Entertainment
Sai De Silva Accuses Jessel Taank of Being a Liar on the RHONY 14 Finale on October 16, 2023 at 8:24 pm The Hollywood Gossip
Ahead of the Reunion, The Real Housewives of New York City Season 14 aired its finale on Sunday.
Among so many other things, we saw the best possible callback to Jessel calling Erin Sai’s “pet parrot.”
Brynn throws a big party that’s all about her, as all parties should be. (Also, it’s her birthday)
Sai isn’t the only one beefing with Jessel, but things get even worse between Sai and the birthday girl by the end of the night.
At the end of her debut season of RHONY, Brynn Whitfield goes to visit her psychic ahead of her birthday party. (Image Credit: Bravo)
Does Bravo have some sort of contract with psychics? The franchise has a history of featuring very accurate divination.
Anyway, Brynn Whitfield visits her psychic, Dante. His tarot spread appears to indicate that Brynn’s future will see conflict between people close to her.
He’s right. Of course, Brynn will have her own role to play.
Dante is the psychic who appeared on Season 14, Episode 14 of The Real Housewives of New York City. From what little we saw, his tarot spread accurately described how things went down. (Image Credit: Bravo)
Remember when Ubah Hassan and Erin Lichy had their intense feud? Things are a bit more chill now.
The two ride bumper cars. This is when they gossip about things, with Erin telling Ubah that Pavit praised Jessel “because she lets me do what I want.”
Actually, no, Erin, that’s not the truth. He more or less said that Jessel is happy to do the things that he loves doing — including traveling and having fun.
RHONY 14 stars Erin Lichy and Ubah Hassan drive bumper cars. Previously, the two had the season’s most explosive conflict. (Image Credit: Bravo)
Ubah also pushes back on Erin’s characterization.
Her impression was that Pavit was praising Jessel because “she loves me for me” instead of trying to change things.
Ubah isn’t always right … but she is right a lot of the time.
Beautiful Ubah Hassan wears a white coat while chatting after a refreshing round of bumper cars. (Image Credit: Bravo)
Another pair of Housewives are Brynn and Sai De Silva.
The two head to Central Park for the first time in forever. Their mission is a somber one.
Their goal is to find a tree that Brynn will dedicate to her late grandmother. It’s very sweet.
Brynn Whitfield towers over Sai De Silva as the two visit Central Park. (Image Credit: Bravo)
Meanwhile, Jessel is doing a photoshoot for her fashion platform. Somehow, we haven’t heard about this before.
Anyway, she shows up to Jenna Lyons’ house, because of course that’s a great place to do the photoshoot, and Jenna has a very generous spirit.
Jessel finds Jenna hard at work. She expresses surprise at how much Jenna does herself, considering her standing in the fashion world. Honestly? Jenna is a perfectionist, so she’s going to do a lot of things herself.
When Jessel Taank arrives at Jenna Lyons’ apartment, the fashion icon is personally putting together boxes of lashes. Perfectionism! (Image Credit: Bravo)
Shooting at Jenna’s turns out to have benefits beyond a beautiful location.
Jenna weighs in on some of the shots, even shifting some of her own home’s decor.
Jessel is grateful for the help. She adds that she’d hire Jenna to do these photoshoots if she could afford to do so. But she cannot.
Jessel Taank runs a photoshoot in her castmate’s home, and even gets a little help. (Image Credit: Bravo)
Ahead of Brynn’s birthday bash, Erin and Sai visit a costume shop. Brynn’s party will be a masquerade.
Somehow, the two of them seem to spend the entire episode griping about how much they loathe Jessel.
“I’m not mean,” Sai says of Jessel calling her a mean girl. “I’m abrasive and straightforward.” Girl … is that not mean?
At a costume shop to try on masks, Sai De Silva talks about the castmate who annoys her. (Image Credit: Bravo)
Erin shares that Ubah felt that Sai’s husband, David, had insulted her when asking “How is it possible you don’t have a man?”
He didn’t mean it as an insult. But it did sound that way. Either way, it was an inappropriate question. Just a little intrusive.
It’s good that she brought it up. At Brynn’s party, David approached Ubah and apologized. The two hugged it out. Super mature, and a normal way to handle conflict.
David Craig apologizes to Ubah Hassan for a comment that he made earlier on Season 14. This was a good move. (Image Credit: Bravo)
A lot of people who attend masquerade parties like Brynn’s will ditch the mask ASAP. Why? It’s over your eyes, you’re in a crowded room, you’re sweaty.
Jenna, however, went all out. Not only did she wear a gorgeous butterfly mask, but she didn’t even consider removing it.
Personally, I love her hyper-literal determination to do the absolute best at anything that she attempts.
Where most of the party guests ditched their masks, Jenna Lyons not only understood the assignment, but excelled at it. Gorgeous mask. Classic Jenna. (Image Credit: Bravo)
Speaking of Jenna, the tensions between her and the birthday girl were … non-zero.
It’s hard to say how much of this is playful banter and how much is, like, actual will-they-or-won’t-they.
I want to say that, anecdotally, every woman watching seems to want them to hook up. But while I know plenty of people who watch RHONY 14, I don’t know any straight women who watch. That could be a whole different viewing experience.
Once again, the chemistry between Jenna Lyons and Brynn Whitfield was incomparable. (Image Credit: Bravo)
Jessel knows that there are a couple of castmates who are gunning for her. But, when she arrives, she says a courteous greeting to Erin and Sai and then walks off.
Erin tries to confront her, to which Jessel notes that Erin’s been badmouthing her husband extensively. (Can I be real here? I have never cared less about anything this season than about Pavit’s flights to Vietnam)
According to Erin, she’s just saying what she thinks. Girl, we know. She also accuses Jessel of lashing out. That’s not what’s happening.
With Sai De Silva by her side, Erin Lichy interprets a brief exchange of pleasantries as a snub. (Image Credit: Bravo)
Later on, Sai directly accuses Jessel of lying — all about the deeply uninteresting Vietnam thing. (Occam’s Razor says that Pavit would have a more convincing cover story if he were cheating, and maybe he’s just a goofball who enjoys flying and racking up points)
Ubah wisely steps in and asks everyone “Why do you care about this?” That’s a solid question!
If Jessel were worrying sick about this, that would be one thing. But other than that … what’s the issue? And how did Jessel lie? (Hint: she didn’t)
Ubah Hassan steps in to ask why anyone is so hung up on a castmate’s marriage. (Image Credit: Bravo)
Brynn then stirs the pot with the party.
Gathering everyone around, she suggests that they all air their grievances.
This is not a standard party game, and was bound to cause more chaos than resolution. But maybe it was necessary.
For her birthday party, Brynn Whitfield suggests that everyone air their grievances. (Image Credit: Instagram)
Sai seems to be fixating on the idea that Jessel is lying, but can’t come up with an actual lie.
To be clear, Jessel does have her issues. She’s not always super self-aware, and she’s not a great storyteller. But where are these lies that Sai is talking about?
As many people have pointed out, Sai just doesn’t like Jessel, but keeps trying to come up with reasons. It’s weird. If I hate someone, I’ll have reasons — but if you just don’t vibe with someone, then you just don’t vibe with them.
Erin Lichy comes out as Sai De Silva’s “pet parrot,” which is honestly an inspired joke. (Image Credit: Instagram)
One real highlight of the night was Erin’s costume. Yes, Erin “Stop The Steal” Lichy did something genuinely funny — dressing as a parrot.
Jessel had described her (to Sai) as Sai’s “pet parrot,” and Jessel absolutely cracks up at this.
They sit down and talk things out … a little. Sai seems to become easily annoyed with people. It has to be more than just being hangry, right?
How thoughtful! The husbands and boyfriends gather around to help Brynn Whitfield cut the birthday cake! (Image Credit: Instagram)
With the help of various husbands and boyfriend, Brynn cuts the cake. (Gosh I love Brynn)
She also blurts out that Ubah is dating a man in Connecticut. This isn’t a huge revelation, but it’s more than Ubah has shared with the group.
Apparently, Sai had an off-camera dinner with Erin and Brynn. During this, she shared everything that she knew about Ubah’s man. (Just for the record, that’s a very normal thing for friends to do … but reality TV does make it different)
Brynn Whitfield apologizes to Ubah Hassan and to Sai De Silva about blurting out what she knows about Ubah’s relationship. (Image Credit: Instagram)
Though Brynn offers her apologies, Sai sounds like she no longer wishes to even speak to Brynn. The title cards seem to confirm this.
Jenna’s comment, that “You can’t be open in an environment that doesn’t feel safe,” really defines this season. Some of the Housewives felt increasingly safe and secure during the season. Others did not.
According to the title cards at the end of the season, Sai invited everyone out to her home upstate — except for Brynn. Yikes!
Sai De Silva Accuses Jessel Taank of Being a Liar on the RHONY 14 Finale was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
Ahead of the Reunion, The Real Housewives of New York City Season 14 aired its finale on Sunday. Among so …
Sai De Silva Accuses Jessel Taank of Being a Liar on the RHONY 14 Finale was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.
The Hollywood Gossip Read More
By Bolanle Media | July 2, 2026
Photo: Tyla at the 2026 Met Gala in custom Valentino — days before making the biggest business move of her career.
There are career moves, and then there are statements. Tyla just made a statement that will be studied in music business classrooms for years.
The South African superstar — born Tyla Laura Seethal, 24 years old, and already the proud owner of two Grammy Awards — has officially signed a multi-million dollar global deal with Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s powerhouse entertainment company, walking away from Epic Records to align herself with the most influential roster in the music business. The signing was confirmed across social media with a major digital announcement this week, and the reaction from industry insiders was immediate — shock, admiration, and the quiet acknowledgment that someone just changed the trajectory of African music forever.
From “Water” to a Global Phenomenon
Let’s not forget where this all started. In 2023, a 21-year-old from Johannesburg released a song called “Water” that nobody could quite categorize and everybody needed to hear. Within weeks, it had sparked one of the most viral TikTok dance challenges of the decade, charted simultaneously across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Africa, and earned Tyla a Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance — the first year that category even existed.
That win wasn’t just personal. It was a signal. African music — Afrobeats, Amapiano, and now what Tyla herself calls A*Pop — was no longer knocking at the door of the global mainstream. It had walked through it. And Tyla had handed it the key.
What followed was a whirlwind two years of sold-out shows, magazine covers, red carpet domination, and a growing reputation as one of the most stylistically fearless artists on the planet. She attended the 2026 Met Gala — her third consecutive appearance — wearing a custom Valentino gown dripping in diamond chains with a sweeping teal skirt, styled by the legendary Law Roach, with beauty by Pat McGrath. The look was breathtaking. But it was also strategic. Every Met Gala appearance, every fashion moment, every carefully placed interview has been building toward exactly this: the infrastructure to match the vision.
What Roc Nation Actually Means
To understand why this deal matters, you have to understand what Roc Nation actually is — because it is not simply a record label.
Founded by Jay-Z in 2008, Roc Nation is a full-service entertainment company with divisions spanning artist management, touring, brand partnerships, film and television, sports management, and philanthropy. Its roster has included Rihanna, Alicia Keys, J. Cole, Big Sean, Lil Uzi Vert, and Megan Thee Stallion — artists who didn’t just sell records, but built multi-decade cultural empires that extended into fashion, film, business, and beyond. The through-line isn’t genre. It’s scale.
For Tyla specifically, the Roc Nation deal unlocks a completely different level of access. We’re talking about premium budgets for music videos and live production, top-tier brand partnership pipelines with luxury and lifestyle companies, film and television placement relationships that most artists spend a decade trying to build, and the kind of media weight that gets you on the cover of Vogue, Time, and Billboard in the same calendar year. Roc Nation doesn’t just manage artists — it engineers icons.
On the African music side, Tyla joins fellow Roc Nation signee Ayra Starr, the Nigerian pop star who inked her deal in 2025, deepening the label’s clear and deliberate strategic investment in African pop as the next dominant global genre. Jay-Z is not betting on a trend. He is betting on a generation.
The Album That Could Rewrite the Playbook
The timing of this signing is not accidental — it is surgical.
Tyla’s highly anticipated sophomore album, A*POP, is officially set to drop July 24, 2026, just three weeks away — a 14-track project that she has described as unapologetic, globally ambitious, and deeply rooted in her South African identity while simultaneously reaching for something universal. The lead single “She Did It Again” features Swedish pop titan Zara Larsson, a collaboration that announces in no uncertain terms that Tyla is not staying in any lane she didn’t build herself.
With Roc Nation’s full machine now behind the album rollout — promotional infrastructure, media relationships, tour routing, brand activations — A*POP arrives with a runway that Epic Records simply could not have provided at this scale. The industry is already paying attention. For music supervisors, film and TV executives, brand marketers, and entertainment investors reading this right now — put A*POP on your radar immediately. This is the kind of release that shapes culture, not just charts.
The Bigger Picture Nobody Is Talking About
Here is what gets lost in the excitement of a big announcement: the systemic significance of what Tyla just did.
The music industry’s historical relationship with African artists has been, at best, transactional — major labels slow to invest, quick to cash in on a viral moment, and consistently reluctant to build the kind of long-term infrastructure that turns an artist into a brand. Tyla has navigated that system with remarkable intelligence, refusing to be reduced to a trend, building her artistic identity on her own terms, and now — at 24 — arriving at the negotiating table with enough leverage to choose Roc Nation on her terms.
That matters. Not just for Tyla, but for every African artist watching this unfold from Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Cape Town, and Houston. It is proof that the path from regional phenomenon to global superstar is not only possible — it is being paved right now, in real time, by a young woman from Johannesburg who refused to shrink.
For media companies, content platforms, entertainment executives, and brand strategists operating in the African diaspora space — this is your data point. African pop is not a niche. It is not a trend. It is not a moment. It is a movement, and Tyla just secured the most powerful co-sign available in the global music business to lead it.
Watch this space. Very closely.
Follow @bolanlemedia on Instagram for real-time music, film, and entertainment industry news. Read more at bolanlemedia.com
AfriqueFest: Pan-African Musical Experience — World Cup Edition is set to take over Noto Houston on Sunday, June 28, bringing together East, South, and West African sounds in one immersive celebration of music, culture, and connection. Presented by Experience Noir and Bolanle Media, the event is designed as a cinematic night for the culture, blending global energy with Houston nightlife in a way that feels elevated, intentional, and deeply rooted in African creativity.
Spotlight on DJ Shinski
At the heart of this year’s experience is DJ Shinski. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya and now based in Houston, DJ Shinski has built an international name off high-energy sets that move effortlessly across Afrobeats, Amapiano, hip‑hop, dancehall, reggae, and electronic sounds.
He has also become Africa’s most‑subscribed DJ on YouTube, crossing the 2‑million‑subscriber mark and turning his mixes into a global destination for music lovers.
DJ Shinski’s style is precise but unpredictable: one moment it’s classic Afrobeats, the next it’s East African anthems, then a run of throwback hip‑hop or R&B that still feels fresh. That ability to read a room and connect multiple worlds in a single set is exactly why AfriqueFest is building so much of the night’s energy around him.
At AfriqueFest, DJ Shinski helps drive the Safari Grooves segment, representing East and Central Africa from 4 PM to 6 PM. Expect a journey that moves from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Addis, and beyond, all filtered through his signature “vibes on vibes” approach behind the decks.
DJ Tunez and the rest of the night
Supporting that energy, DJ Tunez leads the Gold Coast Beats chapter from 8 PM to 10 PM, bringing his own Nigerian‑American Afrobeats pedigree to the stage. Together with the Diamond Rhythms segment (South) and a curated roster of DJs, the night stretches across the continent in three distinct musical chapters, all connected by a single dance floor.
Hosted by @chris_gone_crazy, @kingdrewwskyy, @roselynomaka, and @samsnewleaf, AfriqueFest is positioned as more than a party—it’s a celebration of sound, style, and Pan‑African identity in Houston, with DJ Shinski anchoring the experience from the moment doors open.
Brought to you by Bolanle Media & Experience Noir
Brought to you by Bolanle Media and Experience Noir, this World Cup edition of AfriqueFest is crafted as a night where global DJs, storytellers, and music lovers collide and create a shared cultural memory. With DJ Shinski front and center—and DJ Tunez helping close the night—guests can expect a show that reflects both the future of African nightlife and the power of the diaspora to create unforgettable live moments.
If you want to experience DJ Shinski live at AfriqueFest, now is the time to lock in your spot. Purchase your tickets now at AfriqueFest.com and get ready for a night of music, movement, and culture at Noto Houston.
Laughter Meets Inspiration: Our Ladies Show Lands on The Roku Channel
A bold new sketch comedy series for women premieres June 13 across the U.S., U.K., and Canada — arriving on the back of a festival-winning run that has critics and audiences already paying attention.
It isn’t every day a brand-new comedy arrives already wearing a row of trophies. Our Ladies Show does. The seven-episode inspirational sketch comedy series — created, written by, and starring Christin Jezak — begins streaming on The Roku Channel on Friday, June 13, 2026, available free to viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
Produced in partnership with global media services leader Encompass Digital Media, the series sets out to do something rare in today’s streaming landscape: make women laugh out loud and leave them lifted. In a media moment crowded with noise and cynicism, Our Ladies Show is a deliberate counterweight — comedy with a conscience, built for women of every age and background.
A Show Built Around Real Life — and Real Laughs
Each of the seven episodes opens with a monologue from one of the cast members introducing the theme, then rolls into three or more sketches that hit the subject from every comedic angle. The series tackles the things women actually carry: holding grudges, comparison, beauty, patience, gift giving, the importance of community, and dealing with anxiety.
The comedy comes from a place of warmth rather than mockery — a “laugh at ourselves” spirit that runs through a gallery of unforgettable characters: a nosey neighbor, an overwhelmed mom, relentlessly optimistic flight attendants, beauty pageant winners past their prime, and a crew of unruly campers with a counselor who simply cannot hold it together.
Then the show does something most sketch series don’t. In the final segment of every episode, the cast gathers in a living-room setting and invites the audience in — sharing real inspiration drawn from the theme, the sketches, and their own personal stories. It’s the moment the laughter turns into something that stays with you.
The Women Behind the Show
Our Ladies Show brings together three performers with serious range:
- Christin Jezak — creator, writer, and star (Miracle at Manchester, Raising Hope, Jimmy Kimmel Live!)
- Hillary Hawkins — (Primal, Nick Jr.’s Play Along, Gullah Gullah Island)
- Sarah Hernandez — (Nefarious, Unplanned, House of Payne)
“In a world with so much division and depression, I hope women of all ages and backgrounds will watch this show, laugh, be reminded of how beautiful, unique, and loved they are, and remember how much we need each other.”— Christin Jezak, Creator & Star
Already a Festival Favorite
The series’ recurring long-form sketch, Neighborhood Watch, didn’t arrive quietly. Originally released as a web series and revamped for Our Ladies Show with new footage, sound, and music, it has been sweeping the festival circuit:
- 🏆 Best Webseries — 2026 New Media Film Festival (Los Angeles)
- 🏆 Best Web/TV Series — Paris Film Awards
- 🏆 Best Web Series — Dallas Movie Awards
- 🏅 Additional wins at the London Movie Awards, Florence Film Awards, and Hollywood Gold Awards
- 🎬 Official Selection — 2026 Harvard Divinity School Film Fest
- ⭐ Finalist — Houston Comedy Film Festival
- 📣 Three nominations — 2025 Content Christian Media Conference, including Best Actress in a TV and Web Series nods for both Christin Jezak and Sarah Hernandez
Where and When to Watch
Our Ladies Show premieres Friday, June 13, 2026, streaming on The Roku Channel — the home of premium and free entertainment — in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. All seven episodes deliver the series’ signature blend of sharp sketch comedy and genuine encouragement.
Watch the trailer now on your platform of choice:
For more information, visit www.ourladiesshow.com and follow @ourladiesshow on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
About Christin Jezak
Christin Jezak has worked for over 15 years in the entertainment industry. She created and stars in Our Ladies Show and the award-winning web series Neighborhood Watch. She produced the EWTN TV program For the Sake of the Gospel and the all-women web series Ladies Keepin’ It Real, played Dr. Sam in Miracle at Manchester (starring Dean Cain, Daniel Roebuck, and Eddie McClintock), and voices Agnes in the podcast Confessions of a Catholic Single. She held a lead role in a short film for NTT Data directed by Academy Award–winning cinematographer Janusz Kamiński, has co-starred on Raising Hope, and appeared in Jimmy Kimmel sketches and a Grubhub Super Bowl commercial.
About The Roku Channel
Roku pioneered streaming on TV and is the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico by hours streamed (Hypothesis Group, Dec. 2025). The Roku Channel is the home of premium and free entertainment, alongside Roku’s Howdy and Frndly TV services. Roku is headquartered in San Jose, California.
About Encompass Digital Media
Encompass Digital Media is a global managed services company — technology-driven, software-defined, and people-powered. Trusted by world-leading broadcasters, networks, sports rights-holders, and OTT platforms, it processes over 25,000 hours of content daily, serves 850 channels to 84 countries, distributes over 243,000 live events annually, and reaches 400 million radio listeners weekly worldwide. Learn more at www.encompass.tv.
Media & Interview Requests: To interview creator Christin Jezak or the cast, contact Christin at cjezak@p2ptheatre.com.
Why Some Songs End Up in Movies—While Others Never Do
They Told Him a Black Man Can’t Learn. He Sued Them and Won.
