While the rest of the world has been losing its mind over the news that the Catholic Church just elected its first American-born pope in Pope Leo XIV, at The Root, we're more interested in the news that the first American-born pope has Black roots.Read more...

Sean Diddy" Combs' federal trial began on Monday (May 12) with opening statements and The Root is keeping up with the day-to-day details surrounding the case. But because there's no cameras inside the court, the public has become increasingly curious to know more about Diddy's appearance.Read more...

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Spend a little time in New York City's Times Square and you never know who or what you may see. They don't call it the crossroads of the world for nothing. But lately, people have been looking past the furry costume characters and the Naked Cowboy to focus on a 12-foot statue of a Black woman created by artist Thomas...Read more...

Los Angeles Police officer Israel Florez was called by the prosecution Monday (May 12) as their first witness in the federal sex crime case against Sean Diddy" Combs. He said was working at the Intercontinental Hotel in Century City back in 2016 as assistant director of security. Leaked surveillance video of...Read more...

Just when it seemed the dust had settled in Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert's divorce, it appears the situation has once again taken another nasty turn. And this time, jail could be involved.Read more...

It's finally time. Sean Diddy" Combs' day in court is here as he faces sex crime charges in a federal trial. On Monday, May 12, prosecutors kicked off opening arguments in an attempt to convince the jury that the hip-hop mogul was a controlling abuser who expected everyone around him to treat him like a king."Read more...

Chris Brown's formerly owned mansion in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles is back on the market and let's just say-it's giving bold, baller, and very on brand. The 2,800 square foot compound, is less a traditional home and more a personal funhouse-meets-art gallery.Read more...

Broadcasting into people's homes every day to share your opinions on the hottest topics and trending news stories can leave one open to a lot of criticism, just ask former The View"cohost Star Jones. The lawyer-journalist, who was part of the show's OG panel, appeared on the Barbara Walters-created daytime talk show...Read more...

In response to the fiery allegations brought before the jury by federal prosecutors, defense attorneys for Sean Diddy" Combs told the jury this case has more to do with the rapper's private personal sex life" than an alleged exploitive criminal enterprise. And they didn't sugarcoat anything.Read more...

With President Donald Trump tearing up the White House, Democrats are scrambling to find their presidential pick for the 2028 race. It's too early to tell who will be at the top of either party's ticket, but already, Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockettsaid donations are rolling in for one person.Read more...

John Legend is speaking his peace on the former friendship he had with Kanye West and giving a little insight into how he thinks the controversial rapper became so, well, controversial.Read more...

Don't get us wrong, Mother's Day flowers, jewelry and homemade cards are nice. But after all the long, unpaid hours moms put in on the regular, most of them just want a little more time in bed on that first Sunday in May. If you don't believe us, just ask actress Halle Berry, who got exactly that on Mother's Day this...Read more...

For decades, an unspoken beef between TV shows Friends" and Living Single" has plagued Hollywood. Both shows were iconic in their own way, but only the white actor-led sitcom got the Hollywood red carpet rolled out. Now, two of the actresses from Living Single" are clearing up which came first, the chicken or the...Read more...

The public believes Rodney Hinton Jr. has a serious target on his back after being accused of fatally striking a Cincinnati sheriff's deputy with his vehicle. As such, social media has created a narrative around the actions of a Black officer toward Hinton in a now-viral video.Read more...

Fatherhood can make any man face their greatest fears...even if that fear is a cheese-eating mascot. Memphis rapper Big Boogie secured some extra cool points from his daughter after her birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese took a hilarious turn. But although many folks laughed at Boogie's scary experience, others online...Read more...

Rodney Hinton Jr. is accused by prosecutors of intentionally killing a Cincinnati sheriff's deputy in revenge for the fatal police shooting of his teen son. Though it seems like the odds are stacked against him, his attorneys argue that his mental condition absolves him from being labeled a cop killer."Read more...

Al B. Sure! is continuing to make sure he does all that he can to sound the alarm on Sean Diddy" Combs and all his alleged wrongdoings. And his latest moves-and what he just revealed-are proof positive of that.Read more...

Last week's Met Gala was super Black! The theme, Black Dandyism, opened the door for non-white figures and new global stars to be celebrated on the refreshingly diverse carpet. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan made history by being the first Bollywood male actor to walk the Met carpet, but his introduction to the...Read more...

Who doesn't want the tea on how these legendary tattoos ended up on the bodies of our favorite celebs? The tattoos are just another peek into the not-so-private lives of many of our favs. From Rihanna to Mike Tyson, these stars have some interesting stories which led to their most notable pieces. But while many of...Read more...

Rodney Hinton Jr. appeared in court this week for a hearing on charges he faces in connection to the killing of a Cincinnati sheriff's deputy. Walking past a wall of over 50 scowling deputies who posted up in support of their fallen colleague, Hinton stuck his chin up, eyeing down every single officer. - Kalyn Womack R...Read more...

When it comes to living a luxe life, no one does it better than rapper and entrepreneur Rick Ross. Whether on social media or in his videos, he loves showing off his jaw-dropping collection of cars and jewelry. But his best game isn't even on the ground. Ross recently sat down with the folks at Haute Living to give...Read more...

The family of Roger Fortson, the Black Air Force airman who was shot and killed by a Florida police officer, is taking new steps to get justice for their loved one. Now, the officer in question is facing more trouble than a potential criminal charge. All of the tension stems from one question, was the officer even...Read more...

In just over 100 days, we've seen President Donald Trump work overtime to erase every ounce of cultural and racial diversity from our government institutions, including threatening to end funding to the National Museum of African American History. His latest move will impact the world's largest library, as he fired...Read more...

R&B singer Barry White was known for his smooth and sexy voice recording hit songs that made people want to dance and fall in love. But the legendary crooner also had a very complicated love life. After a series of health challenges that led to his untimely death at age 58, the nine children, two ex-wives and one...Read more...

Shaboozey's 2025 Met Gala debut consisted of an unforgettable statement suit, and people cannot stop talking about it. Immersed in the drippy Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" theme, many praised the country superstar's outfit for its fearless fashion statement, while others say it was too over the top. Fans couldn't...Read more...

There's something about Mother's Day that just hits different. Not only is it a amazing day to honor the women who brought us into the world and shapes us, but it's also a good day to look back and reminisce on special moments. It's also fun to see just how much you've started to look like your mom as you age and...Read more...

A West Kentucky University student took to social media this week to share a horrifying racist incident to which he was subjected. However, this is no isolated occurrence...it's jus is only the continuation of the trend of racist run-ins we've seen since You-Know-Who got in office.Read more...

If you're reading this and you haven't already bought a gift for that special mother, grandmother or aunt in your life, shame on you. But lucky for you, you've come to the right place. From flowers to self-care and home decor we've rounded up some of our favorite gifts for mom that you can still get to her on time.Read more...

When it comes to Keke Palmer, the truth is always going to be told. In an artistic yet bold move, Palmer released a single titled My Confession," directly addressing the public fallout with her ex-boyfriend, Darius Jackson, the father of her son, Leodis. The record vividly unpacks the emotional strain on their...Read more...

Six months have passed since Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump in the November election for president, and many Americans are still mourning. The devastating blow divided the country even more, and now, former President Joe Biden is finally addressing his theories about why the Democratic party failed.Read more...

The Blackest Met Gala is officially behind us, but that doesn't mean we're done talking about it yet! Some of the biggest names in the industry put on their flyest and most creative ensembles to cater to the theme of Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," a nod to Black dandyism. And it's time to talk about some of the...Read more...

Draymond Green had choice words for reporters Thursday (May 8) night after picking up his fifth technical foul in nine playoff games during Game 2 of the Western Semifinals. And they're causing quite a stir among NBA fans who aren't feeling what he had to say.Read more...

Zendaya is one of this generation's biggest stars, due in equal part to her award-winning roles and her showstopping looks on the red carpet. Days after she slayed the Met Gala red carpet, her frequent collaborator and stylist Law Roach shed some light on Zendaya's big wedding coming up, but his response is leaving...Read more...

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Sean Diddy" Combs is expected to face three witnesses during his sex crime trial which kicked off this week, including ex-girlfriend and singer Casandra Cassie" Ventura. Cassie's claims of abuse are heavily cited by federal authorities, but in the latest court session, Diddy's attorneys suggest the singer wasn't...Read more...

During what should have been one of the happiest moments of her life, actress Gabrielle Union took plenty of heat from the internet when she and husband Dwyane Wade announced the birth of their daughter Kaavia via surrogate in 2018.Read more...

Taraji P. Henson's next movie role is almost here, and the internet has some thoughts. The Empire" alum is set to star in Straw," Tyler Perry's latest film set to hit Netflix this June. The film sees Henson as a single mother whose world unravels" in chaos. Sound familiar?

Times Square in New York is one of the world's most popular tourist locations. Folks from all over the globe descend upon the tourist attraction all year-round, so it serves as the perfect place to make a statement. That's exactly what's happening after a stoic, 12-foot tall bronze statue of a Black woman popped up...Read more...

Y'all, when is MAGA not complaining about something? They flooded social media following the election of Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and the first American pope to be elected. However, his liberal stance has ruffled some far-right feathers.Read more...

A Georgia woman found herself in some... well...hot water after she was arrested for allegedly assaulting her man with an interesting weapon. A little after 5 p.m. on Tuesday (May 6), authorities were called to the Stay Lodge motel, an extended stay lodge, after a report of a domestic dispute.Read more...

Movie and TV moms often have all the answers and are able to expertly handle every situation. Even when they're crumbling under the pressure, they still manage to crack jokes and deliver award-worthy performances. However, they're not all perfect. Hollywood has given us plenty of absolutely terrible mothers. These are...Read more...

Jhene Aiko is giving fans a long-awaited update on her living status after losing her home back in January. And what she had to say may be beneficial to a whole lot of folks.Read more...

Though chatter of celebrity beef has calmed down, it looks like a new one may be brewing between Ashanti and the late Irv Gotti's brother, Chris Gotti. But it may not last too long.Read more...

2025 has been an all-out assault on Blackness. Since Donald Trump took office on January 20th, he tried to erase the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen from military history, has made attempts to gut the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and is trying his best to eradicate all Diversity,...Read more...

New York Knicks fans have a lot to be excited about as their home team heads back to Madison Square Garden with a 2 -1 advantage over the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs. While the first two games in the series ended in dramatic fashion, former Celtic forward Paul Pierce just got a painful...Read more...

A male traveler was just trying to check in for his flight to get home from a business trip when a couple Frontier employees appeared to make checking in wayyy more difficult than it had to be. The interaction was caught on camera, so you already know the incident came back to bite them.Read more...

As the world continues to celebrate Pope Leo XIV as the new leader of the Catholic Church, there's one important thing folks should know about him. On Thursday (May 8), Leo was named the first American-born pope in history. But his lineage has deeper ties to the intricate fabric of the Black American South.Read more...

On Thursday (May 8), cardinal electors in Vatican City selected Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born cardinal to be the next leader of the Catholic Church. But there's a reason why Black folks, Catholic or not, should care about this: The new pope is Black.Read more...

The Weeknd has revealed his true life's passion... and surprisingly, it's not music. The Starboy" musician admitted that his rise to superstardom in the music industry was really just a little detour" he used to pursue his number one passion.Read more...