Gabrielle Union Covers ‘Ocean Drive’ Magazine
Gabrielle Union rocks the cover and pages of Ocean Drive magazine. The Being Mary Jane star goes braless while rockin’ an open white Brandon Maxwell jacket with matching trousers, she also poses in a breezy, flowing Chanel skirt (with the shirt tied around her waist) paired with an Alexandra bodysuit and more.
Inside, she talks The Birth of a Nation being the most life-changing film of her career, the lack of diversity in Hollywood: “Half the time, [African Americans] don’t even get the opportunity to fail,” she says. Gabby also opens up about giving Dwyane Wade a hard time in the early stages of their romance, and how the children played a big part in their marriage plans.
Read highlights below..
On The Birth of a Nation:
“Career-wise, it gets no better than this,” she says. “It’s by far the smallest role I’ve ever taken, but easily the most challenging and the most rewarding.” Union plays Esther, a married field slave who is sometimes called upon to work in the house. On one such occasion, she catches the eye of one of the plantation’s white guests. “He sees her and feels entitled to her body,” Union explains. “What happens to her is one of the things that sets in motion one of the most successful slave liberations in the history of our country.
“I definitely didn’t want to be the chick from Bring It On to screw up this incredibly important, powerful film,” she continues. “I just really wanted to—not only as an actor, but as a sexual-assault victim myself—convey the powerlessness that one feels, the voicelessness, the terror, the heartbreak, the physical, emotional, spiritual devastation. This experience was extremely powerful and moving, and it happened at the right time in my life, when I needed to find more purpose in my work. And I found it.”
On the lack of diversity in Hollywood:
“Half the time, [African Americans] don’t even get the opportunity to fail. At least let me audition, so you can say I just wasn’t good enough, but most times black actors can’t even get in the door. The idea that the playing field has ever been equal is a farce. With leaps and bounds of advances, it’s still grossly unequal—and that goes for the Latino, Asian, Middle Eastern, and LGBT communities as well. We’ve made strides, but if Hollywood is really going to mirror the world that it’s catering to, we have a long, long way to go.”
On giving Dwyane a hard time during the early stages of their romance:
The poor guy almost didn’t have a chance. Union can laugh about the fact that she once called Wade “a fetus” for being nine years her junior. When he was trying to court her, she “couldn’t take him seriously,” until one day “he finally wore me down,” she says with a laugh. “It was very When Harry Met Sally. One day I just thought, Oh, I guess you could be an option.”
But even before falling madly in love and tying the knot, she says, there was always a friendship and a willingness to open up to each other. “If you have good, effective, honest communication, you can handle any issue or problem in a relationship. D is literally my best friend. We really, really enjoy spending time with each other more than anybody else. Well, with D, maybe I’m tied with LeBron! But I’m definitely his favorite female! If you have the chance to marry your best friend, I would highly recommend it.”
On how the children played a big part in their marriage plans:
“D and I could have gone on for a long time as boyfriend and girlfriend,” she says, “but the kids were the driving force in wanting us to be a legitimate, like, real—and I’m using my finger quotes—family in their eyes. We got on board with it, and it’s the best decision we could have made—not just for us as a couple, but for our family.”
While running quick errands isn’t a problem for most Miami families, being out in public is still a bit too crazy for this team. “One of D’s favorite things to do as a family is go to Walmart,” Union confesses, adding that the family can be more anonymous in Los Angeles. “We really enjoy Walmart, Target, going to the grocery store. He loves to take the dogs to the car wash. He’s the guy with the Maltese at the car wash! But in Miami, it’s more challenging. He’d never make it through Walgreens. Although I have attempted to send him for tampons, he won’t do it! Can you imagine?”
Additionally she talks how fashion has been an important part of her career (she recently inked a deal with Florida–based watch company Invicta to create a collection for the brand), and she also explains how she an Dwyane take turns playing good cop bad cop to their kids.
Head to oceandrive for the full interview.
#RHOA: Nene Leakes at The WHCD, Hit or Miss?
Nene Leakes attended The White House Correspondence Dinner on Saturday wearing a Black Silk and Lace top Gown with diamond studded shoes.
So is her look a HIT or Miss?
#EMPIRE: ‘Empire’ actress teases the Rhonda ‘confrontation’ you won’t want to miss
Earlier this season on “Empire,” Rhonda Lyon (Kaitlin Doubleday) took a nasty spill down a long staircase in the home she shares with her husband André (Trai Byers).
Miraculously, she survived, but she lost the baby she was pregnant with. As Rhonda lay on the floor and found the strength to raise her head, she saw a woman leaving the house in a pair of high heels.
In Episode 16, Rhonda puts the pieces of the puzzle together and prepares to confront her attacker. With Doubleday’s wedding to DJ Devin Lucien just around the corner, she spoke to The Post about Rhonda’s trials and tribulations.
What were you thinking when you saw Rhonda’s accident in the script?
Is Rhonda going to die? I thought that she would lose the baby because it’s a soap. Everybody was excited about the baby. It made Lucious (Terrence Howard) be kind to André and Rhonda. I had an inclination it would probably go wrong.
Did you have a stunt double?
Anita Hart. She deserves a shout-out. She literally put pads on and threw herself down the staircase. Three times. All of our stomachs were in our throats.
Who might have pushed Rhonda?
She remembers seeing the shoes. And she remembers who came over to the house that day.
Once she understands what happened, how does she proceed?
André is not on board with her belief that she was pushed. So she’s alone and everyone thinks she’s nuts. If I remember, she tries to confront her [assailant], but it doesn’t go as planned. There will be a confrontation fans can look forward to.
EMPIRE is on Wednesdays at 9PM on FOX!
Aretha Franklin Tributes Prince With “Purple Rain” At White House Jazz Concert
Via Billboard The Obama’s have done a wonderful job honoring Jazz, R&B and Soul music during their two-terms in The White House. On Friday night (April 29), another wonderful celebration of Jazz was held on The White House south lawn, for the fifth annual International Jazz Day.
Hosted by Morgan Freeman and featuring celebrity guests from Shonda Rhimes to Gabrielle Union to Kerry Washington, the evening’s focus remained on the music.
While much of the concert honored and celebrated the history of Jazz music, the audience was shocked and surprised by the appearance of Aretha Franklin, who walked on stage during Herbie Hancock’s set and paid tribute to Prince, singing “Purple Rain.”
“God sent down a rainbow to Prince’s house so he could walk up to heaven,” the legendary singer said, beginning a brief sermon and eventually compelling people to join in as she sang.
Watch the full concert (the Prince tribute begins around the 1 hour and 10 minute mark)
WATCH HERE
Do him some justice ReRe after saying you thought he died from The Zika Virus!
NEWHIPHOP: NEW MUSIC: BIRDMAN – ‘RESPEK’
R-E-S-P-E-K. Capitalizing on his controversial “Breakfast Club” interview, Birdman has released the full version of his new single.
Unveiled by Funkmaster Flex, “Respek” finds the Cash Money chief revisiting the famous slogans he used during the infamous interview, which he walked out on. “Tell them ni**as to respek my name,” he says at one point. “Or keep it out of their fuckin’ mouth.”
It isn’t all about the controversy, however. The mogul also takes time to say “rest in peace” to his mother, who he named his album Ms. Gladys after. That project is set to drop June 24 followed by Rich Gang’s Rich Gang 2: The Lifestyle on July 1.
Listen to him demand “Respek” HERE
Prior to dropping the track, Birdman also opened up about sexuality rumors, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross during an interview with Hot 97’s “Ebro in the Morning.”
Is Kerry Washington PREGNANT?
According to US Weekly: Kerry Washington is pregnant and expecting her second child with husband Nnamdi Asomugha,
The actress, 39, debuted the first signs of a baby bump when the Scandal star attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, April 30 in a curves-enhancing Victoria by Victoria Beckham dress (plus Stuart Weitzman shoes and a strategically placed Jimmy Choo clutch).
Almost exactly two years earlier, on April 21, 2014, Washington and her former NFL cornerback hubby, 34, welcomed their first child, daughter Isabelle Amarachi Asomugha, now 2.
However she is looking pretty meaty. Kerry is always known to be a thin girl. Look at the shots below from her appearance on GMA Monday morning. She’s looking a little thick in those pics below.
Well we all know how Kerry is very private with these types of stories. So let us all just watch and wait!
Mattel Honors Misty Copeland With Her Own Barbie
Misty Copeland is being honored with a Barbie doll in her likeness, Mattel announced on Monday. The 33-year-old prima ballerina, who made history last year as the first African American woman to be named principal dancer at the world-renowned American Ballet Theatre, unveiled the doll on Good Morning America.
“I always dreamed of becoming an ABT ballerina and through Barbie I was able to play out those dreams early on,” Misty said in a press release. “It’s an honor to be able to inspire the next generation of kids with my very own Barbie doll.”
Mattel revealed that Misty was intimately involved in the doll’s design and partnered with Barbie on all the details.The doll’s fashion was inspired by her Firebird costume from her first ABT principal role – which she’ll reprise on May 18 and 19 as part of ABT’s annual spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House.
The Misty Copeland doll is part of the Barbie Sheroes program, honoring women who inspire girls by breaking boundaries and expanding possibilities for a diverse group of women. It is currently available for purchase online and will roll out to retailers nationwide.
OOOPS: Young Buck Accused of Violating Probation AGAIN
According to our friends over at theJasmineBRAND.com Young Buck’s P.O. has returned to court to inform the judge the rapper has once again violated the terms of probation and they are demanding he explain to the court why he can’t seem to follow the court order.
Back in 2012, Young Buck checked in to prison to begin his 18 months sentence for gun possession. He was sentenced to the time following a federal agent raid on his home in 2010 that uncovered multiple guns inside, which was illegal due to him being a felon
The rapper was released from Mississippi prison in October 2013 and has been on probation ever since.
Young Buck hasn’t had a smooth ride while on probation. Back in 2014, he missed 2 drug tests and admitted to screwing up to his P.O. In fact, he narrowly escaped being thrown back in prison for his failure to follow his probation terms.
Then last year, Buck was hit with new federal criminal charge by the prosecution for attempting to scheme and fake a urine drug test. The prosecutors accused him of lying to his probation officer about smoking marijuana and using fake urine during a drug test.
Last year, Buck reached a plea deal in which he avoided being thrown back in prison by pleading guilty to the charge of attempting to falsify the urine test. Per the agreement, the rapper was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, pay a fine and continue to be on probation for the next 18 months. He also agreed to complete 30 days at an in-patient treatment center followed by 90 days at a community correction center.
Then on March 18th, docs were filed by the prosecution that allege Buck has once again violated the terms of his probation.
They explain earlier in the month, Buck’s probation officer was informed that the rapper had made death threats against another person. The P.O. contacted the alleged victim – the fiancé of one of the rapper’s baby mama – who informed him that Buck was in arrears on his child support to the baby mama. The man (who was reportedly, Buck’s baby mama’s boyfriend) texted Buck asking him about the child support owed and told Buck that he was a sad excuse for a father who didn’t care about his daughter.
Buck responded by sending a chain of text that included physical threats against the fiancé’s boyfriend. He used derogatory language, called the victim a racial epithet several times, accused him of being a drug addict, and made several threats to ‘slap the s*** out of him’ and beat him up. He also inquired about where the man’s location was & text he was going to ‘f*** u up”.
The man also informed the P.O. that he believed the rapper was associated with a gang and that this made him fear for his life.
The man also explained he had contacted an attorney and was in the process of contacting the Nashville Police Department to obtain a restraining order and report the threats.
The rapper claimed to his P.O. that he thought the text were originally from an attorney and that the man even said in one that a District Attorney was reading the conversation. He believed the victim defrauded him by attempting to portray that he was acting in some sort of official capacity.
Further, the court documents state that Buck has failed one drug test since he reached his plea deal avoiding prison time.
The probation officer filed the docs asking the judge to order Buck to appear in court and explain himself. The P.O. is also asking the judge to find the rapper in violation of his probation, which could have him back in prison for up to 14 months.
Then on April 29th, the probation officer returned to court informing the judge the rapper has once again violated the terms of his release.
The officer explains that on April 25th the rapper was the subject of a traffic stop in Nashville that resulted in a moving violation. Not the worst situation, unless you are required to report to your probation officer of being arrested or questioned by a law enforcement officer.
The P.O. says this is yet another violation by Buck in the criminal case and he wants the judge to consider this he makes a decision on the matter.
Buck is scheduled to appear in court on May 5th, where he will have to explain to the judge why he shouldn’t be thrown back in prison for years for violating his probation.
Ray Rice & Wife Janay Expecting Second Child [Photos]
Ray Rice and his wife, Janay, are expecting their second. Janay took to Instagram with photos of her posing alongside Ray in an olive green dress that showed off her baby bump.
“The Rice’s. Yup we will now be a family of 4!” she wrote. She shared that she’s currently 21 weeks pregnant with one of her hashtags, and also added #wonderwhatitis.
The couple already has a 4-year-old daughter named Rayven.
Congrats!
Princess Charlotte’s Latest Pics Are Priceless!
(May 2) is her first birthday, and Princess Charlotte has already become quite the pretty poser, based on some just-released snapshots.
The little royal is featured in photographs taken by her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, and it’s clear the camera loves her.
Per a statement from Kensington Palace, "The Duke and Duchess are very happy to be able to share these important family moments and hope that everyone enjoys these lovely photos as much as they do.”
Diddy, Kelly Rowland, Lenny Kravitz, Kim Kardashian & More Attend Naomi Campbell’s L.A. Book Signing
Naomi Campbell was surrounded by a host of her celeb friends at her Taschen bookstore signing in Beverly Hills.
The night included sightings from Diddy, Kelly Rowland, Lenny Kravitz, Kim Kardashian, Dave Chapelle, Quincy Jones, The Weeknd and many more.
The beautiful supermodel stepped out to the event in a vintage gown by John Galliano, while signing copies of her self-titled book. The two-volume book features photos, ads, magazine covers, candid snaps and messages from the Naomi herself.
While talking it, during an interview with VOGUE, the model explained: ‘I’ve been very candid. My life is an open book in many ways. I’m honest about who I am.’
Congrats to Naomi on her new book!
Chris Brown Announces New Album ‘Heartbreak On A Full Moon’
Could it be?
Only 2 days after dropping his OHB mixtape Before Da Trap, Chris Brown has apparently announced his eighth studio album, “Heartbreak on a Full Moon.”
The R&B superstar took to Instagram over the weekend to reveal the title. “NEW ALBUM (HEARTBREAK ON A FULL MOON),” he wrote in a since-deleted post (via HHNM).
Just last week, he revealed that a new single will drop on Thursday, May 5. “NEW SINGLE DROPS MAY 5TH,” he wrote on Instagram
Chris is currently gearing up to launch the European leg of his “One Hell of a Nite Tour” on May 22 as well as his “Welcome to My Life” documentary film.
The fact that he deleted the post does raise some red flags, but Breezy is the king of posting and deleting on social media. So, he might be trolling us…or the label took it down…or he might have just given fans a quick teaser.
Either way, stay tuned to see if CB’s new single drops on Thursday
Khloe Kardashian Evicts Lamar Odom's Father
Last October former NBA star Lamar Odom was found unresponsive in a Nevada brothel
At the time Lamar's estranged wife, Khloe Kardashian, rushed to his side and the first thing she did was take over his finances and kick his father out on the street...
Lamar Odom's father, Joe Odom, tells Page Six the first thing Khloe did after Lamar's overdose was stop paying the rent on the $4k a month apartment Lamar had been providing for his father for the past 10 years.
Joe claims Khloe also cut off his phone before sending him and his wife on a one-way trip back to Brooklyn.
Joe complains that whenever he tries to call Lamar Khloe answers the phone and Lamar does not return his texts.
Joe says he actually got through to Lamar last week, who promised to sort everything out, but as of yet nothing has changed.
#EGGPLANT NATION! It’s Officer John!
Okay you’re UNDER ARREST! Looking to be frisked and cuffed? Then GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they may be NSWF!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
ENJOY!
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES?
‘THREE STRIKES’
♫ Ohhhhhh, You’re once, twice, three times a Walcreature. ♫
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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