12/15/14

The Daily Buzz For Dec 16



'SELMA' Cast SHOWS SOLIDARITY With Eric Garner And Ferguson at the NYC Premiere
The upcoming SELMA cast flocked to the NYC premiere. And before the night was over, they snapped a pic rocking “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirts with their hands in the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” position, standing with Eric Garner and the city of Ferguson..

During the NYC premiere afterparty, the SELMA cast put on “I Can’t Breathe” t-shirts while standing in the “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” pose, in support of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, two unarmed men whose lives were taken at the hand of police. Nice!

SELMA star and producer Oprah Winfrey was front-and-center at the Ziegfeld Theater with actor David Oyelowo and fab directress Ava DuVernay on the red carpet for the screening of the upcoming civil rights film, which chronicles the life of Civil Rights Movement leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
While on the carpet, Lady O opened up about the recent killings of black men by the hands of law enforcement. She told TheGrio,
“Even if we didn’t know about a Ferguson, or an Eric Garner or a Michael Brown … they were going on. The fact that they may have now become newsworthy or made national or international news doesn’t mean there haven’t been nameless Michael Browns or Eric Garners before. My feeling is everything is always happening exactly as it should and on time. There’s no coincidence that this is happening now, but because it’s happening now, people are paying more attention.”
She added, “Life is always there to teach, enlighten, and open you up to the greater possibilities of what can be done … if you’re willing to be awake and see it. What’s exciting to me is that people are awake. If it took Eric Garner and it took Michael Brown and other instances to do than, then … that’s where we are in our evolvement as human beings.”
Award-winning filmmaker and director of the film Ava DuVernay (who became the first black female director to be nominated by the Golden Globe Awards for Best Director) got gorge in a red gown. 

The fab directress dished on her history making nomination with The Daily Beast saying,
"I didn’t know that was the case with the Globes until afterwards. I thank the journalists that are in it now that decided to include me with such a wonderful list of directors, but yeah, the organization’s been around since 1943 so there’s a lack of progress there. It’s nice that they’re catching up to it, but I know that I’m not the first black woman deserving of this honor, so I stand with a lot of women behind me who helped this moment happen."

Common (who joined protestors in NYC recently) got dapper in an oxblood tailored suit. He plays civil rights activist James Bevel in the film.
Dear White People starlet Tessa Thompson kept it interesting for her look of the night. She stars as Diane Nash,  founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. 
British actor David Oyelowo brought his wife Jessica along for the premiere. The Butler star plays the reputable Martin Luther King Jr. in the upcoming film.
His role in SELMA is already garnering awards. He will be honored by the 26th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival as the breakthrough actor of 2014. The awards gala will go down on January 3rd.

The Purge actress Carmen Ejogo also hit the carpet, posing it up with her cast mate David. She will be starring as Martin Luther King’s wife/civil rights activist Coretta Scott King.
Nicey Nash kept it sexy in this all black sheer and sequined jumpsuit. She will play civil rights activist/author Richie Jean Jackson in the upcoming film.
“Instant Mom” actress Tia Mowry Hardrict got chic in white Stone Cold Fox tuxedo dress, Top Shop printed pumps and a Rockin' Reptile clutch.
New dad Tyler Perry came out to support.
Oprah's bestie Gayle King was all smiles on the carpet.
The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was in an animalistic mood for the event.
MLK Jr’s son Martin Luther King III and his wife Arndrea Waters came out to see the biopic.
Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. was also in attendance. A brand new anthology series is coming to the FX Network. And Cuba has been cast to play O.J. Simpson in the first installment, "American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson”.
Actor/director Ruben Santiago-Hudson posed in the "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" pose in support of Ferguson.
Actor Stephan James stars as the youngest of the Big Six Civil Rights leaders, John Lewis.
Actor Andre Holland stars as human rights activist/politician Andrew Young.
Actress Lorraine Toussaint plays Amelia Boynton, leader of the American Civil Rights Movement in Selma.
Gospel and R&B singer Bebe Winans came out to support.
And “Orange is the New Black” Danielle Brooks posed it up before checking out the film.
NICE!


Sony Cancels Kevin Hart’s Press Junket For ‘Wedding Ringer’ After Email Leak
The fallout from Sony’s cyber hacking scandal continues. Sony has announced the cancellation of a major press junket for comedian Kevin Hart‘s new movie Wedding Ringer. It isn’t hard to figure out why the press junket was canceled. Last week, two of Sony’s top execs called Hart a greedy “whore” because he refused to promote one of his movies on Twitter.com.
According to Sandra Rose: In response to the “whore” comment, Hart wrote on Instagram.com: “I’m able to brush ignorance off of my shoulder and continue to move forward.”

For those who aren’t familiar with what a press junket is; it’s when a movie studio arranges for journalists and bloggers to meet and interview its biggest stars.

In the old days — when Hollywood was bursting at the seams with cash — publicists flew journalists to exotic locales to meet with the stars of a new film. No expense was spared to make sure journalists gave glowing reviews of movies. But that was in the old days — before the Internet and Napster forever changed the entertainment industry.
The press event was set to take place Sunday to promote the forthcoming Screen Gems film, but reporters were informed that it would be postponed until a later date. Screen Gems’ parent company is Sony Pictures Entertainment, which suffered a Nov. 24 breach by hacking group Guardians of Peace.

A reporter from the New York Daily News was informed that the junket was pushed in order to ensure that the focus would remain on the film.

Sony did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This is not the first time Hart’s name has come up in association with the hack. In a leaked email, Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper referred to the Ride Along star as a “whore” for wanting more money to promote one of his films to his Twitter followers.

One of the executives who insulted Hart, producer Scott Rudin, has since apologized. The other exec, Sony Studio co-Chairman Amy Pascal, remains defiant and is reportedly fighting to keep her cushy job.


More Sony Leaks: A Destiny’s Child Biopic Was In the Works?
Is there a Destiny’s Child biopic in the works ?, According to Sony’s leaked email there is… An email dated December 4, 2013, from Screen Gems honcho Clint Culpepper to Pascal and a team of Sony execs discusses how Beyoncé’s father, Matthew Knowles, went to him to try and set up a Destiny’s Child biopic.

“Matthew Knowles, Beyonce’s Father wants to make the film of Destiny’s Child and came to me first,” wrote Culpepper. “He’s going to Universal next. Do we think it would be a successful film? They’re on Sony label. I’m just not sure that it’s not too soon.” All the Sony execs return very enthusiastic responses, although there is a Destiny’s Child biopic currently slated for February 2015 on the Lifetime Network.. Lawd…. Mathew is clearly desperate for dough, and he will go to any length to get it….. Who will play Beyonce’ though?

Kanye is going to be in a new film next year, starring Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Just in time for the holidays.

Also, Hollywood Executive’s think that Jaden and Willow Smith are pretty crazy.. The hacker’s are saying that there’s more to come… I can only imagine……


TiTi Branch, Co-founder of Miss Jessie’s Hair Care Dead at 45 of apparent suicide
Titi Branch, the co-founder of Miss Jessie’s a leading company in the natural hair care industry is dead at 45, she died on Dec. 4. According to an obituary by  NV Magazine,  it was an apparent suicide. 

The Queens-native was a graduate of the University of Maryland with a degree in economics. She worked as a field producer for WABC-TV in New York City prior to Miss Jessie’s. Her entrepreneurial career started prior to delving into the hair care industry. Titi and her sister were taught by their father to be independent and their first business together was a Kool-Aid stand as kids. They also ran a a cleaning business after graduating college. Later Titi launched a booking agency for hair and celebrity photographers called Icon Creative Artists. This led to her reconnecting with her sister, a hairstylist, in business. After adding her to the firm’s client roster and the success that followed the next step was the creation of the salon, which opened originally in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn and the launch of Miss Jessie’s — the products are now on the shelves of Target, CVS, Ricky’s, Duane Reade, Walgreens, Walmart and various other national retailers.
Born June 10, 1969 Titi Cree Branch died on Dec. 4, 2014 in an apparent suicide due to asphyxia. She is survived by her parents, sister, nephew and many loving relatives. She also leaves behind Anthony Spadafora, her boyfriend and business partner in her last venture Maestro’s Classic, a line of beard care products


Darren Sharper Indicted In Three States but There’s a TWIST in New Orleans!
Former New Orleans Saint Darren Sharper was indicted on rape charges in New Orleans on Friday…

According to People Mag: The nine-count indictment from Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office alleges that Sharper, who retired from the NFL in 2011, sexually assaulted two women who were impaired at his New Orleans apartment in 2013. Bail on those charges has been set at $2.5 million. Also named in the indictment was Sharper's friend, Brandon Licciardi, 32, a deputy with the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office, who resigned Friday.
Each of the three federal counts carries a maximum 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Sharper had been previously indicted on rape charges in California, where he is held without bond, and Arizona, where he has been charged with two counts of rape. 

But here’s a TWIST in this case….A former St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's deputy charged in the Darren Sharper rape case pleaded not guilty to federal drug and witness tampering charges in federal court in New Orleans on Monday (Dec. 15).
Brandon Licciardi appeared pained as he fidgeted in his seat in U.S. Magistrate Judge Sally Shushan's court, frowning as he stole occasional glances at his mother and girlfriend. His shoulders slumped as he stood before the judge, he softly said "not guilty" when Shushan asked him how he pleaded to each of the six counts against him.

Licciardi's bond hearing was set for 2 p.m. Thursday. Licciardi has been in police custody since Friday, when he was charged along with former Saints standout Sharper in both federal and Orleans Parish courts in connection with a pair of alleged rapes that took place in New Orleans in 2013.

Sharper has been jailed without bond in California since February, and faces charges in connection with the rapes of two women in Los Angeles in separate incidents from October 2013 and January 2014. The former Saint also has been indicted in Arizona, where he is accused of drugging three women and sexually assaulting two of them in Tempe on Nov. 21, 2013.

Both Sharper and Licciardi also were charged in Orleans Parish with assaulting two women on Feb. 2, 2013 in Sharper's downtown apartment.

In federal court, Licciardi and Sharper are charged with a single count of conspiring to distribute the prescription drugs Alprazolam, Diazepam and Zolpidem with the intent to commit rape, and with giving someone the drugs on two dates: Feb. 2, 2013, and Sept. 23, 2013, the indictment states. He also is charged with intimidating a witness and lying to Orleans Parish investigators.

Outside the federal courthouse Monday, Licciardi's lawyer Ralph Capitelli said the charges against his client -- in federal court, at least -- do not allege he raped anyone, and he said Licciardi did not drug women.
"He never did that, he never gave any woman any narcotic," Capitelli said. "I know that before I was hired he went in (to meet with investigators) two and three times."


SERIOUSLY? Beanie Sigel Sister-In-Law Named As Person Of Interest In Shooting
A person of interest has been named in the shooting of Beanie Sigel and unfortunately that person is too close to home. Sigel’s sister-in-law Kamilah Salahuddin has been named by Pleasantville police, according to NBC Philadelphia.
According to AllHipHop: It was reportedly her gray Honda Odyssey that was seen fleeing the scene after Sigel was shot in the stomach at his brother-in-law, Umar Salahuddin’s, Pleasantville, NJ home. Umar is Kamilah’s brother.

Another person of interest, Ricky Childress, jumped out of the van and ran from the police during the incident but was later caught, questioned and released. Police have been unable to reach Kamilah for questioning. Umar has not been cooperating with the police investigation.
“Right now, the detective doesn’t have much to go on,” Pleasantville Police Capt. Rocky Melendez told NBC. “The detectives have brought a lot of people in for questioning, but unfortunately no one’s talking.”

The former Roc-A-Fella emcee remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit.

DAMN I’m telling you it’s real out here.


Swizz Beatz HOSTS Baby Shower With Alicia Keys, CELEBRATES Kasseem Jr's 8th Birthday With Mashonda 
Over the weekend, Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys welcomed family and friends to a baby shower celebrating the forthcoming arrival of their second child.

Standing underneath a sign written in pink AND blue (they haven't revealed the baby's gender), Alicia, shown above with her son Egypt, welcomed guests to the baby shower in a long red dress and her hair in cornrows.
Swizz's dad was also on hand to celebrate with the couple.
And.....Swizz linked with ex-wife Mashonda for throw Kasseem Jr. a party for his 8th birthday at The VIP Room where they treated the kids to gift bags that included t-shirts and healthy snacks.
Kasseem Jr, (far left) posed with little brother Egypt and friends at his birthday bash. He posted a thank you note to his Mom AND his other mom Alicia saying, "I love my friends and family. I love my mommy and my other mommy. They are awesome!!"
Later, Swizz posted an adorable pic of Egypt posing on the streets of NYC.
Adorbs!


The Fabulous Naomi Campbell Poses In Fur Coats For Madame Figaro Magazine
In the latest edition of Madame Figaro, a French magazine supplement to the Saturday edition of the daily newspaper Le Figaro, a cropped coif Naomi Campbell models luxurious furs and jewelry.  ANd she does it flawlessly, of course.

In addition to slaying red carpets and traveling the world in style, Naomi still finds time to give back and use her star power to make a difference in the world. 
Most recently, Naomi opened a Fashion For Relief Pop-Up Shop to raise money that was donated to the DEC Ebola Crisis Appeal.  Gorgeous shots!


Wendy Williams Wants to Produce Cute, Non-Fighting Reality TV
Turns out, some of you aren’t the only ones over watching ratchet reality TV. As it turns out, talk show host Wendy Williams is prepping for more shows of her own, in the non-scripted realm. Under her own production company of course. In an interview with the LA Times she explains:

I would love to do reality TV. Not me personally but to produce. And not the fighting kind, the cute kind. [Some shows] started getting really embarrassing to watch as a brown woman.

She adds: I would love to be able to produce more made-for-TV movies. There’s no discounting the big screen. But me and my husband [Kevin Hunter, her manager and business partner] have developed some great relationships with various networks since having this talk show. We did a project for Oxygen [“Celebrities Undercover”]. We did a project for the TV Guide Network [“How You Doin’ Broadway?!”]. The talk show repeats on BET. I’m hosting the Soul Train Awards for Centric.
Wendy — whose show is in its sixth season opening with its highest ratings has been renewed through 2017


Fox Nation Refers to Jay Z As ‘Former Crack Dealer’, Twitter Reacts
A recent headline by Fox Nation, has a few questioning the outlet’s motive. Fox did a story about rapper/business mogul Jay Z (real name Shawn Carter) meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York. The title of the story was, Andrew Cuomo Meets With Former Crack Dealer Jay-Z to Discuss Police Policy.
Some suggest that the term former crack dealer is offensive, as Jay’s accomplishments outshine his previous years — he’s admittedly rapped about selling drugs in his youth. Check out some reactions to Fox’s headline.
BTW, the story begins: Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) did just that when he had a policy meeting on the subject of how cops enforce the laws with hip-hop mogul Jay Z — who earned most of his expertise in crime as a crack dealer. The rapper built his musical career on songs about his past criminal exploits slinging crack in Brooklyn’s Marcy housing project. One online report lists 187 references to crack or cocaine on his 12 solo albums, including last year’s chart-topping “Magna Carta Holy Grail.” In addition to his rap boasts about drug dealing, his criminal justice experience includes being charged with stabbing people and bashing them on their heads with bottles at his favorite city nightclubs.

Click here to read the full story. Nonetheless, according to the story, Cuomo and Jay discussed a review of the criminal justice system and they can work together to pass a reform package. P.S. Do you find the headline offensive or a painfully accurate description of Jay Z’s past? 


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘GRANNY GOT GAME’
Who knew Granny was a belly-dancer? Once the dancing fever is in your veins it doesn’t leave my friends.


HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

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