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Celebrities React to Guilty Verdict In George Floyd Case

Celebrities React to Guilty Verdict In George Floyd Case

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been found guilty in the killing of George Floyd.

After almost a month of the trial and ten hours of deliberation, the jury came to their verdict on the case.

Derek was charged on three counts and found guilty on all three. He has been charged with second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Many people were tuned in to find out the results and right after all counts were revealed, social media blew up with the words “guilty” and “justice.”

Click inside to see celebrity reactions to the verdict… More Here! »

Bernadette Beck Opens Up About How 'Riverdale' Fails Black Characters & Actors

Bernadette Beck Opens Up About How 'Riverdale' Fails Black Characters & Actors

Bernadette Beck is the latest actress to speak out about Riverdale amidst the Black Lives Matter movement.

The 26-year-old actress has been playing the character Peaches ‘N Cream on the hit CW series throughout seasons three and four.

Bernadette opened up in a new interview with Elle about how the series is failing Black characters.

“I was made out to be a very unlikable character and therefore, an unlikable person in people’s eyes,” she said. “I get it, there’s always a protagonist and antagonist, but I never had much of a story plot or enough character development to even be considered an antagonist… I was, for no reason, depicted in a very negative, unattractive light. And I’m not the first Black actress to show up on set, stand there, chew gum, and look sassy and mean. I feel like I was just there to fulfill a diversity quota. It’s just to fulfill points.”

She also shared that she was been quite literally forgotten about on set.

“I was completely forgotten in the scene more than once,” Bernadette says. “The director [would] be walking off set and I’d have to chase them down because I had no idea where to stand, what to do—I just hadn’t been given any instruction. You can’t treat people like they’re invisible and then pat yourself on the back for meeting your diversity quota for the day.”

“I didn’t understand when I first got on that show that it meant something for your character to be likable,” she continued. “Some people say it’s just a TV show, but I’m thinking about the implications long-term. If we are depicted as unlikable or our characters are not developed or we’re looked at as the enemy all the time, that affects our public persona. What kind of opportunities are we losing out on even after Riverdale? Our white co-stars are getting all this screen time and character development. They’re building up their following, generating more fans, selling out at conventions, and fans have more of an emotional connection with them. But if we don’t necessarily get that, and we’re looked at with disdain, what does that do to us and how does that stain our reputation moving forward?”

“When you’re in it, you’re going through the motions and you’re like, ‘Oh great, I finally get to be utilized!’” she said. “But when I saw it all put together, it made my character seem like she was down for anything.”

In case you missed it, Vanessa Morgan has also previously spoken about Riverdale, and the show’s creator/showrunner has vowed to make some changes.

Find out what another Black actress shared about how the show treated Black characters

Zendaya Talks Being a Light-Skinned Black Actress In Hollywood

Zendaya Talks Being a Light-Skinned Black Actress In Hollywood

Zendaya is opening up about not only being a young Black actress, but a light skinned Black actress in Hollywood.

The 23-year-old Euphoria star recently took part in a roundtable discussion with Variety, and other actresses, including Reese Witherspoon, Janelle Monae, and Jennifer Aniston.

During the discussion, Zendaya was asked if she still stands by when she said to her reps, “Even if the part calls for a white girl, put me up for it, get me in the room.”

“Absolutely. I also think it’s important being a light-skinned woman to recognize my privilege in that sense as well and make sure that I’m not taking up space where I don’t need to,” Zendaya said.

“I think that’s been a choice for myself. Our creator [Sam Levinson] wrote Rue based off his own experiences with addiction and he is a white man, so Rue could have been that. Rue had no description,” she continued. “So, I’m very grateful and hopefully I’ll be in a space like these ladies where I can create things and make space for women who look like me and women who don’t look like me. That’s the ultimate goal, to make room, [because] for a lot of Black creatives, it’s not a lack of talent but a lack of opportunity.”

Zendaya also opened up about the pressure she faces.

“I think, like a lot of artists, I’m my biggest critic, so some of it was internal — not wanting to make a mistake or worrying that maybe I didn’t have the room to make a mistake and wanting to make the right next move. But I also wanted to prove myself,” she said. “When Euphoria came along, I was very grateful because all those fears melted away and I felt like it was something that I had to be a part of. So, the fear became just, like, push yourself. If you go to work and you’re scared, that’s a good thing. You should be worried about whether you can do it.”

“It’s a constant thing. Being a young Disney actor, that’s one level, being a young Black woman is one level, and then being very hard on myself is another level. It’s also just a personal fear. I want to do a good job, and sometimes that can cause you to be fearful of things,” Zendaya added.

Shay Mitchell Talks Raising a Biracial Child During Black Lives Matter Movement

Shay Mitchell Talks Raising a Biracial Child During Black Lives Matter Movement

Shay Mitchell is opening up about raising her biracial daughter Atlas.

The Dollface actress recently shared that she is already teaching her eight-month-old daughter about activism amid the Black Lives Matter movement.

“We’re reading books, one of her nighttime books is A Is for Activist. We’re starting her right now because I think it’s so important to educate them at a young age so they know that truly no matter what you look like, you deserve to love and be loved without judgment, be all and end all and that’s it,” Shay told ET. “Especially coming from a mixed family herself. I hope it’s in our generation and I really pray that it’s in hers as well that there will be a huge change and I slowly see it right now.”

She also dished on teaching Atlas to be an avid hand washer.

“We have started already. It’s part of her nighttime routine. She’s touching everything, putting everything in her mouth, so you want to start them as early as possible,” she said. “It’s part of the time she goes to bed, we’re like, ‘It’s time to wash your hands.’ I sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice over. I may or may not do a little dance, it’s a whole routine, but she’s certainly laughing the whole time, and it’s definitely something she’ll look back on, hopefully with fond memories.”

If you missed it, see what Shay said about marrying her partner Matte Babel, and the possibility of having another child.

Viral Sensation Keedron Bryant Signs With Warner Records, Drops First Single 'I Just Wanna Live'

Viral Sensation Keedron Bryant Signs With Warner Records, Drops First Single 'I Just Wanna Live'

Keedron Bryant went viral with a video of him singing “I Just Wanna Live” in response to racial injustice and the Black Lives Matter movement and now he’s signed a record deal!

The 12-year-old has signed with Warner Records and released his first single, the full version of his viral hit.

You can watch Keedron‘s original viral video HERE, which has garnered attention from many celebs including Lupita Nyong’o, LeBron James, Eva Longoria and Janet Jackson.

“I Just Wanna Live” was written by Keedron‘s mom, Johnetta Bryant, and produced by Dem Jointz, with 100% of net profits going to the NAACP.

Amazon will also donate $1 for every stream of the song on Amazon Music through 9pm PT tonight to the NAACP, up to $50,00. Get to streaming on Amazon Music right here!!


Keedron Bryant – ‘I Just Wanna Live’

Taylor Swift Voices Support for Juneteenth Being a National Holiday

Taylor Swift Voices Support for Juneteenth Being a National Holiday

Taylor Swift has been very vocal on social issues lately and she’s speaking out about the importance of Juneteenth.

If you didn’t know, Juneteenth marks the day that slaves in Texas found out they were free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had formally freed them.

The 30-year-old singer shared an article from The Root that included a video of the history of the holiday.

“Happy Juneteenth! I want to thank @TheRoot and @RhapsoDani for allowing me to post this video about the significance of today, June 19th, and why it should be celebrated as a National holiday,” Taylor tweeted right after the stroke of midnight on June 19.

Taylor continued, “Personally, I’ve made the decision to give all of my employees June 19th off in honor of Freedom Day from now on, and to continue to educate myself on the history that brought us to this present moment.”

“For my family, everything that has transpired recently gives us an opportunity to reflect, listen, and reprogram any part of our lives that hasn’t been loudly and ferociously anti-racist, and to never let privilege lie dormant when it could be used to stand up for what’s right,” she concluded.

Last week, Taylor spoke out against statues of racist historical figures and said that she doesn’t think that states should replace any of the ones torn down by protesters.

Lonnie Chavis Opens Up About Experiences With Racism On & Off Set

Lonnie Chavis Opens Up About Experiences With Racism On & Off Set

Lonnie Chavis is detailing his experiences with racism.

The 12-year-old This Is Us actor wrote a letter sharing what he’s gone through in life, and being a young black actor in Hollywood.

“My life matters, but does it? America paints a very clear picture of how I should view myself. America shows me that my Blackness is a threat, and I am treated as such. I actually didn’t learn about being Black and what that would mean for me until I was 7 years old,” he wrote in an essay for People. ” I thought I was a peach man, so my parents educated me on being a Black man really quick with long talks, books and movies like Amistad and Malcolm X. I was overwhelmed with confusion, fear and sadness. I had to lean on my faith in Christ for hope, protection and understanding.”

“Being a young Black boy in Hollywood made it even more fearful. I can recall the time when I realized there are not a lot of people that look like me on these Hollywood sets and asked my mom where all the Black people were,” he continued. “I also remember being invited to events but then being treated very poorly by security or entrance checkers, like I wasn’t supposed to be there, until I had a publicist to announce me. I think of going to Hollywood events with other actors and actresses where I was constantly asked if I’m the boy from Black-ish or the boy from Stranger Things. I guess we all look alike since we are all Black. Can you imagine being confused for any other Black kid just because you all share the same profession? I can.”

“I can recall a time on set when I started crying listening to an actor portray a racist grandmother toward my character. The director and writers told me that they didn’t need me to cry for the scene. However, it was hard for me not to cry as I witnessed what I had just learned was my reality. I wasn’t acting, I was crying for me,” Lonnie said about an experience on set.

“If you don’t understand what’s going on in the world, then understand this: This is what the world looks like for me. A 12-year-old Black boy. This is my America,” Lonnie concluded. “Policies need to change, laws need to change, the police need to change, Hollywood needs to change, hearts need to change, America needs to change. Change has got to happen for unarmed Black citizens to not live in fear of being murdered. Can you imagine being me in 2020 and wondering what the future holds? I can’t.”

See Lonnie Chavis‘ full essay on People.com!