Gotham FC Becomes First NWSL Team to Celebrate Title at White House
NJ/NY Gotham FC became the first NWSL team to visit the White House on Monday, celebrating its 2023 title alongside President Joe Biden. Following remarks from the Commander-in-Chief, Championship MVP Midge Purce and head coach Juan Carlos Amorós presented Biden with his own personalized team kit. Retired Gotham captain and newly appointed club ambassador Ali Krieger also spoke at the event: “Being the first is historic, but it’s even more important that we ensure we are not the last. We all know we are committed to build on this momentum for future generations.” Gotham will attempt to secure back-to-back titles after it clinched its 2024 playoff spot on Sunday, beating Utah Royal FC 1-0.
Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire Documentary in the Works
Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson has identified his next cinematic project. The founding member of The Roots, who won an Oscar for Best Documentary for his direction of Summer of Soul, will dive deep into the legendary band Earth, Wind & Fire as director of the new project. Questlove fittingly made the announcement over the weekend on the 21st of September. “Having been baptized in the Afrocentric joy river of this powerhouse unit, I’ve learned about them, I’ve learned about us & more importantly, I’ve learned about and rediscovered myself in the process,” Thompson said.
Serena Williams, Ruth Carter to Produce Biopic of Legendary Designer Ann Lowe
Tennis legend Serena Williams and Oscar-winning costume director Ruth Carter are producing a biopic chronicling the life of the late Ann Lowe, the pioneering Black designer who created the ivory taffeta wedding dress worn by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis when she married John F. Kennedy in 1953. According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Dress will focus on the process behind the timeless ensemble. Lowe, whose career spans decades, also designed outfits worn by those a part of the Rockefeller, Roosevelt, Du Pont, and Whitney families.
Travis Scott Replaces Sabrina Carpenter at No. 1 on Billboard 200
Travis Scott has dethroned Sabrina Carpenter to take the top spot in the Billboard 200 charts. More than a decade since its original release, Days Before Rodeo sold 156,000 units in the United States in the week ending on Sept. 19. This feat marks Scott’s fourth consecutive No. 1 project. Carpenter’s debut record, Short n’ Sweet, now sits at No. 2, selling 108,000 equivalent album units in the same time frame.
OVO Unveils New College Collection with Stanford, Yale & More
As the calendar prepares to turn to October, OVO is headed back to school with its newest collection. The Drake-owned brand unveiled its Campus Collection, which features varsity jacket-inspired silhouettes, hoodies, T-shirts, and more from an array of universities, including the University of Toronto, Western University, the University of Cambridge, Yale University, and Stanford University.
X Prepares to Remove ‘Block’ Function
Another major change is coming to the X experience. Technology reporter Nima Owji broke the news that the social media company is preparing to remove its “block” function. As a result, any posts written by users with a public account will be visible to all. Elon Musk clarified that with the change, the blocked user will still not be able to engage with the posts.
Jay-Z Promises $15M to NYC in Effort to Secure Times Square Casino
Jay-Z is taking another step in the effort to secure a Times Square casino. The rapper and Roc Nation announced that they will donate $15 million to directly benefit the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood if they are selected for one of the limited number of state-granted licenses. As part of the proposed funding structure, Hell’s Kitchen will also generate .5% of profits from the proposed casino, which are expected to drive millions of dollars to the community.
Max Celebrates ‘Friends’ 30th Anniversary with New Game Show
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Friends, a new game show searching for the sitcom’s No. 1 fan is coming to small screens. Max shared details in a Monday release, and production for Fast Friends is set to begin next month in New York during “The Friends Experience: The One” activation. The new show will allow fans to re-live their favorite moments by “racing through Rachel and Monica’s apartment to darting across Joey and Chandler’s bachelor pad,” all while testing their Friends knowledge through various trivia and puzzles.