Met Gala 2025 Reveals, My Thoughts on Tyler Perry, and 'The Bear' Controversy
From the exciting Met Gala 2025 reveal to "The Bear" sweeping the comedy category at the Emmy's, here's what has been on my mind since Sept. 10, 2024.
Hello,
Welcome to The Diamond Report. There’s a lot going on in the world of entertainment, and I’m excited that I have this forum to share all of my thoughts. Buckle up because there’s a lot in store for this issue.
But, before you go any deeper, I would like to welcome you to The Diamond Club. If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe and come back next month (or maybe sooner) for more!
What’s The Scoop?
The Met Gala 2025 Is Going To Be One To Watch
On Oct. 9, the theme and the co-chairs for the 2025 Met Gala were announced. Musician Pharrell Williams leads the co-chairs, joined by Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, rapper A$AP Rocky, and actor Colman Domingo. Together, they’re bringing the historic theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" to life, placing Black men at the center of the exhibit. The theme will explore dandyism and the influence of Black men on style.
In honor of the news, here are some of my favorite looks from last year’s gala.
Let’s Talk About The Reckoning…
The industry is facing a reckoning unlike any other. The latest target is the music mogul with a not-so-secret life, Sean Diddy Combs. Currently being held in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, Combs faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Click Here To Read The Full 14-Page Indictment
Combs allegedly was the mastermind and organizer of these elaborate, disturbing “freak-offs” that would last a long time, often requiring participants to receive IV drips to recuperate their energy. However, hearing the stories is different than seeing his actions in real time. When CNN released the footage of Combs pulling Cassie to the floor and kicking her, it changed everything.
Combs joins the ranks of other industry dominates who are finally reaping what they sowed. I feel like this case in particular is going to uncover a lot of the ugly in Hollywood. There’s no way that Combs accepts his fate and goes down alone. Others, who we probably wouldn’t have imagined, are going to be revealed in connection with the “freak-offs.” Someone, like Diddy, can’t operate alone. He had partners, a team, friends and associates who not only helped him, but also participated in it all with him.
This is just the beginning. With Combs’ trial set for May 2025, there’s no telling what will happen.
Black Creatives Are In Their Speculative Fiction Bag
As we enter Spooky season, I’m in awe at the growing amount of Black horror, suspense and science fiction projects in the works from Black creatives. From Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan’s highly anticipated collaboration “Sinners,” which is supposed to center Black vampires in the middle of Jim Crow and Colman Domingo’s conspiracy thriller “The Madness” to the recently released projects, like the Halle Berry-led “Never Let Go” and Niecy Nash-led “Grostequiere,” there’s been so many exciting projects. I simply love the idea of Black people occupying all spaces and excited to witness this booming era of original content.
Check Out My Stories:
Escape into the worlds of Black speculative fiction this spooky season — Kayla Grant, theGrio
Get into ‘Blacula’ this spooky season with Rodney Barnes’ graphic novel — Kayla Grant, theGrio
On My Soap Box: When Will We Stop Accepting Mediocrity From Tyler Perry?
If you know me, then you know that this is a long time coming. It may even shock you that it wasn’t in my very first edition of The Diamond Report. To know me is to have heard at least one rant or remark about Mr. Tyler Perry. With his next project “Beauty in Black” releasing on Oct. 24, his rotation of television shows premiering back to back on BET and the Kerry Washington-lead film “The Six Triple Eight” premiering on Netflix in December, there’s no better time than the present for me to get on my soap box.
Before we really get into this, it’s important to make one distinction. Tyler Perry “The Business Man” is different from Tyler Perry “The Creative.”
Whenever I have this conversation with people, they give me reasons to support “The Business Man,” who I currently don’t have any issue with. Perry is a self-made billionaire, who pursued his dreams, monetized his craft and became a household name. In addition, he has constantly created spaces for Black actors and actresses to work and pays them what they are worth. He also owns a very large studio in Atlanta. There’s no denying that he has a knack for business and is a successful person; however, his choices as “The Creative” are the sole sources of my problems.
Many of the Perry productions are staples in Black households. From his plays turned movies to his soap opera-styled shows, his content has gone triple platinum on both the big and little screens. But, we eventually have to take the time to look at the content and ask ourselves… what in the world is going on and why are we supporting this?
Perry has a career that spans decades. With all of the shows, movies and plays under his belt and the accolades he has received, one would assume that he would have acquired the knowledge necessary to make, at the very least, a decent product. Instead, with each new release, it only seems to get worse. From low-budget sets and costumes to lazy storylines, each project attached to Perry seems to be on the same caliber as a stereotypical Tubi movie. He constantly boasts about doing all the work by himself in a short amount of time. That’s something that I honestly can say I believe because it shows — and never in a good way. The acting is laughable, the script is ridiculous, and one day in the Tyler Perry universe seems to last 50 episodes.
Beyond the easy to spot issues, there’s a deeper issue with the low-quality content that Perry releases: it’s impact on Black people. Each new project perpetuates a stereotype that is often negative about Black people. Whether it’s an established trope, like a dark-skinned strong, independent Black woman getting abused or something unbelievably ridiculous, like a poverty-stricken family grabbing their loved one out of a casket during a funeral service, Black people are often depicted as buffoons.
As a journalist, I learned the power of the media and carry a responsibility of being cautious about the work that I put out. Words, pictures and videos published into the world can drastically impact someone’s life. Perry, who has a huge audience, carries that responsibility. Now, that doesn’t mean that every project he creates should lift the Black consciousness and educate us. However, I do believe that it shouldn’t drag us back to the past or perpetuate the stereotypes it does.
Will Packer, the visionary behind reality television shows, like “Ready To Love” and movies, like “The Best Man” and “Takers,” doesn’t create the same content as someone like Ava DuVernay. But, the one thing both of these legends have in common is that they are intentional. They create content that actually resonates with the Black community, instead of bringing them down. Perry’s content is often rooted in Black trauma and hardship or negative tropes. He always finds a way to insert sadness and gloom, and it’s often hard to believe what you are watching — again, not in a good way.
I think it’s important to hold creatives accountable for what they put into the world. But, according to Tyler Perry, anyone who questions his work, what he does or the simple fact that he shouldn’t be doing everything by himself, is simply a “highbrow negro.”
The Diamond Review: Should You Watch “How To Die Alone”?
In “How To Die Alone,” Natasha Rothwell (“Insecure” and “The White Lotus”) plays Mel, a broke JFK employee who has never experienced true love and constantly puts herself and her feelings second. After a near-death experience, she decides to start taking the chances that scare her, unlocking a new era in her life that she could have never imagined.
The Hulu original expertly blends comedy with drama, serving as a coming of age story for adults. The 8-episode comedy completely dispels the theory that adults have everything figured out and normalizes it. “How To Die Alone” reminds people that self-love comes before everything and reiterates that there’s always time to start over.
Rothwell shines in every scene, with her range as both a comedic and dramatic actress on full display. There’s a depth and reliability to Mel that can only be accredited to her talent. With friendship and familial drama, a romance that got away, and newfound love, “How To Die Alone” is a cute, quick binge-worthy show from a creative genius.
Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎/ 5
Hot Take Hollywood: “The Bear” Doesn’t Believe In Itself, So Why Should You?
Although it’s been a few weeks since the 76th Annual Emmy Awards, this is one pulpit that I will continue to stand on all year round. For the second year in a row, “The Bear” won almost all of the awards they were nominated for. It would typically be an indication of the show’s greatness and notoriety. However, in the case of “The Bear,” the wins are overshadowed by confusion and upset. The series, which categorized itself solely as a drama until recently, has continuously won awards in the comedy category.
Note: “The Bear” recently changed its category to “comedy-drama; psychological drama.” Isn’t that ironic?
Despite my thoughts on the first season of the show, I knew I couldn’t say much about it without all of the facts. So, I swallowed all of my thoughts and feelings on season one, and began watching the second and third season. I will say, I was originally against the show and didn’t understand how it became so popular. But, after watching the series in its entirety, I understand. Season two of “The Bear” found its footing and leaned more into the very thing that made it unique. It was more enjoyable, and I think the storyline was more flushed out. They took more chances and carried it into the next season. It truly established itself as a quality show.
For those who have never seen an episode of “The Bear,” it’s essentially a show that portrays the intense behind-the-scenes environment of the culinary world. Mixed with family drama and dark themes, each episode seems to be more anxiety-inducing than the last. From a hectic dinner with the family to having an emotional breakdown in a freezer, it seems like there’s always something happening. But, when awards season comes around and they enter the show into the comedy section, it makes many wonder, where’s the comedy?
Aside from a few chuckles (across the series), “The Bear” is a drama. I think that it’s actually a strong contender for winning in its rightful category, especially now since their biggest competition, HBO’s “Succession,” is over. But, instead of dominating in the drama category, the Hulu original series is taking away awards from actual comedy shows, like Abbott Elementary.
It’s clear to anyone who can make it past the first season that “The Bear” has something special. It’s different from any show currently on television currently, as they are seemingly unafraid to try different things and can push certain limits that others can’t. People would genuinely root for the show in the drama category. But, if the creators don’t trust in their own innovation, then only one question remains: why should we?
And The Award Goes To 🏆…
Movie of the Month: “She Taught Love” on Hulu
Show of the Month: “How To Die Alone” on Hulu
Book of the Month: “His & Hers” by Alice Feeney
Song (Actually, Album) of the Month: “MUTT” by Leon Thomas
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I thoroughly enjoyed this edition of the Diamond Report. Can’t wait for November’s Edition.