John Legend Discuss Speaking Out as a Celebrity for Town and Country Magazine May/June 2017
Cate Blanchett, John Legend and former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg take the cover of Town & Country‘s June/July 2017 Philanthropy issue.
Here’s what John had to share with the mag:
John, on racism in modern day society: “People feel defensive around the subject of racism, and they shut down, because they feel like they may say the wrong thing and you’ll think less of them. But we have to deal with the fact that these issues have a real impact on people’s lives. There’s a real impact when they’re not getting called back after they’ve applied for a job because they have the wrong name. And there’s a real impact when a police officer assume a person to be more of a threat because of the color of the person’s skin. We are dealing with these things every day, and the only way we are going to fix them is if we confront them, listen to one another, and empathize with one another’s concerns. We can’t worry more about being accused of being racist than we do about actually fixing the racism problem.”
John, on speaking out as a celeb: “Obviously, when you step out on anything that’s controversial, someone disagrees with you. And some people take that disagreement in stride and say, You know, I don’t agree with you, but I like your music, so I’ll still buy it, or, I’ll still come to your shows. Some people can’t separate the two and say, If I disagree with you politically, you’re not going to make money off of me. And that’s just the price that we have to be willing to pay… some of the greatest artists we’ve ever known have been willing to risk some social capital to try to improve the lives of other people.”
For more, visit TownandCountryMag.com
#RHoA: Kandi Burruss is deciding if she should sue Phaedra and Porsha over those LIES!
During the reunion, Williams revealed that she had been told by Parks that Burruss and her husband, Todd Tucker, planned to drug and rape her. The scandal predictably erupted as soon as it aired, and Burruss has found herself being called “Bill Cosby” on social media because of the allegations.
But Burruss absolutely believes that Parks was calculated in her accusations, saying of her co-star, saying:
Basically y’all got together the day before you know you [Porsha] were going to have to face me and she told you that ‘oh I tried to drug you,’ so that you could say this on national TV. Because they know we were supposed to be having this conversation on camera. So she told you that so that she would try to come at me with this fake info on camera, intentionally.
As for possible legal action, Burruss pointed out that Parks was the one to start the rumor with Williams, and admitted as much during the reunion changes things. She added that her lawyers are still looking into it.
“They [My Attorneys] had told me that I should sue Porsha, at first. And when it came out to the reunion that you know Porsha got the information from Phaedra, I was like, ‘You know what, let’s just hold up until you guys get to see this whole thing and I will get their opinion on how they think I should handle it and go forward from there.’ The only thing is lawsuits are stressful, I am already dealing with Johnny,” she said.
STAY TUNED…via the grio
#EMPIRE: Where Is Baby Bella On 'Empire'? She's Stuck In The Middle Of A Family Feud
(Bustle) There have been some weird storylines on Empire, but the ending of the May 3 episode really takes the cake. Things seemed nice and even by the final moments, and that’s when you should know that something bad is about to happen. The Lyon family (even Anika and Mama) are having a nice lunch, everyone is happy, and then Child Protective Services shows up at the door with a S.W.A.T. team (which seems excessive) and a notice to take the baby. Where is Bella on Empire? This kiddo is missing in action.
First things first — who is behind Bella’s disappearance? Well, that could go a few ways. It could be the DuBois family using their influence to ruin the Lyon’s lives. Angelo and Mama DuBois are unhappy that Cookie turned down his proposal (and, uh, made him admit some illegal activity that a hot mic picked up, which ruined his chances of becoming mayor), and they’re out for blood. The DuBois family is political, and they know everyone in the city. They even shut down Lucious’ club! What would stop them from getting the baby taken away, too, even after Jamal gave their scholarship fund an anonymous $5 million from the family as a mea culpa. No mea, no culpa here.
Of course, there is another person who wants to bring the Lyon family (well, okay, just Lucious) down — Andre. With Shine by his side, Andre wants Lucious dead. He already hacked into Empire Enterprise’s computer system once and no one knew that he did it, so maybe he orchestrated this whole Child Protective Services thing in order to play a better hand. In the preview for the May 10 episode, everyone is all, “Where is that baby?” so I think something more malicious is at place here. Andre is smarter and more calculating than he lets on, and he could be behind Bella’s disappearance.
#NEWMUSIC from New Music: Goapele – ‘Secret’
Goapele returned last week with the feel-good, love-based single “Power,” and today (May 5) the angelic vocalist follows up right away with the sultry new song, “Secret.”
The Bay Area songstress borrows from Aaliyah with an interpolation of “Are You That Somebody,” on the melodic slow jam, which is the second release off her forthcoming EP, Dreamseeker, due out May 19. Over chilling keys and a thumping 808, Goapele sings about an intoxicating, intimate relationship.
“Cause I can’t let you know / I got a secret / I hope you’re responsible / I got a secret / You bring the freak right out of me / I got a secret, can’t keep it / Say yes or say no,” she sings.
Following 2014’s Strong As Glass album, the Dreamseeker EP is said to see Goapele confidently embrace a boundless musical palette, while lyrically exploring sensuality, social consciousness, and motherhood.
“I’m a woman, but I’m also a whole person who won’t be confined to any one box,” she explained about the project. “Nobody is just one thing. Within any race, within any genre, and within any neighborhood, there’s so much diversity. As artists and especially as women of color, we have to be proud of that. I’m coming from an honest place and expressing the different parts of myself that make me whole.”
Take a listen to “Secret” HERE
#HIPHOPNEWS: Logic’s ‘Everybody’ Set to Be His First No. 1 Album
(XXL) It looks like Logic‘s about to take home a big W this week. According to the folks at Billboard, the DMV rapper’s latest project, titled Everybody, is all set to move around 210,000 album equivalent units in its first week, giving him his first ever No. 1 album.
Logic’s last album, titled The Incredible True Story, came pretty close to taking home the No. 1 spot, landing at No. 3 after moving 135,000 album equivalent units in its first week. His first album, Under Pressure, moved under 100,000 album equivalent units in its first seven days on shelves.
It’s clear Logic’s on the come up. That’s good to know, since, you know, Everybody is all set to be his second to last album. In a recent interview with Genius, Logic explained that his next album will be his last.
“That’s going to be the last one. Everything with my life has been so fucking serious and it’s been a fucking message,” Logic explained. “And that’s not to say there won’t be a message and whatever, but I just want to end everything with a really big bang and get the fuck out of here. Better to go out on top like Jerry Seinfeld, nine seasons, No. 1 fucking show in the world, over a billion dollars. I’d rather do that.”
Although Logic insisted he wouldn’t actually be retiring, we should still cherish Everybody and its eventual follow-up as much as possible. You can do some appreciating of Everybody by copping it on iTunes.
Dance Moms' Abby Lee Miller Sentenced to Prison
Abby Lee Miler, the former Dance Moms star, has officially be sentenced to prison in her bankruptcy fraud case.
The 50-year-old reality star will have to serve 1 year and 1 day in federal prison followed by 2 years supervised release, EW reports. This all dates back to the October 2015 charges of purposely trying to hide $775,000 of money made off of the Lifetime series and her spin-off, Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition. She was also accused of divvying up $120,000 of Australian currency into plastic bags and having her friends carry the money in luggage. She’s also reportedly been ordered to pay a $40,000 fine.
Awwww, Morris Chestnut's 'Rosewood' Cancelled at Fox
Morris Chestnut has announced that his Fox show Rosewood has been officially cancelled after two seasons.
“I am very grateful about the part that everyone took in Rosewood’s journey, because everyone was truly an integral part; the writers who crafted great story-lines, the actors who brought these stories to life, the production crew who sustained the show’s infrastructure, and the terrific fans who embraced this phenomenon and became just as much a part of Rosewood as anyone else,” the 48-year-old actor wrote on his Instagram.
“FOX provided a platform for a show that made strides in diversity and the images it projected, as all-inclusive. We were able to peer into the lives of characters who displayed their hopes, dreams, courage and fears. Rosewood also helped reinforce a newer definition of Family, as a group of people who most care for and support one another.
The Rosewood family, itself was an Extremely Special group of people who’ll be friends forever,” he added. “This is not only a part of the industry, it’s a part of life. When one door closes, two more can open… Thank you all for your continued #onelove and support. See you back on the screen soon. Big and Small. #PEACE – MC”
OOOPS! Diddy Sued by Former Chef for Sexual Harassment (Showing his Peen)
It looks like Diddy‘s headed to court. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a former chef at the Bad Boy Entertainment boss’ estate is suing him for “sexual harassment, retaliation, defamation, failure to pay overtime and intentional infliction of emotional distress.” The alleged victim, Cindy Rueda, claims the events that led her to sue started when she began working for Diddy back in 2015.
In the suit, Rueda claims she was regularly on the clock from 9 a.m. to 12 midnight without being paid overtime. On top of that, she reported that Diddy would also request her to serve him food directly following his sexual activities, and that once, he even asked her if she liked his body. In another instance, one of Diddy’s friends asked her to “look at and admire his genitals.”
Rueda goes on to report that she’d told Diddy’s estate director, Stacy Friend, about her poor working conditions and that she was eventually “lured into a situation where she could be accused of theft and ultimately terminated.”
The situation Rueda speaks of was seemingly facilitated by someone by the name of Iris, who worked as Diddy’s executive housekeeper at his estate. Apparently, Iris frequently held onto belongings Diddy had discarded—like say, watches for instance—and allegedly offered Rueda one of them.
According to Rueda’s attorney, James Blancarte, “In the days following, Plaintiff was accused of theft and told that she would not be prosecuted if she returned the watch and signed a waiver of all rights and claims against Defendants.”
Blancarte went on to note that Rueda had returned the watch—which she’d apparently been led to believe Diddy no longer wanted—but refused to sign the waivers.
Now, Rueda is looking for “damages for unpaid wages and overtime,” as well as “punitive damages and an injunction to prevent future employees from being inaccurately classified as exempt.”
We have reached out to Diddy’s reps for comment. “This is a frivolous lawsuit by a disgruntled ex-employee who was fired for cause,” reads the statement.
Is There a 3LW Reunion On The Way? Adrienne Bailon-Haughton gives her verdict!
In recent years, many groups have reunited to make new music, tour or even drop a biopic. So, in keeping with New Edition, TLC and most recently Xscape, could girl group 3LW be next?
Well, the folks over at Hip Hollywood asked Adrienne Bailon and she said, “Never say never.”
Made up of group members Bailon, Naturi Naughton and Kiely Williams, 3LW was uber popular in the early 2000s for their hits “No More (Baby I’ma Do Right)” and “Playas Gon’ Play”. Their self-titled debut album went platinum, but things hit a snag just before they dropped their sophomore album — Naughton left the group amid rumors that management was unhappy with her darker skin tone.
Well, fast-forward to now. The girls are grown and on different paths. Adrienne is a co-host on The Real, Naturi is killing it on Power and Kiely attempted a solo music career but it didn’t exactly pan out.
While at the Daytime Emmy Awards, where The Real was nominated, Bailon opened up about a 3LW reunion. She talked to Hip Hollywood and you can check that out HERE!
BREAKING NEWS: Aaron Hernandez's murder conviction vacated
Aaron Hernandez was granted an abatement on his 2015 conviction for the murder of Odin Lloyd, meaning the former New England Patriot is considered not guilty in the eyes of the court.
Bristol County (Mass.) Judge Susan Garsh, who presided over the original trial, ruled in favor of Hernandez’s estate, agreeing that an ancient Massachusetts law should be applied here. It states that if a defendant dies while a conviction is still in the process of appeal then the verdict is vacated. Hernandez, 27, committed suicide late last month while serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for the 2013 murder of Lloyd.
“Abatement is the law in this Commonwealth and this court is required to follow that precedent,” Garsh said citing case law. “… the Court has no other choice.”
The Commonwealth is expected to appeal the decision, which will almost certainly wind up in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. No matter which way Garsh ruled, this was almost assuredly going to be step one in a long legal process.
Hernandez’s attorney, John Thompson, argued in briefs and during a 40-minute hearing Tuesday morning that neither the cause of death nor any assumed motives applied to the law. He noted there was no precedent in any other ruling on the issue that called for abatement not to be granted.
“[The original Lloyd ruling] is not a final conviction,” Thompson said. “And that’s what matters.”
Prosecutor Patrick Bomberg argued otherwise, saying that Hernandez chose to die, thus making a conscious decision to forfeit his appeal process as a way to be cleared, which wasn’t the intent of the law.
“The defendant should not be able to accomplish in death what he could not accomplish in life,” Bomberg argued.
He also noted that Hernandez, according to a state police report, mentioned to an unnamed fellow inmate that he was aware of the abatement law and in a suicide note mentioned to his fiancée, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, wrote, “YOURE RICH.”
At stake is not just Hernandez’s record, but potential payouts from the New England Patriots, who could, perhaps, no longer be able to withhold money owed due to a conviction for murder.
“We are arguing there is a motive to [commit suicide],” Bomberg said, noting the financial benefits.
Garsh dismissed that point.
“This court cannot know why Hernandez ended his life,” Garsh said. She cited other possible motives, including Hernandez’s increased spirituality and writings that suggested he was following what he believed was God’s plan, as well as comments that he was seeking redemption on religious grounds. She also noted the fact other inmates heard via a Boston radio show that Hernandez might be bisexual.
If the Hernandez estate does receive financial payments, the family of Odin Lloyd still has a wrongful death civil suit pending. They may be able to gain access to any or all money the Hernandez estate receives, if it receives any. (The Patriots are expected to fight this also if it gets to that). Then there are the families of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado. Hernandez was acquitted of their 2012 murders in a Boston drive-by shooting. However, a civil suit would require a lower standard of proof. There are other creditors also lined up against the Hernandez estate, which is currently valued at $0.00.
Lloyd’s mother and sister led a large group at the hearing of supporters for Lloyd, a former semi-pro football player and landscaper in Boston. That included Shaneah Jenkins, his then girlfriend and the sister of Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, who was not present.
The Lloyd supporters wept at the ruling. Ursula Ward, Lloyd’s mother, left court quickly.
“In our book, he’s guilty and he will always be guilty,” Ward told reporters outside the courthouse. “But I know one day, I will see my son again.”
La La Opens Up About Carmelo Split: “My Family And God Is My Strength”
La La Anthony has been staying pretty mum about her separation from husband Carmelo Anthony. In recent weeks, the actress/host has been photographed without her wedding ring, but has not commented on the split — until now.
While on the red carpet for VH1’s Dear Mama: An Event To Honor Moms, Anthony told reporters that her family and her faith has helped her get through this tough time. “My family is my strength,” she said. “My family and God is my strength. That’s where I’ve always found my strength my entire life, so now would be no different.”
Anthony, who was co-hosting the event with Anthony Anderson, walked the carpet with her mom and 10-year-old son, Kiyan, whom she says she’ll be spending Mother’s Day with, sans her NBA star husband.
“I just want to be with my mom and my son, and just kind of keep it low key: watch movies, eat good food, listen to music,” she shared. “It’s all about just being around family for us.”
Carmelo, meanwhile, has been making attempts to get his estranged wife back. As previously reported, the New York Knicks player has been asking Anthony out on dates and even requested that the couple go on a vacation to work out their marital issues.
La La, it seems, isn’t interested. Instead, the 37-year-old is focused on being the best mother she can be, a lesson she learned from her own mom.
“My mom just always taught me to let people live, let people be who they are without restrictions, without limitations,” La La said. “I think that’s why I was able to go so far in my life and career — because my mom always supported me, even when I had the craziest ideas ever. So I definitely would do the same with him,and just support him in whatever he wants to do.”
Caitlyn Jenner Knows She Could Beat Donald Trump At Golf
“Well I went back to the inauguration and when I was talking to him all he kept saying is, ‘you gotta come play golf, you gotta come play golf, you gotta come play golf…’,” the 67-year-old reality star told James Corden on The Late Late Show on Monday (May 8).
“But there was this title nine legislation that Obama had passed as far as some guidelines, federal guidelines on some LGBT issues, especially trans issue,” Caitlyn continued. “And he turned that down. That was it for me, I was very upset about that, we do need some federal guidelines when it comes to equality for the LGBT community, especially my side. That really upset me so I thought I can’t go down there and play golf with him now.”
“I would get destroyed by the community,” Caitlyn concluded. “And plus I don’t think that he wants to get beat by a 67-year-old trans woman.”
EGGPLANT NATION, Meet Brown
#EGGPLANT NATION! Meet Brown! To see more you can GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re 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?
Courtesy of P.O.Wm
‘Good Night’
Sometimes I’m amazed at the efforts people will make to take a nap. Ask them to check in the back for something and that’s too much to do, but figuring out a place to catch a few zzz’s on the job is no problem.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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