Tracee Ellis Ross Talks SEX Scenes & Racism with 'The Hollywood Reporter'!
“black•ish” actress Tracee Ellis Ross joined an uncensored discussion at the Comedy Actress Roundtable for The Hollywood Reporter’s gathering of Emmy-contending comedy actresses. Six of television’s most provocative female comedians, including the “black•ish” mom, Gina Rodriguez ("Jane the Virgin"); Lena Dunham ("Girls"); Ellie Kemper ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"); and Kate McKinnon ("Saturday Night Live") gathered for a no-holds-barred roundtable conversation on a couple of interesting topics, including sex scenes, racism, colorism and more.
Tracee held nothing back and was very candid when talking about her experiences as a black woman in Hollywood. She touched on going after roles even if they aren’t written for a woman of color, her most humiliating experience testing for a network show, how calculated sex scenes are for network television and more.
Below are the highlights:
On filming sex scenes:
ROSS: On network shows, there are a lot of instructions: Close the mouth. You can move, make the sounds, but no tongue. I had some incidences on "Girlfriends." This guy’s tongue jammed in like a lizard out of nowhere.
On the most overtly sexist thing that's happened to you working in Hollywood:
ROSS: I think racism trumps everything. [It all] happens behind the scenes.
DUNHAM: So many shows wouldn't exist if you and Mara [Brock Akil] hadn't made Girlfriends and pushed it as far as you did.
ROSS: We did 176 episodes.
RODRIGUEZ: Damn.
ROSS: Being on a show run by a woman with four women leads gives you a template that when you walk out into the world, you don't see it. It changed my expectations.
Tracee, Chris Rock wrote an essay for The Hollywood Reporter in which he talked about how you can go to the movies once a week for months and never see a black woman in a substantial role.
RODRIGUEZ: I think that also goes for Latinos as well.
ROSS: There aren’t many [roles in film]. That’s why I say no to all the offers! (Laughs.) Working on a film is one job where you look at a casting breakdown and I’ll think, “That’s me!” But she’s not supposed to be black.
RODRIGUEZ: One hundred percent.
ROSS: But I go for them anyway....
On how much self-deprecation figures into how you connect with your audience:
ROSS: I tested once for a network show to play a lawyer. A Harvard-educated motherf—in' lawyer, OK? I wore a skirt suit and heels. Seemed appropriate. Then there were many discussions about my hair. They'd printed up all these pictures of me from 15 f—in' years ago and had me in and out of the bathroom trying on clothes. They finally pick a skirt — the shortest I brought. Then got a T-shirt from one of the people in the office. The woman says, "Hmmm, your boobs." I was like, "I didn't bring a bra for this T-shirt." She screams down the hall, "Who wears a 34B?" I put on someone else's bra, a size too small, and somehow auditioned. I remember wondering, "What did I just allow myself to do?" The other actress [who auditioned] was dressed like she was going to a club and got the role. It was one of those moments where you're so confused and humiliated. But that's part of the biz.
On asking for what you think you deserve:
ROSS: I was raised by a woman [singer Diana Ross] who has high standards for what she's worth, which has been called "diva behavior." I have witnessed flagrant, disgusting behavior, and that is not my mother. There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.
Check out the full interview here.
GOOD NEWS FOR THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL JACKSON! Michael Jackson Molestation Case Tossed Out
Two years ago 32-year-old former Michael Jackson protégé and choreographer Wade Robson filed a lawsuit against the Estate of Michael Jackson claiming he was sexually abused by the King of Pop back when he was 7-years-old
Wade's case was just tossed out of court...On Tuesday a judge noted the statute of limitations had run out and dismissed the filing.
Wade previously testified under oath that Michael never touched him and waited until four years after his death to file his claims.
Ice Cube Accused Of Ordering A Beatdown On A Rabbi
Ice Cube is so hype about the upcoming Straight Outta Compton movie, he’s bringing the villain back out in public. At least, that’s what a rabbi in Detroit is alleging.
In a new lawsuit, he’s claiming he and the superstar rapper/actor accidentally rubbed shoulders and before he knows it, they were knocking his kufi off beating him up and hurling anti-Semitic insults because he was wearing a yarmulke.
Reports TMZ: So a rabbi and Ice Cube walk into a casino, and the rabbi catches an ass whuppin’ from Cube’s crew — that’s what the rabbi’s saying, and he claims the beating was fueled by anti-Semitism.
P. Taras — who says he’s a rabbi — tells TMZ he was at the MGM Detroit on May 24 when he literally bumped into Cube outside an elevator.
Taras claims he said something like … hey, watch out — and the rapper/actor responded by having his boys attack. While he was getting stomped, Taras claims he heard several epithets. He thinks that’s because he was wearing a yarmulke.
Taras has filed a lawsuit against Cube for assault and battery, and wants $2 million for his troubles.
Ice Cube’s rep says, “Not only are these accusations a lie, he doesn’t even know who this guy is.”
While we like to remain neutral before the facts come out, we’re going to need to see some surveillance video to really grasp this happened. Let us find out that Rabbi Taras thinks every Black guy looks like O’Shea.
Details From Janet Jackson's Surprise 49th Birthday Party
Janet Jackson celebrated her 49th birthday with her husband Wissam Al Mana (shown at The Giorgio Armani 40th Anniversary Dinner Reception in Paris last month)and a group of the couple's closest on May 16th, in LA. The "surprise" affair was hosted at LA's Hyde Lounge where Wissam tricked her beautiful wife, telling her they were going out for a simple sushi dinner. However, a source told E!
"When she arrived in the venue with her husband and bodyguard, they escorted her to the patio where her closest friends and some family members were waiting for her with a big surprise!"
After they dined on sushi catered by Katsuya, Janet celebrated with “two beautiful cakes”, the source added. They group of 30 partied until 1:30 in the morning. The funniest tidbit about the party involved one of Jan's brothers. The source says he was wearing head-to-toe Louis Vuitton. Oh Jermaine! So damn extra...
The six-time Grammy winner recently announced that she is releasing a new album this year and there will also be a tour coming up. The message to fans said "I promised you'd hear it from my lips. And now you will. This year. New music. New world tour. A new movement. I've been listening. Let's keep the conversation going."
In fact, Mrs. Jackson Al Mana began rehearsals today in Los Angeles. Check out the photo of Jan heading into the studio here.
Are we excited about Janet's #ConversationsInACafe?
Joe Manganiello Steams Up June/July 2015 Cover Of Details
With “Modern Family” dame Sofia Vergara on his arm, it seems there’s nothing Joe Manganiello can’t accomplish with his devastating good looks.
The “True Blood” hunk is featured on the front of Details magazine’s June/July 2015 edition, sporting a simple white t-shirt to show off his muscles.
Joe told the magazine he doesn’t mind being objectified- “Why would I? I don’t think men care why women like them, as long as they do. That’s the point of the nerd in high school who makes it big. You work that hard for a reason. You want to have access to the dating pool.”
And it turns out he had to shoot “Magic Mike XXL” with torn biceps- “I had to power through four and a half weeks of shooting, just dealing with the pain and praying that the biceps didn’t detach completely. I had surgery the second I got back [to Los Angeles].”
Photos: Lauryn Hill Celebrates Her 40th Birthday With Family And Friends
Lauryn Hill, pictured above with her daughter Selah Marley and her mother Valerie Hill, celebrated her 40th birthday at The Ballroom on May 26, 2015, in West Orange, New Jersey. The mom of six enjoyed her special day with four of her kids: Selah, Sarah, Zion, and John. The singer’s youngest children, Joshua and Micah, were not in attendance.
Beautiful! Happy Birthday Lauryn!
NFL: DeSean Jackson & His Gorgeous Girlfriend Kayla Phillips Are Expecting a Baby!
Congratulations are in order for Washington Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson and his gorgeous model girlfriend Kayla Phillips as the couple has a baby on the way.
The two have been dating for a few months and Kayla announced the pregnancy by posting a photo of her growing belly on her Instagram account.
We will also get an inside look at their relationship and pregnancy as Jackson will be a part of new reality show on BET called “Home Team”.
According to Variety, the program will be focused on the women in his life who keep things running smoothly:
“DeSean Jackson is at the top of his game as one of the most talked about and watched players in the NFL today. That means eyes are always on him — waiting for him to score touchdowns and waiting for him to drop the ball off the field. Even though he has the money and the fame, DeSean’s life is actually run by a core group of women including his “momager” Gayle, his sister and assistant A’Dreea, his publicist Denise and his new girlfriend, Kayla. Produced by Rogue Atlas Productions in association with Lionsgate Television. Eli Frankel, Ryan Holcomb, Elise Duran, Desean Jackson and Byron Jackson serve as executive producers. Jay Fragus and Lawrence Bell serve as co-executive producers.”
I’m looking forward to this and congratulations again to the happy couple. They’re both good looking people, I’m sure the baby is going to be the cutest ever.
IPhone Users Beware, Effective Power Text Crashes Phones
Some pranksters are sharing info about an iPhone glitch on social media and using it to crash other people’s phones! Its called Effective power, a text message that contains a series of non-English symbols and the words.
A newly discovered software bug is causing some iPhones to crash when they receive a certain text message.
The message containing a mixture of symbols and Arabic characters, causes users’ phones to shut down, then quickly reboot. Reports of the glitch surfaced this week on Reddit, an online forum, before quickly spreading to tech blogs.
Apple says it’s aware of the problem and is working on a fix that will come in the form of an update to the iPhone’s iOS operating system. For now, iPhone users who are worried about the bug can protect their phones by disabling notifications, according to reports
Mariah Carey Says American Idol is ‘Fake’ and ‘The Worst Experience’
Mariah Carey did not hold back when asked about American Idol in a recent interview. Judging by her answers she’s not still not a fan of the popular singing competition which she was a judge for back in 2013. In her interview on an Australian radio station she said the show was ‘boring’ and ‘fake.’
The diva was a judge on American Idol during the 2013 season. Over the course of the season Carey went through much drama, she even had problems with her then co-host Nicki Minaj. Recently, Fox announced that season 15 will be the final season for the show.
While doing the radio interview Carey threw shade at the show saying, “I mean, it’s so boring and so fake,” she continued, “I’m sorry, I just think it’s, you know, when I say it’s fake, I mean, it’s just like, you have to make up things to say about people. Half the time, the performances are good, you just be like ‘It was good.’ You just feel like ending it there, like, ‘It’s really good.'”
She was asked if she would consider returning to the show for the final season reunion and she said, “Hell, no! Absolutely not, that was the worst experience of my life.”
Carey also addressed her feud with Nicki Minaj blaming the producers for their drama. She said, “I’m not gonna get into what it was, but let’s just say I don’t think they had any intentions for us to have a good experience doing that show…pinning two females against each other wasn’t cool,” she added “It should’ve been about the contestants instead of being about some non-existent feud that turned into like more ridiculousness and I would never want to be involved with it again. But everybody else can like it!”
This is not the first time Carey has voiced her opinion about Idol. That same year she was a judge she told Angie Martinez how much she hated the experience, she even hated working with her former band member Randy Jackson.
The diva said, “They gave me a nice dangling monetary moment, and I was just like, ‘Okay. Randy Jackson will be there; I’ve known him forever. He used to play bass for me. Like, this isn’t a big deal. This will be nothing,'” she said. “But it wasn’t that. It was like going to work every day in hell with Satan.”
But later she added, “Naw, I’m just playing. It didn’t affect me that much.”
The 45 year-old mother of two has recently started a residency in Las Vegas.
Bobby Brown I’m not taking Bobbi Kristina OFF Life Support!
Bobby Brown has denied rumours that he's going to take Bobbi Kristina Brown off life support.
The 46-year-old musician has been rumoured to be removing his 22-year-old daughter - who he fathered with his late ex-wife Whitney Houston - from the machine.
Four months ago on January 31st she was found unresponsive in a bathtub in her home in Georgia.
However, Bobby will 'never' take her off life support, and feels like 'people are just waiting for his daughter to die'.
A source close to the Brown family said: 'It's background noise. Bobby hears these reports, and it's annoying to him. He hates that people are just waiting for his daughter to die.'
Bobbi Kristina's condition has remained unchanged since she was transported to a rehab facility in March, and, while Bobbi's grandmother Cissy Houston has publicly said that there is little hope of recovery, the Brown family says they're unwilling to give up on her.
Speaking to People, the source added: 'Let me tell you this now. Don't believe any reports that Bobby is going to take her off life support.
'He's never going to do that.
'I don't think he'll ever go there; if there's a 2 percent chance, a 1 percent chance, a 0.1 percent chance, he will keep hope alive.'
MADONNA IS STILL THE QUEEN OF POP!
There’s a many of girls today that has earned the, title Pop “queens.” But, when it comes to Forbes 2015 ‘America’s Richest Self-Made Women’s’ list, due in full on June 15th, only one diva claims the crown – MADONNA!
Madonna claims the No. 28 spot on our list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women, which appeared in the June 15th, 2015 issue of FORBES magazine. She’s the wealthiest musician on the list.
One of the top pop divas of all time. Her tours have grossed an estimated $1.2 billion over the years, including $305 million from her 2012 MDNA tour. That helped her earn an estimated $125 million during the ensuing 12-month period during which FORBES calculated celebrity earnings, more than any other musician.
That number is only set to increase as the diva hits the road for her 2015-16 ‘Rebel Heart’ tour which I will be attending!
K. Michelle Dishes On Cheating Show, Business Ventures & Says She Has A Scripted Show Being Written
K. Michelle recently sat down with Forbes to dish on the success she found after starring on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, and her business ventures.
The singer and reality star shares why she thinks she succeeded as singer coming out of “L&HH”: “If you’re supposed to do something, it just happens and the universe opens up for you, she said.
And when asked whether she could see herself continuing on with seasons of her reality show, K. Michelle: My Life, she reveals that the production company that produced Kevin Hart’s sitcom on BET is currently writing a scripted sitcom for her. Plus, she also dishes on her new cheating show, and more.
Read a few highlights below..
On why she thinks she was able to succeed as a singer coming out of Love & Hip Hop:
If you’re supposed to do something, it just happens and the universe opens up for you. I had a record deal before. People liked the music, but they didn’t know what happened to me. You can get so much free music now, that people have to invest in you as a person in order to go out and buy it. The fans saw my story, and that it wasn’t the end for me, it was the beginning. I had to go through a lot of different obstacles and challenges because my peers are angry that I outsell them [laughs].
On if she can see her reality show being a long-term thing:
I really don’t know. I have the production company that produced Kevin Hart’s sitcom on BET currently writing me a scripted show. I’ve been really focused on acting.
Also, a brand-new show’s about to come out where I catch men cheating. Even if it’s looked down upon, I ain’t here for peoples’ opinions. I’m really here when I’m dead and gone for people to say, I loved that girl, I understood that girl, that girl was like me.
On her new cheating show:
I’m gonna catch guys cheating [laughs]. I’m absolutely gonna catch ‘em. I get letters every day – you should see the letters I get. They’re like, “Oh my God, my man did this, my man did that.” I’m tired of seeing it, so I’m gonna go catch them. Mona Scott[-Young], who’s over at Love & Hip Hop, I brought the idea to her.VH1 loved it. We’re about to produce this show, and I am going to be the face of it.
K’s 1 hour documentary, Being: K. Michelle, will air Saturday, June 6th at 10pm EST, on Centric.
Read the full interview at Forbes to find out what she shared about the new hookah bar and lounge she’s opening in Atlanta, and more.
Sneak Peek: Evelyn Lozada’s Docu-series ‘Livin’ Lozada’
Evelyn Lozada‘s docu-series, Livin Lozada, is set to premiere on OWN in July. Ahead of its release, the network is giving a sneak peek of what to expect from the show, which follows the lives of Evelyn and her 21-year-old daughter Shaniece Hairston.
From OWN: “Livin’ Lozada” follows the lives of Evelyn Lozada, of “Basketball Wives” fame, and her 21-year-old daughter Shaniece. Evelyn has moved on from the heartache of her highly publicized divorce in a big way. She is engaged to big league baseball player Carl Crawford and the happy couple have a one-year-old son, Leo. Between learning to be a mom all over again, setting up a new home in Los Angeles for her and her family, working on getting the sequel to her first book published, as well as dealing with issues surrounding her family back East…Evelyn has a lot going on!
Not to be outdone, her daughter Shaniece, has a blossoming modeling career and is working on starting her own bikini line, looking to her mom for advice which she (sometimes) takes. Each episode is filled with close friends and relatives in the ladies’ lives who help round out a world filled with laughter, support and encouragement as we follow Shaniece carving out the new life before her and Evelyn moving on from her past and embracing the new life she has found.
Watch the preview:
The show has been given an air date of July 11, at 9pm..
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘PEEP SHOW’
I can’t pick up that many chicks!…Huh? See what I did there? Yeah you see what I did.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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