Erykah Badu Unveils the August Cover of ESSENCE
Looking up at her ESSENCE money shot on the big screen, she gleefully said, "Oh shit, that's me!"
The new issue hits stands on July 10!
U.S.A. Beats Japan 5-2 To Win Women's World Cup
For the first time since 1999, the FIFA Women's World Cup returns to the hands of the U.S. Women's National Team, who defeated Japan 5-2 on Sunday.
The highest scoring final in Women's World Cup history, the U.S. squad set the pace and tone early and continued dominated throughout the match -- as they have done for most of the tournament. Hardly the expected rematch of the 2011 World Cup final, in which the U.S. lost to Japan in a penalty shoot out, the team left no room for a close match or disputed victory.
Carli Lloyd led those efforts with with a historic match of her own before an attendance of 53,341 in Vancouver. Lloyd scored three of her squad's goals, earning the only hat trick in Women's World Cup final history. Her first goal, coming in the third minute, was also the fastest scored in a Women's World Cup final.
A fourth goal came from teammate Lauren Holiday in the 16th minute, giving the U.S. a solid lead.
However, Japan finally answered back with a goal in the 27th minute as well as a own-goal scored by the U.S.'s Julie Johnston early in the second half, to bring the score 4-2.
The U.S. quickly responded with another goal from Tobin Heath in the 54th minute bringing the final score to 5-2.
The win marks a bittersweet ending for Abby Wambach, who also ended her fourth and final World Cup appearance after a long tenure with the USWNT that began in 2001 saw three Olympic gold medals, and multiple Algarve Cup championships.
CONGRATS WOMEN!!!! #teamusa
#teamempire Kelly Rowland Joins Empire Season 2—Find Out Who She's Playing?
Empire's VIP guest list for season 2 keeps growing!
Kelly Rowland will appear on the hit FOX show this fall, a source told E! News exclusively on Saturday, the Fourth of July, at the 2015 Essence Festival in New Orleans. The 34-year-old R&B singer will play Lucious Lyon's mother in a flashback.
During season 1, Empire often featured scenes from Terrence Howard's character's past, which shows and his feisty now-ex-wife Cookie Lyon, played by Taraji P. Henson, during harder times before they built their powerful music empire.
Last month, Rowland hung out with Empire screenwriters, sparking speculation she may make an appearance on the show.
The show's second season is set to debut on Sept. 23 and feature high-profile guest stars such as Chris Rock, Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keys and Marisa Tomei, who will play a demanding venture capitalist.
Also, Cookie's love life heats up even more in season 2—Magic Mike XXL actor Adam Rodriguez will portray her new love interest.
Come see some behind the scenes with Janet Jackson at The recent BET Awards courtesy of People!
Our music icon Janet Jackson let PEOPLE Mag get a peek at what happened leading up to the BET Awards in L.A., from getting glam to hitting the stage to rehearse.
Before diving into her pre-award show routine, Jackson shared this snap of her getting-ready room – there's a whole lot of glam about to happen in here:
Next, Jackson gave PEOPLE.com readers a peek at what goes into her award show prep, including jewels, makeup and those infamous curls:
The highlight of Jackson's night was definitely her Ultimate Icon Award win, which she celebrated with a performance, of course! (The timing was perfect – she debuted her new single, "No Sleep," last week.) Here, she shares a snippet of her rehearsal:
WATCH:
EXCLUSIVE: Get a glimpse of @JanetJackson's dancers rehearsing for her new tour #OnlyOnTwitter pic.twitter.com/S2l96fFOnw
— People magazine (@people) June 29, 2015
At the end of the night, Jackson is met by a swarm of excited fans while leaving Los Angeles's Microsoft Theater.
WATCH:
.@JanetJackson leaves the #BETAwards - and her fans react accordingly #exclusive pic.twitter.com/noR02mHcbZ
— People magazine (@people) June 29, 2015
Nice we just LOVES Janet!
Cynthia Bailey reacts to NeNe Leakes’ exit from R.H.o.A!
Cynthia Bailey is ready to mix it up a little bit…While critics are concerned that the upcoming season of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” will flop in the absence of co-stars Claudia Jordan and NeNe Leakes, both who are moving on to other projects, Bailey is convinced that Bravo’s highest-rated show still has what it takes to remain on top.
“Well the show has never been about one person. It’s just not what makes it work,” Bailey tells E! News. “Sometimes you gotta change it up and mix it up. I look forward to a really great drama-filled season.”
So was Leakes’ announcement a shocker? According to Bailey, she saw it coming.
“You know, I wasn’t super surprised because I used to be very close with NeNe so I knew that at some point, she wanted to do other things and rightfully so because I think she has had a great run on the show,” continued Bailey. “In my opinion, she will always be the original Atlanta Housewife and I wish her well.”
She added, “We text back and forth… When I heard the news about her leaving the show, I shot her a text and said good luck to you. May you continue to shine. Do your thing so we are cool.”
As for who could be stepping up to fill Leakes’ slot, rumors have been swirling that Kim Fields may be ready to join the group of outspoken women. Bailey, however, is in the dark as far as who Bravo has in mind.
“I am just excited for someone to come in who is a spit fire, someone who is not just gonna come in and check things out,” she explained. “I don’t know who yet but whoever you are, please audition for the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta.’ We need you!”
In the meantime, Bailey will be focused on her new Cynthia Bailey Eyewear, her upcoming hair venture as well as her relationship with husband Peter Thomas.
“A lot of our date nights revolve around work,” she admitted. “But we try to go together and then you know, have a booty call at the end of the night after we finish working!”
Sounds like a good use of time. As you may recall, earlier this month Thomas made headlines for kissing a young woman (rumored to be Lisa Wu) in an Atlanta club. Both Thomas and Bailey brushed off the incident, claiming it was just a friendly encounter between two old friends.
Was Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes Creeping In Atlanta?
Jamie Foxx is currently in Atlanta filming ‘Sleepless Night’ with rapper T.I. and actor Dermot Mulroney.
Guess who else is in Atlanta…
You got it Katie Holmes…But WHY???
Congrats are in order as Vanessa Williams marries Jim Skrip
Vanessa Williams ties the knot! According to reports, Williams and her fiancé Jim Skrip got hitched Saturday evening, on the 4th of July. “Road trip for the holiday weekend,” the new bride tweeted just two days prior to tying the knot. “Happy 4th.”
News of the couple’s engagement first broke last fall when the “Ugly Betty” alum flaunted her giant, new sparkler on the since cancelled “Queen Latifah Show.”
“I got engaged. I have had a lot of good things happen while I’ve been on this lovely trip,” she revealed to Queen Latifah. “I turned 50 when we were in rehearsal on Broadway, I just got engaged a couple of weeks ago…It has been a lot of blessings on this trip.”
Williams, 52, and the former accountant first met in 2013 in Egypt. “You go across the world to find somebody who’s six hours away,” the Broadway star told Philly.com in February 2014.
This is the third marriage for Williams. She shares daughters Melanie, 28, and Jillian, 26, and son Devin, 22, with ex-husband Ramon Hervey, whom she was married to from 1987 to 1997. She and Rick Fox split in 2005 after six years of marriage, and share daughter Sasha, 15.
Wishing Williams and her new hubby the best of luck!
Prince Pulls Music Catalog From All Streaming Services Except Tidal
A few months ago Prince performed in Baltimore after the recent riots over racial issues, that show was streamed exclusively on Tidal. We didn’t think much about it then, but Prince recently pulled all of his music catalog from all streaming companies everywhere except Tidal….congrats to Tidal for another victory.
This makes me wonder is Prince now a co-owner of Tidal?? After pulling his catalog from all other streaming services, and allowing Tidal exclusive access.
The original co-owners were Alicia Keys, two members of Arcade Fire, Beyoncé, Calvin Harris, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Daft Punk, Deadmau5, Jack White, Jason Aldean, J. Cole, Jay Z, Kanye West, Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, and Usher— last month Lil Wayne joined and now let’s assume Prince is a co-owner as well.
OMG! Someone is Shopping Bobbi Kristina’s Death Bed Photo
While Bobbi Kristina Brown is drawing her last breaths a bidding has begun in earnest on her death bed photo, according to gossip tabloid TMZ.com.
It was just a matter of time before a family member availed themselves of the opportunity to line their pockets with ill-gotten gains. Some people have no shame.
It’s pretty disgusting but also not unexpected … someone is shopping a pic of Bobbi Kristina laying at death’s door in a hospice.
The photo was shopped to us … we passed. It was taken earlier this week at the facility outside of Atlanta. A woman is hovering over Bobbi Kristina in the photo … we’re told it’s a family member.
As for who shot the photo … we’re told it’s “an extended family member.”
The pic is being shopped to multiple magazines and websites, and we’re told there’s interest.
DISGUSTING!
Sage The Gemini Denies Cheating On Jordin Sparks
Sage the Gemini is leaving social media because ya’ll won’t let the man live. According to MediaTakeOut, Sage was trying to holler at some big booty blonde girl named Kip Force despite being in a relationship with Jordin Sparks.
The gossip website had receipts, posting images of an alleged Twitter DM session between both parties.
Sage took to Twitter on Friday morning to deny the authenticity of the messages, launching into a lengthy rant.
That’s a vehement denial. Do you believe Sage? If you do, you might not after you read Kip’s responses. Shortly after the rapper posted his message, she launched into her own tirade, warning Sage to be honest before she puts more of his business on blast:
Uh oh! Sounds like Sage may have been busted by a big butt red nose reindeer. Whose story do you believe: the rapper or the thot?
The Holdovers Battle at the Box Officer for the Fourth of July Weekend!
Jurassic World and Inside Out are still grappling for 1st place over the three-day Fourth of July frame, with World just slightly ahead, estimating $30.9M to Inside's $30.1M.
If World prevails it will be the dino-flick's fourth three-day weekend at #1.
What Universal does appear to be conceding, however, with a "you can have it" air, is that the Disney/Pixar film is likely the winner of the five-day Fourth of July frame. Though it's still a tight race Disney is claiming victory for the full holiday domestic frame with Inside Out making $45.3M (4,158 venues) to Jurassic World's $43.8M (3,737 venues).
Universal is also reporting that Jurassic World will pass $550M in domestic grosses this weekend. Adding another milestone to its marble bag of records that's the fastest—in 24 days—any film has reached the $550M mark. World added $42M in overseas coin, raising its international total to $826.9M. Combined with domestic that total makes Jurassic World the fifth highest grossing film worldwide of all time with $1.385B in global grosses, just passing Avengers: Age of Ultron at $1.37B. Ultron opened in its last market this weekend, making $6.5M in Japan.
The lackluster home field reception for Paramount's Terminator Genisys, which has a three-day estimate of $28.7M and a five-day estimate of $44.1M, calls into question the domestic box-office draw of Arnold Swarzenegger and the overall viability of the once-redoubtable Terminator franchise itself.
After all 2009's Terminator Salvation opened in 3,530 venues with a three-day estimate of $42.6M, a $12,056 per screen average. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, made $44M in 3,504 theaters, a $12,568 average on its three-day July 4th weekend in 2003. Terminator Genisys was in 3,758 theaters yet only made a $7,637 average.
Overseas coin, however, the likely reason that anyone revisted making another Terminator in the first place, looks like it might save the day. Grosses came in at $74M from 44 markets over the weekend and an $85M international cume.
Terminator Genisys opened at #1 in Russia ($12.5M at 1,150 locations), Korea ($11.1M from 1,275 venues), Mexico ($6.2M from 670 locations), India ($2.8M from 600 venues), Malaysia ($2.3M at 131 sites), Taiwan ($2.1M at 80 locations), Hong Kong ($1.9M from 44 venues), and Ukraine ($666K from 235 locations). Though not landing at the #1 spot it has also opened in the UK ($5.6M from 536 sites), France ($3.8M at 680 locations), Brazil ($4M from 549 cinemas), Australia ($4.7M at 258 cinemas), the Philippines ($1.4M at 149 sites), and Venezuela ($2.4M at 75 venues).
It has yet to open in Germany and Italy, which it does on July 9th and the next day in Spain and Japan. A release date has yet to be chosen for China.
At Genisys's reported pre-advertising cost of $155M it will be the international markets that dictate whether we will be hearing of Skynet and Judgment Day in the near future. Given that Paramount has two more Terminator films slated to go, in 2016 and 2017, all eyes will be on those rollouts.
With an astounding 96% female audience Magic Mike XXL left the three-day weekend with $12.04M dollars tucked into its waistband. For the five-day frame the film made $27.07M. Overseas had a limited launch with $6.2M at 2,572 screens in 15 markets, led by the U.K. with $2.5M. Mike has an A- from CinemaScore and a reported budget of $14.8M meaning more than its clientele were happy with it.
Ted 2 had a -67% drop off from last week, making $11M for the three day and $ 17.3M for the five day holiday. Its domestic cume stands at $58.3M. Internationally Ted has marked about 50% of the available territories adding $8.8M to its international total of $36M for a worldwide cume of $94.3M. It will open in the U.K. and Ireland, Poland, Turkey and Peru next weekend.
If things don't turn around, which seems unlikely, we're more likely to see more Terminators than we are more teddy bears.
Max made $6.6M, just ahead of Spy with $5.9M.
GREECE VOTES NO TO AUSTERITY!
Greeks overwhelmingly rejected creditors' demands for more austerity in return for rescue loans in a critical referendum Sunday, backing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who insisted the vote would give him a stronger hand to reach a better deal.
Tsipras gambled the future of his 5-month-old left-wing government on the vote. The opposition accused him of jeopardizing the country's membership in the 19-nation club that uses the euro and said a "yes" vote was about keeping the common currency.
With 70 percent of the votes counted, the "no" side had more than 60 percent. The interior ministry predicted that margin would hold.
Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said Sunday night that creditors planned from the start to shut down banks to humiliate Greeks and force them to make a statement of contrition for showing that debt and loans are unsustainable.
On Sunday, "the Greek people said 'no more' to five years of austerity," he said.
Thousands of government supporters gathered in central Athens in celebration, waving Greek flags and chanting "No, No, No."
Governing left-wing Syriza party Eurodeputy Dimitris Papadimoulis said that "Greek people are proving they want to remain in Europe" as equal members "and not as a debt colony." The referendum was Greece's first in 41 years.
Minister of State Nikos Papas, speaking on Alpha television, said it would be "wrong to link a `no' result to an exit from the eurozone. If a 'no' prevails that will help us get a better agreement."
Tsipras' high-stakes brinkmanship with lenders from the eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund resulted in Greece defaulting on its debts this week and shutting down its banks to avoid their collapse. He called the referendum last weekend, giving both sides just a week to campaign.
"Today, democracy is defeating fear ... I am very optimistic," Tsipras said earlier in the day after voting in in Athens.
European officials had openly urged Greeks to vote against the government's recommendation.
"I hope people say `yes,'" European Parliament President Martin Schulz told German public radio. "If after the referendum, the majority is a `no,' they will have to introduce another currency because the euro will no longer be available for a means of payment."
Belgian Finance Minister Johan Van Overtveldt was one of the first eurozone ministers to react to the initial results.
"This likely `no' complicates matters," he told Belgium's VRT network, but insisted the door remained open to resume talks with the Greek government within hours.
The vote was held amid banking restrictions imposed last Monday to halt a bank run, with Greeks queuing up at ATMs across the country to withdraw a maximum 60 euros per day.
Banks have been shut all week, and it is uncertain when they will reopen. Large lines once again formed at ATMs on Sunday.
At The Essence Festival! Common, Missy Elliot, Erykah Badu & Usher ROCK The Main Stage In New Orleans
The 2015 ESSENCE Festival went down with a BANG as celebs and festival goers celebrated Independence Day in a major way.
Chi-town rapper Common was the opening act at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to kick-off an epic night of performances. For the first time, the Oscar winner performed his own set on the main stage. And he was super excited about it.
In the press room, the handsome rapper/actor chopped it up about few projects he has in the works. He’s gearing up to star in a musical drama film (directed by Wu Tang Clan’s RZA) titled Coco. Raptress Azealia Banks will lead the film as the title character Coco and neo-soul songstress Jill Scott is also set to star in the Lionsgate film.
Common will also be making a splash in a new superhero film Suicide Squad, Warner Bros.’ all-star action movie featuring DC Entertainment super-villains. He will be starring opposite Will Smith and Viola Davis. Sweet!
He also set to begin filming for Gerard Butler's Film Hunter Killer this month.
Next up on the stage….
Erykah Badu treated festival goers with her sultry vocals and deep lyrics as she rocked the stage performing her classic hits.
And she SLAYED like no other.
Hip Hop veteran Missy Elliot blessed the ESSENCE Festival stage with her timeless bangers, such as “Hot Boy and “Work It.”
As she hit some dance moves and spit her bars, Missy decided to get up-close-and-personal with her fans joining them in the audience as she turned up. Soon after, the raptress brought out Jazmine Sullivan and she KILLED her performance, per usual.
Once Missy’s set was over…fans were NOT happy! Not because she didn’t do a good job, but because they wanted MORE! Fans were pissed and started boo’ing as she exited the stage. Yikes!
Peep her high-energy performance:
The "Empire" crew was on the scene for the festivities and were spotted tearing up the front row during Missy's performance.
And last, but not least....
R&B crooner Usher came to slow it down and end the concert on a melodic note, serenading the audience with cuts like "OMG," “Nice & Slow” and “Love In The Club.” He also brought out Wale for their track "Matrimony."
WATCH:
The “Good Kisser” singer made quite the statement when he hopped on stage in a “Juneteenth” t-shirt with “July Fourth” crossed out. On the back of his leather jacket, the slogan “Have we truly achieved our independence?" Yes! Subtle stances are better than NO stance at all.
AND FINALLY FROM THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART FILES
‘RED, WHITE & EWW’
Don’t wear red, white & blue. Ain’t nobody wanna have to salute your crack.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD EVERYBODY!!!
EFREM
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