producer during her senior year.
After graduating, Rashida Jones quickly scaled the corporate ladder to become director of live programming at The Weather Channel, before taking on several high-profile production jobs in South Carolina and eventually New York City. By 2014, she took on her first role with MSNBC as managing editor and senior vice president of specials for NBC News. According to those who have worked with Jones during this time, her proficiency within the industry was obvious, making her a clear choice for promotions at every turn. Before long, Jones developed a number of ratings-boosting shifts, including the choice to broaden NBC’s town-hall format to a wider audience, and offer extensive coverage of the growing COVID-19 pandemic. She also led the network through some of its most challenging periods, including those which saw NBC reporting on the aftermath of George Floyd’s untimely slaying, as well as the ensuing protests his death sparked.
Career Highlights at MSNBC
Rashida Jones took the reins as network president at MSNBC on Feb. 1, 2021, shortly after Joe Biden assumed office. As many industry insiders have noted, her arrival and departure from the role are likely not a coincidence, since the politics of Washington D.C. have a massive ripple effect on large media outlets. Given that MSNBC is largely considered to be the most liberal major media conglomerate, a number of insiders have recently questioned how Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration will impact the company, resulting in a shake up of the staff. Regardless, Jones’ accolades during her tenure as president speak for themselves, and showcase her commitment to journalism at large, beyond the scope of political bipartisanship.
In 2022, Jones established a scholarship fund for students seeking a career in journalism, offering to fund full tuition for Hampton University journalists. That same year, she took home the very first Media Leadership Award from the Montclair State University School of Communication and Media, thanks to her hard work and trailblazing efforts as the first Black woman to ever reach her position. In 2023, she took home an Achievement of Excellence Award from her alma mater, and served as the headlining speaker at the school’s 20th anniversary gala. Jones has since earned an honorary doctorate degree from the University of the District of Columbia, thanks to her commitment to shattering the glass ceiling within the industry, and supporting those who came after her.
As stated, Jones has announced her intention to depart from MSNBC this year, after serving a full four-year presidential term. While her resignation from the top position has already taken effect, the inspirational executive is poised to remain with the network in an advisory role until Rebecca Kutler and company have successfully navigated the split with Comcast. Since tendering her resignation, numerous MSNBC executives and staffers have publicly given Jones her flowers, with kind comments flooding in from the likes of Rachel Maddow, Kutler, and incoming CEO Mark Lazarus. Per a report in CNN, Lazarus specifically praised Jones for having “expertly navigated MSNBC through a years-long, unrelenting and unprecedented news cycle, all while driving the network to record viewership and making investments in nonlinear businesses.”
What’s Next for Rashida Jones?
At this point in time, there’s no way of knowing what Rashida Jones plans to do next. When discussing the terms of her resignation, she specifically highlighted a desire to explore new opportunities, while expressing extreme confidence in the future of MSNBC’s programming. For the next few months, she’ll continue assisting her team in navigating the new media landscape, though we can surmise that she’ll likely be flooded with high-paying offers from other networks in the meantime.
Retired actor Dalyce Curry, best known for her credits in Lady Sings the Blues, The Blues Brothers, and The Ten Commandments, is dead at age 95 as a result of the Eaton Fire that tore through Los Angeles.
According to Decider, Curry’s granddaughter and part-time caregiver, Dalyce Kelley, shared that her grandmother’s remains were discovered on Jan. 12 at her home in Altadena. This prominent Black neighborhood has diminished as a result of the L.A. wildfires.
“#RIPMOMMADEE,” Kelly wrote in a post shared on Facebook, Decider reported. “We had a great run. She impacted my life in so many ways. This loss is devastating.”
In a report to ABC 7, Kelley said she was unaware of how destructive the Eaton wildfire would become when she took her grandmother home on Jan. 7 after a long day at the hospital.
After receiving a text alert that Curry’s home was without power, Kelley checked on her grandmother. An officer then told her that the property had been destroyed and had “totally burned down.”
“It was a total devastation,” Kelley told reporters. “Everything was gone except her blue Cadillac.”
As an actor, Curry was a part of Old Black Hollywood in the 1950s, lending her gifts and talents to the industry for decades.
Another grandchild of Curry, Loree Beamer-Wilkerson, described their grandmother as “very active,” noting that “you would not think she was 95” due to her lively spirit.
Altadena, a prominent Black neighborhood in the foothills of San Gabriel Mountain, was significantly impacted by the L.A. wildfires. The Eaton Fire started on Jan. 7 and led to widespread evacuations and destruction.
Cal Fire said the natural disaster started near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive. It expanded to over 14,000 acres, destroying many homes and structures, including the historic Altadena Community Church and the Altadena Senior Center.
As Blavity reported, among the lives lost in the city of Altadena was a 66-year-old man who died attempting to save his family home. He was reportedly holding a garden hose when he succumbed to the Eaton Fire.
According to The Associated Press, at least 24 people have died as a result of the L.A. wildfires, while roughly 16 people are still missing, and the numbers are expected to rise.
According to the Illinois Courts’ website, Caroline Glennon-Goodman, who is white, was appointed to the 10th Subcircuit of Cook County in February 2023 to succeed Judge Claire E. McWilliams, who retired after nearly 20 years of service. Before taking the […]
The company responded Monday to a Bloomberg report claiming that Chinese officials are considering allowing Elon Musk to acquire TikTok’s U.S. operations, forcing its parent company, ByteDance, to divest its TikTok stake or maintain the existing U.S. ban. The outlet […]
Newly released bodycam footage shows 19-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla of Ohio exhibiting strange behavior after her arrest for intentionally crashing her car into a wall at 100 mph, killing her boyfriend and their friend.
Mackenzie Shirilla’s 100 MPH Crash That Killed Two Friends
The deadly crash occurred on July 31, 2022, at around 6:15 a.m., when Shirilla, then 17, was caught on surveillance driving at 100 mph in Strongsville before crashing her 2018 Toyota Camry into a brick building. Her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, was in the passenger seat, and Davion Flanagan was in the back seat, according to Blavity and Cleveland.com.
Russo and Flanagan were found dead at the scene, and Shirilla was trapped inside the car, unconscious and not breathing, 3News reported.
Mackenzie Shirilla Sentenced to Life in Prison for Deadly Crash
Shirilla was found guilty of four counts of felonious assault and two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. She was sentenced to life in prison in August 2023 and is eligible for parole after serving 15 years.
“She had a mission, and she executed it with precision,” Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy Margaret Russo told the court, per Cleveland.com. “The decision was death.”
Mackenzie Shirilla’s Behavior During Arrest Revealed in Bodycam Footage
According to People, bodycam footage released by the Strongsville Police Department shows Mackenzie Shirilla exhibiting unusual behavior during her arrest.
In the video, Shirilla can be seen sitting in the back of a police SUV, talking with an officer at the scene.
“Hi Mackenzie,” an officer said to her, emphasizing that he was there to investigate the deadly accident.
“You’re under arrest for aggravated murder x 2, okay?” he said as she looked at him.
“Do you have any questions?” he asked. “Nobody is going to bother you.”
The officer was about to exchange the handcuffs she had on for another pair when Shirilla stopped him and asked, “Could you please be careful taking this one off so it doesn’t break the bracelet please?”
He replied, “You got it. You got it.”
“Thank you,” she said.
After getting inside the car, she made eye contact with an interior camera, leaned back, and tried to go to sleep, according to the clip obtained by People.
Prosecutors Claim Mackenzie Shirilla Tested Positive for THC
According to Cleveland.com, the trio had been smoking marijuana at a friend’s house, and Shirilla tested positive for THC at the time of the crash. Prosecutors allege she intended to end her relationship with Russo.
Who is Taking Over for Jones and Will She Be There During the Transition? Jones announced that she was immediately stepping down as MSNBC president. In her statement, she told employees that “after four incredible years at the helm of […]
It’s been a difficult week for Los Angeles as wildfires have ravaged the area. Amid its devastating effects, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Cowboy Bebop star Daniella Pineda, whose own Altadena home was lost in the fire, took to social media to advocate for climate change action and to preserve the neighborhood’s Black community during the rebuilding process.
“Here are my wishes as I pick up the pieces of what just happened,” Pineda began in a carousel post on Instagram, Deadline reported. “Eighty Black families were displaced. I don’t want the rebuild to kick out this historical community.”
She continued in another post, “One of the reasons I wanted to make Altadena my home is that it’s a diverse suburb. So my wish is…KEEP ALTADENA BLACK.”
Pineda praised the “beautiful, historic” neighborhood and emphasized how important it is to preserve its character.
“If you had a craftsman like me, honor it. A friend said he was afraid of the rebuild looking cheesy and tacky. He’s right. F**k that. Let’s make it more beautiful than it was,” she wrote.
She also urged people to support those affected by the fires.
“Please foster someone’s animal. Please, please. Or donate to Pasadena Humane Society,” she asked.
The 37-year-old also reflected on political division, referencing former President Donald Trump’s potential return to office.
“The neighbor who banged on my door to save my life, I know, did not vote my party. I know who he voted for,” she wrote. “That man still saved my life. Divisive politics seems pretty f**king stupid when it’s life or death. Bless that man.”
Pineda added, “Lastly, in all the free moments you have left on this earth, if you can, put that life force toward fighting climate change. Were you about to post some troll-ass comment about someone? Do something for climate change instead. Are you spending time doing fantasy football? Maybe take that 20 minutes toward something climate-oriented.”
“The earth is on fire. This isn’t some conspiracy. No one is exempt from this anymore,” she emphasized.
Pineda concluded her message with a heartfelt note to her community.
“I love you, Altadena,” she wrote.
Last week, Pineda shared an emotional post about losing her home.
“The fire broke out so fast all I could grab was my dog and my laptop and that was it. I lost everything else,” she wrote. “I have one pair of shoes to my name. I’m happy to be alive. Grateful to be alive.”
Pineda is among many celebrities who lost their homes in the Los Angeles fires, including Milo Ventimiglia, Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, Joshua Jackson, Adam Brody, and more.
As Blavity previously reported, Altadena, one of Los Angeles’ historically Black neighborhoods, has faced significant damage since the fires began on Jan. 7. Many local churches, restaurants, and cultural institutions in Altadena have been destroyed. Additionally, many major insurance providers do not offer fire insurance in the area, forcing residents to rely on California’s basic insurance plan. This limited coverage makes it difficult for locals to rebuild their homes and their neighborhood.
With just one week left in his presidency, President Joe Biden announced a new round of student loan forgiveness for 150,000 borrowers. Although he fell short of his broader promise to cancel student debt on a larger scale, the White House confirmed in a press release that Biden has now forgiven loans for a total of 5 million borrowers during his term.
According to NBC News, Biden stated that he has “forgiven more student loan debt than any other administration in history,” highlighting the administration’s aggressive efforts to address the student debt crisis.
Biden Student Loans: Expansion of Public Service Loan Forgiveness
The most recent round of student debt relief targets specific groups of borrowers:
80,000 borrowers defrauded by their schools
60,000 borrowers with permanent disabilities
6,000 public service workers
Despite the Supreme Court blocking Biden’s initial broad student debt relief plan, the administration found ways to expand existing loan forgiveness programs. One notable example is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which allows public service workers—such as teachers, firefighters, and nurses—who have made consistent payments for 10 years to have their remaining debt forgiven.
Biden also touted the expansion of Pell Grants, which provide essential financial aid to low-income students. By increasing the maximum award amount, the administration aimed to make higher education more affordable for those in need.
Student Loan Forgiveness 2025: What’s Next for Borrowers?
Biden’s administration has made significant progress in canceling debt, but questions remain about the future of student loan forgiveness in 2025 and beyond. Of the 5 million borrowers whose loans have been forgiven:
1.4 million borrowers had been making payments for over a decade before receiving forgiveness.
1 million public service workers, including first responders, educators, and nonprofit employees, had their loans canceled.
1.7 million borrowers who were victims of fraud by predatory schools saw their debts erased.
663,000 borrowers with permanent disabilities had their loans forgiven.
While this progress is notable, many borrowers still await clarity on future forgiveness efforts, especially as the political landscape shifts.
Biden Student Loan Forgiveness Faces Political and Legal Pushback
This latest move by the Biden administration follows the Department of Education’s recent decision to block plans for broader loan forgiveness. President-elect Donald Trump and many of his supporters have been vocal critics of Biden’s student debt relief programs, arguing that widespread loan cancellation would place an undue financial burden on taxpayers and significantly increase the national debt.
Opponents of student loan forgiveness claim that the policy is unfair to those who have already paid off their loans or chose not to take on student debt. They argue that the focus should be on reducing the cost of higher education rather than canceling existing debts.
As Biden prepares to leave office, the future of student loan forgiveness in 2025 remains uncertain. Borrowers and advocates are watching closely to see how the incoming administration will handle student debt and whether relief efforts will continue or be rolled back.
Stay up to date on exciting projects and upcoming events from the Black Promoters Collective.
©2024 Black Promoters Collective (BPC) All Rights Reserved.
