#RIHANNAMANIA! RIHANNA CHANNELS QUEEN NEFERTITI FOR ‘VOGUE ARABIA’
Rihanna gets regal as she channels Queen Nefertiti on the cover of Vogue Arabia’s November issue.
Photographed by Greg Kadel, the international superstar gives a gorgeous glare while wearing Gucci paired with a custom Faeth Millinery-designed headpiece that pays tribute to Neferneferuaten Nefertiti, the ancient Egyptian queen that RiRi has tattooed on her ribcage.
Vogue Arabia‘s editor-in-chief Manuel Arnaut spoke on the importance of Rihanna’s appearance on the cover. “We are dedicating the issue to strong and dynamic women who are changing the world,” he says. “Rihanna, our cover star, is one of them.”
Arnaut goes on to explain how it isn’t just Bad Gal’s success or beauty that makes her a world-changing icon. “Not only is she one of the most successful pop icons ever, shaping the entertainment industry with her powerful tunes and unique sense of style,” he writes, “she is also an advocate for diversity.”
The singer’s reverence for the legendary Queen is unsurprising. Ruling in Ancient Egypt next to her husband Pharaoh Akhenaten almost 3,500 years ago, Nefertiti still reigns as one of the most beloved figures from the Middle East. Known for her unmatched beauty — Nefertiti means “the beautiful one has come” — the Ancient Egyptian queen, who had a very active role in the country’s political sphere, is the picture of women’s empowerment.
#RHoA: 'The Real Housewives Atlanta' Stars looked cute With Their Halloween Costumes
On Thursday, castmembers got into their funkiest costumes for a Halloween party and shared the festivities on social media. Kenya Moore was a Victoria's Secret model, Sheree Whitfield was an Egyptian queen, Nene Leakes poked fun at herself as a rodent inspector, Kim Zolciak was a Playboy bunny, Cynthia Bailey was 50 Cent, Kandi Burruss was an IT girl and Porsha Williams was a bloodied bride.
While there have been rumored arguments between the ladies, they all seemed to be getting along at this Atlanta get-together.
RHOA returns for its 10 season on Nov 5.
#EMPIRE: Have You seen Taraji in Tyler Perry’s ‘Acrimony’?
Boy this is different! The trailer, released by Lionsgate, focuses on the story of wife Melinda, played by Henson, and her husband, Robert, played by Lyriq Bent. Melinda tells her offscreen therapist about how their 18-year marriage is falling apart due to her husband’s double life and cheating ways.
In the trailer, we see the story of their relationship, from Robert and Melinda’s initial dating relationship to the proposal and wedding, before ultimately, Melinda began to suspect that something was wrong. She followed her husband and discovered that he was leading a double life and was even engaged to another woman.
However, her therapist points out that she might be looking at things the wrong way, at which point we see the story flip. Now, we can see Melinda losing it at Robert, accusing him of having “caused all of this.” She is seen flipping out at Robert when he appears to be moving out, and then again needing to be restrained in a courtroom.
WATCH HERE
Tyler Perry’s ‘Acrimony’ is out in March 2018.
#NEWMUSIC from D∆WN – ‘STOPWATCH’
Dawn Richard reunites with EDM producer Machinedrum for the single “Stopwatch“. This marks the first time the pair have collaborated since working closely on Richard’s 2016 album Redemption.
The song is a continuation of the singer’s foray into electronic dance music. This chill track incorporates Machinedrum’s signature sounds with tribal influences. While Dawn’s signature pop vocals take the track to another level.
You can stream the track HERE.
#NEWHIPHOP from Yo Gotti Feat. Chris Brown – ‘Save It For Me’
Yo Gotti and Chris Brown are at it again. After joining forces on “Pills & Automobiles,” the duo reunites for “Save It for Me” off the Memphis rhymer’s album I Still Am.
The R&B and hip-hop track blends each artist’s style over trap-infused production. Meanwhile, Gotti sends a message to Angela Simmons, who he name checked on “Down in the DM.”
“Passed my number to Angela,” he raps. “I thought I had her / Her ni**a cuffed her, married, made me madder / I respect it, I’m moving on, but the truth is, I want her badder / Maybe me saying her name made him move faster.”
After handling the chorus, Breezy also delivers a verse. “I can see why they hate me,” he raps. “She really love me and she know I’m crazy / But that’s still my baby / She’s the first lady / Sex is too amazing / Said she’s gonna save it for me.”
Previously, Gotti and Breezy teamed up on “Pills & Automobiles,” “Main Chick Remix,” and “Either Way (Remix).” The duo also linked up at Brown’s recent TIDAL-sponsored pop-up concert in New York.
UPDATE: Claire Foy Releases Statement on Adam Sandler Touching Her Knee on Graham Norton Show.
Claire Foy has released a statement on her appearance with Adam Sandler on The Graham Norton Show, where he touched her knee several times on the air.
Fans took to social media to slam Adam for touching Claire‘s leg, and at one point, she even removed his hand from her knee.
However, Claire‘s representatives have released a statement saying Claire took no offense to Adam‘s behavior.
“We don’t believe anything was meant by Adam‘s gesture and no [offense] was caused to Claire,” the statement.
#BOXOFFICEENEWS: 'Jigsaw' Tops Weekend, 'Suburbicon' Flops and Madea is still strong at #2!
Lionsgate's Jigsaw came in just a bit behind expectations, which some may attribute to the Netflix debut of the second season of "Stranger Things" on Friday or the seven year gap between films, but that isn't to say this is a poor debut. Elsewhere, however, Paramount's Suburbicon flopped while Universal's release of Thank You for Your Service didn't perform much better over the course of one of the worst weekends of the year so far, with the top twelve currently sitting below a combined $60 million, $18 million behind the same weekend last year.
With an estimated $16.25 million, Lionsgate's Jigsaw brought the Saw franchise back to the big screen after a seven year hiatus and delivered the seventh best opening of the franchise's eight films. Only 2009's Saw VI debuted lower, but that isn't to say this is a terrible opening. Given the film's reasonable, $10 million budget, this opening just shows this franchise isn't delivering the same kind of numbers it did in the early aughts.
The first Saw not only introduced the world to James Wan, but debuted with $18.2 million domestically and delivered over $103 million worldwide, leading to a franchise that will top $900 million globally by tomorrow.
That being said, Jigsaw's staying power within the current marketplace (not to mention just how much of an effect "Stranger Things" had on its opening) will be tested next weekend as it would be relatively safe to expect a 60%+ drop next weekend and perhaps a less than 2x multiplier for the film's domestic run. Opening day audiences gave the film a "B" CinemaScore, which is mostly on par for the franchise, and of that audience 51% were female and 52% were under the age of 25.
Internationally, Jigsaw opened in 46 markets with an estimated $9.5 million. Of those 46, only three were major markets with the UK leading the way with an estimated $2.3 million for a second place finish along with a $1.7 million debut in Russia and $1.4 million opening in Germany. The film will debut in Italy, France, Belgium, Australia and South Korea this coming week.
Lionsgate also finished in second position with Tyler Perry's Boo 2! A Madea Halloween brought in an estimated $10 million, pushing the film's domestic cume over $35 million after ten days in release. While that matches Mojo's forecast, it puts the sequel's performance well behind the first film, which had already grossed $52.5 million after ten days, see the full, head-to-head comparison here.
Warner's Geostorm finished in third place with an estimated $5.67 million as the film's domestic cume now stands at $23.5 million after ten days in release. The film's international performance, however, offers a little more to boast about. The disaster pic debuted in China this weekend with an estimated $34.1 million, which contributed to an overall $49.3 million weekend overseas, bringing the international cume to $113.4 million for a global tally over $136 million.
Universal and Blumhouse's Happy Death Day brought in an estimated $5 million for a fourth place finish as its domestic cume now stands at $48.3 million as it enters its third weekend in release.
Rounding out the top five is WB's Blade Runner 2049 with an estimated $3.9 million as the film's domestic cume climbs to $81.3 million. Additionally, Blade Runner debuted in China this weekend and struggled, delivering a mere $7.6 million and a third place finish. The film also opened in Japan with an estimated $2.7 million and a #1 finish as its international cume currently stands at $142 million based on weekend estimates.
#TASTEFULORTASTELESS? Kim Kardashian Dresses Up As Aaliyah For Halloween 2017.
Reality star Kim Kardashian was trending on social media. Kim K. channels her inner Aaliyah for early Halloween party.
This look is from Aaliyah’s iconic ‘Try Again’ video..On snapchat, Kim Kardashian blasts Aaliyah’s song ‘Try Again’ in the background on social media.
Y’all think this ish is TASTEFUL or TASTELESS?
Suge Knight Dismisses Nightclub Shooting Case Against Chris Brown
The incarcerated fallen mogul dropped his nightclub shooting lawsuit against Chris Brown after Breezy’s attorneys played hard ball and issued a threat of their own.
Via TMZ: Suge had sued Chris over a shooting in 2014 at 1 OAK nightclub in WeHo. Suge was shot 7 times. He filed a lawsuit against 1 OAK and Chris, who was performing when shots rang out. Suge believed security was woefully lacking, which allowed the gunman to fire multiple shots.
We’ve learned Chris’ lawyers from the law firm of Geragos & Geragos fired off a nasty letter to Suge and his legal team, saying Suge’s case was a certain loser and when it was thrown out Chris would counterpunch with a malicious prosecution lawsuit.
That did the trick … Suge dropped his lawsuit against Chris. Sources familiar with the dismissal tell us NO MONEY changed hands.
Welp. Suge has bigger issues to tend to – like murder.
#ITISTRUE Toni Braxton Shows Off Rumored Wedding Ring
She’s got bling! Toni Braxton is wearing some pretty impressive jewelry these days. Over the weekend, we spotted the 50-year-old singer wearing a massive diamond ring on her ring finger.
WOW!!!!
#POLITICS: Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority Cancels Whitefish Energy Deal
WASHINGTON via HuffPo ― Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority is canceling its controversial $300 million contract with Whitefish Energy Holdings to restore the island’s hurricane-ravaged electrical grid, officials announced Sunday.
Ricardo Ramos, executive director of PREPA, said at a press conference he would honor Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló’s Sunday morning request to terminate the business deal, which has raised questions from several lawmakers and government agencies.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday that it had “significant concerns” over PREPA’s decision to award Whitefish the contract earlier this month and would be conducting a review.
Whitefish, a two-year-old firm based in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s Montana hometown and financially backed in part by a major donor to President Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, had just two full-time employees when Hurricane Maria hit the island more than a month ago.
Language in the contract ― a full copy is here ― appeared to give Whitefish a sweetheart deal as the people of Puerto Rico struggle to recover from the devastation of the hurricane.
For one, the contract, which Whitefish signed with government-owned PREPA, said that, “In no event shall [government bodies] have the right to audit or review the cost and profit elements.” That gave Whitefish wide discretion and privacy over how it used $300 million in U.S. taxpayer money.
Employees of Montana-based Whitefish Energy Holdings were at work last week in Puerto Rico.
The contract also waived “any claim against Contractor related to delayed completion of the work,” which means the government couldn’t do much if Whitefish dragged out its work restoring electricity to the 3.4 million Americans living on the island.
Representatives from both PREPA and Whitefish did not immediately return HuffPost’s requests for comment.
It’s been more than a month since the hurricane destroyed Puerto Rico’s infrastructure and nearly 70 percent of people still have no power ― a particularly precarious reality for hospitals that have been relying on temporary generators to keep people alive.
“The clause that shields the contractor from audit or review is a red flag of overcharging,” said Tiefer. “The contractor works for PREPA, not the other way around. I can’t imagine how any responsible government official could put such an anti-audit clause into a government contract.”
Anthony Varona, a professor and vice dean at American University’s Washington College of Law and an expert in contracts law, said it was “entirely inappropriate” for a private contractor to prevent the government from auditing how taxpayer money was spent.
“The prohibition as written in this agreement is a blatant attempt to blindfold and tie the hands of the government officials responsible for overseeing the contract’s performance,” said Varona. “It strikes me as an open invitation for fraud and abuse.”
There were other concerning details in the contract, like the high rates Whitefish was charging for labor. The company was paying $240 an hour for a general foreman and $227 for a lineman. For some context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said first-line supervisors of construction sites make about $43 an hour and construction laborers make about $23 an hour.
Whitefish was also paying for expensive food and lodging for its employees. The contract stated that each person could spend nearly $80 a day for meals and $332 a day for lodging. Flights for employees were being billed at $1,000 each way.
A man clears destroyed tree branches in a neighborhood in San Isidro, Puerto Rico, that’s been without grid electricity for weeks. Eighty percent of the island hasn’t had power for more than a month.
Steve Schooner, a former high-ranking government contracting official who teaches government contracts at George Washington University, said the Whitefish contract gave him great material for his upcoming classes because there were so many problems with it.
“The contract ― both the process and the content ― rivals, and in some ways exceeds, some of the best final exams I’ve written for my students over the last two decades,” he said.
Not everyone said the contract was stunningly out of the ordinary. Scott Amey, general counsel for the Project On Government Oversight, wrote a blog post about why he thinks the contract raised concerns but was mostly normal, given bigger problems surrounding many federal contracts.
Still, he told HuffPost that it’s “odd” that the contract gave Whitefish the ability to delay its work without any accountability. He that clause could have allowed the company to prolong its work so it got paid the entire $300 million ― and then could push to extend the contract for even more money.
“Damage provisions often are included to incentivize the work’s completion,” he said. “Waiving claims could jeopardize the completion of the work in the agreed on one-year term.”
As fishy as it looked that a tiny company in the Montana hometown of the U.S. interior secretary landed such a big contract, Zinke insisted he had nothing to do with it.
Tiefer, for one, said that though all the facts aren’t out yet, it’s clear something “went very wrong” with the way the contract was awarded.
“Let’s put it this way,” he said. “Whitefish didn’t make the shortlist because of a world-class reputation.”
AND FINALLY FROM THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART FILES
‘LINGERING LINGERIE’
What in Sam Hill is going on here? Add one single blood red teardrop and this would be a solid horror movie poster.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Guillermo!
Meet Guillermo! You know what to do to see them goods. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PICS and remember they’re NSFW!
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HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD EVERYBODY!!!
EFREM
