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About Bobby Pen

Lauren “Bobby Pen” Williams is a journalist, media strategist, and educator who loves travel, storytelling, and cultural connection. Originally from Washington, D.C., she now resides in Houston, TX, where she enjoys cycling, karaoke, and community building with the rich Black entrepreneurship scene in the Bayou City. Bobby Pen has contributed on-air to TMZ, Forbes, TV One, Hot 97, ESSENCE, and more.

All Articles

David Oyelowo, Druski, Demetria L. Lucas, Bevy Smith, Karen Pittman, Black British actors, Southern Black dialect, Black Hollywood, AAVE, Black culture, Entertainment, Film, Comedy, thegrio
June 15, 2026
David Oyelowo is facing backlash after comments about Southern Black dialect shifted the Druski Black British actors debate into a…
DMX, Xavier Simmons, Tashera Simmons, Desiree Lindstrom, Yonkers, hip-hop, Ruff Ryders, thegrio
June 15, 2026
Tashera Simmons responds after son Xavier Simmons' viral comments at a Yonkers street naming ceremony honoring late rapper DMX.
Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks, NBA Finals, NBA championship, Black culture, sports, Jordyn Woods, thegrio
June 14, 2026
Jalen Brunson’s sacrifice and Karl-Anthony Towns’ perseverance helped the Knicks end a 53-year championship drought.
New York Knicks, NBA Finals, Cardi B, Spike Lee, Alicia Keys, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Tracy Morgan, Jennifer Lopez, Black culture, sports, celebrity reactions, thegrio.com
June 14, 2026
Cardi B, Spike Lee, Alicia Keys, Fat Joe and other celebrity Knicks fans celebrated after New York won its first…
Kevin Hart Spike Lee, Knicks championship, Spike Lee Knicks fan, New York Knicks NBA Finals, thegrio
June 14, 2026
Kevin Hart and Knicks fans are calling for Spike Lee to receive a championship ring after New York’s historic NBA…
New York Knicks championship, Knicks Black culture, Patrick Ewing Knicks, Knicks hip hop culture, Black New York sports fans, Knicks championship meaning, Madison Square Garden culture, NBA Finals Knicks, Spike Lee Knicks, Knicks cultural impact, thegrio
June 14, 2026
The New York Knicks' championship is about more than basketball. Here's why generations of Black New Yorkers and fans across…
Black British actors, Druski skit, David Oyelowo, Black actors in Hollywood, Black Hollywood, thegrio
June 13, 2026
David Oyelowo responds to Druski’s viral skit about Black British actors in Hollywood, saying it was funny but not necessarily…
Craig Manning traffic stop, Suffolk County police, Long Island police brutality, traffic stop caught on camera, excessive force lawsuit
June 13, 2026
A Black man from Long Island claims he was brutally assaulted on camera after a traffic stop captured on camera.
Qween Jean, Cats The Jellicle Ball, Tony Awards 2026, Black trans Broadway, ballroom culture Broadway, Black costume designers, Ruth E. Carter, Black Trans Liberation, thegrio
June 8, 2026
Qween Jean became the first openly transgender person to win a Tony Award, earning best costume design of a musical…
Megan Thee Stallion, Pink, Tony Awards, Broadway, Moulin Rouge, Lady Marmalade, Black women in entertainment, hip-hop, music, awards shows, thegrio
June 8, 2026
Megan Thee Stallion joined Pink for a surprise “Lady Marmalade” moment at the 2026 Tony Awards, continuing her Broadway crossover.
Scary Movie box office, Wayans family, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Regina Hall, Sinners movie, Get Out parody, Black comedy, horror spoof, thegrio
June 7, 2026
The Wayans family’s “Scary Movie” returned with a franchise-best box office debut while spoofing “Sinners,” “Get Out,” “Smile” and more.
Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards, Meagan Good, Patti LaBelle, Tyler Perry, Jason Lee, Black excellence, Black entertainment, Hollywood Unlocked, Black culture, Beverly Hills awards, Black celebrities, entertainment news, thegrio
June 7, 2026
Meagan Good, Patti LaBelle and Tyler Perry were among the honorees celebrated at the 2026 Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards recognizing…
Simone Biles injury, Simone Biles netflix documentary, Simone Biles: Rising" theGrio.com
June 7, 2026
Simone Biles revealed she recently experienced a near-death health scare and has been recovering at home. Fans are sending support…
Boosie Badazz, Boosie pool party, transgender women, Pride Month, LGBTQ community, Black LGBTQ issues, Boosie controversy, transgender rights, Pride 2026, LGBTQ inclusion, Black community, Boosie Badazz Pride Month
June 7, 2026
Boosie Badazz is facing backlash after announcing transgender women would not be allowed at a Pride Month pool party, reigniting…
Queens Tour Houston, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Stephanie Mills, Queens 4 Legends 1 Stage, Black women in R&B, live R&B music, R&B legends, Toyota Center Houston, Black Promoters Collective
June 6, 2026
Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills brought the Queens Tour to Houston, reminding fans that Black women…
Stellar Awards 2026, Stellar Awards nominees, gospel awards, Black gospel artists, contemporary gospel, traditional gospel, gospel music awards, HBCU gospel choir, Charlotte Stellar Awards, thegrio
June 6, 2026
The 2026 Stellar Awards nominations include Darrel Walls, Jekalyn Carr, Kim Person, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Tye Tribbett and more.
Spelman College, Dr. Ayanna Howard, HBCUs, Black women, STEM, artificial intelligence, robotics, higher education, Rosalind Brewer, TheGrio
June 6, 2026
Spelman College has named Dr. Ayanna Howard, a nationally recognized roboticist and AI leader, as its 12th president.
Roots Picnic 2026 top moments, Jay-Z Roots Picnic 2026, Erykah Badu Roots Picnic, Brandy Monica Roots Picnic, Kehlani Roots Picnic, Belmont Plateau Roots Picnic, Philadelphia music festival, The Roots Picnic
June 1, 2026
From Erykah Badu to local food and immersive activations, Roots Picnic celebrated culture and community at its new Belmont Plateau…
Brandy Roots Picnic performance, Monica joins Brandy on stage, Brandy Cross Colours outfit, Brandy Monica ESSENCE Fest 2026, Brandy 1994 rewind, Brandy Kehlani collaboration, Brandy legacy R&B
June 1, 2026
Brandy brought out Monica during her Roots Picnic set, styled in Cross Colours for a nostalgic tribute ahead of their…
Cardi B, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Zohran Mamdani, New York City, 2-K program, childcare, free childcare, NYC families, New York politics, Cardi B NYC, Lin-Manuel Miranda NYC, universal childcare, New York education, childcare access, 2-K jingle contest, thegrio.com
June 1, 2026
Cardi B and Lin-Manuel Miranda helped promote New York City's new 2-K childcare initiative, but the bigger story is what…