Latest news with #Noir&Blanc
Indianapolis Star
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
'American Idol' on Mississippi city honor: 'I don't want it' following threats
New "American Idol" winner Jamal Roberts is scooping up honors and preparing to head out on tour with Brandy and Monica, including an Indy stop in October. One honor he's passing on, though, is recognition from a Mississippi town, saying there have been threatening messages from those unhappy with him being honored there. The Meridian, Mississippi, native won Season 23 of "American Idol" in May. Ahead of several concerts scheduled across his home state, the singer declined acceptance of a key to the city from Laurel, Mississippi, revealing there had been negative comments and threats, including people saying they would bring guns to an August concert at which he is performing. He made the revelation after a local concert promoter posted on social media that Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee had given him permission to give the "American Idol" champ a key to the city on Aug. 2 at the Noir & Blanc concert Roberts was headlining. "I did not ask for a key to the city," Roberts said in a Facebook Live. Roberts said some were angry because he doesn't live in the town and they had cited others who they say live in the area and deserve the honor. "Y'all should get it and give it to them, somebody that's deserving, I guess. … You know, been working in the community for years. But I don't want it," he said on Facebook. Roberts politely declined and thanked the mayor, adding: "But, respectfully, keep it." The singer still plans to perform at the upcoming event. The city has a population of about 16,900 and is between Hattiesburg and Meridian. It's known for its history, architecture and Southern charm. Ben and Erin Napier made the town a national name with their show "Home Town." Laurel's overture to Roberts followed the recent presentation of a key to the city to the singer and his children by Atmore, Alabama, at a June show there. Roberts said the town "made us feel like we were at home." "Thank y'all for loving on my babies and accepting me just the way I am," he wrote on Facebook on June 14. Roberts was a physical education teacher at Crestwood Elementary School in Mississippi before appearing on "American Idol." A dad to three daughters – Harmoni, Lyrik and newborn Gianna – he's the first Black man to win the singing competition since Ruben Studdard took the Season 2 title in 2003. The second winner from Mississippi, Roberts tried out for the show twice before coming back and winning it all. Ultimately, he won a golden ticket this year singing Rick James' "Mary Jane" during the audition rounds. Roberts won Season 23 by earning the most fan votes out of 26 million cast. Host Ryan Seacrest said it was the "biggest finale vote in show history," according to PEOPLE magazine. Roberts has 2025 Mississippi concerts listed on Eventbrite before the Brandy and Monica 'The Boy is Mine' Tour starts in the fall. Shows include: Roberts will be the only guy on Brandy and Monica's highly anticipated 'The Boy is Mine' Tour this fall. Brandy and Monica: "The Boy is Mine" tour coming to Indianapolis The 24-city outing marks the first time the two Grammy winners are co-headlining and is built around their 1998 duet 'The Boy is Mine,' which spent 13 consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Also on the tour are more Grammy winners — Kelly Rowland and Muni Long. The tour kicks off on Oct. 16 at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, and concludes Dec. 7 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Tickets are available at *Muni Long will not perform. Find Brandy x Monica tickets on Ticketmaster
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Did American Idol winner Jamal Roberts reject key to city of Laurel? Here's what we know about death threats
Jamal Roberts, the winner of American Idol Season 23,has chosen to turn down a key to the city of Laurel, Mississippi, after receiving death threats and a lot of negative feedback. On August 2, 2025, he was supposed to play at the Noir & Blanc event at the L.T. Ellis Centre in Laurel, but he declined the key to the city. American Idol winner Jamal Roberts turned down a key to Laurel, Mississippi due to threats and negative feedback. He plans to release a song honoring Mississippi, highlighting the community's need for recognition and support.(officialjamalroberts/Instagram) The R&B singer recently used Facebook Live to address concerns after a debate broke out over plans to give him a key to the city that became famous by HGTV stars Erin and Ben Napier over the past ten years. Meanwhile, Laurel residents slammed the announcement, claiming that residents who have contributed to the community in different ways have not been given the same recognition. Jamal Roberts reacts to death threats Roberts stated on his Facebook Live that his next performance in Laurel, which is just a short drive from Meridian, his birthplace, has been 'booked forever.' Roberts claimed he had not heard anything about receiving a key to the city before local event planner Drake Paige announced on Facebook on June 27 that Mayor Magee had authorized the unique award. 'You have people sharing the post, making threats, talking about they'll have guns at the event. I worked with kids before American Idol, and it's crazy that … kids can comprehend (how to behave) more than grown folk. It's a sad world we live in,' Roberts said while interacting with the followers and addressing the backlash. 'I don't want it, respectfully. You can have it. Tell them I'm appreciative, but I politely decline.' Also Read: Who is Dany De Andrade? World's hottest cop from Florida goes viral as she issues stern warning ahead of Fourth of July Jamal Roberts to release a new song Later, Roberts declared that he will release a new song devoted to his home state of Mississippi. 'That's gonna be my first record. My first record I'm gonna drop is gonna be a song back to the to the state. Tell them how appreciative I am. You know, people just don't expect good things to come out of Mississippi no more, and when they do, they don't know how to handle it,' he said. Earlier, the singer received a key to the city of Alabama during a performance in mid-June.
