Stories That Made Our Week: New Stars And Ghosts From The Past

Ghosts of comments past

British model Amena Khan, has been dropped by cosmetic giant L’Oreal over anti-Israeli comments in a series of old tweets. She was selected to be the first woman in a hijab for a mainstream shampoo campaign. Khan’s messages, posted on Twitter in 2014, have since been deleted. It is not the first time a L’Oreal advertising campaign to promote diversity has foundered because of controversial social media comments by a model. Last year, the group dropped British black transgender model Munroe Bergdorf over Facebook comments she made accusing all whites of racial violence.

More-black Oscar nods favour

Jordan Peele. Photo credit: Scream Magazine

History was made this year as the list of nominees for the Oscar awards featured the highest number of black nominees in prominent categories since its inception. Most notable are Jordan Peele—bagging three nominations in the Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture categories for his work in the movie Get Out—Mary J. Blige with two nods for Best Supporting Actress and Best Song for the film Mudbound and Octavia Spencer who is now tied with Viola Davis as the most nominated black actress of all time with her nod as Best Supporting Actress for the fantasy epic The Shape of Water.

Against all odds

Controversial veteran comedian Bill Cosby performed his first gig in in three years on Monday night at the LaRose Jazz Club in Philadelphia despite the sexual allegations laid against him. Although he is still to appear in court later this year, he still thrilled a welcoming audience with jokes as he made light references to his blindness and stating that he ‘used to be’ a comedian.

A star for Minnie!

Minnie Mouse (C) is honored with the 2,627th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 22, 2018 in Hollywood, California, where she was joined by Disney CEO Bob Iger (top L), singer Katy Perry (top C), and President of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Leron Gubler (L). Photo credit: AFP/Frederic J. Brown

Minnie Mouse gets her own star on the Hollywood walk of fame at the age of 90. The star was presented by pop music star Katy Perry who wore a Minnie-like pink polka dot dress in honour of the character. This star comes 40 years after Mickey Mouse, who got his star back in 1978.

Still going strong

Although a lot of Nigerians have forgotten about the Chibok girls, Nigerian former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili continues to fly the banner of the #BringBackOurGirls movement high. The FCT Police Command detained her with members of her team on Tuesday as they moved to stage a march at the presidential villa. They were released shortly after with the police issuing a statement later saying they were not arrested or detained but only brought in to ‘ensure there was no breakdown of law and order’.