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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 11 January 2020
'Pose' cast, Niecy Nash, Matsoukas

to be honored by Essence

By MESFIN FEKADU
NEW YORK (AP) — Emmy
winner Niecy Nash, the
groundbreaking cast of the
hit TV series "Pose," Gram-
my-winning music video
director Melina Matsou-
kas and "Captain Marvel"
actress Lashana Lynch will
be honored at the 2020
This June 28, 2011 file photo shows people waiting to attend an
autograph signing event during the Romance Writers of Ameri- Black Women in Hollywood
ca Annual Conference in New York. Awards.
Associated Press Essence Communica-
tions, the media company
Frustration with lack dedicated to black wom- This image released by Netflix shows Niecy Nash in a scene
en that hosts the annual
from "When They See Us."
of diversity grows pre-Oscars luncheon, an- Black Women in Hollywood
Associated Press
nounced Thursday that the
event will take place Feb. gelica Ross and Hailie Sa-
at Romance Writers 6 at the Beverly Wilshire in har. Billy Porter, who won awards luncheon," MoAna
Beverly Hills, California — an Emmy for his role on Luu, the company's chief
three days before the 92nd "Pose" last year, will be a content and creative of-
Academy Awards. presenter at the awards ficer, said in a statement.
NEW YORK (AP) — Turmoil America canceled its an- "Pose" writer-director- luncheon. "Whether they're reclaiming
continued Thursday at nual RITA prizes and con- producer Janet Mock will "ESSENCE is thrilled to com- our culture or dismantling
the Romance Writers of firmed that the Harlequin, be honored at the event memorate the creative traditional gender ideas,
America as it faced an- Avon Books and Berkeley alongside members of the and critical achievements each of our honorees up-
other high-level departure Romance are among the show's cast, including Mj of Black women as origina- lift us as they present their
and several publishers an- publishers who dropped Rodriguez, Indya Moore, tors, nurturers, makers and unique gifts on the screen
nounced they would not out from the conference Dominique Jackson, An- creators during our 13th and behind the camera.q
participate in this summer's in San Francisco. "We have
annual conference. lost the trust of our mem-
Writers, editors and publish- bership and the romance Brazil's Supreme Court allows
ers have been furious with author community and we
the RWA over allegations are taking steps to rebuild
that it has failed to address that relationship," the RWA gay Jesus film on Netflix
a lack of diversity in the board said in a statement
organization. Long-term Thursday. "We have a dif- RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — President Jair Bolsonaro. His edy group. "It silences by
frustration became widely ficult road ahead, but we The president of Brazil's Su- administration has vowed means of fear and intimi-
known over the holiday are committed to traveling preme Court on Thursday to fight "cultural Marxism" dation."
season after the RWA ini- it together and building a issued an order that allows and openly supports Chris- Felipe Santa Cruz, presi-
tially reprimanded author stronger, more inclusive or- streaming service Netflix to tian values. Several shows, dent of the Brazilian Bar
Courtney Milan for calling ganization with all of you— continue exhibiting a satiri- plays and conferences Association, said the ruling
a novel by Kathryn Lynn and for all of you." cal film depicting Jesus as have been canceled since went against the Brazilian
Davis racist. The RWA is a trade organi- a gay man and reaffirmed Bolsonaro took office just constitution, which guaran-
Numerous RWA board zation that represents thou- Brazilians' right to free over one year ago. tees free expression in the
members have left, includ- sands of writers. A spokes- speech. On Wednesday, judge arts, science and commu-
ing President Damon Suede woman said Thursday that "It is not to be assumed that Benedicto Abicair ruled nication.
on Thursday. Also this week, the association's confer- a humorous satire has the against the film following a "Any form of censorship
the Romance Writers of ence was still planned.q
magic power to undermine petition by a Brazilian Cath- or threat to this hard-won
olic organization that ar-
freedom is a setback and
the values of the Chris-
Dave Burd, aka Lil tian faith, whose existence gued the "honor of millions cannot be accepted by
goes back more than two of Catholics" was hurt by society," said Santa Cruz,
Dicky, brings comic thousand years," Supreme the airing of "The First Temp- who has clashed with Bol-
Court President José Anto-
tation of Christ." The spe-
sonaro in the past.
nio Dias Toffoli wrote in his cial was produced by the On Christmas Eve, sev-
styling to television decision. Rio-based comedy group eral men threw gasoline
Netflix earlier the same day Porta dos Fundos, whose bombs at the entrance of
filed an official complaint headquarters was target- the headquarters of Porta
By BETH HARRIS on FXX in the spring. It fol- with the country's top le- ed by gasoline bombs on dos Fundos. No one was in-
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — lows Burd in his daily life, gal authority, decrying at- Christmas Eve. jured.
Dave Burd's persona as with comedy ensuing from tempted censorship by a In its complaint filed to the Porta dos Fundos said in
rapper Lil Dicky is already doctor visits and his rela- judge in Rio de Janeiro who Supreme Court, Netflix's a statement that it stands
a hit, having released mu- tionship with his girlfriend. ordered the film's withdraw- lawyers argued that the "against any act of cen-
sic with some of the genre's He's got some big names al from its platform. The film judge's decision amounts sorship, violence, illegal-
biggest names. in his corner on the project, was never removed. to censorship and has an ity, authoritarianism and
Now Burd is taking his comi- including comedian Kevin Still, the Rio judge's ruling has impact "equivalent to that all the things we no longer
cal and relatable style to Hart and music manager revived scrutiny on what his of the bomb used in the expected to have to repu-
television with his self-titled Scooter Braun, who serve critics call censorship under terrorist attack against the diate in 2020. Our job is to
series "Dave," set to debut as executive producers.q the far-right government of headquarters" of the com- make humor."q