Black Voices: Money and Employment News from Across the Nation
- The Roast of Kevin Hart at the Kia Forum featured Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Lizzo, Teyana Taylor, and a surprise Usher performance.
- Netflix Is A Joke Festival hosted a private comedy brunch with Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Donnell Rawlings, and Luenell.
- Janet Jackson attended the 2026 GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala in Beverly Hills, making a notable red carpet appearance.
- Normani, Jordan Chiles, and Winnie Harlow celebrated Chiles’ 25th birthday at SRGN Studios in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles stayed busy this week with comedians, athletes, actors, and musicians appearing across several major events ahead of the summer entertainment season.
Netflix Is A Joke Festival brought out one of the biggest crowds of the week, led by The Roast of Kevin Hart at the Kia Forum, where Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Serena and Venus Williams, among others. Lizzo and Teyana Taylor took the stage during the roast, while Usher delivered a surprise performance for the crowd. Elsewhere during the festival, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Donnell Rawlings, and Luenell gathered for a private comedy brunch celebrating the ongoing run of shows across the city.
Outside the comedy world, music and fashion events kept the week moving. Janet Jackson attended the 2026 GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala in Beverly Hills, while Normani, Jordan Chiles, and Winnie Harlow celebrated Chiles’ 25th birthday in Los Angeles. Ryan Michelle Bathe also stepped out for the fifth annual Gold Gala as awards season conversations continue building around the industry.
Take a look at all the stars spotted out and about this week.
Winnie Harlow
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 26, 2026: Fashion model Winnie Harlow appears on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” airing May 11, 2026 in Burbank, California. Check your local listings for times. (Photo by Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty Images)
Jurnee Smollett
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MAY 07: Jurnee Smollett attends Women’s Guild Cedars-Sinai 2026 Spring Luncheon at The Beverly Hills Hotel on May 07, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images)
Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 07: (L-R) Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle attend a comedy brunch presented by Netflix Is A Joke Festival at a private residence on May 07, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Netflix)
Vivica A. Fox and Kelley L. Carter
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 07: Vivica A. Fox and Kelley L. Carter attend the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations presents Vivica A. Fox Career Retrospective at The Meryl Streep Center for Performing Artists on May 07, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Olivia Wong/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA Foundation)
Russell Wilson and Ciara
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 07: Russell Wilson and Ciara attend the 2026 Outstanding Mother Awards on May 07, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images)
Rocsi Diaz
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: Rocsi Diaz attends the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala 2026 at The Beverly Hilton on May 08, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
George Clinton
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: George Clinton of Funkadelic attends the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala 2026 at The Beverly Hilton on May 08, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Janet Jackson
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: Janet Jackson attends the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala 2026 at The Beverly Hilton on May 08, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Normani, Jordan Chiles and Winnie Harlow
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 08: (L-R) Guest, Normani, Jordan Chiles and Winnie Harlow attend Jordan Chiles 25th Birthday at SRGN Studios on May 08, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Jordan Chiles)
Morris Chestnut
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 09: Actor Morris Chestnut attends the 2026 Indie Night Film Festival at Tara Atlanta on May 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Ryan Michelle Bathé
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 09: Ryan Michelle Bathe arrives at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Gold House)
Joyce Wrice
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 09: Joyce Wrice arrives at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Gold House)
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 09: (L-R) Chrissy Teigen and John Legend arrive at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Gold House)
Regina Hall
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Regina Hall attends The Roast of Kevin Hart red carpet during Netflix Is A Joke Fest at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Eniko Hart and Kevin Hart
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: (L-R) Eniko Hart and Kevin Hart attend The Roast of Kevin Hart red carpet during Netflix Is A Joke Fest at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Sommore
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Sommore attends The Roast of Kevin Hart red carpet during Netflix Is A Joke Fest at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
H.E.R.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 09: H.E.R. arrives at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Gold House)
Da’Vine Joy Randolph
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 09: Da’Vine Joy Randolph arrives at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala at The Music Center on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Gold House)
Jess Hilarious
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Jess Hilarious attends Netflix Is A Joke Festival Presents: The Roast of Kevin Hart at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Netflix)
Draymond Green and Lizzo
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: (L-R) Draymond Green and Lizzo attend Netflix Is A Joke Festival Presents: The Roast of Kevin Hart at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Netflix)
Teyana Taylor
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Teyana Taylor attends Netflix Is A Joke Festival Presents: The Roast of Kevin Hart at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Netflix)
Questlove
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Questlove attends Netflix Is A Joke Festival Presents: The Roast of Kevin Hart at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Netflix)
Draymond Green
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: Draymond Green attends Netflix Is A Joke Festival Presents: The Roast of Kevin Hart at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Netflix)
Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 10: (L-R) Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart are seen onstage during Netflix Is A Joke Festival Presents: The Roast of Kevin Hart at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Netflix)
Tessa Thompson
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 11: Tessa Thompson attends the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations “His & Hers” screening and conversation at SAG-AFTRA Foundation Robin Williams Center on May 11, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)
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