The entertainment industry was shook in 2017 when news broke that Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual misconduct by several women. More than a dozen of them claimed that the film producer sexually harassed and raped them. Following the allegations, the #MeToo movement came to the forefront with women around the country uniting to take a stand against sexual harassment and sexual assault. The Morning Show is right on time tackling the very real and uncomfortable situations women often face in the workplace.
The Morning Show premiered on Apple TV+ on November 1. It is centered around the anchors and producers of a very popular and successful morning program. The series follows the aftermath of the show after its lead anchor Mitch Kessler (Steve Carell) was fired due to sexual misconduct allegations. The world of The Morning Show is now forever changed.
Mia Jordan (Karen Pittman) is a producer on the show and is at the center of the controversy. She is a sharp top-notch producer but her good work is being overshadowed by the fact that she had an inappropriate relationship with her superior Mitch Kessler. Working in an industry heavily dominated by men, Mia has no choice but to speak up for herself and tell her truth. In episode 7 Mia reached her boiling point. After being taunted by a male colleague, she decides to address the elephant in the room. “We’re all human. We all have regrets” she grabbed the studio microphone and made a statement in front of her colleagues, “No matter which side of that #metoo line you fall on we are all just people who want to do our jobs, do good work. So, that’s what I’m going to focus on my work.”
Unfortunately, Mia is not the only victim of sexual misconduct in the office. Chief segment producer Hannah Shoenfeld (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) had a non-consensual encounter with Mitch when she was still a rookie on the team (ep. 8). After an emotional day covering the deadliest mass shooting in US history in Las Vegas, Mitch invites the young and ambitious junior producer to his hotel room leaving her in a powerless situation. When Shoenfeld reports the incident to Fred Micklen (Tom Irwin), the president of the network, he offers her the head booker position instead of addressing the issue and trying to resolve it. She accepts. Despite the promotion and moving up with the company, the incident has left Hannah’s life in shambles – she turned to drugs and alcohol to help her cope with her new reality.
The Morning Show
Season 1 | Episode 8
Gugu Mbatha-Raw in “The Morning Show,” now streaming on Apple TV+
Pittman and Mbatha-Raw are joined by veteran actresses Jennifer Aniston (Alex Levy) and Reese Witherspoon (Bradley Jackson) – both are the anchors of the revamped version of The Morning Show trying to set a new tone for the show under female leadership. It has been a bumpy ride for them all as they try and navigate a new normal in the workplace and the women fight to take their power back.
The Morning Show is nominated for Best TV Drama series at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards and new episodes are available every Friday on Apple TV+.
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 Anthonypodcast, 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.
Ryan Coogler and Chadwick Boseman/ Black Panther
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.
Halle Berry and Van Hunt went public with their relationship in September 2020. After five years of dating, Hunt, a Grammy-winning musician, proposed to the Oscar-winning actress, but Berry has not yet accepted.
Berry’s decision to decline Hunt’s proposal, at least for now, stems primarily from her history with marriage. The actress has been married three times previously—to former MLB player David Justice (1993–1997), singer Eric Benét (2001–2005), and actor Olivier Martinez (2013–2016). She also shares a daughter, Nahla, 17, with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry, and a son, Maceo, 11, with Martinez. Hunt has been married once and has a teenage son, Drake.
Halle Berry and Van Hunt at 2023 Oscars
During the Today interview, Berry explained, “Well, I’ve been married three times. Van has been married once, and so no, we don’t feel like we have to get married to validate our love in any way. We don’t.”
While Berry has not accepted Hunt’s proposal, she has not ruled out marriage entirely. In the same interview, she expressed that she believes Hunt is the right partner for her, stating, “I think we will get married just because, out of the people I’ve been married to, this is the person I should have married.” She added that any future marriage would be a choice made out of desire for expression, not obligation, and hinted at a potential wedding “soon.”