NFL's Michael Bennett Says He Was Singled Out By Las Vegas Police For Being Black

Michael Bennett

Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett tweeted today about an experience many African American men endure.

The short version of the story: after attending the Mayweather-McGregor fight in Las Vegas, Bennett was walking back to his hotel with hundreds of people. Folks heard what sounded like gun shots and began running. But police singled out Bennett, pulled their guns on him saying they would "blow his fucking head off."

He was cuffed and thrown in the back of a police car.

He was eventually released with no apology or explanation after they realized he's not a thug, but a Super Bowl champ.

Bennett has rightfully hired famed civil rights attorney John Burris.

Read his full account below.

Equality. pic.twitter.com/NQ4pJt94AZ

— Michael Bennett (@mosesbread72) September 6, 2017

From TMZ:

Cops allegedly threatened to blow Michael Bennett's f**king head off for being at the wrong place at the wrong time! #TMZ pic.twitter.com/yHPrBBxD99

— TMZ (@TMZ) September 6, 2017

Broadway: "Gypsy Of The Year 2016" Raises Over $4.4 Million

Broadway Cares shares the good news:

Broadway’s best spread messages of unity, hope and resilience through satire, song and dance December 5 and 6, 2016, at the 28th annual Gypsy of the Year competition.

Gypsy of the Year , which celebrated six weeks of dedicated fundraising from 55 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies, raised $4,492,636 for Broadway Cares. The grand total was announced Tuesday by Tony Award winners Cynthia Erivo and Jessie Mueller and Hamilton star Javier Muñoz following two incredible days of performances. Erivo, Mueller and Muñoz also presented the awards to the top fundraisers and best performances across the two afternoons.

The company of Hamilton took top honors for best onstage presentation. In “America,” the cast mashed up the music and lyrics of Bob Marley and Lin-Manuel Miranda and the poetry of Langston Hughes into a call for peace and equality in our country. Javier Muñoz and Syndee Winters led the integration of song and word, with the cast channeling the duo’s sentiments into a powerful, striking dance.

The company of The Lion King was runner-up with a moving spoken-word piece giving voice to those marginalized by the current political climate. The piece, written by cast member L. Steven Taylor and choreographed by Ray Mercer, found four isolated actors, and a dancer expressing their words through movement, finding common ground in fighting for each other’s plight. The piece concluded with the performers declaring in unison, “I will never leave you alone.”

This year’s edition of Gypsy of the Year opened with a energetic dance featuring the return of Broadway legends Baayork Lee, Donna McKechnie and Margo Sappington. The dynamic trio recreated their unforgettable “Turkey Lurkey Time,” which they originated in 1968’s Promises, Promises.

Tony Awards On CBS Tonight!

In advance of tonight's Tony Awards show on CBS at 8PM, I wanted to reflect back on the days when the Tonys would pay tribute to the giants of the Broadway world.

From the 1970s through the 1980s the telecast, in addition to handing out the awards for excellence that year on Broadway, would deliver world-class numbers and entertainment honoring the artists of the Broadway genre.

In 1988, a year after 7-time Tony Award winner Michael Bennett's death, original cast members of A Chorus Line and Dreamgirls came together for a terrific montage to remind of his genius.

More than any other director or choreographer, I think (in my mind) I've hoped to aspire to the kind of vision Michael brought to his work.  Breaking ground time after time with Company, Follies, A Chorus Line and the breathtaking Dreamgirls, I've had a visceral connection to his genius ever since I can remember understanding who he was.

Watch below - AND don't forget to watch the Tony tonight!

Thanks to my blogger buddy Wicked Gay Blog for reminding me of this fab clip.