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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

Adam Blackstone, Super Bowl, Coco Jones, Lift Every Voice and Sing, R&B, neo-soul, Philadelphia music, Grammy Awards, music director, Black music culture, thegrio
February 21, 2026
Music director Adam Blackstone talks about arranging Super Bowl performances, the influence of Philly neo-soul, and more.
ray j, health, fake blood, heart monitor, thegrio,com
February 21, 2026
Ray J denies using fake blood at a recent concert while recovering and asks fans to return his stolen heart…
joe's college road trip, netflix, no. 1, comedy, tyler perry, madea
February 21, 2026
Tyler Perry's latest entry in the Madea Cinematic Universe, "Joe's College Road Trip" is officially a smash hit on Netflix.
Black doll noose Mardi Gras parade, new orleans, thegrio.com
February 16, 2026
A 7-year-old caught a Black doll with beads tied like a noose at a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade, prompting…
obamas stand for Brandy national anthem NBA All-Star Game 2026 Los Angeles, thegrio.com
February 16, 2026
Brandy and June’s Diary delivered a soulful national anthem at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, earning a standing ovation from…
Luther Campbell, founder of 2 Live Crew, discusses his decision to run for Congress in Florida’s 20th District, thegrio.com
February 16, 2026
Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell announces 2026 congressional bid in Florida’s 20th District, challenging Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick in a crowded Democratic…
forty acres fresh market, chicago, black history, entrepreneurship, Black-owned grocery store Chicago, thegrio.com
February 14, 2026
Forty Acres Fresh Market, a Black-owned grocery store in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, is expanding fresh food access and reclaiming “40…
68th GRAMMY Awards - Red Carpet
February 14, 2026
Jamie Foxx reveals a painful Valentine’s Day breakup with a “Spanish woman” that inspired his vulnerable new single, “Somebody.”
Jacob Robinson pedestrian death, thegrio.com
February 14, 2026
The death of 11-year-old Jacob Robinson in Michigan comes as data shows Black pedestrians face disproportionately higher fatality rates nationwide.
Miss Universe, Miss Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, first update in 2026 after pageant fall in November 2025, thegiro
February 14, 2026
Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry shares hospital photos three months after a devastating fall during the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in…
Beauty in Black Special Screening
February 13, 2026
Amber Reign Smith discusses playing Rainn in "Beauty in Black," working with Tyler Perry and her new Netflix film "Joe's…
Wendy Williams, father dead at 96, conservatorship, thegrio.com
February 9, 2026
Thomas Williams, father of Wendy Williams, has died at 94. The news comes as the former talk show host continues…
Trump Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show, thegrio.com
February 9, 2026
President Donald Trump blasted Bad Bunny’s Spanish-language Super Bowl halftime show and its message of Latino pride and self-belief.
stefon diggs, lawsuit, defamation, grand theft auto, Ferrari, super bowl LX, thegrio.com
February 7, 2026
Stefon Diggs hit with a civil lawsuit alleging defamation and involvement in an assault tied to a stolen Ferrari days…
2026 Recording Academy Honors Presented By The Black Music Collective - Show
February 7, 2026
Kirk Franklin questioned the church’s silence on ICE and issued the reminder that Jesus’ family fled persecution.
Teyana Taylor; Storm Reid; Get Lite; Paramount Pictures; film directing; Black women directors; music video directors; The Aunties Production; Spike Tee; New York City subway; dance film; Hollywood news; celebrity news; thegrio.com
February 7, 2026
Paramount has set Teyana Taylor’s feature directorial debut “Get Lite” for a spring 2027 theatrical release.
T.I.; Scott Stapp; Creed; hip-hop; rock music; celebrity news; Miami; podcast interview; thegrio.cm
February 7, 2026
T.I. recounts a 2005 Miami hotel incident involving Creed frontman Scott Stapp, saying he didn’t “save” him, rejecting years of…
da brat, bb judy, jessica harris-dupart, the way love goes book, thegrio.com
February 6, 2026
Da Brat and Judy Harris-Dupart speak with TheGrio about what they learned while writing their memoir, The Way Love Goes.
Federal Agents Descend On Minneapolis For Immigration Enforcement Operations, thegrio.com
February 3, 2026
Alex Pretti's death, shot by federal agents during a Minneapolis protest, was ruled a homicide, raising questions about conflicting accounts.
We Choose To Fight: Nobody Elected Elon Rally
February 2, 2026
In a speech at a ball this weekend, Rep. Jasmine Crockett called out Gov. Greg Abbott, and urged voters to…