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Top 15 Black Entertainment News Stories Of 2013 (PHOTOS/GIFs)

The Top 15 Black Entertainment News Stories Of 2013

There's no doubt that 2013 had its share of exciting and heartbreaking entertainment news. From the good news like Cicely Tyson winning her first Tony Award, the bad news such as Jay Z’s public intergenerational feud with Harry Belafonte, and the ugly like TLC’s former manager Perri “Pebbles” Reid denouncing their VH1 biopic, there was no shortage of events to talk about.

Here's a look back at the Top 15 Black Entertainment News Stories of 2013.

15
And The Tony Award Goes To...
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Cicely Tyson’s much-anticipated return to Broadway in the revival of Horton Foote's "The Trip to Bountiful" garnered a tremendous amount of acclaim within the theater community. So much that she received her very first Tony Award for best leading actress in a play.

Read more: Cicely Tyson: Her Tony Award, Obama And What's Next
14
"We Got You!"
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Following the October 2012 debut of his late night news-satire series, “Don’t Sleep,” T.J. Holmes and BET formally parted ways this year. After speculation about what took place behind-the-scenes, the award-winning journalist opened up on the show’s cancellation during an exclusive interview with The Huffington Post.

Read more: T.J. Holmes Opens Up On Ending His Relationship With BET And Future Career Plans
13
Say Hello To Mr. & (soon to be) Mrs. West!
After the birth of their newborn daughter, North West, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian shocked the universe with, yet, another announcement…they’re getting married…

Read more: Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Are Engaged: Rapper Proposes To Reality Star In San Francisco
12
Black Hollywood Excellence
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2013 brought black experience and history to the forefront of Hollywood’s biggest releases. Films such as “42,” “The Butler,” “Fruitvale Station,” “12 Years A Slave,” and more recently “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” have all garnered critical-praise and Oscar buzz. During an appearance on HuffPost Live, “12 Years A Slave” star Chiwetel Ejiofor shared his thoughts on whether or not major movie studios will continue to produce black films.

Read more: Chiwetel Ejiofor Weighs In On The 'Black Hollywood Renaissance'
11
From Secret Lovers To Secret Matrimony
Perhaps one of the most surprising news items of the year came from none other than Kerry Washington. News broke on July 3, that the “Scandal” actress got hitched to San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha on June 24 in Blaine County, Idaho. Our reaction: "Congrats!"

Read more: Kerry Washington Married: Actress Weds Nnamdi Asomugha
10
"Hey, Hey, Hey," Got To Give It Up!
Although Robin Thicke netted one of this year’s biggest hits with his single, “Blurred Lines,” the song also found its way in the middle of a legal battle between the blue-eyed-soul crooner and Marvin Gaye’s estate due to some of its sonic similarities to Gaye’s timeless classic, “Got To Give It Up.”

Read more: Marvin Gaye's Children Countersue Robin Thicke Over 'Blurred Lines'
9
The Return Of L Boogie
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Lauryn Hill fans received an early Thanksgiving treat, as the singer-songwriter kicked off her first performance since serving a three month federal prison sentence for tax evasion charges on Thanksgiving Eve. The tour, which spanned from Nov. 15 through Dec. 31, resulted in the postponement of the eight-time Grammy Award-winner’s three month home confinement mandate to Jan. 1.

Read more: Lauryn Hill Announces First Post-Prison Tour Date
8
Hova vs Belafonte
What initially started in 2012 boiled over into 2013 with the public feud between Jay Z and Harry Belafonte. And as expected, Hov responded to Belafonte’s previous comments on celebrities ignoring social responsibility.

Read more: Jay Z Responds To Harry Belafonte's Social Responsibility Comments
7
"Please Don't Judge Me!"
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2013 marked another year of Chris Brown making headlines because of his public misbehavior. However, this year the troubled R&B singer was ordered by a judge to spend three months in rehab after reading a report that said a facility discharged him because he threw a rock through his mother's car window.

Read more: Chris Brown To Spend Three Months In Rehab After Throwing Rock Through Mom's Car Window
6
Don't Call It A Come-Black!
Nearly 20 years since the final episode of his last show, Arsenio Hall made his highly-anticipated return to late night television in September. Before his first episode back on the air, Hall admitted during an interview with the Associated Press, that the return was a dream come true, despite criticism. "I hear all the long-shot talk: ‘This is an impossible thing to do after all this time. The field is so crowded.' But I still have to pursue my dream!"

Read more: 'The Arsenio Hall Show': Host Fulfills His Dream With Late-Night Return
5
"We Can Work It Out"
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The George Zimmerman trial verdict resulted in various opinions about Florida’s judicial system, and more specifically, the state’s controversial Stand Your Ground law. And although there was a discredited list of rumored celebrities who were allegedly boycotting the Sunshine state due to the trial’s verdict, Chaka Khan exclusively revealed to The Huffington Post that she decided to take a stance.

Read more: Chaka Khan Boycotts Florida, Talks Hometown Celebration And Ending Chicago's Gun Violence
4
McQueen's Masterpiece
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With Oscar season steadily approaching, Steve McQueen landed a break out year with his much-talked-about film “12 Years A Slave.” Not only has the film been compared to “Schindler's List,” it has also garnered a tremendous amount of Oscar buzz. During an interview on the “Charlie Rose” show the 44-year-old British director discussed making the film, in addition to working with Brad Pitt.

Read more: Steve McQueen, Michael Fassbender, Chiwetel Ejiofor Talk '12 Years A Slave' With Charlie Rose
3
Crazy, Sexy, & NOT Cool
Despite its record-breaking premiere on VH1, TLC’s “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story,” stirred up a bit of controversy between the trio and their former manager, Perri “Pebbles” Reid. Reid took aim at her former group and denounced the film saying she was inaccurately depicted.

Read more: TLC's Former Manager, Perri 'Pebbles' Reid Denounces VH1 Biopic In New Statement
2
Beyonce Shuns Inauguration Critics
2013 got off to a rough start for Beyonce Knowles. However, after admitting that she lip-synced her performance during the 57th Presidential Inauguration, the Pop star managed to redeem herself a month later during her Superbowl halftime performance, and capping the year off with the surprise release of her self-titled visual opus, “Beyonce.” To date, the album has sold over 1 million worldwide copies in the iTunes stores. #BowDown

Read more: Beyonce's Album Sales Cross 1 Million In iTunes
1
Honoring Madiba
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In early December former South African President Nelson Mandela, died at the age of 95. His death came just months after his 95th birthday on July 18, which his foundation, various charities and businesses vowed to celebrate with a nationwide day of service that includes painting schools, handing out food and books, and running a 41-mile relay marathon in the spirit of Mandela's 67 years of activism and public work. In memory of Mandela’s legacy various public figures took to their social media accounts to reflect and honor the iconic leader.

Read more: Mandela Twitter Reactions: Celebrities Share Their Condolences
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