Netflix angers black subscribers with targeted posters
Some subscribers see Chiwetel Ejiofor on the poster for ‘Love Actually’ despite the British actor only having a minor role in the film
Netflix has been accused of using “intrusive” advertising tactics to mislead subscribers based on their ethnicity.
When browsing content on Netflix, the streaming service will make suggestions on what to watch next based on your viewing habits.
However, black users have noticed that the images being used to promote certain films will include black actors, even if those actors only have minor roles.
One example is Love Actually. While the Richard Curtis film features an ensemble cast, with Hugh Grant as top billing, some viewers are seeing Chiwetel Ejiofor on the film’s Netflix thumbnail despite the British actor only having a minor role (he does not feature on the theatrical poster).
Similarly, the streaming service is promoting their original series The Good Cop, a murder mystery, with black characters front and centre on the thumbnail; the series’ principal cast are majority white.
On Twitter, writer Stacia L Brown pointed out how the poster for the Kelsey Grammer and Kristen Bell-starring Like Father was appearing with two black actors on the thumbnail.
“Other Black Netflix users: does your queue do this? Generate posters with the Black cast members on them to try to compel you to watch?” she wrote.
“This film stars Kristen Bell/Kelsey Grammer and these actors had maaaaybe a 10 cumulative minutes of screen time. 20 lines between them, tops.”
Tolani Shoneye, who hosts The Receipts Podcast, told The Guardian: “It’s intrusive. It’s the dark side of marketing. I noticed it a while ago with a Zac Efron film that I’d already seen, but Netflix kept showing me it as a Michael B Jordan movie.”
She continued: “There was 30 minutes of a romcom I ended up watching last week because I thought it was about the black couple I was shown on the poster. I want to see those stories. They know I want to see those stories. Why don’t they just make more of them?”
Netflix found that displaying certain images to people, depending on their viewing habits, they were more likely to watch a certain film or TV show. They introduced multiple images to promote a single film last December.
Tim Harrington, a senior broadcast research analyst, said: “Netflix’s recommendation engine is second to none, and works almost seamlessly in the background.
“But the algorithm for targeted artwork is shown as downright clunky when, say, [some] users are offered artwork for ITV’s Lewis with black actors despite both leads and almost the entire cast being white.
“Netflix knows a lot about you, perhaps even race, but their understanding of what to do with this information is currently rudimentary.”
Netflix responded to accusations of basing posters on a subscriber’s ethnicity by saying: “We don’t ask members for their race, gender or ethnicity so we cannot use this information to personalise their individual Netflix experience. The only information we use is a member’s viewing history.”
Article via Independent
‘Willy Wonka’ actress Diana Sowle dies at 88
Diana Sowle, who played Charlie Bucket’s mother in the beloved 1971 film “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory,” has died at 88.
Sowle’s representative confirmed to BBC News and Yahoo that the actress passed away Friday morning surrounded by family.
“She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and will be dearly missed,” said a statement released by the rep.
Sowle made her onscreen debut in “Willy Wonka” as Mrs. Bucket, famously singing “Cheer Up Charlie” in one memorable scene.
“It’s nice that it’s still so popular, and the reason I think it’s so popular is — if you’re a parent, you can send your child to that movie, there’s no violence, there’s no bad language and no sex,” she told the Baltimore Sun in 2015 about the enduring popularity of “Willy Wonka.” “And kids love the thought of going to a chocolate factory and someone wins the golden ticket and they have all these bad kids and good kids, and the bad kids lose out because they try to grab (everything) for themselves.”
Speaking about the film more than 40 years after its original release, Sowles poked fun at the fact that Charlie took his Grandpa Joe to Willy Wonka’s factory instead of his mother.
“Charlie should’ve taken his mom,” she told the newspaper. “He should’ve said, ‘Oh, that’s wonderful. Now I can buy my mother a beautiful dress!’ Never happened.”
She was one of the last living adult cast members from the beloved film. Her co-star Gene Wilder, who played Willy Wonka, died in 2016 of complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
“We’d be working on a scene…and he would be coming in to film another scene, and he would join us on a lunch break and we’d have lunch,” Sowle told a public-access TV station from her home in Laurel, Maryland, about her time working with Wilder.
“He was so nice, he never acted like, ‘Oh I’m a bigger star than the rest of you’, he was always friendly and courteous and funny and told nice stories. I’m very sorry he passed away because I think he was a great talent and I think he was liked by many, many people.”
Sowle also appeared in the films “Clear And Present Danger” and “Guarding Tess,” both of which premiered in 1994.
Article via USAToday
DJ Khaled opens up about Jay-Z and Beyoncé, his son Asahd and his recent Jordan Brand collaboration
Whether he’s rocking stadiums across the U.S. with Jay-Z and Beyoncé, in the studio producing the follow-up to his many hit records (“Wild Thoughts” featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller, anyone?) or running his record label, We the Best Music Group, Khaled Mohamed Khaled — better known as DJ Khaled — always has something new to share with his fans and followers.
And that’s what the Grammy-nominated mega-producer and WW (formerly Weight Watchers) spokesman was doing late last month in L.A. at Shoe Palace on Melrose Avenue, promoting a sneaker collaboration with Nike’s Jordan Brand. For the occasion, Khaled dressed for comfort in a white Air Jordan tracksuit and he couldn’t help but mention how his royal blue shoes — Air Jordan IIIs originally released in 1988 — stood out against the white fabric that went to his ankles.
“Even though I’m not a basketball player,” Khaled said, “Michael Jordan inspired me to be great. He represents greatness.”
The footwear event gave Khaled, who has more than 12 million Instagram followers, a chance to spend time with fans as well as his celebrity friends, including Mark Wahlberg and Busta Rhymes. He also took questions from Joe La Puma, host of Complex’s “Sneaker Shopping” series, during the appearance.
Khaled’s fans turned out by the dozens, lining the block outside the store for a chance to meet him and purchase DJ Khaled X Jordan hoodies and tees (available at wethebeststore.com), which came with a voucher to download his forthcoming “Father of Asahd” album.
A promo ad seen ahead of Khaled’s big footwear reveal — he’s releasing two limited-edition pairs of IIIs (one style in blue leather, the other in blue suede) — featured him comically dribbling and then dunking on what appeared to be a shorter-than-NBA-regulation basketball rim. (The blue kicks also match his blue Rolls-Royce.)
His Jordan-style intensity, however, manifests itself when he’s creating new songs or performing. “I’m like that onstage and in the studio,” Khaled said. “I go hard. No days off.”
Article via LATimes
Check out Lovelyti’s video:
DJ Khaled says he will EAT anything EXCEPT his wife!~ “There are different rules for men”
Kim Kardashian Credits Kanye West With Making Her Crave Fame Less
I guess Kanye has filled the void within Kim…
Video via ETOnline
Cardi B Shows Off Incredibly Flat Stomach While Asking Fans for This Piece of Post-Baby Advice
Cardi B is taking questions about her post-baby body to social media.
The 26-year-old rapper and new mom took to Instagram on Friday to share a pic of herself showing off her impressively flat stomach after giving birth. While she definitely looked proud of her hard work in the gym — flaunting her abs in a sports bra and track pants and striking a fierce pose with her hands on her hips — there’s still one aspect of her body that she’d like to work on.
“Ladies how do you guys get rid of the black line in the middle of your stomach after giving birth?? cause b**ch????,” Cardi wrote.
The line is called the pregnancy line, according to the American Pregnancy Association, and is usually caused by changing hormones. The line is pretty common and usually fades away on its own shortly after birth.
Fans were quick to jump in with their own advice, suggesting Cardi use cocoa butter and a variety of oils, while other celeb moms, like Tamar Braxton and Jessica Alba, told the rapper that it’s all about “time.”
Cardi has been candid about her experience with motherhood and everything that comes with it since she gave birth to daughter Kulture in July.
“She broke my vagina,” she hilariously claimed during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday.
“Why does nobody tell you about those things? Nobody told me they were gonna stitch my vagina!” she said. “People just be like, ‘Oh, when you give birth, it’s gonna hurt.’ But nobody tells you [the real truth].”
Article via ETOnline
Katt Williams Unloads on Ex Hazel-E, Dubs Her an Ugly Atheist Who Hates Her Blackness
At one time, Katt Williams and Hazel-E were a happy couple, but not anymore.
Thursday, the 47-year-old comedian hurled a bunch of insults at the former reality star and said she was ugly, an atheist, and didn’t like being Black. Katt also talked about Hazel’s ex-boyfriend, who he said is just a teenager with a lengthy criminal past.
“Remember she showed up with that little boy that was like 19?” he said on Instagram Live! “That n—- was a full fledged killer, and she had that n—- out here on motherf—–’ red carpets and sh– with a bow tie on? If you don’t get 17 felonies the f— up out of the ‘Littlefoot’ premiere. You crossed the line.”
Katt and Hazel began dating in 2014 and split two years later when Katt’s home was raided by the police. Hazel said she was incredibly shaken by the incident and left the comedian immediately afterward.
But Katt said he was the one who ended things, because Hazel didn’t believe in God.
“Truthfully, that’s why I left her,” he claimed. “The b—- is a god d-mn atheist. I told her ‘Before God, I was the king of the n—–.’ This b-tch said ‘I don’t believe in God or n—–.’ I said ‘B-tch, if you don’t get your satanic, demonic, I-wanna-be-a-cracker in the face ass up outta here. I will call down the ghost of Sojourner Truth to walk up your motherf—– street. What in the Harriet Tubman is this light skinned ugly b-tch talking about? How the f— is you light skin and ugly?”
But arguably the most scathing part of Katt’s message is when he accused the former “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood” star of receiving money to fulfill sexual fetishes in Dubai.
“Hazel-E was ugly while I was f——g the b-tch,” stated Katt. “Soon as I leave, the b-tch nose is crooked. She got a under and over bite. The b—- is in Dubai getting sh– on. I love it. Fellas, if your woman goes to Dubai, you know how cleanliness is next to Godliness? Well say Du-bye to that b-tch. They giving them b-tches 10 racks to sh– on them.”
Hazel has yet to respond to Katt’s message.
Article via AtlantaBlackStar
Check out some Lovelyti videos:
Full break down of the Wanda Smith, Katt Williams, Kevin Hart & Tiffany Haddish DRAMA!! #receipts
Hazel-E takes time to ONLY APOLOGIZE to the Gay community then goes off on Mona Scott-Young
Kim Kardashian Admits Kanye’s Pro-Trump Stance Has Its Benefits
Hmm, Kim, do tell…
Despite Kanye West and President Trump’s increasingly chummy (and just plain baffling) relationship, West’s wife, Kim Kardashian, has spoken out numerous times about how she doesn’t agree with his political ideology. She previously said, for instance, how she “cried” and “fought” over West’s comments about slavery, and also asserted that West isn’t well-informed about the intricacies surrounding Trump’s administration. However, in a new interview with Richardson magazine, Kardashian admitted the men’s relationship has afforded her opportunities that wouldn’t be otherwise possible, so she’s just going to keep her head down and try to do good.
“I am aware that Kanye speaking out in favor of Trump got me through the door — got him to pick up my call,” Kardashian explained. “I’ve always had different opinions than Kanye. But when I went there, and when I saw what could be done, I realized that I could get more done if I just stayed focused on the issue I was passionate about instead of complaining.” While not directly naming it, Kardashian was referring to her White House meeting with Trump about prison reform earlier this year, where Kardashian plead her case to grant clemency to Alice Johnson — a 63-year-old who was sentenced to life in prison without parole for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense. Trump pardoned Johnson a week later, but not before the meme factory churned out some content to forever immortalize the tête-à-tête.
Article via Vulture
Dozens more infant corpses found as Detroit police widen investigation of funeral homes
Detroit Police Chief James Craig announced a “wide probe” into Michigan funeral homes Friday, after hidden caches of baby corpses were allegedly discovered at two unrelated businesses inside a week.
“This is deeply disturbing,” Craig said at a news conference, hours after police raided Perry Funeral Home and allegedly seized 63 fetus or infant bodies, more than half of which were packed together in unrefrigerated boxes. “We want to understand the reasons: Is it financial gain? If so, how? Who knew or who else is involved in this?”
The raid came a week after an anonymous letter led investigators to an abandoned funeral home on the other side of central Detroit, where they allegedly found nearly a dozen infant corpses hidden in a ceiling.
“I would like to look at you and tell you I hope … that this is isolated to these two. I can’t say that with certainty,” Craig told reporters, shortly after leaving a meeting with FBI and state investigators. “This is much larger than we might know.”
The police chief gave few details about the investigation, and declined to speculate as to what would motivate someone to keep tiny desiccated corpses long after they were supposed to have been interred. All the same, he described how the case escalated rapidly from a single anonymous tip into a full-blown investigative task force that could now probe businesses throughout the state.
The case began last week at Cantrell Funeral Home in east Detroit, which had been shuttered since the spring over accusations that adult corpses had been improperly stored to the point of growing mold.
An unsigned letter received on Oct. 12 urged investigators to return to the business and search it. The note led them to what police described as a hidden compartment in a ceiling — containing a casket, cardboard boxes, several trash bags and the remains of 11 dead infants.
Read more via TheWashingtonPost