
Hot Tea & Wedding Cake: Will Mary Jane Finally Get Her Happy Ending?

In 2013, BET introduced the world to Mary Jane Paul (played by Gabrielle Union), a successful TV news anchor from Atlanta who seems to have it all together… except for her love life, that is.
For the past six years, we've gotten to know and love Mary Jane through the ups and downs of egg freezing, family drama, and lovers quarrels, but last year, BET announced that it would all come to an end in an epic two-hour movie finale premiering on April 23rd.
Being Mary Jane, created by Mara Brock Akil, was originally named "Single Black Female" and resonated with women across the nation because it was one of the few shows that featured a three-dimensional black woman as the main character. Mary Jane, born Pauletta Patterson, dressed well, had a thriving career and judging by her fabulous crib and foreign whip, had a significant amount of disposable income but struggled to balance her personal and professional life in the midst of her success.
BET Networks
Throughout the series, the show's characters have confronted a number of issues that black women face on a daily basis. Mary Jane's vulnerable and multifaceted character archetype showed that a woman can be wealthy and still feel empty. Mary Jane proved that a woman can come from an affluent family and still encounter drug addiction and teenage pregnancy within that household. And she also proved that a woman can have it all together and still be deathly afraid of being alone.
In the final season of BMJ, Mary Jane is finally on the cusp of having it all: a fine ass man, the job of her dreams, and a semi-stable family life. The 4th season ended with her millionaire boo, Justin (played by Micheal Ealy) down on one knee, but after almost a decade, will she finally get her happily ever after?
We'll find out on Tuesday, April 23rd! Until then, here's everything we know about the finale so far:
You Can Have Your Own Slice Of Mary Jane's Wedding Cake
Courtesy of BET Networks
BET announced that you can get your OWN slice of Mary Jane's wedding cake baked by New York Times best-selling cookbook author, Ayesha Curry, in an edible Instagram experience held in New York on April 20th at Brooklyn's Atlantic Terminal at the intersection of Ashland Place and Hanson Place. We've pretty much grown up with Pauletta, so it's only right that we get a personal invite to the wedding, and from 1:30 to 7:00 PM, you can show up to say goodbye to Mary Jane by getting your own slice of the interactive 9-foot tall, 4-tiered wedding cake-style edible billboard.
Head of Original Programming at BET Networks, Connie Orlando had this to say:
"'Being Mary Jane' drew viewers in with its raw and honest voice, enabling fans to connect with our beautifully flawed heroine in more ways than one. With this interactive experience, we are creating a unique space for our audience to celebrate Mary Jane Paul and take a 'piece' of their favorite show with them."
Harpo, Who This Man?
Courtesy of BET Networks
All my life I had to fight to meet men as fine as Morris Chestnut and Micheal Ealy, and in teasers for the finale, it seems like Mary Jane has BOFFUM all to herself. In the teasers, we see a steamy exchange between the TV news anchor and the illustrious Morris Chestnut, leaving us to wonder… Mary Jane, who this man?! In a 15-second clip, we see Mary Jane in a stunning wedding dress, leading us to believe there are some nuptials to be said in the two-hour finale. but who will she meet at the altar?
*Alexa, play "How Will I Know?" by Whitney Houston.
Oh… Baby, Baby
Courtesy of BET Networks
In the final episode of season 4, we see Mary Jane taking steps to get impregnated by a sperm donor after accepting that she and Justin's relationship may be over for good, but during a teaser clip of the show, we see a shocked Mary Jane as she examines the results of a mysterious pregnancy test. Did Mary Jane finally go through IVF, or is one of her steamy suitors her baby zaddy?
So much scandal, so many secrets! The end of Mary Jane's story will finally be revealed on the 23rd, and I'm fully prepared for my wig to be snatched. I'll bring the wine and popcorn, who's hosting the viewing party?!
Featured image courtesy of BET Networks.
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Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
Eva Marcille On Starring In 'Jason’s Lyric Live' & Being An Audacious Black Woman
Eva Marcille has taken her talents to the stage. The model-turned-actress is starring in her first play, Jason’s Lyric Live alongside Allen Payne, K. Michelle, Treach, and others.
The play, produced by Je’Caryous Johnson, is an adaptation of the film, which starred Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric. Allen reprised his role as Jason for the play and Eva plays Lyric.
While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Je-Caryous Johnson Entertainment
Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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Feature image by Leon Bennett/WireImage
A Celebration Of Black Voices: What You Missed At The 3rd Annual Black Effect Podcast Festival
Over the weekend, iHeart Radio held its third annual Black Effect Podcast Festival in Atlanta, attracting a star-studded lineup of personalities and shows. Charlamagne tha God, founder of the Black Effect podcast network was in attendance along with other notable personalities like Mandii B and Weezy WTF, the hosts of the popular Decisions, Decisions podcast, who also served as the festival's hosts.
Sarah Jakes Roberts, the esteemed pastor and host of Woman Evolve podcast, singers and co-hosts of the R&B Money podcast, Tank and J. Valentine, former NFL star and Funky Friday host Cam Newton and many more further rounded out the festivals' lineup.
The festival hosted panels that focused on mental health and the future of podcasting as well as many live shows. Good Moms, Bad Choices hosts, Erica and Milah, welcomed Dreka Gates and held a live dating show that was nothing short of hilarious. Naked Sports host Cari Champion sat down with Iman Shumpert and they discussed sports and dating.
Tank and J. Valentine surprised the audience with Jacquees, Cam had a live conversation with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams, and Sarah closed out the festival with reality star Toya Johnson. Check out photos from the festival below:
(L-R) Shawn Bethea, Jay Barnett, Devi Brown, Charlamagne tha God and Amber Grimes
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Jamilah Mapp, Dreka Gates and Erica Dickerson
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Mandii B and Weezy WTF
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Porsha Williams and Cam Newton
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Iman Shumpert and Cari Champion
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
Tank, Jacquees and J. Valentine
Photo by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network
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Feature image by Derek White/Getty Images for iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network