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SZA has consistently been getting the flowers she deserves this year and they aren't stopping. She has now been named asVariety‘s 2023 Hitmaker Of The Year. The R&B singer joins names like Olivia Rodrigo, Metro Boomin, Maren Morris, Mark Ronson, Billie Eilish, and FINNEAS who will all be honored at the outlet's seventh annual Hitmakers celebration, taking place early next month.The special November issue of the outlet and its accompanying ceremony highlights the 25 most consumed songs of the year, as measured by Billboard and Luminate Charts. It also shines a light on those behind the productions.“The goal of Hitmakers always has been to honor the top artists and songs of the year, and especially the people behind them,” Variety’s executive music editor Jem Aswad said in a statement.“SZA, her SOS album and tour, and her hits this year are not only a creative and commercial triumph but one with a reach that stretches far beyond the music world. We are so proud to honor her as our Hitmaker of the Year, and to honor Olivia Rodrigo, Metro Boomin, Maren Morris, and more.”SZA's SOS was released in December 2022 and is her most successful album thus far. It has broken chart records held by names like Janet Jackson and Beyoncé. The album is currently sitting at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart and remains at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top R&B Albums chart for the 47th consecutive week.

Variety Names SZA The 2023 Hitmaker Of The Year

Byron Allen

Byron Allen, the owner of the Weather Channel and Local Now, has offered to buy BET from Paramount for $3.5 billion. This deal would be for BET Media Group and would include VH1, BET Studios, and the streaming service BET+, according to a report from&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/byron-allen-bet-acquisition-offer-paramount-1235847887/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Variety</a>.
Byron Allen reportedly offered $2.7 billion over the summer, but Paramount decided not to sell. At the time, bidders included Allen, Tyler Perry and Sean "Diddy" Combs. Now Allen has since increased his offer.
Acquiring BET Media Group would expand Allen's empire, Allen Media Group, even further. The mogul currently owns 12 cable networks, including the Weather Channel, JusticeCentral.TV, Cars.TV and Pets.TV, a theatrical movie distribution company and a stable of 28 broadcast stations.
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Allen Media Group also produces, distributes, and sells advertising for 73 television shows, making it one of the largest independent producers/distributors of first-run syndicated TV programming for broadcast stations. The company has nearly 2,300 employees.

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Married to Medicine star Dr. Jackie Walters comes under fire after clips of her resurfaced where she accused pregnant Black women of not being taken seriously by medical professionals because they cry wolf and are dramatic.
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In the three-year-old clip, Dr. Walters said, &ldquo;Sometimes as African American women, we&rsquo;re a bit more dramatic. In that, you go the doctor and you complain and you complain and you complain, and you&rsquo;re not taken seriously &rsquo;cause you cried wolf the entire pregnancy.&rdquo;
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She went on to say, &ldquo;As African American women, we want to also make sure you&rsquo;re being serious with your doctor and not playing the game so I can take you off work. Because then, we see you 25 times in the pregnancy, it&rsquo;s hard to believe that there&rsquo;s a true problem when there&rsquo;s a true problem.&rdquo;
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People on social media did not like what she said and shared their opinions about the comments. See what they had to say below.&nbsp;
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<a href="https://x.com/notsonewlywedpc/status/1737802687079391465?s=46&amp;t=f45LpfSMP2bWXL9mF3rs_Q">https://x.com/notsonewlywedpc/status/1737802687079391465?s=46&amp;t=f45LpfSMP2bWXL9mF3rs_Q</a>
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<a href="https://x.com/trapkace/status/1737847140842705399?s=46&amp;t=f45LpfSMP2bWXL9mF3rs_Q">https://x.com/trapkace/status/1737847140842705399?s=46&amp;t=f45LpfSMP2bWXL9mF3rs_Q</a>
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<a href="https://x.com/777_chicky/status/1737197470164066342?s=46&amp;t=f45LpfSMP2bWXL9mF3rs_Q">https://x.com/777_chicky/status/1737197470164066342?s=46&amp;t=f45LpfSMP2bWXL9mF3rs_Q</a>
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<a href="https://x.com/themelaninson/status/1737557938112249888?s=46&amp;t=f45LpfSMP2bWXL9mF3rs_Q">https://x.com/themelaninson/status/1737557938112249888?s=46&amp;t=f45LpfSMP2bWXL9mF3rs_Q</a>
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What are your thoughts on this?

Reality TV Star Dr. Jackie Walters Receives Backlash For Comments About Black Pregnant Women

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Singer-songwriter-producer <a href="https://www.wbls.com/wbls-news/t-pain-to-receive-legend-award-at-soul-train-awards">T-Pain</a> has announced his first residency in Las Vegas!
On Tuesday (December 19), the Nappy Boy Entertainment CEO took to social media to announce his debut residency at Zouk Nightclub and Ayu Dayclub at Resort World Las Vegas. He posted a video to his Instagram timeline that shows him riding around in a black and pink racing suit as he hops into his customized racecar to the tune of his recent single "Baby Got Brap."
His first show will be at Zouk on February 8, 2024 with more dates coming soon.
"2024 is going to be a great year," T-Pain said. "I've been fortunate to have an amazing career and I've always dreamed of having a residency of my own. I've got some special surprises up my sleeve so Vegas, let's turn up!"

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T-Pain joins Jodeci and Wu-Tang Clan, who also recently announced plans for a Vegas residency. Wu-Tang Clan announced their residency last week.
Earlier this year, T-Pain released a covers album called On Top Of The Covers, which included a cut of the country classic &ldquo;Tennessee Whiskey.&rdquo;
On the track, T-Pain offers a unique R&amp;B twist on the 1981 classic without the use of his signature autotuned effects.

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The current residency dates for T-Pain are:
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<li>Thursday, Feb. 8 at Zouk Nightclub</li>
<li>Saturday, April 20 at Zouk Nightclub</li>
<li>Sunday, May 25 at Ayu Dayclub</li>
<li>Thursday, July 11 at Zouk Nightclub</li>
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T-Pain Announces His First-Ever Las Vegas Residency

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Taraji P. Henson has recently opened up about her experience in the industry as a Black female actress. She reflected on her journey through Hollywood and broke out in tears when recounting the treatment she had received. Gayle King sat down with Henson and her The Color Purple cast member, Danielle Brooks for a SiriusXM interview. When asked if she had ever thought about quitting acting, Henson shared that she has reached her limit due to being underpaid. https://youtu.be/GUzqD5UcLwo“I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do [and] getting paid a fraction of the cost,” Henson began. “I’m tired of hearing my sisters say the same thing over and over. You get tired. I hear people go, ‘You work a lot.’ Well, I have to. The math ain’t math-ing. When you start working a lot, you have a team. Big bills come with what we do. We don’t do this alone. It’s a whole team behind us. They have to get paid.”She continued to explain that although people hear reports of how much an actor got paid for their work, that money is then divided amongst team members as well as government taxes. “I’m only human," she continued. "Every time I do something and break another glass ceiling, when it’s time to renegotiate, I’m at the bottom again like I never did what I just did and I’m tired. I’m tired. It wears on you. What does that mean? What is that telling me?"Brooks chimed in, "And what is that telling me?"Emotional, Henson exclaimed, "If I can’t fight for them coming up behind me then what the f**k am I doing?”She recalled being told that Black actors and stories “don’t translate overseas.”“I’m tired of hearing that my entire career,” she said. “20 plus years in the game and I hear the same thing and I see what you do for another production, but when it’s time to go to bat for us they don’t have enough money. And I’m just supposed to smile and grin and bear it. Enough is enough! That’s why I have other [brands] because this industry, if you let it, it will steal your soul. I refuse to let that happen.”