DeVon Franklin, the renowned preacher, producer, and bestselling author, has officially tied the knot with celebrity fitness trainer Maria Castillo in a romantic and “deeply spiritual” lakeside ceremony at Casa Lago Beverly Hills on August 2, 2025. The couple’s nuptials, exclusively featured in People magazine, brought together a star-studded guest list.

Franklin and Castillo’s love story began roughly a year ago when they were introduced by a mutual friend and trainer, Mike Trusdale, who believed they were a perfect match. Trusdale arranged a brunch that sparked an instant connection, and the couple has been inseparable since. Their relationship went public in October 2024 at The Pink Awards in Georgia, followed by appearances at the Merge Awards Gala and the 2025 BET Awards.

Franklin proposed to Castillo a few months later, on December 27, 2024, during a romantic sunset photoshoot in Hawaii. “Finding Maria has been one of God’s greatest blessings in my life,” Franklin shared in an interview.

The newlyweds exchanged vows in a ceremony that People described as a “culinary fusion” of their cultures, blending Franklin’s African American roots with Castillo’s Dominican heritage. The wedding was meticulously planned to reflect their shared values and love story. “The vision was to create something that feels like us and brings our friends and family into our love story,” Franklin told People.

The guest list included celebrities like Kelly Rowland, Tim Witherspoon, LeToya Luckett, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Tyler Lepley, and more.

This is Franklin’s second marriage, following his highly publicized divorce from actress Meagan Good in 2022 after nearly a decade together. The former couple, who met on the set of Jumping the Broom in 2011.

Franklin, known for producing films like Miracles from Heaven and authoring bestsellers like The Wait, has been open about his healing journey post-divorce. In a conversation with Nick Cannon, he shared that the split shook his belief system but ultimately led to personal growth, paving the way for his relationship with Castillo, a rising star in the fitness world known for her Flawed & Fit program, which has trained A-listers like Angela Simmons among others.

Tracee Ellis Ross reunited with her Girlfriends cast members Jill Marie Jones, Golden Brooks, and Persia White for the first commercial from her Pattern Beauty hair and body care line, available Friday, June 27, 2025. So this campaign, which champions black hair and immortal friendship, has fans of the cult 00s show absolutely giddy.

Tracee Ellis Ross-founded brand made when it came out with its first commercial to celebrate six years in the haircare space and the 25th anniversary of Girlfriends (2000–2008). The ad, which features the fan-favorite cast—Tracee Ellis Ross (Joan), Jill Marie Jones (Toni), Golden Brooks (Maya), and Persia White (Lynn)—is a colorful love-fest for Black hair care and sisterly love. In a stylish setting of a “Pattern Lounge,” the ad displays the winning chemistry of the cast as they slip into their iconic characters, raving about Pattern’s curl-centric products.
The campaign is centered on elite “hair cocktailing,” a term used in the Black community to describe the layering of things like gels, creams, or oils to create bespoke haircare regimens. Ross plays the “Chief Curltender,” guiding her co-stars to their product matches made in heaven for their specific curl types, from flake-free definition to touchable hold and shine.

Girlfriends, which ran on UPN and, later, the CW from 2000 to 2008, followed four Black women in love, career, and friendship. A pioneering series created by Mara Brock Akil, it was revolutionary in the honest way it depicted Black sisterhood, far removed from contemporaries like Sex and the City. “Sex and the City was about dating with a friend group, but Girlfriends was about the ‘chosen family of sisterhood,’” Akil said, adding that Joan and Toni’s relationship was “the emotional core.” The series has stood the test of time, remaining a cultural obsession available to stream on Netflix even though die-hard fans are still mourning a cancellation that didn’t even get them a proper farewell.

The initiative sees the cast of Girlfriends reunite on screen for the first time since the stars appeared on Black-ish in 2019, which also starred Ross. The commercial cashes in on the series’ continued relevance and features the cast’s infectious camaraderie that you missed – and Maya’s melodrama, Toni’s shade, and Lynn’s ditsy sweetness!
The campaign also aligns with Pattern Beauty’s commitment to championing and empowering curly, coily, and tightly textured hair. So Ross, who spent her Girlfriends days shopping in the kids’ section for haircare products, created Pattern to fill that void. The ad showcases the brand’s diverse product collection, which includes shampoos, conditioners, stylers, hot tools, and tools specifically designed for individuals with type 3B to 4C curl patterns.

Ross, the CEO and founder of Pattern Beauty, has been on the ground floor with the brand since its inception. The concept for Pattern was nurtured during her Girlfriends days, when she noticed the dearth of products suited for Black hair.

Launching in 2019 after 10 years of pitching and developing, Pattern was born, and Ross worked with chemists to develop formulas that actually worked. The spot takes place in a colorful production setting and features the cast’s natural chemistry but not Ross, who teased the reunion on Instagram: “Back together like we never left.” The result is a love letter to friends and fans, where laughs, heart, and hair care come together.

Ryan Coogler, the acclaimed director of Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, has confirmed that Hollywood legend Denzel Washington will join the cast of Black Panther 3. This announcement came during Coogler’s appearance on the 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony podcast, where he revealed that he has written a role specifically for the two-time Oscar winner, whom he regards as “the greatest living actor.”

Washington first hinted at his involvement in the Marvel project during a November 2024 interview on the Today show in Australia, generating excitement among fans. Coogler, who has long admired Washington, expressed his enthusiasm about their upcoming collaboration, noting their close relationship and Washington’s cultural significance. “Denzel is family at this point,” he said in the interview.

Although Marvel Studios has not officially announced Black Panther 3, the franchise’s success, having grossed over $2 billion globally from its first two films, makes a third installment a logical step. The film is still in early development, and while there is no confirmed release date, Coogler hinted that it’s “not long” away, potentially targeting a 2028 release following Avengers: Secret Wars.

Speculation about Washington’s role is abundant, with fans suggesting he could portray a new Wakandan character, a historical figure like Bashenga, or even a multiverse variant of T’Challa or T’Chaka. The emotional connection to the late Chadwick Boseman, who credited Washington’s mentorship for his career, adds significant weight to this casting choice.