NEWS
Keke Palmer has shared the long-lasting advice she got from Ice Cube as a teenager while on set with the iconic hip-hop innovator.
The former child star was a guest on sports commentator personality Shannon Sharpe’s infamous Club Shay Shay podcast to promote her upcoming second memoir, Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative.
During the interview, she recalled the time when Cube gave her some poignant advice on set of the 2008 Fred Durst-directed film The Longshots which “stuck with her” throughout her career.
“He was very cool, very chill,” she began. “He didn’t say too much: a man of few words, but very nice. One day, they were like, ‘Ice Cube wants to speak to you,’ and I’m like, ‘OK…’ So they call me into a room and he’s way far distant from me and it’s some bodyguards there. And I’m [thinking], ‘What we about to talk about?’”
Palmer continued: “He’s like, ‘I just want to tell you, Keke. You’re a beautiful young lady, and I see how kind you are and how nice you are to everybody on the set. But, I want you to know you’re growing into a young woman, and a lot of times the way that people see you – the way that these men see you on set – it’s not the way you see yourself. So protect yourself, be careful and don’t let them take advantage of you. Know who you are and know what you have, so people can’t use it against you.”
The 31-year-old revealed that she was thankful for the words of wisdom, although she “didn’t understand it because [she] was like 14 at the time.”
“It was so important for him to say to me,” she concluded. “He’s a father; he’s someone who has seen a lot in this industry, especially with young entertainers. I always remember that, and I was always so grateful to him for that. I haven’t seen him since but I would love to tell him that really stuck with me all these years and thank you for reminding me.”
The Longshots was Cube and Palmer’s second film together – their first time on screen together was in the 2004 cult classic Barbershop 2: Back In Business.
Palmer also recalled the advice given to her by rapper Nicki Minaj at this year’s Met Gala while appearing on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
With a thick New York drawl, Palmer imitated the Queens rapper, saying: “Look, I don’t read the press. I don’t know everything that’s going on, but I just want to tell you: nobody knows what it’s like when we turn off the lights and we gotta be with ourselves. So, you do whatever you need to do to be good with you.”
Minaj jokingly said she would hit the entertainment polymath with a “cease and desist” for impersonating her on X/Twitter, saying she was ruining her “bad guy thing”.
NEWS
In a major setback for the UK summer festival season, global drinks brand Pepsi has confirmed it is ending its relationship with Wireless Festival. The move comes after strong political criticism and public reaction to the festival’s decision to book American rapper Kanye West, who is now legally known as Ye, as a headliner.
The situation intensified this week after Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke out against the booking, according to reporting from The Guardian. Starmer described the decision as "deeply concerning," pointing to the artist’s past antisemitic comments and his open praise of Nazi related figures as being at odds with the values of the United Kingdom. His remarks reflect a wider position within the government that antisemitism must always be challenged firmly to protect the Jewish community and maintain public safety.
Recent releases from the rapper have added further controversy. In the previous year, he drew global criticism after putting out a song called Heil Hitler and attempting to sell products displaying swastika imagery. Although West later apologized in the Wall Street Journal and said his actions were connected to a manic episode, many critics believe his influence still presents serious concerns.
The event, which is planned for July at Finsbury Park in London, is now dealing with growing uncertainty. Aside from losing a key sponsor, there are also questions about whether West will even be able to enter the country. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has the power to refuse entry if someone is considered not beneficial to the public good. These rules allow the Home Office to refuse visas to individuals whose behavior or connections could increase social tensions or encourage hate.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has already urged officials to impose a ban on his entry, while organizations such as the Board of Deputies of British Jews have described the booking as "deeply irresponsible." With a major sponsor stepping away and increasing calls for government action, organizers of Wireless Festival now face significant challenges in keeping the event moving forward.
