After winning his first Oscar, American actor Will Smith apologised to the Academy for slapping comedian Chris Rock earlier in the ceremony after getting miffed at a joke directed towards his wife -- Jada Pinkett Smith.The entire Dolby Theatre,Los Angeles,California venue was shocked at Smith's hit on Chris Rock.

As per Variety, Rock appeared on stage to present the Oscar for documentary feature and he then made a joke about Jada-Pinkett being in 'G.I. Jane' because of her shaved bald head.


Initially, Smith was laughing but Jada clearly looked affected by the joke. Smith then took to the stage to punch Rock.

"I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I'm not crying for winning an award. It's not about winning an award for me. It's about being able to shine a light on all of the people. Tim and Trevor and Zack and Saniyya and Demi and Aunjanue and the entire cast and crew of 'King Richard,' Venus and Serena, the entire Williams family," Smith said during his acceptance speech.

"Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams," Smith said in his tearful acceptance speech.

Smith won his first Oscar for playing the role of Richard Williams in 'King Richard', a movie on the life of the father of Serena and Venus Williams.

The film follows the life of Richard Williams, the father, and coach of famous tennis players Venus and Serena Williams. The movie stars Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, and Jon Bernthal.

It was named one of the best films of 2021 by the American Film Institute and earned six nominations at the 27th Critics' Choice Awards (including Best Picture).

Earlier this year, Smith had won his first Globen Globe in the same category for the same movie.

The 94th Academy Awards are being held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and the ceremony is being hosted by Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. The nominations for the Oscars were announced on February 8 this year by actors Tracee Ellis Ross and Leslie Jordan.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Entertainment 2022-03-28

Whitemoney has been declared the winner of the Season 6 of the Big Brother Naija reality television show themed ‘Shine Ya Eye’, leaving Liquorose as the first runner up.

At the grand finale on Sunday, housemates evicted were Emmanuel, Angel, Cross, and Pere; leaving Whitemoney and Liquorose as the top two housemates battling for the N90m grand prize.

Born Hazel Onou, the 29-year-old contestant is one of the fans’ favourite. Fondly known as Whitemoney, the reality TV show star was born on July 6, 1992 and hails from Enugu State where he spent his early days before moving to Lagos.

During the show, Whitemoney had mentioned in several instances that he had it rough growing up. At a point, he had to sell food with his mother at a young age.

The TV star has also mentioned that part of his hustle included commercial photography, fixing generator sets, among others.

Leveraging the BBNaija platform, Whitemoney, who is an entrepreneur, has seized the opportunity to ‘sell his market’, hence viewers of the show see him as a ‘typical Igbo man’ and an astute businessman.

On the show, Whitemoney also won some money. He recently won N1m during the Johnnie Walker contest; during the BuyPower contest, he and Liquorose won N500,000 each.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Entertainment 2021-10-04

Embattled Yoruba actor, Omiyinka Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, who was arraigned at a Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja, has been granted bail.

The actor, who was being tried by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo over charges bothering on rape, sexual assault and abuse of a minor, was granted bail on the ground that it was part of his fundamental human rights.

According to the judge, the surety must be a resident of Lagos with visible house address and payment of three years tax.

Justice Taiwo stated, “One of the sureties must be a blood relation who will enter a N1 million bond with the Chief Register of Lagos State and one of the sureties must also be a legal practitioner.”

During the court proceeding, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, said the state had filed a six-count charge against the defendant, urging the court to take the defendant’s plea.

The actor was charged on six counts of sexual assault by penetration, indecent treatment of a child, and sexual assault, which contravene sections 259, 135, and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011, as well as 135, 263, and 262 Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

A prayer was granted and Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him.

Subsequently, Mrs Adeyemi requested for a trial date while asking the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending commencement of trial.

In a counter-reaction, Baba Ijesha’s legal team, led by two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Ogala and Mr. Dada Awosika, along with 17 other lawyers, informed the court that they had filed a bail application and have served same on the prosecuting team.

Ogala urged the court to grant them audience to argue the bail application.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Entertainment 2021-06-24

The popular brain-teasing and very entertaining quiz program, ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ is back and better on the screen, but now with new sponsors and new verve to make it more demanding for viewers to watch and savour. The new sponsors for the award-winning and ace TV game show, now christened ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Series 2-The Rebirth,’ have also been unveiled. They are: UP, Payattitude, Payarena, and HopePSBank. The companies are members of the UP Group viz: Nigeria's premier Payments and Financial Technology Company and Leaders in Digital Payments Innovation. The new sponsors were unveiled at a special Sponsor and Host Reveal event, held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, on Sunday, February 6, 2022. The popular TV broadcaster and previous host of the program, Frank Edoho, also returned as the show host, as he was revealed to the guests and audience who watched the event live on stream amidst cheers and applause. Delivering his keynote speech at the event, Agada Apochi, the Managing Director of UP Group, explained that the Group's decision to sponsor Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Series 2-The Rebirth,' was borne out of the desire to educate, inform, excite and entertain Nigerians, by bringing back the game show that keeps families at the edge of their seats. Apochi stated that the investment in the game show is not only aimed at promoting the brands in the company's portfolio, but geared towards building a better future for Nigerians by informing, educating and entertaining them. "Entertainment brings people together, whether it is football or show. It brings families together colleagues together. It is for that reason we are investing in entertainment. For that reason, we are bringing back Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? For us in the UP Group, we should invest in this TV game show not only because we want to promote our brands but also because we want a better Nigeria. You would agree with me there is no better way to build a better future for Nigeria than investment in education," he said. The show, as usual, would help promote knowledge acquisition and allow Nigerians to realize their economic dreams, by winning cash prizes every week for 52 weeks. He further disclosed that the company would be leveraging on its expertise in technology to open up the space. Nigerians can now participate in the show from the comfort of their homes, using the Payattitude USSD code *569# or USSD codes of Payattitude partner Banks. "This is the first of its kind. With ease from your hand-held device, you can download the Payattitude app or dial *569#, and you can then link your Banks' accounts to Payattitude. For the first time, you no longer need SMS code to play a game of this kind, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria," he added. In his remarks at the event, Hakeem Condotti, the Chief Executive Officer of BLK Hut, the franchise owner of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in Nigeria, explained that Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Series 2-The Rebirth is produced in Nigeria by BLK Hut, under the exclusive license of Sony Pictures. He noted that BLK Hut is ready to deliver international, creative and quality content for the admiration and excitement of Nigerians. "It is a great deal of excitement for us to be involved in the production of the iconic game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? which a lot of Nigerians have been looking forward to gracing their TV screens. We are aware of the expectation, and we can assure everyone that the quality of the content week in week out would be superb. We have the capacity and the resources to deliver entertaining and educative content that lives long-lasting memories," he said. Speaking immediately after his unveiling as the returning host of the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' Series 2 - The Rebirth, Frank Edoho announced that the show comes back with some latest innovations, including aEdoho, and also announced that, apart from the usual ‘three life-lines,’ which lovers of the show are familiar with, '50/50,' where the computer eliminates two random wrong options, leaving the right option, and the other remaining wrong option, 'Phone a Friend,' where the contestant has just 30 seconds to call one of their five pre-arranged friends, to read the question and four possible alternatives to the friend, who has the remaining time to offer input, and 'Ask the Audience,' where the audience members use touch-pads to designate what they believe the correct option is; the percentage of the audience choosing each specific option is then displayed to the contestant; while a new lifeline, 'Ask The Host,' has now been added to this Series 2. This lifeline gives the contestants one chance to ask the host to answer the question, just as a new staggering star prize money of Twenty Milion Naira, (N20,000,000.00,) has also been introduced to boost the attractiveness and stiff competitiveness of the game.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Entertainment 2022-02-10

Risikat Ajoke Adegeye, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and wife of Juju maestro, King Sunny Ade, is dead.

A media aide  Daniel Fayemi said, “The philanthropic politician passed on in the early hours of Tuesday. Her remains have since been deposited at the TOS funeral homes, Lagos.

“She is survived by her grieving husband and son, Mr. George Folarin. Funeral arrangements would be communicated accordingly.”

Her son, Folarin, also confirmed the death on behalf of the family in a statement on Tuesday.

He said the ex-lawmaker died after a brief illness.

The statement read in part, “We wish to formally inform, friends, well-wishers, political associates, and the general public that Hon Risikat Ajoke Adegeye passed on after a brief illness during the early hours of Tuesday, 21st September 2021. “Hon Risikat Ajoke Adegeye was a Honourable Member in the 6th Assembly of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“She will be greatly missed not only by her immediate family but also by her political associates and followers. Further information in respect to her burial ceremony will be announced later after extensive consultations with the family.

“Thank you as we pray that she continues to rest peacefully and eternally with the Almighty God.”
UrbanLife gather that Ajoke Adegeye died a few hours to thr 75th birthday of her husband King Sunny Ade.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Entertainment 2021-09-21

The Magistrate Court sitting at Yaba, Lagos has rejected the bail application of Sunday Omiyinka popularly known as Baba Ijesha today when he was arraigned before the court today.

 The rejection of the bail application was made known by the lawyer to the embattled actor who made it known that the magistrate has no jurisdiction as regards the bail because the government has filed the case at the high court.

His arraignment is connected to accusations of molestation of a minor levelled against him by friend and colleague Comedienne Princess.

According to the story, Baba Ijesha who is a regular visitor to the house had allegedly been sexually involved with the minor under the Princess’s roof without her knowledge and consent.

Upon receiving a hint of the allegation, Princess had set up a CCTV camera in her house unknowingly to Baba Ijesha and the camera caught the popular and talented actor in a compromising position with the said minor.

The matter has since been taken up by the Department of Public Prosecution Lagos State and Baba Ijesha is today facing arraignment in court.Baba Ijesha who was looking distraught,appeared in Court with a Christian book, 'How To Thrive in Perilous Times' authored by Pastor Happy Caldwell,in his hand.

It was eventullay noted that Baba Ijesha, will remain in detention till he will be tried at the High Court.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Entertainment 2021-06-16

The family of late Juju maestro Dayo Kujore has announced his burial arrangements seven days after his demise.

The burial arrangement is contained in an obituary shared by one of the late musician’s daughters, Ayinke Dayo Kujore on Sunday, January 16, 2022.

According to the obituary, the late Kujore would be buried in his hometown in Igbore Robiyan, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

A wake session for the late Soco Xtra singer holds on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at the Kujore compound in Igbore Robiyan while a burial service has been scheduled to hold on Friday, January 28, 2022, at the Emmanuel African Church in Igbore Robiyan.

The obituary also pointed that the musician died at 69.

Kujore passed away at the Lagos State University Teach Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos after a brief illness.He is survived by wives, children and grandchildren.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Entertainment 2022-01-16

The spirit of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti,came alive on Sunday,as six contestants on the exhilarating music reality show, Nigerian Idol, performed his songs incredibly.Amazing commendations came in, from the judges who were caught in the mood, singing and applauding as the contestants performed on stage.

The Fela Week as it was termed, commenced with a visit to Kalakuta Museum, Fela's former house and revolutionary headquarter, where the contestants met with the icon's son, Seun Anikulapo Kuti, who put them through on the rudiments of the afrobeat music.

The eviction night started with show of amazing stage performances by the contestants which brought the reminiscence of the late music star. Sadly, It was also a moment that saw Beyonce Ajomiwe evicted.

Comfort who sang "Observation is no crime", took the judges and the audience down memory lane, when the late ‘Afro Beat’ superstar was still prominent. This caused the sweet words of praises from the judges, starting with DJ Sose, who said "you manipulated the song to be your own, you were very playful, joyous, you killed it. Seyi Shay commended her saying "I am proud of you." Obi Asika on his part affirmed: "It was fun; you look comfortable with the song."

Faith performed "Palava" and did brilliantly well. The judges were so impressed and DJ Sose who stood up during the rendition stated that, "It is all about bringing your ability, you have shown the audience what to remember you by," while  IK Osakioduwa, the host, said, "you look like a star, you were like Fela and D Banj put together, and that was great."

It was all the same with other contestants, with beautiful remarks about their deeds on stage.

Francis also demonstrated excellent skills with the song "Yellow Fever"; Emmanuel with "No Agreement;" Kingdom "Gentleman," as well as Akunna, who was the last on stage with the song "Lady."

With a standing ovation, all the judges encouraged her to keep the fire burning till the final contest on July 11, where the winner will clinch a recording contract with a leading record label and N50, 000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) worth of prizes.

Aired on DStv Channel 198 and GOtv Channel 29, Nigerian Idol is proudly sponsored by Rite Foods' Bigi soft drink with variants such as the Bigi Cola, Bigi Orange, Bigi Apple, Bigi Bitter Lemon, Bigi Soda Water, Bigi Lemon & Lime, Bigi Tropical, Bigi Chapman, Bigi Tamarind, Bigi Cherry Cola, Bigi Ginger Lemon, and the Bigi Ginger Ale.

Other Rite Foods' products comprise the Rite Spicy, Bigi Beef, and Rite Sausages which have been the mark of excellence for the industry, while its Bigi Premium Table Water, produced with global best practices in purification, offers quality, freshness, confidence, and reliability.

Established in 2007 as a subsidiary of Ess-Ay Holdings, Rite Foods' inventiveness has earned high recognition in the energy drinks market with the first-ever packaged polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle brands for the Fearless Red Berry and Fearless Classic.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Entertainment 2021-06-11

Popular Juju maestro, King Sunny Ade, KSA, has confirmed his readiness to celebrate God in the life of popular and wave-making Prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele, the founder and spiritual leader of Lagos-based INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church. The man and veritable Servant of God will be celebrating his annual thanksgiving service on February 14, 2022, at his Lagos church and King Sunny Ade is already billed to perform at the mind-blowing and all-embracing event, which coincidentally falls on the birthday of Prophet Elijah Ayodele. It is no longer news that the almost filial relationship that exists between King Sunny Ade and Primate Ayodele, is beyond that of a musician and a prophet, but companions who have a common interest to render unlimited service to humanity. It would be recalled that many years ago, King Sunny Ade gave a prophetic word to Primate Ayodele during a service, that his church will in the nearest future have a large congregation of over 30,000 worshippers. This statement was made in the year 2000, when Primate Ayodele’s congregation was just about 500 worshippers and congregants. Now, after two decades of that prophetic statement by King Sunny Ade, the prophecy is finally seeing the light of the day, as Primate Ayodele will be unveiling a 30,000-capacity church building on February 14, 2022, as part of the program line-up for his annual thanksgiving. Also, February 14 will feature the mother of all empowerments as usual. In previous years, Primate Ayodele has given cars, tricycles, scholarships, cash gifts, and relief materials to his church members, the needy and who have you, without regard or reference to their religion, creed or gender.

By

Ayobami Adedeji Entertainment 2022-01-16

The United bank for Africa (UBA) is leading again through innovation as it launches a podcast, RED Radio, which is available 24/7. The dynamic and creative online radio channel, RED Radio now provides round the clock informative and entertaining content, bringing out the best of Africa.

RED Radio www.itsredradio.com  was berthed as part of the communication suite of UBA to provide real time content to listeners across the African continent and globally.

UBA’s Group Head Corporate Communications, Bola Atta, explained that the platform is an affirmation of the leading role that UBA is playing in the innovative space on the African continent as the bank keeps seeking more ways to reach out to and galvanise people.

She said, “RED Radio can be described as a meeting place. It is an avenue to discuss all kinds of issues that affect the youths on the continent, whether it be business related, health, relationships, sports, lifestyles.. anything. As we bring people together, we also entertain them with music from across the continent.’ ‘it’s such a cool and diverse platform with shows in different languages to appeal to a wide section of listeners.  I leave it on quietly on my ipad constantly, catching up with anything I have missed’ she added.

Some of the flagship shows on RED Radio include the Barbershop Chronicles - a talk show featuring Shody, Sess, Alhaji Popping and Femisoro who discuss life matters from the perspective of men; Diary of an Africana follows the journey of a young African woman as she manoeuvres through various obstacles whilst she explores her true self; The Red Pill which brings you exciting news and music from the Congo and so much more.

The shows are recorded in video format and are also available on REDTV.

You can access the podcasts via www.itsredradio.com

By

Ayobami Adedeji Entertainment 2021-06-30

Lagos Police Command has granted Nollywood actor, Olanrewaju James aka Baba Ijesha bail.

Baba Ijesha has been in detention for alleged sexual molestation of a minor.

His lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana, confirmed the development on Monday.

He said: “He has been granted bail about one hour ago. We are working to perfect the bail. He was granted bail on health grounds.

“He has not been released. He will be released after his bail conditions have been met.”

By

Ayobami Adedeji Entertainment 2021-05-17