There is no doubt that 2014 had its share of exciting and heartbreaking entertainment news. From the good, like Lupita Nyong'o's first Oscar win, to the bad, like Bill Cosby’s string of sexual assault allegations, there was no shortage of events to talk about.
Here's a look back at the Top 11 Black Entertainment News Stories of 2014.
"Your Dreams Are Valid"
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Lupita Nyong'o’s role in “12 Years A Slave” not only netted the 31-year-old various endorsements and an Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actress, it also made her a role model for countless of people. Following her acceptance speech, Nyong'o made a memorable speech, in which she said; "When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from your dreams are valid."
Aaliyah Biopic Fail?
Lifetime
When Lifetime announced the development of an Aaliyah biopic, fans were not pleased with the casting for the starring role, which was initially held by actress and singer Zendaya Coleman. Following a slight casting shift with the coveted role, which was instead played by actress Alexandra Ship, the film’s Nov. 15 premiere was met with much criticism on social media. But despite the viral backlash, the film drew 3.2 million viewers during its debut airing.
Keepin' It Really Real
Who said Viola Davis couldn’t raise the bar on primetime television? The actress wowed viewers all season long, to but one especially hair-raising scene on Shonda Rhimes’ ABC series “How To Get Away With Murder” where she removed her wig was perhaps one of the most memorable -- and most celebrated.
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Black History On Broadway
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Audra McDonald made history this year when she became the Tony Awards' most decorated actress. McDonald won her sixth Tony for portraying Billie Holiday in "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill," putting her ahead of five-time winners Angela Lansbury and the late Julie Harris for the most competitive wins by an actress.
Tyler Perry Becomes A Pop
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In recent years Kanye West, Jay Z, Beyonce, & Kim Kardashian all became parents with the birth of their daughters. This year was Tyler Perry’s turn to make the giant leap into parenthood. The Hollywood mogul welcomed his son with longtime girlfriend, Gelila Bekele, on Nov. 30.
ABC Goes "black-ish"
ABC
The ABC network got a little more color this past fall with the debut of its original series, “Black-ish.” While critics were a bit skeptical of the show’s title leading up to its airing, the network went on to greenlight the series from 6 episodes to a full season and became the widely known as a "gamechanger."
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Cosby Allegations
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Bill Cosby's legacy was debated this year following the resurfacing of a string of sexual assault allegations. Though the comedian-actor remained relatively mum, the controversy has impacted the release of developing Cosby projects and the pulling of “The Cosby Show” reruns on certain networks.
Solangegate
Perhaps one of the most talked about stories this year took place following the annual Met Gala when Beyonce, Jay Z, and Solange entered an elevator, which resulted in a dispute between the two in-laws. But as Bey professed on the “Flawless” remix; “of course sometimes shit goes down, when it's a billion dollars on an elevator!” However, following Solange’s attack on Hova, the two were photographed together in New Orleans during a family lunch a few weeks later.
Kimye Tie The Knot
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
The greatest wedding of “all time” took place this year as Kanye West formally made reality star, Kim Kardashian his wife. The pair, who also made headlines this year by gracing the cover of Vogue magazine, exchanged vows during a lavish wedding in Florence, Italy.
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“Dear White People”
Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Following a strong viral campaign, director Justin Simien's “Dear White People” made its debut in theaters in October. The Sundance Award-winning film follows a collective group of college students on a fictional ivy league campus, as they navigate through various racially charged experiences.
D’Angelo RETURNS!
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Following a 14 year hiatus, R&B crooner D’Angelo made his triumphant return with the release of his long-awaited third studio effort, “Black Messiah.” And as expected, the 40-year-old’s opus has garnered rave reviews from celebs and critics.