they are false, period. >> yeah. and abby did a good job pointing that out. tom foreman, thank you for that fact check. joining me now scott jennings and anna navorro. 33 days to go before the iowa caucuses, which is the critical kick start to this race. is elevating a january 6th conspiracy theory the way to win over those voters? >> no, i don't think so. i don't think his campaign is in very good shape truthfully. i think he's playing for the future, whether that's a donald trump surrogate in the near term, whether that's as a future presidential candidate in 2028, i mean, he is a young man. so, no, i -- i don't -- i don't think this is the way to -- i mean, but this was the most decaffeinated we've seen vivek ramaswamy. i mean, he has been a very hyper candidate through all the debates and other. but the most animated he got tonight was on january the 6th and pushing this -- this idea

that it was an inside job. i mean, it was an inside job. the head of the federal government at the time was sort of encouraging it, if you want to go down that road. but that was the most animated. everything else he was very decaffeinated, very subdued. look, what i'm reminded by watching him tonight, there is a marketplace for conspiracy theorists in our politics. he knows it, and that's why he's doing it. that's why robert f. kennedy jr. has a following out there because he's been a conspiracy theorist. there is a market for it. >> there is always a market for a flash in the pan shooting star, outsider candidate, right? whether it's herman kang or andrew yang. when you dig a little deeper, when you listen a little closer, you realize that vivek ramaswamy, thomas jefferson

ramaswamy who spent 55 minutes quoting thomas jefferson talks and talks and talks but says precious little. it is all platitudes and cliches and spreading of conspiracy and hawking books and hawking podcasts and saying very little, not really answering anything. >> what did you make of his demeanor because as scott noted he came out not as cram bungs a the last debate. he was asked a question by riley miller, a voter there, about, you know, they want a vivacious president, but he said i want a president who has tact. >> i'm fascinated by how different people, different demographics react to vivek ramaswamy. in my family, i have everything from 30-year-old and 40-year-old crypto bros that call each other dogs. i have young women. the crypto bros think he's

eloquent, think he's well-rounded, think he's the best thing they ever heard. the people my age and older think he is a snake oil saleswomen. and the women, by and large think he's 's weesley and don' like him at all. >> attitudes that he's exhibited and pretends like it never happened, and he did that tonight. it was interesting. >> scott jennings, anna navorro, as always, thank you for watching the town halls with me. thank you for watching our special coverage tonight with vivek ramaswamy. stick around because "king charles" starts right now. >> oh, yeah. >> okay, mr. barkley. >> hello. yes, it's charles barkley. >> he doesn't bite, i promise. >> given the war with ukraine,

do you think russian athletes should be allowed to compete in the olympics? >> my family is from ukraine, so i say no. >> absolutely. athletes have nothing to do with the politics of their country. >> how long is too long to be engaged before you get married? >> six months to a year. i take that back. i take that one. one to two years. >> from the cnn studios in new york city, it's "king charles". >> we're not going to waste your time. >> nope. >> with gail king. >> i'm beyoncé, but you can call me gail. >> and charles barkley. tonight, sports commentator and podcast host, cnn's clarissa ward and from "the color purple," corey hawkins. "king charles" starts now. >> going in, going in. welcome, welcome. thank you for joining us

tonight. this is our third episode tonight about the news that matters to us and hopefully to all of you. we're throw shows in and people are comfortable stopping me on the street telling me what they think. is this happening to you, too? >> yes. >> one person said to me the other day, why do you call it "king charles"? i said it's called "king charles." yeah, but he's taking all the title. do people say that to you? >> they're codumber than rocks. if you look at that monitor, it says gail king and charles barkley. >> the other thing people said to me, could you tell charles barkley to stop yelling. we could hear him. i never feel like you're yelling. >> i don't think i'm yelling. >> i don't think he feels -- i don't think you're yelling either. >> i definitely don't think i'm yelling. >> the other thing they said to me, is charles okay sitting in that chair? he looks uncomfortable.

>> these were the same people if i laid back they would say, why do you always slouch. >> you are comfortable in the chair? >> i am. first of all, i want to give you credit. your color selection on the chairs is magnificent. >> when i went to charles and said, what do you think about these colors or this style chair. i don't care about the chair. i don't care about that. i don't care about that. i look at it as even i get sometimes taken aback by the kc because i think kansas city or kelsey clarkson. i see us as kelly and mark, the couple that's not married without the hot accent. >> we're on a roll. we've got a jam packed show for you tonight, including an exclusive intrepid reporting from clarissa ward. we have unaccompanied access to gaza. you will see it here first and only here. we hope you won't miss that.

we'll also talk about the explosion of gambling, a little bit around gambling around sports. >> yes. >> do you want to elaborate? is that a --? >> no. >> and what it means for everyone involved. and one of the stars of "the color purple." you can't say color purple without singing it. he will talk about a cultural film and touch stone for many of us. charles, here's the question. is there a limit on how long you should be engaged? >> yes. >> do you want to share now or later? >> later. >> if you have been watching the news today, we know it's been heavy. a lot of bad stuff out in the world today, but there is a story here in new york across the country bringing people a whole lot of joy. i love this story. the unexpected rise of tommy devito. take a look at the front page. the undrafted. he's undrafted third-string quarterback for the new york giants has basically taken over the city. he's one three games in a row.

that doesn't seem like a lot, that's a big deal here. >> it's the only three he's played. >> okay. he lives at home with his parents, and his mom still does his laundry. he's 25. he was just named the nfc player of the week. so what do you think as you watch this story? i can't get enough of this guy and his family. and his family. >> i think it's amazing. >> yes. >> i think it's great. it's exactly why i was so upset about florida state not making the playoff, because if we're going to say -- if we're going to lose starters, we don't cancel the season. >> yes. >> florida state won three games in a row with backup. that's a great story. the new york giants have won three games with this kid because they're beautiful -- the beautiful thing about sports, we lace them up. you go play. and whoever wins, wins. but just because their starting quarterback got hurt, we don't cancel the season. i love what this kid is doing, and it's a great story. living at home with his parents, hey, man, that is awesome.

>> at 25? >> at 25. he got to make sure he got a job. this is a -- >> i understand mom is a really good cook and she does his laundry, too. we got some late news. golden state warriors forward, that's draymond green, has been suspended indefinitely after striking an opposing player in the face last night. now, he says, charles, that it was an accident. >> yeah, he lying. >> you have seen the videotape. >> he's lying. >> why do you say that? >> look, he takes a look where the guy's face is. if he would have just flipped and flailed around, he wouldn't have caught him squarely in the face. >> i don't see him looking around. >> you saw it then, though, didn't you? >> i met draymond. i always think he's a nice guy. >> i like draymond. >> but? >> but you can't punch guys. >> but the way he was spinning around -- i'm being serious here, the way he was spinning around, it did seem like it was

out of control. it didn't look deliberate to me. >> he didn't slap him. he punched him. it is a difference. i'm surprised it is indefinite. he was just suspended for five games. indefinite makes me -- i don't know what that really means honestly. but it sounds to me like they're going to make him undergo some type of counseling. listen, everybody likes draymond. >> they do, right? >> yes. but at some point if you keep doing stupid stuff, we can't keep saying he's a good dude. i mean, yeah, everybody likes draymond. but if you keep doing stupid stuff, you lose -- you lose the right to be called a good guy. >> yeah, the same stuff, too. >> yes. >> i'm worried about that. here is a story that i know you have had feelings about. we were talking outside. athletes from belarus banned from most international competitions in 2022 after russia's invasion of ukraine, we know this story, will be able to compete in the paris 2024

olympics, but they have to do it as neutral athletes. so that means no flag, no anthem, no colors or any other identifications whatsoever of russia or belarus will be displayed at the olympic games paris 2024. now i know, listen, you are the only athlete on stage right now. this may surprise you, but i have no athletic ability. >> that's why i'm taking you golfing. >> golfing, boring. but you have stood on the podium. you know what it feels like to win a gold medal. >> yes. >> so i'm curious about what that's like. you win a medal. now you are standing there and you can't play anything associated with your country. >> this is a really interesting situation for me. number one, out of everything i have been blessed to do in my life, standing on that podium when they play the national anthem, it gives you chills. i was blessed to do it twice, and i'm standing beside some of the greatest players ever.

and we're like, yo, man, this is giving us chills. so it is one of the most amazing feelings i have ever had in my life. but the problem i have, why are the athletes being punished for something -- they're getting punished and penalized for something their president is doing. obviously the situation in ukraine and russia is awful and it's evil. >> yes, yes. >> but unless -- if these guys and ladies have a fault in the war, they shouldn't get penalized in my opinion. are we going to hold politicians of the united states for some of the stuff we've done? are we not going to play our national anthem? so i think it is really unfair to them. but it's one of the greatest feelings i've ever had in my life. >> i'll bet. i still get chills when i hear the national anthem at any event. regardless of where you are, there is something about those words and the music that always makes me so proud. when you get the gold medal, what is it like to get the gold medal, charles, and how valuable

are they? >> they're not vabl. you probably should win the bronze medal? >> why? >> i had two gold medals. i gave one to my mother and grandmother and i said, we should probably get these insured just in case somebody steal them. so i took them to the jeweler. >> where do you live? >> a small town in alabama. i took them to the jeweler. he said how much do you think they're worth. i said i don't know. he said they're worth about $19.95 because they're gold plated. he said if you wanted something valuable, you should have won the bronze medal. it was a really koot stor cute the medals have sentimental value. >> yes, i totally agree with you. coming up, a cnn exclusive with clarissa ward. cnn was the first western media outlet to report from gaza.

what we saw right after the break.

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clarissa ward and i used to work with her back in the day. i have always admired her reporting because she is a badass, and she is fearless, especially her desire to be on the ground where the biggest and most dangerous news is breaking. tonight is no different. thanks to clarissa, cnn was the first media outlet to report in gaza independently. she has footage you won't see anywhere else, and this is the first time she's talking about it since returning. we thank you for joining us. it is really good to see you. >> thanks, gail. it is really good to be with you. >> every time i see you on tv, i tense up a little bit and say, please, please, let her be safe. it is so crucial and critical the job that you are doing. but i want to start with the obvious because most of the world is watching from home. we're watching from the safety of our homes, watching from the safety of our countries,

wherever that may be. but you are often there. you have a front row seat. what are you seeing on the ground? >> so up until this point, we have been lobbying for weeks and weeks to try to get in to gaza, gail, but it just hasn't been possible, basically. the borders have been blocked by israeli officials, by egyptian officials. and so the reporting that's been done up until now has been donewy the extraordinarily brave journalists of gaza who have been paying a high price. more than 60 journalists killed according to the committee to protect journalists since this round of hostilities began. that is truly an extraordinary number. we enjoy a privilege position on this trip. we went in for a short window. there was deconfliction preparation that went into it to ensure our security and the security of the uae medical volunteers, the medical

volunteers who we went in with to their field hospital. but still even in that brief window, gail, you really got a sense of the absolute horrors that have been taking place in gaza. this hospital was filled with the youngest victims of this war, children who have been disfigured, who are in full body casts, who are covered in burns, according to the united nations, some two-thirds of the deaths that have happened since israel retaliated after the horrific october 7th attacks with this massive bombardment, two-thirds of the victims have been women and children. and we definitely saw that born out in this hospital. there was a strike just minutes after we arrived near the hospital. two casualties brought in. a 13-year-old boy who lost half his leg, an older man with his foot hanging off.

so it was chilling. it was harrowing. and a very sobering experience to see just how difficult life is on the ground. >> and once you see it, you cannot unsee it. but i'm just struck by something you said. you said there was a strike there at the hospital while you were there. what happens? what do you do in that situation? what does that mean exactly? in the movies, you see it and it looks like the whole place is decimated. what happens? >> well, i think the most interesting thing about it, gail, was that it was very loud. i can't say exactly how close it was. but the doctor who was showing me around didn't even flinch. he turned to me and he said, this is our every day. this happens about 20 times a day. and then minutes later, he gets a phone call saying, the first casualties are coming in. because this field hospital that the united arab emirates has set up near the southern border is literally, gail, the only

hospital with empty beds in gaza. and, so, what's happening is that these casualties will be rushed to one hospital. they will tie some kind of atou. and then they get brought to this field hospital, which is state-of-the-art, which has mris, which has supplies coming in on a regular basis. although, it is still a challenge every single day. and, so, this has become part of the fabric of daily life for ordinary gazans. it is not something you can ever truly get used to, particularly when you see the scale of the suffering, when you see the fact that it's women and children largely bearing the front of it, but there is a sense in gaza right now that nobody has time to take a breath. you just have to keep going, keep moving, keep trying to save lives to the best of your ability. i do think it is important to underscore as well, gail, that

for the people of gaza we get to leave at the end of our visit. they do not. they have no way of going out, and they have no safe place to go to. and they are facing a level of bombardment that does not have a press sent in modern warfare. it is truly a catastrophe, gail. >> how is the humanitarian aid getting through to all the people? i know that was a big question mark they had been talking about here for a while. is any humanitarian aid getting through? >> so, charles, some aid is getting through, but just nowhere near the volume that needs to be getting through. there is this one border crossing between egypt and gaza that's totally overwhelmed. when you approach the border, you just see miles and miles of trucks lining up, hundreds of them that are laiden with this aid that is so desperately needed.

and even when they manage to cut through the bureaucracy and go through the various inspections and get into gaza, the problem, according to aid workers, is they can't actually distribute the aid to where it needs to go because the bombardment is so ferocious, because it is so dangerous to make road moves around gaza at the moment. so essentially, these aid workers are completely hand strung, and the ordinary people are very much cutoff from the basic necessities, whether it is food, whether it is medicine. i talked to the doctors again. they said we're getting injuries in here and illnesses that should be relatively easy to treat. but by the time they reach us, we're looking at severe cases of sepsis, of infection, simply because the hospitals and medical facilities in gaza are completely overwhelmed. the bottom has fallen out in the health care system. and, so, you are seeing things that should be easy to deal with turn into life-threatening

diseases, illnesses and infections. >> before you go, listen, i remember when you had your first child. and now you are the mother of three. and i have often wondered this about you. when i describe you as a badass, i really mean that because i have seen you in action. i know how you work. i know how hard you work. how are you so fearless? are you ever afraid? are you ever afraid? and do you feel safe when you're there? >> so, first of all, i just have to say, gail, that honestly, the real badasses are the journalists in gaza who are doing this, who are getting killed and injured every single day, the doctors who are staying in these hospitals that are getting bombed where there is a complete breakdown and continue with no sleep, with very little support to do whatever they can to try to help their own people. we enjoyed a very privileged position on this occasion.

we did feel relatively safe. we were only on the ground for a matter of hours. but as a war correspondent who has been doing this for almost 20 years now and particularly as a mother, you never get used to seeing children who have been maimed, who have been disfigured, who have lost their entire families. we spoke to the aunt of an 18-year-old called amir who doesn't know yet that both of his parents and his siblings were killed in a strike that has left him literally broken. that is not something that ever gets easier to process. and i can honestly say i don't think we have ever seen it quite on this scale as what we are seeing take place on the ground in gaza right now. >> well, all right. i think you're being very modest about what you do because you put yourself in harm's way. i know that it is -- that there have been times that it's been very dicey for you.

but i appreciate you talking about the bravery of others. but i also know the job that you do. thank you so much, and we really hope that you will stay safe. can't wait to see you again. thank you so much. >> thank you. >> thank you. we'll be right back with more "kiking charleses."

have you ever bet on sports? >> yes. >> what is the most you have ever won or lost? are you crying because -- >> yeah, a lot of money. >> have you ever bet on sports? >> yes. >> oh, all right. how much did you win or lose? >> well, i lost -- >> nothing wrong with it. don't spoil it. >> have you ever bet on sports? >> i have not, actually. >> wow! >> believe it or not. >> i believe you because you have never lied to us. >> those are some of the people we talked to earlier today about their own betting habits.

if you follow sports in any way across any medium, you also see the gambling ads everywhere. >> we are everywhere. that's because since the 2018 supreme court ruling cleared the way for legal sports gambling, 39 states have or are about to legalize it. last year americans bet $93 billion with a b on sports. >> wow. >> for reference, the nfl reports its revenue as $12 billion last year. jones knows a thing or two about this topic. hold that. he's an emmy award winning sports commentator and host of "right time with belmony jones". >> i was actually about to read that about myself. >> yes, you are. guys, has it gotten out of control? >> i mean, i have been watching games. and it is in the broadcast where it seems that the broadcast is built for people to gamble. it is one thing if we're playing

a game on television and we're watching it and they're letting you know, hey, you can do this. but the crux of the broadcast now seems more and more geared toward making people gamble than it is talking about the game. i contend none of us got into sports because you wanted to gamble. i feel like we're losing the plot with the way we're presenting sports as a reason to gamble. >> yeah. well, we heard you in that piece say there is nothing wrong with gambling. >> because i have dirty hands. >> what does that mean? >> i advertise for fanduel. so i'm part of it. and i love to gamble. do i think it's gotten out of hand? yes. as a gambler who does endorsements for a website, an app. yes. >> what do you get out of it? i'm just curious? >> well, i get paid. >> no, out of gambling. you were just in las vegas last week. >> yes, and i stayed up all

night gambling. it's exciting. i mean, i did. i love it. >> did you win? >> i did. i won a little bit. but it was fun. i love to gamble. >> can i ask what a little bit is? >> a little bit. like your outfit. i could get you another one of those. the problem that i have when i say it's gotten out of hand, like if you want to bet on the game, i got no problem with that. >> okay. >> but when you can bet who is going to score the next basket, is the person going to make both free throws and things like that, you are just throwing gasoline on the fire. i love to gamble. i will never get on here and be a hypocrite. but i won't bet during the game. >> so you bet before the game? >> i bet before the game because i think, number one, if you bet at halftime, you are chasing. but also, like, i got no idea who will score the next basket in an nba game. >> and people are betting like

that? >> yes. >> that specific? >> yes. >> out there is a daily fantasy app, which is gambling more or less by a different name. basically anybody that's in this business now, the money is coming from gambling because that was where the opportunity for money post-covid, people missed a lot of checks during covid, so you had to find new money. this was the new money. the gambling money has been coming in at every term. we have to be honest about what we're doing. we're offering people little dol dollops of cocaine. like this is a dopamine rush people get when they gamble. the difference between gambling and every other activity is it is the only one where you put in money and you might get your money back. you could have a good time on x amount of dollars and you may walk out with that same money that you had. people are really into it. but we're taking something we know can really get people charged up and we give them a little bit at a time, a little bit at a time and that could be

worrisome. >> what about reports from players that say they get a lot of hate on social media. somebody said i chose the wrong day. he didn't play the way somebody bet for him to do. >> yep. >> how is this okay? >> it's not okay. >> yeah. but why would you think that gambling is good if it will lead to that behind of behavior? is that extreme? is that extreme? >> it's extreme, but it is going to happen more and more. when somebody bets on you as a player, like if you don't do good, they will say bad things. everybody is super man on the keyboard at home behind their computer. they will guarantee you they would not say that to his face. they would not say that to fred's face. but a lot of these people are cowards. one thing that scares me gail that we didn't touch on, kids should not be able --

>> exactly. more and more kids. >> and every kid got a phone. they need to find a better way to make sure kids can't bet on sports. there should be an age limit in my opinion. just because you have a cell phone and can get an app, there should be an age limit in my opinion when you should not be able to bet on sports. >> uh-huh, uh-huh. what do you -- so i mean -- >> isn't there an age limit? >> the age limits are there. it is just about how well you are able to enforce them. >> there you go. >> and people doing the equivalent of joe camel of gambling, finding a way to make gambling look cool for kids. we will look up one day and ask ourselves what the hell were we doing. >> thank you. if you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, call or text 1-800-gambler. coming up next, how long is too long to be engaged to be married? our first installment of "king

charles: court of etiquette" coming up next.

♪ "sports illustrated" sports person of the year and my own pick for person of the year, deion sanders is going through it right now, gail. >> he's going through it right now. it is true. we all heard about it. we all love love around here. but there's been a break-up. the colorado football coach and his fiancée of five years recently ended their decade long relationship, which got us

thinking around here. i love this graphic. don't you? >> i hate that graphic. you got my big old head with that little crown. >> they want to showcase the brain power there. i like it. i like it. >> are you saying i got a small brain? >> no. it is showcasing that big brain of yours. this is the thing. we both really like deion sanders. >> i love you, man. >> and he's been going through it on and off the football field. i like them both. neither have asked us for any type of advice on this issue. they haven't asked me. did they ask you? >> no, they did not. >> so we have personal knowledge. so we're just using that as a jumping off point. the question is how long is too long to be engaged. they were engaged for five years. >> two. two is the number, gail. two is the magic number. you can only be engaged for two

years. a manno after two years you are the one. >> if he doesn't propose after two years, what does that mean? >> keep it moving. gail, two years is plenty of time. >> i disagree with you about that. >> why? >> because i think when you get engaged, it means that you want to marry the person. so i like a year. i like a year. >> oh, you're saying it should be quicker? >> yes, i do. i think it should be quicker. i think maybe 18 months. maybe 18 months. but i think, too, why do you say two? you have gone through all the holidays, the families have met each other. if somebody is engaged to you for five years, what does that mean to you? does that mean there is not going to be a marriage? >> i don't think there is going to be one. that's my personal opinion. you know after two years if somebody is the one. >> i say a year. okay. we also -- everybody in the room, we all like -- we can agree on that. right, guys? everybody likes money? >> yes. >> well, the most sought -- i

do, too. the most sought after player in baseball history, i love this story, shohei ohtani, has just signed a record-shattering deal with the los angeles dodgers. what is the number, charles? >> $700 million for ten years. >> that makes $70 million a year. but there is a catch. the baseball star is going to defer $68 million a year until the end of the contract when he likely retires. meaning, the dodgers will only pay him $2 million a year while he's playing, allowing the team to spend more money on players right now. so i actually thought this was a good idea. and i still do. >> you think it is a good idea? >> yes. because he went to the dodgers and suggested that. i think it is a way of bringing in more talent. >> yeah. they're cheating the cap. >> how is it cheats? >> well, he is the best player in baseball. they're only paying him $2 million. first of all, they already got one of the best teams in baseball. they got mookie betts, freddie

freeman, guys like that. they're trying to buy a championship. i don't think that's fair. >> but i look at it as being magnanimous on his part to say i'll defer my salary. >> what does magnanimous mean? >> it means being very generous. >> why didn't you just say generous? >> so you don't think that's nice? >> i do not. i don't think it's fair at all. >> oh, i liked it. i like it. okay. also, this happened today. this happened for me today, happened to you last night, charles and i have nice friends. i was in d.c. earlier today to celebrate oprah during her portrait unveiling. i took the amtrak up, took the amtrak back, made it in time to do this show. listen to this. this will be alongside the likes of barack obama, michelle obama, abraham lincoln, harriet tubman. and now oprah winfrey is in the

national portrait gallery. isn't that rule? >> she's one of the most accomplished women in the history of the world. >> no. today she was called a cultural icon, check, check. impact on the world they said is wide and deep. and that she never runs out of ideas. this is true. never has changed her commitment to make us all better. so congratulations to oprah tonight. >> when i met her the first time, i was like -- hard to believe i was speechless. >> you were speechless? >> i was. she's one of the most accomplished women in the history of the world. not just television. >> yes, yes, yes. >> what she's done on television, off television, it's -- i'm not friendly with her, to be honest with you. i met her a few times. she's always been great and gracious. it's been an honor and privilege to watch her career. >> and she speaks highly of you, too, charles. your friend had a good night, too. >> yeah. i want to give a shout-out to ernie johnson. he went into the broadcasting hall of fame last night. we surprised him.

>> how so? >> we were supposed to be on television. >> there's shaq. >> yeah, shaq is the ugly one. the good looking one back there is me. >> and the good looking one is you? >> yes. >> okay. if you do say so yourself. >> i hang out with ugly people so i look better. that's one of my secrets, gail. that was a great honor for ernie. well-deserved. we surprised me. >> we know some really nice people. >> yes, we do. >> congratulations. >> congratulations to oprah and ernie johnson. >> yes, yes. we are so excited about our next guest. corey hawkins is here to talk about his new role in "the color purple." i actually wore purple tonight because of him. >> i love that. >> i did. i wore it for him. what is it like to be part of recreating such an iconic movie? we'll talk to him about that right after the break. we'll be right back.

>> that is corey hawkins in action. he can sing, as they say.

he is a two time tony and emanated emmy nominated -- alice walker seminal work "the color purple", which will be in theaters on christmas day. we welcome you to "king charles", corey. can i say, i wore purple in your honor? >> come on, now. it's an honor to be here with you two legends, and talking about this beautiful work. thank you for the beautiful purple, by the way. >> yes. that's our color. but really, we are so glad you are here. charles said that "the color purple", was -- you said that was your favorite movie. >> it's up there as my favorite movie. and did you feel added pressure? because when something is done to perfection, like the first "the color purple", then you are doing this adaptation, or we make, whoever you want to phrase -- it >> yeah, especially -- >> corey, before you came, i don't know why they had to redo it -- why did they have to redo it? >> [laughter] >> to that, we say, bring

yourself to the film. because this version of "the color purple" as oprah says, it isn't your mama's "the color purple". it is a beautiful reimagining. it's not a remake of "the color purple", and that's what's special about it. because it invites the older generation, but it invites the younger generation as well. and there is a power in alice walker's -- and i'm just thankful to be a part of. it >> you know, when i was reading on your bio, juilliard. >> juilliard-trained. >> as a young kid, when did you make, like, this is what i want to do? and then decide to go to juilliard? >> it was a long journey to get their. but again, you never know what god has in store for you, in life. but that journey, i mean, it started with being inspired by my mother. my grandmother. black women in my household. like debbie allen, when i was a

kid, it came to d.c. -- >> debbie allen inspired you? >> yeah, she was like an anti to all of us -- young artists -- just reminding us that anything is possible. and had i not had that, i would not be sitting here in this moment. >> it's funny you say that. >> it's real, it's true. >> no, it's funny you say that. >> why is it funny that he said? that >> no, because when we are -- we've >> got a surprise for you, corey hawkins. roll tape, please. >> -- surprise surprise, corey. it's debbie allen, one of your first mentors, when you were seven years old, at the kennedy center. teeny, tiny, tepid theo. i'm so excited over your career living -- you were going to go all the way. and look at you now. >> look at you, now corey.

>> -- the production, we were trying to figure out -- how do we get to debbie allen? you said it, man. >> because we had heard she was one of your mentors. and we reached out to her. but we said, how do we get a conversation about debbie allen? you just did it naturally. she really meant something to you. >> she did, she did. and that's the type of woman that she is. she was selfless in that. she's been inspiring people for generations. she's touched so many people. you don't even know. i'm just glad i still get to speak her name and -- if it wasn't for her, i wouldn't worry -- she spoke life into me. >> this movie has been so much about sisterhood. but there also is a -- that men play a very pivotal role in this movie, as you know. >> yes. >> how has it changed you, being part of this production? >> a lot of what we are dealing with his generational trauma and abuse, and how to break

those cycles of generational trauma, especially within our community. but in the larger community. that's what "the color purple" does beautifully. harper harpo, for me, is a beautiful manifestation of black joy. i'm glad i got the opportunity to breathe life into him. because that's what he represents for me. possibility. whoa hope. joy. he loves sophia with all his heart. >> he does. >> -- to talk about black women all today, the way maybe our parents and grandparents did not have the language to. >> -- i did not understand what that meant. well >> yeah. my father and i, we have had a strong, beautiful, but also complicated relationship growing up. and my father means the world

to me. and it was his first time getting to come to a premier, or -- >> his first premier with you? >> his first premier was "the color purple" with me, last week. and it's crazy to look over and see this man, who -- my whole life, i have a vision of who he is, and to watch him be affected by this film -- he never saw the original. >> wow. >> he's not a movie watcher. but to watch him getting emotional, and to be able to talk with him about it afterwards, it was powerful. powerful. it changed me. i know it changed him. it is a story about sisterhood. -- but it's also about how we all come together. >> man, i am so proud of your success. >> yes, thank you. >> going back, to straight out of compton, the 24 remake -- >> in the heights. >> continued success. >> thank you, thank you. >> cheering you on always,

corey hawkins. i know where i will be christmas day. we are will you be, corey hawkins? >> -- >> -- thank you so much. it's a beautiful way, to end the show, with you tonight. we thank you for watching "king charles". charles, are you coming back next wednesday? i >> will be here. >> same time, same place. -- you can catch me tomorrow at cbs mornings -- and abby phillip we'll be here tomorrow at 10:00, fresh off her trip to iowa. but don't go anywhere. because "laura coates live" starts right now. >> so, what exactly happened in the oval office behind closed doors, and the legal case that could put donald trump, maybe, right back in the white house? tonight on "laura coates live"