E! News is reporting that Nick Cannon is mourning an unimaginable loss. The TV personality announced on Dec. 7 on The Nick Cannon Show that his youngest son, five-month-old Zen, died of brain cancer and a subsequent tumor. Cannon and Alyssa Scott welcomed Zen back in June, making him Cannon’s seventh child. On his show, Nick tearfully shared how he and his family discovered Zen was battling Hydrocephalus. On the show Nick said, “I always noticed he had a cough and so I wanted to check it out.” The baby had brain surgery and a shunt to drain the fluid. Nick shared that things took a turn for the worse at Thanksgiving. He told viewers he is back at work so soon after Zen died because this all he knows, calling the episode a “special show dedicated to my beautiful son, Zen.” Our prayers and condolences go out to Nick, Alyssa and the rest of their family.
Broadway is back in New York City and booming with Black plays. The Roundabout Theatre Company presents “Trouble In Mind,” starring Tony & Emmy award winner LaChanze as”Wiletta” in a limited engagement at the American Airlines Theatre through Jan. 9, 2022. Written by Alice Childress and directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, “Troubled in Mind” follows an experienced Black stage actress through rehearsals of a major Broadway production. It is a wry and moving look at racism, identity, and ego in the world of New York theatre. Other cast members include Michael Zegen as “Al Manners,” Chuck Cooper as “Sheldon Forrester,” Danielle Campbell as “Judy Sears,” Jessica Frances Dukes as “Millie Davis,” Brandon Micheal Hall as “John Nevins,” Simon Jones as “Henry,” Alex Mickiewicz as “Eddie Fenton” and Don Stephenson as “Bill O’Wray.” Celebs who have been in the play’s audience include Vanessa Williams, Chicago PD’s Wendell Pierce and multi-award winning director Kenny Leon.
Love & Hip Hop star PHresher and his wife Jean Coreano, who appears on the reality show with him, have been spending the holiday season giving back to residents of their former neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. They recently collaborated with the restaurant Polygon, to prepare a feast for men and women shelter residents and some of the area’s homeless population. “I love doing this kind of stuff,” exclaimed PHresher, as he assisted in packing 50 hot meals. PHresher is also doing a Winter Wonderland toy drive at PS 328, Phyllis Wheatley School in Brooklyn on Dec. 18.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) held the annual awards ceremony of their joint initiative, the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival on Dec. 7. This year, a total of 29 short films from 15 countries (Brazil. Guatemala, India, Iran, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Spain, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America) will receive special awards from UNAOC, IOM, as well as more than twenty partner organizations. The event was held online and broadcasted live on the PLURAL+ website.
