text:
According to AP, the report that was released today found that members of the 195-year-old fraternity learned during a national leadership cruise four years ago that was sponsored by the fraternity's national administration.
President David Boren, who acted swiftly when the video surfaced and kicked the chapter off school grounds and expelled Parker Rice and Levi Pettit, released the findings and also outlined recommendations to deal with issues of race going forward on campus.
"That chant was learned and brought back to the local chapter," Boren said at a news conference in which he disclosed the school investigation's findings. "Over time, the chant was formalized by the local chapter and was taught to pledges as part of the formal and informal pledgeship process."
Boren said about 25 members of the school's SAE chapter will face punishment ranging from two expulsions the school announced previously to mandatory community service and cultural sensitivity training. Beginning in the fall, Boren said all current and future OU students will be required to take diversity training.
When did you start travel blogging?
I started the blog in April of 2011 right after my husband and I were thinking of moving to New York. The plans to move to New York fell through and I was talking with my sister one day and she mentioned moving out of the country to teach. I then started looking into the same opportunity for myself and Mathew which led me to my first trip to Peru.
If you want a night out on the town with your girlfriends in Miami where should go to?
My girls and I would go down to Wynwood Art District. There are so many cool places to check out like R House and Wynwood Kitchen and Bar aka "The Kitchen". [There are also] numerous galleries, bars and street art exhibits.
For tourists, what are your must-dos?
Get off of South Beach! Go to areas of Miami like Coconut Grove, Wynwood, Downtown Miami, Brickell and Coral Gables. There are so many exciting and interesting places outside of South Beach.
What's your favorite destination and why?
Well, I have two favorite places. The first one to visit is India, because it is very unique in culture and maximizes the exposure to your senses. You can wake up one morning to a variety of sounds and smells; walking the streets you can take in the wonderful smell of curry and food in one second and in the next the horrid smell of cow manure. India is a very crowded place, it has a colorful landscape and to me it is a country of duality. One of the best things is that transportation is very accessible. I have spent over three weeks in India and loved every minute of it.
Now as far as vacationing goes, Jamaica is my favorite place to go. I get variety in that I can really relax there on the beach and then later on that night go to an incredible party where I have a blast; and not to mention the Food! I love Jamaican food.
How many stamps does your passport have? Where are they from?
I have 28 stamps on my passport. They are from Peru, Bangkok, Thailand, North/East/West Africa, South East Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe and South America.
You call Miami your home. Can you share with our readers your perspective on the city?
Miami is a culturally diverse city but can be very segmented at the same time. The diversity here is a large part of its attraction. You can get the experience of visiting different countries of the world, just by visiting different neighborhoods in Miami. It is a wonderful place to live and has a lot to offer its residents but at the same time you have to make an effort to be in the loop of activities and all that it has to offer because there is so much. Right now there is an expansion in the development of business here which is great for entrepreneurs.
Where should people eat before leaving Miami?
La Rosa Restaurant. This place has the best Cuban food you can eat here in Miami. When you come to Miami you have try Cuban food, it is a must, and one of the most authentic cuisines here.
Where is the best place to shop in Miami?
There are variety of places. I like to shop on a smaller scale and with local designers, so there are so many places here in Miami. I am really into African clothing, so these are some of the designers and places that I like to shop:
If you are lookig for more main stream or higher end places to shop, Aventura Mall and the Bal Harbour Shops are really popular.
Check out Erica's travel blog:
Kandi and Todd have had their fair share of marital woes from in-law drama to a dried up sex life. Recently in a Real Housewives of Atlanta episode Kandi asked Todd to have sex more than once a week and Todd clapped back by asking her not to wear a hair bonnet on her head when they go bed. He also dissed his wife a bit saying she's not Rihanna either.
READ MORE: Todd Tucker & Kandi Burruss Have Sex Issues Over Her Hair Bonnet
All that drama will make for good TV rating for the network.
BRAVO apparently loves what Kandi brings to the screen. She's had several shows: The Kandi Factory, a reality competition and then she had a five-part wedding show centered around her nuptials to Todd.
Are you ready for a Kandi & Todd marital drama?
READ MORE: Hot & Spicy; Kandi Burruss Talks Sex Toys And Gives Sex Counseling
"It was just getting from bad to worse and that is just when I needed to call 911," Stober said.
Stober alleges a Kennesaw State University lecturer assaulted him and called him racial slurs.
Hear the RAW 911 call where you can hear the customer say the n-word repeatedly. He also says an expletive demanding the Uber driver "go back to slavery."
Stober told Channel 2, "That's the point where he hit me, he reached forward, he was sitting right behind me, that's the point where he hit me right then."
After reviewing his medical report, Stober realized the passenger was a business lecturer at KSU.
"I couldn't understand why a person who doesn't even know me could be using such kind of language," he said.
Bill Polster, the passenger's attorney released a statement saying, "The recording speaks for itself. When made aware of the statements made by him as heard on the recorder, (her client) was mortified. He is deeply ashamed and sorry for the derogatory language he used towards Mr. Stober during the episode."
A spokesperson for Kennesaw State University, commented of the passengers actions and says they are waiting for a further investigation.
"This rider's behavior was absolutely despicable and we apologize to our valued partner for having to endure such unacceptable treatment. Immediately upon learning of the incident, we permanently banned the rider's access to the Uber platform and we stand ready to assist the authorities," a spokesperson for Uber said in a statement.
Pence signed the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law Thursday. The bill allows companies to cite religious freedom in lawsuits if sued by a private party. Many worry this could legalize discrimination against the LGBT community, giving protection to business owners who refuse service to same-sex couples, for example, Huffington Post reports.
Just before a performance planned in Indiana, McDonald let Pence have it on Twitter:
About an hour later the broadway star channels her passion into a positive tweet about a gay rights campaign called Freedom Indiana:
Norma has come out of the shadows strong, speaking out against what she says has been years of physical and mental abuse at the hands of the Furious 7 star, she details in an exclusive Madame Noire interview.
READ MORE: Tyrese Gibson Goes In On The Media's Assault on Marriage "This Is Another Form Of the Devil's Work"
The two have a 7-year-old daughter Shayla that they reportedly constantly fight over and had a messy divorce. Here's some of what Shayla had to say:
On Why It Took So Long To Speak Up:
"I just have come to a point where I felt that I really want to have a voice and speak up for myself. It's been a long time that I have been going through this and I just want to move on and move forward. Seven years [of silence] is long enough. It's not in my nature to try to harm someone else. I've always tried my best to keep it moving and keep to myself, but I've also become very aware that there are other women out there who are going through similar situations. There are a lot of women who are going through what I'm going through and they simply don't have the resources to help them move forward and overcome the things that they're going through."
On Tyrese's Concerns That She Will Abduct Daughter When She Visit Israel:
"I'm not a flight risk. It was sad for me seeing myself called 'Satan' in the press. It really hurt my feelings. I would never take my daughter to live in a different country away from her father. And if I were going to do that, I wouldn't be asking for her passport. The Hague Convention protects against child abduction," she explained. "For me to run off with my daughter to Israel is ludicrous. I wouldn't even live there. I'm a British citizen. I feel like that wasn't explained. "I'm just going to see my mom. My mom is from Israel and she's in Israel with my grandmother who is too old to travel. Sometimes we only get to see them once a year. The last time we saw them was three years ago."
On Feeling Bullied by Tyrese and the Court System:
"I will do my best to make it known that emotional violence, verbal abuse and mental abuse is something serious and it happens to many women. A lot of men are using the legal system to control women and to put them in a state of fear.A lot of men with money and more power, especially with passive women, are using the legal system to abuse these women. Then they can point the finger and say, 'Look at her, she's crazy,' because one day you just explode and can't take it anymore." A few of the things that have happened to me that I know have happened to other women is being followed and surveyed. That's not something fun. It makes you anxious. You know, just provoking you and harassing you with emails. That overwhelms women and it puts you in a fear state."
Addressing Abuse Claims:
"Yes, there was [physical and emotional abuse in my marriage]. Definitely. If you have this conversation with many women, they can tell you the exact same thing. Sometimes it's so covert that you don't know it's happening until it's happening."
When asked about the Ray/Janae Rice situation, she said: "I felt so irresponsible at that moment because I wasn't taking responsibility as a woman and using my voice to perhaps alleviate those blows. It starts with words and then it becomes physical, but the words are what linger. The physical abuse heals quickly, but the emotional keeps coming back because you're so unsure of yourself."
Read the rest of her interview at MadameNoire.com!
Janelle Monae, Angela Simmons, Ciara, and Erica Campbell were all casual and chic in a range of styles.
Let's check out how these fashionistas made this week's style winners list.
READ: EXCLUSIVE: Erica Campbell Claps Back at Haters Who Say Sister Tina is Jealous and Future of Mary Mary
Carey has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time with a net-worth of over $500 million. In 1998, she was honored as the world's best-selling recording artist of the 1990s at the World Music Awards and named best-selling female artist of the millennium in 2000. Also, in the early 1990s, she was named as top recording artist from Columbia Records and set a record of spending 16 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 Chart with her single, "One Sweet Day" featuring Boyz II Men.
Celebrate the beautiful and sensational songstress by recognizing her most notable and award-winning music videos!
1. Co-pilot hid mental illness from airline. The man blamed for deliberately crashing a German airliner into the French Alps had concealed an illness from his employers and tore up a doctor's note calling for him to go on medical leave on the day of the tragedy, according to a statement from German prosecutors, USA Today reports.
2. NCAA speaks out against Indiana anti-gay law. The NCAA is "especially concerned" by a recently enacted law in Indiana, which hosts this year's Final Four, that grants businesses the right to refuse service to gay and lesbian couples, NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement released on Thursday, according to USA Today.
3. The Boston bombing jury is shown graphic autopsy photos of bombing victim. According to ABC News, "a medical examiner testifying Thursday in the trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnev described in graphic detail the devastating injuries that ravaged the body of a 29-year-old woman and caused her to bleed to death on the pavement."
4. The New York City building explosion is caught on video. Investigators believe a gas leak is the likely cause of a devastating explosion in New York City that destroyed three buildings and heavily damaged another. Dramatic surveillance video captured the moment of the blast, CBS News reports.
5. UNC students are upset that their school still honors a KKK leader. Huffington Post reported that, Saunders Hall is named after William Saunders, a Confederate colonel who later became a chief organizer for the Ku Klux Klan in North Carolina. UNC named the building, which primarily houses the history department, in 1922 to honor Saunders' work compiling Colonial records. Students have been pushing the school to rename the building for years.
Tamar Braxton had a moment on The Real earlier this week and shared a personal story about being bullied by Chris Brown and K. Michelle and the hurt she felt when they both said she looks like one of Jim Henson's Muppets.
READ MORE: Tamar Braxton Breaks Down and Cries Because K. Michelle & Chris Brown Called Her A 'Muppet'
Now the Internet trolls have come for Tamar saying she's playing the victim and being a bully too by bashing Chris and K. Tamar blasted the new bullies who are crowding her personal space and posted this message to Instagram saying she has a right to own her feelings and talk about it on her show.
READ MORE: K. Michelle Explains Real Reason For Beef With Tamar Braxton
Tamar's friend and The Real co-host Adrienne Bailon defended Tamar saying:
"Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do… Remember, No matter what you think or see, there is always something more to a person. Always something you don't know about them.
My life has honestly been blessed personally knowing Tamar. She is a light. She is a friend that will hold you until you stop crying when your heart hurts. A friend you can call when you need advice, Someone you can truly trust. A friend that will take your hands and pray with you when there is nothing left to do. Encourage you along the way… And share tears with you in your happy moments.
Tamar, I KNOW YOU… And I love you.
Think carefully before you insult someone for who they really are. At least they are courageous enough to open up about it.
@tamarbraxtonher #WCW #SisterFriend
#TamarBraxton #StopBullying"
Is Tamar playing the victim or does she have a right to clap back? Even more, does she actually look like a Muppet?
Police officers in a Detroit suburb are under investigation for a violent traffic stop. Dashcam video from January shows a group of officers beating and using a Taser on 57-year-old Floyd Dent, CBS News reports.
Officers involved in the beating and Dent, each have different stories as to how the former auto worker with no criminal history was violently accosted.
Police say they thought he was reaching for a gun. Dent says he was framed.
According to CBS, no audio of the incident exists, but according to Dent, the officers told him to, "get out the car" or they'd "blow [his] brains out."
Once on the ground, one of the officers put him in a chokehold, then began punching him in the head — 16 times according to Dent's lawyer.
"I told him 'I can't breathe' and he kept on choking me," Dent said.
After more officers arrived on the scene, they used a Taser on Dent, which reportedly happened at three different times before he was finally brought to his feet.
His face bleeding, officers put Dent in the back of the patrol car.
The arresting officer, William Melendez, said he thought Dent was reaching for a gun, ignored orders to show his hands and threatened to kill them.
"It's really important to know we're not hiding from this. We started the investigation. We launched internal investigation without a complaint being filed," Inkster Police Chief Vicki Yost said.
Dent's attorney, Gregory Rohl, is asking for patience from the community.
"We're saying essentially, 'let the system work,'" Rohl said. "We believe it will work. We believe justice will prevail."
Dent disagrees,
"To me, justice is having the person that done this to me locked up," he said.
Watch the video from the Dashcam here:
Dame Dash and Kanye purchased the fledgling Karmaloop retail site and that could only mean that soon you'll be able to buy all things Adidas X and swoop up Kanye's fashion directly.
READ MORE: MOVIE MAKERS: Damon Dash And Kanye West In Talks To Make A Movie
Dame announced the acquisition online in a serious of videos. He wrote:
"Board meeting had to go over some @damondashstudios biz showed him @loisaidas and @toohonorable_ddstudios got the thumbs up and yeah the Karmaloop thing is real. this is exactly how I saw things 10 years ago and he's doing some shit that even I couldn't do but it's not my place to speak on it…but let's just say iam proud as fuck…that's the way it's supposed to be…the younger dudes are supposed to be better then us…that's what we fight for #honaorablepeoplesticktogether"
There Dame goes again with that honorable people stick together hashtag and an obvious dig at Jay-Z.
He continued:
"Generations of real fighters sticking together for the whole world to see…this was always the plan but shit is real and where not doing any bubble gum shit and I hope the whole world sees this and wants to do the same thing…stay tuned"
This is a great thing for Karmaloop since they filed for bankruptcy earlier this week.
Here are the announcement videos
Generations of real fighters sticking together for the whole world to see…this was always the plan but shit is real and where not doing any bubble gum shit and I hope the whole world sees this and wants to do the same thing…stay tuned #honaorablepeoplesticktogether #hustleforyourlastnamenotyourfirst @loisaidas @damondashstudios @murdamookez @kushedgod @heavenupinharlem_127 @smokeysuarez @queenofharlem @mr_camron @iamjuju_ @raquelmhorn @orgieswiththechef he wit us we fight the same fight…he actually does some Harlem nigga shit #harlemstickstogether @iamjiton too
Part 2 @loisaidas @damondashstudios #honaorablepeoplesticktogether @toohonorable_ddstudios @hollywoodreporter @vfhollywood @vanityfair @variety @bbcnews @nymag @britishvogue @hamishbowles @dlipper @voguemagazine @nytimesfashion @newyorkermag
A video posted by @duskopoppington on Mar 26, 2015 at 2:59pm PDT
It's gonna be fun making history like this part @damondashstudios @loisaidas @toohonorable_ddstudios and we gonna look cool doing it stay tune @wwd @bat_gio @bbcnews @giseleofficial @laurabrown99 @bergdorfs @officialrodarte @rashidajones @hollywoodreporter @shoshannagruss @aokidevon @ryanseacrest @realronhoward @hollywoodreporter @asvpxrocky @mistercap @mr_camron @iamnaomicampbell @desireegruber
On another front, Dame Dash is far from done with his ex Rachael Roy and her attorney.
Just last week he bullied his wife with an Instagram rant claiming she's keeping their kids from visiting him.
READ MORE: Dame Dash Bullies Ex-Wife Rachel Roy on Instagram over Kids
Here's Dame's newest rant coming for her attorney:
"Somebody tell doofy donnell suares aka Turkey meat face that I moved @rachel_roy case to la so your fired and you won't be getting legal fees from this case but I'm still gonna sue your bitch ass in a federal court for messing with my family and trying to rep both Rachel and Cindy at the same time and try to play with our business which I built for my daughters..yep he was reping both of them and telling Rachel to spend company money on her personal bills instead of court ordered child support payments without my knowledge so he could take me to court for legal fees…so sit around and wait for the action… And Rachel_roy this isn't going to be a fight I will enjoy but you know I will fight to the death for my kids in a legal way of course…you see I got custody of @boogiedash because I'm a great dad and the world is about to know just how great I am and to all fathers that are doing the right thing just be patient the system will protect you its just a due processes but justice does prevail…wait till yall hear this bubblegum shit I been going through @wwd"
POLL: Are you looking forward to buying Kanye's fashions on Karmaloop?
Do you need some fresh ideas on how to style your beautiful kinky curls? Or are you thinking about doing the big chop and going all natural? Instagram is always the go-to place for a little hair inspiration. CocoaFab loves bringing you new fresh and funky hair ideas. Today, it is time to shine the spotlight on divas who are slaying in their natural short and sexy hairstyles.
Checkout: Ombre Hairstyles: The Best Looks On Instagram
READ MORE: Is Mariah Carey Starting Custody War by Moving Kids to Vegas for Million Dollar Deal?
Mariah singing karaoke is everything you'd hope for. The diva hitched a ride with Corden on his way to his British CBS show and it's a cute homage to her old-school hits with all the sing-a-longs we love. She even bust out to rap along with ODB's (Old Dirty Bastard's) bars on her "Fantasy" song.
While the songs may be old, don't dare call the diva that as she adjusts her hair in the mirror and professes she'll for always celebrate her 18th birthday, which is today March 27th. (She's 45, if you count in real years and not Mariah years.)
READ MORE: LEGAL WOES: Mariah Carey SUED For $100K By Former Nanny
I guess this is what you do when you're single and ready to mingle.
What a load of fun that Mariah is. Check out the video and groove along for old school's sake.
The Grammy-winning artist is now an Evangelist and an administrator at the Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ. She's also a wife, mother and busy business woman with her own clothing line, television show, and syndicated radio show. If that's not enough she's one of two female cast members of Preachers of Detroit.
CocoaFab caught up with Evangelist Clark-Cole to find out her reasons for participating on the show and figure out why she and Bishop Corletta Vaughn have been bumping heads when it comes to women's roles in the church.
READ MORE: 'Preachers of Detroit' Star Bishop Corletta Vaughn On Sexism In the Church: 'It's an Awful Situation'
"What really made me want to do it was the fact that I am a preacher and evangelist and I have been doing it since I was a young child. I felt the call on my life and I was born and raised in Detroit. My mom was very well-known ion the city and my dad pastored a church and so church was my life," she explained.
"When I turned 19, I accepted my call and started ministering and everything revolved around Detroit. I knew all of the preachers that were a part of it as well."
She revealed the real reason she decided to do the show was to shed light on what's happening in her hometown.
"Of course I had reservations at first because when you think of reality shows there's always some types of backlash. I don't think it would be too bad for us because we definitely have a story to tell," she said.
"Detroit was definitely going through some trials and people were walking away from their homes, losing their jobs and at one point I was about to lose my own home. There were so many things happening in the city from bankruptcy to things going on with our mayor and I felt like that testimony needed to be told."
Her famous family stands behind her decision to jump into the world of reality television.
"The whole idea of the show is to showcase the trials and triumphs of the ministry. My sisters were very supportive of it because I'm known as the preacher of the group. They always encourage me to do that and have always known about the strong calling on my life. I was the first African American woman to minister in the pulpit in South Africa and they have been so proud of me," she said.
"I'm hoping viewers don't get so involved in the women in ministry debate but instead get the message that we are coming together as preachers of the gospel to save the city spiritually. I don't want us to lose that message."
She also weighed in on the conflict between her and Bishop Vaughn about the role of women in the church.
"Bishop Vaughn was just offended by knowing that I am standing by what I know. We have talked about that often and she's more driven to think that women can be bishops and that's just not something I grew up with. We have a strong family of women and my mother was a very prominent woman in the church and she was the International President of the Youth Department so I have my own views about the roles of women in the ministry," she explained.
"How I feel about that is my own opinion. The way I was raised is that I was always around male leaders. My church is predominately male-gendered but we do have some women who are emerging into roles of leadership and I am one of them. I have always been in an organization where men were the leaders and I don't disrespect the other women in ministry or the roles they take in their ministry but my thing is this is how I was raised."
READ MORE: 'Preachers of Detroit' Star Bishop Clarence Langston On Suicidal Past & Rebuilding The City Through Faith: 'I Wanted To Die'
Preachers of Detroit airs Friday at 8/7c on Oxygen.
READ MORE: ICYMI: Watch Michelle Obama Get FUNKY On The Ellen DeGeneres Show
"I'm thrilled that Mrs. Michelle Obama will be able to join us in celebrating this year's honorees and our M.A.D. GIRL celebrants – three audacious teenagers who are using their talent and ingenuity to become pioneers in education. "BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™" works fervently year round to develop the leaders of tomorrow through arts education, cultural literacy, technology, and group mentoring programs. I am so excited to welcome First Lady Michelle Obama, whose Reach Higher initiative encourages young people to pursue and complete their education past high school, to join us here for the first time!" said Beverly Bond, the Founder/Creator/CEO of BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™
READ MORE: WATCH: Erykah Badu Crash Another News Report With Funny Commentary
As part of the First Lady's "Reach Higher" initiative, she will deliver remarks about the value of education, reports Ebony. The televised special will honor Cicely Tyson (Living Legend Award), director Selma Ava DuVernay (Shot Caller Award), Dr. Helene D. Gayle (Social Humanitarian Award), Erykah Badu (Rock Star Award), Nadia Lopez (Change Agent Award) and Jada Pinkett Smith (Star Power Award)
This is the fifth year the ceremony has honored prominent women in the areas of art, philanthropy, sports, and community service.
Rock on ladies!
Filed under: News, Stars Tagged: Ava Duvernay, Black Girls Rock, Cecily Tyson, Dr. Helene D. Gayle, Erykah Bau, Jada Pinkett Smith, Michelle Obama, Nadia Lopez ]]>
READ MORE: White Director Defends Racist Stereotypes about Black Men in Kevin Hart Movie
"The thing about stereotypes is that some of this stuff really happens, so what people does becomes a stereotype and not become a depiction of the truth," he told Global Grind.
"Nobody is going to break a stereotype. They come from a lack of information due to a lack of experience and a lack of diversity. And there will always be people in certain areas that have no idea about what people in other areas live like and as long as that exists, there will be stereotypes."
Does T.I have a point?
In Get Hard, Kevin Hart plays a down-on-his-luck car washer who is hired by Will Ferrell's character, a white-collar criminal to teach him how to survive his prison sentence. Reactions have been mixed. Critics and moviegoers alike are already calling out the flick's premise as stereotypical while others are choosing to just yuck it up with the cast. T.I. also has a small role in the film.
READ MORE: MOVIE NEWS: T.I Confirms 'ATL' Sequel Coming To The Big Screen
T.I also dished about why he decided to make a sequel to the ATL movie, 10 years after the first one.
"Just me being bombarded with requests, and everyone not being able to let go of what happened with Rashad, New New, and Esquire. The fact that the entire cast are still cool to this day. It's a sequel to where everybody is coming back, there isn't any hold outs, or anyone saying no, I'm not doing this, regardless of how much success they assumed afterwards… everybody is coming back. That to me is the sign of a sequel."
Get Hard is in theaters this Friday, March 27th. Check out his interview above.
READ MORE: Bow Wow & Erica Mena STUNTIN In Their Engagement Pics
He also wrote:
"Its an honor to see where you started to where your at now. To watch a woman grow and teach her the lessons on business and life and watch her take teachings I give and can execute it is priceless. YOUR POWERFUL! I seen your growth since we made it official. This that forever love. This that ill starve so you can eat love. This that ill put the NBA2k down for you love hahaha !!! MY WIFE!!!!"
READ MORE: Erica Mena On Finding Love With Bow Wow + Is She DONE With 'Love & Hip Hop'
Word is the two are definitely not married yet, but that hasn't stopped them from creating hype.
In fact, Bow Wow is celebrating and popping bottle a little early. He'll be in Decatur, Georgia on Friday selling his new Vodka at the Good Spirits Package Store.
He wrote on Facebook: "I will be behind the register selling MY NEW VODKA "NDI" lets have a toast!"
Erica told Global Grind: "I couldn't be better. Honestly this is the happiest I've ever been. I'm truly grateful."
Let's hope their marriage lasts much longer than the hype.
Here is a little scoop on what she had to say in the magazine:
About tweeting in labor:
I tweeted in the very early stage of my labor. I figured that if I went completely silent on social media, then people would know I was in the hospital!
About getting in the mindset of Olivia Pope:
The biggest thing for me are the shoes. I'll wear Uggs around set, but I can't rehearse a scene in them because I don't feel like Olivia until I put the shoes on. Shoes define how you walk in the world and how you stand, like: what is your posture in life?
About Kerry's personal style:
I'm a very moody dresser. For the red carpet, I am totally a stiletto girl. But in the rest of my life, I would say I'm 50/50. I love a good heel, but I also have a really great sneaker collection – that's the Bronx girl in me.
The interview gave you a chance to get up close and personal with Kerry Washington and her role as Olivia Pope. However, you couldn't keep your eyes off the photographs captured by Bjourn Looss.
Read the entire interview for The Edit and see all the stunning pics here.
READ MORE: CONGRATS: Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz Welcome Baby Boy No. 2!
Alicia will receive the Recording Artist's Coalition Award, which honors the work of artists who advocate for the rights of music creators through philanthropy, education and dialogue, according to their site.
"We are proud to honor Alicia Keys for her artistry, philanthropy and her passion for creators' rights as a founding member of the Academy's brand-new GRAMMY Creators Alliance," Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow said. "We know that she will bring the same dedication to creators' rights as she does to her music and global philanthropic efforts."
The organization was founded by Don Henley and Sheryl Crow, the Recording Artist's Coalition award
The 2015 GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards take place on April 15 at The Hamilton in Washington, D.C.
We're proud of Alicia!
According to the news outlets, McAuliffe did not comment on the latest incident involving ABC agents, who arrested 20-year-old Martese R. Johnson outside of a Charlottesville pub last week and pushed him facedown on the pavement, bloodying his face and triggering accusations of racial bias.
READ: Supporters of UVa Student Beaten by Police Raise Money for Legal Fees
Johnson was arrested on two counts of obstruction of justice without force, and public swearing or intoxication, as reported by Charlottesville General District Court.
According to Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control who carried out the arrest, the officers involved will be restricted to administrative roles while the review is underway.
The governor ordered state police to investigate the same day of the incident.
Martese reportedly plans to enter a plea of not guilty to the charges.
Read the full story here: Governor orders changes in ABC enforcement
"They started seeing each other during the shooting of the show. There was an instant attraction, people working on the show are aware about it," an insider tells Us. "When they all hang out together they'll cuddle and give a kiss, but it's nothing obscene."
READ MORE: PHOTOS: Empire's Jussie Smollett & Bryshere Gray Drive Fans Crazy on Promo Tour
Grace plays the fierce Anika aka Boo-Boo Kitty and Trai plays Andre, Lucious Lyon's son.
Seems like they've kept their relationship on the hush so it doesn't distract from their professional responsibilities. We just hope in the world of Hollywood quickie relationships that this one can stand the test of time. Congrats to the cute couple!
Michael Jai plays Marcus, a down-to-earth sports commentator and is husband to Angela, who is quite the opposite–over-the-top and edgy. Angela, however is dedicated to her husband and raising her family, but clearly in the past has had plenty of trust issues with Marcus and that continues to stir up a lot of ruckus in their relationship.
The show follows the lives of Marcus' and Angela's friends as well. There's Joseph, Marcus' best friend and business partner. Joseph is left devastated by his breakup with his longtime girlfriend, Leslie. Tired of waiting for a proposal from Joseph, Leslie has moved on to bigger and better things while staying focused on her career and her friendship with Angela. Keisha, Marcus' ex, continues to cause a world of trouble for the group of friends and colleagues. And, Jennifer and Todd are still as crazy as ever.
In an exclusive interview with CocoaFab, Tasha dished about the new season and what's to come for the lovable odd couple. Tasha was every bit of exuberant, outgoing and a ton of fun in her interview much like the character she plays. You never know what may come out of Tasha's mouth too, as she revealed show spoilers, offered spiritual advice and even spilled the beans about a real-life sex rendezvous with Michael Jai back in the day. Yes, you heard right. Read on.
READ MORE: Haves And The Have Nots SEASON FINALE! All Hell Breaks Loose!
For the new season, Tasha said:
"It's drama, drama, drama! You won't see Marcus or Angela going through any divorces or nothing like that, but you will see Keisha and Richard having some major divorce problems. You'll see some things happen with Joseph and Leslie. They'll be planning a wedding as the the other wedding is over… some personal things between Marcus and Angela and just a lot of fun, a lot of laughter and some wonderful tools."
As for this For Better or Worse storyline centered around hanging in your marriage through the good and ugly, Tasha joked:
"I always said I think Tyler Perry got bad luck writing relationship stuff because in real life our relationship stuff don't be working out," she said laughing.
Tasha also dished on how her recent divorce has helped her to redefine herself and her roles, which will be revealed in PART 2 of this interview!
READ MORE: Tasha Smith Opens Up About Abortion, Homosexuality In Church & Plastic Surgery
Tasha on if she's a feisty fighter like Angela in real life:
"I mean, I do take up boxing and I do carry a gun," she said to boisterous laughter. "I do have a 357 Magnum with a four inch barrel! Let me stop, okay? " she joked.
Then she turned to Michael Jai who was laughing:
"Michael, you're supposed to help me when I go too far."
Michael defended his co-star in the best way:
"That was too much. Truth of the matter, her bark is worse than her bite. She's one of the sweetest people you'd ever want to meet. I've known this woman for over 20 years; as some of you may know, the friendship between us is real and based off some real stuff. To this day, we've never, ever, not one time ever had an argument and we've known each other all this time."
Tasha chimed in to dish about their personal history a little deeper:
"And we had sex before!" Tasha said, breaking out in laughter.
Michael jumped in: "That was so long time ago!"
Michael was smiling from ear to ear and continued to praise Tasha:
"But through all that time throughout our friendship and everything, you know, we never one time ever had an argument even though we play a bickering couple, you know, like I said, her bark is worse than her bite and she's one of the sweetest people you'll ever want to meet. She's one of the most genuine people and that's what's so great about it because she goes into this character and makes you believe that she's like, you know, a bat outta hell. This is a superb actor."
Tasha joined in:
"He's one of my best friends and this is why it's so great working with him because I'm working with my real friend. He's like a brother to me…"
"Now!" said Michael laughing.
Tasha continued:
"That sex was so old, I mean like the Jetsons was on back then! But at the end of the day, I mean it's just about the truth of the character, you know? I mean, just because we play a certain role does not mean that's who we are as human beings and, as actors, we don't judge our characters. It's not our job to judge; it's our job to show the humanity of what this individual is going through."
"We go through stuff, y'all, and if the lights are out, no cameras are on, people ain't watching, we may have us some 'Ah-ha' moments, okay, about how crazy we can get, but we have this spiritual leaders, ya know… we have a God consciousness that stops us from doing things that our imagination would take us to. But what's so great being actors is we can do it all… so it's a great thing being an actor. We get an opportunity to play roles that affect you, that touch your lives that cause you to think, that empower you, that encourage you, that makes you laugh, makes you cry. It is a blessing."
All-New episodes of For Better or Worse begin Friday, March 27, at 9/8c #ForBetter
Stay tuned for PART 2 of our interview on monday where Tasha discusses how she's healing from the end of her marriage.
It puts a little kick to your cut and if done right, it will have heads turning. Don't be afraid to dip your tips and try something new. CocoaFab always encourage women to step outside of the box and have a little fun with your look. Plus, it is the spring time. Why not lighten up your mane?
Sometimes, all you need is a little hair inspiration to try something new. Today, it is all about shades, hues, and tones. Checkout CocoaFab's Top Hotties who are rocking ombre hairstyles on Instagram.
Checkout: Blonde Bombshells: The Best Looks On Instagram
READ: Racist SAE Fraternity Brother To Apologize at Black Church for Video Chants
Pettit was surrounded by clergy and Black civic leaders at Fairview Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.
He told his audience,
"There are no excuses for my behavior. I never thought of myself as a racist. I never considered it a possibility."
Pettit added,
"But the bottom line is that the words that were said in that chant were mean, hateful and racist.
"I will be deeply sorry and deeply ashamed of what I've done for the rest of my life."
The ex SAE fraternity member addressed the song in which he and others chanted:
There will never be a n***** SAE.
There will never be a n***** SAE.
You can hang 'em from a tree.
But they'll never [inaudible] with me.
There will never be a n***** SAE."
Pettit alleges the song was "taught to us," sparking questions about whether the song was more widespread but he declined to answer where the song originated.
Watch Pettit's full apology here:
READ: Atlanta is U.S. Leader for New Cases of HIV
Pence said in a press release issued ahead of a news conference:
"The people of Scott County are working hard to address this crisis, and with additional state resources and new tools provided by this emergency declaration, I am confident that together we will stop this HIV outbreak in its tracks."
The Indiana State Department of Health will supervise a "short-term needle exchange program for the sole purpose of containing the epidemic," according to the press release.
According to the news outlet, when the first case was identified in mid December, "72 people in five counties in the area — most of them from Scott County — have tested positive for HIV. HIV causes AIDS, a disease that weakens the immune system, gradually destroying the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers."
Read the full story here: Pence approves needle exchange in HIV epidemic
READ MORE: Christina Milian & Lil Wayne Share PDA
Just recently Christina and Lil Wayne were seen together holding hands publicly for the first time and Christina says:
"The deal is he's my man…crush. I think he's awesome. He and I have a very special relationship and I think I've always been very careful with it publicly because when you have something special it's like everybody picks apart words. They'll pick apart a moment in a picture and take something that's special and trash it."
While Wayne's got quite a few baby mamas to keep up with, Christina says she's staying focus on just being the best mom she can be to Violent Madison.
"I'm doing everything in my power to be a great mother. I wish I could be with her throughout the day, because I'm always working, but I make sure that whether it's the morning or nighttime, I make it extra special."
READ MORE: WATCH: Karrine Steffans Shares APOLOGY From Lil Wayne + Christina Milian Gets Turned Up
She admits she's learned a lot through her experiences, including her divorce from Violet's dad, The Dream.
"I'm not afraid to blame myself for any of my own faults or just to analyze things in a different way, but I don't overanalyze either. I still gotta live life, but being able to look at myself and recognize my own faults makes me the more mature Christina that I am today."
Even though on her new reality show, Turned Up, she seems a little body obsessed wants to get a bigger body and putting piercings in unspeakable places, Christina says she wants her daughter to have a great body image of herself.
"I want Violet to be proud of every little thing that is her—her hair, her body. We're all different and from early on I've always said she has a very confident personality and I want her to maintain that. I don't want her to be stuck thinking about the scale or thinking, 'I gotta have straight hair' and all of this."
Check out the May issue of Latina Magazine for more.
READ MORE: Tamar Braxton BREAKS DOWN on 'The Real' & Reveals Past Abusive Relationship
Tamar talked about the Instagram feud back in November when Chris Brown dragged Tamar saying she looked like a Muppet when she commented about his girlfriend Karrueche Tran.
That comment cut her so deep that she constantly asked her husband Vince if she indeed looked like a Muppet character.
"I was just asking my husband the other day. A particular person started saying I look like a muppet. People say it so much that sometimes, I start to believe it. And so, I even asked Vince, 'Do I look like a muppet?' and he said 'Absolutely not.' But this person has the whole world calling me that and it's just so devastating because it takes me back to high school and there's nothing I can do about it, but what I can do is what Jeannie does. Thank you Jeannie. I can act like the world is all peaches and cream and taste like strawberries, so I'm going to take that with me today. Thank you."
The ladies of The Real talked about experiences where they were bullied and how they've dealt with it and have overcome it. It seems like though, Tamar is still having a tough time dealing with those hurtful words.
Tamera Mowry Housley talked about how people diss her looks on Instagram. Jeannie Mai asked Tamar about advice she would give her son Logan about bullying.
Tamar responded, "I don't have any advice to give me son because…" Tamar broke down and by the response she's still dealing with the hurt.
That wasn't the first time Tamar dealt with being called a Muppet by a celebrity. in 2012, singer K. Michelle called her a muppet too and Tamar then sent a "cease and desist" letter to her to stop the bullying and name bashing.
Words do hurt. Watch the video above.
1. The co-pilot of the Germanwings flight deliberately crashed the plane into the French Alps, a prosecutor said at a news conference Thursday in Marseille, USA Today reports.
2. Jesse Jackson Jr. leaves prison for halfway house. According to ABC News, the Rev. Jesse Jackson described his son's release from the minimum security federal prison camp at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, as a "joyous reunion" and said the younger Jackson was doing "very well."
3. Michigan cops are probed after violent traffic stop. Dashcam video from January shows an officer beating and using a Taser on 57-year-old Floyd Dent. According to CBS News, the former auto worker had no criminal history, and the cops, have differing stories describing how the traffic stop turned into a bloody beat down.
4. Deadly tornadoes leave massive destruction in Oklahoma. One person was killed and several others were injured when a series of "extremely dangerous" tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma, knocking out power and leaving a massive trail of destruction, NBC News reports.
5. Bill allows businesses to reject gay customers. According to CNN, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is set to sign into law a measure that allows businesses to turn away gay and lesbian customers in the name of "religious freedom."
Host: Mattie James @Mattiologie
Mattie's Wardrobe: Kimono, Bené Scarves. Top, American Apparel. Jeans, Madewell. Lipstick, MAC Morange.
Executive Producer: Angela Burt-Murray @AngelaCocoaFab
Videographer: Chris Mitchell @ChrisMitch3000
The film and television actor graduated from Howard University's School of Business with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing.
Alonso has gone onward to land a multitude of television roles in series such as Southland (Detective Gil Puente), The Unit (Sergeant Carmichael), and One on One as Manny alongside Kyla Pratt and Flex Washington.
Besides making a name for himself on the television screen, Laz has captured the heart of many fans during silver screen appearances ranging from Jumping the Broom co-starring Paula Patton to Stomp the Yard with Columbus Short and Ne-Yo. Help CocoaFab celebrate Alonso's 41st birthday with a special countdown of his top six roles as an actor!
Idris and all his chocolate deliciousness is going to slay if JJ. Abrams has his way and secures the actor for the role. But keep this all on the hush since negotiations are still in full swing. So far we know Zoe Saldana will reprise her role as Uhura and Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, and Anton Yelchin are all on board too,
READ MORE: EYE CANDY CASTING: Idris Elba To Star In NetFlix Drama 'Beasts of No Nation'
Right now Idris is starring in Netflix's "Beasts of No Nation." Idris would definitely be a great fit as a Klingon.
Fingers crossed.
READ MORE: Serena Williams on Tennis Rival Who Mocked Her Big Butt
Check out Serena in this playful video.
While Bobby Brown reportedly remains hopeful, Cissy seems to think otherwise sharing "There's not a great deal of hope."
"She's the same," Cissy said in an interview with WBLS in New York. "We've moved her now to a place for rehabilitation. There's still not a great deal of hope. We're praying."
READ MORE: Bobbi Kristina Undergoes Tracheotomy & Nick Gordon Releases Statement
The host Shaila offered Cissy words of sentiment saying that "prayer warriors" are have been lifting the family up.
Cissy opened up saying:
"I feel every bit of it I truly do," Cissy said. "I give it to God one time. I know He's able. I cannot change a thing. I'm asking everybody, pray to the Lord who we know can do something about it."
READ MORE: TRAGIC: Bobbi Kristina On Ventilator After Being Found In Bathtub + Bobby Brown's Statement
Cissy alluded to the fact that this may be the end for Bobbi Kristina.
"If He works a miracle, thank God. If it happens the other way, I'm alright," she said. "I'm fine."
This is a sad state of affairs.
Check out the full interview above.
READ MORE: SHADE ALERT: Antoine Walker BLASTS Evelyn Lozada For Being a Gold Digger
OWN ordered a new series from the former Basketball Wives star, called just "Evelyn" for now, until they find a more suitable title like: Side Chick From Hell Who Hath No Fury or Watch Out: Evelyn Will Scratch Your Eyes Out or something to that effect. Does Oprah know that Evelyn and all her negativity has moved into her network zen? I have questions.
Maybe the first episode will have Iyanla fixing her life up. Wait. That's right, Iyanla already did that and had a sit down with Evelyn and scold her about her childish ways. Kicking and fighting and jumping across tables like the crazy Cougar she is. But on the flip side, perhaps Evelyn has turned over a new leaf. Babies can do that to you and Evelyn squeezed a little one out about a year ago. She's a mommy all over again and might have softened up her hard ways. And she's getting married to a baseball player Carl Crawford. This might make for an interesting story about her changing her wicked ways. Change is what Oprah is all about, right?
Evelyn also has a 21-year-old daughter Shaniece and she will be featured on the show too. Or maybe she's taking up her mom's ratchet residency. Who knows. The beat-down baton has to be passed down to somebody!
The show is scheduled to air in July. Will you watch?
READ: EXPELLED! Sigma Alpha Epsilon Frat Bros Kicked Out for Racist Video; Paper IDs Parker Rice
Sen. Anastasia Pittman, chair of the Oklahoma Black Caucus and a University of Oklahoma graduate, says Pettit will speak to the Fairview Baptist Church in Oklahoma City at 4 p.m Wednesday, where he will apologize for singing the racist chant in which he shouted:
There will never be a n***** SAE.
There will never be a n***** SAE.
You can hang 'em from a tree.
But they'll never [inaudible] with me.
There will never be a n***** SAE."
Before addressing the community with his apology, Pittman says he will spend an hour behind closed doors talking with pastors and politicians and African-American leaders.
READ: To Address Racist Fraternity Video SAE Launches Diversity Initiative
A family spokesman confirmed Pettit's appearance at Fairview Baptist Church on Wednesday but to did not make any additional comments.
"I received an apology from him, and I believe it's sincere," Pittman says.
"But I told him it's not about me, and that community leaders would need the same courtesy, so if he's going to apologize to me, I'd rather he apologize to civic leaders, pastors, people who resonate with the pain. So he gets an opportunity to participate in a closed-door round-table discussion prior to the press conference and make sure he understands their struggles, their stories, their African-American experience. If we have an opportunity to use this as an educational tool, that's my goal."
According to the Sen. Pittman this will not be his only appearance.
She says, "We discussed the longevity of this," Pittman adds, "We are not only looking at what he can contribute after an apology, but how he can spend the rest of his life being an advocate of something Oklahoma has failed to fix. Oklahoma has some healing to do, and this is a great place to start."
After hearing the new, the public released their views on Twitter:
Atlanta has the highest rates of new diagnoses of HIV in the country.
Experts say that's because routine HIV testing is not offered in the places where most people get their health care. By the time patients are diagnosed in Atlanta, almost one third have advanced to clinical AIDS, WABE reports.
After starting an HIV testing program in 2013, Grady Hospital diagnoses two to three people with HIV everyday.
Dr. Abigail Hankin-Wei who is over Grady's FOCUS HIV testing program told the news outlet, "This is something that keeps me awake at night in Atlanta."
The FOCUS program is the only emergency department in Atlanta that offers testing for HIV regardless to their reasons for coming in.
"When we diagnose patients with HIV, the first time we are telling them they've been infected with HIV, we know that among our patients at Grady, nearly half of them have AIDS the day we diagnose them," said Hankin-Wei.
She adds "Despite that, there are patients who aren't going to get those tests. And they aren't going for a decade,"
The news could also mean bad news for African-American women who, according to the CDC (Center for Control) are still disproportionately affected by HIV infections. In 2010, 87% of African American females who were newly infected with HIV had infections attributed to heterosexual contact.
Read the full story on WABE.org
The former Destiny's Child star says you can expect Felicia to continue to be a bit bougie, but the woman who rules with an iron fist will also be a little more tender this season.
Letoya tells CocoaFab:
READ MORE: COVERED: LeToya Luckett Covers 'Rolling Out' & Talks Sexy Selfies & Self-Esteem: 'My Legs Were Too Skinny'
"I appreciate her as a business woman, I appreciate her as a strong woman. A lot of people don't know how to accept a woman in that power seat sometimes and she just demands her respect. That's just who she is," she says about her character Felicia.
LeToya admits: "l Iove playing her. In fact, she's made me– LeToya– a more strong person, a more confident person through playing her."
Single Ladies returned to TV, but this time the series aired on Centric, a BET channel after being dropped from VH-1.
The Grammy-award winner sits on her high-powered pedestal quite comfortably as the music mogul Felicia. LeToya also has several television projects in motion, dropped a new single, "Don't Make Me Wait," with T.I and has a new album on the way; she can do it all. Don't dare put the multi-talented artist in a box either.
"There's nothing wrong with being multi-talented. Back in the day, musicians weren't just musicians, they were actors," she said. "I mean, Gene Kelly could dance, act and sing. I hate it when people put a limit on people's talent."
When LeToya set out to secure a role on Single Ladies, there was no easy way in.
"I went into the audition just like everybody else," she admits. "I went in with one role and came out with another..I didn't go in to play Felicia but I came out with that role." She feels "very, very blessed" to have this opportunity to continue to shine on-screen.
Felicia's tough just like LeToya. "Felicia's an entrepreneur as am I," she said.
"I developed my own business, my boutique with my mother 10 years ago… from the ground up. Just like Felicia built her management company from the ground up. I think she has a different approach when it comes to her employees," she says laughing.
When asked if Felicia is more like "Cookie" or "Boo-Boo Kitty" from the hit show Empire, LeToya admits,
"Felicia is definitely like Cookie but LeToya, she's a combination of Cookie and Boo-Boo-Kitty. So I'm right down the middle with them." LeToya admits in real life she can pop off like Cookie real quick, but she's also very shy and composed.
Also congrats to LeToya for being cast in NBC's pilot Love Is a Four Letter Word, playing Tandi who has a son but longs to have another child with her boyfriend.
It sounds like a hot season with guest appearances by Nicole Ari Parker, Darrin Henson, Karrueche Tran and Sharon Leal.
Ried figured "Everybody else got big booties," so she turned to butt injections.
The 34 year-old nursing home staffer, joined a growing number of people who are turning to black-market buttocks injections — which are much cheaper and riskier than plastic surgery — to get their bodies closer to pop-culture idols such as Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian, Dallas Morning News reports.
Reid went to the salon in the 3800 block of East Side Avenue three times for the injections and they seemed to be going well.
"Your butt's getting too big," Kelley told her. "But she got hooked on them booty shots."
On Feb. 18, things took a tragic turn. Reid returned to the salon for a fourth visit. Police found her body inside the business the next morning. The building had been cleaned out and her purse and cellphone were missing, according to Kelley.
Now police are investigating the mysterious death, issuing arrest warrants Wednesday on charges of practicing medicine without a license for Denise Ross, 43, and Jimmy Clarke, 31, aka Alicia.
The Dallas news outlet reported that, Ross and Clarke are wanted in connection with another case in which a woman who received butt injections suffered problems but survived. Ross was also arrested in 2010 for practicing medicine without a license.
Police reportedly can not build a case against the pair in Reid's death unless the Dallas County medical examiner rules the injections killed her. The examiner's ruling is awaiting toxicology results, which could take months.
Read the full story here:
Pursuit of curves ends tragically for woman at Deep Ellum salon
Lil Wayne has just publicly claimed his girl Christina Milian and the two were caught in public holding hands and looking quite happy. TMZ has the pic of the couple showing a little PDA on a sunny day.
READ MORE: WATCH: Karrine Steffans Shares APOLOGY From Lil Wayne + Christina Milian Gets Turned Up
Christina came under fire from Karrine for claiming Wayne and she posted subliminal messages alluding to the fact that the Young Money rapper had been in contact with her on the side.
We've never seen the two in public in this way until now. Wayne looks a little confused but Christina looks quite cute. We're happy for the celebrity couple.
Well even if you tried, she's got news about a comeback.
Deen is set to return to cable television after an almost two-year absence with a new live show on the network EVine Live, Mediaite reports.
The television chef is attempting a return after a 22-month television hiatus in which she limited media appearances, unless to address the controversy about the use of racial slurs.
READ: Paula Deen Launching Online Cooking Network This Fall
However, between her admitting to having used the N-word in a deposition in May 2013 and a judge's dismissing the suit with prejudice in August 2013, Deen's 14-year relationship with the Food Network dropped faster than a hot potato, New York Post reports.
According to the news outlet, millions in endorsement contracts and publishing deals were also burned, including Ballantine Books, Caesars Entertainment, Home Depot and Walmart.
READ: Paula Deen (Finally) Gives TODAY Show Interview; 'I'm Not a Racist!'
READ: Paula Deen's Son, Bobby Deen, Making His Way On Food Network
Deen, making another attempt to win back the public favor, will appear in "Paula Deen's Kitchen" with a three-hour midweek premiere which is set to air additional live segments once every six-to-eight weeks.
TMZ reports that Laura filed court docs claiming that she and Gilbert have split and even though he's not formally her husband she wants due process and the court to divvy up everything equally since the two live harmoniously, albeit unofficially, as husband and wife. She also makes claim that Gilbert promised that he would share everything and split his $200 million dollar earnings from the NBA from 2003 on, down the middle with her, so she wants her piece of the pie.
READ MORE: BUSTED: Laura Govan SUED For $170,000 For Broadcasting Boxing Match!
According to the court docs Gilbert "notified [Laura] to vacate the premises" so she's out in those streets. The struggle is real.
Ladies, let this be a lesson in knowing that there is no deal if your name is not on the deed and the bank accounts.
Anyway, Laura is also pissed that Gilbert allegedly sold her $1 million wedding ring.
Unfortunately Laura recently posted on Instagram that she miscarried her fifth child.
Hopefully her sister will take her in.
The African American student (name unknown) found threatening racial slurs written all over her apartment. Corpus Christi Police Chief Floyd Simpson called a news conference Monday to discuss the findings, KRISTV.com reports.
According to the news outlet, he made it very clear that part of the reason for calling the news conference is the number of similar cases involving racism happening across the country right now, including several at other college campuses.
Inside the apartment, were pictures drawn of someone being hung along with the caption "White Power. We're coming for you."
Another pictures says, "Die (n-word). Where is your protector? White Power."
Some of the letters are littered with grammatical errors and words that are misspelled, leading investigators to question whether offenders were college educated.
"I think the community ought to be hurt by this. I think that we all ought to take it very seriously," said Simpson
The police chief is asking for the public's help in finding those responsible saying, "Quite frankly, we think we have a lead on some people who may be involved in this. The best thing they can do is come forward, and have a discussion about this, and let us bring this to a logical conclusion."
Shay Weaver, an African American student at TAMUCC, said, "I'm actually shocked. I'm very surprised. We don't really have a race problem at this school, so I'm really surprised, and I don't think it was somebody from this school who did it."
Hear the full story here:
READ MORE: VIDEO: Chris Brown's Daughter MESMERIZED By Her Daddy's Moves!
TMZ is reporting that Chris Brown has asked his baby mamma Nia Guzman to head for the Hollywood Hills and move from Texas and he's willing to put her up in new digs just so he can get to know Royalty on his own terms.
Sources told the site that Chris is prepared to foot the bill for Nia and Royalty's living expenses because he wants to be close to his daughter. He's also in negotiations with Nia on child support but he's allegedly willing to put all that to the side and pay Nia royally off the books if she agrees to live in Hollywood and allow him to genuinely be a part of his kid's life.
Word is he's already paying Nia much more child support than he's required to.
READ MORE: Iyanla Vanzant DISHES On Her Karrueche Tran Interview & How She Forgives Chris Brown
Since finding out that he's baby Royalty's baby daddy, Chris has been in close contact with her and even had security pick her up and Nia up and bring them to his concert. His ex Karrueche Tran is set to let all his business out of the bag this Saturday when her interview with Iyanla Vanzant airs on OWN. No word on if Nia will accept Chris' offer, but we'll keep our ear to the ground on this one!
Deadline's Nellie Andreeva explores the backlash against white actors in a piece called "Pilots 2015: The Year Of Ethnic Castings – About Time Or Too Much Of Good Thing?" writing:
But, as is the case with any sea change, the pendulum might have swung a bit too far in the opposite direction. Instead of opening the field for actors of any race to compete for any role in a color-blind manner, there has been a significant number of parts designated as ethnic this year, making them off-limits for Caucasian actors, some agents signal. Many pilot characters this year were listed as open to all ethnicities, but when reps would call to inquire about an actor submission, they frequently have been told that only non-Caucasian actors would be considered. "Basically 50% of the roles in a pilot have to be ethnic, and the mandate goes all the way down to guest parts," one talent representative said.
Oh, really? So now it's a problem that Hollywood has to recognize that the country is shifting and if they want people to tune into their shows they need to cast people that look like them and share their experiences?
She goes on to try to support diversity but then promptly puts her foot back in her mouth:
A lot of what is happening right now is long overdue. The TV and film superhero ranks have been overly white for too long, workplace shows should be diverse to reflect workplace in real America, and ethnic actors should get a chance to play more than the proverbial best friend or boss.
But replacing one set of rigid rules with another by imposing a quota of ethnic talent on each show might not be the answer. Empire, Black-ish, Jane the Virgin and Fresh Off The Boat have been breakouts because they represent worlds and points of view that were not on TV — a soapy hip-hop dynasty, an upper-class black family struggling with racial identity, a young Latina juggling her dreams and her heritage and an immigrant Asian family trying to fit in.
Well, it didn't take long for folks to react to her nonsense on social media.
READ MORE: PHOTOS: Kenya Moore Shows off Millionaire Boyfriend
Vivica threw much shade when she announced that her career is in full swing and she'll be in Independence Day 2.
She tweeted, "It's official that I'll b back 4 #IndependenceDay2 sequel playing #Jasmine #LegitimateCareer #NextLevel #Blessed;)"
That "legitimate career" dig was directed at Kenya since she made that comment about Vivica's career on Celebrity Apprentice. She also said Vivica was old and menopausal too.
According to Variety, director Roland Emmerich cast Vivica to reprise her role as Jasmine Dubrow from the 1996 original film. Sadly Will Smith won't be back to kick aliens butt. Thankfully though Jeff Goldblum is on board and the movie will take place 20 years after the original alien invasion. Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher and Charlotte Gainsbourg were cast as well.
Roland tweeted: "Exciting news… just officially closed @MsVivicaFox for #IndependenceDay! Here's the pic!"
Jessie Usher will play the son of Will Smith's character.
READ MORE: FIGHTING WORDS: Vivica A. Fox Calls Kenya Moore a #ToxicTrick
Kenya hasn't clapped back or twirled back just yet at Vivica. She's still celebrating her new man. Looks like it might be time for Vivica to get her one too and get happy. But Congrats on the new movie role.
The Have and The Have Nots season finale had me all up in my feelings after Quincy turned that baby upside down like he was a newborn getting his butt-slapped, Benny broke out of his mommas-boy mold by standing up for his fam and beating down a bully, and Jeffrey needs to get Maury on line one! You ARE the father! Let's not forget the "simple bitch" Veronica set off an inferno inside her own home! Wake up David or you gon' die! The Haves and Have Nots was an effed-up family affair!
Let's dig in!
Wyatt the Wino
I wish Jim would just give up already. He called Wyatt into the family room where he and Katherine were sitting and was setting him up to drink himself into a coma. He offered him some of that brown liquor and asked Wyatt to look him in the eyes and just get off his chest how much he hates him. This is called "white people's counseling."
READ: Casting Memo Reveals Secrets from Have Nots New Season!
Wyatt then asked his dad how could he have affairs with all the help. (I was looking for Aibileen and Minny to walk in, but he didn't mean that help.) Jim explained in front of Katherine that sometimes he sees a woman and just has to have her. He said he used to love Katherine dearly but now the two can't stand the sight of each other. Wyatt was appalled that his dad could confess his affairs in front of his mom, but Katherine had a little secret of her own.
While Jim was having his trysts Katherine said she was having some affairs of her own. Jim had the nerve to get jealous and demand to know who Katherine was dipping with on the low. I ain't saying Mrs. Cryer is a gold-digger, but she ain't mess with no broke —– Katherine said she was creepin with her tennis instructor Geno, who had the ponytail. Wait. He sounds pretty broke to me.
"Oh and what he could do with that ponytail," Katherine professed.
I just threw up a little in my mouth. One word: Eww.
Jim went on to explain why he had sex with Candace and how treacherous she is.
Jim then taunted Wyatt by asking if he was gay because Jeffrey is in love with him. He went on to tell Wyatt that if he rats everybody out to the D.A he's gonna be bent over and somebody's bitch while behind bars.
"You are going to jail for a long time… You're going to prison … you look like you look they are going to rape you.. Wyatt you don't know anything about hardened criminals.. You have no concept of how awful these people can be."
"The DA will come after your ass and have you put in prison for murder for the rest of your life."
Wyatt started to look worried. I think Jim got in his head. Watch how Jim broke it all the way down for Wyatt because he's sick of his whining.
Wyatt has confessed his guilt in the hit-and-run accidents to the district attorney, sealing his fate as a future convict. Jim decides to take a cue from his son and lay all his cards on the table, even truths Wyatt doesn't want to hear. Will Jim finally get through to his jaded son before Wyatt has to give up his freedom?
READ MORE: Haves And Have Nots Recap: All Cried Out; Wyatt Makes A Confession
Quincy and Hannah's confrontation
Hannah was at home on the phone helping to make Amanda's funeral plans. Then she heard a knock at the door. It was Quincy!! She screamed and told him to leave or she would call the police but Quincy urged her to look out of the window. Hannah tip-toed over to the window, pulled back the curtain and BAM saw her grandbaby boy in Quincy's arms!
Quincy demanded that she open the door but Hannah was scared and panicked. She opened the door, ran outside and started screaming for Quincy to let her grandson go. She grabbed little Quincy, kissed and hugged him and pleaded with Quincy NOT to take him away.
Quincy demanded to know where Candace was and of course Hannah couldn't, wouldn't give up the daughter she hates.
Quincy grabbed his son from Hannah's arms and asked, "do you want him to stay with you? Then tell me where Candace is." When Hannah refused Quincy headed for his car and Hannah grabbed him trying to stop him when Quincy turned around and bitch-slapped Hannah so hard that she flew into a parked car.
Daaayum! Hannah got knocked the hell out! At least we know her grandbaby is alive and well.
Benny Goes Ballistic
Benny got home and Hannah avoids looking at him and won't say a word about what just happened. He's trying to talk to her and then he finally looks at her face. Hannah's face is red and bruised and Benny is upset when he finds out Quincy was there.
"Did he do this to you!" he yelled. Hannah is trying to keep the peace saying she already handled it and called the police but her baby boy is not having it. His momma was beat down and now it's time to hunt Quincy down and put an end to this nightmare. Benny told Hannah to lock the door and he stormed out! Eff the police! It's on and poppin! #StreetJustice
Let's Get It On or Not
Candace went back to the bar and was sitting down kicking it with Landon when Jeffrey walked up. The three was discussing why the bar was torn to smitherines (because of veronica's rampage) when Jeffrey's wannabe girlfriend Melissa walks up and asked to talk to him in private. Candace tried to protest but Jeffrey went to his hotel room to talk to her.
Once again Melissa tried desperately to have sex with Jeffrey. She said she didn't care he was gay and offered to watch gay porn with him. Kids these days…
Jeffrey was confused and rejected and then Candace barged in and told Melissa she was up to something because it all didn't make sense. Just then Candace grabbed Melissa's pocketbook, dumped it out on the bed and found an ovulation stick. Jeffrey was like, what is that? Candace explained to Jeffrey that Melissa was trying to get pregnant by him! She had tricks all up her sleeve and was trying to get a rich man! Melissa ran out upset and before Jeffrey could leave the hotel room his crazy momma called and already knew he ran Melissa out. She demanded that he come home because she needed to talk to him. Good luck dealing with that Jeffrey!
"That woman will be the death of you if you do not shut her down," Candace warned.
In the meanwhile, Benny went to see War and told him that Quincy beat his mom down. That's all you have to tell a black man in the hood. You beat one black momma, you've BEAT THEM ALL! War said oh hell naw, made a phone call and found out Quincy was at a strip club. Benny left to hunt him down!
Jeffrey Stands Up To His Momma/Finds Out He's Da Baby Pappy
Jeffrey went home found his mom looking aloof, puffing a cigarette with her wig off and hair braided up in a weave pattern.
Veronica has blackmailed her son, sent a convicted felon to beat him up, and forced him to hide his sexuality. Jeffrey reaches his limit, though, when Veronica reveals that she conspired to get Melissa pregnant with his child!
"She's pregnant Melissa… you did it.. I'm gonna be a grandmother… I planned the whole thing. I paid for it. Congratulations son you're gonna be a father! Why you think she was all over you… Why you think she showed you porn? We waited until she was ovulating.. Tonight was just to be sure.. You are gonna be a father.. You know you gonna have to marry her now."
So what did Jeffrey do? Go ALL THE WAY off on his wicked momma! Watch Jeffrey's speech above!
Veronica is clearly crazy. After Jeffrey finished cussing her out, she simply said: "So what we gonna name this baby?"
How about ya'll name the baby Maury since that's gonna be the first man it sees when Melissa delivers!
READ MORE: Haves And The Have Nots Recap: Who You Calling a Simple B*tch?
The Beatdown
Benny saw Quincy come out of strip club and rammed his car into his and smashed it! Benny got out and ran over to Quincy's car, dragged him like a ragdoll, hemmed up the tough guy and commenced to beating Quincy down! That was long overdue.
Benny called for Veronica Harrington to pick him up from jail, saying he needed an attorney. But when Benny rolled out of jail with Veronica he got more than he bargained for. Veronica started kissing and hugging and feeling up on Benny like she was horny. Benny tried to resist but something went down in that black SUV they were in because when Benny dropped Veronica off at home, her hair was all tussled and she told him to keep the car. It was a gift. Benny got skills like his little sis Candace!
Burn Baby Burn
Let's say a prayer for David. The poor man went home after Veronica tore the bar up and he fought with her and called her a "simple bitch" on several occasions. Just like a naive man, David lays comfy and cozy in his bed like all is forgotten, but Veronica if off her meds and on a rampage! As David lays in his bed, Veronica is seen holding a red gas can and has a cigarette in her hand. Veronica starts pouring gasoline all around David's bed and all in the bedroom. Next thing you know she set the room on fire while David laid in the bed sleep!! Lawd help! Someone call 911, Law & Order and CSI because several crimes have been committed and the devil is on the loose!
Like I said, the Haves and The Haves was an effed up family affair and we have to wait until next season (not sure when it returns) to find out the fate of David, if Jeffrey really has a baby, will Wyatt go through with going to jail, will Jim and Katherine go down for covering up, and What's going to happen to Benny and will Candace continue to be treacherous and crazy. Well at least take a peek at the SECRETS that were revealed for Season 4!
READ MORE: Secrets from Haves And The Have Nots New Season REVEALED by Online Casting Memo!
What are YOUR predictions?
1. Jesse Jackson Jr. is to be freed from prison today. The former congressman will be released from a federal prison camp on Thursday and serve the final months of his sentence in a Washington, D.C. halfway house, according to a former House colleague, according to USA Today. Jackson reportedly pleaded guilty in February 2013 to using campaign money to buy more than $750,000 worth of luxury items, collectibles and clothes.
2. Two Americans were on the Germanwings plane that crashed in the French Alps, according to ABC News. Earlier, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls told reporters one American was on the plane. The U.S. State Department has not confirmed that any Americans were on board.
3. A California police officer is fatally shot by suspect threatening to commit suicide. Police officers responded to a call at about 6:45 p.m. local time of a man with a gun threatening to kill himself, city officials said in a news conference Tuesday night, ABC News reports.
4. John Hamm to complete rehab treatment for his alcohol addiction. The Mad Man star had the support of his longtime partner, actress-filmmaker Jennifer Westfeldt, in his struggle, publicist Annett Wolf said in a statement Tuesday, according to CBS News.
5. Italy's highest court is to examine Amanda Knox's murder conviction. The Italian Court of Cassation will scrutinize the conviction of Knox and her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito for the 2007 murder of Knox's then-roommate, Meredith Kirchner, in Perugia, Italy. The 21-year-old Kirchner's throat was slashed and she had been sexually assaulted, NBC News reports.
(1) Moisture is key. Make sure your hair is hydrated.
(2) Make sure you use moderate heat, not high (Ionic/Ceramic Heat)
(3) Shampoo and condition your hair every week. Make sure the shampoo and conditioner contain UV Protectants because it keeps the longevity of the color.
(4) Avoid chlorine and make sure you use a swimming cap if you decide to take a dip in the pool.
When I saw the trailer for the new Dreamworks movie HOME, my face immediately lit up.
For one, this is the first major Hollywood studio that dared to release a 3D animated feature starring a black character — all the way through. See in 2009, Disney released The Princess and the Frog but the princess was primarily a frog.
Seeing a brown-face, spunky and sassy little sista named Tip with "not-so-perfect" hair and an air about her is truly refreshing.
The character is understandably relatable. Tip is voiced by superstar singer Rihanna; but it's not Riri's star power that will propel this movie forward; it's the mere fact that moms of color like me will see a familiar girl that they know either in themselves or in their darling daughters. I see my 11-year-old Mikaela who doesn't fit the mold, and often feels ALIENated because of it.
And as an aspiring actress, Mikaela's often turned down for roles because of her kinky hair and brown skin. Basically, there aren't many movie roles being written for brown girls and that's a problem.
Empowerment is everything and there also aren't many animated movies that come alone and give rise to having a black little girl with curly hair anchor a major Hollywood film. There is significance when black girls with curly hair like Quvenzhane Wallis become sought after in the midst of a white actors landscape in live movies. When our daughters only see rail thin white girls with flowing blond locs as the heroine in movies and in animation, they are less inclined to feel confident about their curves and coils. Directors and producers don't seem to understand that even animated movies need cultural diversity. Other people exist. Animated movies like HOME should not come along once every 10 years or so.
There are millions of black girls who not only want to see rainbows and dare to dream and believe they can be anything, but they also want to see a rainbow coalition of their own kind on movie screens. When my daughter Mikaela saw the trailer she said this about Tip: "She kinda looks like me, but animated." My daughter immediately saw herself. That is power in itself.
A UCLA Bunche Center for African American Studies report also backs the fact that movies with more minorities means more money. It doesn't say if those numbers include animated features but you do the math. The Princess and the Frog grossed $267,045,765 (worldwide) for Disney making it a box office success, and became the fifth highest grossing animated film of 2009. And like I said earlier, she wasn't a black Princess all the way through the movie but instead a frog for most of it. I hope Dreamworks knocks HOME out the box-office ball park for all brown girls. But in order to do that we have to get behind this movie and sit in those theater seats this opening weekend.
Moms like me need movies like this to happen much more often than not, so my Mikaela will remain confident and strut with pride knowing that everything about her is beautiful. Just seeing this movie centered around a brown girl is everything. HOME is a must-see for all brown girls because it's a beautiful homage to self-acceptance, love and friendship. This movie will not only make you laugh out loud, but you'll fall in love with Tip and Oh, a lovable misfit from another planet who comes to understand that being different and making mistakes is all part of being human. And while he changes her planet and she changes his world, they discover the true meaning of the word HOME.
The movie also features Jim Parsons, Steve Martin and Jennifer Lopez.
HOME is such an empowering film due to the cultural diversity of the main character Tip. HOME teaches the importance of family and friendship as well as the value of learning from your mistakes. It's a great family film and I encourage you to support the film during opening weekend. HOME opens in theaters onMarch 27th. #DreamWorksHOME.
HOME, a Dreamworks animated film starring Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Jim Parsons and Steve Martin, opens in theaters on March 27, 2015. It is rated PG. Get more information about the moviehere, and find theaters, tickets and showtimes for your area here. Website: www.meettheboov.com
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This post is part of a compensated campaign with Dreamworks. All opinions are my own.
Aside from being a white face in a predominately African-American community, he's also a proud virgin who preaches abstinence.
CocoaFab caught up with the Preachers of Detroit star to find out how he found his calling and why he believe holding off on sex could save the future.
READ MORE: 5 Reasons To Watch 'Preachers of Detroit'
"I started preaching when I was 16 years old and delivered my first message at 17. It has been a minute. I have been a full-time preacher for about 9 years and before that I was working at the phone company," he said.
"I felt like it wasn't possible for me to do both jobs because I was being pulled into different directions. I knew I needed to ficus on the ministry."
Now, he spends most of his time ministering to his congregation at City of Praise Christian Church and spreading messages of abstinence to his followers.
"I'm very passionate about abstinence. I practice what I preach and I'm still a virgin which is rare at my age. It's important to me because I see what the lack of responsibility, lack of self-control and lack of morality has done to the next generation and the institution of family," he said.
"Those issues are so urgent and the youth really has an appetite for my message. People look back at some of the choices they made and wish they had done things differently. It really gives them a new direction when they decide to make a change."
The Detroit-native now resides in Los Angeles but his "adoptive family" still lives in his hometown and he's constantly there to visit them and deliver sermons at local churches.
"I wasn't legally adopted and I was already an adult when I came into the family. My biological mom kicked me out of the house as a teenager and I lived with different people from my church. When I was in my 20s I met this pastor and his family and his kids were really drawn to me. I spent the night at their home and that turned into four years with them. As I got closer to them they started calling e their son and its definitely like a family in every sense of the word," he explained.
"The majority of the churches that i'm invited to are African-America. Most of the relationships I build happen to be there. I am completely embraced and accepted. I found that with the families that nurtured me. I found love and acceptance and family in neighborhood where most people with my complexion are afraid to drive in."
Despite his affinity for family, this bachelor doubts that the will ever star one of his own.
"I don't think I'll get married. I think I'll be unmarried for the rest of my life. I'm not completely ruling it out but it's not on my radar," he insisted.
"I'm very fulfilled doing what I do. If something happens and I meet a woman who i the one then that may change but I'm not looking and I don't date. I'm really happy where I am."
Preachers of Detroit airs Fridays at 8/7c on Oxygen.
HOME, the new Dreamworks movie starring Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez that opens in theaters this Friday, had me at the movie poster: it features an adorable, chocolate girlpie with a great big 'ol afro—a most perfect image that lets me know as a mother that the film's producers, director, animators and storytellers see my babies.
And doesn't this matter? I know it does around my way, where, advances in stories about and by Black folk on TV notwithstanding (nods to Shonda Rhimes, Mara Brock Akil, Gabrielle Union and the folk behind Doc McStuffins), kid movies featuring children of color, particularly animated ones, are still in all-too-short supply. Indeed, the last time I remember getting a thrill about an animated feature like HOME was when The Princess and the Frog hit the big screen. That was 2009.
Marinate on that.
Of course, the excitement for HOME in the MyBrownBaby household isn't reserved solely for the fanatical mom who stans for movies that feature Black children; Totally Lila is geeked to see the flick, too, because she's a big fan of the book on which it's based, "The True Meaning of Smekday," by Adam Rex. The story's premise: 11-year-old Gratuity Tucci, a.k.a. Tip (Rihanna), is searching for her mother (Jennifer Lopez), who, along with the rest of the human species, has been rounded up by a group of aliens, called The Boov, and sent to live in Australia while the aliens and their goofy leader, Captain Smek (Steve Martin), resettle on Earth. But one nonconformist Boov named Oh (Jim Parsons), is on the run after accidentally giving up the coordinates of his group's whereabouts to a rival group of aliens, The Gorg. That's when Oh meets up with the equally non-conforming and independent Tip, and the two go on a buddy quest to save the world—and themselves.
Rihanna recently told a roundtable of bloggers that it was important to her that Tip, who in the movie hails from the singer's country, Barbados, be created in an image with her likeness and traits. "We wanted little girls to feel empowered, little girls of any size, shape, color, race. It didn't matter," Rihanna said. "We wanted girls to just feel strong and brave and empowered and beautiful and like they can do anything. And they can take charge of their life or their situation no matter what. And I think we were really, really careful, especially with the animation and making sure that she wore the right things, that her body was not unrealistic, you know? And I think for kids, that's going to be very special, for young girls especially. "
Added Rihanna: "I really want to be more like Tip. I'm really inspired by her strength and determination because, you know, even in real life, there are those moments where you start to doubt yourself or you start to really feel like it's not the right thing and going on the wrong direction. It's taking too long. It shouldn't be this hard. And you don't know. Like, you start to lose hope. This movie did kind of bring that back for me."
DreamWorks' HOME is not your average animated film. Not only will you love the characters and comedy, but you'll totally fall for the empowering messages laced throughout, including the importance of family and friendship and the value of learning from your mistakes.
HOME is a great family film that I encourage you to take your kids to see—this opening weekend, especially, when showing up and showing out for a film featuring a cute Black girl with a huge afro could open the door to more flicks featuring characters that look like our babies. Representation matters to me. Let's show Hollywood it matters to all of us.
If you do go, share your thoughts, pictures and messages of encouragement under the hashtag #DreamWorksHOME.
Let's show Hollywood more images like this:
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HOME, a Dreamworks animated film starring Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Jim Parsons and Steve Martin, opens in theaters on March 27, 2015. It is rated PG. Get more information about the movie here, and find theaters, tickets and showtimes for your area here.
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This post is part of a compensated campaign with Dreamworks.
All opinions are my own.
According to WSB-TV, Nicholas Thomas was gunned down by Smyrna police officers after they attempted to serve a felony arrest warrant at his job for a probation violation. Officers are reportedly claiming they feared for their lives after Nicholas jumped in his car and came speeding towards them and that's why they fired several shots into the car.
Nicholas Thomas' mother Felicia Thomas gave an emotional interview telling reporters that her 25-year-old son had just had a 5-month old child and was trying to get his life together.
"My son was a lovable guy," she said. "He would do anything for anybody. He just had a baby."
In fact, she says that he had called her that morning to tell her that he was going to get the money together to fight the traffic violation warrant.
The deadly shooting is currently under investigation.
Watch the emotional interview with Nicholas Thomas' mother here.
READ: Martese Johnson to Enter Not Guilty Plea
According to the Richmond Times, an Indiegogo account was started by UVa Alumni for Change and with Johnson's Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brothers to help with his medical and legal fees. The campaign has raised more than $10,000 since the weekend.
The third year honor student plans to enter a plea of not guilty to charges stemming from a bloody arrest where ABC officers slammed his head into the pavement. A spokeswoman for the attorney representing Martese said the 20-year-old Chicago native will be pleading not guilty to charges of obstruction of justice and public intoxication in general district court this coming Thursday.
READ: Kerry Washington Calls Out Black Community on Gay Marriage
Martese had reportedly been approached by ABC agents after he was turned away from a pub. His attorney clarified at a press conference that the student had never been in position of a fake ID as had been reported. Gruesome video footage of the student's arrest took over social media last week and spurred a student protest on campus. The governor called for an investigation by state police into the arrest.
According to the Richmond Times, the third year honor student plans to enter a plea of not guilty to charges stemming from a bloody arrest where ABC officers slammed his head into the pavement. A spokeswoman for the attorney representing Martese said the 20-year-old Chicago native will be pleading not guilty to charges of obstruction of justice and public intoxication in general district court this coming Thursday.
Martese had reportedly been approached by ABC agents after he was turned away from a pub. His attorney clarified at a press conference that the student had never been in position of a fake ID as had been reported. Gruesome video footage of the student's arrest took over social media last week and spurred a student protest on campus. The governor called for an investigation by state police into the arrest.
An Indiegogo account started over the weekend by UVa Alumni for Change in conjunction with Johnson's fraternity brothers to help with his medical and legal fees has raised more than $10,000 since the weekend.
Chris Tucker is back and thanks to Netflix, the comedian snagged a deal that will allow him to showcase his comedy to a new generation. Nexflix inked a deal with Chris to air, Chris Tucker Live, the comedian's first full-length stand-up comedy special, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
READ MORE: Sure, Call It A Comeback! Chris Tucker Set To Host BET Awards
The show was filmed at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta.
"Chris Tucker is a true global movie star and a one-of-a-kind talent whose remarkable energy, delivery and original style make him one of the funniest comedians of our time," said Ted Sarandos, Netflix chief content officer. "We cannot wait to share his distinct and hilarious voice with our members across the globe."
Chris said:
"I'm thrilled to be partnering with Netflix, one of the true global leaders in entertainment, on my first comedy special. Before people started seeing me in movies, I was doing stand-up. It's always been a part of me, and now I'm excited to share it with my fans around the world."
The comedy special, Chris Tucker Live, will air on Friday, July 10.
Japan's newest Miss Universe contestant broke barriers when she was recently chosen to represent her country. But because the 20-year-old is the daughter of a Japanese woman and an African-American man, some are questioning whether she is "Japanese enough" to hold the title, E News reports.
As reported by Mainichi News, Miyamoto even expressed uneasiness as to whether or not it would be okay for a hafu [half-Japanese] like her to represent Japan.
But a Japanese publication responded to the racial backlash–"Let's be clear. She is Japanese. She's a Japanese citizen. She grew up here. She was born here. She's Japanese. Yet, out of politeness or even humility, she explained herself to the Japanese press. After this was out of the way, the rest of her interview progressed fairly normally with questions about how she felt when her name was announced or if she's thinking of entering the Japanese entertainment industry.
While some critics have been vocal about their hopes of having another contestant take her spot, most have shown their support for the newly crowned beauty queen.
GirlsChannel, a site that allows readers comment on contestants, gave support to the biracial winner saying, "Even if you are hafu, if you have Japanese citizenship, then you're Japanese."
Lil Twist, otherwise known as Justin Bieber's boy, has been charged with six felonies following a fight with That's So Raven star Kyle Massey's brother.
Twist allegedly beat up Kyle's brother Chris with brass knuckles and stole his wallet and cell phone, according to the TMZ.
This is a sad turn of events for something so minor and petty. There's an arrest warrant out for Twist and he faces 20 years in jail.
Let's see him try to take something from one of his cell inmates!
According to NewsOne, the 35-year-old mother of six from Ontario Canada, used to live the lavish life. She won $10,569,000.10. Now she is living from paycheck to paycheck, and just trying to make ends meet. If you talk to Tirabassi she's say that poor advising and uncontrolled spending led to her financial downfall. The sudden lottery winner gave into all of the superficial temptations, she was not used to having: a big house, fancy cars, designer wardrobe. She took exotic trips, threw fancy parties and gave friends and family handouts and loans, which weren't paid back in most cases.
Tirabassi allegedly gave half of her fortune away to family, but blew everything else.
A marriage in 2006 to husband Vinny, and several kids later, the couple say they do not regret the fun they had spending the winnings. Yet they did learn a valuable lesson: "money is the root of all evil."
Vinny told 234Daily, "Money doesn't buy you happiness. It caused her a lot of headaches," he says. "She lost a lot of friends, a lot of family."
Tirabassi put some of the remaining money into a trust for her six children, who can claim the money when they turn 26, according to YahooNews.
Letoya has said she's been through heartbreak before so she knows how it feels. But no moping around as if all the good ones are taken ladies.
In a recent interview with CocoaFab LeToya dished about her role as the tough and fierce music exec Felicia in the fourth season of Single Ladiesand she offered up some tips and takeaways for single ladies to get the sexy guy you want by your side.
Here are LeToya's Top Sexy Single Ladies Tips:
"While you're in that single moment, really learn to love and appreciate yourself. Don't be afraid to be alone. Learn about what it is that you want in a relationship. You gotta be whole before you get into a relationship. You can't go into a relationship trying to find someone to complete you. You gotta be whole before you get into that because you will carry in some baggage or some other stuff. And it might do more harm than good."
"Get your workout on! Get your outfits together. You've got to be able to attract something. Have your face together, keep your hair done. I think some people wait until they meet a man to do all that. You can't attract one if you don't start. Get YOU together first."
"Also diet, which I had a problem with for a very long time. Don't eat your way through problems. And eat healthy put down the Honey Buns."
'Single Ladies' is on Wednesday night on BET and Centric at 10pm.
The teenager is asking for Bloomsburg University to reinstate the baseball player who was kicked off the team for calling her a slut.
The Twitter account belonging to Joey Casselberry had been deactivated as of Saturday night, but screen captures of the tweet show that the player called Mo'Ne a "slut" while criticizing news that a Disney Channel movie was being made about her, WMAQ reports.
READ: College Baseball Player Calls Mo'ne Davis a Slut
Bloomsburg announced the dismissal of the junior first baseman on Twitter, and said it was "deeply saddened" by Casselberry's tweet, noting "his words do not represent Bloomsburg University."
Before his Twitter account was deactivated, Casselberry apologized, writing,
"An example that one stupid tweet can ruin someone's life and I couldn't be more sorry about my actions last night. I please ask you to forgive me and truly understand that I am in no way shape or form a sexist and I am a huge fan of Mo'ne. She was quite an inspiration."
Now, according to TMZ Sports, Davis has emailed the president of Bloomsburg University, David L. Soltz, asking that Joey Casselberry's dismissal from the team be reconsidered.
Talk about maturity for the baseball player who is only 13-years old.
READ THE SEASON FINALE FULL RECAP! Haves And The Have Nots SEASON FINALE! All Hell Breaks Loose!
Tyler Perry is looking for actors and it looks like someone let the cat out of the bag and listed upcoming characters and what they will be doing next season!
READ MORE: Haves And Have Nots Recap: All Cried Out; Wyatt Makes A Confession
Based on this character list: Here's our predictions of what's coming up!
A guy named Richard who will be helping Benny and Candace with a case. A case? Why would Benny and Candace need a lawyer especially since Candace is trying to be one. Benny and Candace have to be doing something to help Hannah.
UPDATE: After seeing the season finale I now know that Benny beat up Quincy, got thrown in jail and called Veronica to get him out! But of course he will need a lawyer because Candace will NOT be allowing Veronica to rep her brother! We know next season Richard will likely help Benny with the assault case!
The characters Party Male, Gabby, Kendra and Anna and the Bartender, all seemingly will have an encounter with Jeffrey. Seems like Jeffrey will be out at a party (strange indeed) and Gabby will hit on Jeffrey. But we all know she won't catch that fish with her hook. At that party it seems like drugs will be on deck since "Party Male" is listed at the party where an "illegal substance" is used. We can assume Jeffrey will be at that party and something terrible will go down which means Officer Watkis will probably be called to the scene.
Here lies the rub: What is the "very serious crime" that's listed under the Officer's character? Will someone hurt Jeffrey? Will someone else die? Will that crime tie in with Candace needing a lawyer?
Tonight is the season finale of The Haves And the Have Nots but it already looks like next season is explosive!
The Oscar-winner appeared on The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore and dished about the "bossy" black women he's dated.
READ MORE: Director GOES OFF On People Coming For Common Over 'Love White People' Comments
In a segment called Keep It 100, Common was asked to name his bossiest ex-girlfriend and while he seemed to squirm a bit he belted out that he's been with a singer who apparently didn't have a problem making her wishes known.
Larry alluded to the infamous Erykah Badu who Common dated for a while. In fact while Serena Williams, another one of his exes might look buff and tough on the tennis court, she apparently wasn't the bossiest celebrity ex. Neither was Taraji P. Henson aka Cookie form Empire who Common dated for a while also.
READ MORE: Serena Williams on Tennis Rival Who Mocked Her Big Butt
Common also said in a previous interview on The Combat Jack Show that Erykah surely knows how to keep a man in line. Watch the video above.
READ: 5 Reasons Ted Cruz Can't Win Black Vote
Yesterday the conservative republican Ted Cruz announced his intention to run for president in 2016 in front of a crowd at Liberty University. Now, you would think one of the first things his team would do is secure TedCruz.com before officially launching his campaign but apparently not. An anonymous buyer purchased the TedCruz.com domain name and is using it to support President Obama's immigration agenda.
No word on who purchased the site but it will be interesting to see if Cruz supporters can get the site taken down.
READ MORE: White Reporter Calls Taraji P. Henson a Bad Bitch on Empire. Is that Ok?
Radio station V-103 hosted a private listening session with the duo and played songs from the Empire album, like "Drip, drop, drip drippity, drop" produced by Timbaland.
Both Jussie and Bryshere are real life music artists first and then acting followed and seemingly opened up major opportunities to pursue their musical dream. Jussie for one has been offered a record deal with Colimbia and Bryshere aka Yazz The Greatest is a rapper and plans to eventually focus on his music in the near future.
Later the duo were also seen in Miami at the 10th Annual Jazz In The Gardens featuring performances by Run DMC, Erykah Badu and Bryshere and Jussie.
READ MORE: Drip, Drop, Drippity Drop: Get Ready For An 'Empire' Tour
Jussie said one of the highlights for him was taking a pic with Trayvon Martin's mom Sabrina. He wrote:
"Last night at #JazzInTheGarden I had the joy of seeing some of the greatest artists but the true honor was meeting @sybrinafulton the beautiful and courageous activist/mother to Jahvaris Fulton and#TrayvonMartin she said "I'm so proud of you. You're using your voice. Keep doing that. Don't stop." I won't stop Miss Sybrina. Long as you are riding, I'm riding with you. Happy monday beautiful."
Check out the pics.
Photos Briana Crudup FreddyO.com
READ MORE: SHOCKER: Chris Brown Has a Baby Girl & Karrueche Tran REACTS
Royalty's grandmom sent TMZ the video and baby girl is getting used to the sight of her new da-da! Royalty looks very loyal to me! Check it out!
Security was increased at the Princeton-Maryland women's basketball game after a phone message was received detailing a threat against President Obama's niece Leslie Robinson, according to a person with knowledge of the threat who was not authorized to speak publicly because of security issues, USA Today reports.
According to the Huffington-Post, an eight-minute voicemail was received at the University of Maryland athletic department offices on Monday afternoon in which a woman said a man was driving on the College Park, Maryland, campus with a Glock handgun in his possession, the newspaper reported, citing a person with knowledge of the threat.
Leslie Robinson is the daughter of Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama's brother and is a freshman forward at Princeton. Once the voicemail was received, Robinson was not notified, however Princeton basketball coach, Courtney Banghart was notified.
Once officials were put on notice, undercover security was instructed to monitor activity near the Princeton bench. Secret Service officers also were in the arena due to the presence of Supreme Court justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
Coach Banghart informed USA Today, "Leslie's safe. She's in my locker room. No one loves her like I do," she added. "And she's an important part of our team, so keep the freaks out of the gym."
1. A plan crashes in France, officials predicting no survivors. According to USA Today, the commercial jet with 150 passengers and crew crashed Tuesday in the French Alps en route from Barcelona to the German city of Dusseldorf, authorities said.
2. Obama's niece is threatened during the NCAA game. Security was increased at Monday night's Princeton-Maryland NCAA tournament women's basketball game after a phone message was received detailing a threat against President Obama's niece Leslie Robinson, according to a person with knowledge of the threat who was not authorized to speak publicly because of security issues, USA Today reports.
3. One person is dead, and four are injured in a shooting near Tennessee University. Clarksville Police spokeswoman Natalie Hall says officers responded just before 9 p.m. Monday to a report of shots fired. She says although the shooting happened about two blocks from Austin Peay State University, police have no reason to believe it had anything to do with the school, according to ABC News.
4. Angelina Jolie undergoes surgery to get her ovaries removed because of cancer fears, she wrote in a New York Times op-ed. According to the Times, the procedure, laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, was motivated by a family history of ovarian cancer. A small benign tumor was found on one ovary, but no other signs of cancer were uncovered, she wrote.
5. Ted Cruz says if elected president, "I'd tell the truth." Cruz appeared on "CBS This Morning" Tuesday, one day after he became the first major candidate to announce that he will run for president in 2016.
READ MORE: WATCH: Kenya Moore Defends Her Bad Behavior Toward Phaedra Parks On 'WWHL'
Kenya is feeling Gone With The Wind fabulous and posted this pic on Instagram last night showing off her new boo after the BRAVO show aired. Kenya wrote:
"Sometimes you can spend your whole life looking for Prince Charming when a King arrives. Thank you @pattistanger and @cynthiabailey10 and my fans for your love and support and desire for my happiness. #matchmaker #KingJames #FriendsFirst #MillionaireMatchmaker.
Patti Stanger, the matchmaker helped Kenya along with her new bff Cynthia Bailey.
Kenya explained in the episode that the men she typically falls for are the ones she has to chase and win over. She blames this on the broken relationship she has with her mother and says she has always tried to win love and affection from her mom. Kenya also tweeted:
Congrats to Kenya for finding love in the reality realm. We hope to see a wedding reality show in the next 12 months Kenya! Watch the video of Kenya on the Millionaire show.
READ: Nene Buys $2 Million Mansion
Accepting blame? Not so much.
"Since I am the one that has divided the cast, let me take full responsibility for Porsha and Kenya fighting at the reunion! I'm totally responsible for Porsha and Claudia not getting along at all this season. I must take full responsibility for Claudia and Kenya saying Porsha is dating a married African man. Now you know I had everything to do with Cynthia and Porsha falling out! I can now say I had a hand in Cynthia saying Phaedra is cheating with Mr. Chocolate. I am definitely the common denominator to Kandi and Phaedra's friendship problems. Lord knows I did everything wrong in my friendship with Cynthia! For those who didn't know, I am the reason Todd doesn't want to have sex with Kandi and I was the reason Porsha and Kordell divorced."
READ: Kandi and Todd Fighting Over Lack of Sex
But she really goes in on Kandi for attacking her and for not supporting Phaedra during her time of need.
"I always knew you didn't like me but you truly showed me how hateful and jealous you are! You don't have a real reason to be mad. You should be mad that you were MIA on your friend but you chose to throw salt on me because I was just a shoulder for Phaedra. There's no where in this season where you see me saying negative things about you! You said all those things about me because you fell as a friend! If I were you, I would call Dr. Jeff for help #girlbye"
The man that killed unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin is speaking out publicly for the first time since the Department of Justice announced it would not be pursuing federal civil rights charges against him in a video claiming that he's following God's plan for his life.
According to the Orlando Sentinel in the video Zimmerman blasts President Obama for escalating racial tensions and chastises the Martin family.
On the murder of Trayvon Martin:
"I believe that the American judicial system failed in the sense that I should not even (have) gone to trial, but I do believe that the jury process succeeded," Zimmerman said.
He said he's convinced there's nothing he could have done differently that would have allowed both him and Trayvon to survive their confrontation that night.
"In all fairness, you cannot as a human feel guilty for living, for surviving," he said.
On President Obama:
"He took what should have been a clear-cut self-defense matter, and still to this day on the anniversary of the incident he held a ceremony at the White House inviting the Martin-Fulton family and stating that they should take the day to reflect upon the fact that all children's lives matter," Zimmerman continued. "Unfortunately for the president, I'm also my parent's child and my life matters as well. And for him to make incendiary comments as he did and direct the Department of Justice to pursue a baseless prosecution he by far overstretched, overreached, even broke the law in certain aspects to where you have an innocent American being prosecuted by the federal government which should never happen."
On the Martin Family:
He suggested the president should have taken a different approach. "Ask for the Martin-Fulton family and their attorneys not to incite violence and asked for calm from the entire community," he remarked.
However, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments today in a Texas case that could have ripple effects for Southern states such as Georgia that allow the flag on state-issued specialty license plates, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
According to the news outlet the issue in the case of Walker vs. Sons of Confederate Veterans is whether "Texas was wrong to reject a bid by the organization to join the roster of organizations offering specialty license plates through the state."
Texas allegedly rejected the bid four years ago after months of protests from groups who said the flag was a symbol of oppression. The Sons of Confederate Veterans argued that the state violated its right of free speech.
In a statement released by the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) it was reported that though many people find the battle flag abhorrent because it, "was flown by those who defended slavery and sought to dissolve the Union," the state of Texas still does not have the right to keep the emblem off license plates.
The ACLU added, "Texas has many options available to it to address that problem, but censorship is not one of them."
READ MORE: 99 Problems: Damon Dash GOES OFF About Jay-Z On The Breakfast Club
Dame aired out his frustrations on Instagram, calling out his ex-wife and her attorney Barry Rutcofsky for what he calls playing games to make Rachael look like the better parent.
He first posted this pic saying he misses his kids:
"I miss my babies I better not have to fight to see them because of some lame lawyer like bitch ass. Donnell Suarez @rachel_roy please don't get caught up in this because Im not playin @ava_dash call me"
Then he went all the way in:
"If anybody speaks to Rachel_roy can you ask her why she is keeping my daughters away from me i know such a classy woman would never do something as distasteful as that unless advised by a low life scum bag lawyer like donell Suarez Rachel please don't get caught up in this dude trying to separate me from my family so he can get paid but if I have to this will be a public fight and I'm going to tell the truth and you guys will not be making me look like a bad father so yall can get more money…I'm sick of these games…Barry Rutcofsky is another scum bag lawyer I'm gonna make famous for fucking wit my family"
Rachel however, didn't let Dame have his way. She soon clapped back with a message that seems like it was targeted toward Dame.
Not sure what's going on behind the scenes but it seems like Dame is destined to let the world know the real deal. We hope these two can work things out so the kids don't suffer,
According to People.com the Empire star revealed in an interview with Uptown Magazine that she decided to not let her him go to USC after the incident.
READ: White Reporter Call Taraji P. Henson a Bad Bitch on Empire. Is that Ok?
"My child has been racially profiled," the actress, 44, said while discussing race issues with the magazine. "He was in Glendale, California, and did exactly everything the cops told him to do, including letting them illegally search his car. It was bogus because they didn't give him the ticket for what he was pulled over for."
Henson added, "Then he's at University of Southern California, the school that I was going to transfer him to, when police stopped him for having his hands in his pockets."
"So guess where he's going? Howard University," Henson said. "I'm not paying $50K so I can't sleep at night wondering is this the night my son is getting racially profiled on campus."
Poll: Do you think the Empire star is justified?
READ MORE: WATCH: Serena Williams Show Off Sexy Sports Bra In New Ad Campaign
Serena covers the April issue of Vogue and the dueling tennis duo talk about their friendship, man problems and even that controversial moment when Carol stuffed her bra and skirt to mock Serena's big booty physique, sparking outrage and a history lesson on Hottentot Venus.
"I wasn't offended," Serena said. "And I felt bad for her because this girl does not have a mean bone in her body."
Carol responds:
"I never would've done it if Serena and I weren't friends. And hey, who wouldn't want big boobs?"
The two are real life besties. Serena said about their friendship:
"It's hard and lonely at the top. That's why it's so fun to have Caroline and my sister, too."
On being competitive, Serena says:
"I am such a perfectionist, if I lose a game," she says, "I go crazy."
READ MORE: RUMOR PATROL: Are Common And Serena Williams Back Together again?
Checkout Serena's full Vogue interview here.
READ: ESPN's Stephen A. Smith Pushes for Black People to Vote Republican
Here is some information on the controversial conservative that may raise some red flags for Black voters:
Red Flag #1: Ted Cruz advocates against the affordable healthcare act which benefits many African Americans. The senator helped propose a government funding bill that attached language defunding President Barack Obama's signature legislation. He took over the Senate floor for 21 hours in 2013 in an attempt to defund President Obama's health care law. Research obtained by the center for Health and Human services that reports that because of Obamacare, "African American families have more security, and many of those who already had insurance now have better coverage."
Red Flag #2: Cruz still supports the death penalty even after working with a wrongly convicted African-American man. Cruz maintains steadfast conviction in support of the death penalty "even though he himself once worked on a case in which a innocent man had spent 14 years on death row after prosecutors hid blood tests and other evidence exonerating him somehow makes that worse, DailyKos.com reports.
Red Flag #3: Cruz is against combating issues that severely impact the African-American community such as unfair wage enforcement. The U.S. Senator voted against the Minimum Wage Fairness Act, a bill that would increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.
Red Flag #4. Cruz is against DREAM Act that will aid minorities in the U.S. The DREAM Act which stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors would provide illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children a path to permanent residency if they attend college or serve in the military, Cruz said he doesn't support the DREAM Act and categorically oppose amnesty stating, "I categorically oppose amnesty, and I strongly support legal immigration for those that have followed the rules and come here to pursue the American dream," the Austin-American Statesman reports.
Red Flag #5: Cruz supports "Stand Your Ground" laws. He told the mother of Trayvon Martin, Sybrina Fulton, that the law can't possibly be "racist." In a press conference conducted by CSPAN, Cruz told the grieving mother of the unarmed slain teenager that, that the self-defense laws are not racist because they help Blacks as much as Whites, if not more. Cruz added "The notion that stand your ground laws are some form of veiled racism may be a convenient political attack, but it is not borne out by the facts remotely."
See video below:
Reporter Seija Rankin is clearly a fan of Fox's gritty and glam new series that follows the dysfunctional Lyon clan but her choice of headline made us pause.
Seija's post outlines the four reasons Cookie rocks her world but does the headline of the story go too far? Is using the B word like using the N word where some Black folk feel like we can use it but others can't?
And most importantly would Taraji object?
Some of the celebs in attendance to view the 15 short film selections out of 1,500 submissions were Terrence J, Hilary Swank, Steve McQueen, Jake Johnson, LaLa Anthony, Kal Penn, Amber Riley, Michael Ealy, and filmmaker Will Packer. Even kid phenom "Kid President" came out to throw his support behind the young filmmakers.
The President also announced his new Call to Arts initiative, a program in partnership with the American Film Institute and the Screen Actors Guild-America Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) to encourage mentorship.
If you missed the White House Student Film Festival this weekend, be sure to check out all the Official Selections here.
And, if you'd like more information about the President's Call to Arts, check here or visit Serve.gov/CallToArts.
Check out the photos.
According to TMZ, the former Superbowl champion will serve a maximum of 8 years in prison for allegedly attempting to sexually assault 2 girls in Nevada. He reportedly could have received a life sentence.
The New York Post reports that the sexual assaults happened after Sharper's 2011 retirement stating:
All the cases followed a similar pattern where Sharper is accused of slipping drugs to women and sexually assaulting them when they were unconscious or otherwise unable to resist or consent.
The former All-Pro safety reportedly assaulted nine women in New Orleans, Tempe, Arizona and Las Vegas.
No word yet on where the player will serve his sentence.
"The verdict handicaps any creator out there who is making something that might be inspired by something else," he told The Financial Times. "This applies to fashion, music, design… anything. If we lose our freedom to be inspired, we're going to look up one day and the entertainment industry as we know it will be frozen in litigation. This is about protecting the intellectual rights of people who have ideas."
READ MORE: GIVE IT UP: Robin Thicke & Pharrell LOSE "Blurred Lines" Must Pay Millions to Marvin Gay's Family
Pharrell and Robin Thicke lost a copyright infringement case brought on by Marvin Gaye's family who said their popular song was a replica of Marvin's hit "Got To Give It Up." The jury agreed awarding the family $7.3 million and opening the door to more lawsuits from the family. Not only that but down the line, Pharrell thinks artists will end up in perpetual copyright cases by with singers making claim to any groove that sounds remotely like their tune,
"Everything that's around you in a room was inspired by something or someone," Williams added. "If you kill that, there's no creativity."
POLL: Does Pharrell have a point?
Kerry Washington was honored with a Vanguard Award for being a champion for the LGBT community and promoting equal rights and made a moving speech about equality. Her boss Shonda Rhimes was right by her side too supporting and cheering her own.
READ MORE: Kerry Washington Calls Out Black Community on Gay Rights
Cute couple Zoe Saldana and Merco Perego made an appearance and Zoe had her post-baby glow going in a red knee-length dress. Check out a few other star stunners at the awards.
READ MORE: Raven Symone DEFENDS Host's Racist Ape Comment About Michelle Obama
Raven was quick to mop up her remarks defending the Univision host Rodner Figueroa's comments about the First Lady looking like an ape saying:
"I don't think I was defending. I think he got fired for a reason. It was very distasteful what he said, it was very distasteful. And I don't believe she looks like one at all. I don't believe she should've been casted, but I do know that a lot of people I know have animal traits."
"I think any time something is dealing with race, that is still an open wound and you try to look at it from a different standpoint, people are gonna get mad. Especially when it's socially out, blasted, and people don't read the whole story. Just like a lot of my comments. People don't read into the whole story and start making things and they say, I said this and I said this and I'm trying to be a different race, but I'm not trying to be."
READ MORE: After Calling Michelle Obama an Ape TV Host's Apology Makes it WORSE!
Remember when Raven raise eyebrows, telling Oprah that she didn't want to be defined as African American? She backtracked on that too:
I never said I wasn't black. I said I wasn't African American and to me, that's a difference. "We are a melting pot of beauty. We have to embrace the different cultures we have. And if you don't, we're still gonna have these problems that are blasting up everywhere. And call me hippie, call me a free-thinker, call me someone that's looking for a better life, but I wanna be in a better world."
Watch Raven clear the air in the video above.
The conservative Republican known for his staunch opposition to the president's signature health care law and his executive actions on immigration will announce the start of his campaign at an address at Liberty University in Virginia later in the day, making him the first presidential candidate to formally announce a White House run, NBC News reports.
According to USA Today, his decision to run had been reported throughout the day on Sunday by news organizations. In a campaign video included with his tweet, the GOP presidential hopeful said, "It's going to take a new generation of courageous conservatives to help make America great again, and I'm ready to stand with you to lead the fight."
Watch the full report on Today.com
The Scandal star was honored with a Vanguard Award at the 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards for being a champion for the LGBT community promoting equal rights and made a moving speech about equality.
READ: Georgia Police Kill Black Father Trying to Serve Traffic Warrant
Kerry has teamed up with GLADD for their annual anti-bullying Spirit Day to support LGBT youth who have suffered at the hands of bullies. During her speech, Kerry knew she wanted to leave an indelible impression and started off by saying:
"…On Monday morning, people are going to click a link to hear what that woman from Scandal said at that awards show, and so, I think some stuff needs to be said."
She then went on to outline the inequalities that exist in various communities.
"Women, poor people, people of color, people with disabilities, immigrants, gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, trans people, intersex people: we have been pitted against each other and made to feel like there are limited seats at the table for those of us who fall into the category of 'other," she said.
"As others, we are taught that to be successful, we must reject those other others, or we will never belong."
READ MORE: CASTING NEWS: Kerry Washington Tackles Sexual Harassment In HBO Movie
She also took Black people to task and asked if they don't support gay marriage then refrain from spewing messages of hate.
"We can't say that we believe in each other's fundamental humanity and then turn a blind eye to the reality of each others' existence and the truth of each other's hearts. We must be allies. And we must be allies in this business because to be represented is to be humanized. And as long as anyone, anywhere is being made to feel less human, our very definition of humanity is at stake and we are all vulnerable."
Watch Kerry make her poignant speech above.
Smith went on to publicly explain his comments. He told CNN's Michael Smerconish how Democrats been successful at convincing Black people that the GOP is completely against your interests. As a result he said, "A vast majority of black Americans look at the Republican Party as the enemy." This means, to Smith, Democrats "have a liense to take us for granted."
Smith got a little push back from Smerconish, who challenged Smith about the idea of voting in the best interest of the Black community, wondering if it would be okay for him to vote based on "what's in the best interests of the white community."
Watch the video below, via CNN:
The Twitter account belonging to Joey Casselberry had been deactivated as of Saturday night, but screen captures of the tweet show that the player called Mo'Ne a "slut" while criticizing news that a Disney Channel movie was being made about her, WMAQ reports.
Bloomsburg announced the dismissal of the junior first baseman on Twitter, and said it was "deeply saddened" by Casselberry's tweet, noting "his words do not represent Bloomsburg University."
Before his Twitter account was deactivated, Casselberry apologized, writing,
"An example that one stupid tweet can ruin someone's life and I couldn't be more sorry about my actions last night. I please ask you to forgive me and truly understand that I am in no way shape or form a sexist and I am a huge fan of Mo'ne. She was quite an inspiration."
READ MORE: Friends Snitch on Jamie Foxx Dating Katie Holmes
When the paps caught up with Jamie, he took a moment to clear the air and squash rumors that there was a secret romance brewing with Katie after US Weekly published a photo of the two looking comfy holding hands.
Jamie said it's all work and no play because he and Katie are just working together on an animated film.
He told the paps: "Come on, you guys have been trying to get that to stick for three years."
Check out the video of Jamie explaining his actions above.
Wiley College is also responsible for establishing the first social organizations and Black Greek letter organizations in the Southwest region. The college was the first of its kind in the Southwest region to adopt an honor roll system for academically outstanding students.
Wiley is currently organized into three degree-granting divisions and one service unit:
To support our HBCUs, visit Home Depot's RetoolYourSchool.com and vote for your favorite college to win a grant to fund a campus improvement project today!
The beehive is buzzing in celebration of their Queen Bey's new fashion venture. The Queen of Pop is collaborating with the luxury shoe designer, Giuseppe Zanotti. The famed shoe designer spilled the beans with Forbes.com, last Thursday.
"I'm doing a shoe with Beyoncé right now. Beyoncé has very clear ideas – she knows exactly what she wants. The thing which she then also has over other celebrities, is that she has an amazing voice. She's incredibly talented and she's an amazing dancer – she's complete. Few are like Beyoncé,"
Queen Bey's shoe are set to hit the market within one or two weeks. However, it is without a doubt that there will be a hefty price tag dangling from the shoe. Zanotti mentioned that they were finishing up the final touches.
I'm working on finalizing the shoe with her stylist right now. And Beyoncé will then say what she likes and what she doesn't like. It will be one shoe only,"
Let's see if the design will satisfy the Beehives cravings. Unfortunately for the feening bees, Queen Bey will only give you a taste of honey with just one pair of shoes.
READ MORE: CASTING NEWS: Snoop Dogg Snags Starring Role On 'Empire'
Snoop Dogg secured a role in the upcoming untitled HBO drama and it's set in the early 1980s in Los Angeles. Sounds like Snoop can use his Compton/Long Beach life experience to get him acclimated to his new role.
The series will be directed and produced by Allen Hughes (Broken City, Gang Related) and written by Rodney Barnes (The Boondocks, Everybody Hates Chris).
We can't wait to see the rapper-turned-actor put his thang down in the new role.
READ MORE: #FixIt: Karrueche Tran Sits Down With Iylanla To Get Her Life FIXED
Iyanla spoke exclusively with Sister2SisterMagazine about how she was surprised Karrueche defended Chris Brown's cheating ways after she found out he had a baby on the side during an interview on an upcoming Iyanla Fix My Life," episode.
The "Fix It" guru sat down with Karrueche to dish about what Iyanla calls her deeply personal story which of course will center around her tumultuous relationship with the singer and the circumstances surrounding finding out he cheated and has a baby named Royalty. Iyanla is stunned that even though Chris dipped out on Karruechu she defends him fiercely and at one point, put Iyanla and the OWN crew out of her house while taping.
Iyanla said this:
"The thing that was so surprising to me is how protective and forgiving she is of Chris. She repeatedly offered that he is only human and humans make mistakes. She said she knows he loves her and she just wishes things could change for him. I think I am a bit more troubled by his behavior than she is. I am disturbed that he has such a gift and blessing and continues to dishonor God, himself and women with no accountability. Prison was punishment and punitive. It did not teach responsibility or accountability for his behavior or as the steward of a gift. Anyway, she made no attempt to bash him and will probably come across as naive and relatable."
READ MORE: SHOCKER: Chris Brown Has a Baby Girl & Karrueche Tran REACTS
The episode will air on OWN March 28th.
1. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz begins campaigning for the 2016 Presidential election. Cruz made it official today, just after midnight, tweeting, "I'm running for President and I hope to earn your support," according to USA Today.
2. Police release report of alleged UVA rape. Charlottesville, Va., police will release the results of an investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the University of Virginia that was reported in Rolling Stone magazine in fall 2014.
3. Crying Villanova band member discusses her sadness. Roxanne Chalifoux, a member of Villanova University's band, was captured crying by TV cameras while playing her piccolo after the Wildcats lost to North Carolina State 71-68. The moment quickly drew viral social media attention. Villanova, a No. 1 seed, was expected to survive deep into the tournament, ABC News reports.
4. Fight at the Wal-Mart leaves 1 dead. A suspect who shot and wounded a Pheonix police officer was shot and killed in a gun battle in a Wal-Mart parking lot late Saturday night that left seven other officers hurt and a second suspect wounded, reports CBS Phoenix affiliate KPHO-TV.
5. Thousands sign a petition to end Kanye West's Glastonbury's performance. Kanye West was announced earlier this week as one of the headliners at this summer's Glastonbury music festival, but some music fans aren't happy about it.One festival-goer started a petition calling on organizers to "prevent this musical injustice" by canceling the rapper's performance, CBS News reports.
READ MORE: Ludacris Talks About Wife's Baby Shower & Having A BIG Wedding In Five Years
Luda along with his wife Eudoxiee posted Instagram pics with Governor Nathan Deal and State rep Valencia Stovall.
Luda was being heralded as a community hero for helping kids and making a difference in his community. The ATL rapper does a lot for children with his foundation, from mentoring them to supplying Christmas gifts during the holidays.
READ MORE: Ludacris & Eudoxiee CONFIRM A Baby Is On The Way!
Valencia Stovall, State Rep from District 74, said Luda "he puts his money where where his mouth is."
State Rep. David Ralston was on hand as well.
Just a few days before, Luda made a surprise visit to an Atlanta screening of his new movie, Furious 7, due out April 3. He also has a new album LUDAVERSAL coming out and fans can pre-order the album now on iTunes or Google Play! Congrats Luda on the accomplishments.
READ MORE: SNEAK PEEK: See Jill Scott Get Her Groove On In 'With This Ring'
Jill's got soul that runs deep into the trenches of our hearts and this newest song evokes a powerful message about lost love. Nzingha Stewart directed the video with precision and got me all wanting to grab a Jack Daniels, puff on a Hookah, push play and get all into my feelings. Grown folks stuff right here.
The dark, yet sultry video sets the mood just right, reminiscent of a juke joint, with Jill and a drink in her hand, belting out her story of hurt from a past lover while the deep chords of the rhythmic bass line takes you to church.
"Did you ever know what it is to be hurt
Did you ever feel like dirt
Did you ever give up on your pride
Just to have him by your side"
Talk about it! Jill kicked off her shoes like Patti LaBelle and set her vocals in motion on this one.
Adam Blackstone is on bass and the Root's Questlove kills it on drums.
Do you like it? CocoaFab loves it.
The singer won Artist of the Year and R&B/Soul Recording of the Year.
He proudly posted his accolades on his Instagram account. Congrats to The Weeknd!
Check out his performance video above.
According to The Los Angeles Times, the fearsome music producer fainted in court today when the judge announced that he would be held on $25 million bail. Apparently Los Angeles Fire Department officials wheeled a gurney into the courtroom and assisted Knight, who was unconscious.
"Just, bam," Matthew Fletcher said. "He's unconscious right now."
Suge is accused of deliberately running over Terry Carter and Cle "Bone" Sloan in a parking lot following an argument on the set of "Straight Outta Compton." Carter died. Suge is charged with murder, attempted murder and two counts of hit-and-run with an allegation that he committed a violent felony while out on bail in another case.
This is just the latest of bizarre turns in this case. Suge's lawyer has apparently presented evidence that the former music producer is blind in one eye so therefore he couldn't have seen the people he is accused of running over.
You just can't make this stuff up…
Host: Mattie James @Mattiologie
Executive Producer: Angela Burt-Murray @AngelaCocoaFab
Videographer: Chris Mitchell @ChrisMitch3000
READ MORE: CASTING NEWS: Kerry Washington Tackles Sexual Harassment In HBO Movie
Looking like the picture of spring with a short bob haircut, Kerry also discusses the explosive episode that mirrored real life events surrounding the Michael Brown case. She opens up saying:
"I was really broken that morning. Watching that funeral, I was just broken. And I take all of who I am into a room. That's where I was that day. I'm not going to let anyone segment me or make me exclude parts of who I am because they may be threatening."
Ebony's April issue hits newsstands March 20.