The first trailer for the Salt-N-Pepa biopic aired on Lifetime this weekend, and let's just say some are a little more excited for the upcoming limited series than others. The three-hour saga exploring how the ground-breaking hip hop group came to be was first announced last March, much to the excitement of longtime fans. However, when the cast for the biopic was revealed in November, many were disappointed and even outraged about the actresses chosen to portray Cheryl James ("Salt") and Sandra Denton ("Pepa"). Fans were quick to point out that GG Townson and Laila Odom look nothing like Salt and Pepa (respectively), and after the first official trailer aired during the debut of The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, not much has changed in the way of public opinion.
Some have taken to just straight up criticizing the quality of the production, saying that it looks cheap.
There are still others, however, who are stoked for the series.
Salt-N-Pepa: The Movie Event chronicles the legendary female rap group's rise to fame, from their days as nursing students at Queensborough Community College in New York City to meeting aspiring music producer Hurby “Luvbug” Azor. Denton and James both serve as executive producers for the authorized biopic, which has been helmed by actor-director Mario Van Peebles. There is currently no official release date. Watch the full trailer below:
"Surviving Jeffrey Epstein" Gets Green Lit By Lifetime
Another Epstein-related series is on the way.
Following the success of Surviving R. Kelly, Lifetime has ordered a four-hour documentary series titled Surviving Jeffrey Epstein.
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According to Variety, the network made the announcement during the Television Critics Association winter press tour on Saturday.
Anne Sundberg and Ricki Stern will direct. The two have previously collaborated on 2010’s Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, 2007’s The Devil Came on Horseback and more. The series will be released through Emmy-winner Robert Friedman’s Bungalow Media + Entertainment. Shura Davidson and Gena McCarthy will executive produce. Christopher Mason, contributor for The New York Times and New York Magazine, is also attached.
In July 2019, Epstein was arrested on federal charges for sex trafficking minors. For Epstein’s numerous connections to higher-ups in Washington D.C., including the Clintons, the case gained widespread media attention.
Epstein died of an apparent suicide in his prison cell; however, his death has been the subject of popular conspiracy theories including murder.
Adam McKay is also working on a separate Epstein-related limited series for HBO. That series will be based on Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie K. Brown’s book. All criminal charges were dropped on August 29, 2019, as his death eliminates the possibility he faces punishment.
Surviving Jeffrey Epstein is expected to air this summer.
Tupac & Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes "Never Had Sex," But She & Suge Knight Did
The "Hopelessly In Love" documentary is airing out all kinds of dirty laundry.
The documentary series, Hopelessly In Love, which first aired on on Lifetime January 4th, has revealed plenty about famous celebrity couples of the past, including the tumultuous relationship between the late TLC rapper, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and football star, Andre Rison, in the 90s. Among the details shared, the truth about Lisa's suspected affair with Tupac, who was friends with Andre, is brought to light, as well as a surprising revelation about Lisa and Tupac's boss at the time, Suge Knight.
View this post on InstagramThe documentary discusses how Lisa and Andre were in an "on-and-off relationship," and would "fight often" and "break up for months." All parties, including Andre, wholeheartedly agree that Lisa was in love with Tupac, calling him "her soulmate" and noting that "if Tupac was willing to go there, then Lisa would have definitely dated [him]." However, despite countless suspicions over the years, everyone in the documentary confirms that Lisa never slept with Tupac. Though Andre, who "knew how Lisa felt about Pac," claimed that "Lisa would always deny that she slept with Pac, and I still didn't believe it," another interviewee insists that "Tupac told Lisa in the very beginning, 'Never let me sleep with you,' and they stood by that."
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However, after Tupac's death in 1996, "Lisa was devastated." Though she and Andre got engaged, she quickly called off the wedding, and the two went their separate ways for good. When Lisa wanted to leave TLC and go in her own creative direction, she approached Suge Knight at Death Row Records, and they started working together. However, Suge reveals that their relationship was more than just professional. "...it was a sexual relationship, I had major love for her...I cared for her," he revealed. Andre confirms that Lisa "had relations with Suge...and that's just messy." Messy, indeed.
Azriel Clary Is "Trying To Focus On [Herself]" & Confirms She’s Moved Out Of Chicago
She said she still speaks with Joycelyn Savage every day.
R. Kelly's rumored girlfriend Azriel Clary seems to be living her best life. When she was just a teen, Azriel left her parents in order to live with Kelly. The young, aspiring singer met Kelly at one of his shows, and before anyone knew it, Azriel cut off her parents and remained dedicated to the music icon. She reportedly lived with Kelly and the singer's other girlfriend, Joycelyn Savage, until recently after she moved out of their Trump Tower apartment. As Kelly remains behind bars for what may be indefinitely, Azriel is hitting the ground running as she's carving out her career as a social media star.
It's strange for the public to watch Azriel go from a young woman who avoided the media and public at all costs while Kelly was free to someone who shares their life incessantly now that he's behind bars. The Surviving R. Kelly Part Two: The Reckoning series that recently aired on Lifetime has placed Azriel back in the spotlight, and it seems as if this time around she's capitalizing off of the exposure.
On Monday, Azriel hopped on Instagram Live, according to The Blast, to share with her 51K followers that she's "so happy" while she's busy making "boss moves." Viewers tried questioning her about her music career, asking if she would be hitting the studio anytime soon. The question seemed to have struck a nerve because she reportedly didn't appreciate being asked about it.
She did confirm that she'd moved out of Chicago and said she didn't have any friends in the state she now resides in. Azriel also said she's "trying to focus on myself" and wouldn't give any details on where she's currently living. Although she and Joycelyn are no longer in the same place, Azriel stated that she "talks to her every day, to make sure she’s okay." Expectedly, she didn't answer any of the viewers' questions about her family or anything relating to Kelly. Meanwhile, she recently shared a video suggesting she'd bought a home. You can check that out below.
Faith Evans Is Upset About Lifetime’s Doc On Her & Biggie’s Relationship
Faith Evans isn’t exactly appreciating the way it turned out.
An upcoming episode of Lifetime’s Hopelessly In Love exploring the relationship between Faith Evans and Biggie Smalls is set to debut soon but it appears those closest to the late rapper aren’t feeling the outcome of the documentary. Speaking to PageSix, Faith Evans blasted Lifetime for the “sensational” doc, claiming that the documentary didn’t turn out the way they pitched it to her.
“I feel upset that I’m attached to it. I was told that it would be a positive piece with a little more of my personal background. It wasn’t pitched to me as a story rehashing the sensationalized events that took place,” she said. “I am beyond that and have no need to open old wounds, damage repaired relationships and, above all, soil the legacy of Christopher Wallace.”
The trailer was released a week and a half ago with the episode airing on Jan. 10th. Mind you, the trailer seems a bit more dramatic than what it appears, especially given Faith’s statements surrounding it. She added that Lifetime is messy for the series, especially when it comes to the stories about Tupac and Lil Kim — topics she feels has been covered time and time again.
“Ms. Wallace is pissed,” Evans continued. Everyone was blindsided. She has worked very hard for his legacy to be acknowledged in a more positive light. He’s nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This [doc] is taking steps backward.”
You likely won’t see her promoting it on social media either. She added, “It’s about my morals. I would never do business I’m not proud of at this point in my career. I’m not happy.”
Dame Dash Says Aaliyah "Was Happy To Be Away" From R. Kelly After Marriage Ended
He also couldn't believe there wasn't more outrage about their union.
Lifetime's Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning hasn't even aired yet and it's already shaping up to be more controversial than the first series. As disgraced singer R. Kelly sits in jail as a number of state and federal cases are being prepared against him, Lifetime has been speaking to those who claimed to have been in Kelly's inner circle. On Surviving R. Kelly, producers chatted with a number of women who claimed to have been victimized by Kelly over the years, including his ex-wife Drea Kelly. For this second go-round with The Reckoning, Drea doesn't want her name or likeness affiliated with the documentary.
"I'm not happy with the aftercare and how the victims and survivors were handled throughout this entire process," she's stated. "They have a lawsuit coming their way because I told them, I vehemently—I will not, will not be apart of, in any shape, form or fashion... I will not put my name on this documentary."
Now, TMZ claims they have a clip from the forthcoming series that features Dame Dash. Kelly's former tour manager has recently stated that he helped the late Aaliyah obtain a fake ID when she was just 15-years-old so that she could marry Kelly. The singer was 27-years-old when he and Aaliyah exchanged vows in a hotel back in 1994. In December 2019, it was reported that Kelly would face charges of bribery in connection with receiving Aaliyah's false identification.
Dame reportedly told The Reckoning producers that his former girlfriend was just happy to be rid of Kelly after their marriage was annulled. "Aaliyah was like, the sacrificial lamb for all that 'cause she didn't deserve none of that," Dame said. "Good soul. Good girl and wasn't even so resentful like, let that man live but just keep him the f*ck away from me. That's all she wanted. She was just happy to be away."
"And you know, I know the whole story," Dame added. "You know what I'm sayin'? I know it was the cover-up and all of that. But how did that cover it up? It just made the conversation, 'Oh, he married a child?' So how you still—that was a headline! That was like, a rumor. That was something talked about like it was normal. It wasn't like, 'Ew disgusting, you married a 13-year-old.' It was like, 'Oh, he married Aaliyah?' She's 13!" The interviewer corrects him and stated Aaliyah was 15 at the time of her marriage to Kelly. Dame said to him it's the same thing, but the interviewer replied he just wanted to make sure the music mogul was accurate.
"I don't have to be accurate 'cause I don't care," Dame said. "Fifteen, thirteen, anything under eighteen is disgusting, you know what I mean?That's still a child." Click here to watch the clip.
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