Category Archives: Music News

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson appears to jab Trump’s lack of leadership amid protests: ‘Where are you?’

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson appears to jab Trump’s lack of leadership amid protests: ‘Where are you?’

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson seemingly took a swipe at Donald Trump in an impassioned video commenting on the ongoing protests in the U.S. sparked by the death of George Floyd.

The 48-year-old movie star joined the myriad of actors either protesting or speaking out in support of the black community in the United States after Floyd’s death sparked a national conversation about police brutality that turned violent in some parts of the country. President Trump has since responded with calls to renew “law and order” by instructing state governments to deploy more police.

Johnson took to Instagram on Wednesday where he shared a roughly 8-and-a-half-minute video in which he delivered an emotional speech calling on the president to step up and lead with compassion, although he did not mention Trump by name.

“Where are you? Where is our leader at this time? At this time when our country is down on its knees begging, pleading, hurt, angry, frustrated, in pain, begging and pleading with its arms out just wanting to be heard,” he says. “Where are you? Where is our compassionate leader who is going to step up to our country who is down on its knees and extend a hand and say ‘You stand up. Stand up with me. Stand up with me, because I’ve got you. I’ve got you. I’ve got you, I hear you, I’m listening to you and you have my word that I’m going to do everything in my power, till my dying day, to my last breath to do everything I can to create the change that’s needed, to normalize equality because black lives matter.’”

The star went on to encourage people to stop saying “all lives matter” and start to understand the rallying cry “black lives matter.”

“Of course all lives matter, every single one. All lives matter because we, as Americans, believe in inclusivity, we believe in acceptance, we believe in human rights, we believe in equality for all,” Johnson explained. “That’s what we believe in, so of course all lives matter, but in this moment right now, this defining pivotal, explosive moment where our country is down on its knees, the floorboards of our country are becoming unhinged in this moment, we must say the words ‘black lives matter.’”

The star went on to denounce the use of military force on protesters, arguing that treating the moment with compassion would yield more positive, long-term results.

“There is military force that has been deployed on our own people. Looters? Yes. Criminals? Absolutely. But our protesters who are begging and pleading, our protesters who are in pain…. You know you would be surprised how people in pain would respond when you say to them ‘I care about you.’ When you say to them ‘I’m listening to you.’ You’d be surprised how people would respond — how Americans would respond.”

The star concluded by once more asking for America’s leader to step up before urging citizens to take leadership into their own hands if the president continues to demonstrate a combative response to the protests.

“So, as we continue to wait for that leader to emerge… I would recommend to all of you that we must become the leaders we’re looking for. We can become our own leaders, because we’re doing it now. We’re doing it now,” he said. “We must become the leaders that we’re looking for. I’ll ask it one more time… Where are you? Where is that compassionate leader who steps up and takes accountability for his country and all of the people in our country? Where are you? Because, I tell you what, we’re here, we are all here. We’re all here. And the process to change has already begun.”

He concluded his lengthy video saying: “You can feel it across our country, change is happening. It’s going to take time. We’re going to get beat up, we’re going to take our lumps, there’s going to be blood but the process of change has already begun. You guys stay strong. We’ve got this.”

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/dwayne-the-rock-johsnon-jabs-donald-trump-leadership-protests

Jay-Z and his entertainment company Roc Nation take out full-page ads dedicated to George Floyd’s memory

Jay-Z and his entertainment company Roc Nation take out full-page ads dedicated to George Floyd’s memory

Jay-Z is taking action to memorialize George Floyd.

On Tuesday, the hip-hop mogul and his entertainment company Roc Nation took out full-page ads in newspapers across America in memory of Floyd, a man from Minneapolis who died while in police custody after a police officer kneeled on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes, moments that were captured on cellphone video.

In the footage, Floyd, 46, shouts “I cannot breathe” and “don’t kill me” before losing consciousness. He was later pronounced dead. Since-fired officer Derek Chauvin was later charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death.

Jay-Z, 50, and his team worked with Floyd’s family, as well as several attorneys and activists, to create the ads, per Rolling Stone.

“A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right,” it reads. “A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true. So we’re going to stand up amid horses. We’re going to stand up right here, amid the billy-clubs. We’re going to stand up right here amid police dogs, if they have them. We’re going to stand up amid tear gas!”

The quote concludes: “We’re going to stand up amid anything they can muster up, letting the would know that we are determined to be free!”

The ad appeared in The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Philadelphia Enquirer and more, and it was signed by several high-profile attorneys and activism organizations.

Among the signees was the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Innocence Project, the Women’s Global Initiative and Jay-Z himself.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/jay-z-entertainment-company-roc-nation-full-page-ads-george-floyd

Nickelodeon pauses programming for ‘I can’t breathe’ message, draws mixed reaction

Nickelodeon pauses programming for ‘I can’t breathe’ message, draws mixed reaction

On Monday, Nickelodeon suspended its programming to air a message that simply read “I CAN’T BREATHE” for eight minutes and 46 seconds, accompanied by the sound of a person breathing.

The message called attention to Minneapolis man George Floyd’s death. Floyd died while in police custody after an officer — since-fired Derek Chauvin, who was later charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd’s death — kneeled on Floyd’s neck for eight minutes, moments that were captured on cellphone video.

In the footage, Floyd repeatedly said “I can’t breathe” while being knelt on, and the words have been echoed by protesters in the days since.

The network also offered a “Declaration of Kids’ Rights.”

http://https://youtu.be/RwleBFYMC5E

“You have the right to be seen, heard and respected as a citizen of the world. You have the right to a world that is peaceful,” read the statement. “You have the right to be treated with equality, regardless of the color of your skin. You have the right to be protected from harm, injustice and hatred. You have the right to an education that prepares you to run the world. You have the right to your opinions and feelings, even if others don’t agree with them.”

The television channel received mixed reactions for its activism.

“Good, keep it blacked out,” one Facebook user commented on a post from the network. “Nick is no longer welcome in our house.. cant brethe [sic] on a kids show is uncalled for. all they know is it scares them. no more nick at ours or friends houses..”

“Whatever happened to letting a kid be a kid?” wrote another.

A third said: “I agree with this but young children that don’t understand what’s going on shouldn’t have this stuff shown to them.”

On the other hand, Nickelodeon also received praise for their actions.

“I’m in I’m tears rn,” said a Twitter user. “This is so powerful. Shoutout to nickelodeon for raising awareness.”

“Who would’ve guessed that in 2020 Nickelodeon would be delivering a more mature adult response than some elected officials?” said another, who shared several pictures of the “Declaration of Kids’ Rights.”

“Nickelodeon. Growing up, they were pivotal in mine, and a whole generations [sic] development as children and adolescents,” said a third. “In 2020, they have proven that they aren’t afraid to side publicly [with] what is right. This video played on all of their channels for 8 minutes and 47 seconds. Wow.”

The video aired on multiple other ViacomCBS-owned stations, including VH1 and MTV.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/nickelodeon-pauses-programming-for-i-cant-breathe-message-draws-mixed-reaction