After two previous nominations, the first in 1996 for Best Actress for her portrayal of iconic singer Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to do With It? and the second this year for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Hollywood icon, Angela Bassett, 64, is set to receive an Oscar at this year’s Governors Awards. The ceremony is hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Bassett will be the recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award which is given to those who have exhibited outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes.
First awarded in 1957, the Hersholt Award according to Oscars.org, is given to an “individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.” Although this can be considered a career highlight for most people, there are mixed feelings about the honor. Many of Bassett’s fans believe that the How Stella Got Her Groove Back star has been snubbed in the past and that the Academy is simply looking to right their wrongs by finally honoring her with its most prestigious statuette. Dubbed as a “participation trophy,” the reaction has not been great. It appears that the public does not view an honorary award the same as they view a competitive award and believe that an actress of Bassett’s caliber should have been awarded the latter. Bassett will receive her award when the 14th annual Governors Awards take place on November 18th.
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When I announced the name change for my blog, I explained that I wanted to take readers beyond the headlines of a news story involving their favorite celebrities. I wanted to add more context to provide an overall, well-rounded perspective that was more than mere gossip or surmising. We kicked off that new objective with my story on Chris Rock finally speaking out on his assault at the Oscars last year in his new comedy special, Selective Outrage. Now, as we continue to move in this new direction, I can’t help but think of a better person whose life in the public eye was certainly devoid of context. That person is hotel heiress, DJ, socialite, actress, singer, and business mogul, Paris Hilton. Born on February 17, 1981, to Richard and Kathy Hilton, Paris is the eldest of the Hilton children, with younger siblings, sister Nicky Hilton (b. 1983), and brothers Barron (b. 1989) and Conrad (b. 1994). She first gained notoriety as a socialite in 1996 – between 15-16 years old – with her many appearances around the NYC club scene. Hilton used a fake ID to gain access to many of the clubs and parties she was too young to attend. Viewed by her parents as a rebellious child due to her newfound club and party lifestyle, Paris was shipped off to boarding school. After graduating high school at 18, Paris resumed her lifestyle making public appearances and enjoying a brief stint as a fashion model, walking the catwalks during New York Fashion Week, and being featured in top fashion magazines such as Vogue and FHM. Her big break, however, didn’t arrive until 2003 when she – alongside her childhood friend and fellow socialite, Nicole Richie – starred in the reality television show, The Simple Life. The premise of the show involved both Paris and Nicole - two very privileged and wealthy young girls who have essentially had everything given to them in life - living with families in mostly rural communities, while doing manual labor jobs such as working on farms and in fast food restaurants, etc. It became a massive success and launched the two ladies into international fame. The success was a much-needed pivot for Paris as prior to its introduction into the world, she gained a different level of fame when the now infamous sex tape she filmed with then-boyfriend, Rick Salomon leaked to the press in 2001. A then 20-year-old Paris was devastated by the ordeal and it led to the public’s perception of her as the rich, "dumb blonde," that's only useful for a good time. Throughout her time in the spotlight as the "it girl," of her generation, Paris, although rarely ever taken seriously managed to carve out a successful career for herself and has maintained longevity. Even with the constant digs thrown her way, she rose above the fray to share her new and deeply personal memoir, Paris. And that's what brings me to the point of this blog. In her book, Paris details some very disturbing experiences she faced in her younger years, some that even her parents, let alone the public were unaware of. In one instance, she shares that when she was in eighth grade, she had an inappropriate relationship with her teacher. She recounts said teacher confessing he had a crush on her and after exchanging numbers, he would often call her at night and they would talk for hours. The teacher, known as “Mr. Abercrombie,” visited Paris one night when her parents were out. After climbing into the passenger seat of his SUV, she shares that he kissed her "for what seemed like a long time and seemed to be evolving into something more." Her parents came home to find her in the driveway with the teacher. Naturally, he blamed Paris for his own actions, saying “My life is over. What am I doing? Why did you make me do this? And Paris was sent to live with her grandmother at the end of the school year while Mr. Abercrombie’s reputation didn’t really suffer as he remained a teacher at the school. With a deeper perspective in understanding that she was preyed upon, Paris writes, “even now, knowing in my grown-up mind that no child is ever to blame for inappropriate adult behavior, my face is literally burning as I sit here telling you this terrible secret," she continues. "I'm not sure I'll ever be able to fully shake it off. But it's a key part of my story.” She also shares that due to her uncontrollable behavior which is not uncommon for a lot of teenagers (skipping school, sneaking out at night, etc.) she was sent away to a boarding school in the middle of the night by her parents (mentioned above). The school, specifically, Provo Canyon School in Utah is where she suffered a great deal of trauma and torture which included, verbal, emotional, sexual, and physical abuse. She recalls being starved, slapped, choked, screamed at, and being placed in solitary confinement. When asked by Joy Behar during an appearance on ABC’s The View, why she never told her parents what was happening to her, Paris says that her calls were monitored and if she attempted to tell them what was happening, the calls would be disconnected and she would lose her phone privileges. She went on to say that although she’ll never understand her parent’s decision to send her away, she forgives them because she understands they had the best intentions and believed they were doing what was best for her at the time. Other revelations in the book include her being diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), in her early 20s which was misdiagnosed when she was a child, “No one ever said, ‘Relax, little girl. There are many different kinds of intelligence. Instead, people told me I was dumb, bratty, careless, ungrateful, or not applying myself.” Having found her purpose now, she views her ADHD differently than when it was originally diagnosed, “Advocacy work blessed me with the silver bullet that transforms my ADHD from disability to superpower: purpose. For years I told myself I was incapable of focusing on anything. Now I know that I can be a laser beam when I focus on something that truly matters.” In addition to that, she lets readers into her experience of having an abortion. Speaking on the matter, she says, “Trying to continue that pregnancy with the physical and emotional issues I was dealing with at the time would have been a train wreck for everyone involved. At that moment in my life, I was in no way capable of being a mother. Denying that would have jeopardized the family I hoped to have in the future, at a time when I was healthy and healed.” It's easier to understand now, why Paris presented herself the way she did as the wild, party girl when she started her career. She, like many people who have experienced trauma, found a way to distract herself from said trauma and therefore created a “character,” as a coping mechanism to hide her pain. Even deciding to speak in a higher pitched, baby voice as opposed to her naturally deeper voice tone was most likely a conscious decision. The evolution of Paris Hilton from Hollywood it girl to successful business mogul, wife, and now mother is to be commended. Regardless of her privileged upbringing, it takes courage to survive the difficult challenges life throws at you because it's much easier to give up. Having found her voice, the Paris we see now is the confident woman I suppose she's always wanted to be. Letting go of the character she created she's finally embracing her true self. She may have named her son Phoenix after the mythical bird of resurrection, but I would argue that it is Paris, who has been resurrected from the aches, reborn and taking control of her life and changing the narrative.
Owning your story, flaws and all... now that's hot! Paris’ new memoir is available now. It was this time last year when viewing audiences witnessed “the slap,” both heard and seen around the world. During the 2022 94th annual Academy Awards ceremony, Will Smith, 54, prior to winning his first Oscar for Best Actor, approached fellow actor and comedian, Chris Rock, 58, while Rock was in the middle of presenting an award and slapped him across the face. Following the assault, Smith was heard screaming expletives at the actor/comedian, telling him to "keep my wife's name out your f***king mouth." Shocked, many wondered if the incident was real or part of a bit. Before presenting the nominees in the category for Best Documentary, Rock, like many comedians told a few jokes at the expense of a live audience of celebrities. One joke, in particular, was aimed at Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, 51. Sporting a noticeably shorter-than-usual haircut, Chris suggested that Jada should star in G.I. Jane 2 as a sequel to the original film starring Demi Moore, in which the actress famously shaved her head for the role. While Will initially laughed at the joke, the cameras caught a noticeably annoyed Jada who didn't seem to find the suggestion funny. And what happened next is what we've come to now know as the "Oscar Slap." For his part, Smith offered several explanations for his behavior, none of which directly addressed the root cause or trigger for him to physically assault Rock. Many surmised that his reaction was due to seeing how upset his wife was at the joke and that he was "protecting a black woman," or "protecting his wife," as a husband should. Pinkett-Smith has opened up about her struggles with alopecia which is a disorder that causes one to lose their hair, thus explaining why she didn't like Chris' joke, as the subject matter for her is sensitive. To this day, almost one year later, we have still not been given a clear and concise reason from Smith on why he assaulted Chris that night. His efforts to do damage control nonetheless did not easily sway the court of public opinion as he has been banned from attending future Academy Award ceremonies for the next 10 years. In addition, his movie Emancipation failed to gain any traction, nor did it receive any major award recognition this year. The once pristine image of the big, box office Hollywood star now has a permanent stain on it. Chris, seemingly disappeared for a bit after the incident before he started to slowly make his way back into the public with his Ego Death tour. The tickets, of course, sold out as many fans wanted to know if he would address the matter during one of his shows (he did not). Refusing to do any interviews, Rock instead focused on his comedy with many deeming that he would talk about the assault on his own time. Well, that time is now. With the release of his live new comedy special on Netflix (a first for the streaming service), called Selective Outrage, he finally discussed it using his unique brand of humor. In the show, after making jokes regarding rappers, Snoop Dogg and Jay Z, Rock said, "the last thing I need is another mad rapper," hinting at Smith who is also a rapper and was the first to ever win a grammy award in a rap category.
However, it was the last 8 minutes of the show that stood out. Chris dedicated the entire closing of his show to addressing the incident, expressing his true thoughts about both Will and Jada. Opening by saying, “y’all know what happened to me, getting smacked by Suge Smith,” (a reference to Suge Knight). What happened next was a deliberate takedown of Will Smith for the audience to follow in which Chris explains who he believes Will is, what has transpired in his life, and why it caused him to publicly assault him. First, he emphasized that Smith is “significantly bigger than me. We’re not the same size.” Next, he called out a recent issue plaguing the Smith household, which was the admitted affair that Jada had with her son’s friend, R&B singer, August Alsina, and the jokes that occurred at Will’s expense as the impetus for his fragile state of mind. Chris deduces that the ridicule Will endured from so many regarding the affair lead to the assault on him the night of the Oscars. He essentially claims that instead of Will addressing the many others who spoke against him, he instead picked a fight with a man much smaller than him – whom he could easily beat in a physical fight – “that’s some b**tch a** sh*t,” Rock said. Rock also recalled an issue in 2016, as he was set to host that year’s Oscar ceremony as another possible reason for the breakdown in his relationship with the Smith's. Because Will did not receive a nomination for his role in Concussion, Jada called for all actors of color to boycott the ceremony that year as an act of solidarity and for Chris to step down as host. Again, as comedians normally do, he joked about the ordeal while hosting, saying that Jada’s boycott was, in hindsight, counterproductive as she wasn’t invited to begin with. In conclusion, Chris very strategically illustrated that Will Smith practices selective outrage. He ignored the many criticisms both he and his family have faced over the years due to their non-traditional approach to marriage, parenting, and the oversharing of their intimate family details but chose Chris - on that night - to finally say enough is enough, causing one of the most uncomfortable if not unfortunate moments in live tv to occur. Dropping the mic both literally and figuratively, Chris left it all on the stage. He said everything one could say - expressing his raw emotions. You could see the anger on his face which to me, says that these two "smart and capable," men won't be coming together anytime soon to "heal," or "talk things out," much to Jada's hope. But one thing we know for sure is Chris is no one's victim. And while he was embarrassed and humiliated in front of millions, it is he, who has emerged victorious in the end. Will Smith may be able to move on from this at some point, but as of now, public favor resides with Chris Rock. He not only called Smith out, but highlighted his flaws and insecurities, and the overarching stigma plaguing men - black men in particular - which is toxic masculinity. Selective Outrage is streaming now on Netflix. Hello All,
This post is to share that I have officially changed the name of my blog. Abron's Hot Take, although catchy, didn't really capture the essence of what I wanted to create with this space. My brand of journalism is to not just share news and information with a witty take, but to provide perspective that drives thoughts and opinions based on facts. The world of social media plays a vital, perhaps even pivotal role in how we receive and share news. When used properly, it has the power to make real change among communities and society at large. However, as great as it is, social media has also become a place where context no longer matters. Most people seemingly don't read past the headlines and use that along with maybe the first few sentences within an article to then predicate their opinions on the subject matter. Sometimes, based on the celebrity in question and whether or not you like or dislike that person can also drive opinions devoid of context and facts. That's what inspired this new name change. My goal will be to take you beyond the headlines. To give you the full context of a celebrity or entertainment news story so that when you're discussing it among friends and family members, you can do so with confidence, knowing that you have the correct and accurate information and details. You'll not only know the story, but the context behind said story. So, moving forward In Context: Beyond the Headlines will be your go-to source for entertainment news that will have my thoughts and opinions fused in, but will PRIMARILY, be about facts and context. This space will now serve to not only share news but inspire deep thought and conversation that is as insightful as it is entertaining. Join me in this newly reinvigorated space! Sincerely, Abron The Story After a two-year hiatus, the Golden Globes made its big return. On Tuesday, January 10, 2023, the Globes – officially kicked off awards season with its 80th annual celebration at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Hollywood’s biggest names from Brad Pitt to Angela Bassett gathered together to celebrate and honor the best in film and television. This year’s ceremony was hosted by stand-up comedian and actor, Jerrod Carmichael, who in his opening monologue shared why he was selected to MC (master of ceremonies) the event, “I’m here because I’m black,” he said in his monotone voice which was met with laughter by the audience. Clearly mocking the scandal, that plagued the awards, leading to its hiatus, Carmichael chose not to ignore the elephant in the room, but to instead address it head-on. It was after all the reason why the show didn’t air for two years as the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) – which puts on the Golden Globes each year – was met with controversy for lack of diversity among its members. As the saying goes in showbusiness, “the show must go on,” and after some time away to rebrand, the Golden Globes officially returned with a renewed sense of purpose, having boosted its racial and ethnic diversity membership by 51%. Helen Hoehne, President of the HFPA, said this about the show’s return to broadcast, “Our studio partners have worked with us to ensure the kinds of changes were made to reimagine the HFPA and Golden Globes and preserve our future to ensure our philanthropy and charitable activities continue to grow strongly, and we remain the leading awards program to kick off the award season on a strong note that benefits the entire Hollywood community. We recognize we have a special responsibility to set the tone and tenor for each season and look forward to embracing that challenge with Hollywood’s party of the year.” You can see the full list of winners here: https://www.goldenglobes.com/winners-nominee Abron’s Hot Take
Now, I’ll admit that award shows lately have been insipid. Whether it’s predictable winners, a lack of diversity, an unfunny host – tasked with navigating the audiences both in person and watching from home – or the celebrities themselves who don’t seem to be very enthusiastic to be there, the past few years of what is supposed to be a celebration have been quite the opposite. But that wasn’t the case last night. Perhaps for the first time in a long time, I absolutely enjoyed watching an awards show live! All of the issues I mentioned above were non-issues this year as I was genuinely surprised by the winners of each category, laughed and enjoyed the jokes, and watched the show all the way through – not wanting it to end. It was perfect. Of course, we have to note that there was a significant amount of black and brown winners during last night’s show. Some might and have already argued that this was an attempt by the HFPA to appease the community and to make up for the lack of diversity debacle. While that could have some element of truth to it, you can’t deny that those individuals – independent of their race – delivered some of the best performances of the year and should be awarded for it. I personally think that this is how award shows should be. Where people win based on their performance while also at the same time, not being overlooked because of their race (whether it’s done consciously or unconsciously). I decided to live-tweet the ceremony this year and I’m glad I did because it was a lot of fun! You must always give credit where credit is due and the HFPA has done an incredible job. They were called out for a problem, assessed said problem, took corrective action and then re-emerged bigger and better than ever. Perhaps that two-year break did the show some good. Congratulations to all of the winners! I hope to be on the red-carpet next year, talking to your favorite celebrities while also taking in what I hope is this continued format of an amazing night, celebrating the best in Hollywood. We’ve reached the exciting conclusion to the Harry and Meghan docuseries on Netflix. Volume two of the series is available now and in the second half, we get an in-depth look inside the battle the Duke and Duchess of Sussex faced with the British media and how Meghan’s popularity hit an all-time high, making her a threat to the royal family as an outsider. We then see the ups and downs the couple faced trying desperately but to no avail to defend themselves and the emotional toll it took on them that ultimately led to their departure from the royal family and the UK. Continue reading below for part two of this episode-by-episode breakdown. Episode 4 We open episode four with a look back at past royal weddings – Queen Elizabeth II to Prince Philip, Princess Diana to Prince Charles, Kate Middleton to Prince William, etc. Meghan shares that the Queen’s secretary shared with her that during these times, people are skeptical of the newest person entering the royal family but that they soon adjust and grow to accept that person. We also hear in voiceover of different commentators expressing both excitement and skepticism about the couples impending nuptials. On May 19, 2018, Meghan Markle wed Prince Harry at Windsor among hundreds of thousands of spectators, all gathered to see the once “wild card,” prince, take his first-ever step into matrimony with the American woman who captured his heart. Due to her having lost her own father because of his media betrayal, Meghan shares that she asked Prince Charles, her soon-to-be father-in-law to walk her down the aisle and he agreed. There were some notable differences with this wedding compared to others of the past, namely, the presence of and performance by a gospel choir. After the official ceremony, the newly married coupled entertained their wedding guests with a reception full of cheer and partying with musical guest and legend, Elton John performing, and actor Idris Elba serving as the DJ. Although they lived on palace grounds at Kensington Palace, Harry and Meghan’s actual living quarters were in Nottingham Cottage, which was much smaller. Shortly after, Meghan embarked on her first official engagement as a royal and the new title of Duchess of Sussex, bestowed upon her by her majesty the Queen as a wedding gift. She remembers that time with the late Queen and how much fun they had together during the event. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s popularity continued to grow. Many people viewed Meghan’s presence as a fresh and new modernization for the royal family. They share that not too long after the wedding and officially starting their journey as both husband and wife along with their royal duties, they became pregnant with their first child. But the happiness from the public would only last for so long as during the Australia leg of their royal tour, media coverage of Meghan began to shift. Harry describes it this way, “the issue is, when someone who’s marrying in who should be a supporting act is then stealing the limelight or doing the job better than who’s born to do this, that upsets people, it shifts the balance.” We see a flashback of Princess Diana during what is now seen as her “controversial,” interview with the BBC: Panorama where she shares her experience of having become more popular than her husband Prince Charles at the time and how the media attention of that, further added to jealousy, presumably of other individuals within the royal family or “the institution.” Further evidence of this is shown by media headlines, praising the Duchess of Cambridge, (now Princess of Wales), Kate Middleton, sister-in-law to Harry for the very same things Meghan was being criticized for. One thing, in particular, was the cradling of her stomach while pregnant. As the attacks continued, Meghan says that thoughts of suicide became clearer as a way to put an end to the chaos. Having not received the news well and expressing feelings of devastation and shame, Harry says he dealt with the matter as the “institution Harry,” and not as “husband Harry.” Looking back, he shares regret for not being more supportive. As we learn more about the institution and its relationship with the media, Harry explains that the communications teams within the institution can often work against each other. When news of one team’s principal isn’t appealing, that team will work with the media and trade stories for another principal on a different team within the institution. This is basically to say that if any other member of the royal family had a scandal or negative story about them, it would often be traded to instead run a negative story about Meghan. Harry says leaks happen but also stories are traded often between the institution and the media. Although William and Harry agreed that they would never let these things happen between their offices, it happened anyway and the once-dubbed “fab 4,” William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan began to split into two sides. Perhaps the silver lining of this all is that Harry and Meghan found refuge at Frogmore Cottage (suggested to them by the Queen), which was a more private estate where they could get away from the ensuing negative media attention. It was there where the couple found normalcy and where their first child, son Archie was born. Months after his birth, the Duke and Duchess embarked on their South Africa tour which was also filmed by the royal family as part of a documentary special. It was during this tour, when asked by the reporter supporting the tour how she was doing, that Meghan shared that she was not ok and that being a new mom and dealing with the press, things were very difficult behind the scenes. That clip went viral with many people showing love and support for the Duchess, spawning the hashtag “WeLoveYouMeghan.” With the good comes the bad and just as such, the couple, particularly Meghan endured more backlash with headlines painting her as a “spoiled princess.” It was at this point that Harry and Meghan decided things needed to change. Episode 5 I wasn’t being thrown to the wolves; I was being fed to them. If the definitive statement, we hear from Meghan early in episode five. This statement is said with the understanding by both Harry and Meghan, that the royal family was not going to protect her from the media. Meghan opens up about her relationship with her father which she says was a pretty good relationship but that things changed “when the media got involved.” Thomas Markle is seen conducting interviews, referring to his daughter as having a “superiority complex.” He also attacked the royal family, likening them to a “Scientology cult,” only adding more pressure on his daughter who was tasked with the responsibility of putting an end to Thomas’s accusations. Under the advice of both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, Meghan wrote her father a private letter which soon became public. After having discussed taking legal action against the Daily Mail for printing the letter (a redacted version at that), Harry and Meghan had no choice but to seek outside legal counsel as months had gone by and there were no updates coming from the royal’s legal team. Meghan became the subject of yet more tabloid fodder as more and more stories were being written about her – these stories coming from within the institution itself. The Sussex’s went forth with their litigation against the Mail on Sunday which Meghan says was “the catalyst for all of the unraveling.” They found themselves in Vancouver, Canada to escape the backlash they received for suing the media and seemed to live peacefully for a while. That was until information about their location was shared with the media. Paparazzi besieged the island Harry and Meghan were living on which prompted them to strategize on how best they could continue to serve the Queen in their roles as senior royals as well as protect themselves from the media in the process. Their decision was to move to Canada permanently. In an email to his father, Harry shares that should he and Meghan not be allowed to move forward with their plan, they would relinquish their Duke and Duchess titles. After speaking with the Queen and receiving an invite to visit her, Harry was later informed that he was not allowed to see his grandmother citing her now busy schedule as the reason, even though she initially shared that she would be free the week of their scheduled visit. The email Harry had sent to his father at his behest was leaked to the press which detailed the couple’s plans to move to Canada as well as relinquish their royal titles. After much thought, Harry and Meghan released an official statement detailing that they would be “stepping back,” not “down,” from their royal duties. They were accused of having blindsided the Queen with the news. A meeting between Harry, the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William took place, to which Harry was presented with five options, the first to be “all in,” and the remaining four “all out.” Choosing option three, his decision was half-in-and-half-out. This meant he and Meghan would have their own jobs and make their own money but still work to support the Queen. That option, however, was never really available to them and during the meeting, Harry recounts being screamed at by his brother while his father told stories that weren’t true. Harry realized that his family had chosen the side of the institution, seeing his decision to step back as an affront to it. An article was released claiming Harry and Meghan were leaving the institution because Prince William had “bullied,” them out which resulted in a joint statement from the brothers claiming the accusations were false. The issue with the statement was that Harry had had no part in drafting it. His name was simply attached to it. Sharing that information with Meghan, Harry shares that she cried because they realized that the institution very easily put out false statements to protect William; however, they weren’t willing to put out true statements to protect them. Seeing no other option, Harry made the decision to leave both the UK and the royal family. Even though the decision was his alone, Meghan took the blame from the media who dubbed their departure as “Megxit.” More and more negative attention was paid to the couple, again, particularly Meghan, and Bot Sentinel, an organization that fights against disinformation confirmed that a small number of individuals were largely responsible for the hate Meghan received on social media. The group had a far-reaching network and was mostly comprised of white women. Meghan’s half-sister, Samantha was also a part of that network. In a moment of true understanding, Meghan breaks down the blame she’s received for taking Harry away from the royal family. In order for people to reconcile how they feel or to absolve themselves of their own actions, they seek to blame someone else and she, for a lot of people, including the media has become that person, that scapegoat. During their final week of royal life, the Duke and Duchess completed their remaining engagements. To Meghan’s surprise, they were met with many supporters, saddened to see them leave. Perhaps with a renewed sense of self and confidence, Meghan changed her wardrobe, opting to wear more colorful ensembles instead of the muted tones she had worn before to blend in. After their last event – also attended by the other members of the royal family, Meghan – highly emotional says she collapsed in her security details arms after flying back to Canada saying that she “tried so hard,” to which the security officer replied, “I know you did ma’am.” Perhaps in an act of solidarity, members of the commonwealth countries which are mostly comprised of people of color started to speak out against the royal family, with Barbados removing the Queen as head of state. Some pundits share that not embracing Meghan, not protecting her, or standing behind her was a missed opportunity for the future of the monarchy as well as showing good favor with the commonwealth countries, to have a representative that looked like them. Once Harry and Meghan were officially gone from the royal family, they were again harassed by paparazzi and were informed that their security detail would shortly end. With such a scary thought looming about their safety and the rise of the Coronavirus pandemic, Harry made yet another decision to get his family out of Canada before the border closed due to the impending shutdown. Episode 6 The final episode of this series begins with Harry recording himself as he, Meghan, their kids, and Doria descend into Los Angeles, California. He refers to the flight as the “freedom flight.” We are then introduced to non-other than film director, writer, producer, and owner of the largest movie studio in the world, Tyler Perry. Perry admits that he’s not a royal watcher, however, after seeing the story of Thomas Markle’s posing for photos in exchange for money, he empathized with Meghan. Having gone through similar experiences and seeing how family members can change once you’ve reached a certain level of success, fame, or notoriety, Perry felt compelled to help the Duke and Duchess. After a candid and emotional conversation between Tyler and Meghan, he offered the family his house in Montecito, California, along with a security team for their safety. Six weeks of living in bliss were lost when their location was not only found but published by the Daily Mail. Once again, they were harassed by the paparazzi. As mentioned in episode five, Harry and Meghan sued the Daily Mail for publishing the letter she had written to her father. The Daily Mail argued that because People Magazine mentioned the letter in a previous article written about Meghan which was originally created by a few of her friends to help show the public who she really was as a person – that Meghan had given up any rights to the letter because she had authorized the article to be published (which she did not). What would normally be considered a proud moment (owning your own home) was not the case for Harry and Meghan. Meghan shares that the morning they woke up in their new home in Santa Barbara, California, she had miscarried her and Harry’s second child. As a coping mechanism, Meghan published an opinion editorial in the New York Times titled “The Losses We Share,” which detailed her experience as well as the experience of many women who have suffered a miscarriage. We then move forward to Archewell, the organization created by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to support their humanitarian efforts as well as future production projects. Settling into their new life in the U.S. Harry and Meghan continued their work in the humanitarian space as well as enjoying their newfound freedom. Meghan reveals during a walk to the beach that she is pregnant, the official announcement being released on the same day – thirty-seven years to the day Princess Diana announced she was pregnant with Harry. Now, we get to that famous or perhaps infamous (to some) interview with media mogul herself, Oprah Winfrey. Harry and Meghan share that the reason for doing the interview was to try and fill in the gaps that were being filled in for them as there was still lots of speculation on why exactly they left the royal family. There were many key takeaways from that interview – Meghan sharing her thoughts of suicide ideation – and their issues with the British media, but one of the major bombshells was the moment Meghan shared that while she was pregnant with Archie, there was a member of the institution who speculated and asked what the skin color of the baby might be and the concerns about that. We then see Harry head back to the UK to attend the funeral of his grandfather and husband to the Queen, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. A very pregnant Meghan stayed behind. Harry described his time being back in the UK as “hard,” and said that he spoke to both his father and brother about their recent issues but had to make peace with the reality that he would never get genuine accountability or an apology from them. Harry and Meghan went on to welcome their second child and first daughter, Lilibet on June 4, 2021. They asked Tyler Perry to be her Godfather which he accepted. The lawsuit mentioned earlier by Meghan towards the Daily Mail had finally reached an agreement with the judge ruling in Meghan’s favor. However, Associated Newspapers which owns the Daily Mail appealed the decision. A senior member of Prince William’s team came forward to provide a witness statement which wasn’t needed for the case, providing suspicion that perhaps he was told to do so by William. Regardless of the tactics, Meghan was once again victorious in court and won against the appeal. Harry says although he misses certain things about the institution, mostly the “weird family gatherings,” the UK, and his friends (some he admits he’s lost in the process); he outgrew his environment. He goes on to say he believes that he and Meghan are exactly where they’re meant to be and that they made it to the other side. We conclude the series with Meghan reading a speech she read at her and Harry’s wedding which is rare for a bride to do within the family, concluding with these two familiar words that have permeated the zeitgeist…love wins. Phew! I figured volume one of this docuseries was a slow buildup toward the explosive conclusion. In this second installment, we really get an in-depth look into the tumultuous relationship between Harry and Meghan and the British media. Throughout it all though, these two have remained steadfast in getting the truth out, sharing their story in their own words, and most importantly, never losing sight of what matters here which is the love they have for each other. Whether you like Harry and Meghan or not, you can’t really argue against everyone having the right to tell their own story.
What I loved about this series is not only did Harry and Meghan do just that, but they did it from a real and authentic place yet still managed to remain classy. This allowed me as a viewer to pay attention and hear what they were saying as opposed to focusing on their behavior or attitude. It’s clear that they simply wanted to set the record straight and refute the many stories being written about them that weren’t true. I always say that there’s no reason to always respond back to criticism, especially when it’s coming from people you don’t know unless that criticism threatens your life or your livelihood. That was definitely the case for the Duke and Duchess. It appears that they have now found peace (as best they can get it) in all the chaos as they move forward, focusing on their family and continued humanitarian and charity work. As they close this chapter and start writing the next, I hope their story is enough to start a real conversation about the effects of sensationalism and outrage that are used to fuel media engagement. As a journalist my goal is to always get to the truth of a situation – not to take from or add to – just get to the truth and tell it in its purest form. Let’s hope that tabloids, specifically those in the UK will reflect on this and make a vowel to be authentic in their reporting. Let’s also hope that the royal family will rectify the situation and make amends to Harry and especially Meghan and that moving forward, they don’t feel the need to feed such negative stories about their own family members just to protect the ones they like. If you haven’t watched the docuseries or had no interest in it, I highly implore you to give it a watch. The intricacies of how the media works are fascinating. This is a series about resilience, bravery, and most importantly, love. We see love exhibited throughout this entire story from Harry and Meghan – to Meghan’s friends toward her – to the legions of fans who support them. That love has sustained them and allowed them to weather the storm and as Harry said, “make it to the other side.” To quote Meghan as we close out this article…love wins. If you haven’t watched it by now (seriously, stop reading this, go watch, and then come back!) then you are missing out on a pretty interesting docuseries. On Thursday, December 8, 2022, Netflix released the new limited docuseries from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Simply titled “Harry and Meghan,” the 6-part series takes an in-depth look at the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The first three episodes start from the beginning, covering everything from the start of their courtship – to their engagement – and ends with the preparation of their wedding. Infused throughout the episodes, the couple discusses the challenges they’ve faced and continue to face with the British media and how they – Meghan in particular – have been portrayed. We also see never before seen photos throughout the course of their relationship, including images of their kids, Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1. In this special edition of Abron’s Hot Take (my first show review!) I’ll be discussing the series episode by episode. So, without further ado, let’s get into it… Episode 1 How exactly did the world’s most eligible bachelor come across Ms. Markle you may be wondering? Well, turns out it was the good old fashion way – social media. According to Harry, he saw a picture of Meghan while scrolling through his Instagram feed that captured his attention. A picture of Meghan behind a doggy filter was apparently so intriguing that Harry insisted on seeking her out. Meghan, who was enjoying the single life at the time with no intention of dating was made aware of the prince’s interest and after striking up a communication via email, she soon found herself in London for the Wimbledon tournament. The two met for drinks and hit it off (despite Harry being late) and had an immediate second date the very next day (Meghan was late this time). Recounting that time in the present day, Meghan described Harry as being “refreshingly fun,” which sparked mutual interest and set the wheels in motion for their courtship. Harry notes that when it comes to the men in his family and the process in which they’ve used to choose a wife, he says “there’s a temptation to marry someone who would fit in the mold as opposed to someone you’re destined to be with.” Further adding that those decisions are often made with your head instead of your heart and for him, his decision to choose Meghan was based solely on his heart. We then flashback to when Harry was born and as he grew older and started to realize who he was and what family he was born into, he also started to become weary of the constant attention and being followed by the press. That weariness was exacerbated by his mother – Princess Diana’s death in 1997, which occurred as she was trying to evade the paparazzi in Paris and was tragically killed in a car accident when he was just 12 years old. Harry shares that the treatment of his mother by the British media and the paparazzi was eerily similar to how Meghan was treated which ultimately led to their decision to leave the royal family and the UK altogether. But more on that in Vol.2. He also stated that because of the way his mom and past girlfriends were treated by the media and constantly followed that it made him apprehensive about sharing his relationship with Meghan with the public. The episode closes with both Harry and Meghan sharing that after they solidified their relationship and started to spend more time together, their lavender haze was soon ended when Prince William’s (Harry’s older brother), communications secretary notified them that their relationship would be going public in 24 hours. They decided to “pull the pin on the fun grenade,” and spent their last night of privacy enjoying a Halloween party with a close group of friends – including Harry’s cousin – Princess Eugenie, and her now husband, Jack Brooksbank. Harry refers to his relationship with Meghan as a “great love story,” and further notes that their story is “just getting started.” Episode 2 We meet Doria Ragland, Meghan’s mom. It’s her first-ever interview since being introduced to the public eye as a byproduct of her daughter’s relationship with Harry. Doria states “the last 5 years [referring to the fallout between Meghan and Harry and the royal family] have been challenging.” When the news broke that Harry and Meghan were dating, it was seemingly well-received as so many people were curious about the woman who had captured the prince’s heart. Vastly different from his previous girlfriends, Meghan was older, a divorcée, an American, an actress, and was of mixed race. The public found her fascinating. That fascination would soon turn to criticism. After one, innocent encounter with the paparazzi, Meghan shares that she received a call from Harry, telling her not to speak with the paparazzi as the UK media began running stories claiming that she liked the attention. From there, a snowball effect ensued where Meghan was constantly followed by paparazzi outside her house, her job (at this time she was still acting on the show Suits), and her face was plastered on every tabloid magazine. Flashing back to the past, episode two is where were learn more about Meghan’s background. Her parents divorced when she was two years old and she primarily lived with her mom and would visit her dad, Thomas Markle on weekends. Due to her mixed-race background (her mom is black, and her dad is white), she recounts experiences where strangers would question if her mother was her nanny because they didn’t look the same. Nevertheless, Meghan had a seemingly average upbringing. She excelled in school, had quite a few friends, and led a pretty normal life. She tells the story of her first experience with racism. After leaving a concert with her mom, Doria blew her horn at a white woman as a sign to move her car forward, the woman hurled a racial slur towards her. Meghan said she and her mom drove home in silence and never discussed the incident. Shocked, Meghan claims it was the first time she ever heard the slur used and that up until she moved to the UK, she had never been “treated as a black woman,” which is why she and her mom never discussed race. It’s a regret Doria says she wishes she could undo. We learn from Harry that within the first week that he and Meghan’s relationship became public, there were articles written about her with very clear racial undertones. Harry, in an attempt to defend his girlfriend and protect her, released an official statement to the press asking for the attacks and criticism to stop. In full transparency, Harry states that he thought he knew everything about race and unconscious bias; however, seeing how Meghan was being treated and portrayed in the media opened his eyes. Throughout all of the media chaos, Harry and Meghan stay committed to their relationship despite the long distance. They would communicate often and would squeeze in visits as much as their schedules allowed. Meghan eventually met Harry’s family – the royal family – including his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Although the family was impressed with Meghan in the beginning, Harry says the fact that she was an American actress clouded their judgment of her. Nonetheless, once getting approval from his grandmother, the Queen, Harry proposed to Meghan at Kensington Palace. We end the episode with the couple’s engagement photo op where Meghan says in voiceover that she was repeatedly told under numerous circumstances that things would get better with her and the press. She admits that not only did things not get better but that the press was determined to destroy her. Episode 3 Continuing where episode two ends, we see Harry and Meghan in the sit-down interview that immediately followed their engagement photo op. What we, the viewers at the time thought was a natural and authentic moment was described by Meghan as an “orchestrated reality show.” She explains that the entire process was rehearsed and that they were told what to do and how to do it. This was later explained in the episode as an obligation to “perform” for the media as the royals are expected to do. Even though the engagement process may have been orchestrated, the public excitement was not. Meghan, now living in the UK began her transition into becoming a member of the royal family and appeared to be beloved by the public. Perhaps one of the more fascinating parts of this episode was the explanation of the relationship between the royal family and the British media. An “unspoken contract,” between the institution of the royal family and the press is understood to be that because the taxpayers pay for the family’s lifestyle, they in return have to make themselves available to the press. The press then feels that it is their responsibility to bring private aspects of the lives of the royal family to the public regardless of if said aspects are factual or not. Described at the “Royal Rota,” this press pool gets priority access to stories about the royal family before any other media outlets. The organizations a part of the Rota cover any and all royal news no matter if it’s good or bad. They still get access as a benefit of being a part of the system. Most of the organizations are tabloids such as The Times, Daily Press, The Sun, The Telegraph, London Evening Standard, Daily Mirror, and The Daily Mail. The Royal Rota essentially owns the royal family, taking any opportunity to either celebrate or exploit them as they see fit. Whether you see it as tenacious or invasive, the British media stops at nothing to get any and all information they can on the royals and through whoever is willing to give said information. As was the case with Meghan’s paternal family – most notably, her father, Thomas, and her older half-sister, Samantha Markle. Meghan shared that Samantha, whom she didn’t know very well used the opportunity to tell stories about their relationship that weren’t true. Most notably, that she had raised Meghan. We learn that Samantha, in fact, has two children of her own that were raised by their father’s parents. One week before their wedding, Harry and Meghan were informed by the communications secretary that a story would soon be published that shows Meghan’s father had been staging photo ops with the press in exchange for payment. At the advisement of the secretary, Harry and Meghan made a call to her dad to have him explain the situation. Even though he told her the story wasn’t true, Meghan admits that after hanging up with her father, she didn’t believe him. Things began to unravel between Meghan and Thomas when he continued to talk to the press but not her directly whenever she would reach out to him by phone. Their relationship dissolved as a result and Thomas didn’t attend the wedding. Episode three ends with the lead-up to the big wedding. And that’s your recap of the Harry and Meghan docuseries, volume one. I personally think it was well done but then again, I’m a fan of documentaries or docuseries in general. I love the transparency from Harry and Meghan and the storytelling element of the series. Now, depending on what you believe, there are going to be some people who’ve already decided that the Duke and Duchess are liars and can’t be trusted and who will say they’re only doing this for money, attention, or both. Then you have the other side who loves them and will fully support every decision they make. Regardless, I encourage everyone to watch the series for themselves and then draw their own conclusions.
I look forward to seeing how the rest of this story plays out. See you next week for volume two! The Story On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, reality television stars Todd and Julie Chrisley were sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison for both bank fraud and tax evasion. The ruling comes after the couple was indicted in August 2019 with a new indictment that was filed in February of this year. AP News reports that the jury found the Chrisleys guilty back in June of this year of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans as well as conspiring to defraud the IRS and tax evasion. In addition, Julie Chrisley was convicted of wire fraud and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors argued that the Chrisleys submitted fake documents when applying for bank loans and that Julie submitted false credit reports and bank statements to rent a home for the family in California. An accountant for the couple, Peter Tarantino was also found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States and willfully filing false tax returns. The presiding judge over the case, Eleanor L. Ross issued the sentencing, giving Todd Chrisley 12 years in prison with three years of supervised release and Julie Chrisley 7 years in prison, also with three years of supervised release. Peter Tarantino was sentenced to three years in prison with three years of supervised release. Alex Little, the family’s attorney gave this statement to CNN about the ruling, “Yesterday was a difficult day for the Chrisley family. But Todd and Julie are people of faith, and that faith gives them strength as they appeal their convictions.” Todd and Julie share three children, Chase, 26, Savannah, 25, and Grayson, 16. Todd has two older children from a previous marriage with ex-wife Teresa Terry, Lindsie, 33, and Kyle, 31. Due to his battles with substance abuse, Todd and Julie have custody of Kyle’s daughter Chloe, 10, and are also grandparents to Lindsie’s son, Jackson. Savannah Chrisley shared in her podcast, “Unlocked,” that she will have custody of both Grayson and Chloe (actual custody agreements have not yet been disclosed), saying, “I come home Tuesday, and I have custody of a 16-year-old and a 10-year-old, and we spend our first Thanksgiving not as a family. I’m trying to navigate how you teach two younger children who aren’t fully developed yet and … get them to understand the circumstances. That’s a really, really difficult thing.” As it pertains to her family and what happens now due to the sentencing, she shares this, “I don’t know what my family’s fate is. I know that the short-term is going to be really painful and really difficult.” Abron’s Hot Take
I used to watch the Chrisley Knows Best reality show during the early seasons. I found the family intriguing and Todd specifically, to be very entertaining. Of course, as with most reality tv shows and personalities, I didn’t take the show seriously and always felt that the Chrisley family overexaggerated their wealth – because – no one looks at reality tv to watch regular people living their lives. We tune in for the drama and opulence to escape our own lives. But the harsh reality of it all is that reality tv is very rarely real. The word that comes to mind is “storyline.” Meaning, some of your favorite personalities that have dominated the popular form of entertainment are oftentimes acting out a contrived series of events in order to entertain the viewers and their fans. It’s also a way to “secure their spot” for future seasons of their respective show so they remain a regular presence. The sometimes made-up drama has proven quite addictive and even the most sophisticated individuals find themselves tuning in each week to see which housewife is fighting with whom. Or in the case of the Chrisleys, what wild or crazy southern idioms will Todd dole out to his family? Turns out my suspicions - albeit quiet - were pretty spot on as it pertains to the wealth of the Chrisley family. However, I never would’ve imagined that fraud would be involved, nor did I ever foresee prison sentences for the patriarch and matriarch of the family (talk about setting an example for your children). We all know by now or at least we should know that you don’t mess with the government. If anyone is going to get back their stolen money or ensure you pay the price for acquiring it illegally, it’s the IRS! You have to be pretty bold and narcissistic to think you could commit a crime of this caliber and not face the consequences. As the saying goes, you do the crime, you do the time as is such for Todd for Julie. I do remember hearing speculations years ago that the Chrisleys weren’t as wealthy as they portrayed themselves to be on their reality show so their need to lie, defraud banks, and acquire millions of dollars in loans to fund their lavish lifestyle of luxury cars, designer clothes, real estate, and travel makes sense for people like them. Keeping up with the Joneses is a very real thing. What will become of the Chrisley family is yet to be determined as that story is still being written. However, from what I’ve seen with reality stars and their past experiences with legal troubles, Todd and Julie will most likely bounce back with a redemption show. But will the public care enough by that time is the million or better yet, the $30 million dollar question? After nine seasons of telling audiences what’s best, it appears the Chrisleys don’t know what’s best after all. The Story On Sunday, September 25, 2022, international pop superstar and business mogul, Rihanna, 34, surprised her millions of fans around the world when she announced that she would be headlining next year’s Superbowl. This will be the first public performance by the singer since her Grammy performance back in 2018. Although fans seem to be excited about her return to the stage, the decision to headline isn’t without a little controversy. In 2019, during her interview with Vogue magazine, Rihanna unequivocally stated that she had turned down the NFL’s offer to perform during the halftime show in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick (former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers) who claimed he was being blackballed from playing football due to his kneeling during the national anthem in protest against police brutality against black people, “I couldn’t dare do that. For what? Who gains from that? Not my people. I just couldn’t be a sellout. I couldn’t be an enabler. There’s things within that organization that I do not agree with at all, and I was not about to go and be of service to them in any way.” This year’s Superbowl event is in partnership with Apple Music, replacing long-time primary partner, Pepsi. Oliver Schusser, Vice President for Apple Music and Beats said, “We’re excited to partner with Rihanna, Roc Nation and the N.F.L. to bring music and sports fans a momentous show.” The Superbowl is scheduled to take place on February 12, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. Eight days before the pop icon’s 35th birthday. On May 19, reports confirmed that Rihanna had given birth to her first child, a boy with boyfriend ASAP Rocky. Abron’s Hot Take
As a Rihanna fan, I’m super excited to see her return to what she has become well known for which is singing. I would imagine the hardest challenge she will have in preparing for this show is knowing which songs to perform as both her solo catalog as well as her feature songs have become some of the biggest hits in music history. How do you combine over a decade of music into a 15-minute show? I’m stressing out just thinking about it! But the main question I would ask Rihanna as I’m sure most journalists will should she decide to do any interviews leading up to the event is why now? What changed within her world that she now has agreed to do the halftime show after firmly standing against the idea after many offers? I don’t judge the decision, either way, I simply would just like to know why now? If I were a betting man, I would say that it could have something to do with the fact that her boss and mentor, Shawn Carter – known well by his stage name, Jay Z, 52, has served as the NFL’s “live music and entertainment strategist,” for the past three years through his Roc Nation sports division. Rihanna is both signed and managed by Roc Nation. Since 2019, Jay Z has consulted on the Superbowl halftime show, influencing the acts of mostly black artists to show solidarity with the NFL and its Inspire Change activism campaign. I would imagine having him as part of this event made the decision a bit easier for Rihanna to say yes. This year’s Superbowl halftime show, made up mostly of the top names in hip hop was not only well received by audiences, but it won the Emmy award for both Outstanding Variety Special (Live) and Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special. Jay Z signed Rihanna to her very first record deal under Def Jam records back in 2005 when he served as the labels President. He has since served as a mentor, friend, and music collaborator. One thing I can say for sure is regardless of how some people may feel about her decision to perform, whether they agree or not or have issues with the sudden about-face, or change of heart, the show will undoubtedly be watched by millions. Rihanna is a beloved superstar and has always been “unapologetic,” about who she is, and we love her for it. The Story In her recent interview spread with Elle magazine, supermodel, Gisele Bündchen, 42, shared her thoughts on her husband, NFL quarterback and seven-time Superbowl champion, Tom Brady’s career. In the article, she says, “Obviously, I have my concerns—this is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,” she adds, “I have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again. But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for [them]. He needs to follow his joy, too.” This interview, of course, was done prior to the start of the current football season when reports shared that Brady had missed eleven days of training camp, citing “personal reasons.” After announcing his decision to retire back in February of this year, Brady announced just two months later, that he would be unretiring and will play another season of professional football. At age 45, Brady is the oldest quarterback currently playing in the league. Although Bündchen seemed understanding of her husband and wanted him to find his joy and do what makes him happy, the decision by Brady to return to the sport has caused a few problems within the marriage. Sources claim that “Tom and Gisele are in a fight right now.” Additional sources add, “There’s been trouble in the marriage over his decision to un-retire. Gisele has always been the one with the kids. They had agreed he would retire to focus on the family, then he changed his mind.” It has also been reported that Gisele has moved out of the family home the two share in Tampa, FL after numerous arguments over Brady’s decision to continue to play the sport she deems “violent.” Bündchen was noticeably absent during Brady’s first game of the season opener; however, she shared her support for him on her Twitter page, tweeting, “Let’s go @TomBrady! Let’s go Bucs.” Brady plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gisele and Tom met in 2006 and married three years later in 2009. Together, they share two children, a son, Benjamin,13, and a daughter Vivian, 10. Gisele is also the stepmother to Brady’s oldest son, Jack, 15, from a previous relationship. Abron’s Hot Take
So, there’s obviously a breakdown in communication within this marriage. From what I’ve read and seen, I can deduce that clearly, both Tom and Gisele have had many discussions regarding his retirement from playing football. Gisele is right when she labels the sport violent because it is. There are many players throughout the history of the sport who have suffered life-altering injuries. Football has a very short shelf-life. I’m also sensing that Tom’s decision to unretire was something he didn’t consult with Gisele about and instead, he made the choice on his own and told her later as an afterthought. Reneging on a promise you make to anyone, especially your spouse is extremely problematic, and Tom looks very selfish right now. In an interview Tom gave to Howard Stern in 2020, he shared that a few years back, Gisele basically told him that she didn’t think he was doing his part in the family, “She felt like I would play football all season and she would take care of the house. She wasn’t satisfied with our marriage. So, I needed to make a change in that. Her point was, ‘Well, yeah, of course, this works for you. It all works for you. But it doesn’t work for me.” I understand loving something so much and being passionate about it that you never want to let it go. Especially if you’re really good at it. However, Tom has nothing left to prove. He has won many Superbowl championships, is the most recognizable face and name in the league and has been nicknamed the G.O.A.T (Greatest of all Time) of quarterbacking and has cemented himself and left an indelible mark on the sport. At his age, he should be considering retirement and taking on one of those nice and cushy sports analyst jobs at ESPN. Why he wants to continue to be on the field, having younger, and stronger players slamming into him and risking possible concussions is lost on me. I’ll tell you one thing – it’s better to retire on your own rather than be forced to due to an injury that permanently removes you altogether. Personally, I think Tom is seeking another championship and ring considering the Buccaneers didn’t make it to the Superbowl this year. I think his ego plays a part in this as well. We should also note that in that same interview Gisele did with Elle magazine, she also stated as it pertains to Tom and his career, “I’ve done my part, which is [to] be there for [Tom]. I moved to Boston, and I focused on creating a cocoon and a loving environment for my children to grow up in and to be there supporting him and his dreams. Seeing him succeed and being fulfilled in his career—it makes me happy.” There’s a reason why marriage is only relegated to two people. With two differing personalities deciding to share their lives together, with all the complexities that come with it, there isn’t much room for anything else. One thing is clear – Tom seems to love his wife, but he is 'in love' with the game of football, and vacillating on which to choose is a battle he most likely won’t win. Either way, nobody wins. If he retires before he wants to, he will become bitter – perhaps even resentful towards Gisele for forcing his hand and if he continues to play, it will push Gisele further way – a process that has seemingly already started. |
AuthorWelcome to my Blog! Here, we'll discuss some of the biggest hot topics in Hollywood involving some of your favorite celebrities. I'll be sharing my honest thoughts and opinions and giving you and in-depth perspective with full context. This space is designed to not only share news permeating the pop-culture space, but to also inspire deep thought and conversation that is as insightful as it is entertaining. Feel free to leave your comments and let's discuss! Archives
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