The New Edition singer celebrated his 50th birthday surrounded by celebrities and cast members of his former band’s newest biopic. The Knockturnal got the exclusive inside look.
Over the weekend, notable celebrities turned out to celebrate Johnny Gill’s 50th birthday bash. The party, held in a private BelAir mansion, was adorned with models dressed in black lingerie and holding whips a la Fifty Shades of Grey. Gill joined the group New Edition in 1987, singing alongside Bobby Brown among others for over four years. Gill then went on to join the group LSG alongside Keith Sweat and Gerald Levert. BET is set to premiere a mini-series based off of New Edition’s journey into stardom. We got the chance to catch up with Gill:
Models celebrating with Johnny Gill
This amazing event – it’s all for you! How do you feel?
Johnny: It’s a blessing, truly a blessing. I’m happy. 50 years young. I don’t feel a day over 50, you know.
And how do you feel about the New Edition movie coming out?
Johnny: It’s awesome. There couldn’t have been a better time to do it. So I’m just enjoying the fact that we’re sitting here on our #1 record for 4 weeks now once again and it’s just been a blessing. The movie getting done. Things are just moving in an incredible direction and we’re happy. Very happy!
We got the chance to meet actors from the film to discuss the highly anticipated New Edition movie:
Actors from New Edition: The Movie
13-year-old Dante Hoagland who plays a young Michael Bivins:
How do you feel being a part of the New Edition movie?
Dante: Ah man. It feels good actually. Just getting to know Michael [Bivins] personally is really good. I never knew his story until now. So, just getting to know that is really good. You guys are gonna have a good time watching this movie.
We’re here celebrating Johnny’s birthday, how do you feel about being here?
Dante: Being here with Mr. Johnny is cool. I learned a lot of things from him that I never even knew I could. Like, I thought I had some things down pat but he told me “Ayo, that’s what you gotta do.” So, I mean, it’s real cool.
Caleb McLaughlin who plays a young Ricky Bell
Caleb: Playing this role is a very historical thing for me . . . It’s a time where my parents grew up at and I really wanna portray this part of Ricky Bell. He’s a great person, he gives me good energy so I feel good when I’m playing this character.
New Edition: The Movie will also feature Empire’s Bryshere Y. Gray, Grammy award-winner Luke James, Algee Smith, Keith Powers and Woody McClain.
Smokey Robinson, Real Housewives of Atlanta stars Nene Leakes and Cynthia Bailey, along with Cedric The Entertainer, Nicole Murphy and Kenny Lattimore joined many others in celebration of Gill’s 50th. “He deserves to be celebrated like this,” Lattimore said.
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Photo Credit: @ArnoldShoots
Jules Joy contributed reporting.
