Boris Kodjoe Talks Being A German Actor In The Industry For UPSCALE’s Sept/Oct Issue
Boris Kodjoe and his good looks are gracing the cover of the Sept/Oct issue of UPSCALE magazine.
The German-born actor is set to star in an upcoming drama film titled Addicted, based on the best-selling novel by Zane. He plays the husband to a successful businesswoman Zoe Reynard (starring Sharon Leal) in the provocative thriller, which is set to hit theaters October 14th.
In the cover story, Boris dishes on trying to step outside the box with new roles, attempting to be a regular guy and taking people’s perceptions with a grain of salt.
Here are the highlights:
On Hollywood:
“Hollywood puts you in a box and they don’t like you stepping to the left or right of that. I’ve tried as much as I can to just spread my wings when the opportunity arose. And it’s tough, I’m not gonna lie, ‘’cause they don’t let you. You really have to scratch and fight for the chance to show them that you can do it.”
On Being a Regular Guy:
"I could walk around with security guards and make it really weird on everybody and draw a lot of attention. But I like to move around like a regular person.”
On being over people's perceptions:
“If I started worrying about how people perceive me, I would be mad about people not realizing that I couldn’t even speak English when I first came here. People always give so much props to English actors that do an American accent convincingly. I had to learn how to walk and talk and move around so I could be accepted as somebody who plays African-American roles. There’s not one other German actor who has established himself as playing American characters. I’m proud of that. I use it as encouragement to myself that I don’t have to put limitations on where I wanna go.”
Nice!
JUST MARRIED: FIRST WEDDING PIC: Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade!
Talk about a WHITE wedding! The bride wore white, the groom wore white, and the female guests were asked to wear white formal attire while the men were requested to wear black tuxes.
All phones of wedding guests may have been confiscated, but that didn't stop this pic from leaking out this evening.
Gorgeous bride Gabrielle Union wore a gown created by Dennis Basso for Kleinfeld, while the handsome groom wore a white DSquared tuxedo with his own Dwyane Wade for The Tie Bar bowtie and a boutonniƩre from Floral Fix.
32-Year-Old Miami Heat baller Dwyane Wade and 41-year-old "Being Mary Jane" & Think Like A Man Too star wed at Miami's “Chateau Artisan" castle Saturday evening. And from the looks of things, it was a royal affair -- complete with a moat to keep all random passersby away and 18,000 square feet of fabulousness.
The wedding - which may have been planned in part by Inimitable Events, Inc.- is the second wedding for both, but it looks like the second time may just be the charm..
Since every guest had to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to the wedding, and had to agree to give up their phones during the wedding, pics from inside the actually ceremony may be hard to come by until the couple releases a few themselves.
But none of that stopped Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade's friends from snapping pics before their arrivals. The couple requested all the ladies to wear white formal attire and all the men to wear black formal attire, so that's what they got.
Gabby's Think Like A Man Too co-star Kevin Hart posted a "sharp" pic with fiance Eniko Parrish. Nice.
D-Wade's teammate Chris Bosh towered over wife Adrienne in their pic. But her dress looks fab.
Gabby's TLAM2 co-star LaLa Anthony and her husband Carmelo Anthony stopped for a pic before the ceremony.
Loves them.
Ludacris and Eudoxiee made a super quick trip to the wedding after partying it up the night before and earlier Saturday in Atlanta for LudaDay weekend.
Gabby's TLAM2 co-star Terrence J and his homie Fred Whit posed it up with BET Exec Stephen Hill before their phones got confiscated.
Ballers Dorrell Wright and Quentin Richardson, and their wives Mia and Miya, rode together and made it a double date.
And stylist to plenty of Miami stars Tamia Styles showed off her cute cut on the way to the big event.
As for details from the wedding, the folks over at Gossip Extra have a play by play of the set up and everything that went down at the wedding. We're not confirming anything ourselves, but take their report how you want to:
The bride and groom are scheduled to be flown down from Wade’s house on North Bay Road in Miami Beach by helicopter about two hours later, right on time for the 6:30 p.m. ceremony.
The exchange of vows will be performed on one of three islands on the property:
– The chairs for the well-wishers are “ghost chairs,” transparent so as not to detract from the castle in the background
– Each chair will have a set of opera glasses for more comfortable watching
– The ceremony will be officiated by actress Essence Atkins, Union’s bestest BFF
– Guests will be provided with flip-flops and shoe covers to navigate the grass
At dinner, in a giant tent with a large chandelier in the middle:
– Four 72-inch TVs throughout the tent
– There are 18 tables of 10 to 12 people, 200 napkins with the lovebirds’ initials on them
– The chairs are custom-made and covered with black crocodile skin
– The special chairs for bride and groom look like thrones
– There’ll be a candles ceremony during dinner. The guests will be given a candle to light and will wish the newlyweds well. A choir will emerge and gather a group of guests in front of the house and walk down the driveway then pick up the group emerging from the dining tent.
Together, they all will enter a movie set-style juke joint as the choir will perform a last song on the main stage.
By the way, the main stage is 16 feet by 24 feet and will be covered in burlap and shielded with aged velvet curtains — with fringe. The front edge is lined with wooden fruit crates to create a stage skirt. The stage will have stained wood on the platform base and the sides will also be clad in wood. They will resemble large porches with lanterns and sconces. Aged pallet-style corrugated metal walls will be installed behind the two entrances on the stage.
Beside the stage, the juke joint also has themed bars, like the Battier Bar as in Shane Battier and a moonshine bar. Outside, there’s a specialty drink bar in a shack named The Voodoo Backwoods Shack.
Some signs that decorate the juke joint area: Bar Melo, as in Carmelo Anthony; Bosh’s Brewery for Chris Bosh and Ray’s Retirement Home after Ray Allen.
Another sign: Cleveland, this Way! Of course, that refers to LeBron’s return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
For the late snacks, the juke joint will be set up with buffet with market style booths for waffles, cupcakes and cookies.
The food will be on a long wood palette suspended from the ceiling. When the time comes to serve, the palettes will lowered by electrical engines.
Stay tuned for more pics.
Cee Lo Green Enters No Contest Plea in Drug Case
Cee Lo Green pleaded no contest Friday to one felony count of furnishing ecstasy to a woman during a 2012 dinner in Los Angeles and was sentenced to serve probation and community service.
The Grammy-winning singer also entered a special plea in which he maintained his innocence in the case and that prevents his no contest plea from being used against him in civil court. The drug case could be used against Green in criminal court if he faces another drug offense.
Superior Court Judge Mark Young sentenced the 39-year-old singer to three years of formal probation and 45 days of community service. Green, whose real name is Thomas DeCarlo Callaway, will be allowed to travel for work and permitted to see a private physician for drug and alcohol counseling, the judge said.
Green also can serve his community service through MusiCares Foundation, an affiliate of the organization that presents the Grammy Awards.
Green entered the plea just before a scheduled preliminary hearing during which prosecutors would have had to show there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
Prosecutors rejected a rape charge against Green when he was charged with the felony drug charge in October 2013. His attorney Blair Berk has said Green had consensual sex with the woman he gave ecstasy to during the July 2012 dinner.
No civil case has been filed over the incident in Los Angeles, court records show.
Green won a Grammy for the hit "Forget You" and performed as part of the duo Gnarls Barkley. He appeared as a judge on the NBC competition show "The Voice," but left the show after he was charged.
Wild N’ Out Vixen Denies Being Nick Cannon’s Mistress (Tweets)
After news of Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey’s split, rumors have flown about reasons behind it, including age difference, Mariah wanting control, and Nick allegedly cheating with one of his Wild N’ Out vixens.
Now Brittany Dailey, a vixen who currently stars on the comedian’s show has responded to the rumors on Twitter. The rumors of their relationship began when Nick confirmed that he was living separately from Carey. She's taken to Twitter to deny is via VLAD TV!
Through Brittany Dailey has publicly denied it, a friend of a friend of hers swears the rumors are true…
In the comment section of a post about the rumors on Madame Noir's Facebook page a friend of Brittany Dailey's, three times removed, serves up the hottest of chai tea about nature of Nick and Brittany's relationship.
OOOPS!
So there!
Suge Knight Shot Over Dispute With Akon’s Brother Bu Thiam?
The streets are buzzing with new rumors that the real reason Suge Knight got shot was because he owe’s Chris Brown’s manager Bu Thiam a whole lot of money.
According to All Hip Hop:
According to our source, Suge was shot over a dispute with R&B singer Akon’s brother Abou “Bu” Thiam. The source claims Suge owed Bu around $250,000, and a fight involving the two actually broke out at a L.A. studio just a few weeks ago.
Things ratcheted up at the pre-VMA party hosted by Chris Brown over the weekend where Suge was shot.
Snoop Dogg Dons "Whiteface" To TRANSFORM Into 'A White Guy Named Todd', Snaps Selfie With Nia Long
Remember all of the controversy that stemmed from Nick Cannon dressing in “whiteface” to promote his last album? Well it looks like Snoop Dogg is following suit…but possibly for a different project.
In a series of Instagram pics and videos, Snoop has transformed into a white guy named Todd, complete with whiteface and a blonde wig. We’re not exactly sure why, but it looks like it could be for a film since he snapped a few pics with fab Single Moms Club actress, Nia Long.
Todd is, according to Snoop, a single white man on the hunt for some for fly single females. And in his spare time he enjoys going paintballing, crocheting and a little spoken word. Sounds like an ad for a dating website right? That’s exactly what it is. Snoop has been advertising for a “site” called White Guys Connect. And it appears Nia could be the lead woman he’s looking for.
Ha! Duck lips...
Nia also shared a shot of herself and Snoop after he got rid of Todd.
She captioned, “I love me some him :)”
Joan Rivers Health Update: Here’s The Latest
Things are touch-and-go for the ailing Joan Rivers right now, and her daughter Melissa Rivers has released another statement regarding the 81-year-old’s condition.
In an interview with E!, Melissa was thankful that her mom is in a induced coma while also noting that they’re far from being out of the woods.
Rivers shared, “My mother would be so touched by the tributes and prayers that we have received from around the world.”
“Her condition remains serious but she is receiving the best treatment and care possible. We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts as we pray for her recovery.”
Nike To Match Under Armour’s Offer Nearly $300M For Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is a wanted man. Reportedly, Nike will match Under Armour’s almost $300 million endorsement offer in order to keep KD in their services.
Reports ESPN:
Nike has countered Under Armour’s offer of between $265 million and $285 million and believes it will keep Kevin Durant for the next 10 years, sources told ESPN. Nike, whose seven-year deal that guaranteed Durant $60 million is expiring, made an initial offer of about $20 million a year that was far from what Durant was looking for. Under Armour’s huge play for Durant had many believing that Nike would even let him go at that price.
But on Saturday, Nike officials told Durant and his team at Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports that it would indeed step up enough to allow the world’s largest shoe and apparel company to keep him in its robust stable of basketball endorsers that includes LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
Here’s the kicker, it’s possible that Durant’s new shoe contract will earn him more money than his NBA contract in the same two-year period.
You the real MVP, Nike.
Although Nike will be paying Durant more money, Under Armour’s offer also included a 10% ownership stake in the fledgling but growing shoe company.
Durant’s latest signature shoe, the Nike KD 7, was released in June.
Missouri Police Sued Over Handling Of Ferguson Protests
Police in Missouri are being sued for their handling of the Ferguson unrest following the shooting of Michael Brown. A group of six filed a $40 million lawsuit accusing the police departments of using excessive force and making unwarranted unrest.
From Reuters:
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, says law enforcement met a broad public outcry over the Aug. 9 killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown with “militaristic displays of force and weaponry,” (and) engaged U.S. citizens “as if they were war combatants.”
The lawsuit seeks a total of $40 million on behalf of six plaintiffs, including a 17-year-old boy who was with his mother in a fast-food restaurant when they were arrested. Each of the plaintiffs was caught up in interactions with police over a period from Aug. 11 to 13, the suit allege.
Named as defendants are the city of Ferguson, St. Louis County, Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Delmar, Ferguson police officer Justin Cosmo, and other unnamed police officers from Ferguson and St. Louis County.
Neither the city, county nor police departments had any immediate comment on the lawsuit.
The arrests occurred between the dates of Aug. 11 and Aug. 13. Plaintiffs, Damon Coleman, Dewayne Matthews, Kerry White, Theophilus Green, and Terry Williams along with her minor son, all claim that they were arrested unjustly.
Coleman and Green say they were hit with tear gas, and attacked while “peacefully protesting.” White had his phone broken by a cop as he was filming footage out of his car window, and Williams, says she was arrested in McDonald’s while trying to buy her son ice cream.
Matthews was walking to his mother’s house when police shot him with rubber bullets, then proceeded to “pounce on him” after he fell into a creek. He also all
eges cops, “pushed his head into the water to the point that he felt he was going to be drowned.”
The THIRST TRAP Starring Ray J, Princess Love & Teairra Mari (Messy Details)
Once more you guys. This time with feeling. Back in April Ray J’s top thot Princess Love exposed lower ranked love rival Teairra MarĆ by posting pictures of the vaginitis cream Terrai left behind on her last overnight visit to Casa de Ray J. You know the new season of Love and Hip Hop Hollywood starring Ray J and Teairra MarĆ premiers next month, right?
Last night Ray J’s exotic bird Princess Love, who was poached from Floyd Mayweather, shamelessly attention whored for the Love and Hip Hop Hollywood spin-off by baiting Ray J’s co-star and ex-girlfriend Teairra MarĆ with those old pictures of her vaginal fungus medicine. Teairra MarĆ immediately took the bait and retaliated by posting pre-plastic surgery photos of Princess Love from back in her stripper days, branding her a build-a-bear constructed by Floyd Mayweather. Princess Love claps back telling Teairra maybe she should hook with with Floyd, too…and scene. Love and Hip Hop Hollywood premiers on VH1 Monday, September 15 at 8PM.
And now…angry thirst traps make a mess. Check out these Instapics
UGH!
HMMMMMMM, Brandon Jennings Says Tae Heckard Tried To PLAY Him...So He Called Off The Engagement!
Well, that was fast. Back in May, everything was perfect. They were newly engaged and so much in (Instagram) love. Now, Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Jennings and his fiancĆ©e Tae Heckard are done! According to Brandon, Tae tried to "play" him so he “deaded” the engagement and is now a single man.
There were unconfirmed rumors that Tae went out with her ex boy toy Nelly when he came to town, and that was the reason she and Brandon two broke up. Brandon tweeted about the rumor, then said it wasn’t true. And then he asks, “Where Ashanti at?”
Bloop!
Well damn. Maybe the rumor did have some truth to it if he's spilling some Kermit tea.
During happier times, Brandon would post a picture of Tae to his Instagram damn near everyday. Now…she’s nowhere to be found. He has deleted every picture of the video vixen and in her place, he's posted plenty of pics of his two sons.
Over on Tae’s IG, there aren’t any recent pics of her and her now ex-boo. The last pic she has of them is when they hit the carpet at the Toast to "Young Hollywood" event back in June. She posted a few subliminals about choosing the right people to have in your life and making decisions to keep yourself happy rather than others.
You’ll recall the messy love “square” they were entangled in during the beginning stages of their relationship. One minute it appeared Nelly and Ashanti were an item then the next he’s naming Tae (or Cookie as he likes to call her) as his “Woman Crush Wednesday.”
Then Brandon and Tae went public with their love back in April, which caused friction between Tae and her former friend Teyana Taylor. Why? Well…Teyana was engaged to Brandon first. So yeah, that didn’t end well.
Teyana is probably somewhere like…Karmaaaaa…Well Lesbians Tae’s Home!!!
Fashion Files: Dope Sneakers, Pierre Hardy Black & White Matte Leather Paneled Sneakers
High-top sneakers in black matte leather backed in white. Paneled throughout. Leather-trimmed Velcro foldover strap at ankle. Padded tongue. White lace-up closure with concealed eyerows. Interior in black leather. Black and white sole.
And now…the price: $745.
Miley Cyrus Shows Off Her Ta-Tas In Topless Spread For V Magazine
She never gets tired of showing off her lady parts, and Miley Cyrus is featured in yet another skin-filled photo shoot for V Magazine’s #91 issue.
The “We Can’t Stop” singer teamed with Karl Lagerfeld for the photos, featuring her completely nude as well as wearing a fuzzy blue bathing suit.
And according to the accompanying article, “In the year since she first graced the cover of V, Miley Cyrus, 21, has gone on to release a number one platinum-selling album, declare her former alter-ego deceased, ride a wrecking ball naked, writhe around in a risque MTV performance, and spark an international debate on the current state of pop.”
“As her extravagant, psychedelic stadium tour gets ready to ignite the shores of South America, the multidimensional Miley speaks to Karl Lagerfeld about her motivations for being one of the most bewitching acts on the planet.”
V Magazine’s #91 issue hits newsstands on September 10th.
Tamar & Trina Braxton, Toya Wright & Demetria McKinney PARTY It Up At Black Gay Pride Weekend In Atlanta
Black Gay Pride weekend went down in Atlanta this weekend. And a few reality TV celebs were there for the festivities.
“BFV” star Tamar Braxton and her sister Trina Braxton hit up Club Obsessions for a night of fun. Tamar was tapped to perform (at two events) and her sister came out for support. Now Tamar can stop complaining that no one supports her.
The Love & War singer chose an interesting look for the night, wearing a cut-out pink bodycon mini. Are we feeling this look? She posed it up with designer Reco Chappele before hitting the stage.
Trina was party ready with her drink as she posed it up in a printed jumpsuit.
Toya Wright came out to party with her girls and support Tamar for her performance.
Fresh from San Juan, “RHOA” newcomer Demetria McKinney came out for some fun.
Tamar then took the stage to perform her hit single “The One” before screaming fans.
WATCH HERE
Alright Now!
AND FINALLY FROM THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART FILES
‘RED, WHITE & BLUE ALL OVER’
It’s Labor Day weekend and this dude is ready to party! While you’re ending your summer with that last cookout and beer induced sun-tan, try not to forget what you’re partying for. Muurriica.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD EVERYBODY!!!
EFREM
