Ladies Kofi Siriboe Steps Into His Destiny On The Dec/Jan ESSENCE Cover
In the December/January "Essence” Kofi Siriboe walks through his style inspo and gives ideas on how to upgrade our wardrobes.
To truly know Kofi Siriboe is to love a young man with ambition. Yes, that skin, beard, perfect white teeth and toned stature immediately grab your attention. But behind the 6'2" frame is a deeply conscious 23-year-old man constantly delving deeper into his love of film and heritage.
In his second season of OWN's Queen Sugar, the talent plays Ralph Angel, the youngest brother of the Bordelon family reclaiming his birth right as a co-owner of their sugar cane farm. Balancing the process of redemption with fatherhood and business, his character is constantly challenged to step up to something greater than he ever expected.
"When I read the description, Ralph Angel was in a hard place," the Ghanaian-American actor told ESSENCE magazine in the Dec 2017/Jan 2018 issue.
"He was with his son and about to rob a liquor store, but I didn't see him as aggressive. I just thought he was broken. Even though I have not been incarcerated and don't have a son, I remember a time when I felt broken. I also know what it's like to try so hard and feel as if the world is against you."
For Siriboe, he's also trying hard to make his mark in the world with his debut project, Jump. He wrote, produced, directed and starred in the film about mental health. And then there was Girls Trip, the box-office hit he starred in that grossed over $100 million. But near and dear to his journey is fostering a deeper understanding of his African roots.
"In first grade I was asked 'What's your favorite food?' I said, 'Fufu,' and everybody laughed. I also remember asking my teacher not to say my full name, Nana-Kofi [Nana means 'son of kings']. Last year I went to Kumasi, in Ghana, for the first time and met the king, whose real name is Nana."
"I didn't always understand the roots that are woven into my name, but that realization is happening now."
Read the full interview in the December issue of ESSENCE, on newsstands this week.
#RHoA: Why is Porsha Williams Is Still Wearing Her Wedding Ring?
RHOA’s Porsha Williams and her ex-husband Kordell Stewart ended their marriage four years ago. Now she is still rocking her wedding ring like it’s a fashion statement.
On Sunday’s episode, Williams’ sister Lauren called her out on it, saying, ‘Oh my God, you’re wearing it like it’s costume jewelry.’
‘It is costume jewelry!’ the Dish Nation host responded. ‘It’s mine. And it’s a diamond!’
Porsha was married to Kordell for two years before their divorce in 2013.
Earlier this month, she confessed to PEOPLE that fans would see her dating on this season of Real Housewives of Atlanta.
She also said that it’s just ‘not as much of a priority of mine as it’s seemed in the past.’
‘I absolutely know myself more today than I did when I was married,’ she said when asked what she’s looking for in a man.
‘For me, it’s about finding someone who wants to be part of your world and who is supportive of you and who understands that if it ends up being a serious relationship, you’ll make those adjustments to prioritize a happy family first.’
‘I don’t regret anything because anything I’ve been through just helps build who I am today — be it relationships with me or friendships, it all helps shape who you become. But I definitely say I’m a different person, and I’m supposed to be,’ she said. ‘It’s a good thing.’
The previous season, Porsha tried to pressure her onscreen lover into having a baby.
But now she said motherhood is no longer an immediate goal.
‘Every time I’m around my niece, she gives me baby fever. But that’s the thing about baby fever. You have it, and then you get well again,’ she confessed.
‘I’m okay right now. I’m not going to have a baby until I’ve found that right guy. And I’m sure once I find him, that’ll be one of the first things we do.’
‘For me, I’ve thought of a lot of creative ways I can make that happen without a man. Once I realized it doesn’t have to be one way, then it gave me a little more time,’ she continued.
‘So I’m not obsessing over it anymore.’ Porsha was recently robbed, but now she seems to be doing fine.
#EMPIRE; Recap: Who's More Grimier The Dubois Family or The Lyon Clan?
Hakeem fights hard to maintain custody of Bella.
Tonight’s episode of Empire presents the moment we’ve all been waiting for–Jamal’s custody hearing. As you know, Angelo is representing Anika, and he did not come to play games. He is trying to make the Lyon Family look as crazy and unstable as possible. But it’s ironic that this man is representing the woman who killed Rhonda and her baby.
Anyway, then they mention Anika’s shady ways as far as hopping around from Lucious to Hakeem just to be petty. It drags on, with various witnesses being called to the stand. There’s even a moment where Angelo badgers Tiana, who’s on the stand testifying and makes her cry. It’s super ridiculous. And we’re all wondering WHY NO ONE IS MENTIONING THE BIT ABOUT ANIKA’S CRIMES!
Eventually, Cookie takes the stand, and she gives a sincere speech about her time in prison causing her to miss out on her children’s lives, and how Hakeem is getting the chance to be a better parent than she was. Angelo decides to be a jerk the entire time Cookie is on the stand and tries to make her seem like a violent criminal due to several fights she has been in prison. Then Cookie brings up how she talked Anika out of killing herself while she was pregnant with Bella, and how Anika came to her for help a couple of times.
Lucious is so pissed by how Angelo spoke to Cookie that he demands to be put on the stand. No one thinks it’s a good idea except for Hakeem, and so it shall be.
Lucious takes the stand, and Angelo goes in. Of course, he tries to make Lucious look like an unstable gangsta. But then Lucious channels nice Lucious, and brings up the whole someone trying to blow him up thing, and not remembering some of the evil things from his past, but wanting to be a better man moving forward. Basically, he lays it on think to try and win some sympathy. He’s so good at playing nice Lucious that even Angelo is stunned into silence. Lucious gives a moving enough testimony that it starts to look like the pendulum is swinging in the Lyons’ favor. But we know what show this is. Things go left quickly.
Hakeem has a hot-headed moment during recess because he’s pissed that the lawyer can’t give him a definitive answer about how the judge will rule, which is true. Hakeem, at the height of his anger, fires his lawyer and decides to represent himself.
Now we’re all really nervous.
However, when Hakeem calls Anika to the stand, he starts asking her questions about Bella’s favorite color, favorite stuffed toy, what makes her tummy hurt and all kinds of personal things that, which illustrate that Anika knows nothing about her own child. Anika gives this BS line about she needs to get to know her daughter. Hakeem says his door has always been open for her and that he would have never tried to cut Bella out of her life yet here she is.
The court goes to another recess and when they come back, and just when things are looking good, Diana Dubois is called as a rebuttal witness.
Remember when she kidnapped Bella but allowed Hakeem to see her only if he didn’t mention it to his parents? Well, she was recording their visits the entire time. This was at the height of Hakeem being angry with his family and he gets caught talking smack about all of them. He called Andre crazy, said he wishes his mom was still in jail, said Lucious was evil, and that his family can’t be trusted with Bella.
Later on, during another recess, Hakeem reveals what Diana did. Of course, Cookie and Lucious are pissed because they could have just told him. Plus, he sold their family out to people they have beef with.
AND WHY ISN’T THIS PRESENTED TO THE COURT? DIANA STRAIGHT KIDNAPPED BELLA FOR A SECOND.
Seriously, it’s annoying. Either way, it’s too late. The judge uses Hakeem’s words to rule in favor of Anika. She gets full custody. Cookie encounters Diana in the bathroom and calls her a filthy, treacherous b–ch. That’s cute and all, but she still won.
Diana calls her clan for dinner to congratulate Angelo for the win and commends Anika for associating with people of her stature. Then Diana states that Warren is up next and then, she introduces one of the top physicians in the city who says he saw his favorite patient recently and had to up his meds. He never says the patient’s name, but we know it’s Jamal, who struggles with addiction.
This is too much for revenge. Cookie didn’t mean to mess up Angelo’s chances of becoming mayor, be he wasn’t on point enough to make sure the mic was off after he just did an interview when he was talking about the illegal things he did for Cookie, but whatever.
Finally, Anika’s basic self-comes to pick Bella up from Hakeem. He runs down everything she needs to know. It’s heartbreaking to watch. Even Anika looks like she wants to cry. Turns out, Bella’s favorite color is yellow.
Finally, the episode ends with Cookie and Lucious discussing the defeat. They’re also devastated. Cookie tells Lucious she hopes he’s back because she needs him. He then tells her that he wants blood. Lucious is back alright.
Only Thirsty’s seedy magic and Lyon Family trickery can get Bella back now.
See you in two weeks. HA HA.
#NEWMUSIC from Seal! He Releases his New Project ‘Standards’
British soul legend Seal has released his anticipated new album, Standards, via Republic Records.
Recorded at the legendary Capitol Studios in Hollywood, CA, he takes a step back in time only to make a giant artistic leap forward. It’s a record he was always meant to make.
“This is the album I have always wanted to make. I grew up listening to music from the Rat Pack era, so recording these timeless tunes was a lifelong dream,” says Seal. “It was a true honor to collaborate with the same musicians who performed with Frank Sinatra and so many of my favorite artists, in the very same studios where the magic was first made – it was one of the greatest days of my recording career.”
Standards sees Seal breathe signature soul into seminal classics such as “Luck Be A Lady,” “I Put A Spell On You,” “Autumn Leaves,” and many more. The deluxe version of the album also includes bonus holiday tracks “Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting),” and “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” just in time for the season.
Stream Standards HERE
#NEWHIPHOP from The Diplomats – ‘Once Upon a Time’
The Diplomats are back. Soundtracked by longtime producers The Heatmakerz, Cam’ron and Jim Jones hold down the fort on “Once Upon a Time.”
Over a sped-up soul sample, Killa Cam takes aim at Harvey Weinstein, calling him a “pervert” after the Hollywood mogul was accused of sexual harassment and assault by several women.
“Welcome back to the hallway loiterers,” he raps. “I made mills off the white girl, I exploited her / No disrespecting the ladies, word from my team / Why? That’s the reason Dame smacked Harvey Weinstein, pervert / On the set of Paid In Full, y’all gave him hell about it / Some foul shit happened once, Capo, tell ’em about it.”
Jones also rhymes on the cut, reflecting on a time when he says he was blackballed. He even references his 2006 hit “We Fly High” and his reconciliation with JAY-Z. “Tried to blackball me, so I asked ’em where the hoop at / Ballin’! In the Soho in L.A., askin’ the valet where the coupe at / 80 for the jet to meet with JAY, and then I flew back.”
LISTEN HERE
The song arrives shortly after Cam released his newest mixtape, The Program, and before Dipset’s upcoming concert with A$AP Mob, which is slated for Nov. 21.
Jennifer Lawrence, Mary J. Blige, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Saoirse Ronan and Emma Stone sat down for THR's Drama Actress Roundtable.
Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence is speaking out about the time she was told she was "difficult and a nightmare" to work with after standing up to a director who abused her on set.
Joined by Mary J. Blige, Jessica Chastain, Allison Janney, Saoirse Ronan and Emma Stone, the women spoke about sexual harassment in the industry, the fight for equal pay and more Hollywood hot topics for THR's Drama Actress Roundtable.
With the fallout over Harvey Weinstein still looming large when they sat down for the magazine, the conversation mainly focused on sexism and harassment, but included some light-hearted and hilarious moments as well.
Here are the five most noteworthy bites:
J-Law's Blowback for Defending Herself Against Sexual Harassment
"I finally made the decision to stand up for myself and then I went to go to the bathroom at work and one of the producers stopped me and was like, 'You know we can hear you on the microphone; you've been really unruly.' Which was not true, but basically my job was threatened because the director said something f-cked up to me and I said, 'That's sick, you can't talk to me like that,' and then I was punished and I got afraid that I wasn't going to be hired again," Lawrence said. "I was called difficult and a nightmare."
"I think a lot of people aren't coming forward because they're afraid they're not going to work again," she added. "You need to be able to say, 'This is wrong,' and have somebody do something about it, instead of saying, 'Oh it's wrong? Well, you're fired.'"
Though many of the headlines are currently coming out Hollywood, Lawrence said it's indicative of a larger problem.
"The entertainment industry is kind of the stage on which you can see the inner workings of problems that are all over the world," Lawrence said. "If a flight attendant comes forward about a pilot, it doesn't end up in the news because nobody knows about it. That doesn't mean that there's less sexual abuse going on anywhere else in the world, in any other place of work. But fortunately, we're starting the conversation now."
Amazons Too Sexy in 'Justice League'? Costumes Spark Feminist Backlash and Debate
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Jessica Chastain's Experience with the Pay Gap
"After 'Zero Dark Thirty,' I was sent a lot of scripts where it was a female protagonist, and they wouldn't do my deal until they knew who the male actor was because they needed to do his deal first and then see what was left over," she revealed.
Now, Chastain said she doesn't go for that anymore.
"From now on, if someone has something they're bringing to me, great, let's do my deal [now]," she added. "But also, if someone is showing up for three weeks of a two-month film, they're not getting paid more than me."
Lawrence on the 'mother!' Backlash
Lawrence said she went into her latest movie knowing that it wouldn't necessarily be loved.
"We'd start shooting something, and we'd be like, 'Well, this is going to go over really well in the center of America.' We would laugh about it, but nobody had any doubts about what we were doing," she said of the film, which was met with much criticism and savaged by general audiences.
"We spent three months meeting in a warehouse in Brooklyn talking over the themes of the movie. By the time we got [to the shoot], we were rock solid to the point that even when the movie came out and we have an F CinemaScore or something, like 63 percent [on Rotten Tomatoes], nobody is really surprised," she added. "We're just like, 'Well, yeah, we knew that when we were on set.' Every time you make a movie, you're like, 'I hope everyone likes it.' This is the first time I've made a movie where we knew not everybody is going to like it. I mean, people haaate it."
Why Allison Janney Was Happy to Have Old-Age Makeup
Janney said that she actually enjoyed playing an older woman in the upcoming Margot Robbie film 'I, Tonya' because she could actually focus her performance rather than her appearance on screen.
"I got to do this old-age makeup and I was like three hours in this makeup, and then I saw myself and I was like, 'Oh my God, this is fantastic. I don't have to worry about my jowls,'" Janney said.
The 57-year-old actress continued to explain that it was "freeing" to go to work everyday without worrying about looks. Lawrence added, "It's so hard because the first time I watch anything, I'm just watching my double chin and my acne, and I'm bloated."
Emma Stone Had Some "Easy A" Competition
When the women we all asked to share their favorite quote from one of their films, Stone picked one from the 2010 comedy "Easy A."
After Janney revealed she had just watched that movie the night before, Lawrence added, "I auditioned for 'Easy A. ' I wanted it so bad."
Stone's response was epic: "Well, guess what? (Laughter.) You didn't get it. You didn't get it because you suck!"
Lawrence ended the roundtable by joking they were about to take it "Outside."
SAY WHAT? “Get Out” will compete as a comedy at Golden Globes?
“Get Out” was a lot of things, but a comedy?
News came down Tuesday that Jordan Peele's brilliant breakout film "Get Out" will compete in the Golden Globes' comedy/musical categories.
For many, it was a surprising placement for the satirical horror film that crushed it at the box office in February and creatively, thoughtfully dealt with interracial dating, white privilege and the pervasive racism in self-proclaimed liberal circles. It's a great film — but calling it a "comedy" seems a profound, uneasy stretch.
Nonetheless, Universal Pictures, the film's distributor, submitted it as a comedy with Peele's reported blessing. It appears that the Hollywood Foreign Press, the governing body behind the Globes, offered the option and Universal took it.
A similar path was taken in 2015 with the sci-fi drama "The Martian," also submitted as a comedy. As SlashFilm wrote back then, "The main reason this happens is because the competition isn’t usually as stiff, so studios sometimes use the comedy category as a way to get more accolades for their movie and cast without as much competition." Certainly in the case of "Get Out," awards are much deserved irrespective of the film's placement.
Regardless, Twitter wasn't having it. Even comedian and "Get Out" co-star Lil Rel criticized the decision.
But if I can be honest this is weird to me... Their is nothing funny about racism... Was it that unrealistic lol https://t.co/5xSXBmatfP
— Lil Rel Howery (@LilRel4) November 14, 2017
#GetOut being nominated as a comedy is the literal definition of how white people and people of color see racism. For them, it's just a joke that POCs need to "get over." And for us, racism is like a cascade of horrors that never cease.
— Crutches&Spice♿️ (@Imani_Barbarin) November 15, 2017
i didn't think "get out" was nearly as deep or momentous as many did, but it sure wasn't a comedy. it just had some jokes. — El Flaco (@bomani_jones) November 15, 2017
I teach a @UCLA #blackhorror course inspired by Get Out called "The Sunken Place: Racism, Survival & the Black Horror Aesthetic." This will be my students' reactions when I tell them the Golden Globes calls it a comedy pic.twitter.com/H3mpGBZqry — T'Challarive (Tananarive) Due (@TananariveDue) November 15, 2017
“Get Out”, is a movie about:
• Systematic Racism
• Interracial Relationships
• Black Horror Movie Stereotypes
• White Privilege
.. all in one.
Definitely not a comedy.
— NUFF (@nuffsaidNY) November 15, 2017
I'm not even surprised that Get Out was nominated for best comedy, when have white people ever taken black struggle seriously...especially in hollywood.
— The Incoming© (@TheIncoming) November 15, 2017
It's a complicated and often blurry line here, one worthy of critique. Yes, the comedy/musical slot can offer less-established actors and directors more recognition, especially in the case of films omitted from Oscar contention. Yet, the inclusion of the brutal "Get Out" in it just feels like a form of category deception that may paste over some very important race issues.
Wryly, Peele himself might have had the best take here.
‘Get Out’ is a documentary. — Jordan Peele (@JordanPeele) November 15, 2017
#XSCAPEDRAMA: Tamika Scott Shoots Down Tension in Xscape: Nothing happens over night.
After Xscape had a semi-awkward interview on live TV, some were wondering if there was friction between the group members. On Sunday, the group appeared on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live! and there was much speculation as to whether or not Kandi was having issues with the group, especially after it was revealed that they were recording new music without her.
After their appearance group member Tamika Scott took to social media about the online buzz. She writes,
"Me and the girls visited Watch What Happens Live, with @bravoandy this past Sunday and we got a lot of slack from the interview. We, Xscape, as a group are definitely working hard to give our fans an ultimate night to Remember performance for our Great Xscape Tour, with all Four original members @kandi @majorgirl @iamlatocha @therealtamikascott! As dysfunctional as we look behind the scenes, we are working as mature women to rebuild our friendship/ and working relationships. Yes, things take time and we are making sure to give it just that. Nothing happens over night. To our real fans that believes in us Thank You! To the judgemental few of you, keep your pointless penny thoughts to yourselves. Just Know that God Brought this back together and he is in CONTROL. We will not disappoint you!! Thank you!!! God Bless!!!#xscape #thegreatxscapetour #legends"
Mariah Carey Cancels Christmas Show Dates Due to Upper Respiratory Infection
Mariah Carey has canceled the “first several shows” of her Christmas concert tour on doctor’s orders after she was diagnosed with a “lovely upper respiratory infection.”
The “All I Want for Christmas Is You” singer announced the cancellation on Twitter, stating that she had previously been suffering from the flu.
“Lambs! Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, it seems I’ve received a present of my own; a lovely upper respiratory infection after last week’s flu. Bleak!” she wrote.
“You know there is nothing I love more than celebrating the holidays with my festive Christmas show, but I have to take my Doctor’s orders and rest until he says I can sing on stage,” she continued. “Until then, unfortunately, I have to cancel the first several shows of my upcoming Christmas tour. I’m going to do all that I can so that I can see you soon!”
Carey recently parted ways with her manager of three years, Stella Bulochnikov, though the two are still partners on several business ventures. The singer also encased her hands and feet in cement in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre, and contributed a track entitled “The Star” for the soundtrack of the nativity film of the same name.
Terry Crews Speaks Out About Sexual Assault, And he Names his Alleged Attacker
“I’ve never felt more emasculated, more objectified; I was horrified,” he said.
Actor Terry Crews has publicly called out the Hollywood executive he says sexually assaulted him at a party while courageously recalling the harrowing experience on “Good Morning America” in hopes it will encourage other victims to come forward.
“I was assaulted by Adam Venit,” Crews said on Wednesday’s program, who he noted at the time was “the head of the motion picture department at Williams Morris Endeavor, one of the biggest [talent] agencies in the world, period.”
The “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” cast member filed a police report last week on the incident and first disclosed it on Twitter last month, but did not name his alleged assailant at that time.
Actor Terry Crews publicly called out the man he says sexually harassed him at a Hollywood party last year.
In his Wednesday comments, he said he was with his wife at a party in February of last year when he saw Venit, whom he said he had never met before, making crude gestures at him with his tongue.
“I’m looking and I’m like, is this a joke?” Crews said. “And he comes over to me, I stick my hand out and he literally takes his hand and puts it and squeezes my genitals. And I jump back like, ‘Hey, hey,’ and he’s still sticking his tongue out and I’m like, ‘Dude what are you doing? What are you doing?’ And then he comes back again!”
Crews said he pushed Venit away, causing the agent to bump into some partygoers. He said it took great restraint not to hit him any harder, especially after the way Venit responded.
“He starts giggling and laughing. I’ll tell you, I’ve never felt more emasculated, more objectified; I was horrified,” Crews said. “When I looked at him, it was rage. And when I say rage, I felt like I could punch a hole in his head.”
He said he told comedian Adam Sandler, who was also at the party, what happened and he reacted with equal shock. Crews and his wife, who he said witnessed the incident, left the party shortly thereafter. In the car, he found himself gripping the steering wheel of his car in fury.
The former NFL player credited his wife with helping him not resort to violence in responding to the incident.
“She just kept saying, ‘I’m proud of you, I’m proud of you, I’m proud of you,’” he recalled of his wife’s encouragement, getting a bit emotional.
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” actor Terry Crews credited his wife with helping him control himself in the moments after an alleged sexual assault.
“If I would have just retaliated, in defense, I would be in jail right now and that’s one thing I knew, being a large black African American man in America, I would have immediately be seen as a thug, but I’m not a thug,” he said.
Venit, who has been placed on leave at WME, has not publicly addressed Crews’ allegations. Neither he nor WME has responded to requests for comment.
Crews said he didn’t come forward about the incident until recently because he didn’t think anyone would believe him and he feared such allegations against a Hollywood powerbroker would harm his career.
His interpretation of Venit’s alleged expression ― “Like, who’s going to believe you?” ― reinforced that fear, he said.
He said he was spurred to first publicize the incident on Twitter by the rising sexual assault allegations against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. Hearing the stories from other victims caused his buried memory to bubble up, and inflict a kind of post-traumatic stress disorder, he said.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Three Headed Monster
Look at this triple threat right here. Might actually be the most badass wrestling team from the mid 90’s
#THE-EGGPLANTNATION: Meet SHY!
Meet SHY! And you can see all of him when you CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PICS!! And remember they’re NSFW!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
Enjoy!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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