Black Actors: Say "Cheese"

What do you think about celebrity gossip?

Wow. I think it’s intense. What a price to pay, though not for everyone -- not for the attention whores.

Whether or not the attention is welcome, A-list to D-list celebrities are photographed, quoted, videotaped,  observed, and scrutinized with a ferocity unknown to the black actor of yesteryear.

I am unaware of any black paparazzi like those paps that trail Britney Spears.  Nevertheless, black actors are still under the microscope. This is, after all, the day of the blog -- and the black (or Urban) gossip blogs; and sometimes they can be unforgiving. :) At the same time, they keep has-beens, Z-Listers people at the forefront of fame -- people who would have otherwise faded into oblivion long, long ago.

Celebrity gossip is popular because many Average Joes are intimately interested in the celebrities they favor, so much so, that they want to know them personally -- maybe to praise them, maybe to worship them, maybe to be mean to them, etc.  Regardless of the reasons, celebrity gossip sells.

Can black actors’ work on the silver screen (when it’s good and respected) supersede whatever unflattering things we “know” about them reported as gossip?

Comments

[iris]

absolutely, there are plenty of actors who overcome their tabloid image. angelina jolie being one. and i don't think there is a black actor out there who gets more press than she does.

[theblackactor.com]

@ Iris

I don't think there's a person on the planet who gets more attention than she does! LOL. Thanks, Iris.

[Kimi]

I do think for a lot of celebrities if it were not for their good work (in cases like Jolie, on/off the screen good work), their career would have been toast.

and you are so right how a little publicity has keep many "Z-listers" in the public eye who's 15 minutes were up over an hour ago.

I read/pass on celebrity gossip & get laughs out of them tho I take it all with a grain of salt since it is 2nd hand info (usually 7th or 8th hand really). I'd hate to have the world literally judging me for every mistake I've ever made, altho some put all their biz out there based on that "no such thing as bad publicity" theory. But if anyone gets hurt or dies behind the paparrazi then it's outta control.

Overall tho, guess Hollyweird has functioned & prospered thanks to the rumor mill for years.

NY G I A N T S R U L E!!!!!!

[Mes Deux Cents]

Hi TBA,

"Can black actors’ work on the silver screen (when it’s good and respected) supersede whatever unflattering things we “know” about them reported as gossip?"

The answer is; it depends on what they are doing in their private lives. Are they dating or have dated 50 cent? If so I probably won't be seeing their films.

It just depends on the gossip. It is possible to know too much about someone or for them to be over exposed too. For instance, even though she's barely an actress, I have no interest in seeing Beyonce in any film. She is so over-exposed that I can’t take looking at her anymore.

Also most Black gossip blogs are just mean. They spend their time making fun of people. That’s boring. I think that it takes expertise and hard work to find info about what work Black celebs are doing, such as what film, play, etc.. So they just show a photo and make fun of their clothing.

But for the most part I don’t think many Black actors are over exposed. In fact I find myself wanting to know more about them usually because there is so little info out there about them. I know almost nothing about Jeffrey Wright and he’s one of my favorite actors.

Black gossip blogs tend to focus mainly on rappers/ singers. When it comes to actors it's always the same few, Gabby Union, Nia Long, the Love and Basketball actress (can't remember her name at the moment), and Vivica A Fox, but only because she's being arrested for DUI.

I think there is room for a really good blog that isn't so much a gossip blog but a info blog about Black actors.

Whew! That was a world class ramble! Lol

[LaJane Galt]

1) publicity helps folks stay relevant, especially if the bank account cannot sustain a lifestyle..

2) I love me some C&D!!!

[Orville]

The interesting thing about black gossip blogs is they talk about black stars the mainstream media doesn't care about. Most people in Hollywood don't know who Meagan Good is, but she is known in the black media. The black gossip blogs I do agree with Gabrielle Union's opinion can be just mean spirited. I think it has to do with ordinary people perhaps being envious or jealous. Ordinary people we don't attend fancy parties, get to drink and eat the best food, wear designer clothes, travel all over the world. I think there is a lot of jealousy by common folk at celebs.

The black celebs in a way they are benefiting from celebrity gossip because the mainstream media usually ignores black stars unless they are A list like Will Smith, Denzel Washington or Halle Berry or Queen Latifah.

Taraji Henson bossip.com and mediatakeout always pick on her. I notice darker skinned black women get a lot of grief on so called black blogs for...drum roll please...for being black women. The black blogs hype up the mixed race stars like Beyonce, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, they act like these people are on some pedestal.

[theblackactor.com]

@ Kimi

Yaaaaaaaaay Go Giants. LOL.

"Overall tho, guess Hollyweird has functioned & prospered thanks to the rumor mill for years."

I agree Kimi; I thought the same thing while I was preparing the post.

@ Mes Deux

You must mean Aunti Viv. LOL.

I agree with that overexposed thing; particularly as it relates to Beyonce. I think this absolutely can happen and can harm an artist.

Yeah; it would be nice if there were something not quite so gossipy but only a little gossipy. Some blogger will create it one day, probably. This would be a nice thing to have. Actually, I think it's a great idea.

@ La Jane

1. Yup; I agree.

2. Well, I do Bossip and have for some time. Since I was a young teen, I used to kinda follow celebrity gossip. As for Bossip, I've been a regular for some time, though my paticipation in the blog has been and still is somewhat limited. I go there for laughs, really. I'm actually rethinking my participation on that blog, for various reasons. Generally, its just people sh*t talkin'. It's kinda fun. But I don't take it too seriously. It's entertainment, really, in a way.

I'm on soon. Havagoodnite guys.

[Orville]

Also, wanted to point out the black stars are NOT VICTIMS. Some of these black stars are just like the white stars they actually FEED THE POPULAR BLACK CELEBRITY BLOGS WITH GOSSIP. Do not be fooled! Do not think these so called C or D list or even higher level black stars DON'T WANT PUBLICITY THEY DEFINITELY DO. Especially if they have a CD or movie release coming out soon. Due to the popularity of black gossip blogs now the white media are paying attention to D list or C list black stars. In some ways this gossip can actually help the C or D list black star's career. Look at New York, I mean I think she is an offensive stereotype of black female sexuality. However, the VH1 I love New York show gets amazing ratings.

[Angela]

One thing I never agree with is that black gossip blogs are mean and that the bloggers are jealous. If that's the case, are white/non-black gossip blogs and bloggers mean and jealous? From Perez Hilton to Dlisted, snark is the word of the day, but the second black people get involved it's deemed "hating" and "envy". Don't get it.

But back to the topic, I love the fact that there are black gossip blogs. From 2002 until late 2006 (when gossip really exploded), I read DListed or Perez or US Weekly exclusively and was convinced, by their lack of covering black stars outside of Beyonce, Denzel and Will, that black celebrities--whatever list--actually attended events and went shopping, et al in Hollywood. When I discovered Bossip, C&D, CL, Brown Sista, etc, it was a big relief because I was aghast at the thought that black celebrities sat at home when they weren't working. But on the other hand, it shows where we are as a country when black gossip blogs have to exist. How are pictures of Nicole Richie sipping a latte more interesting and lucrative to the public than covering the red carpet of say, "This Christmas"?

Just like Z-list celebrities need reality TV, black celebrities who aren't Denzel, Will, Kerry or Beyonce need the black gossip blogs. I think it's rather hypocritical of black celebrities to accuse black gossip blogs (who aren't Media Take Out) of cultivating strife, when no other gossip venue would pay attention to them. I mean, Angelina Jolie was ripped to shreds by gossip media up until just recently, and Paris Hilton and other celebutantes are picked on and laughed at. What is the issue with black people?

[theblackactor.com]

@ Orville

Oh, God; yes. Half of 'em are total attention whores. No doubt.

@ Angela

"One thing I never agree with is that black gossip blogs are mean and that the bloggers are jealous. If that's the case, are white/non-black gossip blogs and bloggers mean and jealous? From Perez Hilton to Dlisted, snark is the word of the day, but the second black people get involved it's deemed "hating" and "envy". Don't get it."

You ain't neva lied. I TOTALLY AGREE!!!!

"How are pictures of Nicole Richie sipping a latte more interesting and lucrative to the public than covering the red carpet of say, "This Christmas"? "

Very good question! I have the same Q.

"What is the issue with black people?"

I have the same Q!

[invisiblewoman]

@angela: co-sign, good comment

[aulelia_2@hotmail.co.uk]

i think the black gossip blogs are good barometers of what is hot or not hot. I don't think black celebs should look down on them either -- what the public likes matters.

[theblackactor.com]

@ Aulelia

I agree.