MAG FAB! Kerry Washington Talks Pressures Women Face In Entertainment Weekly Issue
“Scandal” starlet Kerry Washington is featured on Entertainment Weekly’s newest issue, dubbed “Beyond Beautiful,” where she is joined by fellow actresses Reese Witherspoon, Eva Longoria and Elizabeth Banks.
The Golden Globe nominee sits down for an unfiltered round table discussion with the other ladies to discuss everything from Hollywood’s sexism, societial pressures women face (in general), what it feels like to take charge and more.
In a clip, Kerry touches on what it’s like growing black in America, where black people have to be TWICE as good to get HALF of what we deserve. If you’re an African-American, you may have had this exact conversation with an elder at one point in your life. Often times, African-Americans are reminded to go the extra mile if you want to accomplish your goals and be recognized for the hard work you’ve put it. And it also holds true being a woman in America.
Kerry eloquently started off the conversation saying,
“It reminds me of this line that Shonda Rhimes wrote on our show that has really resonated with African-Americans. It’s this idea you have to be twice as good to get half of what they have. It’s something that most black people I talk, when they heard that line, it completely resonated with how they were raised and the messaged their parents gave them. ‘That’s just the truth.’ I think it’s the same for women. You just know, you have to be twice as good. In a way, until girls don’t have that feeling, we will not have done our jobs. That’s almost the point: to not feel the pressure to be extraordinary.”
She then went on to say that she loves that they can get together and celebrate each other (girl power!), but she said the need to this is the problem.
“It will be so exciting when we don’t have to do this because we’re just equal players at the table,” she said
Very well said.
#EGGPLANTNATION! Meet Atl Jack!
One of my female readers sent me these pics for you to drool at and get your life. She calls him Atl Jack. But you can call him over for dinner. I guess LOL! In the meantime you can………………
GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! Remember NSFW!
ENJOY!
RHOA: Oh? Does NeNe Leakes Have A New Family Spin-Off In The Works?
Nene Leakes has returned to The Real Housewives of Atlanta, But fans are wondering if she’ll be back as a full time housewife next season. Nene has stayed busy since her premiere to reality TV and has really built up her resume in front of the cameras. For a while Nene was acting like she was too good for the Bravo reality show, but lately, but she’s been staying mum on the show in the press; alleging a return may be in her future.
Nene’s once estranged stepson Damian Leakes (who clearly needed to make some money) spoke to Radaronline about the future of his step-mother’s career, and spilled some dirt on how she hopes to be behind the camera pretty soon!
“I can’t say if she’s coming back or not, she’s got a lot going on,” Damian said (on Nene’s RHOA return). Adding, “She wants to put her production company out there on a bigger scale, maybe directing might be in the near future with her production company.” (NeNe behind the camera I like it!)
Damian also spills that despite the threat from her NBC Universal bosses to pull her new Fashion Police gig if she doesn’t come back to RHOA full time, Nene isn’t worried about working, she’s always got ideas in the works. First up; producing a reality show about her family.
“Gregg and the kids being able to do a reality show together, maybe a three-show series like I Dream of Nene…we’ve been playing with that idea,” Damian dished. “We think it would be a pretty cool show to see our interactions with our dad.”
While Nene wouldn’t be the star of this show, she of course would be in front of the camera as well. “We’d get Nene to pop up every now and then and show everyone we are a very fun family,” Damian says.
Nene’s family would probably need more of her “every now and then” to make the show successful. My thoughts are that Bravo would pick up the show, if Nene agreed to be more involved; and just like that another Nene Leakes spin-off is born.
Whether they start their reality TV careers or not Daiman says the Leakes clan has completely worked out all of their past issues. “We don’t get upset anymore, we are family,” he claims, adding, “We are all rooting for Nene.”
I’m not surprised that Nene plans on starting a production company, Bethenny recently did the same thing. Her step-son might be getting his spot on the show taken away if he keeps blabbing to the press, but it’s great to hear all is calm with her family, for now.
New Music Video: Brian McKnight – Better
Brian McKnight follows up the video for “Uh Oh Feeling” with the visuals for the title track off his forthcoming 12th studio album Better.
McKnight is not only getting ‘better’ with age, but also with life, love and music – a journey echoed in the sounds and lyrics of his most heartfelt album to date. “I’m taking it back to basics,” McKnight explains of the new album. “Creating music like we did 20 years ago – completely organic, all real instruments.”
Simplicity holds true on the romantic ballad as McKnight sings about the benefits of an everlasting relationship.
“Girl, ever since you walked into my life / You took everything that’s wrong and made it right, that’s what you did,” he sings in the black-and-white visuals set backstage and during a show rehearsal.
Check out the video Below
Thoughts?
#TEAMEMPIRE: Fox Wins "Empire" Trademark Suit!
Twentieth Century Fox Television recently won the lawsuit over its hit show “Empire,” with a judge ruling in its favor on Monday.
The judge cited the First Amendment as protection for Fox, this brought an end to the multimillion-dollar legal battle between "Empire" the TV show and Empire the San Francisco based music company.
Fox had been in dispute with Empire Distribution for quite some time now because Empire music company sent Fox a cease and desist letter claiming that its trademark was being infringed upon.
The music company said that for $8 million, or guest spots for their artists and $5 million, it would back off the assertion that its brand was being tarnished by the hit show’s “portrayal of a label run by a homophobic drug dealer prone to murdering his friends.”
Judge Percy Anderson refuted those claims with the ruling in favor of the popular television show. The court minutes read, “Fox contends that summary judgment is appropriate because its use of ‘Empire’ is protected by the First Amendment, and because Empire Distribution has failed to establish that there is a genuine issue of material fact as to consumer confusion." He also granted Fox declaratory relief for its initial federal trademark infringement and other claims.
Hip Hop News: La La Anthony And Timbaland Developing Hip Hop Docuseries!
La La Anthony, and Timbaland are partnering with Leftfield Pictures to develop a hip-hop docuseries that “exposes the cutthroat entrepreneurial side of hip-hop, with models, DJs and social media stars hustling to break through as fashion, music and media moguls.”
Deadline reports: The project will focus on Jeff Janvier and Session Cruz’s Face Time Agency, the industry’s premiere casting agency for booking music video and hip-hop fashion models, with clients including Drake, Kanye West and Robin Thicke. Set inside the New York City nightlife scene – where clubs have become the new boardrooms – the series exposes the cutthroat entrepreneurial side of hip-hop, with models, DJs and social media stars “hustling” to break through as fashion, music and media moguls.
“I’m thrilled to be executive producing a project that offers a true insider’s look into the business side of hip hop, especially one that explores the lives of fascinating women who have used hip hop as their platform to become successful entrepreneurs in fashion, music and more,” said LaLa, who will executive produce the project with Leftfield Pictures executive producers George and Will Nothacker. Timbaland will serve as exec music producer.
Halle Berry: Hollywood Isn’t Truthful About People of Color
Halle Berry is the latest actress weighing in on the diversity issue in Hollywood and the Academy. Halle shared her sentiments during an onstage conversation with her agent, Kevin Huvane, at the Makers Conference, an AOL women’s leadership program. She stated that actors and filmmakers should tell the truth, adding
"The films, I think, that are coming out of Hollywood aren’t truthful."
She continued,"The reason they’re not truthful these days is they aren’t really depicting the importance and the involvement and the participation of people of color in our American culture."
2014 God's Love We Deliver, Golden Heart Awards - Arrivals
Halle says that there’s no reason people of color should be overlooked,
"Our cities are filled with black and brown people. And many times, unfortunately we see films that are set in Chicago, New York, Atlanta — big metropolitan cities — and they’re devoid of people of color. So I feel like when we really live up to our responsibility and challenge ourselves to be truthful, and tell the truth in our storytelling, then people of color will be there in a real competitive way, and it won’t be about inclusion or diversity. Because if we’re telling the truth, inclusion and diversity will be a byproduct of the truth."
In 2002, Halle won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the romantic drama “Monster’s Ball” (2001), which made her the only woman of color to win a Best Actress Academy Award to date, as of 2016.
Mother Emanuel AME Church Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize
The parishioners of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC have received a special honor. The church has been nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.
The nomination comes after the horrific mass shooting in June 2015 by white supremacist, Dylann Roof, which ended the lives of eight unsuspecting members. The tragedy sparked national mourning and outrage. President Obama even spoke at the funeral service for SC State Senator and pastor Clementa Carlos Pinckney.
What's so remarkable is just two days after Dylann Roof committed the hate crime, the victims’ family members stood during his bond hearing and extended forgiveness. Another two days passed before thousands of community members, black and white, joined hands to form a “unity chain” across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.
The church's faith filled reaction to the "Charleston Massacre" prompted Chicago-area political leaders to push for Nobel efforts, including U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. The officials said they had followed through with the nomination by Monday’s deadline.
The Post and Courier reports, Liz Alston, the Emanuel historian who contributed to the entry, said she and other members of the Calhoun Street church were in awe of the nomination’s significance.
“The mere fact that the church is in the same realm as Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the highest honors,” Alston said. “That our church contributed to peace in this world is just phenomenal, and it’s unequaled in Charleston history.”
This year’s nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize include Pope Francis, Wikkileaks informant Edward Snowden and human rights advocate Nadia Mural.
Beyonce Hires New Management Team
According to Page Six, Mrs. Carter has parted ways with her longtime business manager and has hired a whole new team to help drive her career to higher heights. Is that even possible? She’s totally at the top of her game, but we’re here for more advancement.
For the last five years, Lee Ann Callahan-Longo (above) was employed as Bey’s general manager who handled all of her business/endorsement deals and things of that nature. Well, her time as business manager is up and she’s no longer working for Bey. But, she will still remain in the Grammy Award winning singer’s life as they have a long history together. Beyoncé’s rep, Yvette Noel-Schure said in a statement,
“Lee Anne Callahan-Longo has worked with Beyoncé for the last 10 years. Their friendship supersedes business, and while she is no longer an employee of Parkwood, she will remain an imperative part of Beyoncé’s life.”
The “Grown Woman” singer has since hired JPMorgan Chase’s head of sports and entertainment marketing Steve Pamon to take her place, joining the Parkwood Entertainment family. He also reportedly masterminded the bank’s sponsorship of The Carters’ “On The Run” Tour.
A source told the site,
“Beyoncé basically cleaned house, got rid of her whole team, which included her cousin, and hired a new team. She wants to surround herself with business people who could take her career to an even higher level. She has one album left to deliver before her deal is up with Columbia, plus she wants to make smarter decisions where it comes to touring, sponsorships and acting roles."
Beyoncé’s rep went on to explain the re-workings of Parkwood saying:
“Last year, Parkwood Entertainment created new departments and recruited new executives from the tech, business and entertainment sectors who joined the team to help grow Parkwood and its interests . . . Some senior staffers were given the opportunity to reposition and stay on. Some members . . . awakened [to] new interests and decided to follow personal routes.
Sounds like Queen Bey is ready to make some major moves in 2016.
#BLACKLIVESMATTER: DeRay Mckesson files to run in Baltimore mayoral race
"Baltimore is a city of promise and possibility," said mayoral candidate DeRay Mckesson.
In a surprise move, civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson jumped into the already crowded contest for Baltimore mayor Wednesday night, shaking up the Democratic field minutes before the deadline to file.
"Baltimore is a city of promise and possibility," the Black Lives Matter member told The Baltimore Sun. "We can't rely on traditional pathways to politics and the traditional politicians who walk those paths if we want transformational change."
He said he planned to release a platform within a week. He said it would include a call for internal school system audits to be made public.
Mckesson was the 13th and final candidate to jump into the primary race. In deep-blue Baltimore, the Democratic primary has long determined the winner of the general election.
Several candidates have filed to run for mayor in 2016 or have announced their intentions to run, including politicians, a bar owner and a crime victim. Others have said they are considering entering the race.
Mckesson, 30, a Baltimore native and former public school administrator here and in Minnesota, is part of a team called Campaign Zero, which seeks to end police killings in America. The group wants to end goals
Mckesson has gained widespread attention in the protest movement that began in Ferguson, Mo., and came to Baltimore last year to demonstrate against police brutality after the death of Freddie Gray. He has nearly 300,000 followers on Twitter.
He has met with top White House officials and presidential candidates in recent months to discuss civil rights. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called him a "social media emperor."
In recent months, Mckesson has been living in North Baltimore.
Dixon, the front-runner in the Democratic primary, said Wednesday she had not heard of Mckesson. She noted there are less than three months to go until the election, and said she wouldn't be distracted.
"We all want the best for Baltimore," she said. "There are 84 days left. I'm staying focused."
Recent polls showed Dixon leading the Democratic primary, followed by Pugh and Stokes.
Mosby, who has been doing well among younger voters, welcomed Mckesson to the race. "I welcome anyone to the race and look forward to the discussion about building a better Baltimore," he said. "I have seen the best and the worst of Baltimore and so far I am the only candidate for mayor to offer a comprehensive plan to tackle Baltimore's toughest challenges."
The crowded Democratic field means a candidate could win the April 26 primary with a small fraction of the vote.
Sean Yoes, the host of the "First Edition" radio show at Morgan State University's WEAA station, said Mckesson's candidacy would "represent a departure from business as usual."
But he added that Mckesson is likely not well-known among the older African-American women who have long decided Baltimore's elections.
"If the electorate consisted of celebrities who were politically conscious, then maybe he would have a chance," Yoes said. "I suspect the vast majority of the most prolific voting bloc in Baltimore City do not know who he is. That's going to be problematic for him."
Mckesson said he would have to catch up to candidates who have been running for months.
"We can build a Baltimore where more and more people want to live and work and where everyone can thrive," he said.
Later, on the blogging site Medium.com, he contrasted his background with those of the leading candidates. "It is true that I am a non-traditional candidate — I am not a former Mayor, City Councilman, state legislator, philanthropist or the son of a well-connected family. I am an activist, organizer, former teacher, and district administrator that intimately understands how interwoven our challenges and our solutions are," Mckesson wrote.
Johnetta Elzie, another well-known activist with the Black Lives Matter movement, said she was moving to Baltimore to work on Mckesson's campaign.
"I'm definitely going to be on the campaign," she said. "I'm excited."
Elzie, who met Mckesson during the Ferguson protests, said she believes in his "passion and the love he has for the city he's from.
"He talks about poverty and race and how those are intertwined," Elzie said. "DeRay's path is to be a truth-teller while improving the city he grew up in."
Wednesday was also the deadline to file for Congress. Candidates to succeed retiring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski include Democratic Reps. Chris Van Hollen and Donna F. Edwards and Republicans Kathy Szeliga, Richard J. Douglas, Chrys Kefalas and Anthony Seda.
In the Baltimore mayor's race, other Democrats running include engineer Calvin Allen Young III, former bank operations manager Patrick Gutierrez, Baltimore police Sgt. Gersham Cupid, author Mack Clifton, former UPS manager Cindy Walsh and nurse Wilton Wilson.
Republican candidates are Armand F. Girard, a retired math teacher; Chancellor Torbit, the brother of a slain police officer; Brian Charles Vaeth, a former city firefighter; Alan Walden, a former WBAL radio anchor; and Larry O. Wardlow Jr., who filed late Wednesday.
The Green Party will hold a primary election between community activist Joshua Harris, Army veteran Emanuel McCray and U.S. Marine David Marriott.
Candidates have until Friday to withdraw from the ballot. Citizens have until Feb. 12 to challenge the residency of any of the candidates. The general election is Nov. 8.
There are 369,000 registered voters in Baltimore, including 288,000 Democrats, 47,000 unaffiliated voters and 30,000 Republicans. There are about 1,200 Libertarians and 1,100 Greens.
Statewide, there are about 3.8 million registered voters, including 2 million Democrats, 972,000 Republicans, and 694,000 unaffiliated voters.
Rihanna’s 'ANTI' Actually Sold 460 Copies On Release Date
Rihanna’s studio album ANTI was certified Platinum by the RIAA roughly 36 hours after her album was leaked (on the night of January 27th) and then released for free the following day on TIDAL.
The announcement caused some controversy as some were wondering…how on earth did her album become platinum so quickly? Well, it all boils down to that $25 million contract with Samsung.
Since the mobile giant bought a million copies of ANTI, it was guaranteed it would go platinum. But, if you’re wondering how the album fared the old school way, ANTI only sold approximately 460 copies on Thursday, Jan. 28th, according to a source with knowledge of the Nielsen numbers. It debuted at No. 27 on the Billboard 200, selling less than 1,000 copies in the United States in its first day on sale.
In fact, ANTI is reportedly one of RiRi’s lowest-charting album debuts. According to TIDAL, the album been streamed 5.6 million times, while Nielsen says the album has been streamed 4.7 million times by the end of the January 28th. If you're looking to get your hands on a physical copy, ANTI is expected to be released in stores on Friday, Feb. 5th.
It’s interesting to see how technology is starting to change the music game. How do you feel about it? Are you here for the RIAA’s new streaming rule?
Don Cheadle is Miles Davis in New Biopic
Don Cheadle will be playing music legend Miles Davis in a new biopic entitled Miles Ahead. Which is fascinating when you consider back in 2006, Davis’ nephew Vince Wilburn said that Don Cheadle would be the only person that would be able to play the jazz icon on film. Fast forward some ten years later and here we are with a trailer for the film that proves how spot on Wilburn was with his choice.
The film premiered at the New York Film Festival in 2015 and is all set to hit theaters on April 1st. What also makes the film great is the approach at telling the Miles Davis story. Opposed to starting at his youth and telling the story progressively, they opted to tell a story by having a fictitious journalist (Ewan McGregor) intruding on Davis in the year 1979. They also use a series of flashbacks to tell some backstory. The film is also co-written by Don Cheadle as well as directed.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘Questionable Powers’
I wouldn’t trust this hero trying to save me in a puddle of water!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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