Beyonce in Out Magazine’s May 2014 Issue:
Making her mark on the publication for the very first time, Beyonce scored the cover of Out magazine's May 2014 issue.
The "Single Ladies" songstress looked absolutely stunning for the Santiago & Mauricio-shot spread while opening up about everything from her LGBT fans to her views about women having control of their own sexuality.
Highlights from Beyonce's Q&A session are as follows. For more, be sure to visit Out!
On female empowerment:
"Women should own their sexuality. Men are free and women are not. That is crazy. The old lessons of submissiveness and fragility made us victims. Women are so much more than that."
On "XO":
"When I recorded 'XO' I was sick with a bad sinus infection. I recorded it in a few minutes just as a a demo and decided to keep the vocals. I lived with most of the songs for a year and never rerecorded the demo vocals. I really loved the imperfections, so I kept the original demos. I spent the time I'd normally spend on background and vocal productions on getting the music perfect."
On the LGBT community:
"I'm very happy if my words can ever inspire or empower someone who considers themselves an oppressed minority. We are all the same and we all want the same things: the right to be happy, to be just who we want to be and to love who we want to love."
How Nice!
Tia & Tamera COVER "EBONY"
Inside the issue, the "Sister Sister" and "Tia & Tamera" stars discuss their careers in Hollywood, marriage and motherhood.
“After Sister, Sister ended, nobody was calling,” says Tia. “My sister and I were sick and tired of being sick and tired of sitting back and waiting for those phone calls.” Deciding at that point they were going to take control of their future, Tia added, “We had the mentality, ‘We’re not going to depend on anybody anymore, we’re not going to let someone else’s value of us diminish how we value ourselves, and we’re going to put action in place.’ We put our minds together and executed [our plans].”
Tamera opened up about the emotional moment she had on an episode of Oprah: Where Are They Now? in regards to her interracial marriage with FOX news correspondent, Adam Housley.
“Honestly, growing up, I [just] knew I was going to marry a Black man,” said Tamera. “But, as I grew up, I learned to just be open,” she added. “I just wanted to be with someone who was confident around me and who I felt comfortable being myself with.”
Speaking of "Sister Sister", Tia revealed to OK! that she'd be interested in doing a movie based on the hit series and she even has a plot in mind! She told the mag,
I would love to do Tia and Tamera go to Paris or to see where are they now. Maybe one of them’s married one’s not, one of them’s extremely successful and the other one’s struggling and she has to help the one who’s struggling. One of them has a family, the other one doesn’t. But I’m a huge fan of the Sex & The City movies and I love the way they put the girls out of their comfort zone so I would love to see that. Tia and Tamera somewhere out of their comfort zone, whether that’s traveling abroad to Morocco or Paris or Italy. Something fun like that.
Tia also told PEOPLE that her 2-year old son Cree has a favorite word -- "No" -- and he is a great negotiator. She joked,
“I’m like ‘Honey, come on, we’re gonna have to learn how to say yes!’” she jokes. “I’m like, ‘Cree, what’s your name?’ ‘No.’ ‘Cree, how old are you?’ ‘No.’ ‘Cree, can I have a kiss?’ ‘No.’ Everything is no." She added, “He’s negotiating with me. He’s not even three yet! Before he goes to bed, he likes to watch Little Einstein. I’m like,’We can’t watch too much of it because you have to go to bed.’ And he’s like, ‘Mommy, see Little Einstein. Five more minutes. [Saying no is] a problem. Then we end up watching it for 20, 30 minutes. He’s already negotiating with me — oh my God!”
Check out their full interview in the April issue of EBONY on newsstand now.
Ummmm TRINA W’sup?! French Montana & Khloe Kardashian HUGGED UP
While Trina was in Orlando performing for Big Boy Pride her Man rapper French Montana and Lamar Odom's soon-to-be ex-wife Khloe Kardashian hit up the strip club for the afterparty.
French and Khloe were spotted exceptionally close as they made their way inside strip club Pink Rhino in Phoenix, AZ over the weekend. TMZ spies caught the two and their entourages guzzling down 10 bottles of alcohol and dropped $7,000+ in ones for the strippers.
Sources say the couple was really into each other, as they remained “close” the entire night, snapping photos with fans but NEVER together. The two were supposedly house hunting earlier for French, where they looked at a 4,800 sq. ft. Hollywood Hills mansion, which would run French about $29,000 a month.
Guess Khloe has moved on from her failed marriage with Lamar Odom. Can’t say we blame her. But um......where's Trina?
WATCH:
Meanwhile…..
French Montana’s rumored girlfriend Trina has posted cryptic Instagram quotes about walking away......
Possible splitsville for French & Trina? Time will tell..
Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor Bring "Half of a Yellow Sun" to London
Excited to show off their latest film, Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor attended the UK premiere of "Half of a Yellow Sun" in London on Tuesday (April 8).
The Oscar-nominated actor looked handsome in a dark suit and white dress shirt while his gorgeous co-star wore a sleeveless black dress with a gold image of an eye on it.
In the drama, the lives of four people during the struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria are followed.
Excited for the event, Thandie tweeted, "Hollywood and Nollywood coming to Streatham tonight with Half of a Yellow Sun. Can't wait." Directed by Biyi Bandele, the movie hits theaters in the United States in July.
Pooch Hall’s Special Needs Prom and Sweet 16 for Daughter Djanai
*He may play the long lost, illegitimate black son in Showtime’s “Ray Donovan,” returning July 13, but in real life, Pooch Hall was shown nothing but love from his TV fam as they came out to support a charity close to his heart.
In March, the actor and his wife Linda hosted a first-of-its-kind Special Needs Family Prom in North Hollywood, Calif. that doubled as a “Sweet 16” party for their own special needs daughter, Djanai.
The couple’s charity organization, Djanai’s Angels, threw the event as part of its goal to raise awareness and enrich the lives of families of children with special needs. Participants enjoyed red carpet arrivals, a candy cocktail hour, prom photos, a “Sweet 16” birthday cake for Djanai, an inclusive fashion show and the crowning of Prom King and Queen. Music was provided by their very own special needs DJ… DJ Kripple King.
The day was designed as an opportunity for supporters and families to mingle with celebs, learn about Djanai’s Angels and raise funds for the inClusion Clubhouse, a planned facility that would cater to the needs of families with special needs kids.
Djanai is “developmentally delayed with cerebral palsy,” according to her mom, Linda. Pooch told essence.com of their eldest daughter, “She is handicapped, in a wheelchair and can’t walk or talk, but she’s still the happiest girl in the world. She doesn’t know hate, she doesn’t know race, she doesn’t know judgment. She just knows love and fun.”
BEAUTIFUL!
Kenny Lattimore and Ray J Lend a Hand to Wash Feet of Displaced People On Easter Saturday
*As folks prepare for Easter Sunday, Kenny Lattimore (pictured) will be among those serving displaced individuals on the day before for the Midnight Mission feet washing.
More than 100 One Church International volunteers are expected to join the singer, actor/realty TV star Ray J and pastor Toure Roberts as they wash and place adequate shoes and socks on the feet of hundreds of displaced individuals in the courtyard of The Midnight Mission on Skid Row in downtown LA.
The event, which will run from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on April 19, is being organized by the ASHÉ Foundation (http://theashefoundation.org), an organization dedicated to aiding disadvantaged and underprivileged children of African nations by distributing shoes, clothing, basic necessities, and services. Although the Foundation was set up to help the less fortunate of African nations, Los Angeles and its surrounding communities remained on the mind of founder Dion Fearon as he created the Midnight Mission feet washing to help support the displaced, disadvantaged, and underprivileged in LA’s backyard.
The outpouring of support from church families like One Church International Family, ASHÉ board members and the Los Angeles community has been amazing”, Fearon said in a press release.
In addition to the feet washing, the Mission offers counseling, education, training and job placement for homeless people as well food, shelter, clothing, personal hygiene needs, and medical care.
Event Details:
Midnight Mission
601 S. San Pedro St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
April 19, 2014
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
———
Current and Previous Celebrity Talent Participation
Kenny Lattimore – R&B Recording Artist
Ray J – American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor
Brandon Fobbs -“The Walking Dead”, “The Wire,” “Pride” and “This Christmas”
Gifted Nations – American Pop/R&B Female Group
RAZON – Performing Artist
DJ Kiss – Dj/Entertainer
Shane Sparks – Dance Choreographer
Chaz Marcus – Entertainer
Ernest Thomas – Actor
Ananda Lewis – Television personality
Harry Smith – Industry Executive and brother to actor Will Smith
Ray Leonard, Jr. – Son of Boxing Great Sugar Ray Leonard
Jonathan Bennett – “All My Children”, Dukes of Hazard (the movie)
Claudia Wells – “Back to the Future”
Essence Atkins – “Dance Flick”
Trenyce – Singer/American Idol
Antonio Cromartie – NFL Cornerback
Derek Strong – Former LA Laker/Clipper and current race-car driver
Erica Hill – (Strong Racing owner)
Los Angeles Police Captain Ann Young
Additional Supporters
Pastor Charles Humphrey-Hope House Ministries
Rev. John W. Miller-Community Lutheran Church of Los Angeles
Media interested in covering this event should contact The ASHÉ Foundation Publicist Tonya Carmouche’ at 562-551-8277 or tcpr4u@yahoo.com
“Real Housewives of Atlanta” Cast Threatens to Walk If Porsha Williams Is Fired?
Rumor has it, our favorite Georgia peaches are threatening to boycott if their “Real Housewives of Atlanta” co-star Porsha Williams is fired over her fight with Kenya Moore.
Last week we reported that Kenya and Porsha got into a very heated exchange during the popular reality show reunion show taping. In fact, we also reported that things got physical and Porsha attacked Moore during the altercation
We’ve now learned that the entire “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast is threatening to walk if Porsha is fired — all except Kenya Moore of course.
“Sources close to the show tell us the women hatched their plan this weekend at Kandi Burruss’ wedding … telling the show’s producers how much they despise Moore because of all the drama she stirs up,” reports TMZ.com.
“We’re told since the brawl, ALL housewives’ contracts for next season have been put on hold — until show honchos figure out what to do with Porsha,” the site adds.
In fact, reports suggest that fellow cast mates, Nene Leakes and Phaedra Parks, Moore’s nemeses, are attempting to get her fired instead. We’ll keep you all posted.
Halle Berry & Nahla At The Market
"X-Men: Days of Future Past" star Halle Berry was spotted at the market on Saturday afternoon. Little Nahla acted as her assitant as they picked up a few groceries. Loving Nahla's floral top!
Halle, who'll be heading to the small screen in the tv series "Extant", is in great shape since having baby boy Maceo six month's ago. Chick never ceases to look hot.
Naomi Campbell Dating Michael Fassbender
Naomi Campell and Michael Fassbender were spotted kissing at Mayfair club Coya [Getty]
The Face judge and international supermodel Naomi Campbell is reported to be dating Michael Fassbender, star of hit movies Shame and 12 Years A Slave. The two were apparently spotted openly kissing and cuddling in in a cordoned-off section of Mayfair's club Coya on Tuesday evening last week. Despite the privacy of the VIP section they were unfussed by fellow guests witnessing their PDAs.
Before their date, to which the couple arrived separately, Naomi Campbell had attended the opening of the V&A museum's Glamour of Italian Fashion exhibition wearing a spectacular drop-waist sequin dress alongside the likes of Rita Ora and Liz Hurley. At the event, Campbell had reportedly told friends that she was looking forward to a date with a movie star, later on that night - obviously they were all desperate to find out who it was. Could they have predicted such a superstar coupling?
Perhaps we shouldn't get too excited as a friend of the supermodel claims that Naomi always has famous and rich men chasing after her, it's one thing to go on dates and another when it turns into something more serious. But we can't help but imagine the fierce red carpet appearances...
Michael was previously dating co-star Lupita Nyong'o before her Oscar win and jet-setting came between them (also another red carpet dream team, non?). Keep your eyes peeled for more appearances of the duo together, we will!
Is Jermaine Dupri Over Mariah Carey’s Music Misfires?
Could of war of words be on the brink now that music Mogul LA Reid put himself right smack in the middle of the Jermaine Dupri/Mariah Carey debacle?
It’s no secret that Mimi is once again on the ropes after a series of singles have produced yawns from her lambs. The first hint of trouble was when Rick Ross and Meek Mills joined MC on that horrid “Triumphant”.
But then MC came back with the help of Miguel for “#Beautiful”. Just to end up back on the ropes with Valentines Day failure “You’re Mine (Eternal),” which peaked briefly at No. 88 on the Hot 100.
LA seems to have some ideas. And, agree with Mariah’s lambs via a cryptic retweet that something should be done:
Pretty bold for a man who once used to be in accord with the once powerful JD. Always a fan of controversy, JD has yet to address the social media slight. And I think it’s the best thing to do. Rise above.
But still….um..does the tweet hold weight?
The Celebs came out At The 2014 UNCF ‘Evening With The Stars’
It was a night of stars! And celebs hit the carpet last or The UNCF’s 2014 ‘Evening With The Stars’ event in Atlanta.
The star of the night was Jill Scott as she hit the red carpet displaying her trimmed physique alongside a mystery man. Jill (with her bandaged foot) has clearly been working hard in the gym and it has definitely paid off. She was the showstopper last night in a black hip hugging floor length dress, which showcased her new curves. Although Jill was working with one good foot, she still looked fabulous.
Jilly from Philly was the first to hit the stage, opening the show with a performance that had the entire theater rockin’.
Hot!
Funnyman Anthony Anderson bought his comedic commentary to the UNCF event and he was hilariously funny as he hosted the event. We hear Anthony had the entire audience in stitches and had a plethora of jokes about how Trey Songz’s mother “could get it.” Ha!
Seems Trey Songz and August Alsina put their differences aside as Trigga hit the carpet with his lovely mother April. Trey didn’t perform but he did hop on stage after Anthony Anderson kept making jokes about his mama. Ha!
Monica was her usual glam self. "Miss Thang" (pictured with Mr. Isley and his wife Kandy) came out with Mr. Biggs to perform “For The Love Of You” and the audience went wild. Seems Mr. Isley still has it.
Monica and newcomer August Alsina chilled back stage after his performance. Monica posted, “Me & My Lil Bro @augustalsina he KILLED it tonight #UNCF @Bet next Sunday at 10pm This is my #WatchThemLilGalsFace they went crazy when he hit the stage but his humility never wavered!! #Salute”
The Braxton Sisters looked absolutely gorge on the red carpet. Towanda was wearing a cute floral House of Chapele dress alongside her sister Trina who was joined by her “husband” Gabe Solis on the carpet.
Tamar, Trina and Towanda presented one of the scholarships to one of the recipients during the show.
Singer Sevyn Streeter (who was recently spotted giving out lap dances to Mack Wilds) looked cute in a white bandeau top and white flared slacks as she posed alongside Monica backstage.
Sevyn snapped a pic with host Anthony Anderson and her mother, all dressed in white.
Sevyn, record exec Kevin Liles, gospel singer Tye Tribbet and Trey Songz stopped backstage for a pic.
We see you Sevyn and Mack...
Fonzworth Bentley came out for the UNCF festivities.
And singer Kenny Lattimore was there to support the UNCF.
Great Times!
Toni Braxton To Star In OWN Biopic “The Darlene Love Story”
Toni Braxton has finally put her grudge against Oprah behind her.
Although the songstress felt Winfrey ridiculed her for her lavished lifestyle when she filed for bankruptcy back in 1998 (the first time around), she’s now partnering up with Winfrey’s network, OWN, for the movie biopic of “My Name Is Love: The Darlene Love Story.”
Braxton will star as the legendary backup singer in “My Name Is Love: The Darlene Love Story” and the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary “20 Feet From Stardom.”
The film will revolve around Love’s long career in the music biz, starting out as the key voice behind Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound hits from the 1960s.
The biopic is scheduled for December.
Daughter of T.D. Jakes Talks Being Angry with God; Pregnant at 14
Sarah Jakes‘, daughter of prominent pastor T.D. Jakes, world changed when she found out she was pregnant at 14.
Growing in the church and discovery she’d be a teen mother was one of the most challenging moments in her life.
She talked with theGrio about her pregnancy, losing faith, being angry with God and her new book, “Lost & Found: Finding Hope in the Detours of Life.”
“I was terrified,” Jakes told theGrio talking about before she told her parent’s about the pregnancy. “You have this idea of ‘I’m going to get in trouble,’ like ‘I’m going to be grounded forever’ because you have nothing else really at that point to compare it to.”
Her parents couldn’t fathom the words. Her sister told their parents after discovering a letter she left in the mailbox to tell the family.
“My parents were speechless. I mean, my father was a preacher, who speaks for a living, and he was speechless,” Jakes said. “And that’s when it dawned on me that this was so much bigger than being grounded. [I was] bringing a life into the world and while I certainly had other options, whether abortions or adoptions, there was something inside of me that said I could do it.”
Before Jakes book, she was blogging and socially sharing her life experiences.
“I started blogging about three years ago and at the time, I was married and my husband was expecting a child from another woman. I really wasn’t sure that I wanted to make the decision to divorce or to even put that part of my life out on a blog but I knew I had this pain and these emotions,” she said. “I was angry with God, I was bitter, and I just wanted to write about it.”
Her blog became popular and she shared her pregnancy and her roller-coaster marriage to NFL linebacker Robert Henson and later, her divorce.
“I believe the blog was very much an opportunity and permission to say we don’t have it all together and it hurts and life sucks right now but you know we are still trying,” Jakes said. “So when I got approached by my publisher as a result of the blog, I decided to be as transparent as my blog followers felt that I was on the website and that came through me sharing my own story.”
Being a preacher’s daughter meant she was held at a higher moral standard, and she withdrew under that pressuring microscope.
“Outside of wanting to know what would be the ministry legacy that you would create from your last name, they also wanted you to know that everything needed to be perfect,” Jakes said.
She continued with:
“In my case, you’re pregnant at 14, your stomach is growing, you’re sitting in a church, within service and people want to know who the father is and how it all happened. I mean that pressure very much made me want to hide and I became comfortable being an introvert,” she added.
But she chose to be honest and share her struggles with others.
“I think the most challenging part is probably being as transparent as I am. I had the opportunity where I could not have said anything and no one would have known at all,” Jakes admitted.
Her book “Lost & Found” was released on April 1 and can be found on amazon.com.
Kate Middleton is Radiant in Red For New Zealand Arrival with Prince George & Prince William
Making a much anticipated arrival, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge touched down in Wellington, New Zealand
Toting their adorable tot Prince George, Kate looked gorgeous in a bright red coat and matching hat, while William stood nearby.
This is the first leg of a three week tour, which will take the young family to both New Zealand and Australia.
They will visit thirteen towns and participate in forty-five official engagements.
Derrick Gordon Comes Out As First Openly Gay Division I Men’s Basketball Player
H/T: AP University of Massachusetts guard Derrick Gordon came out as gay to his teammates in a team meeting last week and has come out publicly in an article on Outsports, making him the first men’s player to come out while active in Division I basketball.
Gordon came out to his family and then his teammates shortly after UMass lost to Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in March. The decision came after a year of struggles with his identity and questions and teasing from teammates about his sexuality that caused him to pull away from the team and consider quitting basketball. But when he came out, Gordon’s teammates were accepting and hadn’t realized the impact their teasing had on him, Outsports’ Cyd Ziegler reported:
Last Wednesday, after coach Kellogg broke the ice with the team, Gordon stood before them and revealed that he’s gay. As he shared with them his story of isolation, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. While it had been easy for some of the young men to tease someone they thought was gay – and someone who denied it – the impact of their actions hit home when Gordon revealed the speculation was true, and that the teasing nearly drove him from the team.
“It was powerful for these players to see one of their brothers be so vulnerable,” said Davis, who said he had to turn away from the group in the room lest they see him get emotional. “These are some inner-city kids, some rough, tough kids who Derrick wants to be friends with. They understand who he is a little bit better now.”
The team responded well. Some of them lamented that Gordon had pulled away from them. It wasn’t their intent: The teasing had hit home in a way that landed wrong with him. In the locker room, guys tease one another for everything from penis size to haircut. Even your mama is fair game. They didn’t know how to talk with Gordon about their assumption that he was gay, so they relied on locker room teasing.
The entire story is worth a read, especially because it details the isolation and disconnect gay athletes like Gordon go through when they feel they can’t reach their teammates or aren’t comfortable with coming out to them. Plenty of ink has been spilled over why those feelings of isolation make it imperative that sports continue to work to make the locker room a more open and tolerant place — and why the media needs to keep covering the coming out of athletes as significant stories.
But I wanted to highlight that section because I think it brings to light another important aspect of this story and others like it: openly gay athletes like Gordon, or Jason Collins, Robbie Rogers, and Michael Sam before him, won’t just make it easier for gay athletes to come out without fear because they’ll show others that it’s possible. Their stories should also have an impact on the locker room atmosphere that exists before other gay athletes decide to come out, even if no one knows whether gay teammate is there. Gordon’s teammates weren’t necessarily teasing him from a place of homophobia, it doesn’t seem, but because they weren’t sure how to talk to him about it. They had no idea that their teasing, which as Ziegler notes is a basic mode of communication in any locker room, wasn’t showing Gordon that he was accepted no matter what but was instead pushing him farther away.
We’ve already seen how the presence of openly gay players like Jason Collins can change the way NBA players talk about gay athletes and issues of sexuality. Kobe Bryant, who once uttered a gay slur on the court, is now supportive of openly gay athletes and chides social media users for similar language. Roy Hibbert immediately apologized both publicly and to Collins after using “no homo” during a press conference. That presence is making straight athletes more aware of their words and actions around gay athletes. But stories like Gordon’s should drive home the point that we don’t need to wait for openly gay athletes or teammates to figure out how to make locker rooms and sports teams more open to them (to their credit, many sports leagues are already trying to do this in various ways). Gay athletes already exist in many of these locker rooms, and many of the aspects of accepted locker room culture that seem otherwise harmless may only be adding to their already-existing fears of intolerance. Educating players about how to approach teammates they think might be gay in a constructive way, or to at least acknowledge the possibility that one of their teammates might be gay, will make locker rooms a place where gay athletes feel comfortable and don’t spend as much time — if any — in the state of isolation and despair in which Gordon found himself.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
P & P
Personally, if I were wearing an animal on my shirt it would probably have to be Animal from the muppets. That’s just common sense. But if I were forced between a pig and a puppy I think I’d just stay at home.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!
EFREM
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