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Zendaya Makes History as the Highest-Paid Black TV Actress

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Zendaya

Zendaya has solidified her status as a trailblazer by becoming the highest-paid Black actress in TV, earning $1 million per episode for the upcoming third season of HBO’s Euphoria. The 28-year-old Emmy winner renegotiated her contract with the network, surpassing previous records and setting a new benchmark for Black actresses in the industry.

Zendaya, who started on the Disney channel, landed her role as Rue Bennett on Euphoria in 2019. Her raw, captivating performance in the gritty drama that explores addiction, identity, and youth culture has earned her two Emmy Awards, making her the youngest woman to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2020 and again in 2022.

Zendaya
Zendaya as Rue/ Euphoria. HBO

This $1 million-per-episode salary places Zendaya ahead of previous high-earning Black TV actresses like Kerry Washington, who reportedly earned $1.1 million per episode for Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere (though this included her role as executive producer), and Angela Bassett, who made history in 2021 with $450,000 per episode for Fox’s 9-1-1. Zendaya’s deal reportedly reflects her pay for acting alone, with additional earnings likely from her producing role on Euphoria. The California native’s net worth, estimated at $20 million to $30 million, continues to climb, fueled by her TV success, film roles in blockbusters like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Dune, and many lucrative fashion endorsements.

When compared to the highest-paid female actresses overall, Zendaya’s achievement stands out, though it also reveals the broader pay landscape in Hollywood. In 2024, Forbes crowned Nicole Kidman the world’s highest-paid actress, raking in $31 million net ($41 million gross) annually, largely from TV miniseries like The Perfect Couple and Lioness, where she earned $1 million per episode across multiple projects. Sofia Vergara, topping Forbes’ 2020 list with $43 million, earned $500,000 per episode for Modern Family and at least $10 million per season as a judge on America’s Got Talent. Ellen Pompeo peaked at $575,000 per episode for Grey’s Anatomy, totaling over $20 million annually with producing credits.

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Film & TV

Chadwick Boseman Honored With a Star On Hollywood walk of Fame (Photos)

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Thursday, Nov. 20 – ‘Black Panther’s Chadwick Boseman received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The late actor’s wife, Simone Ledward-Boseman, accepted the honor on his behalf.

Boseman, best known for his roles as King T’Challa in ‘Black Panther,’  Jackie Robinson in ’42,’ and James Brown in ‘Get On Up,’ died in 2020 at the age of 43 after a private battle with cancer. The news of his passing was sudden and came as a shock to many, including Boseman’s collaborators and close friends, who revealed they did not know of his illness.

Ryan Coogler, who directed Boseman in “Black Panther,” and Davis, who co-starred opposite him in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” spoke at the ceremony. Both spoke candidly of who Chadwick was as a human, an actor, and a friend.

Boseman’s co-stars Letitia Wright and Michael B. Jordan also attended the ceremony, as well as Chadwick’s brothers, Kevin and Derrick.

See photos from the star unveiling ceremony below.

  • Chadwick Boseman
  • Boseman
  • Chadwick Boseman star
  • Chadwick Boseman star
  • Ryan Coogler
  • Chadwick Boseman star
  • Chadwick Boseman star
  • Chadwick Boseman star
  • Chadwick Boseman star

For those who wish to visit and pay their respects, the star is located at 6904 Hollywood Blvd., across from the TCL Chinese Theatre.

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Film & TV

Peacock To Release a New Docuseries “Tiffany Haddish Goes Off”

Inspired by the film “Girls Trip,” the series follows Tiffany Haddish and her childhood friends on their vacation across the continent of Africa

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Peacock’s new docuseries “Tiffany Haddish Goes Off,” which will premiere on Thursday, November 13, follows Emmy Award-winning comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip, Haunted Mansion) as she journeys to Africa on a four-week-long girls trip with her three closest childhood friends: Selena Martin, Shermona Long, and Sparkle Clark.

On the trip, Tiffany and her friends travel to multiple locations across Africa: Cape Town, South Africa; Victoria Falls and Harare, Zimbabwe; and Zanzibar, Tanzania.

The six-episode docuseries is produced by Jeff Jenkins Productions, in association with 3BMG, Will Packer Media, Glass Slipper Pictures, Haddish’s She Ready Productions, and 1oneninety5.

All episodes of the series will be available at once, exclusively on Peacock.

Watch the official trailer below.

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 Issa Rae Sued Over “One of Them Days”

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Issa Rae One of Them Days

Three Los Angeles-based screenwriters, Tyrone Perry, Shon Oku, and Joshua Isaacson, filed a lawsuit on July 30, 2025, alleging that Issa Rae-produced “One of Them Days” copied their original screenplay titled “One of Those Days.” The lawsuit claims copyright infringement, idea theft, and conversion. 

Specifically, the writers allege that there are 29 similarities in character arcs, plot structure, and overall tone between the film and their script. They shared their script with producer Xavier Charles, who had previously worked with Issa Rae on her HBO series, “Insecure.” After Charles declined to produce their project, Rae’s company announced “One of Them Days” shortly thereafter. The lawsuit claims this proximity in timing, coupled with Charles’s connection to Rae, points to unauthorized use of their material. 

one of them days

The released buddy comedy film, starring Keke Palmer and SZA, centers on best friends and roommates Dreux (Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA), who find themselves in a chaotic race against the clock to avoid eviction. 

The central conflict arises when Alyssa’s boyfriend blows their rent money on a bad investment. Faced with the threat of being evicted from their Los Angeles apartment, the duo goes to extreme lengths to find the necessary funds before their landlord’s deadline. The film is filled with comical situations and highlights the strength and quirks of their friendship as they navigate the challenges of their “one of those days” scenario.

To support their claims, the writers hired veteran screenwriter John Brancato, who reviewed both scripts and concluded that the similarities were “substantial”. 

The lawsuit names Issa Rae’s company ColorCreative, Sony Pictures, TriStar, and screenwriter Syreeta Singleton. It seeks a jury trial, damages, and attorney’s fees. Representatives for Rae and Sony have not yet commented publicly on the allegations. 

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